Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 145 The Jin Dynasty Declares War on the Song Dynasty

Seeing that Lin Chong had spoken up for him and dissuaded Lu Zhichen from harming him, Gao Can pursed his lips, put his arm around Zou Xiaoyan, and calmly sat down on the other side of the round table. Du Shiniang quickly took a clean wine cup and poured a glass of wine for Gao Can, saying respectfully, "Lord Gao, please don't hold it against Brother Lu; he's had too much to drink tonight!" Du Shiniang then instructed the maid to clear the table and serve new dishes to Gao Can.

Seeing that Du Shiniang and Lin Chong were both very polite to Gao Can, Lu Zhichen felt bored. Just as he was about to pull Wu Song away, he heard Gao Can say in a sarcastic tone, "Brother Lin, Du Shiniang, I saw that you two were having a great time tonight and drinking so much good wine. Are you celebrating that the assassination case of the Jin envoy has been solved and you have both been cleared of suspicion and are out of danger?"

Just as Du Shiniang was about to answer, Gao Can gestured for her not to interrupt and continued, "I came tonight to tell you some bad news. The investigation into the murder of the Jin envoy has reached the agreed time. The Jin people feel that we are trying to fob them off with a wolf king and a guilty concubine. They do not accept this result and have already amassed 30,000 troops outside Yanmen Pass, declaring war on our Great Song Dynasty."

"What? The Jin dogs dare to bark wildly outside the border of our Song Kingdom! I'll piss on their faces before we go into battle, and then slaughter them!" Lu Zhichen suddenly stood up, and after saying these words in a domineering tone, he turned to leave. Wu Song quickly grabbed his sleeve and advised, "Brother Lu, calm down. Let's hear what Lord Gao has to say."

Lin Chong and Du Shiniang were taken aback by Gao Can's words. They exchanged a glance, and Lin Chong looked at Gao Can and said, "Lord Gao, I have just been released from prison and know nothing about the affairs of the Jin Kingdom. I wonder what you want me to do tonight? I am just a commoner, unlike General Zhou who holds military power. However, I understand the principle that a country must come before a family."

The high-ranking official glanced at the composed Lin Chong and said gently, "Well said, 'Only with a country can there be a home.' Lin Chong, you are indeed a man of honor. I must commend you. Since that's the case, I'll get straight to the point. I hope Instructor Lin and Du Shiniang will continue with the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team project. Only when we have a women's team that can officially compete against the Jin Dynasty women's Cuju team can the Jin people believe that we did not intentionally kill the Jin envoy, nor did we intentionally renege on the Cuju bet between His Majesty and the Jin Dynasty regarding the three cities."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chong and Du Shiniang exchanged glances for a moment before Lin Chong asked Gao Can with a puzzled look, "Lord Gao, what you said earlier makes sense, but our women's football team is currently in a state of disarray. Look, Miss Chai has gone to Xiangshan Temple for meditation, Chen Jinhuan has entered the palace as Consort Luo, Miss Pan has entered the Ning Mansion, and Du Rushuang has disappeared without a trace. How can we..."

Gao Jian saw Lin Chong helplessly counting on his fingers as he spoke, recounting the disintegration of his female Cuju team members. He then revealed a sly smile, gently patted Lin Chong's shoulder, and said, "Brother Lin, it was I who recommended you and Du Shiniang to the Emperor. I have faith in you!"

"There's a saying, what's it again? I remember now, it's 'Where there's a will, there's a way'! You and Du Shiniang just need to invite Miss Pan and Miss Chai again. As for Consort Luo and Miss Du Rushuang, I'll find a way to contact them. At that time, Du Shiniang might need to help persuade these two young ladies."

Upon hearing Gao Can's words, Du Shiniang blinked and looked at him with suspicion, asking, "Consort Luo is now the Emperor's darling. Are you sure the Emperor will allow her to continue participating in the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition against the Jin Kingdom? And Du Rushuang, you know her true identity—she's the Wolf King's spy. She turned against me because of Zhang Ruowen. It's no wonder she'd be willing to come back to Zixiang Pavilion to play Cuju!"

"It all depends on human effort, I still stand by that." Gao Can replied casually after hearing Du Shiniang's words. In fact, he was not very confident in persuading Consort Luo and Du Rushuang, but just wanted to pass this hot potato to Du Shiniang.

Du Shiniang negotiated and made deals with Gao Can three times. How could she not know that Gao Can was an old fox? However, she felt that what Gao Can said was exactly what she was thinking. She also wanted to continue to complete the matter of the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team. She was not someone who would give up halfway. Moreover, now that the Jin Dynasty had declared war on the Song Dynasty, she hoped to avoid war and reduce the harm that war would bring to the people of both countries.

Although Du Shiniang traveled to the early Song Dynasty, she knew that the Song Dynasty was destined to be annexed by the Jin Dynasty, but not during the reign of Emperor Huizong. However, she had also experienced war and wanted to avoid the suffering of countless lives lost.

"Lord Gao, Shi Niang is willing to try again with Instructor Lin, but this time I hope that our women's Cuju team will receive official authorization from His Majesty, and that Lin Chong's status as instructor will also be officially conferred by His Majesty." After some consideration, Du Shi Niang resolutely made her request to Advisor Gao.

Gao Can felt these appointments and titles were just formalities, and he was confident he could persuade Emperor Huizong, so he readily agreed to Du Shiniang's request. Seeing that Du Shiniang had made another deal with Gao Can, Lin Chong couldn't help but worry and whispered closer to Du Shiniang, "Shiniang, are you really confident in rebuilding the women's Cuju team? And in getting the Emperor to appoint us?"

Du Shiniang gently placed a comforting kiss on Lin Chong's cheek and said to him coquettishly, "Brother Lin, don't you trust me?" Lin Chong was stunned by the woman's sudden kiss. He glanced at the woman with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned and nodded gently.

Gao Can witnessed Du Shiniang and Lin Chong's private intimacy and felt a pang of jealousy. He thought to himself that Du Shiniang was truly alluring, but unfortunately, he could never have her. However, Zhou Chengquan seemed to be in an even worse situation than him. Even though he always had people monitoring Zixiang Pavilion, and even though he had played the hero and rescued Du Shiniang at the Ministry of Justice that day, Du Shiniang was still unappreciative. Her heart belonged only to Lin Chong from beginning to end.

Seeing that Gao Can had clearly made a deal with Du Shiniang, yet still silently drank three cups of wine in a row, looking displeased, Zou Xiaoyan knew perfectly well that Gao Can still harbored feelings for Du Shiniang. Men are all perverse; the grapes they can't have are always the sweetest. Nevertheless, she leaned close to Gao Can's ear and whispered coaxingly, "Lord Gao, stay at my place tonight. Let me serve you well tonight!"

"Little Swallow, you're still the most considerate to me!" Gao Can, slightly drunk, kissed Zou Xiaoyan's forehead, then stood up to say goodbye to Lin Chong and the others. Zou Xiaoyan helped him turn and leave.

Wu Song and Lu Zhichen had long since left the house and climbed onto the roof to drink. They didn't want to see Gao Can for even a moment longer. The moon was high in the sky. Looking at the bright moon, Wu Song recalled how he and Du Rushuang had once sat together on the roof or in a tree, drinking and laughing together, their tender moments breaking his heart.

Unable to contain himself, Wu Song cried out to the bright moon high in the sky, "Shuang'er, where are you? Why are you so heartless? Don't you want me anymore?"