Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 74 Xiao Minghao's Advice

Emperor Huizong frowned upon hearing Ning Zhanyan's name. He recalled that Gao Can had recently led a raid on Mingfu Cave and arrested the jailer in charge of guarding the prison, but Ning Zhanyan had vanished. His face darkened as he asked Gao Can, "According to your previous report, Ning Zhanyan used serious criminals and death row inmates from the Ministry of Justice to run his Mingfu Cave and made a considerable amount of money from football matches. Has Ning Zhanyan been caught?"

"Your Majesty, the Mingfu Cave caught fire, and Ning Zhanyan has likely been burned to death inside. I heard that he was poisoned by Chen Jinhuan before his death, and Chen Jinhuan was rescued by Du Shiniang and Lin Chong." The high-ranking official answered cautiously, occasionally glancing at Du Shiniang and Lin Chong behind him.

Emperor Huizong shook his head slightly and ordered Gao Can, "Minister Gao, you have rendered meritorious service in exposing the crimes of Ning Zhanyan of the Ministry of Justice. I intend to promote you to Vice Minister of Justice to replace Ning Zhanyan and reorganize the Ministry of Justice prison. You must do your best and not let me down!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Can immediately showed a look of surprise on his face. He quickly straightened his red brocade official robe, bowed to the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your appreciation! I will certainly share Your Majesty's burdens and reorganize the Ministry of Justice prison."

Emperor Huizong picked up Chen Jinhuan's portrait and examined it carefully for a while before saying to Gao Can, "Minister Gao, you just said that Chen Jinhuan poisoned Ning Zhanyan? If that's true, this beauty is no simple woman. Interesting! Very interesting! I'd like to summon her in a few days."

Just as the high-ranking official was about to reply with "Yes," a handsome man in a red official robe walked out of the main hall. He stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, raised the ceremonial tablet in his hand, bowed to the emperor, and said:

"Your subject, Xiao Minghao, has some doubts about the list of members of the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team and would like to ask Lord Gao for clarification. Please grant me permission, Your Majesty!" Lord Gao looked closely and realized that the speaker was none other than Xiao Minghao, the Vice Minister of Revenue. He knew this fellow was there to cause trouble, and his face darkened. However, he couldn't afford to openly confront Xiao Minghao in front of the Emperor, so he could only feign humility and ask, "Lord Xiao, what doubts do you have about the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team members recruited by Lin Chong and Du Shiniang? Please speak freely, and I will certainly resolve your doubts."

"Minister Xiao, since Vice Minister Gao has agreed, please speak freely about your doubts," Emperor Huizong said, gesturing for Xiao Minghao to step forward and speak with Vice Minister Gao.

Xiao Minghao glanced at Gao Can, then exchanged a look with Lin Chong and Du Shiniang below the steps, before calmly saying, "Lord Gao, I've heard that one of these five female football players is named Zou Xiaoyan. I wonder if that lady is my ex-wife from my hometown? Does this Lady Zou have a five-year-old son nicknamed Cheng'er?"

Gao Can was somewhat surprised to hear that Xiao Minghao actually wanted to question Zou Xiaoyan's identity in front of the Emperor. Was this guy not afraid that the Emperor would find out about his past of abandoning his wife and children, or did he already have an excuse to cover it up, and was deliberately causing trouble here? Gao Can was a little flustered and quickly cast a pleading look at Du Shiniang.

Du Shiniang understood and quickly stepped up a step, loudly reporting to Emperor Huizong: "I, Du Shiniang, wish to inform Your Majesty about Zou Xiaoyan. Lady Zou was indeed the wife of Lord Xiao Minghao, but after Lord Xiao became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he was favored by the Left Prime Minister and abandoned his wife and children. So Lady Zou stopped the carriage of General Zhenyuan on his way to the capital and met me by chance. That's how I settled her in Zixiang Pavilion as a courtesan, playing the pipa for guests."

"Abandoning your wife and children? Xiao Minghao, how could you commit such an ungrateful act? How can you be worthy of your official robes?" Emperor Huizong of Song angrily questioned Xiao Minghao. At this moment, the Left Chancellor Yang Dekang had no choice but to step forward to defend Xiao Minghao. He stepped forward, bowed, and said loudly to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, this Xiao Minghao is my son-in-law. I would like to say a few words of justice for him."

"Minister Yang, I heard you sing the praises of your son-in-law before, saying he is virtuous and talented. Today I would like to hear what excuse you have for Xiao Minghao?"

"Your Majesty, although Zou Xiaoyan is Xiao Minghao's first wife, she is a snob who loves the rich and powerful. When Xiao Minghao went to the capital to take the imperial examination, she was playing the pipa for customers in a brothel and seducing rich young men. How could Xiao Minghao tolerate such a morally corrupt woman after he became the top scholar? Of course, he had to give her a letter of divorce. But I didn't expect this woman to dare to make false accusations first, saying that Xiao Minghao abandoned her first." Yang Dekang spoke these words with great passion and fervor. Those who did not know the situation might have thought he was defending his own actions, and they were moved by his words.

Unexpectedly, Du Shiniang showed no fear whatsoever. Pointing her index finger at Xiao Minghao's face, she said sternly, "Lord Xiao, so you were prepared all along. You knew that your abandonment of your wife and children had already become the talk of the town, so you decided to play the villain and accuse Zou Xiaoyan, didn't you? It's a waste that she went to the brothel to earn money to support her family and to allow you to go to the capital for the imperial examinations. You are a heartless and treacherous scoundrel!"

Hearing Du Shiniang's words, Gao Can quickly echoed, "Du Shiniang's words are indeed reasonable. I hope Your Majesty will consider this carefully!" Emperor Huizong glanced at Yang Dekang, then at Gao Can and Du Shiniang. He rubbed his forehead, looking troubled, then covered his face with one hand, turning his head to avoid the onlookers below the steps. He looked at the chief eunuch Liu Guangyu beside him and said, "Minister Liu, what do you think of this matter? Which side should I believe?"

Liu Guangyu quickly stepped forward with a whisk and whispered in Emperor Huizong's ear, "Your Majesty, I don't think Zou Xiaoyan's virtues have much to do with her becoming a member of the Song Dynasty's women's football team. However, I'm afraid that Lord Xiao's revelation of his relationship with Zou Xiaoyan at this time is not what it seems."

"Is the real intention behind this 'drunken man's wine'?" Emperor Huizong frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized and said to Xiao Minghao below the steps, "Minister Xiao, your matter with Zou Xiaoyan is not a matter of state, and I shouldn't waste my breath on you here. Right now, we are recruiting members for the Song Dynasty's women's Cuju (ancient Chinese football) team. I am eager for talent and will not care about the backgrounds of these women. I even tolerated the death row inmate Chen Jinhuan, let alone a mere abandoned wife of a top scholar?"

"Your Majesty, I know I shouldn't dwell on our past relationship with Zou Xiaoyan. I should prioritize state affairs. However, I don't want to bear the stigma of abandoning my wife and children again. Most importantly, I don't want Zou Xiaoyan to participate in the Song Kingdom's women's Cuju team, lest she fall into the eye of the storm again, and I don't want Your Majesty to be accused of misjudging people." Xiao Minghao's words were dignified and impeccable. At first glance, he seemed like a loyal minister willing to humble himself to advise the emperor, or a lovelorn man thinking of his ex-wife.

After Xiao Minghao finished speaking, the officials in the hall couldn't help but whisper among themselves, some saying, "Lord Xiao is truly devoted to his ex-wife!"

Some said, "Lord Xiao is truly loyal to His Majesty. He is a reincarnation of Wei Zheng, speaking frankly and without reservation."

Others said, "Is Xiao Minghao out of his mind? He actually questioned the Emperor about the selection of the Song Kingdom women's football team. To put it bluntly, he's just acting out of selfishness and doesn't want his ex-wife to take any risks."

Upon hearing the discussions among the officials, Left Chancellor Yang Dekang was immediately overwhelmed with a thousand thoughts. He tried to unravel each thread, but he couldn't find the starting point. Why did Xiao Minghao bring up his past relationship with Zou Xiaoyan today? What was he after? Yang Dekang knew that Xiao Minghao had now firmly established himself in the court. He was eloquent, tactful, and decisive. Yang Dekang had gradually handed over some of the relationships and influence he had cultivated in private to Xiao Minghao. However, he still harbored some suspicion towards him, fearing that Xiao Minghao might betray him.

Just as Yang Dekang was hesitating whether he should say a few good words for Xiao Minghao and support him, Shen Daoyuan from the Ministry of War couldn't hold back any longer. Dressed in a lake-blue official robe, he stepped forward, raised his ceremonial tablet, and said to the emperor on the steps, "Your Majesty, your subject Shen Daoyuan has something to report."

"Oh? Does Minister Shen want to say something about the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team again? Please speak freely and let me consider it." Emperor Huizong of Song smiled slightly as he saw Shen Daoyuan stepping forward to help him out of the predicament. He thought to himself that Shen Daoyuan and Xiao Minghao had always been at odds, and Xiao Minghao had just been very aggressive towards him regarding the appointment of Zou Xiaoyan as a member of the Song Dynasty women's Cuju team. Now let's see how Shen Daoyuan will undermine Xiao.

Shen Daoyuan glanced at Xiao Minghao, then at Gao Can. He had actually seen through Xiao Minghao's scheme long ago. He knew that Xiao Minghao had deliberately staged this scene today. On one hand, he wanted to use this opportunity to clear his name of abandoning his wife and children, so that he would no longer be afraid of being threatened by Gao Can or others with this matter. On the other hand, Xiao Minghao wanted to warn Gao Can that Zou Xiaoyan was once his wife, and he would never let her go, no matter what. Even if she became a member of the Song State Women's Cuju Team, he could still protect her as her ex-husband.

Thinking of all this, Shen Daoyuan couldn't help but secretly admire Xiao Minghao's courage and cunning. However, he was no pushover either, and he also wanted to seize this opportunity to benefit himself. So, his expression became gloomy, and he gently shook the curved board in his hands. However, Du Shiniang sensed from Shen Daoyuan's small gesture that he had made up his mind. Her intuition told her that Shen's words at this moment were not meant to help Emperor Huizong of Song, but rather to cause trouble.

As expected, Shen Daoyuan solemnly said to Emperor Huizong of Song, "Your Majesty, my fiancée is among the five female Cuju players that Your Majesty just reviewed. Therefore, I also want to prioritize national affairs. However, my fiancée previously threatened to become a nun and break off the engagement. I would like to request that the wedding be completed first, and then let her participate in the match against the Jin women's Cuju team, so that she can focus on the game."

"I wonder, Minister Shen, which of them is your fiancée?" Emperor Huizong asked Shen Daoyuan with a surprised expression, simultaneously realizing that cold sweat had broken out on his forehead. He thought to himself that Shen Daoyuan's words just now were clearly making things worse, not helping him to break free from Xiao Minghao's encirclement. What kind of day is this? This is really strange! Why are all his important ministers making things difficult for him because of the women they like?

Shen Daoyuan quickly replied, "Miss Chai Nianci is my childhood sweetheart. I also taught her Cuju (ancient Chinese football) skills. Therefore, I believe she will definitely win glory for the country and become an outstanding member of the Song State women's Cuju team."

"So this is Chai Nianci, the Buddha's Bead, praised by everyone in the capital. I've heard of this girl before. Since Minister Shen has said so, I will certainly grant your wish and issue an imperial decree to you and Miss Chai to be married. How about that?" Emperor Huizong said to Shen Daoyuan with shining eyes and a face full of joy.