Tan Bowen rode onto the field, looking clean-cut and pristine compared to the riders who had played for the past hour and were now covered in mud and sweat.
The young man's usually carefree expression was steely.
He pulled his horse up alongside First Brother.
"Mei Renlong, I won't let you down."
First raised his stick and knocked it against Tan Bowen's in a polo player's gesture of acknowledgement.
"How's your head? Are you sure you're up for this?" he gestured at the fading bruise on Tan Bowen's temple.
"Yep. All good. It's been more than a week. It's all healed-up."
First nodded his approval, and they were joined by the Second Prince and Bai Li.
"Everyone secure the inside position and mark your players tightly," said the Prince. "Clear the field for a mini-match between me and Prince Nur." His team-mates nodded.
The ball was thrown in, and each red player turned his horse to mark his man and push them to the outside position.
Tan Bowen rode neck-and-neck with his opposing man, both men bumping their horses violently as they rode.
Tan Bowen secured the ball and dribbled it from left to right under his horse's neck, using his mount's rump to edge out his opponent.
He controlled his horse tightly, galloping forward and watching the Second Prince.
The two princes had raced forward in the hope of a pass.
The Second Prince pulled Jin up on a dime and turned him 180 degrees, galloping back towards Tan Bowen.
The two made eye contact and Tan Bowen hit a cracking shot that sent the ball flying towards the Second Prince.
Prince Nur was inches behind, his skill in horsemanship on full display, but he was closed out on the outside.
The Second Prince controlled the ball, then sent if flying into the goal, with a dead-eye shot.
"A brilliant goal your majesty", the grasslands' envoy conceded.
The Emperor smiled in satisfaction.
He had four sons, and his second son Zhu Yicai was a worthy prince.
"Yes, a great game all-round. It's a pleasure to see such skilled players owning the field like that." He motioned to his Chief Eunuch. "Feng Bao, give the players a reward. Gold ingots."
"Yes Master."
Tan Bowen galloped his horse around the field, smiling with giddy enjoyment. The noble ladies in the crowd were most appreciative of his efforts.
He collected Mei Renhu from the barrier, and Second jumped on behind him.
"Sorry about Lie Ma, Mei Renhu. She was an excellent horse."
"Dirty bastards," scowled Second Brother. "Great assist at the end there, Tan Bowen. Well-played."
"Chief Eunuch Feng's calling us over," Tan Bowen spotted the Eunuch at the gate motioning to the players.
Both teams rode over to the Eunuch.
"Young Masters, Second Prince, Prince Nur, the Emperor will reward you now."
The five young men knelt while the Emperor completed his diplomatic duties with Prince Nur and the grassland envoys, bidding the contingent farewell before he turned to the red team and accepted their formal greetings.
"Rise, rise. Well-played. Mei Renlong, Mei Renhu, you've grown into strapping young men. How's your schooling progressing? When do you finish at Hanlin Academy?"
"Thank you, Lord Emperor," said First. "I finish this year, and Second Brother finishes next year."
"Will you follow your father and grandfather into military strategy?"
"Yes, your majesty, my three younger brothers and I will all be combat strategists. Our fifth brother is likely to enter the army."
"Good, good," the emperor nodded approvingly. "And how old is your youngest sister now?"
"M...Mei Meili is fifteen now your majesty," First stuttered.
"Has she had her coming-of-age ceremony?"
"Just last month."
"Did she?" he mused. "Interesting," he stroked his beard. "Your father boasts of you all, but of her, he says nothing."
It was not a question, but First's heart quivered. He didn't know what was so interesting about Meili coming of age, but nothing good could come of the Emperor taking notice of her.
"Mei Renhu, I shall reward you with one of horses the grassland envoys gifted to me to replace your pretty mare."
"Your subject thanks you for your kindness," replied Second Brother. Horses from the grasslands were highly prized for their hardiness and size.
"Tan Bowen, you did well for an artistic type," the emperor's disdain for arty types showed on his face. "Didn't know you had it in you. Your father couldn't play polo, cuju, or any sport for that matter."
It was well known that the emperor had little respect for the traditional arts, being a military man of action.
"Thank you, Lord Emperor," Tan Bowen grinned. "I'm famous in my clan for being one of the few athletic men."
"Is that so?" the Emperor tapped his fingers against the arm of his throne. "I don't suppose we can recruit you to the dark side and have you join the military?"
"Whatever my Lord Emperor commands, I shall obey," Tan Bowen bowed his head. "But my military poems and songs will probably serve the country better than my skill with a spear."
"Ha ha, yes, no doubt. Your eloquence is already gaining you fame in the capital."
"Bai Li," the emperor turned his gaze onto General Bai's son. "I know you can be relied upon to follow in your father's footsteps. I think I shall have need to call upon you in the not-so-distant future to serve your country in the North. While we work hard on diplomacy, peace won't last."
"I will follow my Lord Emperor's command," said Bai Li seriously.
"And my second son, you were the star player today. You brought us honour."
"Thank you, Emperor Father."
"How is your fiefdom being managed?"
"Everything's under-control in Gu, thank you Emperor Father. Your subject has appointed good officials and they're managing affairs there."
"Is that so? Good, good. How long until you move there?" he peered calculatingly at his second son.
"It's another eighteen months Emperor Father."
When a prince came of age at twenty, he must move to his fiefdom and seek permission to leave it. Only the Crown Prince could stay in the capital.
Being the Second Prince, Zhu Yicai had been granted a fiefdom that was on the far northern border, as far from the capital as possible, to keep him out of court politics.
His father had usurped the throne from his nephew, so he was highly sensitive to royal rebellion.
"Hmm. Until then, you must keep me company."
"When you are in Nanjing, your child will surely do so, Emperor Father."
"Well, you young men go off and do whatever it is that young men these days do to celebrate a victory."
"Yes Lord Emperor," they chorused, backing out of the audience tent.
Once they were out of earshot the Second Prince threw his arms over Tan Bowen and Bai Li's shoulders.
"Let's go out for a drink. We must celebrate our win!"
"Now you're talking your highness," Tan Bowen nodded his approval.
"Bai Li?"
"Yes, your highness, I'll join you."
"Mei Renlong, Mei Renhu?"
"I'll take Mei Renhu to the stables now your highness, he wants to be there for Lie Ma when she's put down," said First.
"Sorry Mei Renhu, that was insensitive of me," the Prince replied.
"It's okay your highness. Go out and enjoy yourselves. I'm sorry to deprive you of First Brother's company."
"No matter, no matter, we'll raise a glass to Lie Ma and celebrate a life well-lived."