Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Time flies, and more than ten days have passed since Shen Daoyuan left. Lin Chong, along with Zou Xiaoyan, Pan Jinghe, Chai Nianci, and several other female Cuju (ancient Chinese football) players, are diligently training in the Zixiang Pavilion. Although Yelü Wen has forcibly kept Du Rushuang at the Jin envoy's inn, he hasn't restricted her freedom, so she returns to the Zixiang Pavilion every day to train with Zou Xiaoyan and the others. However, every evening after training ends, Yelü Wen personally comes to fetch Du Rushuang, fearing she might refuse to stay with him.

That morning, Du Rushuang dressed in a red Cuju uniform and headed out to Zixiang Pavilion for Cuju training, as usual. However, at the gate, she saw a young girl dressed in the magnificent attire of the Jin Dynasty holding Yelü Wen's hand. This girl had a beautiful face but possessed the unique wheat-colored skin of a woman from the desert, and she was also plump and agile.

Curious, Du Rushuang hid behind a thick red pillar, as thick as an adult's waist, at the gate, eavesdropping on the conversation between Yelü Wen and the girl. She heard the girl say to Yelü Wen with a hint of annoyance, "Brother Yelü, the Wolf King once told me that there are many fun and delicious places in the capital of Song. Could you take Hasalawa to visit them today?"

"Lava, don't you have to train for Cuju today? There are less than twenty days left until your match against the Song Women's Cuju Team. Are you still thinking about going out to play? If Coach Mohat finds out, he will definitely punish you!" Yelü Wen patiently advised Hasalava.

"I asked Coach Mo for leave in advance, saying I was tired and wanted to rest today. Will you keep me company for a while?" Hasalawa said to Yelü Wen in a pleading tone, gently shaking his sleeve.

Yelü Wen frowned and thought for a moment, then said helplessly to Hasalawa, "I really can't do anything with you. I know that you and your sisters haven't gone out to play much since you came to Song. Today I'll grant you a special day off and let Instructor Mo take you to the bustling restaurants and shops in the capital. I'll cover all your expenses for entertainment today."

"That's wonderful! I knew you were the best to me, Brother Yelü." Upon hearing this, Hasalawa gently kissed Yelü Wen on the cheek, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the man.

Watching this scene, Du Rushuang felt a sudden pang of sorrow. How could Yelü Wen have let this woman take advantage of him like this? Was it really his own choice? He said he only liked her—what a lying man! Du Rushuang snorted angrily, then stepped out from behind a pillar and said sarcastically to Yelü Wen and Hasalawa, "Lord Yelü, you are truly blessed with good fortune! Since you already have a beautiful woman by your side, I, Du Rushuang, will take my leave."

Upon hearing Du Rushuang's words, Yelü Wen was startled. This woman had long since wanted to leave the inn and keep him company. What had she just said? Farewell? Who had given her permission to leave? Thinking of this, Yelü Wen rushed forward and grabbed Du Rushuang's hand, saying excitedly, "Shuang'er, when did you arrive? I can explain everything you saw and heard. I..."

"Lord Yelü, I'm nothing to you, you don't need to explain to me. Shuang'er has been staying at the inn these past few days, thank you for taking care of her. I'll go back to my room to pack my things and leave now." Du Rushuang retorted directly to Yelü Wen. She didn't want to hear this scoundrel's explanation; she just wanted to take this opportunity to leave. She hadn't left before because she was gathering information about the Jin delegation for Du Shiniang, but she hadn't gotten any useful information these past few days, and she had long wanted to escape. Unexpectedly, this morning a Khasarawa arrived, giving her a perfect excuse to leave in anger. The excuse was perfectly plausible; Yelü Wen probably believed she was leaving out of jealousy.

Seeing that Du Rushuang ignored him and turned to go back to her room to pack her things, Yelü Wen bit his lower lip in anxiety, his face tense. Hasalawa knew before arriving at the inn that Yelü Wen had hidden a woman there, and she guessed that the woman in the football uniform was the one he had concealed. So, she stepped forward and grabbed Yelü Wen, saying loudly, "Brother Yelü, who is this Song woman? If she wants to leave, let her go. Why are you keeping her? Come with me shopping, don't worry about her!"

Yelü Wen turned and glared at Hasalawa, scolding her, "Lawa, don't cause trouble here! Shuang'er is my betrothed, your future sister-in-law, you mustn't be rude!"

"What? How could this woman be my future sister-in-law? Can't you see that I love you?" Hasalawa shouted at Yelü Wen in a frenzy, his eyes filled with anger, like a little wildcat that had been provoked.

Du Rushuang didn't want to argue with the Jin woman, so she forcefully shook off Yelü Wen's hand and walked straight towards her room. Yelü Wen was anxious to catch up with Du Rushuang, so he shoved Hasalawa hard, and the Jin woman, caught off guard, fell to the ground.

Hasalawa shouted hoarsely at Yelü Wen and Du Rushuang's retreating backs: "Du Rushuang, I know you're on the list of members of the Song Dynasty's women's Cuju team appointed by the Song Emperor. Do you dare to have a private Cuju match with me and see who has better Cuju skills?"

Upon hearing this, Du Rushuang glanced sideways at Hasalawa, who was sitting on the ground, and said to her, "Why should I compete with you in Cuju? Why don't we just compete at the palace in a few days?"

"Du Rushuang, are you afraid to play Cuju with me? I knew that the women of your Song Dynasty were very bad at Cuju. Cuju is as seductive as dancing, it's just to please men. You are far inferior to the women of our Jin Dynasty." Hasalawa said to Du Rushuang in a mocking tone.

"You think you can provoke me? I'm not falling for that." Du Rushuang finished speaking, then sneered and turned to go back to her room to pack her things, preparing to leave the inn where the Jin envoys were staying. Yelü Wen followed her back to her room and tried to coax Du Rushuang gently for a while, but the woman just wouldn't stay at the inn any longer.

Seeing that he couldn't move the woman with emotions, Yelü changed his approach and said to Du Rushuang, "Shuang'er, actually, Hasalawa's feelings for me are one-sided; I don't like her at all. But she is, after all, the captain of the Jin Kingdom's women's Cuju team, and I often have to discuss official business with her. She just challenged you; are you really afraid to play Cuju with her? Why don't you help your good sisters try out the Cuju skills of the Jin Kingdom women?"

Upon hearing Yelü Wen's words, Du Rushuang's hand holding the bundle trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyes in deep thought for a moment. Yelü Wen's suggestion to help her sworn sister and Coach Lin test the Cuju skills of the Jin Kingdom's women's Cuju team captain seemed like a meaningful endeavor. If it was for jealousy, she wouldn't be willing, but if it was to test the depth of the enemy's Cuju skills, she felt it was worth a try.

Seeing that Du Rushuang seemed to have been persuaded, Yelü Wen took her to the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) field at the post station and then had six female Cuju players from the Mohat and Jin Kingdom women's Cuju teams summoned. Du Rushuang suggested that Du Shiniang and Lin Chong also be invited to the post station to cheer her on, so Yelü Wen sent someone on horseback to fetch Lin Chong and Du Shiniang. Wu Song also shamelessly followed along.

As soon as Du Shiniang saw Du Rushuang, she warmly stepped forward and hugged her, whispering in her ear, "Shuang'er, why did you decide to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) against the captain of the Jin Kingdom's women's Cuju team today? And it's a one-on-one challenge."

Du Rushuang blinked and deliberately raised her voice, saying, "This Khasalava has taken a liking to our Lord Yelü and challenged me for him, but I didn't accept her challenge for that reason. I wanted to see the skill of this Jin woman in Cuju (ancient Chinese football). This woman even insulted the women of our Song Dynasty, saying that we don't know Cuju and only know how to use it to please men."

"How dare this Jin woman insult our Song women like this! Good sister, you must teach her a lesson later and let her know how powerful our Song women are—no, we are the Lin Chong women's Cuju team!" Du Shiniang glared angrily at the six Jin women's Cuju players behind her and said indignantly.