Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 178 Du Shiniang Takes the Stage as a Substitute

Upon learning that Du Shiniang had requested permission to play in the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) match, Gao Can was furious and dragged Lin Chong towards a spare tent beside the Cuju field. Once inside, Gao Can, his face dark with anger, roared at Lin Chong, "Lin Chong, how could you let Du Shiniang play in the Cuju match? What did I say when I helped you successfully become the Song Dynasty's women's Cuju team, appointed by the Emperor? Have you forgotten?"

"Lord Gao, do you think I haven't tried to dissuade Shi Niang? But Miss Chai is pregnant, and the other female members of Zi Xiang Pavilion are inexperienced. I have no one to replace her. Shi Niang insists on playing Cuju. She usually trains Cuju with Consort Luo and Du Rushuang. Please feel free to let her play Cuju." Lin Chong frowned and said to Gao Can, trying to persuade him.

“Regular training is training, but today is the real competition. If you lose this Cuju match today, not only will our Great Song lose three cities, but Du Shiniang and the others will also lose their heads. Don’t you know the stakes involved? Can you bear to let Du Shiniang die?” Gao Can’s eyes were bloodshot as he roared at Lin Chong in a furious voice.

Lin Chong was taken aback by what he heard, but he quickly recovered and questioned Gao Can: "Lord Gao, what makes you think that Du Shiniang and her team will definitely lose today's Cuju match? Didn't our team score the first goal just now?"

"Heh!" Gao Can sneered, grabbed Lin Chong by the collar, and said through gritted teeth, "The Jin women's team deliberately let you win the first goal. Do you think you'll have another chance to score?"

"What do you mean? Why did the Jin women's team deliberately concede the first goal?" Lin Chong asked Gao Can, puzzled. Gao Can loosened Lin Chong's collar, then gripped his shoulders tightly and said, "In today's Cuju match, neither Luo Fei nor Du Rushuang will play their best because Ning Zhanyan has been captured by the Wolf King and is being used to threaten them. As for Xiao Yanzi, I've already privately told her not to confront the Jin women directly. And Pan Jinghe's Cuju skills aren't particularly outstanding because Ning Weizhi isn't good at Cuju to begin with. Now that you've heard my analysis, do you still think Shi Niang can win this Cuju match single-handedly?"

After listening to Gao Can's analysis of the Song Dynasty women's football team members, Lin Chong slapped his forehead in regret and muttered, "Why didn't you tell me about Ning Zhanyan's arrest earlier? So you knew we would lose today's football match. You and the Wolf King planned this all along, just waiting for us to lose to the Jin people today, didn't you?"

Gao Jian saw Lin Chong and showed a regretful expression. He completely let go of Lin Chong, turned his back to him and said, "That's right! My godfather and the Wolf King had planned the outcome of today's football match between the Song and Jin states long ago. If our side wins, the Jin state will send troops to directly seize the three border cities. If our side loses, the Jin people can take the three cities without losing a single soldier."

"I understand now. This is why you lured General Zhou Chengquan away from the capital and then assassinated him on the way. You were thinking that if the Jin Kingdom couldn't win the competition today, you would start a war at the border; if the Jin Kingdom won the competition, you were afraid that the Emperor would break his promise and make excuses, so you set a trap in the palace. At that time, you would force the Emperor to fulfill his promise and give the three lost cities to the Jin Kingdom for nothing." Lin Chong excitedly explained his speculation about the outcome of the competition.

Gao Can turned around and glanced at Lin Chong with a cold look. His words were extremely sinister: "Lin Chong, you missed one point. No matter what the outcome of today's competition is, you will die! Because you stole Shi Niang. She should have been my woman."

Just as Lin Chong was about to say that he was not afraid of death and would never let Du Shiniang fall into Gao Can's trap, a little eunuch shouted loudly outside the tent: "Instructor Lin, His Majesty says the match is to restart. Please come to the sidelines of the football field to watch the game immediately."

Lin Chong had no choice but to follow Gao Can out of the tent. Gao Can hurried back to the viewing platform, bowed to Emperor Huizong, and said that he and Lin Chong had just discussed a strategy and would definitely not let the Song women's football team lose. Emperor Huizong looked at Gao Can with satisfaction and waved for Liu Guangyu to reward Gao Can with a plate of Lingnan red lychees.

After expressing his gratitude, the high-ranking official picked up a red lychee, peeled it open with his hands, revealing the white and round flesh inside. He put the flesh between his lips and took a small bite. The juice was sweet, and he closed his eyes, thinking that tonight he would truly possess the fair-skinned and beautiful Du Shiniang. Would she be as sweet and delicious as this red lychee? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but hum a little tune called "Soul Dream Order" to himself.

The match on the Cuju field intensified with the addition of Du Shiniang. Hasalawa hadn't expected that Du Shiniang wasn't previously on the Song Dynasty's women's Cuju team roster; however, her agility and ball control were exceptional, in no way inferior to Chai Nianci. She dared not slacken, chasing after Du Shiniang from the left and right with Yin Xue. However, several of Du Shiniang's powerful shots were deflected by the plump Jin Dynasty woman using her body to clear the goal.

Du Shiniang cast a pleading look at Du Rushuang, but Du Rushuang seemed not to receive Du Shiniang's plea. Instead, she kept avoiding her gaze and deliberately went astray when Du Shiniang passed the ball to her, sending the football to the feet of the Jin woman.

What's wrong with Du Rushuang? Is she feeling unwell too? Du Shiniang noticed that her sworn sister had become less enthusiastic since the competition resumed. The Jin women, including Yin Xue, were no longer watching her closely, as if they were certain that Du Rushuang posed no threat to them.

As Du Shiniang looked somewhat confused and frustrated, Yin Xue seized the opportunity and kicked a football into the Song Kingdom's goal. Now both teams had scored a goal, making it a tie. Taking advantage of a pause in the game, Du Shiniang approached Du Rushuang and whispered, "Shuang'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why can't you catch the ball when I pass it to you?"

“Sister, I’m perfectly fine. It’s just that when they were carrying Sister Chai away, a little eunuch secretly slipped me a piece of paper, saying that my brother Ning Zhanyan is in the hands of the Wolf King, threatening me not to win the game. I noticed that my sister-in-law Chen Jinhuan wasn’t actively trying to win the ball today either. I whispered to her and confirmed that my brother has been captured by the Wolf King. I can’t let my brother get hurt!” Du Rushuang explained to Du Shiniang in a low voice, then turned her head to look left and right, afraid that their conversation would be overheard by the other team members.

"What? The Wolf King actually kidnapped Lord Ning and is using him to threaten you and Consort Luo?" Du Shiniang looked surprised. She secretly glanced at Consort Luo in the distance. Consort Luo saw Du Rushuang and Du Shiniang chatting privately and guessed that they already knew about Ning Zhanyan's capture. She gave Du Shiniang a helpless emoji and gently shook her hands a few times.

"No! We must tell Brother Lin about this!" Du Shiniang quickly pulled Du Rushuang closer to Lin Chong. Lin Chong already guessed what Du Shiniang wanted to tell her, so he relayed what Gao Can had told him earlier. Du Rushuang clenched her fists tightly in anger and said excitedly to Lin Chong, "Instructor Lin, it seems that whether we win or lose this football match today, the Jin people will not let us go. The Wolf King and Gao Qiu and his son planned everything today!"

"Shuang'er, listen to your sister. Lord Ning is, after all, the Wolf King's nephew. He won't really kill him. Besides, we already guessed with Lord Shen that there would be a storm in the palace today. He sent word the day before yesterday that he was on his way back to the capital. Let's play freely in the match later!" Du Shiniang comforted Du Rushuang, while glancing at Consort Luo in the distance.

Consort Luo immediately understood and approached. Du Shiniang pulled her close and said gently, "Your Highness, Lord Ning actually guessed that the Jin people would cheat in today's football match, so he had already communicated with Lord Shen and had him prepare defenses at the border. In addition, I received news a few days ago that my sworn brother Zhou Chengquan's injury has mostly healed, and he will hold the border to deter the Jin soldiers. Lord Shen will lead 20,000 soldiers back to the capital to support them. So you don't need to worry!"