Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 172 There are also Jin spies in the palace.

Chapter 172 There are also Jin spies in the palace

After reading Du Shiniang's letter, Gao Can's face darkened, and anger flared within him. This Yang Bingnan was nothing more than a storyteller, yet he dared to set his sights on his woman! Zou Xiaoyan was now his woman, though without official status, she was kept by him in the Tingyu Pavilion of the Zixiang Pavilion—everyone in the capital knew this. And he even cooperated with Xiao Minghao? Did he think he was afraid of Xiao Minghao, that all-knowing but empty-headed man?

He grew angrier the more he thought about it, realizing he had almost been wrongly accused of betraying Zhou Chengquan and Shen Daoyuan. If it weren't for Du Shiniang and Liu Guangfu, he would probably have been interrogated by the Emperor today.

Therefore, Gao Can petitioned Emperor Huizong of Song to thoroughly investigate Yang Bingnan's betrayal of Zhou Chengquan and Shen Daoyuan's marching route and to arrest Xiao Minghao. Emperor Huizong granted Gao Can's request, but he instructed that Xiao Minghao should not be tortured, because Xiao Minghao was on good terms with the Jin delegation and had the deep trust of Mohat. He was afraid of offending the Jin people, and also afraid that the Left Chancellor would put pressure on Gao Qiu and his son.

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Gao Can arrested Yang Bingnan and had him beaten half to death by the Ministry of Justice. Zou Xiaoyan pleaded with Gao Can multiple times, but he remained unmoved and sentenced Yang Bingnan to death. As for Xiao Minghao, although he was imprisoned by Gao Can in the Ministry of Justice, he was forced to release him due to Yelü Wenzhi and Mohat's intervention.

Mohat argued that he and Xiao Minghao were just joking around after drinking too much that day, and he didn't actually instruct anyone to steal Du Shiniang's specially made Cuju boots. As for bribing Yang Bingnan, both Xiao Minghao and the Jin people denied it, saying that Yang Bingnan was retaliating against Xiao Minghao because he admired Zou Xiaoyan. In the end, Yang Bingnan couldn't produce any other evidence to prove that Xiao Minghao had bribed him, so Xiao Minghao was successfully exonerated.

A few days later, Yang Bingnan was to be beheaded. At the execution ground, he received Xiao Cheng's obeisance. Before her death, Zou Xiaoyan asked her son to recognize Yang Bingnan as his godfather so that he could visit his grave in the future. Yang Bingnan was deeply grateful. Before his execution, he earnestly advised Zou Xiaoyan, "Little Swallow, every time I hear that scoundrel Gao Can call you that, I am filled with jealousy. He is not good enough for you. Gao Can is just a playboy. He will not be good to you for long. He only taught you Cuju (ancient Chinese football) to use you against the Jin people."

"I hope you can get rid of Gao Can as soon as possible! As for Xiao Minghao, he was disloyal to you. Even if he turns over a new leaf in the future, never believe his sweet talk, remember that?"

With tears streaming down her face, Zou Xiaoyan looked at Yang Bingnan, who was dressed in prison clothes, and sobbed as she said to him, "Brother Yang, it's Xiaoyanzi who has wronged your sincere heart! I will repay the debt of love I owe you in the next life! I will remember your words in my heart, don't worry."

"Cheng'er, quickly kowtow to your godfather and send him on his way..."

Finally, Zou Xiaoyan took her son and left the execution platform, unable to bear the horrific scene any longer. Du Shiniang, with a soft heart, sent someone to collect Yang Bingnan's body and had Zou Xiaoyan and Xiao Cheng handle his funeral arrangements, but we won't go into those details.

Since Yang Bingnan's death, Du Shiniang and Lin Chong have strengthened the management of personnel in Zixiang Pavilion, preventing the easy leakage of information from the imperial court. Du Rushuang, Pan Jinghe, and others also diligently practice Cuju (ancient Chinese football) every day, while Du Shiniang is busy preparing Cuju costumes, boots, and other necessary items for them.

That day, Du Shiniang went to the palace to see Consort Luo, presenting her with the newly made uniforms for the Song Dynasty women's Cuju (ancient Chinese football) team. Du Rushuang accompanied Du Shiniang to the palace. Consort Luo, having nothing else to do, had a maid help her put on the clothes for Du Shiniang to see. Du Shiniang had modified the old women's Cuju uniform, especially the design of the waist and trousers, which accentuated her figure and made her legs appear longer. Consort Luo praised Du Shiniang's modifications highly. Du Rushuang, looking at Consort Luo, kept praising her slender and beautiful figure, saying she had captivated the Emperor!

Just as the three women were bickering and making a scene, Ning Zhanyan entered Qixia Palace. He frowned upon seeing Consort Luo's new Cuju (ancient Chinese football) outfit, looking thoughtful. Du Shiniang, unaware of Ning Zhanyan's identity, asked suspiciously, "Lord Chen, isn't it impolite of you to stare at Consort Luo like that? If His Majesty sees you, it's a capital offense!"

"Excuse me, Du Shiniang, I wasn't looking at Consort Luo, but rather I was stunned by her Cuju (ancient Chinese football) outfit. Just a couple of days ago, I happened to see a Jin woman at the Jin Kingdom's post station wearing the same style of Cuju outfit. The waistline and the design of the trousers were exactly the same." Ning Zhanyan said, pointing to the waistline and hem of Consort Luo's Cuju outfit.

"Impossible! The modified design of the waist and trousers was something my sister thought about for several days. I even saw her make the pattern for this football uniform herself." Du Rushuang loudly denied Ning Zhanyan's words before Du Shiniang could speak.

“That’s right! The Jin people couldn’t possibly know about my improved Cuju (ancient Chinese football) uniform. After the Yang Bingnan incident, I also kept a close eye on the news from Zixiang Pavilion. Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be any more Jin spies.” Du Shiniang said, while lowering her eyes to think.

“Shi Niang, I believe what you say. There are no more Jin spies in Zi Xiang Pavilion, but these spies are watching the Song women’s football team in other places, such as in this palace, where there are many eunuchs, maids and guards.” Ning Zhanyan said to Du Shiniang and Luo Pin with a worried look.

"Could there be Jin spies in my Qixia Palace?" Consort Luo murmured after hearing Ning Zhanyan's words. After a while, she half-closed her eyes and looked at Ning Zhanyan, wanting to hear what ideas he had for finding out the Jin spies in the palace.

"Lord Chen, Consort Luo, why are you so sure that the spies who leaked the information about the improved Cuju uniforms are hiding in the palace?" Du Rushuang asked, puzzled. Du Shiniang quickly explained, "Because when I was improving these Cuju uniforms, I personally hand-painted three pictures of Cuju team uniforms and sent them to Consort Luo in the palace to ask for her opinions and to choose her favorite Cuju uniform."

"I see! No wonder you said the news about the improved Cuju uniform might have been leaked in the palace." Du Rushuang shook her head slightly, looking as if she had just realized something, which made the two palace maids next to Consort Luo want to laugh but dare not, so they covered half of their faces.

Next, Consort Luo discussed with Du Shiniang and Du Rushuang how to further improve the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) uniforms. After all, it looked a bit odd for women from two different countries to wear identical outfits for Cuju matches. However, this time they discussed the matter behind closed palace gates, and all their conversations were written down. Finally, after Du Shiniang finished drawing the blueprints for the improved Cuju uniforms, she carefully placed them inside Du Rushuang's undergarment.

Ning Zhanyan stood guard outside the room to prevent any palace maids or eunuchs from eavesdropping or spying on Consort Luo and her companions discussing the improvement of their Cuju (ancient Chinese football) uniforms. Sure enough, Ning Zhanyan spotted a small pink hem of a skirt behind a crabapple tree outside the room. It seemed that a palace maid was trying to eavesdrop on the conversation inside. He approached the palace maid discreetly.

The palace maid was quick-witted and soon noticed someone approaching. She drew her sword and preemptively stabbed at Ning Zhanyan. Ning Zhanyan, dressed in the robes of a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard), also drew his sword and fought back. Although the palace maid was well-trained and skilled, she was no match for Ning Zhanyan. So the palace maid sprinkled some powder and turned to flee.

Ning Zhanyan covered his mouth and nose with his robe and hurriedly chased after the palace maid, leaping and bounding through the palace walls. Their chase alerted many of the palace guards. A dozen or so men then surrounded and pursued the palace maid. However, the maid was familiar with all the palaces, and she escaped without any trouble, even sending out smoke signals as she fled.

A moment later, four or five men in black emerged from the shadows of the palace to cover for the maid, allowing her to easily exit the palace gates. Ning Zhanyan gritted his teeth and followed the maid out of the palace gates. Once outside, Ning Zhanyan mounted a black horse and galloped along the long street outside the palace to catch up with the maid.

The cunning palace maid left the palace gates and boarded the waiting carriage. She changed her clothes inside and then disembarked midway. Ning Zhanyan, a former official of the Ministry of Justice, saw through her clever escape. He secretly followed her to an inn called "Autumn Moon Inn." At that time, the inn was not busy; only one waiter greeted guests in the lobby.

"Sir, are you here to find relatives or to investigate a case?" the waiter asked Ning Zhanyan coldly.