After finishing the meal, Goudan hesitated and told his parents about the academy's reward system.
Zhou Aniu and Shen Yue'e were shocked after hearing this.
Isn’t this giving people money?
But considering Lin Xuan's style of doing things, there's nothing strange at all.
Free study and reduced rent, this reward is nothing.
"Goudan, although that reward helped our family a lot, our family is much better than before. Just try your best." Zhou Aniu comforted.
Of course he wanted the money, but he didn't want to put too much pressure on Goudan.
He is already very satisfied with his current life.
"Dad, I know." Goudan nodded, but his eyes were full of determination.
If he could be rewarded, even for consistency, it would improve life at home.
Shen Yue'e said: "Our family is what we are today thanks to Mr. Hou's help. The chickens at home have begun to lay eggs. I will wait a little longer and send them to Mr. Hou. Thank you, Mr. Hou."
"Mom, the Marquis doesn't lack these things, so just leave your parents and sister to supplement your health." Goudan said.
Although he has not been studying for a long time, Goudan has matured a lot.
"What do you know! Goudan, mother told you a truth today, people must learn to be grateful. Although the Marquis is not lacking, it is our thoughts." Shen Yue'e said with sincerity.
Although she has never read a book, she does not understand any big principles.
But I know how to be grateful.
If it hadn't been for the help of the villagers over the years, it's doubtful whether their family would have survived.
Goudan nodded in understanding and said, "Mom, I understand."
…
Time passed unconsciously, and finally the polo match was about to begin.
Early that morning, after having breakfast, Lin Xuan took his soldiers, first met Cheng Chumo and others, and arrived at the Royal Polo Ground together.
The Royal Polo Ground occupies a very large area, twice as big as Li Daozong's polo ground.
At the entrance of the polo ground, cars and horses are flowing like water, and it is very lively.
Those rich and noble ladies led their children to chat with women they knew well.
Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin couldn't take their eyes off those wealthy ladies, all dressed up in fancy clothes.
"That's enough for you, I've never seen a woman before." Lin Xuan came back to his senses, looked at their pig brother-like behavior, and said with contempt.
Cheng Chumo came back to his senses and said: "My fair lady, gentlemen are so jealous. We are just appreciating it, don't talk about us in such a dirty way."
Lin Xuan glanced at Cheng Chumo with a half-smile and said, "Wipe your saliva first before talking."
Cheng Chumo was startled and quickly wiped his mouth with his hand. When he didn't feel any moisture, he realized that he had been deceived by Lin Xuan.
"Okay, Zichu, how dare you lie to me!" Cheng Chumo said angrily.
"Okay, let's go in first." Qin Huaidao said.
Everyone dismounted and handed their horses to their attendants. Under the guidance of the attendants at the polo ground, they entered the polo ground.
The layout of the Royal Polo Ground and Li Daozong's Polo Ground are similar.
There are many stands on the east and west sides, and there is a large stand directly in the north, which is dedicated to Li Shimin.
The game could not start until Li Shimin arrived, so we separated and returned to the stands of each house.
Lin Xuan originally had a stand, but because neither Lin Dongyang nor Zhang Qing liked this kind of activity, they were unwilling to come.
Lin Xuan felt that sitting alone was too boring, so he followed Cheng Chumo to the Cheng family's stand.
"Meet Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng!" Lin Xuan bowed his hands.
"Haha, boy Lin is here, why aren't your parents here?" Cheng Yaojin asked with a laugh.
Lin Xuan said: "My parents don't know polo, so they didn't come over. So I came to disturb Uncle Cheng."
"What's the trouble? It's lively when there are people. Sit down." Cheng Yaojin said.
Lin Xuan thanked him, and Cheng Chumo pulled Lin Xuan to sit behind Cheng Yaojin.
"Brother Lin!" Cheng Chuliang greeted Lin Xuan with a smile.
Cheng Yaojin's whole family came today. In addition to Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang, Cheng Yaojin also has four sons.
But of the four remaining sons, the oldest is only eight or nine years old.
The youngest was only four or five years old. Lin Xuan nodded to them as a greeting.
There was a big age difference, so Lin Xuan really had nothing to say to them.
"Chu Liang, are you participating in the competition?" Lin Xuan asked with a smile.
Cheng Chuliang shook his head and said, "I'm still young, so I won't participate."
Cheng Yaojin turned around and scolded: "It's obvious that your riding skills are not good, but if I ask you to practice your horsemanship well, you will know how to play every day."
Cheng Chuliang's neck shrank and he didn't dare to say anything.
Cui said angrily: "Master~"
"Humph!" Cheng Yaojin snorted coldly and said nothing more.
Lin Xuan chuckled to himself, no wonder Cheng Chuliang didn't participate, it turned out to be his poor riding skills.
After chatting for a while, everyone heard a loud shout and stood up quickly, bowing and standing.
"Your Majesty, the Queen, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are here!"
Li Shimin was walking like a dragon and a tiger, with Queen Changsun beside him.
Behind him were Li Chengqian, Li Tai and other princes.
Behind are Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang and other princesses.
"See Your Majesty, the Queen, and Your Highness the Crown Prince!" everyone shouted in unison.
Li Lizhi kept looking around in the crowd. When she saw Lin Xuan, a smile appeared on her face.
Lin Xuan noticed Li Lizhi's gaze and blinked at her.
Li Lizhi's cheeks turned red and she quickly turned her head away, not daring to look at Lin Xuan again.
After Li Shimin walked up to the high platform and sat down, he asked everyone to sit down and said loudly: "The annual polo match is to show the style of the younger generation of the Tang Dynasty... I will reward the team that wins today!"
Li Mu took a step forward and said loudly: "Start drawing lots!"
The day before, all the teams that were going to participate in the competition had registered at the Etiquette Department.
These were all done by Cheng Chumo and the others. Lin Xuan didn't worry about it. He only knew that their team was number two.
A eunuch, carrying a box, walked up to Li Mu.
Li Mu reached into the box and took out a wooden sign. After seeing the numbers on the sign clearly, Li Mu said loudly: "No. 8!"
Li Mu continued to draw lots, and the second wooden card was number two.
Li Mu said loudly: "No. 2 vs. No. 12!"
Lin Xuan was a little surprised. He didn't expect them to be the first to play.
There are a total of twelve teams this time, and the chance is 1 in 6. I don’t know if they are too lucky or too unlucky.
Li Mu drew all the lots and said loudly: "Get ready on the 2nd and the 8th."
Cheng Chumo crooked Lin Xuan with his arm and said, "Let's go!"
Lin Xuan nodded, said hello to Cheng Yaojin and Cui, and left with Cheng Chumo.
The two of them walked behind the stands, joined Qin Huaidao and Yuchi Baolin, and headed to the stables.
Behind the west stand, there is a path, and then there is the wall.
Logically speaking, their opponents would also follow this path.
But Lin Xuan didn't see anyone else except them.
From the looks of it, the opponents are all in the stands on the east side.
The stands on the east side are all civil servants.
It would be interesting if civil and military forces fought against each other.
Since ancient times, civil servants and military commanders have looked down on each other. Whether it is because the emperor needs it or because they dislike each other, it is certain that civil servants and military generals will not deal with each other.
The Tang Dynasty did not despise generals like the Song Dynasty, and the literati had not yet abandoned the Six Arts of the Gentleman.
But the children of civil servants are definitely not as good as the children of military generals.
Therefore, Lin Xuan and others were not under any pressure.
Arriving at the stables, their opponents also arrived.
Lin Xuan was a little surprised to see two of them.
Although one of them was only twelve or thirteen years old, he looked tall and strong.
Of course, this burly figure is just compared to his peers.
This man was none other than Fang Xuanling’s second son, Fang Yiai, who was later known as the Cuckold King of the Tang Dynasty.
The other person was slightly older than Fang Yiai, about thirteen or fourteen years old, and looked very delicate.
This person is Wei Shuyu, the eldest son of Wei Zheng.
Fang Yiai and Wei Shuyu were both sons of prime ministers, and their final endings were tragic.
Lin Xuan didn't expect that his opponent would be them.