Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"Your Majesty's compassion for the people is truly a blessing for all!" Qi Heng said admiringly.

Generally speaking, even if a royal villa is abandoned, it will not be open to the public for casual visits.

This is because it is both to maintain the face of the royal family and to preserve the sanctity of the royal family.

Even if it's a separate courtyard, if it's opened up to the public for free visits, wouldn't it just be like a temple?

It is very rare for the government to think this way, even if it is only relaxed on some important holidays.

"However, I think your method is better. I'll mention it to His Majesty later and see what he thinks."

Empress Cao smiled and said, "Alright, we've toured Jinming Pond. It's getting late, let's go check out the polo match. Speaking of which, I used to enjoy playing polo in my younger days."

Empress Cao's maternal family was the Duke of Cao's family, and her grandfather was a famous general who helped found the country.

Her youngest grandfather was still alive and had taught her martial arts, and she naturally played a lot of polo.

However, she hadn't touched it since entering the palace. As the empress, she naturally couldn't personally play polo.

Polo, after all, is a competitive game played on horseback, and it carries considerable danger.

No one objected to Empress Cao's suggestion. The group left the villa, boarded their carriages again, and, under the protection of the Imperial Guards, headed to the polo field a few miles away.

When we set off, someone had already gone to the polo field to inform them.

Madam Wu received a notification, along with an imperial edict from Empress Cao, instructing her not to make a fuss about going to greet them.

Madam Wu then went alone to wait outside the polo field for Empress Cao's carriage to arrive.

Even so, all the noble ladies who came today knew that Empress Cao was coming.

As the initiator of the polo club, Madam Wu's every move was being watched by many people.

When the noble ladies learned that Madam Wu had left the polo field, they all knew that Empress Cao was coming.

However, they had not been notified and it was inappropriate for them to go and greet them.

"Your humble servant respectfully welcomes Your Majesty the Empress!"

When Madam Wu saw the caravan arrive, she quickly stepped forward to pay her respects.

"No need for formalities!"

A palace maid lifted the carriage curtain, and Empress Cao leaned out, smiling and waving her hand.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!"

After expressing her gratitude, Madam Wu stepped aside to lead the way, saying, "Your Majesty, please come in!"

"Um!"

Empress Cao nodded slightly and entered the polo field, with a palace maid carrying Zhao Shou beside her, and Qi Heng and his mother behind her.

"This polo field is quite nice. It provides a place for the wives and children of officials in the capital to have some fun when they are bored," Empress Cao said with a smile.

Madam Wu said, "I only set up a polo field because I like it myself."

Empress Cao looked at Madam Wu in surprise and said, "You still play polo now?"

Judging from what Madam Wu said, she still occasionally goes out to play, but she's already over forty years old.

"I'm getting old, and while I used to ride horses in secret a few years ago, I haven't done it in recent years," said Madam Wu.

"Time waits for no one, so we need to be careful."

Empress Cao nodded and said, "I've heard that many daughters of officials in the capital are good at polo. Find a few to play a game later, and I'll reward them if they win!"

"yes!"

Madam Wu agreed, but in her heart she was pondering Empress Cao's intentions.

She sent the invitation to the Sheng family at the behest of Empress Cao, but she didn't tell anyone about it.

She was completely baffled by this.

In the end, we can only guess that it was because of Old Madam Sheng or Grand Tutor Wang.

Old Madam Sheng once served in the palace, and Grand Tutor Wang was even honored with a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Although it was strange that Empress Cao sent someone to tell her to deliver an invitation to the Sheng family, she couldn't think of any other reason besides that.

Now that Empress Cao has just arrived, she has asked her to select a few of the daughters of officials who have come to play a game of polo, which has made her even more puzzled.

Recalling that Empress Cao had previously asked her to deliver an invitation to the Sheng family, she immediately realized what was going on.

"I have heard that the daughter of the Duke of Yingguo, and also the daughter of Physician Sheng, are quite good at polo."

Madam Wu said, "I will go and ask later!"

"Um!"

Empress Cao nodded slightly, not bringing up the topic.

Upon seeing this, Madam Wu knew that she had guessed correctly.

Although she still had many doubts in her mind, she couldn't dwell on them anymore.

After escorting Empress Cao to the reserved tent, he bowed and left in a hurry.

As soon as Madam Wu left, some officials' wives and their children came to pay their respects to Empress Cao.

There were rows of tents on both sides of the polo field. These tents were for the families of officials to watch the polo match and rest. The closer to the center, the better.

The Sheng family wasn't even qualified to be invited, and the tent's location should have been quite remote.

However, since it was Empress Cao who gave the order, Madam Wu arranged a relatively nice tent for her.

Inside the tent at this time, only Madam Wang and some servants were inside; Sheng Changbai and the others had gone off to play by themselves.

Madam Wang had gone out for a stroll earlier, but had not found any familiar officials' wives, so she had to return to her tent.

"What are they doing?"

When Madam Wang saw the officials' wives and children coming out of the tents opposite and heading in one direction, she was filled with doubt.

"I'll go and find out right away!" said Liu Mama, and seeing that Madam Wang did not object, she hurriedly left.

Before Liu's mother returned, Wu's wife arrived.

"Greetings, Madam Wu!"

Madam Wang quickly stood up to greet her.

Without even returning the greeting, Madam Wu hurriedly asked, "Madam Wang, do any of your three daughters know how to play polo?"

"Um?"

Madam Wang was taken aback by the question and said, "Madam Wu, my Sheng family is considered a scholarly family, but the girls in my family don't play polo."

When Grandma Sheng taught Minglan to play polo, she always made excuses to take Minglan to the polo field outside the city to teach her.

There were still quite a few polo fields outside Bianjing City, but Wu Da Niangzi's polo field was usually only open to the powerful and wealthy.

The servants at Shou'an Hall were all trained by Madam Fang, and they were extremely tight-lipped.

So much so that for the past few years, Madam Wang was unaware that Old Madam Sheng had been teaching Minglan to play polo.

As for Rulan and Molan, needless to say, Rulan only likes games like pitch-pot and ball games.

Mo Lan, like her stepmother, spends all her time studying poetry and literature.

"Won't?"

Madam Wu frowned slightly. Suddenly, she remembered that Old Madam Sheng was very good at playing polo and was very famous in Bianjing before she got married.

Even the young masters of Bianjing couldn't compare to Old Madam Sheng when it came to playing polo.

Thinking of this, Madam Wu asked anxiously, "Madam Wang, where is your sixth daughter?"

"My fourth daughter dragged me to play polo."

"I have urgent business with her, so I'd like to trouble Madam Wang to send someone to invite her over."

"I'll send someone over right away!"

Although Madam Wang was puzzled, she didn't know why Madam Wu was in such a hurry to find Minglan.

However, they immediately sent people to search for the person.

After the maid left, she tried to get information out of Madam Wu to find out the reason.

But even Madam Wu herself didn't know what Empress Cao was planning, so she dared not speak recklessly.

…………

In the Chuiwan area, Minglan saw that Rulan was having a great time playing, so she pulled Yu Yanran aside to chat and asked her some questions about female workers.

A maidservant rushed over, bowed, and said, "Sixth Miss, the Madam wants you to go to the tent immediately."