I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

When Gao Qiu came out wearing that ochre-red short shirt, he seemed a little unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

The fabric was fine linen, breathable, and much softer than his own coarse linen shorts, but he still felt uncomfortable wearing it.

Gao Qiu wasn't very tall, but he was well-proportioned with long arms and legs. At this moment, he was standing next to a group of burly courtiers from the Prince's Palace, his shoulders slightly hunched, making him appear somewhat thin.

Zhao Ji was drinking water when he saw him come out. His eyes lit up and he waved.

"Gao Qiu, come here!"

Gao Qiu hurriedly ran over and bowed.

"Your Highness."

"Hmm, this outfit is alright." Zhao Ji looked him up and down, then casually pointed to the center of the room.

"You'll follow us here in a bit, and attack... attack the position on the right front. Mingcheng," he said, turning to Zhao Mingcheng.

"Mingcheng, keep an eye on him for a while, it's his first time kicking."

Zhao Mingcheng nodded and walked to Gao Qiu's side.

"Brother Gao, when you get on the field, remember three things. First, when the ball comes to your feet, don't dribble too much. Look for the nearest open teammate and pass the ball with one touch. Second, run a lot, especially to places where there are no open spaces, to create openings. Third, don't be afraid of physical contact. Use your shoulders and back to lean on people and protect the ball. Get used to it first, no rush."

Zhao Mingcheng's tone was not commanding, but rather like a discussion, and the meaning behind his words was clear and unambiguous.

Gao Qiu listened very attentively, afraid of missing a single word Zhao Mingcheng said, and nodded repeatedly.

"I understand, and I will do my best to do as you say, young master, and I will not... I will not cause any trouble for the prince and young master."

"I'm not trying to cause trouble." Zhao Mingcheng smiled and patted his arm. "I'm helping. His Highness is in need of someone who knows football and can run well. You have a good foundation and can pick it up quickly, so just play freely."

These words gave Gao Qiu some confidence.

He took a deep breath, stretched his ankles, and turned his gaze to the wide expanse of grass, a flicker of eager anticipation gradually igniting in his eyes.

Zhao Mingcheng was also looking forward to the performance of this man, who would later be called "the number one player in the national football team" by football fans.

The whistle blew, and the game resumed.

As soon as the ball was kicked out, Gao Qiu realized that this was indeed different from the Cuju he was familiar with.

There were no fixed "ball heads" or "colors," no flowery "swallows returning to their nests" or "lotus leaves swaying in the wind," only endless running, heavy breathing, and the muffled sounds of flesh colliding.

The ball rolled fast on the ground, and people surged around like a tide. He stood on the right side of the road, feeling a little lost, not knowing which way to run.

The first ball that reached his feet was a half-high ball.

Gao Qiu instinctively used his thigh to cushion the ball's fall, and he hooked his foot to bring it to a steady stop.

His movements were fluid and graceful, drawing the attention of several teammates nearby.

Before he could find a passing route, a burly man in blue robes rushed over, yelling, and his strong shoulder slammed into his side.

Gao Qiu stumbled and lost the ball.

The burly man intercepted the ball and launched a long kick forward.

"Gao Qiu! What are you daydreaming about! Chase after him!" Zhao Ji shouted, spreading his hands in the front field.

Gao Qiu's face flushed, and he quickly turned around to chase after them, but the other party had already launched a counterattack.

He chased back with all his might and finally managed to interfere with the ball before it went wide of the goal line.

"It's okay, you're just starting out, take your time." Zhao Mingcheng ran past him and said in a low voice, then loudly directed the defenders to prepare for the corner kick.

In the next few minutes, Gao Qiu realized how difficult it was to play football. Since it was his first time experiencing it, he was completely lost.

His runs always overlapped with his teammates', and after receiving the ball, he always wanted to control it first and assess the situation, but the opponent didn't give him any time and pressed him fiercely.

Twice he tried to dribble past his opponent with skillful dribbling. The move was beautiful, and he shook off the first defender, but the second defender immediately blocked his path, and the ball was stolen again.

A golden counter-attack opportunity presented itself. Zhao Mingcheng received the ball in the middle and looked up to see Gao Qiu in open space on the right flank, with no one around him.

He made a long diagonal pass, and the ball landed precisely in front of Gao Qiu.

Gao Qiu's ball control was still elegant, but after stopping, he habitually adjusted himself, intending to cut inside. In that moment of hesitation, the defender arrived in time to block his path.

He could only hurriedly pass the ball back, and the opportunity was fleeting.

"Oh dear! That Gao Qiu!" Zhao Ji, who was making a run forward, stomped his foot in regret upon seeing this, and looked at Gao Qiu with a helpless expression.

Gao Qiu's forehead was covered in sweat, half from running and half from being anxious.

He glanced at Zhao Mingcheng and saw that the other man's expression was calm. He simply shook his head slightly, indicating that he should not worry about it and continued running.

Looking at the sidelines again, the prince seemed a little impatient, talking to the eunuch standing beside him.

He felt even more panicked, and his steps became even more unsteady.

A pass from the backfield was passed to him with a bit too much force, and he stopped it a little too far from his body. The opposing striker immediately slid in and poked the ball away, creating a one-on-one situation. Fortunately, his own goalkeeper made a brilliant save to deny the shot.

"Gao Qiu! Wake up! Watch your position!" This time, even Zhao Ji's tone was a bit harsher.

Gao Qiu lowered his head, his chest heaving violently.

He felt the gazes around him like needles pricking him.

No, this can't go on. He forced himself to calm down and recalled what Zhao Mingcheng had said before the start of the event.

"One-touch pass... create more space..."

It just so happens that the ball is dead.

Zhao Mingcheng walked to his side, handed him the water bag, and spoke in a calm voice.

"Brother Gao, don't overthink it. Your technique is better than theirs; you're just not used to this rhythm and space. When you see me making a forward run, just pass it into the space in front of me. Put your weight in; don't be afraid to pass it too far."

"When you see His Highness near the penalty area, lob the ball towards that spot with a high arc to avoid the defenders. Remember, your job is to set the play, not to finish. Focus on that first."

Gao Qiu gulped down several mouthfuls of water, looked at Zhao Mingcheng gratefully, and nodded emphatically.

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, young master."

After the game restarted, Gao Qiu's eyes changed; he showed less fear and a desire to perform, and more observation and contemplation.

He stopped standing still waiting for the ball and started running around without the ball, sprinting up and down the sideline, and sometimes tucking in to receive the ball.

Although his positioning was still a bit immature, his enthusiasm made Zhao Ji's expression improve.

On one occasion, Zhao Mingcheng intercepted the ball in the backfield. Instead of launching a long ball forward, he glanced at Gao Qiu's running direction and delivered a low through ball.

The ball was fast and accurate, passing precisely through the gap between the two defenders and rolling towards the open space on the right flank.

Gao Qiu understood immediately, started moving ahead of time, shook off the defense, and caught up with the ball near the baseline.

He didn't stop or blindly cross the ball; instead, he glanced at the penalty area.

Zhao Ji was circling around the near post, closely marked by his defender, while Zhao Mingcheng made a high-speed run from the back row towards the penalty spot.

In a flash, Gao Qiu flicked his ankle, not passing a high ball, but instead kicking out a very fast, low, sweeping triangular pass!

The ball kicked up a cloud of dust as it flew past all the defenders at the near post and headed straight for the top of the penalty area.

There, Zhao Mingcheng arrived in a flash, and without making any adjustments, unleashed a powerful shot at the ball!

"Bang!"

The ball flew like a cannonball, soaring into the top right corner of the goal! The goalkeeper had no chance to react.

"Good!" Zhao Ji was the first to shout, punching Zhao Mingcheng and then turning to point at Gao Qiu, "That was a beautiful pass!"

Half the credit for this goal goes to Zhao Mingcheng's shot, and the other half to Gao Qiu's calm, penetrating pass that cut through the defense—unpretentious, but deadly.

Gao Qiu, panting, finally showed a relieved smile on his face and waved vigorously in the direction of Zhao Mingcheng and Zhao Ji.

The atmosphere suddenly became lively.

Zhao Ji was in high spirits and began to take the initiative to ask for the ball, seeking cooperation with Gao Qiu.

Gao Qiu also let loose, and his delicate footwork and instantaneous creativity began to show. In terms of football, his talent is indeed unmatched by few.

A few minutes later, Zhao Mingcheng received the ball in midfield, drawing the defense, and suddenly sent a through pass to Zhao Ji, who was making a forward run.

Zhao Ji received the ball with his back to goal at the edge of the penalty area, but was tightly marked by the opposing center-back and unable to turn around.

At this moment, Gao Qiu moved in from the right flank to provide support.

Zhao Ji caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, and with the opposing defender pressing him, he managed to flick the ball backward with his heel.

The pass was somewhat forced, slow, and straight.

The defender guarding Gao Qiu had already stretched out his leg to intercept.

Gao Qiu, however, seemed to have anticipated this. He took a half-step forward and, before the ball stopped, gently brushed it with the outside of his right foot while running.

The ball changed direction, neither moving forward nor stopping, but drawing a small arc, just passing between the defender's outstretched legs. At the same time, Gao Qiu accelerated, bypassing the defender from the other side!

"Look, that newcomer has actually dribbled past the ball!" someone exclaimed from the sidelines.

Gao Qiu broke through in an instant and entered the right side of the penalty area.

The opposing goalkeeper and another defender rushed to block the shooting angle. Gao Qiu looked up and saw that Zhao Ji had broken free of the defense and moved to the edge of the penalty area.

He didn't try to take credit for himself; before the two players could block him, he used the inside of his left foot to deliver a perfectly low cross.

All Zhao Ji had to do was gently tap the ball into the empty net.

"Good!" After scoring the goal, Zhao Ji excitedly ran towards Gao Qiu, grabbed his shoulder, and shook him hard.

"Gao Qiu! Your pass! And that nutmeg! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

Gao Qiu was flattered and repeatedly said...

"It was Your Highness's excellent running and shooting skills! I... I was just lucky..."

"What coincidence!" Zhao Ji released him, his face flushed.

"That's real skill! Mingcheng, did you see that? How did he come up with that idea?"

Zhao Mingcheng also came over, a smile of approval on his face.

"Your Highness, Brother Gao's ball control and instantaneous decision-making are indeed a talent. Football involves physical contact and running, but it also requires these flashes of inspiration. Brother Gao is learning very quickly."

With the affirmation of Zhao Ji and Zhao Mingcheng, Gao Qiu's last bit of unease vanished, leaving only excitement and gratitude.

"You flatter me, sir. It was you and His Highness who led me in the game..."

The rest of the time became a performance by the three of them.

Zhao Mingcheng directed and commanded, controlling the rhythm; Gao Qiu orchestrated the play, frequently delivering brilliant passes; Zhao Ji made intricate runs, delivering the fatal blow.

Although the defense still had many weaknesses, the offense was fluid and pleasing to the eye.

Emperor Huizong laughed continuously, clearly enjoying himself immensely; he was truly having a great time.

……

As the sun began to set, a thoroughly enjoyable "practice match" finally came to an end.

Emperor Huizong was drenched in sweat, but he was full of energy and showed no signs of fatigue. He took the towel handed to him by the eunuch, wiped his face, and waved to Gao Qiu.

Gao Qiu hurried over and bowed to listen.

"Gao Qiu, I never knew you were such a gem!" Zhao Ji patted his shoulder firmly. "Good technique, quick wit, you can kick like that in half a day! Not bad, not bad at all! Much better than those polo players in the manor who have been practicing for so long!"

"Your Highness is too kind. I...I am unworthy of such praise." Gao Qiu's voice trembled slightly. "It was thanks to Your Highness and Young Master Zhao's guidance that I...I have only just begun to grasp the basics."

"Hey, it's your skill, it's your skill." Zhao Ji waved his hand, finding Gao Qiu more and more pleasing to the eye. Suddenly, he turned to Liang Shicheng, who had been standing by his side with a smile on his face.

"Master Cheng."

"This servant is here." Liang Shicheng stepped forward half a step, his voice gentle and respectful.

"Go and make a trip to the residence of Prince Consort Wang," Zhao Ji said casually.

"Tell him I've taken a fancy to Gao Qiu in his household. He's good at football and clever, so I asked him to part with him. I'll take him; he'll be my football companion from now on, dedicated to playing football with me!"

Liang Shicheng's smile remained unchanged as he bowed and responded.

"Yes, Your Highness. It is Gao Qiu's good fortune that Your Highness has taken a liking to him. I'm sure the Prince Consort will be pleased as well. I will go and do it now."

As he spoke, he glanced at Gao Qiu, his gaze calm yet seemingly able to see right through him.

Gao Qiu felt as if he had heard celestial music and could hardly believe his ears.

A courtesan at the Prince Duan's residence!

That's the position that so many people who play Cuju dream of!

From then on, she became a close attendant of Prince Duan, and her food, clothing, daily necessities, status, and position were incomparable to what they used to be!

He knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion.

"Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for your boundless kindness! Even if I were to serve you like a slave, I could never repay even a fraction of your grace!"

"Get up, get up," Zhao Ji said with a smile. "Play football well and let me have some fun; that's how you repay my kindness. Come to the manor to do your duties tomorrow."

"Yes! Yes! I will definitely come early tomorrow!" Gao Qiu kowtowed heavily again before getting up, his face flushed with excitement.

Gao Qiu dared not forget Zhao Mingcheng and immediately bowed to Zhao Mingcheng beside him.

Zhao Mingcheng offered a slight gesture of support and smiled.

"Congratulations, Brother Gao. In the future, we will have more opportunities to exchange skills with His Highness while working together."

"It's all thanks to your guidance today, young master! I will never forget your great kindness!" Gao Qiu said with utmost sincerity.

Gao Qiu was truly grateful. If it weren't for this young master Zhao's initial guidance, encouragement during the performance, and trust at crucial moments, he might not have been able to perform as well later, let alone catch the prince's eye.

Zhao Mingcheng nodded with a smile and said nothing more.

Watching Gao Qiu profusely thank him and turn back every few steps to prepare, and then watching Liang Shicheng accept the order and leave, his figure disappearing into the garden gate.

Zhao Mingcheng stood beside Zhao Ji, his smile unchanged, but strange thoughts were churning in his mind.

Liang Shicheng, a powerful eunuch known as the "Hidden Prime Minister," was one of the Six Traitors.

Gao Qiu, a favored minister who would later rise to the rank of Grand Commandant and was also listed among the "Six Traitors".

And then there's our Prince Duan, a hidden dragon in the abyss, who hasn't even ascended to heaven yet, but two of the most notorious villains in the future court have already gathered in his "plaything circle."

Zhao Mingcheng glanced at Zhao Ji beside him, who was still excitedly gesturing to his attendants about the brilliant cooperation they had just had, and the sense of absurdity in his heart grew stronger.

Does this mean I've become the "chief traitor"?

However, unlike in history...

Whether it's Liang Shicheng or Gao Qiu, they both secretly regard Zhao Mingcheng as their leader at this moment.

Liang Shicheng believed that after serving the prince for so long, he could understand seven or eight parts of the prince's thoughts, but he could never reach the deeper understanding and trust between Zhao Mingcheng and the prince.

Gao Qiu was a skilled football player, but he could never surpass Zhao Mingcheng. This was because Zhao Mingcheng not only played football well, but even the few opportunities Gao Qiu had to make were given to him by Zhao Mingcheng. In Gao Qiu's heart, Zhao Mingcheng was his benefactor.

Both Liang Shicheng and Gao Qiu knew this very well.

Zhao Mingcheng was the only one worthy of standing beside the prince, the one they should look up to.

Just as Zhao Mingcheng's thoughts were drifting.

"Mingcheng! What are you daydreaming about?" Zhao Ji put his arm around Zhao Mingcheng's shoulder, his interest piqued. "Come on, let's go to Chengyanzhai for a cup of tea. My new tea leaves have arrived!"

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhao Mingcheng composed himself, replied with a smile, and followed Zhao Ji out of the garden.