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

Gao Qiu has been serving as a playmate at Prince Duan's residence for three days now.

Today, carrying an inconspicuous coarse cloth bag, I took advantage of my free time to respectfully approach the side room where Liang Shicheng, the chief eunuch of the Prince's Mansion, was resting.

Liang Shicheng was sitting on a small stool by the window, looking at an account book by the daylight, his fingers slowly moving the abacus beads.

He didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard the slightest movement at the door.

"This humble servant, Gao Qiu, pays his respects to Liang."

Gao Qiu hung his hands at his sides, bent over like a shrimp, and spoke in a soft and steady voice.

"Hmm." Liang Shicheng responded through his nose, and after a few breaths, he put down the account book and looked up at him. His gaze was calm, as if he were looking at a newly added piece of furniture.

"It's Gao Qiu. What's up?"

Gao Qiu stepped forward half a step, still bowing, and presented the small coarse cloth package with both hands, his voice lowered and filled with utmost sincerity.

"Your Highness is so kind to grant me this opportunity to work and move around in the palace. But I am a crude and unsophisticated man who has never seen the world. I am both happy and apprehensive."

"I am happy to serve Your Highness, but I am also afraid that I am not familiar with the rules and etiquette of the manor. If I do something wrong and anger Your Highness, I will be able to atone for it even if I die ten thousand times."

Gao Qiu paused for a moment, then pushed the small package forward again.

"This little bit of money... is what I've saved up over the years. It's nothing but a small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't find it too humble and can offer me some guidance. I dare not ask for anything else, I only wish to serve steadily and not cause trouble for His Highness or you. I would be eternally grateful."

Gao Qiu spoke eloquently and adopted an extremely humble posture.

Liang Shicheng glanced at the coarse cloth bundle. The cloth was ordinary, but the shape it was shaped suggested that there were several hard items inside.

He showed no expression on his face, reached out and took it, his fingertips casually weighing it; it was indeed quite heavy.

He remained unmoved, casually placed the small bag on the low table beside him, and picked up the account book to cover it.

"Sit down and talk," Liang Shicheng said, his tone softening as he pointed to the small stool opposite him.

Gao Qiu straightened up, but dared not sit down completely. He only sat on one side of the stool, placing his hands neatly on his knees.

"Gao Qiu, you are a sensible person."

Liang Shicheng picked up the warm tea beside him, took a sip, and slowly spoke.

"Since His Highness has taken a liking to you and brought you away from the Prince Consort, it is your good fortune. Serving in our Prince's Palace is difficult, really difficult, because the rules of the Imperial Family are paramount; but it is also easy, depending on whether you have the sense of justice and whether you have the ability to handle the tasks."

"Your teachings are truly appreciated; I will remember them and never forget them," Gao Qiu nodded repeatedly.

Liang Shicheng put down his teacup and began to "teach" at a leisurely pace.

From the approximate time of His Highness's daily routine, his likes and dislikes, to the division of labor and personalities of the key stewards in the mansion; from the rules of speaking to His Highness, to the proper etiquette in dealing with other servants and guards.

The seemingly trivial details Liang Shicheng mentioned were all practical details that would allow one to make a living in the Prince's mansion.

Gao Qiu listened very attentively, not daring to miss a single word.

Finally, Liang Shicheng changed the subject, his voice lower but clearer.

"What I just mentioned are the rules on the surface. There are some rules that are not on the surface, but are in people's hearts, and those are even more important."

Gao Qiu's spirits lifted, and he leaned forward slightly.

"Our Highness,"

As Liang Shicheng spoke, he gave a slight bow towards the depths of the Prince's Mansion.

"He is of noble birth, a golden branch and jade leaf, with a proud mind and high standards. Ordinary people, even if they get close to His Highness, cannot catch his eye. Nowadays, those who can speak to His Highness and stay by his side are very few."

Liang Shicheng paused, looked at Gao Qiu's serious expression, and continued speaking.

"There is someone in the Prince's mansion whom you must recognize and respect. He is not the chief clerk or subordinate official of the mansion, but someone from outside—that young master Zhao from the Imperial Academy, Zhao Mingcheng."

Upon hearing this, Gao Qiu's expression became even more respectful.

"Young Master Zhao and His Highness are no ordinary guests and hosts." Liang Shicheng's voice was even lower.

"That was personally approved by the Empress Dowager and tacitly approved by the Emperor. His Highness treats Young Master Zhao as both a teacher and a friend, and listens to his every word. The rules of the football you are playing now were established with the help of Young Master Zhao, and many of the new ways to play were introduced by him. When His Highness is in a good mood, at least three out of ten sentences will be about 'Mingcheng said' or 'Mingcheng believes'."

Liang Shicheng leaned slightly forward, looked into Gao Qiu's eyes, and said, word by word.

"You must know that in our royal palace, His Highness is the sky, the biggest sky above everyone's head."

Young Master Zhao... is the cloud closest to the sky and the one most favored by that sky.

"Serving His Highness well is your duty, but if you can earn a few kind words from Young Master Zhao, gain his favor, and make him feel that you are useful, that is your future."

Liang Shicheng tapped his knee lightly with his finger.

"Do you understand?"

Liang Shicheng's words couldn't be more straightforward.

Gao Qiu was shocked and immediately stood up, bowing deeply.

"I understand! Thank you for your invaluable advice! Young Master Zhao is a noble person, His Highness's most favored individual. I will serve him with utmost respect and would never dare to be negligent in the slightest! I will put Young Master Zhao first in everything!"

Liang Shicheng nodded in satisfaction, leaned back in his chair, and waved.

"Good, go and do your job well. Remember, in the Prince's mansion, observe and listen more, and speak less."

"Yes, sir, I'll take my leave." Gao Qiu bowed again before quietly slipping out.

Stepping out of the side room, he was bathed in the afternoon sun and realized that his back was covered in a layer of cold sweat.

Liang Shicheng's words served as a compass, pointing out the current power structure within the Prince's Palace.

Gao Qiu wholeheartedly agreed.

Your Highness is the sky, and Young Master Zhao is the cloud. If Gao Qiu wants to have a place in this world, he must first find a way to get close to that cloud.

……

In the afternoon, as usual, it was time for football.

Emperor Huizong was in high spirits and personally selected Gao Qiu and several other skilled fighters, along with a few guards, to form a team to practice a new formation.

Zhao Mingcheng has a lecture at the Imperial Academy today and cannot come.

Dust billowed across the field.

Gao Qiu, holding back his energy, used all his exquisite ball control skills and increasingly well-developed positioning awareness, and several brilliant passes drew loud cheers from Emperor Huizong.

He seized the opportunity and scored a beautiful volley.

"Good! Gao Qiu, that was a satisfying kick!"

Zhao Ji ran over, patted his sweaty back, and smiled heartily.

Gao Qiu was also pleased with himself and was about to say something modest when Zhao Ji continued.

"Your footwork was interesting! The timing of that forward run reminded me of what Mingcheng mentioned about 'offside'... However, he said that day that it's best to have someone in the middle to draw the defense away from that kind of play, which would be more effective. If our center forward had moved a little more to the left just now..."

Gao Qiu's smile froze for a moment, then he resumed his humble demeanor and nodded repeatedly.

"Your Highness is right. I also felt that if someone could help me create an opening, I might be able to handle things more calmly. Young Master Zhao's insight is excellent; I still need to ponder it further."

During one attack, Gao Qiu broke through on the wing but did not choose to shoot himself. Instead, he glanced at Zhao Ji in the penalty area and delivered a beautifully curved cross.

Zhao Ji leaped high and headed the ball towards the goal. Although the goalkeeper saved it, the teamwork was smooth.

"Good message!" Zhao Ji landed, gave Gao Qiu a thumbs up, and then gestured to the guards beside him.

"That was a good pass, with a good landing point. Mingcheng mentioned before that when crossing the ball from the wing, it's best to use the inside of your foot to create an inward spin. The ball doesn't need to be at its fastest speed, but it should have strong spin to make it difficult for the goalkeeper to judge."

"Gao Qiu's kick just now had some spin, but it lacked a bit of power. If Mingcheng had kicked it, the arc would probably have been much more beautiful..."

As Gao Qiu listened to the words while panting, the pride he felt from scoring and assisting the goal slowly deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle.

He suddenly realized that no matter how well he played, it seemed he could never escape the name "Zhao Mingcheng" in Prince Duan's eyes.

During a break, Zhao Ji wiped his sweat, gulped down half a pot of cold tea, and looked in the general direction of the Imperial Academy. Suddenly, he sighed and complained to Liang Shicheng, who was standing beside him.

"Those old scholars at the Imperial Academy have so many rules! They only have a few days off a month. Mingcheng always comes in a rush, having to hurry back after playing for only a short while, afraid of being late. It's such a disappointment!"

Liang Shicheng said with a forced smile.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Academy is, after all, a place for the court to cultivate talents, so it is only right that the rules are strict. Young Master Zhao should focus on his studies; there is plenty of time ahead."

"There's plenty of time in the future, plenty of time in the future, that's what you always say, sigh!" Zhao Ji said somewhat sullenly, kicking the grass on the ground.

"This football game is most enjoyable when you're playing it with Mingcheng. When he's not around, it always feels like something's missing – the tactics and teamwork just don't feel right."

"You football fans may play well, but you're ultimately lacking that... well, that's it, that's inspiration! Mingcheng always manages to come up with unexpected yet perfectly reasonable ideas."

Emperor Huizong may not have had any ulterior motives when he said these words, but Gao Qiu was shocked to hear them.

His Highness's reliance on and regard for Young Master Zhao has reached such an extent.

It wasn't just liking a casual playmate; it was more like a spiritual connection and appreciation.

With Young Master Zhao absent, His Highness's enthusiasm for fun and the "soul" of the game seemed to be missing a piece.

Gao Qiu lowered his head, vigorously wiping his face with a handkerchief to conceal his inner turmoil.

At this moment, he had a profound understanding of Liang Shicheng's words, "the clouds closest to the sky."

Zhao Mingcheng was not only His Highness's favorite playmate, but also the mastermind behind His Highness's mood.

No matter how good your skills are, or how well you play within this framework, you are ultimately just an excellent "executor," not a "leader" or "core."

After training that day, Gao Qiu dragged his tired body back to his residence, but his mind was unusually clear.

The other person in the room was already snoring loudly.

Gao Qiu lay on the hard bed, staring at the dark ceiling, wide awake.

The advice Liang Shicheng gave him today, along with His Highness's unintentional complaints and comparisons, swirled in his mind like a revolving lantern.

Gao Qiu recalled his initial trepidation and ambition upon entering the Prince's mansion, and the smugness he felt when his ball skills earned him praise from His Highness. Comparing this to what he saw and heard today, a chill slowly rose from the bottom of his heart.

Gao Qiu understood; he truly understood.

In this Prince Duan's mansion, His Highness is the only ruler.

Zhao Mingcheng was the only "cloud" in that sky that would take the initiative to look after him, often take him on trips, and even be willing to listen to his opinions.

If I want to establish myself in this world and climb the ranks, the only shortcut is not to blindly practice my ball skills to please His Highness.

Flattering His Highness might bring some rewards and smiles, but it will never get you to the heart of the matter.

The real shortcut is to gain the approval of that "cloud," to become a useful gust of wind beside the "cloud," and to follow the movement of the "cloud" in order to more reliably and sustainably "reach the ears of heaven."

Gao Qiu was an extremely intelligent and pragmatic man, and he quickly realized his place.

Currently, both Zhao Mingcheng and he are merely "playmates" at the Prince Duan's residence.

However, his "playing with others" is fundamentally different from Zhao Mingcheng's "playing with others".

Who is Zhao Mingcheng?

He was the son of a scholar in the Imperial Secretariat, a member of the elite and upright family, the top student in the Imperial Academy, and was twice summoned by the Emperor for a personal audience. His literary talent and insight were even praised by the current prime minister.

His visit to the Prince's residence was a "cultural exchange" approved by the Empress Dowager and tacitly permitted by the Emperor. It was perfectly legitimate and of exceptionally noble character. Accompanying His Highness was a display of vision, strategy, and "practical application of knowledge" beyond mere affectation.

What about Gao Qiu?

Before coming to the Prince's Mansion, he was just an unsuccessful former official in the Prince Consort's household. He was chosen by His Highness because of his skill in playing football and was invited to become a "football player".

To put it nicely, they were His Highness's playmates; to put it bluntly, they were just one of the many "artistic servants" in the Prince's mansion, of lowly status, their lives entirely dependent on His Highness's whims.

He played with His Highness purely for amusement and entertainment, as a "trinket" to make His Highness happy.

Gao Qiu was perfectly aware of this difference.

He may have previously had the unrealistic idea of ​​"dominating the competition with his ball skills," but now he has completely abandoned that idea.

Zhao Mingcheng's foundation, background, knowledge, imperial favor, and even the "name" and "style" of his interactions with His Highness were all things that Gao Qiu could never catch up to in his lifetime.

His only assets are his "playmate" status, his fairly bright mind, and his decent ball skills.

If we can't catch up, then we won't chase; if we can't compare, then we won't compare.

Gao Qiu's thoughts gradually became clear.

He decided that from now on, he would more subtly highlight Young Master Zhao's "foresight" and "brilliance" in front of His Highness.

The goal is to make His Highness feel that all his "brilliant teachings" and "insights" are efforts to implement Young Master Zhao's ideas.

At the same time, one must be absolutely respectful, diligent, and obedient in front of Young Master Zhao, and demonstrate one's "usefulness" and "sensibility".

The goal is to make Young Master Zhao feel that he is a capable, sensible, and trustworthy "one of his own" on the football field and even by His Highness's side.

Your Highness is Heaven.

Young Master Zhao is the cloud closest to the sky.

Then he would become the most obedient breeze on the edge of the clouds.

Only by doing so could this rootless wind find a way to survive and even rise to prominence under the sky of the Prince's mansion.

Having figured all this out, Gao Qiu finally let out a long sigh of relief, turned over, and closed his eyes.