The attendants immediately fell into chaos. Consort Jing chuckled, “Isn’t Consort Zhuang usually quite brave? How did she suddenly faint?” Feng Qishan glared at her disapprovingly before rising to check on Consort Zhuang. A group of people surrounded her, fanning and offering water. After much commotion, Consort Zhuang slowly regained consciousness. Upon opening her eyes and seeing Feng Qishan, she immediately covered her face and burst into tears, “This humble consort is useless and has disgraced the nation. Please punish me, Your Majesty…”
Feng Qishan, who had been mostly angry at her for being harsh towards Consort Jing, now saw her crying pitifully and couldn’t bring himself to blame her further. He quietly comforted her with a few words as the palace servants carefully gathered the remnants of the golden flowers from the ground and helped Consort Zhuang out.
Seeing Feng Qishan’s stern expression, Qin Yu quickly turned to instruct his servants before Feng Qishan returned to his seat. “Your Majesty, is Consort Zhuang alright?” Feng Qishan grunted in response, “Thank you for your concern, Elder Qin. Consort Zhuang was just frightened, nothing serious.” Qin Yu smiled, “They say all divine objects in the world possess spiritual energy. Now it seems that treasures finding their rightful owners is indeed not just a legend. On my return journey, I happened to acquire a soul-calming jade pendant. I’ve already sent someone to fetch it. Please don’t refuse this small token of my sincerity.”
Feng Qishan was delighted to hear this but didn’t want to show it openly. He kept politely declining, but Qin Yu was determined to give it to him. As they were going back and forth, Qin Yi, watching from the side, grew impatient and interjected, “Your Majesty, please accept it. Even the most divine treasure is just a decoration if it’s not used. It can only fulfill its purpose when there’s a need for it!”
Feng Qishan chuckled, “You little girl, not yet grown, but you’ve already learned eight or nine-tenths of Elder Qin’s eloquence. Very well, I won’t stand on ceremony. But I can’t accept this jade ornament for nothing. How about this – tell me what you want, and we’ll see?”
Qin Yi’s eyes lit up, “Really? Will Your Majesty grant whatever Qin Yi asks for?” Qin Yu quickly interrupted her, “Xiao Yi! Don’t be rude. How can you speak to His Majesty like that?” Feng Qishan waved his hand and smiled, “It’s alright. This girl’s innocent charm reminds me of Xi Yang. As long as it’s not too outrageous, I’ll grant your request.”
As soon as Feng Qishan said this, the hall burst into commotion. The noble ladies’ faces showed both jealousy and resentment. Even Qin Yu furrowed his brow slightly as he watched her, worried she might make some earth-shattering request.
Qin Yi’s face flushed with excitement. She stood up abruptly and pointed forward, “I want to learn archery from Big Sister!”
Silence fell.
Yi Xiao, who had been playfully toying with an arrow, froze. Feng Suige, who had been looking nervous, was stunned. Qin Yu, who had been frowning, was dumbfounded. Feng Qishan, with his kind expression, was shocked. Everyone in the hall wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
She wanted to learn archery from Yi Xiao.
She only wanted to learn archery from Yi Xiao!
If she had said she wanted to marry Feng Suige, the entire Su Sha would start preparing for the third royal wedding soon, but – she only asked to learn archery from Yi Xiao.
Qin Yu was the first to react, showing a relieved smile and nodding slightly in approval.
“That won’t do,” Feng Qishan’s smile faded, though he tried to keep his tone gentle. “The most important qualities for a woman are virtue and propriety so that she can marry into a good family in the future…”
Qin Yi retorted, “But hasn’t Big Sister already married Brother Feng? Isn’t the royal family of Su Sha the best?” Feng Qishan was momentarily at a loss for words, then said angrily, “She knows nothing but wielding weapons. What good is there in learning from her… In any case, I won’t grant this request. Hurry and think of something else!”
Qin Yi looked on the verge of tears, her eyes pleading as she gazed at Qin Yu. However, Qin Yu’s attention was focused on the winding corridor outside the hall.
Yi Xiao’s finger twitched, causing the bowstring to vibrate slightly, drawing everyone’s attention. She looked directly at Feng Qishan, her voice clear and strong, “The consorts excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They are as beautiful as dew-laden flowers – but they can only serve to decorate Your Majesty’s harem. No matter how beautiful, they are just soulless toys.” She smiled slightly, “But Yi Xiao can defend borders, fight in battles, and won’t faint at the slightest…” She grinned mischievously but didn’t finish her sentence.
Feng Qishan’s face darkened, his jaw twitching slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Yu’s servant rushed in carrying a box. Qin Yu exclaimed happily, “Ah, it’s finally here! Quick, present it to His Majesty!”
Feng Qishan’s expression softened slightly. He took a look and instructed a palace servant to send the jade pendant to Consort Zhuang. Qin Yu, wearing a pleased expression, turned to his servant who had retreated to his side, and asked, “What about the other item?” The servant respectfully replied, “It will arrive shortly!”
All curious eyes turned towards the entrance. As footsteps approached, a servant entered carrying a huge leather case.
The shape of the case looked like… Yi Xiao had a vague thought but wasn’t quite sure. However, she was very familiar with such cases – was it a bow?
Qin Yu took the case, untied the leather straps securing it, and revealed a shimmering silver longbow. He lifted the bow and gestured towards Yi Xiao, “Does the Junior Consort recognize this bow?”
Yi Xiao looked at the bow in surprise, “The divine weapon Tan Lang?”
“The Seven Stars Bow…”
“It’s Tan Lang…”
Exclamations of surprise rang out from all directions.
Feng Suige had already eagerly approached to examine it closely, asking repeatedly, “Elder Qin, is this the Seven Stars Bow Tan Lang? Where did you get it?” As he spoke, he reached out to grab it.
“Ah!” Qin Yu smiled and pulled his hand back. “This bow no longer belongs to old Qin,” he said, nodding towards Yi Xiao. “If the Prince wants to see it, you’ll have to ask the owner if she agrees.”
Hearing this, Feng Suige laughed heartily and snatched the bow, “Elder Qin truly knows how to give gifts. Suige thanks you on Yi Xiao’s behalf.” Qin Yi also cheered and darted forward, “This bow has been hanging in the storehouse for so long, it’s finally found its owner!” She traced the ancient patterns on the bow’s body with her fingertips, her face full of envy, then turned to wave vigorously at Yi Xiao, “Big Sister, come quickly and try it out to see if it suits you!”
Yi Xiao still seemed a bit dazed. She frowned slightly, looking from the bow to Qin Yu, “Is it for me?” Qin Yu nodded with a smile, “What Xiao Yi said earlier was correct. An unused object is just a waste. A divine weapon can only become famous when it meets a skilled user. Consider this Tan Lang as old Qin’s welcoming gift to the Junior Consort!”
Yi Xiao didn’t rush to take the bow. She even looked a bit helplessly at Feng Suige. Seeing her unusual expression, Feng Suige asked in surprise, “What’s wrong?” Yi Xiao hesitated, then finally couldn’t help but pull him aside and whispered a few words. Feng Suige burst out laughing, “How could you think of that?” Yi Xiao’s face reddened, and she glared at him angrily, biting her lip without speaking.
Seeing everyone looking at them in confusion, Feng Suige suppressed his laughter and pushed Tan Lang into Yi Xiao’s hands, squeezing out six words, “You look at the bow first.”