The Emperor’s dragon heart was greatly pleased. He accepted the phoenix stones presented by Great Qiu and rewarded these ten young women with a hundred bolts of silk and a hundred taels of gold.
Wu Jian watched with eyes gone straight. A man in his thirties or forties, as if he’d never seen such lively beautiful young women before. Relying on being an envoy like Kena, he spoke shamelessly. “Lord Kena, your Great Qiu brought such beautiful noble daughters—could it be you’re considering a marriage alliance?”
Mo Zi narrowed her eyes. This man was truly an incompetent fool.
Kena didn’t smile. His solemn face glanced once at Wu Jian, without speaking.
The woman who’d presented the treasure had been walking toward her seat. Hearing Wu Jian’s words, she immediately turned back around, saying coldly and proudly, “We ten were carefully selected to travel with Lord Kena—only for learning, not for marriage. Even if we were to marry, it must be to Great Qiu’s cleverest talents, bravest generals, most noble princes—how could people from other nations presume?” Having said this, ignoring Wu Jian’s ugly expression, she sat beside her traveling companions.
Mo Zi watched her indifferently for a while, then shifted her gaze away. This woman was Kena’s other daughter, Yueying. Though she had a poor relationship with her sister Yuexiang, her relationship with Mo Zi herself wasn’t particularly good either.
By rights, bright lamps were lit on both sides of every table. Even though Mo Zi sat in the last row in the corner, if one paid attention, she could still be seen. But the lamp beside her table inexplicably went out, making it so she could see others very clearly, but others saw her only hazily.
Mo Zi was satisfied with the current situation. Her gaze wandered around, when suddenly she discovered Yuan Cheng wasn’t among those rows of seats. Immediately, this raised an intense question—
Where was he?
Because her thoughts were entirely on this matter, seeing Xiao Er sitting in the front rows opposite, she only casually swept past. Moreover, his appearance was within her expectations. Great Qiu wouldn’t stop stirring things up here. They definitely had more moves planned. Great Zhou’s side couldn’t keep conceding—there had to be someone like Xiao Er to steady the situation. As for whether he could actually steady it—hard to say.
But after wine and food were consumed fully, Kena made no further moves. Just as she thought she was being overly suspicious, she heard an unfamiliar envoy official seated below Kena cup his hands and speak.
“Your Majesty, now that the New Year’s Eve dinner is eaten, the dance viewed, the treasure presented—may we be permitted one more Great Qiu New Year custom?”
The Emperor seemed genuinely interested in Great Qiu’s customs, laughing. “The two nations’ customs differ greatly, but it’s quite interesting. What might it be this time?”
“Horseback archery.” Kena took over from his deputy envoy’s words. “Also conducted with men and women together. However, I fear it’s unsuitable for Great Zhou’s culture—we can just entertain ourselves.”
“Lord Kena’s words clearly look down on people. Our Nande has many talented women—they organize poetry societies discussing past and present, can sing and compose, can write and paint. The current Empress Dowager is an outstanding woman of excellence. Though Great Zhou has many rules for women, I believe that inheriting the Female Emperor’s legacy, there must be women who can compete with your noble daughters. Horseback archery—what difficulty is there?” Activities like fanning flames and stirring trouble—Wu Jian didn’t need to coordinate with others beforehand. He could do it effortlessly. Earlier, having been rebuked by a beauty and forced to back down because Great Qiu was formidable, now he wanted to borrow Great Zhou’s prestige to bully back.
Great Zhou’s court always strenuously avoided discussing ancestor Wu Zetian. Today, being provoked repeatedly by two nations, not only did officials show displeasure, even the Emperor’s face somewhat darkened.
For the sake of face, though the Emperor was unhappy inside, he was still provoked into showing spirit. “Kena might as well explain the rules of horseback archery. Great Zhou’s sons and daughters may not be unable to do it.”
Watching these Great Zhou noble officials nodding, eager to prove themselves, Mo Zi sighed inwardly—they’d been duped without realizing it. Great Qiu’s so-called treasure presentation was actually provocation against Great Zhou’s imperial authority. Now, talking about men and women participating together in horseback archery—clearly they wanted to embarrass Great Zhou.
These Great Zhou noble ladies attending the banquet, even if they could ride horses, only meant it symbolically, not to mention archery.
“This custom we call Bell Shooting—actually quite simple. Women wear specially made large bucket hats with six gold bells hung around the brim. A circle is drawn in the arena—women cannot move beyond the circle’s boundary but can shift the hat’s position to adjust the bells’ locations. Men ride horses, using specially made small arrows to shoot the bells. Generally, based on the field size, the number of participants is decided. For example, four men and four women divided into two teams. Each team takes turns—one round, one person shoots three arrows. Each team must shoot the bells on the opposing team’s women’s hats. Whoever shoots down six bells first wins. If within one incense stick’s burning time, neither side shoots down all bells, whichever side shot down more bells wins. Special rule: if a team’s woman retreats from the circle out of cowardice, that team is penalized to leave only one woman with one bell. The woman’s body cannot move but her head can. That team shoots three arrows. If the bell falls, that team wins. If the bell doesn’t fall, positions switch. That team’s man stands motionless in the circle holding the hat, while the other team’s woman shoots at it. If shot down, the other team wins. If not shot down, both teams tie. The victorious men gain the defeated women.” After Kena finished the rules, he added, “Bells move like wind, wind brings the year’s rain—this custom is to pray for favorable weather and bountiful harvests.”
“Though the meaning is good, it’s somewhat thrilling.” The Emperor looked toward the noble ladies’ side—most had faces drained of color. “What if an arrow hits someone—what then?”
Kena Yueying rose and said, “Your Majesty, the arrowheads are blunt iron, and they’re small arrows. The bells are tied with grass thread. Even if shot at someone’s body, it will only hurt, not endanger life.”
Yueying’s words didn’t make the Great Zhou noble ladies’ expressions much better, but the Emperor was reassured. Being reassured, the result was that without even asking the Empress Dowager or Empress’s opinion, his golden mouth wanted to personally witness this Bell Shooting. Great Zhou would produce one team of three men and three women. However, for the crude rule about victors gaining defeated women, it was replaced with defeated women kneeling to present three cups of fine wine to the victors.
In the hall, Great Zhou’s officials and women immediately stirred with private discussions.
Mo Zi coldly observed the Great Qiu envoys showing satisfied expressions, while those ten beauties wore arrogant smiles—they were certain of victory. Shaking her head inwardly—”Lord Huang” had overestimated his subjects’ daughters too much. These graceful and noble women—she reckoned more than half would faint once they got in the circle.
This time, Kena hadn’t spoken empty words. Bell Shooting was indeed a Great Qiu New Year custom. But it wasn’t at all as easy as they made it sound. Though arrowheads were blunt, shot at high speed, hitting the body would hurt badly. What if it struck the head? It depended on the opposing archer’s skill and whether the woman being shot at was agile enough.
When Great Qiu nobles played this, the women were mostly of lowly birth—if injured or maimed, it didn’t matter. Though there were also noble daughters wearing bells, the archers were absolutely Great Qiu’s best. The purposes varied too—wanting to marry a noble wife, wanting to wed a brave husband, wanting to gain the imperial family’s favor, or wanting fame and profit.
However, now Great Qiu archers would deal with Great Zhou’s bell-wearing women. With ill intent, tormenting them wasn’t impossible. She didn’t know who would be selected to go on stage as arrow targets here, nor who would be selected to draw bows and shoot arrows there. Mo Zi shrank further into the shadows until she was certain of her safety.
Having made his own decision, the Empress Dowager and Empress exchanged glances but couldn’t very well publicly question this decision.
They had people clear and warm the arena. The two nations’ envoys each went to their resting places, agreeing to reconvene at the shooting range in half an hour. Now only Great Zhou people remained in the great hall.
The men wanting to restore Great Qiu’s face, the women anxiously afraid of being selected—utterly opposite mindsets. Therefore, archers were selected quickly. Young Marquis Wu Lianqi of Prince Li’s mansion—Wu Youyan’s brother—had the best martial arts among the princes’ sons. Young General Xiao Wei of Prince Jing’s mansion—this needed no introduction. Anyway, his swordsmanship was first-rate. And one more, Wei Jia, son of the Nation-Stabilizing General—supposedly his archery was exquisite, hitting the target every time, leading the best divine archers as vanguard in the army. The three men’s common characteristics: young enough, high enough status, all achieving success at a young age, all trained in the military.
However, in Mo Zi’s view, the so-called martial prowess and perfect accuracy were very likely inflated. Like Xiao Er—though she often saw his sword, it was mostly used to intimidate people.
Regardless, three archers—through self-volunteering plus you-nominate-me, I-recommend-you—were settled in one fell swoop. But for bell women—Mo Zi’s area was very silent, incomparably silent.
So silent that the Empress Dowager threw out her old face to ask, “Though Great Zhou women excel at managing family affairs, ensuring husbands and sons have no worries, we also have those with resilient character and robust physiques. Could we not compare to those bouncing young children? Tonight is New Year’s Eve, three nations celebrating together in the same hall. Bell Shooting is merely a game—both sides won’t take it seriously. You needn’t worry excessively. If you can bring glory to Great Zhou, His Majesty will surely grant heavy rewards.”
First calling it a game, then offering heavy rewards—this old lady was quite good at fooling people. Watching those jewel-adorned women under the lights, Mo Zi thought: as long as a princess took the initiative, someone would definitely follow.
But the princesses said not a word, staring numbly below.
Though the Empress Dowager knew how to fool, the people below weren’t fools either. What use were heavy rewards if flower-like beauty was damaged, if there was some accident—that was for a lifetime.
“Since everyone is too embarrassed, then shall We name someone?” The Emperor grew impatient.
Pairs of large and small eyes stared at the sacred countenance.
“Anming, you are My eldest daughter, Great Zhou’s Princess Imperial. You lead—acceptable?” The Emperor was indeed a good person, starting with his own daughter.
Princess Anming immediately turned pale with fright, her lips moving for a long time. “Imperial Grandmother… Mother…” Seeking rescue.
“Your Majesty, Anming is already betrothed and will marry soon. How can she risk damage?” The Empress objected, glancing at the ministers opposite.
Immediately people from the Empress’s family spoke in agreement, including Princess Changming, saying things about golden branches and jade leaves representing the nation’s dignity, unsuitable for participation.
The Emperor named Wu Youyan. Prince Li Wu Wanchang said his son was already an archer—meaning, he couldn’t have both his son and daughter go up. Naming others, everyone in the hall helped plead.
Finally, even the good-tempered Emperor’s face was about to change. He snorted coldly. “Among the families enjoying My imperial grain and stipends, can’t even three women with courage and integrity be raised? Good, truly good! We shall shame you people who say your own daughters and daughters-in-law are so capable. We’ll find someone without distinguished birth yet cleverer than your daughters by a hundredfold.” Two consecutive “goods,” then suddenly calling loudly, “Where is Mo Zi?”
Mo Zi covered her face with both hands, wishing she could wail—this was a trap!!