“My turn now.” These three words from Shen Miao were spoken lightly, yet carried an inexplicable chill. It was as if her voice descended from the highest heavens, landing heavily before Cai Lin.
Cold sweat trickled down Cai Lin’s face as he stared blankly at Shen Miao before him.
Shen Miao stepped forward and bent down to pick up the longbow from the ground. Everyone in the audience watched her every move, unable to tear their eyes away.
This was truly an unexpected scene. They had thought they would see Shen Miao frightened into a faint or losing her composure, but surprisingly, she remained completely unaffected. Instead, it was Cai Lin who was drenched in cold sweat, unable to hit the target with any of his three arrows.
After a brief silence, the crowd below began to discuss among themselves.
“Truly, a tiger father has no weak daughter! This Miss Shen has such courage!” The person speaking had a good relationship with Shen Xin on ordinary days. Previously, he had doubts about the rumors of Shen Miao being a foolish girl, but seeing her today, he thought those words must be just rumors. With such courage and spirit, how could she possibly be foolish? It must be that someone deliberately tried to tarnish the young lady’s reputation.
Indeed impressive. Look how she didn’t even blink earlier. If that arrow had veered slightly more, it would have cut her cheek. This girl truly has the air of a great general. Even if it were one of us, we would probably have been startled.”
“Just look at which family she comes from! How could General Shen’s daughter be anything but exceptional? It seems those earlier rumors were just that—rumors, not to be believed. Ah, no wonder someone wanted to deliberately tarnish her reputation. A prominent tree attracts the wind. Being so outstanding at such a young age, it’s no wonder she provoked jealousy.”
Most officials had a fairly good impression of Shen Xin, as their interests were often interconnected. Besides, being accustomed to court affairs daily, they weren’t as attentive to details as women in the inner courtyards and had different perspectives on matters. Previously, Shen Miao had been young, but as she grew older, she was naturally displaying her excellent qualities.
The Prince of Zhou and the Prince of Jin exchanged glances. The Prince of Jin shook his head and sighed, “It seems we were both wrong. She truly is a person of great courage.”
“Does Ninth Brother regret it now?” The Prince of Zhou smiled and looked at Fu Xiuyi. “How did you previously reject such an extraordinary young woman?”
“A person cannot change so drastically overnight. Either this Fifth Miss Shen has encountered some master, or she was deliberately pretending to be foolish before. Regardless of which, Ninth Brother, you’ve lost out,” said the Prince of Jin.
Fu Xiuyi smiled and said, “A beautiful and virtuous lady, but unfortunately not the one my heart desires.” Did he regret it? Fu Xiuyi didn’t think so. However, Shen Miao’s calm demeanor seemed somewhat jarring to his eyes. He also didn’t believe that a person could change so dramatically overnight. Could it be that she had been pretending to be foolish all along? But why would she pretend? Could it be that she deliberately acted that way to make him dislike her?
Pei Lang set down his teacup. For some reason, he had just felt a tightness in his heart for Shen Miao. Yet she had responded beyond everyone’s expectations, not only remaining steady but also frightening Cai Lin to the point where he couldn’t even shoot his arrows properly.
Was Shen Miao really that formidable?
“She truly is a wonder,” the Prince of Yu nodded with satisfaction, his gaze fixed on Shen Miao’s figure. “I wonder… what taste would she have?”
Pei Lang frowned slightly. The Prince of Yu’s words suggested he was thinking of something shameful and dirty again. Unfortunately, with his humble position, there was nothing he could do about it.
“You lost,” said Xie Jingxing, sitting casually by the window in the pavilion, his manner calm and composed.
“How did it turn out like this!” Su Mingfeng’s eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets. He looked at Xie Jingxing, then at the distant platform, and asked, “Did you know this would happen?”
“Honor your wager,” Xie Jingxing said, standing up and brushing the dust from his clothes.
“Fine, I admit defeat. What’s my punishment?” Su Mingfeng conceded readily.
“Your punishment is to celebrate with me after this competition, with twenty-year-old rice wine. How about that?”
“You’re truly black-hearted,” Su Mingfeng cursed, then suddenly realized something and asked curiously, “But what are we celebrating? What happy event is there?”
“Nothing yet, but there will be soon,” Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. “Something truly worth celebrating.”
On the platform, Shen Miao handed the fruit to Cai Lin.
Cai Lin’s hand trembled as he took it. He asked, “Shen Miao, have you ever learned archery?”
“Never,” Shen Miao smiled at him. “Today is the first time I’ve touched a bow. But since one can shoot three arrows in sequence, if I don’t understand the first shot, there’s always the next one. I’ll eventually learn.”
Cai Lin shuddered, looking at Shen Miao in disbelief. “You must be joking?”
Earlier, Shen Miao had appeared so calm and composed, as if she regularly engaged in such activities. He had optimistically assumed Shen Miao must be skilled, given that Shen Xin was a mighty general who might have personally taught his daughter archery. But now Shen Miao was saying this was her first time holding a bow?
How dare she!
He said, “If you know nothing about archery, how can you shoot? I’ll surely miss the fruit, and won’t I just be throwing away my life for nothing?”
“Cai Lin, you’re being ridiculous,” Shen Miao spoke calmly. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone to hear. All eyes were on the purple-clad young lady with her gaze lowered, yet her aura was overwhelmingly forceful.
“When you challenged me earlier, you never asked if I knew how to shoot. When you were shooting arrows at me, you never asked if I was risking my life. So why, now that it’s my turn to shoot, are you suddenly asking if I can do it?”
These words left Cai Lin speechless. Indeed, he had deliberately chosen archery, something Shen Miao wouldn’t know, just to avenge Shen Yue. But now it seemed he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his foot.
“Miss Shen, my unruly son has offended you, and I apologize on his behalf. Please don’t take it to heart. However, since you truly don’t know archery, accidents might happen, and it would be difficult to assign blame.” Official Cai finally couldn’t help but speak up, under the frequent eye signals from his wife. As soon as he spoke, his old face reddened, but he had no choice. Embarrassing as it was, it was better than losing his young son’s life.
He even used the term “this official” to intimidate Shen Miao. Although bullying a young lady like this wasn’t honorable, Official Cai also blamed Shen Miao for her lack of flexibility, and his tone unconsciously carried some authority.
But how could Shen Miao be intimidated by a mere official? She had dealt with the Xiongnu, with the imperial family of Qin, with the monarchs of Mingqi. Officials? She didn’t hold them in high regard.
So everyone watched as Shen Miao slightly raised her chin. Official Cai was standing below the platform, so from a distance, he appeared like a subject prostrating at Shen Miao’s feet. And Shen Miao’s words left everyone stunned.
She said, “Official Cai, earlier I gambled with my own life, and now it’s Cai Lin’s turn to gamble with his. The life-and-death agreement has been made, written clearly in black and white. Even if I were to shoot him dead today, it would be completely legitimate without any complications. He must honor his wager.”
Before Official Cai could speak, she continued, “A person without credibility cannot stand. These rules were proposed by Cai Lin himself. Now he’s going back on his word. Is this how Official Cai conducts himself in the officialdom as well? Once the tide turns unfavorable, do you immediately change the rules?”