Even as the next examinee took the field, everyone remained immersed in the awe-inspiring shock of what they had just witnessed, unable to recover for a long time.

One couldn’t blame them for their lack of worldliness. Having been comfortable in this academy for so long, they had always thought that the Tian Courtyard’s examination was the pinnacle of horsemanship and archery, with Zhong Boyong’s ten bullseyes being the ultimate achievement. How could they have known there were greater heights beyond?

Of course, what shocked them more was that the heaven they looked up to turned out to be Shen Yuance.

Although over the past half year, war reports from the frontier had repeatedly shaken Chang’an, as Shen Yuance’s former classmates, their impression of him remained stuck on his past behavior—stealing chickens, climbing over walls to skip school, falling asleep as soon as he opened a book, practicing gambling and dice-throwing during class, and talking back to teachers until they fainted…

These young men, at least, had parents in the capital and would face family punishment if they misbehaved too much. But back then, Shen Yuance’s father was far away in Hexi, and his stepmother was so gentle she never uttered a harsh word. When it came to misbehaving, who would dare claim first place if Shen Yuance was second?

So no matter what outsiders said—that Shen Yuance had been tempered by three years in the military, had undergone a complete transformation, was like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, that a general’s son was indeed no ordinary child—his former classmates thought it was all hearsay.

The Xuance Army was already the strongest in all of Great Ye. With such soldiers, strategizing could be left to military advisors, and fighting to the troops. Presumably, any general could win battles; it was just a matter of time. Hadn’t Shen Yuance also taken a full three years, gone through many detours, and almost ruined his father’s foundation?

—That’s what they had believed before this horseback archery examination.

As they silently contemplated this, everyone gradually came to their senses and belatedly realized the trouble ahead.

Usually, it was just Zhong Boyong showing off his skills, which was tolerable. But now Zhong Boyong had shown off, then Shen Yuance had demonstrated superior skills, and if Zhong Boyong refused to accept defeat and again…

Weren’t the immortals fighting while mortals suffered?!

They had finally improved a bit in their riding and archery skills and had hoped to bring home decent results for some praise. But looking at the top two performers now, would their progress, so slight it could barely be noticed without careful observation, even matter anymore?

Everyone present began to worry about their prospects, except for Jiang Zhiyi, who was tired from the emotional fluctuations.

Once the excitement had passed, watching several consecutive performers with nothing impressive to show, and with Shen Yuance sitting far away from her, Jiang Zhiyi covered her mouth with her sleeve and yawned in boredom. She tilted her head, leaned against Gu Yu, and closed her eyes to rest.

As she rested, she gradually drifted into a deep sleep.

After an unknown period, in the depths of her dream, she heard a familiar voice: “Take her back to the residence to sleep.”

In her daze, she felt someone lift her arm. Jiang Zhiyi desperately fought against drowsiness, struggling to suddenly open her eyes.

Lifting her head, she found the vast training field empty, with all the students and instructors gone. Shen Yuance stood in front of the bench, looking down at her with an expression that suggested she was giving him trouble.

Jiang Zhiyi awoke, blinking: “…I’m not going back!”

Shen Yuance: “You’ve just seen what kind of people are in this academy. Still want to stay?”

“I don’t care what kind of people they are. Isn’t having you enough?” Jiang Zhiyi grumbled as Gu Yu helped her to her feet. “You change your attitude so quickly. If you don’t want me here, why did you smile at me just now…”

Shen Yuance raised an eyebrow: “Wasn’t I just amused by your enthusiastic performance?”

“…”

Jiang Zhiyi glared at him resentfully: “Even in the midst of all that, you still paid attention to my performance. You enjoy having me accompany you!”

“Mere sound localization. On the battlefield, situations change in an instant, a thousand times busier than this.”

…Even a dead duck wouldn’t have a mouth as hard as his.

Jiang Zhiyi: “Anyway, I’m not leaving. This is the first time I’ve watched you shoot arrows, and I haven’t had enough yet!”

“First time watching?”

“Yes, before at the archery grounds, didn’t you always pretend to be a novice? Those don’t count.”

Shen Yuance blinked lightly.

Naturally, with a father commanding troops at the frontier, his elder brother remained in Chang’an almost like a hostage. The more incompetent he appeared, the more reassured others felt, and the less likely he was to attract envy and hatred.

Everyone in Chang’an thought that after three years, the former dandy had suffered hardships and reformed, had grown up. They didn’t know that the dandy was never really a dandy, and that the dandy never had the chance to grow up.

…But it seemed that back then, his elder brother had kept the truth from everyone except his beloved.

“What are you daydreaming about?” Jiang Zhiyi waved her snow-white hand in front of his eyes. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” Shen Yuance came back to himself.

“Then are you still going to make me leave?” Seeing him silent, Jiang Zhiyi pressed her advantage. “Not to mention anything else, you can’t be ungrateful. If it weren’t for my hair ribbon today, how would you have beaten Zhong Boyong? I’m your little lucky star, after all.”

“If I repay this favor, will you leave then?”

Why was he so insistent? Jiang Zhiyi pouted unhappily: “Repay it first, then we’ll see.”

“Fine, how do you want me to repay it?”

This sudden question caught Jiang Zhiyi without a good idea. She looked around, then had a flash of inspiration, pointing to the distant target: “How about you teach me archery?”

“?”

“This isn’t a favor that can be repaid in a day.”

Shen Yuance looked her up and down, adding: “Probably difficult even in a year.”

“…I’m just asking you to teach me archery, not necessarily to make me proficient! I just want to try that feeling—where it goes ‘thud’ and hits the target. Is that not allowed?”

Shen Yuance silently looked at her for a while, then turned and walked toward the racetrack. He casually picked up a target, pulled out the arrows sticking from it, placed the target on an open space, looked at her distance, and moved it half the distance closer.

Jiang Zhiyi: “…”

Seeing her indignant, almost insulted expression, Shen Yuance turned his head away with a slight curl of his lips. He selected a light bow, returned, wiped the bow face with Gu Yu’s handkerchief, and placed it in her left palm: “What are you waiting for, little lucky star?”

Jiang Zhiyi took the bow, muttering: “Don’t look down on me. ‘Each profession has its specialty.’ I may know nothing about martial arts, but I’m better than you at writing poetry…”

Seeing that the two were about to embark on something significant, Gu Yu said she would keep watch and retreat to a distance.

Shen Yuance waited for her to take position, then pointed to her boots: “Stand with feet apart, shoulder-width.”

Then he pointed to her shoulders: “Keep your shoulders level.”

“…This is so troublesome.”

“Then do you still want that feeling of ‘thud’ and hitting the target?”

“Yes, yes, yes—”

After adjusting her posture, Shen Yuance lowered his head, picked up an arrow, and inserted it between her fingers.

“Wait…” Looking at the arrow between her fingers, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly remembered something. “I saw they all wore jade thumb rings earlier. I’m not wearing one. Won’t it hurt?”

Shen Yuance lowered his eyes to look at those snow-white, flawless fingers—

“It will.”

“…Isn’t there a way to shoot the arrow without pain?”

Shen Yuance closed his eyes briefly and raised his hand: “Then I’ll bear the pain. Is that alright?”

“But I can’t let you…”

Before she could finish, a shadow fell over her head, and a warm chest pressed against her from behind. Her hand pulling the bowstring was suddenly gripped, and the hand holding the bow was enveloped in a large palm.

Like a flame shooting straight to the top of her head, Jiang Zhiyi’s breath caught. She abruptly fell silent, her limbs turning to wood just as they had when he had embraced her that day.

Feeling the sudden stiffness of the person in front of him, Shen Yuance paused slightly as he held her hands.

…He had only run out of patience due to her annoyance.

In the vast training field, two pieces of wood fell into stillness.

Only the wind, oblivious to the silence, continued to blow casually, intertwining their garments.

Shen Yuance slowly lowered his eyes, following the smooth, full forehead of the person in his arms, seeing her curved, long lashes and delicate, prominent nose—

Shen Yuance looked away, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly: “…I won’t feel pain.”

“…Oh, oh.” Jiang Zhiyi nodded quickly, her hair lightly brushing his jaw.

“Don’t move recklessly.”

“Oh.” Jiang Zhiyi blinked, with an extremely slight movement, gently rubbing her sweaty hand.

Shen Yuance’s attention also returned to her hands, guiding her to grip the bowstring properly.

Jiang Zhiyi’s eyelashes trembled as she gazed at the target ahead: “Like this, can we… can we hit the bullseye?”

“Of course.” Shen Yuance lowered his chin, focusing back on the target, slowly drawing the bowstring.

As the bow gradually formed a full moon, Jiang Zhiyi couldn’t tell whether the bow was more tense or she was more nervous. Having held the same posture for too long, her feet began to feel numb, and she felt a bit dizzy.

Just as the bowstring was fully drawn, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly turned her head: “Wait…”

Her soft lips brushed against his jaw, and Shen Yuance’s hand lost strength. The arrow shot out a moment too early.

The sharp arrow flew through the air, hit with a thud, and struck a tree behind the target.

All the accumulated snow on the tree was shaken off by the arrow.

A strong wind rose, and countless fragments of snow flew over the training field, as if spring had arrived early, scattering a shower of snow-white apricot blossoms.

Jiang Zhiyi’s blood froze for an instant, then in the next moment surged like a hundred rivers flowing at once.

Meeting Shen Yuance’s shocked gaze, recalling what had just happened, Jiang Zhiyi looked at him and slowly raised her hand to touch her lips.

Shen Yuance’s eyelashes fluttered, and he released the person in his arms.

Jiang Zhiyi immediately stepped back.

Fragments of snow fell on both their black hair. Jiang Zhiyi’s gaze flickered as she turned to look at the empty target, searching for something to say: “D-didn’t you say we could hit it?”

“…The wind was too strong.” Shen Yuance said, then put down the bow and strode out of the training field.

“The wind was too strong—” At noon, in the quiet, spacious carriage, Jiang Zhiyi sat at the small table with her chin in her hand, smiling and repeating this phrase for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

Gu Yu looked at the table of delicacies before her: “Princess, please eat. The food is getting cold.”

Tianchong Academy didn’t provide meals centrally. After all, these noble sons dined like they were at banquets, each with their preferences, so servants from each household brought prepared meals from home.

After Shen Yuance left the training field, Jiang Zhiyi wandered there in a daze for a long time, forgetting that there was still a second class in the morning. By the time she came to her senses, it was already noon dismissal. Xiaoman had also brought her lunch.

Jiang Zhiyi uttered an “oh,” picked up a slice of winter bamboo shoot with her chopsticks, chewed and swallowed it, then rested her chin on her hand again, savoring with a smile: “The wind was too strong—”

“…”

Well, missing one meal wouldn’t hurt. Gu Yu gave up.

“If you’re not going to eat anymore, please rinse your mouth.” Gu Yu handed her a cup of clear tea.

Jiang Zhiyi indifferently took the teacup and rinsed her mouth, then set it down a moment later: “The wind…”

Gu Yu: “Was too strong!”

Jiang Zhiyi came to her senses and glanced at her: “Do you understand what I’m talking about?”

Gu Yu shook her head. Earlier, she had stood far away to keep watch for the two of them and had no idea what had happened with the Princess. All she knew was that from the time the Princess began wandering alone on the training field, this phrase “the wind was too strong” had constantly echoed in her ears.

Jiang Zhiyi asked with interest: “Tell me, if someone who can hit the bullseye a hundred times out of a hundred while blindfolded during horseback archery, standing properly with eyes open, shoots an arrow and misses the target, what does that indicate?”

Gu Yu suddenly realized: “It indicates that the wind was too strong?”

Jiang Zhiyi stopped smiling: “Forget it, I won’t talk to you about this. I’m going back to the classroom.”

“Princess, it’s not yet time for the afternoon class!”

“I’m going to see if Elder Brother A-Ce has eaten!”

Jiang Zhiyi lifted her robe and stepped down from the carriage, heading toward the Tian Courtyard. When she entered the classroom, she saw several young masters gathered, chatting idly, but Shen Yuance wasn’t there.

Hearing her arrival, they quickly cupped their hands and bowed to her.

Jiang Zhiyi nodded to them casually and walked toward the back row. Just before reaching her seat, she noticed a piece of white paper held down by a paperweight on Shen Yuance’s desk, with a line of poetry written on it.

Looking ahead, she saw that everyone’s desk had such a piece of paper, like an assignment left by the teacher from the previous class.

Some had already densely written several lines below it, while others, like Shen Yuance’s, remained blank.

She had just said that when it came to writing poetry, he definitely couldn’t match her.

Jiang Zhiyi tilted her head to look at that line of poetry, thought for a moment, and rolled up her sleeves.

As she was about to sit at his desk, she cautiously raised her head to look ahead.

For the moment, no one was looking in her direction.

Jiang Zhiyi sat down, quickly picked up the brush from the desk, dipped it in ink, and wrote with a flourish.

Having completed one line of poetry, she was pondering the next when suddenly a male voice sounded just outside the window: “Shen Yuance, tell us about the battlefield. Do the Northern Jie people have blue faces and protruding fangs…”

Jiang Zhiyi hurriedly put down the brush and hastily returned to her desk.

Just as she sat down, the group of people crowded in with Shen Yuance.

In the time it took for one examination, these people had changed their attitudes so quickly…

As Jiang Zhiyi’s thoughts turned, she looked at Shen Yuance through the bead curtain and saw him say something to dismiss the group before walking toward the back row.

He kept his eyes straight ahead, not glancing in her direction once.

Jiang Zhiyi snorted coldly in her heart. She saw him walk to his desk and, before sitting down, seemingly notice that something on the desk had been moved. He lowered his eyes.

Shen Yuance stood at his desk, his gaze moving from the shifted paperweight to the white paper. After a silent confrontation with the black characters on white paper, he finally slowly turned his head to look at the bead curtain next to him.

There he met a pair of clever, smiling almond eyes that had been waiting for him.

“Shen Yuance—” Suddenly, someone called his name and approached.

Shen Yuance raised his hand, quickly moved the paperweight to cover the white paper.

Lifting his head, the scenes from the snowy training field that morning gradually appeared before his eyes—

The arrow that missed the target.

The snow fragments fly like apricot blossoms.

The softness that brushed against his jaw.

Each scene seemed to echo the two lines of poetry under the paperweight—

February’s east wind blows apricot rain,

Stirring my spring heart toward my beloved.