Around the small hill, complete silence fell, broken only by the ceaseless whistling wind that swept endlessly across the hunting grounds.

The hilltop was packed with onlookers—Emperor Tianhui, Chu Tiange, Consort Yi, Jun Beichen, and many others, all staring in stunned silence. No one noticed that even on Xuanyuan Lige’s cold, exquisite face, a smile had bloomed like a lotus flower unfurling.

Down at the base of the hill, Jun Beiyue had only just now cleared the spiked-plank obstacle. He had merely been delayed for a brief moment, yet he found, to his astonishment, that he could no longer catch up to Ziqing!

So this was the woman’s true explosive power—swift, fierce, magnificent!

By the finish line, neither woman moved. Chu Feiyan remained frozen in the same position she’d turned to look back in, sweat streaking her makeup, her face etched with shock, as though she had just witnessed something terrifying.

Ziqing’s legs had already gone completely limp beneath her, her hands braced against the horse’s back, gasping for breath. Everyone could see the Blood-Sweating Horse drenched in its crimson sweat, and see the sweat pouring down her own face—but no one noticed the veins faintly bulging along her temples on both sides.

“Father Emperor, is the first round over?”

Only when Jun Beiyue came riding up did the crowd finally snap out of their daze. With the outcome plain for all to see, Emperor Tianhui, however reluctant, had no choice but to acknowledge it.

“The first round—the Consort of Prince Yao wins by the narrowest of margins!”

The moment the words were spoken, murmurs of admiration rippled through the crowd—not out of deference to power or position, but because Ziqing had won this through sheer skill alone!

And yet, not a few in the crowd also silently breathed a sigh of relief—no one had expected Han Ziqing’s horsemanship to prove as exquisite as her musical talent. It was fortunate they hadn’t been the ones to wager such enormous stakes against her—otherwise, what a humiliation it would have been!

Given how things stood, the two remaining contests were certain to be even more captivating. In an instant, everyone found themselves eagerly anticipating Ziqing’s equestrian skill, with hardly anyone sparing Chu Feiyan a second thought.

Chu Feiyan had no time to care about any of that—she didn’t even bother with her usual arrogant taunts, dismounting in poorly concealed panic.

This wasn’t music. This was horsemanship—her most prized skill, the very skill in which she was renowned as the finest among all women under heaven—and she had lost by a single stride to this woman!

Feeling, for perhaps the first time, a genuine flicker of fear, she resolved that she wouldn’t just cripple this woman—she would kill her.

“Ha, since it’s not yet dark in Da Zhou, why not seize the mood and hold the second contest as well!” Chu Tiange said with a laugh, far more composed than Chu Feiyan’s visible distress.

Though it appeared magnanimous, in truth he was simply eager to shift everyone’s attention. Never mind that today’s contest involved his own sister, the Princess Imperial of Western Chu—even if it had been anyone else from Western Chu, this outcome would have been a humiliating slap in the face!

A daughter of the saddle, defeated by a frail woman from the Central Plains! If word of this got out, how could Western Chu maintain its dominance over the continent of Longyuan?

“That is exactly my intention!” Emperor Tianhui said, a cold smile stirring within him. If Han Ziqing could bring such honor to Da Zhou, if she could win back territory without a single soldier lifted, then he would truly accept her as his daughter-in-law!

The archery contest would take place right at the base of the hill, the targets already set up. As soon as Emperor Tianhui dismounted, everyone hurried to follow—except Ziqing, who remained where she was, showing no sign of moving.

Jun Beiyue walked over with long strides, murmuring with a faint smile, “What, can’t bear to part with this companion of mine?”

“It’s a wonderful horse,” Ziqing said flatly, quietly gritting her teeth as she pressed her right foot firmly into the stirrup and swung her left leg over in one clean, decisive motion, landing on her left foot and drawing her right leg in.

“It’s yours now.”

Jun Beiyue’s spirits soared, a rare, radiant smile spreading across his face as he personally led the horse forward with the crowd. But no sooner had he taken a step or two than, from behind him, came a sudden, heavy thud.

What was that?

The crowd ahead all turned in shock. Jun Beiyue whipped around and saw Ziqing had collapsed to the ground, kneeling on one knee!