“Where is Mo Zi?”
The Emperor’s direct naming carried the weight of mountains and rivers.
Xiao Wei was startled, his gaze immediately sweeping through the crowd of women, but he couldn’t see her. Perhaps he had misheard? Perhaps the “Mo Zi” the Emperor spoke of wasn’t the two characters he was thinking of, just similar sounds.
Because that Mo Zi couldn’t possibly appear here. Unless Yuan Cheng had brought her. But tonight, he hadn’t seen Yuan Cheng.
“Miss Mo Zi.”
Amidst the buzzing noise ahead, a palace maid’s voice was subtly covered.
Mo Zi lowered her hand and looked at the palace maid behind her, her expression already calm.
“Miss Mo Zi, please try to prolong the bell-shooting process as much as possible,” the palace maid said.
Mo Zi immediately connected this to Yuan Cheng’s whereabouts. He had clearly come ashore, yet wasn’t here, which could only mean he was doing something else.
So she asked without revealing any emotion, “Why is that?” The palace maid bowed her head respectfully. “Because Miss needs an identity, an identity that prevents others from casually bullying you.” They want to legitimize her? Mo Zi’s eyes gleamed with understanding as she stood up. The problem was, she didn’t like this bell-shooting game at all! Pursing her lips with a tingling scalp, she braced herself for what was to come.
Everyone was searching through the women’s faces when suddenly a figure emerged from a dim corner into bright light.
Her skirt swayed at her feet like a swallow flying over spring water. Her orchid-patterned gauze sleeves fell gracefully, catching the moonlight. One outfit, one painting. The clothes weren’t particularly expensive, yet were delicate and fresh. Her face wasn’t clearly visible, yet her figure was slender and graceful. She knelt, eyes lowered submissively, perfectly proper.
“Commoner Mo Zi, heeding Your Majesty’s summons.” Her voice wasn’t particularly delicate or beautiful, but it was crisp and pleasant.
When Xiao Wei saw it was truly Mo Zi, his eyes fixed on her and didn’t move.
“You clever girl, quite good at hiding.” The Emperor was in a bad mood, so naturally his words were sharp. However, using the term “girl” had the meaning of an elder reprimanding a junior, making everyone curious about Mo Zi’s identity.
Mo Zi almost covered her face with her sleeve, carefully studying the floor tiles. “This commoner wasn’t hiding. I was greedy and drank a few cups earlier, then dozed off with my head on the table. It was Your Majesty’s dragon’s roar of ‘Mo Zi’ that jolted me awake. For a moment after waking, I was disoriented until Your Majesty called out a second time. This commoner is terrified, not knowing that napping at the banquet would anger the dragon countenance. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Hearing Mo Zi speak so lightly and humorously, everyone couldn’t help but laugh, and many suspicious and resentful looks automatically cleared away.
The Emperor was also amused by Mo Zi. “Who cares whether you’re drunk or sleeping? However, since you were asleep, you presumably didn’t hear what was just discussed. I’ll put it simply. The Great Qiu and Great Zhou are having a friendly competition. Women will wear bell hats, and the opposing archers will shoot at the bells. You’re agile and quite clever, so win some glory for my Great Zhou.” Mo Zi wished she could lie on the floor tiles carving curses—if it were really that simple, would you, the Emperor, have trouble finding someone? Thinking this, she actually did prostrate herself on the ground, though not to carve words, but to kowtow in acceptance of the order.
“This commoner obeys Your Majesty’s decree. Long live the Emperor.” She had never learned the proper etiquette for meeting the Emperor, but having watched plenty of television dramas, she knew the key points were to kowtow, obey orders, and speak well—that could never go wrong.
The Emperor was indeed pleased by her obedience, stroking his beard with great praise. “Rise quickly. I knew you were a girl with unusual courage, much better than those who only talk but don’t act. How about this—if the Great Zhou wins, I’ll reward you handsomely.”
“This commoner dares not seek rewards. I’m willing to do my utmost to prevent those arrogant barbarians from looking down on us. Besides, isn’t this just New Year’s entertainment? A celebration, that’s all.” Mo Zi actually thought to herself: forget it, return gifts and imperial rewards are all empty promises—don’t count on them.
All the officials thought: isn’t this pointing at the mulberry to scold the locust tree, saying they lack loyalty!
Now those with daughters or daughters-in-law present in the hall began to reconsider. This matter looked dangerous, but was also a good opportunity to gain imperial favor. But while they were still deliberating, another volunteer emerged from among the women, reducing their chance for merit by one.
“The daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, Miss Yang, volunteers herself and requests Your Majesty’s permission.” Also emerging from the last row was an elegant beauty who knelt beside Mo Zi.
This was a true daughter of a distinguished family. She didn’t state her given name. Unlike Mo Zi’s name, which the Emperor had shouted so the entire hall knew it.
The Emperor was even more pleased, calling her to rise while addressing the officials. “Yang Lu, you truly know how to educate your children—one champion scholar, one patriotic daughter.”
A middle-aged official, Yang Lu, was about to step forward from the second row when the Emperor said it wasn’t necessary, only praising his excellent teaching and bestowing a hundred taels of gold. Yang Lu quickly knelt in thanks beside his table.
The young Miss Yang stood up and exchanged a glance with Mo Zi, smiling shyly.
Mo Zi looked at her slender, delicate frame and truly didn’t know where her courage came from, but her favorable impression of this Vice Minister of Rites’ family multiplied.
At this moment, a voice so soft it made one’s bones tingle spoke up. “The daughter of Prince Jing, Miss Xiao, wishes to volunteer.” Xiao Mingrou gracefully walked into the hall and also knelt.
The Emperor was stunned.
Not only had he not expected this, probably no one had. Everyone knew Xiao Mingrou was practically a predetermined candidate for the imperial harem—even when the Emperor had been calling names earlier, he had skipped over her.
Xiao Wei exhaled deeply, frowning but saying nothing. Only he and Mingrou from the Xiao family were here tonight. However, since she volunteered herself, he had no standing to refuse.
Mo Zi was a scapegoat who’d been dragged out. Miss Yang was the first volunteer. The Emperor had been quite satisfied with this development, but Xiao Mingrou running forward to take a bullet put him in a difficult position.
You think everyone here was part of the loyalist faction? Far from it. With so many different interests stirred together, how could there not be those secretly watching the spectacle? You think the imperial concubines in the harem were mutually friendly? Hardly. They schemed against each other—entering with pure hearts, their consciences soon blackened.
Various parties had different thoughts, but all looked to the Emperor.
The Emperor hesitated, but ultimately Xiao Mingrou left him only one choice: approval.
The three women withdrew from the main hall to prepare.
Mo Zi asked and learned that Miss Yang was Yang Ling’s younger sister, named Yang Qiao. Like her brother, she had loved reading since childhood. Though raised in the inner chambers, under the guidance of her father, brother, and open-minded mother, she was brilliantly talented.
The two talked so congenially they almost forgot about Xiao Mingrou walking silently beside them. Yang Qiao was kindhearted and tried to make conversation, asking why she had volunteered.
Xiao Mingrou didn’t answer, only looked at Mo Zi and said, “I remember you.” She didn’t mention that Mo Zi was her third sister-in-law’s maid—times had changed from the past.
Mo Zi nodded slightly. “I remember you too.”
The palace maids brought three identical gorgeous brocade cloaks.
Mo Zi refused and instead asked them for narrow-sleeved, tight-waisted, knee-length Hu-style clothing with soft rattan armor underneath.
After putting it on, she looked thick-waisted and broad-backed—the graceful beauty transformed into a stout barrel.
Yang Qiao copied Mo Zi’s outfit and followed her in doing warm-up exercises.
Xiao Mingrou only wore the Hu-style clothing. No matter how much they urged her, she refused to wear the soft armor. Mo Zi quickly gave up. Yang Qiao, however, kept trying until the palace maids came to say time was up.
Around the archery range, seven or eight large fire basins were arranged, with half a circle of tables and chairs set up, thick yellow curtains pulled up behind them, and cloud-patterned canopies erected to block the snow. Palace maids and eunuchs came and went, decorating this normally crude place quite exquisitely.
Horses neighed. Golden bows and silver arrows gleamed against the snow with an air of slaughter and desolation.
Seeing the white painted circle on the field, Yang Qiao began to feel nervous and couldn’t help but slow her steps.
Mo Zi noticed and turned back to make a terrified expression at her, patting her chest. “What should I do? I’m scared.” Yang Qiao’s pressure actually eased from her exaggeration. Covering her mouth with a laugh, she said, “That’s not fear—you’re just being silly. No wonder the Emperor keeps calling you ‘girl’ and ‘girl.'”
Hearing this, Mo Zi’s head truly ached. That “Lord Huang” was precisely taking advantage of her having no one to rely on, forcing her to do unpaid work for the Great Zhou.
The two chatted and laughed without loneliness, but Xiao Mingrou was incompatible with them, only walking with her head lowered.
Yang Qiao whispered in Mo Zi’s ear, “Miss Xiao seems to have something heavy on her mind.”
Mo Zi naturally knew, but what could she do? One’s own path, one’s own choices—one must bear the results oneself. When meeting fellow travelers, one can journey together or walk alone; neither is for others to interfere with. Whatever Xiao Mingrou’s motivation for volunteering, it had nothing to do with her.
The audience seats gradually filled with people. She could smell the sweet fragrance of pastries. She simply asked the palace staff to bring hot tea and cakes to share with Yang Qiao.
Xiao Mingrou remained aloof as usual.
A great gong sounded. A eunuch’s shrill voice called for both teams to enter the field.
Donning the bell hats, Mo Zi led the way, walking into the snowy ground.
Jingle, jingle. Jingle, jingle.
“Why are you two dressed so bulky?” In terms of status, Wu Lianqi was highest, so he appointed himself captain. “Look at Miss Xiao, so graceful and pretty, displaying our Great Zhou’s elegance.”
To this rather elegant young marquis, Mo Zi responded thus: “We’re not in a beauty contest, but a competition. We don’t need to display elegance, only offense and defense.” Wu Lianqi looked at Mo Zi more carefully after this remark. “Where would you need offense and defense? Once we enter the field, we’ll win decisively and quickly—we won’t give the other side any chance to shoot at you.”
Mo Zi thought to herself: we’re doomed—with this arrogant fellow as captain, we’ll be completely routed. She turned to look at Xiao Er, seeing his expression was poor. Thinking it was because of Xiao Mingrou’s involvement, but having some words she needed to say to someone more reliable than Wu Lianqi, she could only steel herself and face him.
“Shooting bells isn’t difficult; shooting moving bells is very difficult. The rules of bell-shooting are actually more complex than what the envoy just said. The women in the circle can also interfere with each other, and archers outside can also use arrows to shoot down the opponents’ arrows. Most importantly, it’s about who will win—other rules can be flexibly applied. I dare not say this method is definitely best, but among you three, it’s best to divide the work: two shoot bells, one focuses on disrupting the opponent. Of the bell-shooters, one should shoot while riding, one should shoot from a fixed position. Movement and stillness counterbalancing each other will achieve twice the result with half the effort.” Xiao Wei thought for a moment and replied, “We three have our own understanding.”
Mo Zi felt she had said all she could and walked toward the circle.
“Miss Mo Zi.” Xiao Wei called out to her.
Mo Zi stopped, her head slightly turned.
“My younger sister and Miss Yang, they…”
The words stopped halfway.
“I’ll naturally do my best.” Being asked to play babysitter—she needed to ensure her own safety first, so she wouldn’t say anything to put his mind at ease.
In the viewing seats, someone suddenly strode forward from the Great Qiu viewing pavilion.
But the one standing beside him naturally wouldn’t ignore that beautiful face and could already predict his actions.
“Your Majesty, I’ll give the order for them to lose this round.”
“Wu Yanqie, change the archer!”