“My Thoughts Are Just as Vicious. I Want to Shoot an Arrow into Your Father’s Forehead.”
Lu Rongshen returned to his seat in a daze, still completely bewildered.
This meant… he was about to have a wife?
Consort Ye grabbed his arm. For a moment even she felt as though the situation was unreal. “Shen’er… you… you are truly going to marry Miss Bai?”
Lu Rongshen nodded blankly.
Seeing his foolish, stunned expression, Consort Ye felt both anxious and worried. She could not help glancing toward Ye Qi below. When Ye Qi noticed the concern on his daughter’s face, he nodded calmly to signal her to remain at ease.
On the other side, Bai Yi’s expression was equally devoid of joy.
Though the emperor had just granted the marriage, he looked as though he carried deep resentment and worry. Officials nearby stepped forward to offer congratulations, yet he ignored every one of them.
Bai Qingyu accepted the gazes from every direction with composure. She lifted her teacup and drank. As she tipped her head back, the corner of her eye drifted unintentionally toward Lu Rongshen.
The youthful looking Eighth Prince was still staring blankly. His eyes were round and wide, like the small brown bears she once caught in the Western Frontier, carrying an innocent sort of clumsy charm.
The ruler of Yu was equally displeased as he returned to his seat with Yu Kui.
Emperor Hongjia rewarded Yu Kui with a golden screen crafted entirely from gold as a form of consolation. Yu Kui accepted the reward with an expressionless face.
The ruler of Duan raised his cup toward the ruler of Yu. “Ruler of Yu need not be disheartened. Prince Xuan is a fine young man. He will surely find a suitable match.”
The ruler of Yu’s expression eased slightly. He lifted his cup in return. “Then this king shall accept the ruler of Duan’s kind words. My son has only just found someone he admires, yet alas… alas.”
Yu Kui clenched his fists and stared darkly at Bai Qingyu. Bitterness churned violently within his heart.
He was a hundred times superior to that Eighth Prince of Lu. Yet this foolish woman Bai Qingyu did not know her place. If not for his father ordering him to seek her hand so that they might control Bai Yi and bring the Western Frontier under Yu’s influence, he would never have suffered such humiliation.
She was nothing more than an old woman who could not marry. When he lowered himself to seek her hand, she should have felt honored. Yet she dared reject him and choose that useless prince instead.
Yu Kui ground his teeth until they creaked, the veins in his neck rising to the surface.
When the ruler of Yu noticed, he set down his teacup and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“Kui’er, mind your bearing. You must still compete in the final round shortly. Do not allow others to laugh at you.”
Yu Kui said, “This son refuses to accept it.”
The ruler of Yu patted his shoulder. “Whether you accept it or not makes no difference. This is the Kingdom of Lu. We cannot afford to offend them.”
“Withdraw the anger from your face. The plan simply failed. It is no great matter.”
Yu Kui’s gaze turned vicious as he forced the words through clenched teeth. “That Bai Qingyu has brought such shame upon your son. If your son does not teach her a lesson, your son will find this breath hard to swallow.”
“A small lesson will suffice. If it grows too large, it will be difficult to resolve.”
“Understood.”
While the two spoke quietly, the second round of archery had already concluded. First place went to Shi Geng, the Crown Prince of Shi.
Emperor Hongjia rewarded Shi Geng with a treasure as customary.
After that, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds concluded in succession.
The victors were Liu Yuehong, Third Prince of Liu; Chu Zhang, Crown Prince of Chu; Duan Feijing, Crown Prince of Duan; and Kang Delin, Second Prince of Kang.
The ruler of Shi remarked with an air of jest, “Has Your Majesty deliberately kept your finest sons in reserve this year, the better to let us enjoy our victories?”
Emperor Hongjia drew a slow breath and tightened his grip upon the armrest of the dragon throne.
His vast empire could not even secure first place in an archery competition. The sons of the officials he had sent forth were nothing but straw-stuffed sacks and useless fools.
“Father Emperor, this son is willing to request battle and compete with the youths of the various kingdoms.” The Crown Prince sat in his wheelchair, his expression sincere and righteous.
Emperor Hongjia felt moved for a moment. Yet when his eyes fell upon the Crown Prince’s injured leg, that hope vanished again.
The Crown Prince had cultivated both brush and blade, and was no stranger to either, yet neither was exceptional. Moreover, his leg had not yet recovered. If he were sent forth, the six kingdoms would truly believe Lu had no capable men.
Emperor Hongjia’s gaze drifted toward Lu Ronghuai.
In truth, among his sons, the martial skill of this third son had been forged on the battlefield with real blades and spears. He far surpassed the pampered sons of nobles in the capital.
“Third…”
“Father Emperor, this son has no leisure for it.”
Emperor Hongjia stalled. He stared at Lu Ronghuai’s leisurely posture. “No leisure?”
“Indeed.” Lu Ronghuai pointed toward the pile of sunflower seed shells on the table. “This son is busy shelling sunflower seeds for the Prince Consort.”
Emperor Hongjia was instantly angered. “Which takes precedence, shelling seeds or the competition?”
“Naturally shell—”
Lu Ronghuai paused midway through his words and turned to look at Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan’s hand clutched the hem of Lu Ronghuai’s robe. “Your Highness, go compete. Otherwise the Kingdom of Lu will lose.”
Lu Ronghuai grasped his hand, somewhat surprised. “You care about whether Lu wins or loses?”
Chu Yuan glanced at him, then lowered his fan-like lashes.
“Your Highness, this subject can now be considered half a person of Lu.”
Lu Ronghuai laughed. He held Chu Yuan’s hand and swung it lightly.
“How could you be half? You must be completely my person, with not the slightest relation to Chu anymore.”
A faint smile passed through Chu Yuan’s eyes. He murmured softly, “Mm. This subject’s thoughts are vicious. I do not wish Chu to win.”
Lu Ronghuai replied easily, “My thoughts are just as vicious. I want to shoot an arrow into your Father’s forehead.”
Chu Yuan said calmly, “It is possible, but unnecessary.”
“What are the two of you whispering about over there? Third, Zhen asked you a question.” Emperor Hongjia was displeased at being ignored.
Lu Ronghuai placed the shelled sunflower seeds into the golden dish before Chu Yuan. Straightening his long legs, his tall figure carried coiled strength.
“If Father Emperor sends this son to compete, it would not be fair to the other six kingdoms.”
Emperor Hongjia blinked. “?”
The rulers of the six kingdoms turned to look.
Lu Ronghuai said calmly, “If this son competes with them, they will have no chance of victory at all.”
The ruler of Liu smiled without warmth. “Prince Li speaks boldly. You seem not to place our kingdoms in your eyes at all.”
The ruler of Kang added, “Since Prince Li married, it seems you have not stepped onto the battlefield again. Archery requires daily practice. A little negligence allows others to surpass you.”
The ruler of Yu suddenly glanced toward Chu Yuan. “Speaking of which, the Prince Consort of Prince Li is from Chu. Has the King of Chu not reminisced with the Prince Consort?”
“Indeed. The King of Chu has been unusually quiet these past days.”
The King of Chu’s face was thick with flesh. Over the years he had grown increasingly fat. He held a handful of dried persimmons, wiped his mouth, and took two breaths before speaking.
“This king’s Zhang’er was beaten by some bastard. My mood these past days has been poor. I have had no time to reminisce.”
The rulers paused.
When Chu Zhang had gone down to compete earlier, his face had indeed been a mass of purple and green bruising. They had not dared inquire then. Now it seemed he had been beaten.
This was Chu Zhang’s first visit to Lu. With whom could he have formed enmity?
Thinking it over, the only possibility seemed to be Prince Li, who had married Chu Yuan.
“I heard the Prince Consort was not favored in Chu and was not even permitted to reside within the imperial palace.”
“Indeed. I have heard the same. The King of Chu always traveled with Chu Zhang or other sons. This one was never seen.”
“Prince Li appears rather fond of this Prince Consort. Perhaps he disliked Chu Zhang and beat him?”
The surrounding discussion gradually grew louder.
Lu Ronghuai lifted his foot and kicked the chair beside him with a heavy thud.
“Father Emperor, this son may compete, but I have one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Each year the winner of the archery contest receives a grand reward. This son requires no reward. I ask only one condition.”
Emperor Hongjia said, “Speak.”
“If this son wins, the seven men defeated beneath my hand must each do one small task.”
The seven competitors: “…”
Who exactly are you calling defeated opponents?
Emperor Hongjia waved dismissively. “As long as it does not harm relations, it may be granted.”
The seven men walked onto the field. Because of Lu Ronghuai’s earlier words, the others instinctively stood together, glaring at him with unfriendly expressions.
Chu Zhang especially stood the farthest away, his swollen face like a pig’s head is still visible.
Lu Ronghuai picked up the bow and weighed it in his hand. The feel was mediocre, somewhat light but still usable.
“Everyone, please begin.”
He raised a hand lazily, gesturing for them to go first.
Liu Yuehong shouted loudly, “I shall go first.”
He seized his bow, stepped forward, and released three arrows in swift succession. Each struck the bullseye, though not the exact center but the outer edge.
Shi Geng went second. One arrow missed the center, while the other two struck within the bullseye.
The others followed one after another. Their results were largely similar, though Duan Feijing held a slight advantage.
Everyone on the viewing platform grew tense.
Chu Yuan lifted half his veil slightly, his gaze settling quietly upon that bold, unrestrained figure.
At that moment Lu Ronghuai seemed to sense something. He turned back and looked toward him.
His eyesight was keen. Catching Chu Yuan’s gaze, he curled his lips in a smile.
The smile carried absolute confidence.
“Prince Li, please.” Duan Feijing returned and courteously invited him forward.
Lu Ronghuai raised his bow and set the arrow to the string at a leisurely pace. He did not move from where he stood, and said in an idle drawl, “This Prince is too lazy to walk. Let this Prince shoot from here.”
The seven men fell silent.
The targets were already far away. They had been shooting from the designated line ahead, yet Lu Ronghuai’s current position stood five zhang farther back.
At such distance… even the bullseye would be difficult to see clearly.
Chu Zhang sneered. “The Prince of Li need not overreach himself, lest he miss the target entirely and become a figure of ridicule.”
Lu Ronghuai examined Chu Zhang’s pig-head face and bared his teeth in a grin. “The last man who dared sneer at this Prince had his tongue cut out. Crown Prince of Chu wishes to try?”
Chu Zhang stiffened. “…This Crown Prince merely offered a kind reminder.”
“Ah, how very kind.” Lu Ronghuai gave him a thumbs-up.
Chu Zhang found himself stranded between offence and reply by this mock-sincere praise, a mouthful of breath stuck fast in his chest.
Lu Ronghuai snorted in amusement. Done amusing himself at the fool’s expense, he cast no more than a rough glance in the direction of the target and the arrow left the string.
Thwip.
With a sharp whistle, the arrow struck dead center in the bullseye.
“Ah, slightly crooked,” Lu Ronghuai commented regretfully.
The seven men: “…”
Lu Ronghuai leisurely drew two more arrows from the quiver and set them on the bowstring together. Before anyone could react, both arrows had already flown.
They struck the bullseye.
Strangely, all three arrowheads were pressed tight against one another and not a single one had fallen.
“Ah. This Prince seems to have won by accident.”
The seven men stared blankly at the target. Chu Zhang even rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
“Excellent! Third Brother is amazing!”
Lu Rongshen leapt to his feet in excitement. The gloom from his earlier defeat vanished entirely. Now he hopped and shouted in delight.
“Third Brother is too formidable! Third Sister-in-law, did you see that? Hahaha! I am so pleased!”
Chu Yuan lowered his veil again. The corners of his lips rose, little by little.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Rongshen: Third Brother, you are my god! [kneels and shouts]
Lu the Dog: Displaying my peacock feathers successfully. Extremely pleased with himself.
Yuan Yuan: Childish.
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