Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 65

“The third event: ritual archery!”

“Wei You of the Imperial Guard’s Yulin Guard versus Kulun of Tujue!”

After entering the field and exchanging salutes, the two men collected the bows and quivers prepared on a nearby table.

Each had four arrows.

They walked to positions about fifty paces from the targets. A wooden strip lay across the ground, marking the shooting line.

The targets were woven from straw and painted as concentric squares.

The center was white, the next ring red, and the outermost ring black.

An arrow landing outside the black area would score no points.

The rain had weakened, but a light breeze remained. These were hardly ideal conditions for archery.

Yet as Cang Chuli had said, a battlefield did not care whether it rained.

The men planted their feet apart and nocked their arrows.

At the referee’s command, both took aim and drew their bows fully.

They continued until all four arrows had been fired.

Not a sound came from the audience below.

Everyone feared that the slightest noise might disturb them.

The final scores were quickly calculated.

“The third event, ritual archery, goes to Wei You of the Imperial Guard’s Yulin Guard!”

Only after the referee announced the result did applause erupt once more.

“Reward him!” Dongfang Wei called loudly, looking thoroughly satisfied.

Most of the officials and their families were smiling too.

Two victories out of three. Huaxia had won!

Tujue had harassed the Huaxia border for so many years. This time, Huaxia had defeated them openly and honorably!

Many people felt as if a knot of resentment had finally loosened in their chests. They cast glances toward Huyan Lie.

Pasang hurled the pastry in her hand to the ground.

“Useless! How could he lose such a simple contest?”

“Pasang!” Huyan Lie rebuked her in a low voice. “Do not let others laugh at you.”

She stopped throwing a tantrum, though she turned her face away sullenly and refused to look at the field.

Huyan Lie restored his smile and walked toward the foot of Dongfang Wei’s platform.

Seeing him approach the Emperor, the crowd fell silent. They wanted to hear what else he might say.

Surely he was not such a poor loser?

Huyan Lie bent in a salute.

“Huaxia truly possesses an abundance of talent.

“The contests were so intense that I find my own hands itching to participate.

“I have heard that the General of the Northern Pacification is the finest among them. Might I have the honor of testing my skills against him?”

Dongfang Wei looked at Cang Chuli.

“Oh? You wish to challenge General Cang?”

Huyan Lie smiled.

“I have long heard of the General of the Northern Pacification’s reputation. Since we already have the grounds available today, I hope Your Majesty will grant permission.”

“Hmph. He isn’t satisfied with losing and wants to challenge our general,” Mo Bai muttered with a pout.

“What a poor loser.”

Cang Chuli rose and walked over to Huyan Lie.

“Since Prince Huyan extends such a gracious invitation, how could I dare refuse?”

“Hahaha! General Cang is refreshingly decisive! But a simple contest seems to lack excitement. Why don’t we add a wager?”

Cang Chuli lifted his chin slightly.

“What does the prince wish to wager?”

“Hmm… The winner may take one item brought by the loser. What do you think?”

Huyan Lie offered the proposal after a moment’s thought.

“Agreed. What would the prince like to compete in?” Cang Chuli asked.

“Mounted archery. The previous two contests were spectacular, and I would like to ride a few circuits myself.”

“Very well.”

“Since both of you are in such high spirits, Sixi, tell the training ground to prepare the course,” Dongfang Wei ordered.

“What pleasure is there in shooting fixed targets?” Huyan Lie’s next words drew everyone’s attention back to him. “On a battlefield, no enemy would stand still and wait to be shot. Would you not agree, General Cang?

“Why not have two people carry targets and walk around the field? General Cang and I will shoot from horseback. Any method is permitted. Whoever lands more arrows and earns the higher total score will win. How does that sound?”

“Is that not excessively cruel?” Grand Secretary Li, seated closest, drew in a sharp breath.

They intended to use living people as targets!

“Grand Secretary, you worry too much. I am confident in my archery.” Huyan Lie smiled. “Or do you lack faith in General Cang’s skill?”

“That…”

Grand Secretary Li was left speechless.

“As for the target bearers…”

Huyan Lie’s gaze swept over the people behind Cang Chuli.

Xia Heng immediately felt a sense of foreboding.

“This maid of yours looks suitable. She is calm and steady. I imagine her hands would not tremble while holding a target.”

Heh.

Cold weather called for more earth over his grave. Why had he crawled out to make trouble?

Xia Heng felt a vein throbbing at her temple.

“The training ground can—”

“Yanu, accompany this maid and carry the other target!”

Huyan Lie interrupted Cang Chuli before he could finish.

The maid he named silently stepped forward and stood to one side with her head lowered and body trembling.

“General Cang appears to lack confidence in your maid.”

Huyan Lie walked toward the group behind Cang Chuli and stopped beside Xia Heng, indicating her with his chin.

“Why don’t we switch, then? I can shoot at the target she carries.”

At those words, Xia Heng immediately moved behind Cang Chuli and stood straight with her head high.

*Boss, I can do it!*

What a joke. Cang Chuli, at least, knew how to shoot a target.

If Huyan Lie became her partner, no one could say whether he would aim at the target or her head.

“Hahaha! General Cang, look at that. This little maid seems quite different from you. She has far more confidence in you!”

Xia Heng kept smiling through clenched teeth.

His words slid out so smoothly that she wondered whether he had greased his lips with laxative.

The training-ground staff and referees took their places and began making preparations.

There was no backing out now. Xia Heng and Yanu could only carry the targets onto the field.

“Ah Heng!”

Xia Heng looked up and saw Xiao Yaqing watching her anxiously.

She forced out a smile.

“It’ll be fine. Our general is exceptional!”

With that, she walked to the side of the field and waited for the referee’s command.

Cang Chuli and Huyan Lie prepared to mount at the starting line.

“Why so serious, General Cang? Surely there is no need to be so nervous!”

Cang Chuli gave him an icy look and swung into the saddle.

Receiving no answer, Huyan Lie pursed his lips as if helpless and mounted his own horse.

“The fourth event: mounted archery!

“Cang Chuli, General of the Northern Pacification, versus Huyan Lie, First Prince of Tujue!”

“General Cang will win!”

“Ahhh!”

Xia Heng listened to the cheers from the sidelines.

She forced back the tears gathering in her eyes and suppressed the unease in her heart, then breathed out heavily.

“Hah…”

Yes. This was ancient times. A slave had no human rights.

If the powerful ordered her to hold a target, she held it. If they told her to walk, she walked. If they ordered her to die, she died…

“The contest begins!”

“Hyah!”

“Hyah!”

Cang Chuli and Huyan Lie snapped their reins. The two fine horses surged forward.

Xia Heng raised the target and walked steadily toward the opposite side.

But they had better stop looking down on her!

She might be a maid now, but she knew how to endure. She knew how to survive!

And she lived more happily than they did!

She would outlive Huyan Lie and dance on his grave!

Xia Heng glared at him, then fixed her eyes on Cang Chuli and adjusted the target’s position.

Whoosh—thunk!

The impact jolted her hands.

“A hit!”

Cang Chuli was the God of War in the original novel. Mounted archery was hardly a challenge for him!

Xia Heng had absolute confidence in that.

Now everything depended on how well she cooperated while holding the target.

Thinking of all Huyan Lie had done to force her onto the field, Xia Heng held on to a breath of fury.

If she let him win today, she would change her name to Huyan!