Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 212 - 211. Archery competition, showing one’s prowess
211. Archery on the Stage, Revealing One’s Sharp Edge
The stage was set up on the side of the street diagonally across from Ningxiang Pavilion. From afar, Ye Li saw a dagger studded with jewels displayed in the center of the stage. If the other party weren’t truly confident in their archery skills, they must be too rich to know where to spend their money. Leaving aside the quality of the dagger for now, the array of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds inlaid on the hilt and scabbard alone could be described as priceless.
"Qin Feng," Ye Li spoke softly.
Qin Feng, who was following behind her, stepped forward and whispered, "Princess Consort, what are your orders?" Ye Li glanced at the middle-aged man on stage wearing Beirong warrior attire and said, "Investigate this man’s background."
Qin Feng glanced at the man on the stage, nodded, and said, "Understood."
The three of them stood in the crowd, watching the stage. Yun Ting had already leaped onto the platform and was looking defiantly at the Beirong man. "Tell me," Yun Ting said, "how do we compete in this arena?"
The Beirong man looked Yun Ting up and down and chuckled. "This young master looks so fair and delicate. Are you here to compete too? Be careful you don’t even manage to draw the bow. Our Beirong bows are much more powerful than those of Great Chu."
Yun Ting sneered, "If I weren’t here to compete, what would I be doing on this stage? Chatting idly with you?" He walked over to where bows and arrows were placed, casually picked up a bow and an arrow, and in a swift motion, shot it at a column on the side of the stage as thick as a bowl. With a WHOOSH, the arrow embedded itself deeply into the column. The crowd below roared its approval.
The Beirong man also applauded. "Good! I didn’t expect this young master to be a master archer. In that case, let’s begin!"
Yun Ting grunted, lowered his head to look at the bow and arrow in his hand, and ignored the other man. The Beirong man didn’t mind and chuckled. "The rules are simple. I’ve heard you people in the Central Plains have an expression, ’shoot with great precision.’ However, we Beirong people don’t care for such elegant pastimes, so we’ll skip that. Young master, look over there."
Following the direction of his finger, they saw a tall tree about seventy to eighty steps away from the stage. Numerous silken threads hung from this tree, each with a copper coin tied to its end. It was currently nighttime, and though the streetlights illuminated the area as if it were day, it still wasn’t as bright as true daylight. If one didn’t look carefully, it was impossible to even see the threads holding the copper coins. The coins swayed in the evening breeze, occasionally striking each other and producing a crisp sound. "There are a total of thirty copper coins hanging there," the man said. "As long as you can shoot all of them down, the dagger is yours. You have the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, and only ten arrows." That meant shooting down thirty coins with ten arrows within the time it took half an incense stick to burn.
"Yun Ting..." Below the stage, Chen Yun frowned. In terms of archery, he was no worse than Yun Ting. However, in his view, it was impossible to shoot down these thirty coins with ten arrows. These coins were hung at varying heights, making the task incredibly difficult. This task was many times more difficult than ’shoot with great precision’. Yun Ting stared at the large tree dozens of steps away for a moment, then snorted. He raised his hand, nocked an arrow, and under everyone’s watchful gaze, shot at the coins under the tree’s shadow. With a few crisp sounds, a coin was pierced through the middle. The tremendous force of the arrow shattered the coin into several pieces that fell to the ground. The arrow’s momentum didn’t cease; it snapped another thread holding a coin before lodging itself in the tree trunk.
"Good!" The spectators below the stage couldn’t help but shout praises again. In such dim light, he could hit two targets with one arrow! This level of archery was no worse than ’shoot with great precision’. But the Beirong man standing on the stage showed no surprise. Yun Ting and Chen Yun, also on stage, remained silent. Those who understood archery knew that the challenge increased with each subsequent shot. Yun Ting’s archery was good, but it wasn’t necessarily enough to shoot down all thirty coins. As Yun Ting nocked another arrow and took aim, everyone’s gaze remained fixed on the coins under the tree.
When Yun Ting was about to shoot his seventh arrow, there were still fifteen coins hanging from the tree. Qin Feng silently appeared behind Ye Li, startling Yaoji. Ye Li turned her head to glance at Qin Feng, who whispered, "This middle-aged man is indeed from Beirong, but he is no ordinary Beirong man. He is a capable general under Helian Zhen of Beirong and is also known as the best archer in Beirong. Additionally, the dagger he is using as a prize is no ordinary blade. It was a gift from the King of Beirong to Helian Zhen when Helian Zhen was still favored. It’s said to be sharp enough to cut a hair that floats by."
"Oh?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled. "The number one archer from Beirong has come to Ruyang to set up a stall and an archery contest?"
Qin Feng laughed. "His decision to set up a stall has nothing to do with the King of Beirong. After Helian Zhen fell out of favor, several factions tried to recruit him, but he rejected them all. He even resigned from his military post, so now he’s just a commoner. As long as he doesn’t violate the laws of any country, no one can dictate where he sets up his stall." When the heir’s birth was announced, an invitation was extended to people from all nations and regions to visit the Northwest for commerce or leisure. Consequently, many martial arts masters, members of the worldly society, wandering scholars, and even poets have recently set up stages for various competitions. Of course, the majority are merchants and tourists who rushed here upon hearing the news.
Ye Li looked back at him and smiled. "Are you saying he’s Yelv Ye’s man?"
Qin Feng nodded. "You could say that."
Ye Li sneered. "What a cunning Yelv Ye! And what a Beirong Seventh Prince!" Yelv Ye clearly knows that Ruyang is where the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry are stationed, yet he sent this person to stir up trouble. Isn’t he just trying to demonstrate that the archery skills of the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry are merely average?
Seeing Ye Li’s anger, Qin Feng whispered, "Princess Consort, shall I dispatch a few men to deal with him?" This archery challenge is so demanding that not many members of the Qilin could succeed. Thankfully, it’s not entirely hopeless. From the hundreds of Qilin members, seven or eight could be chosen to take up the challenge. However, he doubted anyone else in Beirong possessed this man’s skill; otherwise, why would this man be acclaimed as Beirong’s foremost divine archer?
Ye Li shook her head and said faintly, "It’s not necessary for the Qilin to deal with someone of his caliber. Perhaps Yelv Ye simply wants a glimpse of the Qilin. The Qilin are not for just anyone to see. So-called special forces are, in any era, synonymous with mystery. If everyone could fathom their combat capabilities, what kind of secret trump card would they be?"
"Colonel Yun is likely to lose," Qin Feng said, pointing to Yun Ting, who was ahead preparing to shoot his final arrow. "There are still thirteen coins hanging on the tree. Yun Ting couldn’t possibly shoot them all down with a single arrow."
Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "It’s good for a young man to have his arrogance tempered a bit. Losing to Beirong’s foremost divine archer is no disgrace for him."
Qin Feng nodded. "The Princess Consort is right."
Yun Ting’s final arrow left the string, astonishingly shooting down three copper coins at once. However, even so, Yun Ting was still unmistakably the loser in this round. His youthful, handsome face turned as cold as ice, a hint of barely discernible dismay lingering within it. The Beirong man laughed, "Young master, you have lost. Fifty taels." Yun Ting, his face stony, pulled a fifty-tael silver ingot from his breast, handed it to the Beirong man, and then leaped off the platform.
The man, a satisfied smile on his face, called out to the spectators, "I wonder if any other experts are willing to come up on stage and try?"
"Even someone from the Mo Family Army couldn’t win; who else could possibly succeed?" Someone in the crowd shouted. Immediately, all eyes were drawn to Yun Ting.
The man on stage laughed. "Oh? So, this young fellow is a soldier from the Mo Family Army? My apologies. I’ve heard that the Mo Family Army consists of archers who are one in a hundred. I wonder if any other Mo Family Army soldiers are willing to come up and test their skills? What do you say, young master?" Looking down at Chen Yun, who stood beside Yun Ting, his voice now held an obvious note of provocation.
Chen Yun and Yun Ting were evenly matched in archery, but now Chen Yun was in an awkward position. Yun Ting’s face darkened, realizing his own arrogance had implicated Chen Yun. He was about to step forward to speak when Chen Yun stopped him with an outstretched hand. Just as Chen Yun, after some thought, was about to open his mouth, an elegant and pleasant voice came from behind them. "Since it’s like this, might this Princess Consort be allowed to try, General Huyan of Beirong?"
Everyone was taken aback. They had been intent on watching Yun Ting’s archery. Furthermore, because it was nighttime and Ye Li and Yaoji were standing inconspicuously at the back, no one in front of the platform had noticed the two beautiful women in the crowd. Hearing Ye Li speak, everyone turned to look at her, while some began to scrutinize the Beirong man on the platform. It was understandable for a Beirong man to harbor hostility towards Great Chu, so no one had paid much mind when the man had slightly provoked Chen Yun earlier. But for a once-renowned Grand General of Beirong, the nation’s top archer, to condescend to challenge an obscure junior officer of the Mo Family Army—that seemed rather unjust.
"Greetings, Princess Consort!" Half the people in front of the platform were residents of Ruyang City. Upon seeing Ye Li, they quickly stepped forward to pay their respects and cleared a path for her. The others naturally followed suit. Even if they weren’t under the jurisdiction of the Mo Family Army or Prince Ding’s Mansion, as visitors, they still owed some respect to their host.
The Beirong man was momentarily stunned by having his identity exposed. He looked at the beautiful woman in a green dress emerging from the crowd. Her demeanor was elegant and refined, her smile as graceful as that of any noble lady from Great Chu. Yet, inexplicably, that very smile sent a chill down his spine. He forced a smile at Ye Li. "Princess Consort Ding, I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what you mean by ’General Huyan’?"
Ye Li returned a faint smile and, under the crowd’s gaze, leaped gracefully onto the stage. Her voice was calm as she said, "Huyan Lv, formerly the foremost archer of Beirong. While some of these youngsters under my command may be somewhat lacking, for someone of your stature to personally instruct them is rather an overkill. I will be sure to properly thank His Highness the Crown Prince of Beirong for this later." Her words implied that Huyan Lv, a long-famous figure, was bullying the less experienced by publicly challenging two junior officers of the Mo Family Army. Ye Li looked at Huyan Lv with a smile, her serene eyes holding a touch of coldness. Did he think that after so many years away from the Beirong army, no one would recognize him? Even if others didn’t, the Crown Prince of Beirong surely would.
Startled, Huyan Lv managed a forced laugh. "If the Princess Consort wishes to compete, I am, of course, delighted. Please, Princess Consort." He intended to simply brush aside the matter of his identity.
Ye Li seemed unconcerned. She glanced at the jewel-encrusted dagger displayed in the center of the stage and smiled. "A gift from the King of Beirong must be extraordinary. In that case, this Princess Consort won’t be overly courteous."
Huyan Lv’s expression hardened. "Perhaps we should wait until the Princess Consort has won before saying more."
He stepped aside, selected a bow and arrows, and handed them to Ye Li. Huyan Lv did not try to make things difficult for Ye Li with the equipment. He wasn’t a fool. If he, in front of everyone, gave her a heavy bow that even a burly man would struggle to draw, he would only be seen as bullying Princess Consort Ding due to her being a woman and deliberately causing her trouble. It would be better to choose a suitable bow and let her defeat herself. Huyan Lv had absolute confidence in his own archery skills. Naturally, he didn’t believe this delicate and seemingly frail woman could be a flawless archer. He had heard the tale of Princess Consort Ding frightening Princess Ling Yun with a single arrow years ago. However, in his opinion, Princess Consort Ding’s archery at that time could barely be called competent.
Ye Li calmly accepted the bow and arrows from Huyan Lv, tested them, and remarked with a faint smile, "A good bow."
Huyan Lv stated arrogantly, "The bows from my Beirong are, naturally, all excellent."
Copper coins had been re-hung on the tree dozens of steps away. Huyan Lv said, "Princess Consort, you may step closer to shoot if you wish."
Ye Li smiled slightly. "Thank you for your kind offer, General Huyan." Others might have accepted Huyan Lv’s seeming kindness, but Ye Li knew that archery wasn’t always easier from a closer distance. For instance, in the current situation, if one stood directly beneath the tree, even an archer chosen in ten thousand would be unable to shoot down all the copper coins.
Under the crowd’s gaze, Ye Li calmly took three feathered arrows and nocked them. Everyone gasped. Princess Consort Ding intended to shoot three arrows simultaneously! Ye Li skillfully drew the bowstring, made a slight adjustment to her position, and then released without hesitation. The sound of arrows cleaving the air was heard. Under the lamplight, three silver streaks shot towards the distant tree. Soon after, the crisp sound of falling copper coins followed. Ye Li’s hands, however, did not stop. She didn’t even glance to see how many her first three arrows had hit. Again, she took three more feathered arrows, nocked them, drew the bow, and shot—
Another series of crisp sounds echoed. Before the onlookers could fully process what was happening, Ye Li had already drawn her bow again. This time, she spun, crouched, and shot three arrows upwards from a low angle.
In the blink of an eye, nine arrows had been shot, leaving only one. The crowd looked towards the large tree; five copper coins still hung there. Many people were silently anxious for Ye Li. However, regardless of this round’s outcome, no one would ever again doubt the archery skills of the Mo Family Army.
In a private room in Ningxiang Pavilion, not far away, an open window offered a direct view of the archery platform below. Two men sat facing each other, their expressions complex and difficult to discern as they watched the events unfold.
"Prince Li, what do you think... about Princess Consort Ding’s final arrow?" one asked.
Mo Jingli drained the wine from his cup in one gulp, his voice cold. "Whether Ye Li wins or loses, what concern is it of mine? The Mo Family Army’s reputation is not mine, nor is that Howling Moon Saber." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Hearing this, Yelv Ye couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh, "Prince Ding is truly fortunate. To have such a woman for a wife is indeed life’s greatest blessing."
CLUNK! Mo Jingli slammed his wine cup onto the table, making the wine pot and dishes on it rattle.
Yelv Ye smiled as he observed Mo Jingli’s expression, as dark and overcast as a stormy sky. He remarked casually, "Speaking of which, wasn’t Princess Consort Ding originally designated by the late Emperor of Great Chu as Prince Li’s fiancée? Truly a pity..."
SNAP! The wine cup in Mo Jingli’s hand shattered, leaving his palm full of fragments.
In another room, Lei Tengfeng and the Southern Garrison Prince were also intently watching the platform. Lei Tengfeng chuckled in admiration. "I never expected Princess Consort Ding to improve so rapidly. I recall that two years ago, she was barely proficient at drawing a bow. Father, who do you think will win?"
The Southern Garrison Prince seemed not to hear, his gaze fixed solely on the woman in green on the platform, a strange light flickering in his eyes. Seeing this, Lei Tengfeng said no more, quietly lowering his gaze, lost in thought.
On the platform, Huyan Lv stared at the woman in green before him, concealing the shock in his heart. "Princess Consort Ding, this is your last arrow."
Ye Li smiled faintly. She calmly took her final feathered arrow, but this time, she didn’t hurry. Instead, she slowly nocked the arrow and aimed. Everyone couldn’t help but hold their breath, their eyes fixed on the few remaining copper coins on the tree. Suddenly, Ye Li tapped her foot and leaped into the air. She paused momentarily on a table behind her, then vaulted upwards again. While airborne, she swiftly drew her bow and shot the arrow.
SWOOSH!
The feathered arrow thudded into the large tree. Everyone stared, stupefied, at the now-bare branches. The copper coins that had hung there were gone. Those with sharp eyes could see several severed threads of identical length still dangling from the tree. Princess Consort Ding’s final arrow had severed the five slender threads! Such incredible archery and eyesight—how could it not leave people astounded? Ye Li turned to the pale-faced Huyan Lv and said lightly, "The same rules, General Huyan. If you can do the same, then this Princess Consort will concede defeat!"
The crowd erupted. Previously, Huyan Lv had set up the platform to challenge everyone. Now, the tables had turned, with Princess Consort Ding publicly challenging Huyan Lv, Beirong’s foremost expert. Amidst the fervent discussions, Yun Ting, whose face had been as cold as ice moments before, was now visibly thrilled. "Well, General Huyan? You wouldn’t dare refuse our Princess Consort’s challenge, would you?"
Huyan Lv’s face turned deathly pale. Indeed, he was afraid. As Beirong’s top archer, Huyan Lv possessed genuine skill. Given some time, he might have been able to replicate Ye Li’s feat. At this moment, however, he was powerless to do so. He could shoot down all the copper coins one by one within ten arrows. However, he couldn’t manage to hit multiple coins—seven or eight, or even more—with a single volley of three arrows as Ye Li had. Clearly, Ye Li knew this, which was why she had posed such a difficult challenge to him.
"General Huyan?" Ye Li gently prompted, smiling.
"I concede!" Huyan Lv gritted out, his teeth clenched. A wave of jeers erupted from the crowd.
Ye Li walked to the center of the platform, picked up the jewel-studded dagger from its stand, and unsheathed it. A wave of coldness immediately filled the air. The blade was bright and reflective, its sharp, frigid edge hinting that it had drawn blood countless times. With a casual wave, the table that had held the dagger instantly splintered into pieces. Ye Li sheathed the dagger and praised, "Indeed, a fine blade. Thank you very much, General Huyan."
Seeing Ye Li tuck the precious dagger into her sleeve, Huyan Lv’s face was ashen. He was rendered speechless. He could only watch helplessly as Ye Li departed gracefully, taking the dagger he had been so proud of, descending the platform, and vanishing from view.
