Song Qi found the Empress very strange.

However, after receiving that imperial edict, she lost all hope for the rationality of this world.

So, let it be strange.

Meng Yilan looked at Song Qi with eyes full of anticipation and admiration: "General, how about I show you around the palace?"

"Okay." Song Qi nodded. Women are indeed fickle; one moment they're sitting, the next they're in the Imperial Garden, and finally the palace.

It doesn't really matter where you go; in the end, you're just chatting.

"General, you can come to me anytime you are bored. Although I have never left the capital, I have read a lot of travelogues and have traveled all over the Great Zhou."

"Want to go out and have a look?" Song Qi tilted his head and looked at her.

Meng Yilan blinked, smiled, and asked softly, "How do we get out?"

Before Song Qi could say anything, Meng Yilan changed the subject, introducing Song Qi to various parts of the palace and subtly hinting at the conflicts between the concubines.

“That’s the drill ground. Originally, all the princes lived around here, but now only the fourteenth and seventeenth princes live here. The general should be more interested in this place.” Meng Yilan led her over.

There were people in the training ground, two young boys, one who looked to be only seven or eight years old, and the other who looked a little older, around thirteen or fourteen.

Meng Yilan raised her hand, signaling that the two children should not be disturbed.

All Song Qi could say was: The late emperor was truly amazing; he was over seventy when he died.

The two children were shooting arrows, as if they were having a competition. The younger one missed the target, while the older one barely hit the target, but it was unclear which way it went.

"Did Zhao Zhi not let them practice martial arts?" Song Qi lowered his voice.

Meng Yilan glanced at Song Qi, finding it odd that she addressed the emperor by his name, but she didn't say anything more, simply nodding.

Song Qi walked over and took the arrow that was placed next to Seventeen.

Seventeen had just lost and was still in a bad mood. When she saw Song Qi, she got angry and said, "Who are you? Who told you to take my things without permission?"

Song Qi glanced at him, casually tossed the arrow, which hit the bullseye. The movement was nonchalant, and his eyes remained fixed on Seventeen.

Seventeen was stunned for a moment, then stared wide-eyed at Song Qi: "Wow!"

Within seconds, Seventeen's eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Song Qi.

Kids are so easy to fool.

Meng Yilan walked over with a smile. Fourteen and Seventeen immediately bowed upon seeing her, and then looked at Song Qi expectantly.

“This is General Shao,” Meng Yilan said with a smile.

"Wow!" the two of them exclaimed in unison again, their eyes shining even brighter.

“You can call me sister.” Song Qi reached out and ruffled the heads of the two children. “Want to be like me? I can teach you.”

Meng Yilan turned her head to look at Song Qi, opened her mouth as if to stop him, but seeing the expectant faces of the two children, she didn't know what to say.

Song Qi turned her head to look at Meng Yilan: "You can come along too."

"Me?" Meng Yilan's reason told her that she should refuse. Although the requirements for women in the Great Jin country were not harsh, they were not lenient either. Women were generally not allowed to ride horses or wield swords and spears, and would be looked down upon by others.

Even the emperor's women could only ride horses and shoot a few arrows during the annual hunt, which seemed more like a reward. They didn't need to be very accurate with their arrows; no matter which way they shot, someone would bring the rabbits they had shot to their faces.

Shao Jie is somewhat of an anomaly, partly due to her family background and her exceptional personal abilities. Most people wouldn't find her actions inappropriate, but would simply lament, "It's a pity she's not a man."

"Don't you want to try?" Song Qi took the bow, pulled Meng Yilan's hand, and placed the bow and arrow in her hand. "Try it. There's no one else here. If anyone mentions it, you can say that I forced you to do it."

Meng Yilan glanced at Song Qi, then at the bow in her hand, and nodded as if possessed. She took the bow and walked to the side, aiming at the target.

She was not strong, and after several attempts, the arrows would fall to the ground before reaching the target.

Meng Yilan's expression faltered.

She took a deep breath where no one could see her, then casually tossed the bow aside and looked to the side.

Song Qi was talking to the two children and even helping them correct their movements, appearing very patient.

She held the two children's hands and shot two arrows, both hitting the bullseye, instantly eliciting cheers from the entire training ground.

Song Qi patted the two of them on the shoulders and then walked towards Meng Yilan.

Don't you like it?

"I'm too weak." Meng Yilan sighed, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.

"Just have someone bring the target closer," Song Qi said, and then ordered his men to begin.

Meng Yilan looked at Song Qi, blinked, and the target was placed two meters away from her.

"Too close, it's pointless." Meng Yilan said meaningfully, then picked up her bow and arrow and shot another arrow, this time hitting the target, although it was still a little off target.

Song Qi walked behind Meng Yilan, took her hand in his, and picked up the bow.

Meng Yilan was startled and wanted to dodge, but there was no way to avoid it.

"Why are you trembling?" Song Qi looked down at Meng Yilan, whose lips were tightly pursed, and she looked very nervous.

"I don't."

Song Qi didn't ask any more questions, but with her hand, she shot an arrow that hit the bullseye.

Meng Yilan smiled more.

Song Qi then explained the techniques for drawing a bow, which were essential knowledge points for Shao Jie.

Song Qi was afraid that Meng Yilan wouldn't understand, so he spoke very slowly.

Meng Yilan felt a warm breeze blowing in her ear, but she didn't hear a word of what Song Qi said; her mind was in turmoil.

After that, Song Qi pulled her hand and shot a few more arrows. She didn't react at all and her mind went blank.

This feeling is somewhat familiar.

She looked up at Song Qi's profile, frowned, and then lowered her head again.

"Try it." Song Qi released Meng Yilan's hand.

Meng Yilan picked up her bow and fired a shot at random. This time it went much farther, but it just grazed past the target.

Song Qi was silent for a few seconds: Luckily, it wasn't her soldier.

Fourteen and Seventeen started pestering Song Qi to look at them, so she pulled her over.

Meng Yilan gripped the bow and took a deep breath.

Before long, it was noon. Meng Yilan couldn't hold on any longer, so she found a shady spot to sit and watched the three of them from a distance. She couldn't help but laugh at the silly things that Fourteen and Seventeen occasionally did.

Judging that the time was about right, Song Qi called a halt.

Meng Yilan watched as Song Qi said something and then walked towards her. She subconsciously straightened her posture.

"Let's go." Song Qi casually wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

Meng Yilan frowned, took out her handkerchief, and carefully wiped her face. After wiping, she casually stuffed it into her sleeve: "Let's go, lunch has been prepared in my palace. Shall we eat together?"

"Okay." Song Qi nodded and walked beside Meng Yilan. "Are you bored?"

“It’s not boring.” Meng Yilan looked ahead. “There’s nothing to do here anyway.”

To get back to Fengyi Palace, they had to pass through the Imperial Garden. As soon as the two of them entered, Song Qi heard two women arguing not far away.

Meng Yilan frowned, trying to hide the impatience in her eyes.

"Sister, it's one thing if you don't bow to me, but why did you bump into me?"

"Sister, don't make false accusations. When did I hit you?"

"So many people are watching, sister. This is not something you can deny with sophistry. This hairpin was a gift from the Emperor. Are you jealous, or is that why you're doing this today? Do you know what a serious crime it is to destroy an imperial gift?"

As Song Qi listened, he saw two women through the gaps in the branches.

One person is dressed in fine clothes, while the other appears to have barely any jewelry on.

Song Qi did not see the person dressed in fine clothes in the morning.

“It should be Consort Fang and Noble Lady Li,” Meng Yilan said.

Song Qi nodded, having formed a vague impression in his mind.

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Her Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

The two voices stopped abruptly. Consort Li performed a proper curtsy, while Consort Fang appeared somewhat casual.

"What's wrong? Why are you making such a racket in public?" Meng Yilan asked.

“Your Majesty, Consort Li not only failed to bow to me, but she also bumped into me, knocking off my hairpin, which was a gift from the Emperor,” Consort Fang said, glancing at Consort Li. “Your Majesty, you must stand up for me.”

Consort Li knelt down immediately: "Your Majesty, please see the truth. How dare I offend Consort Fang?"

Song Qi remained expressionless, almost wanting to run away. What could be more boring than watching two women bicker?

there is none left.

"Why don't you dare? Weren't you just saying that I was spouting nonsense? Is this how you act when you're afraid to offend me?" Consort Fang smirked.

Song Qi rubbed his temples: "Is the hairpin that important?"

"Of course, Your Highness, this is a gift from the Emperor."

"It's so important, why bring it out instead of taking it back and treating it properly? Besides, tell me, how did you bump into it? Your clothes and hair ornaments are all in place. How could you bump into it like that? Do you want to teach me?" Song Qi lifted his eyelids, glanced at Consort Fang casually, and said.

"I……"

"If you've figured out how you crashed it, you can come to the Phoenix Palace to find Her Majesty the Empress and me. If you can't, Consort Fang, please go and apologize to the Emperor yourself." Song Qi looked at her coldly. "Do you have any more questions?"