"It's my turn now." Shen Miao said these three words lightly, yet with an inexplicable chill. It was as if the voice came from the sky above, and it hit Cai Lin in front of him with a dull sound.

The cold sweat on Cai Lin’s forehead slid down his face, and he stared blankly at Shen Miao in front of him.

Shen Miao took a few steps forward, bent down and picked up the longbow on the ground. Everyone in the audience watched her every move, unwilling to look away.

This was truly an unexpected scene. I had expected to see Shen Miao faint or lose her composure, but she was completely fine. Instead, Cai Lin was sweating profusely, and none of the three arrows had been struck.

After a brief silence, the audience began to discuss.

"It's true that a tiger father has a dog daughter! This Miss Shen is so brave!" The person who spoke was usually on good terms with Shen Xin. He had originally heard that Shen Miao was a fool and stupid and was a little skeptical. After seeing her today, he just thought that those words were just rumors. With such courage and boldness, how could she be a fool? It was clearly someone with ulterior motives who did this deliberately to smear the little girl's reputation.

"Indeed, she didn't even blink just now. If the arrow had been a little off, it would have scratched her cheek. This girl really has the demeanor of a great general. Even if it were us, we would probably be shocked."

"Don't you even consider the family she comes from? How could General Shen's daughter be bad? It seems those things were just rumors and can't be trusted. No wonder they deliberately tried to discredit her. A tree that stands out in the forest will be crushed by the wind. She's so outstanding at such a young age, no wonder people are jealous of her."

Most officials had a good attitude towards Shen Xin, after all, they had many interests connected. Moreover, they were busy with the affairs of the court all day long, and were not as meticulous as the women in the harem, and their perspectives on things were also different. In the past, Shen Miao was young, but now that she was older, she naturally showed her outstanding qualities.

Prince Zhou and Prince Jing exchanged a glance. Prince Jing shook his head and sighed, "It seems we were both wrong. She's truly a bold person."

"Old Nine, are you regretting this now?" King Zhou smiled and looked at Fu Xiuyi. "How could you possibly reject such an extraordinary woman?"

"People won't change like this overnight. Either Miss Shen Wu met some master, or she was pretending to be stupid. Whichever it is, you, Old Nine, are at a loss." Prince Jing said.

Fu Xiuyi smiled and said, "Graceful lady, but unfortunately she is not the one I like." Regret? Fu Xiuyi didn't think so, but Shen Miao's calm appearance seemed a little glaring in his eyes. He didn't believe that people could change into two completely different people overnight. Could it be that she had been pretending to be stupid all along? But why did she pretend to be stupid? Was she doing this on purpose to make him dislike her?

Pei Lang put down the teacup he was holding. For some reason, he had been so worried about Shen Miao just now. But she surprisingly remained calm. Not only did she remain calm, she also frightened Cai Lin so much that he couldn't even draw a normal arrow properly.

Shen Miao is so powerful?

“She is indeed a wonderful person.” Prince Yu smiled with satisfaction, staring at Shen Miao’s figure closely: “I wonder… what it feels like?”

Pei Lang frowned. Prince Yu's words probably suggested he was thinking about something dirty and shameful. Unfortunately, his words carried no weight, so he couldn't do anything.

"You lost." On the pavilion, Xie Jingxing sat leaning against the window, speaking calmly.

"This is the result!" Su Mingfeng's eyes almost popped out of his head. He looked at Xie Jingxing, then at the stage in the distance, and asked, "Did you already know this?"

"I accept defeat." Xie Jingxing stood up and dusted himself off.

"Okay, I admit defeat. What's the penalty?" Su Mingfeng answered readily.

"After this competition, how about you celebrate with a drink for me, using the daughter's red wine that I've buried for twenty years?"

"You're such a black-hearted person," Su Mingfeng cursed. Then, realizing something, he asked suspiciously, "But why are you celebrating? Is there anything worth celebrating?"

"Not now, but it will be soon." Xie Jingxing raised his eyebrows: "It's something worth being happy about."

On the stage, Shen Miao handed the grass fruit to Cai Lin.

Cai Lin's hands trembled as he took the straw fruit. He asked, "Chen Miao, have you ever learned how to shoot arrows?"

“No.” Shen Miao looked at him with a smile: “Today is my first time touching a bow, but since I can shoot three arrows on foot, even if I don’t understand one, there is still the next one. I will learn it eventually.”

Cai Lin shuddered and looked at Shen Miao in disbelief: "Are you talking nonsense?"

Shen Miao had been so calm and composed just now, as if she had done this kind of thing with others frequently. He had fortunately assumed that Shen Miao must be an expert. After all, Shen Xin was a mighty general, and it was possible that he would personally teach his daughter archery. But now Shen Miao actually said that today was her first time touching a bow?

How dare she!

He said, "You don't know anything, how can you shoot from a distance? I can't hit this grass fruit, so wouldn't I be dying in vain?"

"Mr. Cai is too ridiculous," Shen Miao said calmly. Her voice was neither too loud nor too low, just enough for everyone in the room to hear. Everyone looked at the purple-robed girl with lowered eyebrows and eyes, yet her aura was so aggressive.

"When Master Cai challenged me to the battle, he didn't ask me if I could shoot from a distance. When he shot arrows at me, he didn't ask me if I wanted to die. Why is he asking me if I can shoot from a distance now, and if I can do it?"

These words left Cai Lin speechless. Indeed, he had only chosen the rifle technique, which Shen Miao was not proficient in, to vent his anger on Shen Yue. But now, he had shot himself in the foot.

"Miss Shen, my son has been naughty. I apologize to you on his behalf. Please don't take it personally. It's just that you really don't know how to shoot, so accidents are inevitable, and it's hard to hold you accountable." Lord Cai finally couldn't help himself and suddenly spoke, his wife constantly glancing at him. His face flushed as he spoke, but there was nothing he could do. While it was embarrassing, it was better than losing his own son.

He even used the term "this official" to threaten Shen Miao. Although it was not good to bully a little girl like this, Master Cai also felt a little resentful of Shen Miao's inflexibility, and his tone couldn't help but carry some authority.

But how could Shen Miao be intimidated by an official? She had dealt with the Xiongnu, the Qin royal family, and the emperor of Ming Qi. She really didn't take the ministers seriously.

So everyone watched helplessly as Shen Miao raised her chin slightly. Lord Cai was standing in the audience, so from a distance, he looked like a minister groveling at Shen Miao's feet. And Shen Miao's words made everyone stunned.

She said, "Master Cai, I just bet my life on it. Now it's Cai Lin's turn. The death agreement has been signed, written clearly in black and white. Even if I shoot him to death today, it will be fair and square, and there will be no connection between us. I accept the loss."

Without waiting for Lord Cai to speak, she continued, "A man cannot stand without trust. This rule was proposed by Cai Lin himself, and now he's going back on his word. Could it be that Lord Cai also has this style in the officialdom? Will he change the rules immediately if the situation turns against him?"