Chapter 82 A Stunning Performance

Taiye Pond was built along the water, making it very cool in the summer. This summer, the emperor lost several sons in succession, and with many affairs in the harem, no one was in the mood to go to Yuanmingyuan to escape the summer heat. It was quite reasonable to choose this place for the family banquet.

Yinzhen looked at his two sons and thirteenth brother sitting next to him at the lower end of the table, and his smile became more and more satisfied. He then looked to the side and saw that the Empress Dowager had also dressed up for the first time and was wearing some jewelry. She was sitting on the other side of him, and the Empress was sitting next to her on a slightly lower chair.

Yinzhen looked away after a short while.

Following closely behind was Consort Xian, whose belly was becoming increasingly noticeable. Hongjin was holding her arm and chattering away, while two-year-old Hongzhou reached out to touch the beaded tassels on his mother's head. It was a heartwarming and lively scene.

Even Yinzhen himself couldn't help but smile. Just then, Consort Xian turned her head and met the Emperor's gaze. She pressed down Hongzhou's hand, which had been causing trouble, and raised her cup to the Emperor with a smile. Yinzhen also raised his cup in response.

Yi Xiu watched the two of them interact, her expression stiffened for a moment, then she quickly regained her composure.

Consort Jing was completely oblivious to what was happening around her. She was directing Ruyi to take the ice cream from her table to the Third Prince. The Third Prince liked to eat this in the summer. Usually, she was afraid it would harm his health, so she would have the servants watch over him and let him eat it every few days. But today he was in a good mood, so it wouldn't hurt to give him a little more than usual.

Yinzhen always showed more affection to women who radiated maternal warmth. For example, Consort Jing at this moment, and Consort Cao sitting at the back.

Yinzhen looked over and saw one cold face after another. He never liked to force things, so he frowned and ignored Consort Hui and Consort Wan.

Consort Fucha now always wears a veil over her ear to cover half of her face when she goes out. Even so, one can still vaguely see the dense scars on her beautiful face. Today, at the family banquet, she kept her head down and remained very quiet, a far cry from the confident and arrogant demeanor she used to have because of her prominent family background.

"What... is Consort Rou still here?" He originally wanted to ask about Nian Shilan, but the words were on the tip of his tongue when he remembered that it hadn't been three months yet, and Consort Nian should still be under house arrest in Yikun Palace.

The Empress seemed oblivious to the Emperor's hesitation and explained with a soft smile, "Your Majesty has been using too much ice in the summer and is feeling unwell, so you can't come."

Yinzhen didn't say anything, but nodded and said to Prince Yi beside him, "Then let's begin. You two have been preparing for so many days. If you don't perform well today, I will punish you."

He talked about punishment, but when he looked at his favorite younger brother and his favorite son, his words had no deterrent effect whatsoever.

Prince Yi stood up cheerfully, cupped his hands to his elder brother, and said, "Just you wait and see." He then led Hongzhao to the railing, stood facing the opposite bank of the lake, and raised his hand downwards. A palace servant responded and stepped forward to hand Hongzhao a smaller version of his bow and arrows.

Those sitting up couldn't see clearly, so Yinzhen also came down from up to Hongzhao's side. When everyone saw the emperor get up, they naturally followed suit, forming a tight circle around him.

Prince Yi, dressed in a striking royal blue robe, looked at Hongzhao's eager eyes and gestured to the guards and eunuchs who were already prepared on the opposite bank.

The person on the other side understood, dragged over a large cage from behind, carefully pulled out three birds flapping their wings from it and held them tightly. The three looked at each other, then counted and released their hands together.

Hongzhao kept his eyes glued to the movements opposite him. Seeing the bird flap its wings and take flight, he reacted swiftly, drawing his bow and releasing the arrow. The iron arrowhead was heavy, and the specially made bow was even more difficult to draw. Yinzhen, being closest, could feel Hongzhao's exertion; his clothes stretched taut over his shoulders, yet his face showed no sign of difficulty. It was as if drawing the bow to its fullest extent was effortless for him.

With fine white mist swirling around its bow-shaped tail, it shot out like a silver rainbow piercing the sun. Before anyone could see what was happening, the three white birds, which had been freed from their shackles and were desperately soaring high, suddenly trembled and abruptly veered off course, plummeting downwards.

Hit! All three hit!

Not only did it hit its mark, but the white bird's final mournful cry still lingered in everyone's ears. The three birds, pierced by the arrow, did not fall into the lake. Instead, thanks to the immense force of the arrow, they were firmly embedded in a willow tree on the opposite bank. Those with keen eyesight could even see the arrow's fletching tremble slightly.

Amidst the gasps of surprise from the crowd behind him, the Emperor's face was practically overflowing with satisfaction. He gently stroked Hongzhao's head with his warm hand, smoothing down the carefully braided hair. The gold bells, warm in the summer heat, touched his skin. Just as he was about to offer his praise, he heard a guard's loud report from a small boat in the middle of the lake.

"Your Majesty, all three white birds flew through the eye."

What does it mean to shoot through the eyes? To be able to hit three white birds flying apart with one arrow is already incredible. Let alone five years old, even fifteen or twenty-five years old would be hard to do, let alone the fact that these three birds were shot in the eyes and lined up in a row.

What incredible eyesight and what incredibly precise hands it must take to do that!

The shock and joy in Yinzhen's eyes were almost overflowing. He laughed out loud with undisguised delight, and amidst the exclamations of amazement and praise from the crowd, he skillfully lifted Hongzhao into his arms.

"Excellent! This is the demeanor of a prince of the Great Qing Dynasty! I will reward him handsomely!"

The Empress Dowager watched in horror. No one else had ever seen Hongzhao like this before. Yet, she inexplicably recalled the image of the late Emperor holding the deposed Crown Prince Yinreng, in the Mulan Hunting Grounds, in the Imperial Study, and in the Qianqing Palace.

She looked at the child in the Emperor's arms, whose eyes were curved into crescent moons with laughter—her own grandson. Then, without making a sound, she turned her head to look at Yixiu standing beside her, whose smile remained but whose hands were tightly clasped together. She felt waves of exhaustion wash over her.

"Ding—Congratulations, host, for completing the 'Stunning the Audience' mission. The reward has been issued on time. Please check."

The matter caused quite a stir in the hall for a while, with everyone offering their own compliments. At first, they might have genuinely thought it was impressive, but as time went on, they realized that the Emperor liked to hear it, so they did their best to flatter him.

After a long while, everyone sat back down. The table in front of Hongzhao was suddenly filled with dishes and snacks, some given by the Emperor and some by the concubines. It looked like enough to last for several days. Hongzhao shared some with the Third Prince.

Now that I've completed my task, I can just quietly watch others put on their show.

The Empress finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the radiant and proud expression on Consort Xian's face, her breathing became a little heavier. Everyone else had had their moment in the spotlight, and now it was her turn.

"Lotus flowers can be picked in Jiangnan - how lush the lotus leaves are!" A melodious song drifted from the heart of the lake, its gentle melody pleasing to the ear. In the distance, small boats were adorned with lotus flowers and leaves, and a beautiful woman on one of them wore a pink headdress and held a tender pink bud in her hand.

"Who is singing?" Yinzhen couldn't help but look up and ask, but unusually, no one answered his question this time.

The Empress Dowager sat to one side, feeling a turmoil of emotions rising and falling within her. She hadn't yet figured out what had happened with Hongzhao. And now, this voice... how could it sound so much like Chun Yuan's!