Su Sheng turned his gaze towards Jiang Jinzhao and asked doubtfully, "Are you really going to ask your sister to compensate me for the silver?"
Jiang Jinzhao's expression was calm and indifferent, but his answer was clever and understated, "Mr. Su was the first to strike. If you're not afraid of making a fool of yourself in front of everyone, you can ask me for the money."
Peng Yuan clutched his swollen fist, coughed softly, and then whispered to Su Sheng, "Master Su, I think we should just forget it. It's really shameful that you were almost shot by that little girl. If it gets out, people will just laugh. Besides, didn't Yu Huanshen recently set up a poetry club and is planning to publish a collection of poems? You don't want to be the laughing stock in his poems, do you?"
Su Sheng's face was as gloomy as a dark cloud. He snorted coldly at Jiang Songyi: "I won't bother with you today."
He really couldn't bear this humiliation!
Peng Yuan bowed to Jiang Songyi, his round face filled with an amiable smile. "Miss Jiang, I've long heard of your name. I'm Peng Yuan, a classmate of your eldest brother. I never expected Miss Jiang's archery skills to be so superb, on par with the prowess of the Third Young Master Jiang. You truly are the daughter of the Yongding Marquisate."
Jiang Songyi nodded gently, "You're too kind. This has nothing to do with my father."
In his previous life, Jiang Songyi knew Peng Yuan was easy to get along with and adept at mediating disputes. Although he held the lowest position among Jiang Jinzhao and Su Sheng's group, he was able to navigate the various parties with ease, a paragon of sociability.
Peng Yuan was also silent for a while.
He was confused, feeling that the praise in Jiang Songyi's words was not only directed at her, but seemed to be a deeper allusion to her noble father, Marquis Yongding.
"Her archery skills are nothing but nonsense. I think it's just a blind cat catching a dead mouse. If I hadn't been agile and dodged in time, she would have become an assassin plotting against me and would have been taken into custody by the authorities!" Su Sheng snorted disapprovingly, his eyes sweeping over Jiang Songyi with contempt. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind, and he realized his mistake. "Wait, where's your bow?"
Jiang Songyi raised her head slightly, her clear eyes filled with confusion. "A bow isn't necessary, is it?"
Su Sheng sneered, "Shooting without a bow? What are you doing? Are you using this place as a place for a game of pot-throwing?"
Jiang Songyi said innocently, "At such a close distance, it's easy to shoot, can't you hit the target?"
Su Sheng looked down at the jade crown that had been accurately shot through and fell to the ground, and asked in confusion, "What on earth are you talking about?"
Jiang Jinzhao, Peng Yuan and others were also moved and looked at Jiang Songyi in disbelief.
As students of Bailu Academy, they were well-educated, but they also practiced archery and charioteering. The game of pitching pots was their daily pastime.
But they never imagined that the power of throwing pots could reach the power of archery.
At this moment, the lively and lovely Hao Qingmo, seeing everyone's suspicion, quickly stepped forward to testify in her defense: "We all saw it with our own eyes just now. Sister Songyi just casually threw the weapon and easily hit Master Su's jade crown."
Hao Qingzhi and Hao Qinghe also nodded, confirming that what he said was true.
Jiang Jinzhao was so shocked that he couldn't calm down.
Could it be that this sister, like my third brother, was born with supernatural powers and possessed the rare qualities of a general?
Su Sheng fell into deep self-doubt.
Jiang Songyi secretly rejoiced in his heart: [Tremble, hahahaha, even if it's just a dead branch or a fallen leaf, I can still throw it out and take your head.]
Seeing this, Jiang Jinzhao shook his head secretly and thought to himself: This sister is really too sharp!
Su Sheng naturally would not give in easily, "I don't believe it, do you dare to compete with me?"
Jiang Songyi had expected him to challenge her, and a hint of pride flashed in his eyes. "Why not? However, such a simple competition is really boring. How about we add some prizes?"
Su Sheng glanced at her sideways, "What prize do you want? You don't want me to ask my cousin to take you as a concubine, do you? However, if you can beat me, I won't hurt to give you a suggestion. I'm just afraid you don't have this opportunity."
Jiang Jinzhao's expression changed slightly, and a hint of warning appeared in his usually gentle voice: "The daughter of the Yongding Marquis's wife will never be willing to become someone else's concubine."
"Could it be that she still dreams of becoming the Fourth Prince's consort? It's a pity that the Fourth Prince is about to come and propose to Miss Yuyao. Miss Jiang seems to be completely unaware of this?"
Jiang Jinzhao had long heard the rumors in the mansion about the jokes caused by Jiang Songyi's fight for Jiang Yuyao's engagement. Hearing this, he couldn't help but frown slightly, worried that Jiang Songyi would disregard her integrity and be eager to become the fourth prince's concubine.
"Jiang Da, you don't have to be too nervous," Su Sheng said with a smile, his words revealing a deeper meaning, and everyone understood.
The Fourth Prince was a prominent figure who might one day inherit the throne. As his concubine, Jiang Songyi, given her status, would undoubtedly be granted the rank of Consort. Once the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, her status would undoubtedly rise, potentially even leading to her being granted the rank of Consort. Such a position would be comparable to that of a second-rank official. Even a first-rank Imperial Consort would have to perform formal formalities upon meeting her.
Jiang Jinzhao frowned slightly. Although it was not convenient for him to talk about the royal family, he was worried that Jiang Songyi would be tempted.
However, to his surprise, Jiang Songyi openly revealed Su Sheng's unfinished words, "Oh? What do you mean, Master Su? Even being a concubine of a prince is a rare status. Does becoming the Fourth Prince's concubine mean you can enjoy the same prestigious status as a palace queen?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Su Sheng and others' expressions suddenly changed.
Although the Fourth Prince was doted on, he was only a prince after all. How could his concubines be compared to the Empress in the palace? The Emperor was still on the throne, so how could the Fourth Prince have the right to overstep his bounds?
Jiang Songyi remained calm on the surface, but secretly chuckled inwardly: "Which would you choose: offending the Fourth Prince or offending your uncle, the Emperor? The Crown Prince is still alive, yet you're hinting at who will take the throne. How naive! You think that just because your mother is the eldest princess, you can escape the scourge of the entire clan."
Jiang Jinzhao looked at his sister who grew up in the countryside with some surprise. He didn't expect that she knew all these palace secrets.
Although Su Sheng was spoiled to the point of lawlessness, he was still half royal, and knew exactly what to say and what not to say. He quickly distanced himself from the situation, saying, "Jiang Songyi, don't talk nonsense. I never had such intentions! The dignity of a royal consort is naturally not something the Fourth Prince's concubine can achieve."
Jiang Songyi scoffed. "Oh, I thought Young Master Su and the Fourth Prince had a bond stronger than gold. Perhaps after hearing what the Fourth Prince said, or learning some secrets we haven't heard, he emphasized that being the Fourth Prince's concubine is not only not pitiful, but a great honor."
Everyone's eyes were focused on Jiang Songyi: Was she implying that the reason Su Sheng dared to be so presumptuous was because he had learned from the Fourth Prince that he would ascend the throne and become emperor?
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