However, the crown prince is still in power, and the emperor has no intention of replacing him. Doesn't the fourth prince's behavior conceal a rebellious heart?
Su Sheng's heart was beating wildly: Does Jiang Songyi want to kill him?
Su Sheng almost rushed forward, covering Jiang Songyi's mouth with his hands, and roared angrily: "How dare you! Jiang Songyi, shut up! I know nothing about this, and the Fourth Prince has never revealed a single word!"
Those who had once said that Jiang Songyi was from the countryside and had limited knowledge would now be speechless. Her every word was more sharp and biting than those of the imperial censors.
If these words were to reach the emperor's ears, he and the fourth prince would be doomed!
Jiang Jinzhao hadn't anticipated that Jiang Songyi would not only want to accuse Su Sheng of a crime, but also to discredit the Fourth Prince. He felt her behavior was too presumptuous, so he hurried to smooth things over: "My sister has just returned to the mansion and is not familiar with etiquette yet. Her words may be inappropriate, so please don't take them to heart."
Since Jiang Jinzhao had already spoken, everyone naturally gave him face and pretended not to have heard Jiang Songyi's previous remarks.
Peng Yuan made it clear: "Miss Jiang is just a child saying something innocent. We naturally won't take it to heart."
Jiang Songyi is still young, in her prime, and is the youngest among everyone present. It is understandable that she speaks without restraint.
Jiang Songyi glanced at Jiang Jinzhao but did not refute his words.
[Huh, Jiang Jinzhao didn't actually kick me when I was down, but instead defended me?]
Jiang Jinzhao's brows furrowed slightly. Jiang Songyi was dissatisfied with him and even refused to call him brother, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Although Su Sheng was filled with rage, he could no longer vent his anger on Jiang Jinzhao and Jiang Songyi. He could only snort coldly, "Miss Jiang, you are too conceited. Let me curb your pride! If you lose to me in archery, I don't want any prizes. I only ask that Miss Jiang condescend to be my maid at the Lantern Festival and serve me tea and water."
Jiang Jinzhao's eyes instantly turned cold, and his tone carried an unquestionable warning: "Su Sheng!"
"Young Master Jiang, why are you so nervous? We're at a banquet in front of everyone. I won't do anything bad to your sister. I just want to teach her the proper humility of a woman. If I lose, I'll owe her, Jiang Songyi, a favor. If the Yongding Marquisate asks you for anything in the future, I'll definitely do it for you if I can."
Su Sheng held his head high and spoke in a firm tone. Everyone couldn't help but look at him sideways, not expecting Su Sheng to dare to make such a bet.
Jiang Songyi's reputation was damaged by being a maid for a day, but the cost was nothing compared to the favor Su Sheng owed her.
However, the power behind Su Sheng should not be underestimated. His mother, Princess Linchuan, is the emperor's sister, and his father, the Minister of War, controls both military and political power. The Marquis of Yongding leads troops abroad and has close ties with the Ministry of War. If the Minister of War can lend him a little assistance, the Marquis of Yongding's struggles in the court will be much easier.
Jiang Jinzhao had his eyes on a political career, so he naturally knew all about this.
[Staking my dignity in exchange for the convenience of the Yongding Marquis in the court? Ha, how could such a shameless person be so qualified?]
Jiang Songyi flatly refused, "Master Su, I have no intention of accepting your favor. I seek the same prize as you. If you lose, you will serve as my servant for a day and be at my service."
Su Sheng was momentarily unsure whether Jiang Songyi was foolish or courageous. She had actually given up such generous benefits and proposed such humiliating conditions. He couldn't help but laugh. "Okay! Jiang Songyi, let's compete. I won't show you mercy just because you're a woman."
Jiang Songyi showed no fear: "How do you want to compete?"
In her previous life, she was forced to serve as Su Sheng's maid under the spotlight of everyone, becoming the laughing stock of Jindu.
In this life, she will return all the humiliation Su Sheng has given her!
Su Sheng looked at Zhang Dingqi, Peng Yuan, and the three sisters of the Hao family, "Then please let us be witnesses."
The three sisters smiled at each other, all of them concerned about Jiang Songyi's reputation. "Mr. Su, wouldn't it be better to change the prize to avoid damaging our relationship?"
Su Sheng glanced at Jiang Songyi and said, "Since I have accepted the challenge, there will be winners and losers."
Jiang Songyi gave her three cousins a reassuring look, "I won't lose."
"In the past, I lived in seclusion in the mountains with my master. Whether it was a flying bird or a running beast, no one could escape the pursuit of my arrows. How could I take Su Sheng's little challenge seriously?"
Jiang Jinzhao was about to persuade Jiang Songyi, but his words stopped abruptly.
In that case, it doesn't matter as long as Jiang Songyi is not the one who is embarrassed.
Su Sheng led everyone to an open space and pointed to the blue sky. "Flocks of birds gather here, and from time to time, geese migrate south. Jiang Songyi, let's have a contest. Within three arrows, let's see who can shoot down the most geese."
Jiang Songyi looked up at the neatly arranged geese formation and said, "I agree."
"Shooting geese is no child's play. Let me show you my archery skills first."
After Su Sheng finished speaking, he held three arrows in his hands and shot them into the sky at the same time.
After a while, three wild geese fell to the ground. The servant boy quickly stepped forward and picked up the three geese that were hit by arrows.
Zhang Dingqi clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Three arrows in a row, all hit the target. Master Su's archery skills are truly amazing!"
The students around him were also amazed and praised him highly, and some even improvised poems for Su Sheng.
Su Sheng glanced at Jiang Songyi proudly, handed the bow to her, and raised the corner of his mouth, "How is it?"
In the past, even the elegant Miss Yuyao was impressed by his heroic performance of shooting three arrows at once. Jiang Songyi, a young woman with little experience in the world, would surely admire and worship him even more.
"Nothing more than that."
Before he finished speaking, Jiang Songyi snatched Su Sheng's bow, picked up the feather arrow handed to him by the servant, drew the bow like a crescent moon, and shot an arrow directly into the sky.
At this moment, the geese changed from a long snake formation to a slanting "human" formation.
Jiang Songyi shot an arrow through the air, piercing through half of the Chinese character "人", causing several wild geese to fall.
Everyone looked up at the arrow that streaked across the sky, their mouths wide open, their eyes filled with astonishment.
The smug smile on Su Sheng's face had not yet completely disappeared when it froze on his face.
He even suspected that he had seen it wrong!
Peng Yuan looked at the scene in amazement, "He shot down a bunch of wild geese with one arrow?!"
Jiang Jinzhao was also astonished. His sister actually had such a fierce archery skill!
He gave a wink to the servant beside him, and the servant hurried over and picked up the group of geese shot by Jiang Songyi.
Peng Yuan asked anxiously, "How many are there?"
The servant replied, "Four."
These four wild geese were shot through the wings and fell, but they were still alive.
Many young men from aristocratic families who were proficient in the six arts were all shocked.
Su Sheng suffered an even heavier blow.
Jiang Songyi threw the bow and arrow back into Su Sheng's arms, folded his arms, raised his brows, and said with a proud smile: "Master Su, is it necessary to continue the competition?"
The young men from the noble families present all put themselves in Su Sheng's shoes, feeling humiliated and keeping their eyes down in silence.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
