Chapter 29: Horseback Archery Amid the cheers from all directions, her heart felt like it was sinking into an ice cellar...
Gao Lerong was dressed in platinum riding clothes, sitting high on a snow-white horse with her head held high and her chest puffed out, like a crescent-shaped sword.
She cast her gaze far away toward the tall figure on the viewing platform and slowly clenched the horn bow in her hand.
[Horse Riding and Archery] is the last activity of the Winter Hunting and Archery Banquet, and also the highlight of the banquet.
The rules are very simple. Participants need to ride horses along a set route. Several targets will appear randomly along the way, and participants are allowed to shoot with bows and arrows while moving.
The one who crosses the finish line faster, has more points on the target, and has a more elegant riding posture wins.
“Ding——”
The moment the golden gong sounded, Gao Lerong kicked the horse's belly, and the horse neighed loudly and galloped out like a meteor.
She sat on the horse's back with a sturdy posture, holding the reins tightly with both hands, and looking ahead sharply. The wind whistled past, lifting her hair and the corners of her clothes.
Suddenly, a black shadow passed by his sight. Before it could become a solid entity in his eyes, it was hit by a silver light and leaned back three inches.
Gao Lerong took back her hand that was pulling the string and did not stop for a moment, but continued to rush forward like a breeze passing over the hills.
"Eight points on one target!" The boy held up the target and shouted to all around, causing everyone in the room to exclaim in amazement.
Wen Ying held her cheek with admiration in her eyes. She took a bite of the pear in her hand and said, "She is amazing."
She recognized the white horse that Gao Lerong was riding, its name was "Xueying".
Although it can travel a thousand miles a day and has great explosive power, it is actually a real wild horse. Once it starts running, it will not care about the life or death of its rider.
It would be a rare achievement for an ordinary person to be able to ride the entire course safely, but Gao Lerong was able to spare the energy to bend the bow and draw the arrow, and even shoot a high score, which is absolutely beyond the reach of ordinary people.
This is the result of her not having exercised for a long time. If she had practiced martial arts continuously, she would have become extraordinary in the future.
The more she thought about it, the more Wen Ying felt sorry for her. What on earth made Gao Lerong give up the martial arts that she once was proud of?
"It's just a mediocre skill, nothing surprising." A deep male voice came from the audience seats at the next table. Wen Ying looked in the direction of the voice and saw a face that seemed familiar yet a little strange.
The middle-aged man was fat and strong, and his round-necked robe was slightly bulging, as if the cloth could not completely cover his sturdy body. His facial features were quite regular, but the hostility between his eyebrows was turbid and sticky, which made people afraid.
"General Gao really loves your daughter deeply and criticizes her harshly." As if he saw Wen Ying's confusion, Yan Jing spoke at the right time and quietly explained the other party's identity to her.
It’s Gao Lerong’s father, Gao Xuan.
Wen Ying's nerves tensed up instantly. She looked at his facial features carefully again and could vaguely see his simple and honest appearance from the past.
"What's the point of a girl wielding a sword or a gun? Why not study the three obediences and four virtues and marry a man of your dreams? Wouldn't it be a happy life as a mistress of a rich family?"
Gao Xuan didn't even raise his eyelids. He felt unhappy when he saw the heroic girl on the field: "Is she going to risk her life for military merit like her father?"
As time went by and power eroded his bones, he was no longer the taciturn lieutenant general in the army.
Wen Ying looked at the golden shadow, which was dazzling.
Is it really the best fate for the Crescent Blade, who was born to defend the country, to be imprisoned in a deep mansion?
"Oh!" Wen Ying clapped her hands, attracting the attention of the two men, "I remember now!"
Yan Jing glanced over and saw the girl pretending to be thoughtful. He curled his lips slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Gao Xuan, I have heard of General Gao's name." Wen Ying blinked and smiled harmlessly, "I remember that General Gao and the late Madam Zhang met in the army. I thought the general would prefer stronger women. It seems that the rumors are not entirely credible."
"Mrs. Zhang's 'Ruyi Stick Technique' was famous all over the world back then."
Gao Xuan's original wife, Zhang, came from a prominent family. Despite her family's opposition, she learned martial arts and joined the army, and was assigned to the same camp as Gao Xuan.
Back then, Gao Xuan fell in love with Zhang at first sight and pursued her for several years before she was moved. The two got married and it became a beautiful story.
Afterwards, Gao Xuan rose through the ranks with the help of Madam Zhang's family power, and it was only then that his talent was noticed by his own father.
What Wen Ying meant by this was to imply that Gao Xuan was just a gigolo. Whether it was Zhang that he fell in love with at first sight or Zhang's power remained to be seen.
"How can a girl like you interrupt a man when he's talking?" Gao Xuan's face turned red because of the girl's words. He replied coldly, "People's ideas always change. Life in the military camp is too hard. I just want my daughter to enjoy a peaceful life."
"I don't have the background of Lord Yan, who only needs to talk a little to achieve my goal, so I naturally have to think more than others."
What does this mean? Is it a subtle mockery of Yan Jingde's unworthiness of his position?
Wen Ying frowned and was about to move her fingers slightly, but was stopped by a pair of large hands.
The girl raised her eyes to look at Yan Jing. The man's expression did not change. He just said calmly: "General Gao has been guarding the border for General Wen for several years. Although there are more casualties than before, there has been no major defeat. He has indeed worked hard and made great contributions. This is irrefutable."
As soon as these words were spoken, Gao Xuan's face suddenly darkened.
Wen Jian accumulated military merits from scratch. Since he took charge of Ruixue, he turned the originally one-sided situation around and has rarely suffered defeat.
But since Wen Jian's death, he took over. He didn't suffer any major defeats, but suffered constant casualties in small battles, and was just a check and balance.
It's not as glorious as Wen Jian's time.
"Lord Yan, be careful with your words. Wen Jian committed the crime of treason punishable by death." Gao Xuan said in a deep voice, "Are you trying to defend me?"
"General Gao has not been back to the capital for a long time and seems to have forgotten something." Yan Jing gently put down the teacup in his hand. The tea rippled slightly in the cup, reflecting his calm face. "Civil officials only ask for advice from their superiors, not argue with their subordinates."
Yan Jing was the head of all officials in the cabinet, second only to the emperor and above everyone else. Even though Gao Xuan was promoted to the rank of General of Cavalry, he was still one rank lower than him.
These words were meant to remind Gao Xuan to pay attention to hierarchy.
"Lord Yan is very eloquent, and I admire you." Gao Xuan was very angry, and knew that he would not win the argument, so he turned around and stopped talking.
When Wen Ying heard Yan Jing's words, something moved her.
From these words, Yan Jing did not seem to have a completely negative opinion of his father.
Does that mean...
The sound of the last arrow breaking through the air rang out, and the horse's hooves crossed the finish line. The whole audience shouted loudly:
"Ms. Gao! Miss Gao!"
"A tiger father will have a dog daughter!"
"Heroine of Horseback Archery!"
Beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from the girl's forehead, and the rough reins rubbed her palms into blisters that stung painfully.
Gao Lerong immediately cast her eyes towards the platform with expectation and hope.
But the ponytail blown by the long wind had not yet stopped, and the girl's heart had already sunk to the bottom of the valley, and the rushing blood gradually turned into dead silence.
Countless people cast scorching glances at her and shouted at her deafeningly, but only the burly middle-aged man stood up expressionlessly and walked in another direction without even glancing at her.
And the man whom she tried so hard to please was also having a great time chatting with the frail woman beside him.
Amid the cheers, her heart felt like it was sinking into an ice cellar, as if she was in a silent forbidden zone.
"Miss Gao, the competition is over. I will return the horse for you. The winner's prize will be delivered to your house later." The horse trainer extended his hand to her and wanted to take the reins.
As the first-day women's grand slam winner of the Winter Hunting and Archery Banquet, she could win a huge amount of gold and countless pearls and silver, but...
Gao Lerong bit her lower lip lightly and tasted the salty taste of sweat.
"……knew."
She dismounted and casually threw the reins to her servant, announcing the end of her horseback archery career.
It must be... Yes, it must be Liu Qing's fault.
If Liu Qing hadn't been there, the Prime Minister would have definitely seen her excellence. As long as she could gain Yan Jing's favor, her father would definitely look at her with new eyes.
It’s all... Liu Qing’s fault.
"Miss Gao." A clear young voice came from the shadows. Gao Lerong looked over impatiently, "What's the matter?"
The young man walked out slowly, light and shadow intertwined on his body, his light fox eyes curved upward, and he smiled leisurely:
"Are you interested in joining me in dragging Liu Qing down into the abyss?"
·
The night gradually began to encroach on the light in the sky, and the [Horse and Archery] came to an end. Gao Lerong naturally became the winner of the competition.
Wen Ying was still not satisfied and didn't want to leave the viewing area.
"Miss Liu," Yan Jing reminded her softly, "It's time to go. We will be attending a dinner with His Majesty next."
"Okay." Wen Ying stood up somewhat dazed.
The dinner attended by civil and military officials was said to be a meal, but in fact it was a battle of power, which was really uninteresting.
Seeing her like this, Yan Jing guessed what she was thinking and couldn't help laughing: "You are not the child of an official, so you don't have to attend the banquet and go back to your room to rest. I will send someone to deliver the food to your room later."
Wen Ying's eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together and said devoutly, "Thank you, Prime Minister, for your gift."
Yan Jing couldn't help laughing, rubbed her furry head, and said with a smile: "Go ahead."
His fingers gently ran through the girl's hair. Wen Ying felt the gentle touch on her head and felt a little itchy in her heart.
Just as I was about to step back and leave, I suddenly remembered the plan I had made a few days ago.
She raised her hand and held the man's wrist, then slowly placed it on the side of her cheek, rubbed it lightly, and raised her head to beg:
"Can you come and see me later, my Lord?"
Yan Jing looked at the girl's cat-like eyes, his throat felt dry, and he lowered his eyelids: "Your room should be together with many officials' women, it would be inconvenient for me to go there."
Wen Ying let go of the man's hand with some disappointment, and said helplessly: "Then there is nothing we can do."
"We'll see each other again tomorrow." Yan Jing comforted.
"Yes, sir." Wen Ying nodded obediently.
I don't think she would be obedient!
Yan Jing had reported her name early in the morning. As long as Wen Ying told the maidservants around her that her name was Liu Qing, Yan Jing's residence would be within reach.
Since Yan Jing didn't want to find her, she would go find Yan Jing herself.
Wen Ying quietly avoided the servants passing by and climbed into Yan Jing's house under the cover of night.
The dark room did not have the scent of Yan Jing's usual incense, and it was a uniformly cleaned room.
Wen Ying lit the candle by the window and used the dim light to find the wooden table in the room, on which were placed a teapot and several teacups.
She secretly opened the lid of the teapot, took out a small packet of medicine from her bosom, and poured it all in.
As long as Yan Jing took a sip, she would hehehehe...
"Ms. Dawn."
A voice suddenly sounded in the darkness. Wen Ying felt guilty and her heart skipped a beat. The moment she looked back, her mouth was covered.
In the flickering candlelight, Anle's beautiful eyes twinkled like stars, dazzling the girl.
"Why didn't you come to see me even though I left you a note? Anle is so sad."
"How are you going to compensate me?"
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