79 Chapter 79
◎Left and right arm◎
When you play, have fun.
Xie Mingzhuo's purpose of this trip was to relax and catching mice was just a side activity.
In order to establish the tree as quickly as possible, she had someone tie a red silk cloth on a branch a hundred steps away and ordered Jiang Qing to shoot it down with an arrow.
There is no need to say much about Jiang Qing's archery skills. One move shocked the entire team. Langjun, who was originally a little unconvinced, immediately stopped.
"Team competitions require concerted effort. You can raise any opinions you have, but don't raise them now. You must obey orders completely from now on. Do you understand?"
Most of the people present had seen the former Princess Rong'an. When rumors of "Princess Rong'an's Three Deliberations" and "Killing a Tiger in the Palace" spread in the streets, they were skeptical because they could not connect the princess who was both wise and brave in the rumors with the arrogant and domineering princess in their impression.
Now facing the princess's majesty, I feel my soul trembling. How can I still have the heart to disobey?
Everyone said in unison: "Understood!"
"Although I'm the captain this time, I won't interfere with your division of labor. Anyone with plans or ideas can freely voice them. Let's strive to capture the most prey as quickly as possible within two hours. Is there anyone willing to step forward and take on this important task?"
Xie Mingzhuo and Xie Mingshuo didn't care about winning or losing. They just wanted to get to know more about the noble children in the capital through this incident.
Whether it is a dragon or a worm, one can tell it from a small thing.
Everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to respond.
Xie Mingzhuo waited patiently for a moment, but felt a little disappointed when no one came forward.
These are the descendants of the country's top families. If they can't even take on such a small task, then she has to think about how to reduce the treatment of the nobles and save more money to cultivate talents among the people.
Her eyes swept across the precious young man and young lady, and finally she withdrew all her gaze. Just as she was about to speak, a gentle voice suddenly sounded.
"Your Highness, I beg for a try."
Xie Mingzhuo felt slightly relieved, and when he looked in the direction of the sound, he couldn't help but be surprised.
It turned out to be her cousin Meng Fan.
The last time she met Meng Fan was at a birthday party several months ago. At that time, Meng Fan only said a blessing and gave her a hand-embroidered pine and crane painting. The two had no contact since then.
Gentle and quiet was her first impression of Meng Fan.
Today, Meng Fan took the initiative to stand up. Regardless of whether she has the ability or not, Xie Mingzhuo's opinion of her has changed greatly.
"Good." Xie Mingzhuo smiled, "Fan Niang, please speak."
An autumn breeze blew by, and the mottled shadows of the trees danced with it. Meng Fan's hair was blown away a little, just like her long-silent heart was a little disturbed.
Her Royal Highness the Princess did not know that she had pondered those rumors over and over again in her boudoir. Every action the princess took was like a heavy hammer hitting the shackles she had worn for more than ten years.
Her father was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College and also the empress's mother's family. He attached great importance to etiquette and rules. He was afraid that if she made a mistake, people would take the opportunity to attack her aunt, so he was extremely strict in her education.
Today, she mustered up the courage to stand up, and she would not regret it even if her father scolded her according to family rules after finding out.
Because Her Royal Highness the Princess' eyes were full of encouragement and appreciation for her.
Meng Fan brushed away all his chaotic thoughts, calmed his mind, and spoke slowly, "Your Highness believes that those skilled in horseback archery and those who are not should each have their own responsibilities. Skilled horse archers are responsible for shooting the prey, but if they shoot the prey, they still have to catch and carry it themselves, which wastes time and energy."
She appeared calm and composed, but there was a slight tremor in her voice. After saying this, she quietly observed the expressions of others.
Xie Mingzhuo was the first to applaud, praising with a smile, "Fan Niang's ideas are clear and well-spoken. Keep going."
With her taking the lead, the others high-fived in encouragement.
Meng Fan felt her chest was filled at that moment. She suppressed her bitter tears and looked intently at Xie Mingzhuo.
"Those who are not good archers but are good horsemen can be assigned to follow closely beside them. They will record the names and numbers of prey and collect them. They can also carry more quivers so that they don't run out of arrows and return for more."
Someone asked, "What does someone who can't do archery or horseback riding do?"
Everyone in the team who was called blushed. They also wanted to contribute, but they just couldn't.
Meng Fan confidently replied, "I did some research before coming here. Most of the prey in the enclosure is in the southwest woods. The remaining people can set up camp nearby. The camp will be responsible for supplies, sorting, and guarding."
"Tell me more specifically."
"The competition has time limits and arrow number limits. Generally speaking, once an arrow hits the prey, it is automatically rendered useless. However, Your Majesty did not stipulate that an arrow cannot be used for two purposes.
"When prey is at hand, the person who picks it up will return it after a while. The person left behind in the camp can sort the prey according to the record list, remove the arrows and put them back into the quiver. They are also responsible for guarding the prey to prevent it from being accidentally taken away by the enemy."
She put it in a tactful way, but what she meant was to not let her opponent steal it.
"Fan Niang is very thoughtful," Xie Mingzhuo clapped his hands together and looked around at everyone. "Anything else you want to add?"
A young man raised his hand and stepped out of the line, dissatisfied, saying, "There are people who are not good at horse riding but are good at archery. Why don't they participate in the division of labor?"
Someone immediately retorted, "How can you outrun your prey if you can't ride a horse?"
"Wait, lure, set traps, why not?"
Xie Mingzhuo asked with a smile, "Where are you from? What's your name?"
"This boy, Yuan Ce, is from the family of the Right Commander of the Rear Army, and is the fifth child in the family."
The Right General of the Rear Army Military Governor's Office is now just a retirement position for military generals. The Yuan family once produced generals, but has declined in recent generations. However, the title of Right General is still there because of the hereditary system of senior military officers.
Xie Mingzhuo nodded and said, "Meng Fan and Yuan Ce will jointly determine the division of labor and tasks. The rest of you will follow orders. Anyone who disobeys orders will be expelled from the hunting grounds and will not be allowed to participate in hunting again."
Everyone obeyed the order in unison.
After the tasks were assigned, Xie Mingzhuo became a hands-off boss and handed over full authority to the two young people.
In order to avoid wasting time, the two young men quickly made a plan and divided the team into four teams: one team of top students in riding and archery, one team for support, one team for trapping and hunting, and one team for camp logistics.
Xie Mingzhuo took the list and looked at it, then asked in surprise, "Why aren't Jiang Qing and I on it?"
"Princess, are you going to participate too?" Yuan Ce asked bravely, "I wonder if the princess is good at..."
"Jiang Qing and I will join the cavalry archery team."
"Yes, who would the princess like to take over?"
Xie Mingzhuo had already stood up, straightened his clothes, stretched his arms and legs, and said with a hearty laugh, "Anyone can come."
Meng Fan picked a girl with the best horse riding skills to be the backup. If her horse riding skills were not so good, he would have wanted to do it himself.
After all, as descendants of noble families, they all had a strong desire to win. Whether it was a team competition or an individual competition, they all wanted to be on the list.
As soon as the plan was launched, dozens of horses flew into the dense forest like meteors.
Meng Fan stood at the selected camp and watched the princess, who was leading the way, go away before he looked away.
Most of the girls who stayed in the camp were young ladies. They usually focused on learning "women's virtues", and riding and archery were not compulsory subjects.
"Sister Meng, you are so brave to speak in front of the princess and so many people."
Meng Fan was afraid at first, but after being brave once, he felt that it was no big deal and there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Your grandfather can speak in the court in front of His Majesty and the ministers, why can't you?"
"How can this be the same?"
Meng Fan smiled: "Nothing different."
A few months ago, who would have thought that the princess could stand in the court and speak freely?
A few ladies were lost in thought, but most did not take it seriously. However, under the princess's orders, everyone did their work extremely carefully.
Working together always involves small talk.
"Have you seen the riding clothes the princess is wearing today? It's a very nice style."
"I think it's beautiful too. The embroiderers in the palace are truly extraordinary."
"I wonder if we can do the same."
Several noble ladies approached Meng Fan and said, "Sister Meng, you and the princess are the closest here, could you help me ask?"
Meng Fan felt that this was not a big deal, so he nodded in agreement.
In the dense forest, Xie Mingzhuo rode his horse to chase a hare.
For safety reasons, large wild animals are not allowed in the enclosure. Most of the kings of the forest, such as chickens, rabbits, pigs, deer, tigers and bears, will not appear here.
Hares are extremely alert, small and agile enough to be difficult to hit with an arrow.
She focused her eyes, drew her bow and arrow with both hands, found the right moment, and released!
The arrow whizzed through the air and accurately hit the rabbit's throat, killing it with one shot.
The girl who was waiting on the side had transformed from a reserved lady to a fanatical fan with stars in her eyes.
Her Royal Highness the Princess is so amazing!
The princess used arrows as easily as her own arms, and not a single arrow was wasted. She also shot arrows at extremely high speeds, often before she even spotted her prey.
The prey had already been scattered around the horse's back, so she had to discuss with the princess and go back to the camp first.
There is limited prey in the enclosure, and the two hunting teams often meet each other. Fighting for the prey is commonplace. Sometimes, when the fight gets too intense, they dismount and fight hand-to-hand, and whoever wins gets the prey.
At this time, a third party often appears and reaps the benefits.
When the fighting snipe and clams saw their prey being stolen, they immediately formed an alliance and chased the fisherman relentlessly.
A hunting game eventually turned into a gang fight.
Of course, no one dared to rob Xie Mingzhuo and Xie Mingshuo. The two of them enjoyed the pleasure of hunting in the woods. When they occasionally met, they would stop and chat for a while.
Jade and gold flew, and two hours passed in a flash.
The hunting competition has reached its end.
Both sides counted the number of prey each person had caught, and the prey was loaded onto trucks and transported to the palace.
Thanks to Meng Fan's proposal of "guarding the camp", the people from King Jin's team who came to steal the prey failed. Instead, they were outmaneuvered by the people from the Princess' team and snatched a lot of prey from their lone members.
The competition mode of the Jinwang team is "promoting top students". All the resources in the team are tilted towards those who are proficient in riding and shooting, so they have more high scores, and the scores of the Princess team members are more evenly distributed.
According to tradition, shooting a deer is worth ten points, a pig is worth five points, a rabbit is worth three points, and a chicken is worth one point.
According to statistics, the highest scorer was from the Jin Wang team, a young man; the second and third places were both from the Princess team, a man and a woman; the fourth place was a noble lady from the Jin Wang team; and the fifth place was a young man from the Princess team.
The Princess and the Prince of Jin do not participate in the individual ranking, but the number of prey they hunt is counted towards the total score.
After the total, the team winner was the Princess Team.
When Xie Changfeng learned about it, he laughed out loud, waved his hand, and ordered Wu Shanqing to read out the awards.
The top five solo players will be rewarded with an imperial bow, and each member of the princess team will be rewarded with an imperial dagger. These people can also taste the imperial meal tonight.
Everyone in the princess team was overjoyed, as even their fathers and grandfathers might not have received such treatment.
If anyone says they are useless again in the future, they can use this incident to sternly retort.
Everyone in Jinwang team was very dissatisfied.
The cavalryman was dissatisfied with the poor students who were dragging the team down. The poor students felt that the cavalryman had snatched their arrows, which made them gain nothing and affected the team's performance.
What is worrying is not the lack of wealth but the inequality, and the atmosphere between the two sides is tense.
Xie Mingshuo did not interfere. They decided how to compete on their own and he was not responsible for resolving disputes.
"Everyone, calm down first." Wei Zheng stepped forward to mediate. "This time, the competition is mainly hunting, so naturally, the best will take the prize. If the next competition is about poetry or tea, the rankings will definitely be different. Isn't that right?"
He has always been popular, and the people present gave him some face, and what he said made sense. Now that things have come to this, arguing further would only make people laugh.
All they need is a step.
Xie Mingshuo smiled and praised loudly, "You're pretty good. What's your name?"
"I am Wei Zheng, the third son of the Xuanping Marquis's family. I would like to greet His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin."
"No need to be so polite," Xie Mingshuo snorted in his heart, but didn't show it on his face. "How old are you? Are you married?"
With someone like you, you still want to seduce Tiezhu?
Wei Zheng's heart moved, and his handsome face was tinged with shyness. He whispered back, "I'm eighteen and still unmarried."
"Next month, on my birthday, I will hold a banquet in my mansion. You can come too."
Wei Zheng was almost stunned by the surprise and quickly replied, "I am honored to be able to celebrate the birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Jin."
As soon as Xie Mingshuo left, a group of people immediately gathered around him, congratulating him on catching the eye of His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin.
No matter how calm Wei Zheng was, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.
The hunted goods seemed to be a lot, but with thousands of people accompanying them, it would not be enough to fill the gaps after dividing it.
Xie Mingzhuo returned to his residence and summoned Meng Fan.
Only two people from the Meng family came this time. Meng Jian was still young, so Meng Jijiu brought his daughter with him.
Xie Mingzhuo had not had a deep impression of her before, let alone any sisterly friendship, so he had no idea that his cousin had such a side.
It was a real surprise.
Meng Fan entered the inner hall with excitement and bowed, "Your Highness, the Princess, is here to pay your respects."
"No need to be so polite, cousin." Xie Mingzhuo personally lifted her arm and took her to sit next to him.
Feng Caiyu served tea and snacks at the appropriate time and stepped aside.
"My cousin is so brave and smart today. I am so happy to see her. If I had understood her a little earlier, why would I have missed her for so many years?"
When had Meng Fan ever received such straightforward praise? His face flushed red, and all the resentment and grievances of the past rushed out. His nose felt sore and swollen, and his chest felt hot.
"I just asked someone to find out. It turns out that before my cousin got engaged, she was ranked among the most talented ladies in the capital. It's my fault that I didn't notice such a bright pearl so close to me."
Meng Fan's face was about to melt. How could the princess use such intimate and bold words to praise others?
She felt extremely ashamed and unworthy.
"My father worked at the Imperial College. When I was young, I studied with him for a while, but I only received a few compliments from others. I wasn't considered a talented woman or a brilliant pearl."
Xie Mingzhuo said proudly, "Whether it's worthy or not is up to me to decide."
To deal with a girl like Meng Fan who has been suppressed for years, you have to use drastic measures, praise her desperately, praise her hard, until she becomes numb, and then she can face up to her abilities calmly.
Otherwise, your talents will be locked in a cage called "inferiority complex" and you will never be able to display them in your lifetime.
Meng Fan opened his mouth and found that he couldn't refute at all.
Is she going to refute that the princess has no say?
She simply changed the subject: "I wonder what instructions the princess has for you, me?"
"I just want to ask you a few questions," Xie Mingzhuo said lazily, "Has your uncle promised you a partner?"
"Not yet." Meng Fan clenched her hands. The princess wanted to find a match for her? But she hadn't decided whether to get married or not.
"Do you want to get married?"
"……I have no idea."
There were two voices arguing in Meng Fan's mind. One said that she was not young anymore and would be ridiculed if she didn't get married. The other said that would she be willing to marry a man she didn't know his temperament and stay in the inner courtyard and backyard for the rest of her life?
"Cousin, I just need a study partner. If you don't want me to, I will..."
"Yes!" Meng Fan blurted out.
After she said this, she was shocked, but then she felt relaxed and relieved.
Since the princess is willing, why can't she agree to it?
Even if she would be scolded by her father when she returned, she would never give up this opportunity.
Xie Mingzhuo's smile became more sincere: "Okay, after you return, you will go to the palace to study with me every day."
"Your Highness, the Princess, is grateful for your grace!"
For a moment, she felt that she would be willing to never marry and just be Her Royal Highness the Princess's study companion.
The hunt lasted only three days, after which the emperor set off for the palace.
Although Xie Mingzhuo had dealt with quite a few memorials in the temporary palace, the piles of memorials in Wenhua Hall continued to pile up over the past three days.
She was tireless and started working at her desk after returning to the palace. She also took some time out from her busy schedule to send an oral order to the Meng Mansion, asking Meng Fan to be the princess's study companion and to enter the palace to study from the next day.
Putting aside the shock and confusion of the Meng couple, the other nobles in the capital were also equally surprised and confused.
It is not new for a princess to have a study partner, but that only applies to the princess before she reaches adulthood. Now the princess is seventeen and Meng Fan is eighteen, so it is not appropriate at all.
But no matter how inappropriate it is, the matter is already a done deal.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Princess Rong'an was not looking for a study companion, but was cultivating a right-hand man.
Most people are still waiting and watching. After all, who knows if the princess’s power will only be temporary?
If she develops other ideas in the future and angers the emperor, and the emperor orders the liquidation of the princess's forces, wouldn't they lose more than they gain?
Meng Jijiu didn't think so deeply. He simply thought that an eighteen-year-old girl should get married immediately instead of entering the palace as a companion.
If you delay any longer, you will never find a good husband again.
However, the princess has given an order and we have to obey it.
He could only sulk at home.
Seeing this, his wife Zhang Wanchun couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and scold him, "The princess is so nice. Last time at the birthday party, she even helped us refute An... No, I should call him a traitor. What's wrong with being able to work by the princess's side?"
"Even if His Majesty dotes on the princess, he won't..." Meng Lun said with a frown, "Besides, the court officials will never agree."
"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, why would you think so much?"
"What do you women know?"
"I don't understand? I think you're just an old pedant," Zhang Wanchun glared at him, "You might even have to rely on our Fanniang in the future!"
Meng Lun: “…”
Only the ignorant Meng Jian was overjoyed. He congratulated his sister wholeheartedly and said that he would study hard and strive to be a study companion to his princess cousin when he grew up.
Meng Lun no longer cared about the scholar's elegance and took off his shoes to beat him.
When people get busy, they feel that time flies.
Xie Mingzhuo lived a very fulfilling life every day. In the morning, he attended court meetings and lectures in the Wenhua Hall; in the afternoon, he reviewed memorials and handled state affairs; in the evening, he read by lamplight, reading three chapters of bamboo slips.
However, with a study partner, her paperwork was much lighter.
Chang Wei praised Meng Fan's intelligence, and Meng Fan seemed to have washed away the dust of the past, gradually revealing the dazzling brilliance of a pearl.
Although classes in Wenhua Hall were only held in the morning, she could stay there the whole day, studying diligently and chewing over her teacher's teachings over and over again.
After listening to Chang Wei's lecture, her horizons were broadened, and her past thoughts and ideas seemed quite narrow when she recalled them.
The way you look at things suddenly opens up.
Xie Mingzhuo was very satisfied with her changes and believed that if she was given some more time, she would be able to completely break the shackles of a woman in seclusion.
In the blink of an eye, it was Prince Jin’s birthday.
After midnight last night, Xie Mingshuo had already eaten the longevity noodles cooked by his father himself, and also received birthday gifts from his relatives.
Today's birthday banquet at the palace is just to cooperate with my younger sister's plan of "turning the tables on her".
Snowflakes began to fall in the early morning, and by 9:00 PM a layer of snow had accumulated. A constant stream of carriages passed through the snow, stirring up black slush.
Winter has completely arrived in the capital.
The Emperor and Empress will not come to the Prince of Jin's Mansion in person, and the Prince of Qi will not attend as he is busy with his research. Only Princess Rong'an will come to attend the birthday banquet.
It was called a birthday party, but in the eyes of the nobles, it was just a blind date party.
The emperor's three sons are all unmarried now. No matter which one of them the daughter or son marries, it will be a good thing for the ancestors.
Xuan Pingbo Mansion.
Wei Zheng got up early in the morning and washed and dressed. He carefully cleaned his stubble and the stray hairs on his eyebrows, applied moisturizer, and even put on some lipstick, rubbing it on his lips. The color was very light, but very natural.
He looked in the mirror with satisfaction, but then became entangled in changing his clothes.
"Third Young Master, we've heard before that Her Royal Highness the Princess dislikes malachite, indigo, and vermilion, and she also dislikes colors that are similar."
Wei Zheng's face was filled with worry. "But I look most elegant in these colors. If I change into something else, won't I be outshined at the banquet today?"
"Third Young Master, this suit of green mountain color also suits you. Just think about it, amidst the white snow, you are dressed in green mountain, like pine and cypress, noble and pure, which will surely make those young men pale in comparison."
Wei Zheng thought about it for a moment and felt that it was an option.
He has fair skin and can look good in any color, it’s just a matter of quality.
A green bamboo in the snow, standing proudly and unyieldingly, is both eye-catching and consistent with the meaning of his name.
That's it.
He happily changed into his robe, put on a fox fur cloak, and, holding a hand warmer, boarded the gold and jade inlaid carriage.
The carriage braved the wind and snow all the way, and when it arrived at Prince Jin's Mansion, the snow was even heavier.
As soon as he got off the carriage, he looked around the gate of the palace, but did not see the princess's carriage, and he couldn't help feeling disappointed.
He didn't know when the princess would arrive. His hair had been a little messy from wandering along the way, and his face wasn't as radiant as it was in the morning.
Princess Rong'an, whom he was thinking about, got up early.
Today is the first snow, so the court meeting is temporarily cancelled. For the sake of Lao Chang's health, lectures are also cancelled.
Although there was no lecture, she still read books in Wenhua Hall for an hour, and then was forced by Ayu and Aqing to sit in front of the dressing mirror and put on makeup for an hour.
To borrow Ayu's words - today, Your Highness the Princess must be the most dazzling one among everyone.
Xie Mingzhuo: “…”
If I remember correctly, today is my second brother's birthday party, not hers.
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