Chapter 4 The Outstanding Young Master Fu Hit the Bullseye with All Ten Arrows
Fu Mingzi still had a smile on his face. Although he knew that he had to be careful when entering the palace, his inner strength would not be diminished by this.
Zhou Xiaoyan looked away and threw the handkerchief he was using to wipe his sweat at Wei Baocheng.
"If it were you, I'm afraid no one would dare to say anything," he said calmly.
Fu Mingzi raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zhou Xiaoyan.
Zhou Xiaoyan lowered his eyes, his fair face still steaming with heat. Residual beads of sweat ran down his chin, down his slender neck, and into the collar of his undershirt. So vivid and fragrant, it made Fu Mingzi's throat dry.
Fu Mingzi's eyes darkened, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and after a long while, he finally smiled: "In that case, this humble subject will take his leave."
He carried a bow and quiver on his shoulder and strode away.
The princes were resting after shooting arrows when they suddenly saw Fu Mingzi come out, and everyone's attention was immediately drawn to him.
Luo Xing, his face full of sarcasm, shouted, "Fu Mingzi, with your meager skills, you dare to come out and make a fool of yourself?"
In Luo Xing's eyes, Fu Mingzi was no different from him, a dissolute playboy who was neither good at literature nor martial arts. He was able to enter the palace as a tutor only because of his family's prestige. What ability could he possibly have? Now that he dares to come out, he is probably just asking for humiliation.
Fu Mingzi turned to look at Luo Xing, her smile turning cold.
"You want to compete with me?" His eyes were cold, sending chills down one's spine just by looking at them.
Fu Mingzi and Luo Xing had a bad relationship, not only because they were both playboys and their kind repelled each other, but also because the Marquis of Dingyuan's family and the Duke of Jingguo's family were both first-class military families in the Great Wei Dynasty. One family controlled the Northwest Border Army, and the other controlled the Five Armies Commandery. They had always disliked each other and were natural political enemies.
The only difference is that Luo Xing, as the youngest son, was raised to be a playboy from a young age, while Fu Mingzi, although also a playboy, was lazy and didn't care about fame or fortune, so he seemed carefree, but he was not lacking in any of the skills of a military family.
Luo Xing was a dog raised by the emperor, a pledge of allegiance from the Marquis of Dingyuan to the royal family, while Fu Mingzi was a born wolf, possessing the wildness of a wolf even amidst wealth and luxury.
Luo Xing paused, a sense of unease rising in his heart. Then, as if remembering something, he gave a cold laugh: "Do you still think of me as the person you used to bully but who couldn't fight back? Ever since you humiliated me that time, I've practiced riding and archery day and night. Now you want to compete? Then let's have a match!"
Luo Xing, now emboldened, drew his bow and shot ten arrows in a short time, each one hitting the bullseye.
After shooting, Luo Xing coldly looked at Fu Mingzi: "Well, do you still dare to come?"
Fu Mingzi looked at Luo Xing and laughed, "Truly, ignorance is bliss." After saying that, his expression turned cold, his eyes suddenly became sharp, he turned around, nocked a bow and shot. The first shot was three arrows fired at once. Luo Xing's face was stunned, but Fu Mingzi did not stop. He continued to draw the bow, and three more arrows came one after another. Nine arrows circled the target, until the last arrow hit the red dot in the bullseye. The change was only in the blink of an eye.
"Young Master Fu hit the bullseye with all ten arrows!" The eunuch watching the target from a distance announced loudly.
Although both hit the target, the difference in skill level is immediately apparent.
Luo Xing's face immediately turned purplish-blue.
“You, you…” Luo Xing pointed at Fu Mingzi, his hand trembling slightly.
Fu Mingzi looked at him with a mocking smile: "What, does Young Master Luo have any advice to offer now?"
Luo Xing trembled with anger, and the bow he was holding fell to the ground. He had practiced diligently for a long time, but who knew that this would be the result? Thinking about it now, how ridiculous his previous actions were. But who could have known that Fu Mingzi, the notorious playboy in the capital, would have such skill in riding and archery?
"Your Highness," Luo Xing turned to the Ninth Prince for help.
The Ninth Prince's face was stiff at this moment, a hint of ferocity flashed across his youthful face, and his eyes were filled with shame and anger as he looked at Fu Mingzi.
However, when faced with Luo Xing's plea for help, he maintained his composure, simply waving his hand to silence Luo Xing's words, while his eyes were fixed on Fu Mingzi: "Young Master Fu's skills are indeed remarkable."
"I wouldn't dare." Fu Mingzi had lost her previous coldness and instead feigned humility: "A mere trick, it would be a laughing stock."
The Ninth Prince's face twitched, his heart filled with resentment, and he said no more.
Fu Mingzi then swaggered back to sit down next to Zhou Xiaoyan.
Zhou Xiaoyan looked at him with a complicated expression.
After a long pause, he whispered, "You actually have such abilities."
Fu Mingzi looked at Zhou Xiaoyan with some doubt, feeling that there seemed to be something hidden in his words.
"The Duke of Jingguo's family are military families, so their horsemanship and archery skills are naturally very rigorous."
Zhou Xiaoyan seemed to realize his lapse in composure, quickly averted his gaze, and nodded slightly: "I see."
Seeing his reaction, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but smile: "It's just a minor skill. Your Highness is younger than me, yet you practice so diligently. You will surely become proficient in archery and horsemanship in the future."
Zhou Xiaoyan lowered his eyes and remained silent, but his hands clenched gently, his knuckles turning slightly white.
Fu Mingzi misspoke. He was indeed younger than him and worked very hard at riding and archery, but unfortunately, he never managed to develop the same skills as him in his entire life.
After the princes had all finished shooting their arrows, Commander Yang came out and gave his comments one by one. He praised Fu Mingzi and the Eighth Prince, and corrected the actions of the remaining princes. He didn't mention Luo Xing at all, as if nothing had happened.
Others were one thing, but the Ninth Prince remained displeased. After Commander Yang finished speaking, he turned and left, seemingly very dissatisfied.
The fourth prince, however, smiled and praised Fu Mingzi a few times, and asked a few questions about his riding and archery skills. In just a few words, he subtly built a relationship with her.
However, Fu Mingzi had no interest in the fourth prince at all. She said a few words indifferently and then left with Zhou Xiaoyan.
The two remained silent the entire way, but as they approached the Third West Institute, Zhou Xiaoyan finally spoke up: "What do you think of my brothers?"
Fu Mingzi was taken aback, somewhat unable to react, and after a long while said, "Your Highnesses are naturally outstanding individuals." These words were spoken very casually, but Fu Mingzi had a knack for making casual remarks sound very sincere.
Zhou Xiaoyan chuckled, stopped, and turned to look at Fu Mingzi. Just as he was about to speak, a eunuch ran towards him.
Zhou Xiaoyan's expression darkened, and he stopped talking.
Seeing his reaction, Fu Mingzi looked over with some curiosity. The person who came over was a eunuch dressed in a light blue robe, of low rank.
"This servant greets Your Highness the Fifth Prince." The eunuch had a happy expression on his face, but his manners toward Zhou Xiaoyan were somewhat casual.
Fu Mingzi frowned.
"Which palace are you from? What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" Wei Baocheng asked, frowning.
The young eunuch replied with a smile, "Reporting to Eunuch Wei, this servant is from the Fengyi Palace. This servant has come to deliver good news. Her Majesty the Empress has been diagnosed with pregnancy, and His Majesty is overjoyed and wants to announce it to the entire palace."
Wei Baocheng's face froze, and he turned his head to look at Zhou Xiaoyan.
Fu Mingzi was also shocked. What... what's going on? An old tree blossoming? The Empress is over thirty years old this year!
Zhou Xiaoyan remained calm, looking at the young eunuch who had brought the good news, and nodded slightly: "Understood."
"Then this servant will take his leave." The little eunuch smiled, bowed to Zhou Xiaoyan, and hurried away.
Watching the eunuch leave, Wei Baocheng couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, this..."
Zhou Xiaoyan's face remained expressionless: "Go back. Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant, which is a joyous occasion for the entire palace. I may have to pay my respects to her later, so please prepare a congratulatory gift."
"Yes." Wei Baocheng lowered his head, concealing his expression.
Fu Mingzi, however, had not yet recovered from her surprise.
The Empress is pregnant, and to put it bluntly, the timing is rather unfortunate. You see, the current Crown Prince is not the Empress's son, but the son of the First Empress. The First Empress died early, and the Emperor then married the Second Empress. However, the Second Empress is not favored, and the Imperial Concubine is the most favored in the palace. Therefore, the Second Empress has always kept a low profile in the palace, and her relationship with the Crown Prince is relatively harmonious.
Unexpectedly, the Empress is now pregnant, which may cause another uproar.
Fu Mingzi followed Zhou Xiaoyan back to his residence, but his mood was somewhat low.
Zhou Xiaoyan glanced at him and said in a low voice, "Why is Fu Qing so restless?"
Fu Mingzi was taken aback, looked up at Zhou Xiaoyan, thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty is overjoyed, but I fear there may be changes in the palace and unrest in the court."
Zhou Xiaoyan was stunned, never expecting Fu Mingzi to be so blunt.
"Fu Qing, watch your words!" Zhou Xiaoyan said sternly, his fair face flushed with anger. "How can you speak such a thing aloud?"
Fu Mingzi looked at Zhou Xiaoyan and smiled: "Why can't we say it out loud? His Majesty has made such a big show of it, isn't his intention clear?"
The fact that the Empress was pregnant was something even a three-year-old child would know would cause unrest in the palace. However, the Emperor announced the news to the entire palace, acting as if everyone was celebrating, as if his previous indifference towards the Empress was all a lie. Such words and actions clearly revealed his true intentions.
Zhou Xiaoyan looked at Fu Mingzi with some annoyance, completely losing his previous composure.
"You can say these things in private, but you must not say them aloud." He walked to Fu Mingzi's side and whispered his instructions, his tone very serious.
Fu Mingzi found his expression quite amusing, but she also knew he meant well, so she smiled and nodded: "Your Highness, I was just telling you. I'm not stupid, why would I talk nonsense in front of outsiders?"
Zhou Xiaoyan was stunned, staring straight at Fu Mingzi, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"You..." he hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
Fu Mingzi still smiled and said, "Your Highness, it's getting late, I should take my leave."
Zhou Xiaoyan quickly composed himself and turned his face away, saying, "You can go now."
Fu Mingzi nodded, cupped his hands, and withdrew.
When he came out, Wei Baocheng was waiting at the door, holding his book basket in his hand, and presented it to him with a smile: "Young Master Fu, these are your things."
Fu Mingzi took it, glanced at Wei Baocheng, and suddenly asked, "Is Eunuch Wei this kind to everyone?"
Wei Baocheng was taken aback by the question and paused for a moment before replying with a smile, "Of course not, but as Your Highness's tutor, you are naturally different from others."
"Oh, I see." Fu Mingzi smiled, said no more, and turned to leave.
As he walked out of the palace, he kept thinking about the question he had asked earlier.
Why was the emperor making such a grand display?
Of course, it's aimed at the Eastern Palace, weighing the affairs of the court.
Even a playboy like him could figure out such a foolish thing; among all the officials in the court, who was a fool?
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