Chapter 260: Martial Competition (Part 2)
The prince was a little surprised and asked, "Why did you choose this person?"
"Archers like him who can shoot with both hands are extremely rare," Sima Jun said. "Besides, he is still young and has much room for improvement. He has great potential."
The prince smiled and nodded, saying, "Since you are the one accepting me as your disciple, the decision is yours."
Sun Wei was on the high platform when he saw the eunuch coming and taking Sun Qiao away alone. He suddenly felt something was wrong.
She asked A'ru to inquire about it. Not long after, A'ru came back and said, "It was the Crown Prince who summoned the young master surnamed Sun. The eunuchs said that the Crown Prince wanted to take him as his disciple."
Sun Wei was stunned and felt a buzzing in his head.
Wang Xuanji on the side was also surprised.
"The prince is actually going to accept a disciple?" she said. "This has never happened before."
After saying that, she looked at Sun Wei and smiled: "No wonder the princess voted for Sun Qiao, it turns out we are on the same page."
——
When Sun Qiao followed Sima Jun to Tangyuan, he still felt light all over.
Today, despite trying his best, he only managed to come in fourth. Just now on the training ground, he felt regretful and frustrated, blaming himself for not trying harder. He was just a little bit away from joining the Prince of Yuzhang's army.
Unexpectedly, the situation took a turn for the better and Sima Jun accepted him.
"Thank you, Prince!" After entering the house, Sun Qiao bowed to Sima Jun.
Sima Jun looked at him and asked, "Still calling me Prince?"
Sun Qiao was stunned and quickly changed his tone, "Thank you, Master!"
The word "Master" was called out especially loudly.
Sima Jun hummed, then said, "Didn't you say a while ago that you only knew how to use a slingshot, and that you didn't know how to shoot an arrow? How come you suddenly learned it?"
Sun Qiao, still recovering from his recent excitement, said happily, "To be honest, Your Highness, after meeting you that day, I went to the training grounds to practice archery. Suddenly, a knight came and said he had a liking for me, so he taught me a few moves."
"So," Sima Jun said slowly, "then the Ranger is your master?"
"That's not the case!" Sun Qiao said hurriedly. "I had an agreement with him beforehand. I was determined to take the prince as my teacher. Even if he wanted to teach me, I couldn't accept him! The knight-errant said it was no problem, and that he was only staying here for a few days to give me some pointers. Later, when I was almost done, he left and never showed up again."
"Oh?" Sima Jun asked intrigued. "I think this man is quite capable. Do you know his name and appearance?"
Sun Qiao shook his head regretfully and said, "I don't know. He always wore a bamboo hat, so I didn't know what he looked like, and he refused to tell me his name. I asked him many times, but he said we just met by chance and didn't ask for a name, but he just hoped I wouldn't let him down for his hard work."
"Did he also teach you how to draw the bow with your left hand?"
"He said my right hand was badly injured and I might not be able to withstand the final arrow. Why not switch to my left hand? Perhaps it would be useful then." Sun Qiao said, feeling somewhat guilty. "Even so, I still didn't make the top three. I wonder if he'd be angry with me if he knew."
Sima Jun smiled and said nothing more, only asking someone to bring some medicine.
"Come here," he said, "let me see the wound on your hand."
Sun Qiao then remembered that his hand was still injured. In his excitement, he had forgotten the pain.
When Sima Jun removed the cloth strips, Sun Qiao grimaced in pain.
"Don't your parents feel bad for you since you're injured like this?" Sima Jun asked.
"It's heartbreaking, but they can't stop me," Sun Qiao said. "Mother said if my sister knew about this, she would definitely give me a good beating."
"It sounds like your sister is very fierce."
"Yes and no. My sister was only fierce to me." Sun Qiao thought for a moment and said, "To say she was fierce is an exaggeration. My sister's hands were actually weak, so it didn't hurt me. It wasn't as painful as it is now."
The corners of Sima Jun's lips curled up slightly.
"You have to bear the pain," he said as he applied the medicine. "If you don't treat your wound properly, you don't know when it will heal."
Sun Qiao said "Oh" honestly.
He stared at Sima Jun, still finding it hard to believe.
"Didn't the prince say before that he would only accept me as his disciple if I ranked in the top three?"
Sima Jun glanced at him and said, "Do you know why I changed my mind?"
Sun Qiao shook his head.
"You're the youngest among those competing today," Sima Jun said. "Since the competition began, no one your age has ever made it into the top five. What do you think is the reason?"
Sun Qiao's face lit up with joy: "Thank you, Prince!"
As he got excited, his hand started to hurt again and his face wrinkled into a bitter gourd again.
Sima Jun asked someone to bring a clean cloth, wrapped his hand, and looked at him: "You can become my disciple."
Sun Qiao was stunned for a moment before he remembered that he had not yet saluted.
He knelt down and kowtowed politely, saying, "Disciple greets Master."
Sima Jun instructed, "From tomorrow on, you will come to Tang Garden every day at noon. If I am free, I will come and teach you personally. If I am not free, I will inform the steward of your daily lessons, and you can ask him."
Sun Qiao blinked. "Can't I go to Master's house and live with him?"
Sima Jun asked, "Why do you want to live with me?"
"I've seen others become inseparable from their masters after becoming their apprentices, serving tea, making beds, running errands, and so on, all without a problem."
Sima Jun said, "I am accepting you as a disciple, not a servant. This Tang Garden is your school, and you just need to come and study every day."
Sun Qiao agreed and said, "If I want to see Master, can I go to his house to find him?"
"No."
"Why?"
Sima Jun suddenly felt a little regretful for accepting this disciple.
This kid really talks a lot.
"No wonder your sister is only mean to you," he said.
Sun Qiao didn't understand.
Sima Jun continued, "My palace is not only my residence, but also the place where I handle state affairs. Outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission. Also, my wife is in the palace, so you must not disturb her."
Sun Qiao said "Oh" and asked again, "The Madam Master is talking about, is it my Master's wife?"
"Madam is the late king's consort."
"Then why doesn't Master call her Mother, but Madam?"
Sima Jun: “…”
He looked at Sun Qiao coldly: "Did you remember everything I just said?"
Seeing his stern face, Sun Qiao hurriedly said, "I'll remember that!"
Sima Jun then handed him a jade pendant and said, "This is a gift from your master. If you accept it, it will be considered a gift."
Sun Qiao took the jade with both hands, looked at it carefully with joy, and then carefully put it in his arms.
"When my sister comes back, I'll show it to her. I'll let my sister learn more about it."
Sima Jun smiled faintly, gave some more instructions, and asked someone to send Sun Qiao home.
The news that Sun Qiao became the disciple of Prince Yuzhang has spread throughout the Sun family.
The small courtyard, which was deserted in the past, is now crowded with clansmen.
Seeing Sun Qiao coming back, they all greeted him with smiles and came forward to congratulate him.
Sun Qiao was also very excited, but as soon as he entered the room and saw the people in the hall, he was suddenly stunned.
"I'm back." Sun Nian said with a smile, "Come and meet Master Yu."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
