Chapter 118 Convinced? Slap in the face
She shot steadily and accurately, and the arrow flew out with a whoosh.
At the same time, the whole audience cheered.
The counting officer shouted excitedly, "Ten rings! Madam Wei, you hit the ten rings!"
As expected of a girl brought up in an aristocratic family, Concubine Wei did not disgrace Wei Ting's reputation and gave the most perfect performance at the most critical moment.
Wei Liru not only wanted to gain honor for her family, but also wanted to prove her ability in front of the emperor.
When Ji Qingwu heard the result, a trace of fluctuation flashed across his eyes.
It's not for Concubine Wei to shoot a full ring, but...
She once pestered Wei Ting to teach her riding and archery in the North, but he always used the excuse of being busy with military affairs to deal with her. Over time, the "someday" he mentioned became a distant future.
However, there were many things that Wei Ting rejected her for, and she had long been accustomed to it.
It can be seen that the way Concubine Wei shoots arrows is somewhat similar to Wei Ting. But as the favorite concubine of Emperor Wu Su, had she also received his guidance, just like herself?
Ji Qingwu lowered his head, feeling sad, and touched the horse's mane with his hand.
After the arrow was shot, Wei Liru looked towards the emperor in the distance. Everyone was cheering, but he was still sitting still, not moving. From this distance, it was hard to see what expression he had, but he didn't look happy or excited.
She threw the bow and arrow to the guard beside her, dismounted, took the Sui Hou Pearl from the brocade box, and came behind Ji Qingwu.
"Miss Ji Wu, I have won! This Suihou Pearl is mine now. Are you convinced?"
Wei Liru was already immersed in joy, knowing that even if the opponent shot ten rings again, it would be useless, as she was already the winner of the game.
Ji Qingwu only looked at the bow and arrow in his hand, and said slowly: "Congratulations, Madam Wei, but I am not participating in the competition for this reward, nor for the first place."
She may lose the game, but she won't admit defeat.
Wei Liru seemed to have heard something shocking, raised her eyebrows and asked, "Oh? Then what are you doing this for?"
Ji Qingwu said: "It's just to test the results of my training during this period. In fact, there is no difference between first place and last place to me."
Wei Liru laughed out loud, her tone mocking: "Miss Ji Wu, the winner is the king. You can't get the first place, so you have to say such big words in front of me. Aren't you too stingy?"
Ji Qingwu rode his horse around her and didn't want to explain anything more.
She thought that the reason was that she loved the feeling of freedom and release that riding and shooting brought her, that was all. It was not for the favor of the public, nor for the attention of the emperor, but just because she loved it in her heart.
Now that I think about it, men would only hinder her archery speed.
Ji Qingwu returned to the archery area, still in her leisurely manner. She breathed in and out calmly, her eyes following the moving target.
The whole place was filled with cheers and excitement for Concubine Wei. Ji Qingwu didn't care where everyone's attention was focused on or if anyone was looking at her. What she cared about was her own arrow.
She suddenly clamped her hands on the horse's belly and started running on the field. The wind blew her black hair, as if she was chasing the wind and the sun.
Ji Qingwu stepped on the stirrup with one foot and stood up. She made a beautiful turn and began to draw the bow and arrow.
As if sensing what she was going to do, the emperor on the high platform finally could not sit still anymore. He stood up, tall and straight, staring at the white tail of the feather arrow with burning eyes.
After getting into the right position, she confirmed the location of the target, Ji Qingwu dismounted and lay on the ground, and the arrows were shot almost at the same time.
Her waist was soft and elastic, bent into an incredible arc, very close to the ground, but able to maintain it for a long time.
The arrow headed for her desired destination.
There was a clanging sound first.
It collided with something, followed by the crisp sound of the arrow hitting the target.
After seeing that he was hit, Ji Qingwu exerted strength from his waist and legs and fell back onto the horse. His whole body was like a light cloud.
The horses strolled around the field and she panted softly.
The cheers in the arena stopped and were replaced by gasps of disbelief.
With the last arrow, Ji Qingwu shot through the target.
However, the target that was shot through was Concubine Wei!
The scoring officer shouted, "Full ring, but not counted in the score. The winner of this match is Concubine Wei!"
Wei Liru, the winner, saw her arrow split in half and falling into the sand.
She said angrily: "Ji Qingwu, what do you mean by this!"
Ji Qingwu quickly dismounted from her horse and looked at the woman standing in front of her. She said, "Madam Wei Fei, your eyesight is not very good. I didn't see the target clearly and missed the target again."
After saying that, he quickly left the shooting range.
Even though the arrow missed the target, it still managed to pierce her accurately. Wei Liru gritted her teeth in hatred.
This reason would not hold water if it came from someone else, but it was much more reasonable when it came to Ji Qingwu.
Ji Qingwu shot the first arrow at someone else's target, and the last arrow missed the target. Isn't this a way of having a beginning and an end?
The winner of the horseback archery competition was Concubine Wei, who received the originally reserved reward as well as the Suihou Pearl, a special reward from the emperor.
Ji Qingwu became the fifth place because he missed the target, and Huo Shaofang, thanks to her, returned to the second place.
After the women's competition, the men's team will take the stage and the atmosphere will suddenly become different.
The men's group will participate in the traditional archery competition, which is more rigorous and adopts the "three-shot" rule.
The first shot will only report the result, not be counted. In the second round of shooting, the number of arrows that hit the target will be counted, and those that do not penetrate the target will not be counted. The third round of archery requires archery to be performed in sync with drum music. Not only must the arrow hit the target, but it must also be in time with the music.
The venue is being arranged under the stage.
Ji Qingwu had returned to the side stands, and Qiao looked at her with red eyes.
She immediately asked in surprise: "Mom, what's wrong with you? It seems like you just cried. Who bullied you?"
This was the area for ministers' wives and children. She looked around suspiciously but didn't see anything unfriendly.
It was a bit strange, as all the ladies in gorgeous clothes were looking at her with eager eyes.
Mrs. Qiao's voice was a little choked, and she said quickly: "No, nothing, mother is fine, she was just blinded by the wind."
She was too embarrassed to say that at her age, she was so moved by Xiaowu's last arrow that she even cried.
When Mrs. Qiao thought about having such a wonderful daughter, she was filled with emotion. Then, she thought of Xiaowu who had been wandering outside for so many years and had not received orthodox education like Concubine Wei, which had delayed the development of such a high talent.
Otherwise, it is unknown who will win or lose today.
Qiao felt sad and thought it was all her fault. She was touched and felt deeply regretful.
Old Madam Qiao smiled so much that wrinkles gathered around her eyes. She said, "Xiaowu, Ruying was so excited watching you shoot arrows that she is crying with joy."
Ji Qingwu tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ears and said sheepishly, "Grandma, Mother, I didn't win."
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