Xue Yunsu had already been dumbfounded by those three “piercing the ear” shots from Xue Yunhong. Now, upon hearing Xue Yan’s question, he barely managed to gather his wits.
Only then did he belatedly begin to feel angry.
He had originally thought his luck was already good enough. How had he never expected Fourth Brother’s accuracy to be even better? He had even called it luck—how had he managed to snatch first place from him with nothing but “luck”?
Xue Yunsu’s pent-up fury happened to find its way straight toward Xue Yan.
“Ha, you don’t even know how to play arrow-pot. Are all of you people from Yan territory entertained by learning those barbarian tricks?” he sneered, raising his voice slightly.
Xue Yan glanced at him indifferently and said nothing.
His mocking words reached Qingping Emperor, who was seated at the main seat in the distance. Hearing the commotion and seeing that Xue Yan still had not gone forward, he put away his smile and asked, “What’s going on?”
Xue Yunsu cast Xue Yan a mocking glance, then walked straight forward and bowed to Qingping Emperor.
“Father Emperor, Xue Yan says he doesn’t know the rules of arrow-pot!”
Qingping Emperor was already irritated to the point of having a headache by the mother and son. Now he found Xue Yunsu’s eager-to-show-off appearance even more distasteful. He could not hide a single thought, his likes and dislikes were written all over his face, and he was always fond of stirring up trouble during the New Year festivities.
It was simply lacking in the bearing expected of the imperial family.
Now that he had eagerly come over to make a complaint, Qingping Emperor’s disgust toward him only deepened.
After being an emperor for a long time, a ruler’s own likes and dislikes naturally became matters of the greatest importance. Whether a person’s actions were right or wrong depended entirely on whether they displeased His Majesty.
In the past, if Qingping Emperor was willing to turn a blind eye, then the wrong things Xue Yunsu did did not count as wrong at all. But once Qingping Emperor had accumulated enough dislike and suddenly decided to take matters seriously, once he began to dislike him, then all the wrongs Xue Yunsu had committed in the past would be settled together today.
“He has only just arrived in Chang’an this first year. It’s understandable that he doesn’t know.” Qingping Emperor shifted his posture on the dragon throne, leaning sideways as he spoke indifferently. “Fifth, go teach him. It’s New Year’s, so just treat it as something auspicious and fun.”
After saying that, he glanced at Xue Yunsu and gave him a warning look.
Xue Yunsu naturally could not fail to understand the meaning in his eyes. Immediately, a basin of cold water was poured over his head, extinguishing most of his anger.
Regardless of whether he had hit or missed the target in today’s arrow-pot competition, wasn’t everything ultimately for the sake of winning the Emperor’s favor?
Now, instead of winning Father Emperor’s favor, he had actually displeased him. He had truly lost both the wife and the troops.
He shut his mouth and quietly retreated to the side.
However, because of his shout, everyone in Changchun Tower now knew that Xue Yan did not know how to play arrow-pot. Immediately, all the consorts and princes present, as well as the eunuchs and palace maids standing nearby, turned their gazes toward Xue Yan.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Xue Yunhuan walked together with Xue Yan to the arrow-pot position. A young eunuch beside them brought over the arrows. Xue Yan accepted one and looked toward the bronze pot in the distance.
The main hall was especially spacious, and the pot was roughly half the distance of an archer’s range away. Directly facing him was the Emperor seated upon the dragon throne. Xue Yan raised his eyes and glanced at him before withdrawing his gaze.
With his arm strength, it was not impossible for him to throw an arrow and pierce the Emperor through the throat in a single shot.
This thought arose in his mind quite naturally, as ordinary as someone wondering what to eat for lunch.
Meanwhile, beside him, Xue Yunhuan was still chattering away as he explained the rules.
“If the arrow lands in the mouth of the pot, it counts as a hit. Otherwise, it’s a miss. If the arrow passes through the pot’s two ears, that’s called ‘piercing the ear,’ and the points earned count double…”
Xue Yan raised the arrow and leisurely made a few gestures with it.
There was roughly a sixty percent chance, he thought. As for the guards on either side, so long as none of them possessed enough martial skill to intercept his arrow, he was seventy percent certain he could kill the Emperor with one strike.
Yet to everyone else, it merely looked as though he was listening to Xue Yunhuan’s explanation and casually practicing his throwing motion.
He was not afraid of dying together with the Emperor here. It was simply that he still had other things to accomplish. Not only did he have to avenge the King of Yan, he also had to reclaim Yan territory.
Moreover, with the little peacock beside him, he could not possibly frighten him.
Thinking this, a teasing smile appeared in Xue Yan’s eyes, and he lowered the arrow.
Xue Yunhuan beside him had not noticed the murderous intent that had flashed through Xue Yan’s eyes at all.
“…Piercing the ear is already extremely difficult. As for ‘leaning on the pole,’ you can forget about that. Just aim for the mouth of the pot. If you manage to get even one arrow in, it’ll already count as an extraordinary talent.” After wholeheartedly finishing his explanation of the rules, Xue Yunhuan looked at Xue Yan.
Xue Yan glanced at him.
Oh. He hadn’t really been listening to this part.
He had only heard Xue Yunhong throw three “piercing the ear” shots just now. The little eunuch announcing the results had become more excited with each one, while everyone else had grown increasingly astonished. It was obviously considered quite impressive.
What had he called the other one just now? Leaning on the pole?
“Say that again. What does ‘leaning on the pole’ look like?” Xue Yan asked indifferently.
Xue Yunhuan froze.
Good grief. It was one thing that he hadn’t listened to him at the banquet just now, but now that they were before the Emperor, he still wasn’t listening to him? Just how unpleasant was his voice?
Xue Yunhuan gritted his teeth and repeated himself.
“‘Leaning on the pole’ means that after the arrow hits the mouth of the pot, it doesn’t fall to the bottom. Instead, it rests diagonally against the mouth of the pot.”
Xue Yan gave an “Oh.”
“You still shouldn’t try—”
Before Xue Yunhuan could finish speaking, he saw Xue Yan raise the arrow in his hand and throw it forward.
“You…!” Xue Yunhuan felt that this man really could anger someone to death with nothing more than an indifferent expression.
Then came a clang.
Several of the consorts seated near the bronze pot let out soft gasps.
Xue Yunhuan looked over and saw that the arrow was firmly hanging on the mouth of the pot, resting diagonally with its tip pressed against the neck of the pot.
…He had just thrown a “leaning on the pole”?
Then he heard Xue Yan ask calmly beside him, “Is it like this?”
Xue Yunhuan was practically going insane inside.
Yes! Wasn’t this exactly what it was? How could this man hit it the moment he said he would? Could it be that his earlier claims of “not knowing” and “never having thrown one before” had all been an act?
Xue Yunhuan was dumbfounded and remained silent for quite some time. It was only when Xue Yan asked again that he finally came back to his senses.
“Of course that’s ‘leaning on the pole’!” Xue Yunhuan said. “Have you really never played arrow-pot before?”
Xue Yan gave an indifferent hum.
“I’ve practiced archery too much. It’s nothing more than the same principle.” As he spoke, he took out another arrow.
It truly was the same. Once one’s archery skills had reached the pinnacle, controlling one’s aim and strength became second nature. If there was any difference, it was simply that archery was more useful. Arrow-pot was merely a flashy trick used for entertainment.
Nearby, Xue Yunhong, who had been silently watching, unconsciously clenched his fist inside his sleeve.
…Xue Yan again.
Several months ago, he had returned from Yan territory, just in time for the Emperor to test the princes. Whether in literary talent or martial ability, Xue Yunhong had always been among the best. He merely restrained himself somewhat, deliberately winning by just a little each time. That way, he could stand out without appearing overly showy.
At the time, although he knew Xue Yan was highly skilled in martial arts, he had assumed that the barbaric and desolate land of Yan could not possibly have taught him much culture. Great Yong had always valued civil learning over martial prowess, so Xue Yunhong naturally had not taken him seriously.
Yet he had never expected Xue Yan to effortlessly snatch first place from him.
Thus, this time, he had no longer concealed his abilities. He had displayed every bit of his true skill, all for the sake of dazzling everyone and suppressing Xue Yan’s brilliance.
Who could have known… this first arrow alone was already worth his two “piercing the ear” shots.
Once again, Xue Yan had overshadowed him. His outstanding performance just now had instead become a stepping stone, merely serving to set off Xue Yan.
Xue Yunhong clenched his fist and forcibly suppressed his emotions, while his expression continued to maintain an unruffled grace.
He told himself that he had to endure.
But he still could not help looking toward Qingping Emperor on the throne.
Father Emperor had never liked Xue Yan. Even if Xue Yan had managed to achieve a rare “leaning on the pole,” what use was it?
Yet unexpectedly, he saw surprise in Qingping Emperor’s eyes, along with a trace of contemplation, as though through Xue Yan, he had seen another person.
…Another person whom Qingping Emperor missed.
Meanwhile, Xue Yan paid no attention to the expressions of those around him. Having received Xue Yunhuan’s confirmation, he took another arrow, raised his eyes to glance at the pot, and threw it straight out.
With the heavy cloak swaying, there came another clang.
The sound was steady. There was only a single crisp, clean note that ended abruptly. There was none of the usual clattering of arrows striking against one another during arrow-pot.
Everyone looked over.
Another “leaning on the pole.”
What was unusual was that this arrow remained perfectly undisturbed by the previous one. It had not touched the first arrow at all. One arrow on each side, both were wedged against the neck of the pot.
No one had ever seen such a thing.
In an instant, the entire hall became utterly silent. Everyone stared dumbfoundedly at that tiny bronze pot.
Two consecutive “leaning on the pole” shots were already something rarely seen in the world. Could it actually be possible for the second arrow not to touch the first, while both remained hanging from the neck of the pot?
Xue Yunhuan was stunned for a long moment before finally opening his mouth stiffly. The moment he spoke, his words became completely incoherent.
“You, you-you-you…”
Xue Yan looked at him strangely.
“Is this not allowed?”
He truly did not know the rules of arrow-pot.
Then he picked up another arrow. Without waiting for Xue Yunhuan to say anything, he raised his hand and threw it.
With a crisp clang, the arrow struck the two arrows already in the pot and knocked both of them steadily down into the pot.
Yet the third arrow—the one he had just thrown as though it were a weapon—still remained firmly resting against the neck of the pot.
A third “leaning on the pole.”
For everyone else, this was a competition that required extreme caution and long deliberation before they dared to make a move. In Xue Yan’s hands, however, it was practically a joke. He did whatever he wanted and effortlessly accomplished things no one else had ever managed to do.
“Is this right?” He looked at Xue Yunhuan, his expression calm as he asked indifferently.
Xue Yunhuan stared straight at him.
After a moment, he came back to his senses and immediately hooked an arm around Xue Yan’s neck, draping it over his shoulder.
“How exactly did you do that? Hurry up and teach me!”
All the displeasure he had felt toward Xue Yan earlier had vanished without a trace. He had even forgotten that Xue Yan was a calamity who was supposed to bring disaster.
His shout seemed to finally awaken everyone else. The consorts present began discussing it among themselves, and even the palace attendants nearby started whispering their admiration. The silent hall instantly became filled with voices.
“My child naturally couldn’t possibly be anything less than outstanding.”
Amid the voices, they could faintly hear Consort Shu’s proud yet reserved voice.
At the center of everyone’s attention, Xue Yan quietly frowned.
He had never liked physical contact and found Xue Yunhuan somewhat irritating.
He raised his hand and removed Xue Yunhuan from his body.
Immediately afterward, almost instinctively, he looked toward Jun Huailang.
Sure enough, Jun Huailang was looking at him too.
Xue Yan saw that he was smiling at him. Those dark eyes were filled with delight. They were just like his eyes when he had looked at that glazed lantern earlier, sparkling with light.
There was only one thought left in Xue Yan’s mind.
He was going to get that lantern for Jun Huailang.