Xue Yunsu had already been stunned by Xue Yunhong’s three “piercing the ear” shots. Only after hearing Xue Yan’s question did he barely manage to collect his wits.
Only then did he belatedly begin to feel angry.
He had originally thought his luck was already good enough. How could he have imagined that Fourth Brother’s aim would be even better? He had even said it was merely luck—how had he then, by sheer “luck,” snatched away his first place?!
Xue Yunsu was filled with anger, and Xue Yan happened to walk straight into the muzzle of his gun.
“Ha, you don’t even know how to play pitch-pot. Are all you people from Yan territory only capable of learning barbarian dances and games for amusement?” he mocked, raising his voice slightly.
Xue Yan glanced at him indifferently and said nothing.
His mocking words were heard by Qingping Emperor, who was seated at the main seat in the distance. Hearing the commotion and seeing that Xue Yan still had not come over, he put away his smile and asked, “What happened?”
Xue Yunsu cast a mocking glance at Xue Yan, then walked straight forward and bowed to Qingping Emperor.
“Father Emperor, Xue Yan says he doesn’t understand the rules of pitch-pot!”
Qingping Emperor was already annoyed to the point of having a headache because of this mother and son. Now he was even more displeased by Xue Yunsu’s eagerness to show off. He could not hide any of his thoughts; his joy and anger were always written across his face, and he was always fond of stirring up trouble during the festival season.
It was simply lacking in royal dignity.
Now that he had come rushing over to complain, Qingping Emperor’s disgust toward him grew even stronger.
After all, once a ruler had been one for long enough, his own likes and dislikes became matters of the greatest importance. Whether what someone did was right or wrong depended entirely on whether it displeased His Majesty.
If Qingping Emperor had been willing to turn a blind eye in the past, then the wrong things Xue Yunsu had done would not count as wrong at all. But if Qingping Emperor accumulated enough disgust and suddenly became serious, beginning to dislike him, then all the mistakes he had made in the past would be settled at once today.
“He has only just come to Chang’an this first year. It is understandable that he doesn’t know,” Qingping Emperor said. He shifted his posture on the imperial throne, leaning slightly to one side, and spoke indifferently. “Fifth Son, go teach him. It is the New Year; just treat it as a way to add some festive cheer.”
After saying that, he glanced at Xue Yunsu and gave him a warning look.
Naturally, Xue Yunsu could not fail to understand what that look meant. It was as though a basin of cold water had been poured over his head, extinguishing seventy to eighty percent of his anger.
He had played pitch-pot today. No matter whether he hit or missed, was it not ultimately all for the sake of winning the Emperor’s favor?
Now, not only had he failed to gain Father Emperor’s favor, he had instead displeased him. It could truly be said that he had lost both the battle and the prize.
He shut his mouth and quietly stepped aside.
However, because of that shout of his, everyone in Changchun Tower now knew that Xue Yan did not know how to play pitch-pot. Immediately, all the consorts and princes seated there, as well as the eunuchs and palace maids standing nearby, turned their eyes toward Xue Yan.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Xue Yunhuan walked to the pitch-pot position alongside Xue Yan. A young eunuch beside them brought over the arrows. Xue Yan took one and looked toward the bronze pot in the distance.
The main hall was especially spacious, and the pot was roughly half a she‘s distance 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, if he threw the arrow, it was not impossible for one arrow to pierce the Emperor’s throat.
The thought arose quite naturally in his mind, as ordinary as someone wondering what they wanted to eat for lunch.
Meanwhile, beside him, Xue Yunhuan was still chattering away as he explained the rules.
“If this arrow lands inside the mouth of the pot, it counts as a hit. Otherwise, it doesn’t. If the arrow passes through both ears of the pot, that is called ‘piercing the ear,’ and the points are counted as double…”
Xue Yan raised the arrow and slowly made a few motions with it.
There was about a sixty percent chance. He thought to himself. As long as the guards on both sides were not highly skilled enough to intercept his arrow, he had a seventy percent chance of killing the Emperor with a single strike.
But to everyone else, he merely appeared to be listening to Xue Yunhuan’s explanation and practicing the motions of throwing the arrow.
He was not afraid of dying together with that Emperor here. It was simply that he still had other things to do. 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 Xue Yan’s fleeting killing intent in the slightest.
“…Piercing the ear is already extremely difficult. Don’t even think about ‘leaning on the pole.’ Just aim for the mouth of the pot. As long as you get even one arrow in, we’ll count that as an extraordinary talent.”
After wholeheartedly explaining the rules, Xue Yunhuan looked at Xue Yan.
Xue Yan glanced at him.
Oh. He had not really been listening to this part.
He had only heard that Xue Yunhong had just thrown three “piercing the ear” shots, and that the little eunuch announcing the results had become more excited with each one, while everyone else had grown increasingly astonished. That meant it must have been quite impressive.
What had he just said? 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 for him not to listen to me at the banquet just now, but now, before the Emperor, he still wasn’t listening to me? Was what I said really that unpleasant to hear?
Xue Yunhuan gritted his teeth and repeated himself.
“‘Leaning on the pole’ means that after the arrow strikes the mouth of the pot, it does not fall to the bottom. Instead, it leans diagonally against the mouth of the pot.”
Xue Yan gave an “Oh.”
“You’d better not try this…”
Xue Yunhuan had not even finished speaking when he saw Xue Yan pick up the arrow in his hand and throw it forward.
“You…!”
Xue Yunhuan felt that this man really could infuriate someone to death while remaining completely calm.
Then came a clang. Several consorts seated near the bronze pot let out soft cries of surprise.
Xue Yunhuan looked over and saw that the arrow had landed securely on the mouth of the pot, leaning diagonally with its tip resting 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.
It was exactly like this! Wasn’t this exactly what it was supposed to look like? 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 before” had all been an act?
Xue Yunhuan was dumbfounded and remained speechless for a long time. Only when Xue Yan asked again did he finally return to his senses.
“Of course this is ‘leaning on the pole’!” Xue Yunhuan said. “Have you really never played pitch-pot before?”
Xue Yan casually hummed in affirmation.
“I’ve practiced archery often. It’s nothing more than the same principle.”
As he spoke indifferently, he took out another arrow.
It really 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. Pitch-pot was merely an ornamental trick used for entertainment.
Beside them, Xue Yunhong, who had been silently watching, involuntarily clenched his fist inside his sleeve.
…Xue Yan again.
Several months ago, Xue Yan had returned from Yan territory, just in time for the Emperor’s examination of the princes. Whether in literary talent or martial arts, Xue Yunhong had always been among the best. He merely restrained himself somewhat, winning each time by just enough to stand out without appearing to be showing off.
At that time, although he knew Xue Yan’s martial arts were formidable, he had assumed that the barren land of Yan could hardly have taught him any culture. Great Yong had always valued literary ability over martial prowess, so Xue Yunhong naturally had not taken him seriously.
Yet he had never expected Xue Yan to effortlessly snatch away his first place.
Thus, this time, he had stopped concealing his abilities and displayed every bit of his true skill, solely to shine brilliantly and suppress Xue Yan’s presence.
Who would have thought… this first arrow alone had already matched the points from two of his “piercing the ear” shots.
Once again, Xue Yan had overshadowed him. His outstanding performance just now had instead become the stepping stone that set Xue Yan off.
Xue Yunhong clenched his fist and forcibly suppressed his emotions, maintaining his calm and unruffled demeanor.
He told himself that he had to endure.
Yet he still could not help looking toward Qingping Emperor on the throne.
Father Emperor had always disliked Xue Yan. Even if Xue Yan had achieved a rare “leaning on the pole,” what use was it?
But 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, glanced at the pot, and threw it straight out.
As his heavy cloak swayed, there was another clang.
The sound was steady. There was only a single crisp, clean note that ended abruptly, without the usual sounds of arrows striking against one another during pitch-pot.
Everyone looked over.
Another “leaning on the pole.”
What was unusual was that this arrow and the previous one had peacefully coexisted. It had not touched the first arrow in the slightest. One arrow on each side, both were lodged against the neck of the pot.
This was something no one had ever seen before.
In an instant, the entire hall fell completely silent. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the tiny bronze pot.
Two consecutive “leaning on the pole” shots were already something rarely seen in the world. Could the later arrow actually avoid touching the earlier one and hang on the neck of the pot alongside it?
Xue Yunhuan was stunned for a long time before finally opening his stiff mouth. The moment he spoke, his words became completely incoherent.
“You, you-you-you…”
Xue Yan looked at him strangely and asked, “Is this not allowed?”
He truly did not know the rules of pitch-pot.
Then he picked up another arrow. Before Xue Yunhuan could say anything, he raised his hand and threw it.
With a crisp clang, the arrow struck the two arrows already lodged in the pot and knocked both of them firmly down into the pot.
Yet the third arrow, which had been used as a weapon, remained steadily leaning against the neck of the pot.
A third “leaning on the pole.”
For everyone else, this was a competition that required extreme caution, carefully calculating every movement before daring to act. In Xue Yan’s hands, however, it was practically a joke. He did whatever he pleased and effortlessly accomplished something no one else had ever managed to do.
“Is this right?” He looked at Xue Yunhuan, his expression calm and composed, and asked indifferently.
Xue Yunhuan stared straight at him.
After a moment, he came back to his senses and hooked an arm around Xue Yan’s neck, throwing his arm over his shoulder.
“How exactly did you do that? Hurry up and teach me!”
All the hostile feelings he had shown toward Xue Yan earlier had vanished completely. He had even forgotten that Xue Yan was a menace who could bring disaster.
His shout seemed to finally awaken everyone else. The consorts began discussing among themselves, and even the palace attendants nearby started whispering their praises. The previously silent hall instantly became a hubbub of voices.
“My child naturally couldn’t possibly be anything but excellent.”
Amid the indistinct voices, Consort Shu’s proud yet restrained voice could still faintly be heard among the consorts.
At the center of everyone’s attention, Xue Yan frowned imperceptibly.
He had never liked physical contact and was somewhat annoyed by Xue Yunhuan.
He raised his hand and removed Xue Yunhuan from himself. Immediately afterward, almost instinctively, he looked toward Jun Huailang.
Sure enough, Jun Huailang was also looking at him.
Xue Yan saw that he was smiling at him. His dark, deep eyes were filled with delight. Those eyes were just like when he had looked at that glazed lantern earlier—they were shining with light.
There was only one thought left in Xue Yan’s mind.
He would get that lantern for Jun Huailang.