An arrow shot through the air, and everyone on the field held their breath, with some timid women even covering their eyes, unable to bear the sight. The ministers, however, understood clearly that no matter how arrogant or cruel the princess of Qin State might be, she would never dare to shoot the daughter of a general right in front of so many people on Ming Qi's turf.
But understanding was one thing, and witnessing it was another. Even as bystanders, their hearts raced—how must Shen Miao be feeling?
Shen Miao watched calmly. She didn’t even close her eyes but instead fixed her gaze intently on the arrow speeding toward her, as if determined to see it clearly. To the onlookers, her demeanor appeared composed and unshaken, exuding an air of unflappable steadiness.
With a "whoosh," the arrow flew past, just barely grazing the side of Shen Miao’s head—missing the bright red apple by a hair’s breadth.
Shen Qiu, seated above, let out a sigh of relief, while Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan loosened their tightly clasped hands slightly. Feng Anning and Luo Tan patted their chests in relief, and Luo Ling took a sip of tea from his cup to mask his worried expression.
The entire hall fell into silence. Huangfu Hao, who had been smiling, gradually lost his grin.
Ming An Princess waited for a moment, but instead of hearing cheers or jeers directed at Shen Miao, an uneasy premonition crept into her heart. She yanked off the black blindfold and saw, to her dismay, that the apple atop Shen Miao’s head remained perfectly untouched, her arrow lying discarded nearby. The girl in the purple robe stood unharmed, her hair undisturbed, her clothes pristine, not a trace of panic on her face. She merely looked at Ming An Princess and said lightly, "Your Highness, it seems your hand slipped just now—you missed."
You missed.
The words were soft and indifferent, yet they carried the sharpest mockery, burning Ming An Princess’s cheeks with humiliation.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Ming An Princess snapped back to reality. Glaring at Shen Miao, she shouted angrily, "You must have moved! You moved! This princess never misses—if you hadn’t moved, how could I have failed to hit you?"
No one had expected Ming An Princess to lash out so suddenly. Even Emperor Wenhui frowned in displeasure and said, "Is the princess suggesting that the hundreds of people present at this banquet are all covering for Miss Shen?"
Shen Miao stood tall and straight, having not flinched or dodged even once. Whether it was an act or genuine composure, such courage in a woman was enough to earn the admiration of all. No matter how wary Emperor Wenhui might be of the Shen family, they were still subjects of Ming Qi. How could he, as Ming Qi’s emperor, allow a princess of Qin State to slander Shen Miao so brazenly in front of him? If he indulged Ming An Princess’s tantrums today, his authority among the court officials would surely plummet tomorrow.
Feeling wronged, Ming An Princess turned to Huangfu Hao, who glared back at her with a dark expression. She shuddered and quickly averted her gaze, instead looking toward Prince Rui, who stood nearby. In a sweet, coquettish voice, she asked, "Your Highness, did you see clearly just now? Did Miss Shen dodge?" As she spoke, her eyes lingered on Prince Rui, her demeanor so blatantly flirtatious that it made the onlookers blush.
Prince Rui curled his lips slightly and replied, "No."
Ming An Princess froze. "Your Highness means... Shen Miao didn’t dodge?"“Are you questioning this prince’s eyes?” Prince Rui retorted. His demeanor was peerless, enough to captivate hearts, yet when his voice turned cold, it sent a chilling intimidation that made one dare not meet his gaze.
Ming An Princess was startled, only to see Shen Miao standing opposite her, smiling faintly. “Your Highness, a bet is a bet. Or… could it be that even the Princess cannot afford to lose?”
“How dare you!” Ming An Princess shrieked. Suddenly noticing the furious gazes directed at her from all sides, she realized this was Ming Qi’s territory, and her outburst had already provoked public outrage. She glared at Shen Miao and sneered, “What is there for this princess to fear losing? But… don’t celebrate too soon. If this princess couldn’t hit the mark, do you think you can?”
Ming An Princess was seething inside. Her mounted archery skills were near perfection, and this bow had been hers since childhood. Blindfolded mounted archery like this was something she had practiced for years in Qin State, never once making a mistake. She had intended to teach the Shen family a lesson for their insolence—piercing the apple while simultaneously tearing open Shen Miao’s collar to humiliate her would have been effortless. How could she have missed at the critical moment? Yet, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, with Shen Miao not even dodging, she couldn’t fathom what had gone wrong.
She had proposed the challenge with such arrogance, only to end up not only failing to disgrace Shen Miao but also missing her shot. If the other Qin State princesses and princes found out, they would surely mock her. The thought only deepened her resentment toward Shen Miao.
Watching Ming An Princess’s reaction, Shen Miao felt a coldness in her heart. In her past life, she had spent five years in Qin State, dealing with this very princess. No one understood Ming An Princess’s temperament better than Shen Miao. The princess loved to toy with her like this—playing mounted archery games in public, using arrows to knock loose her hairpins or tear open her collar, occasionally “accidentally” grazing her skin. The moment Ming An Princess drew her bow, Shen Miao knew exactly what she was scheming—the angle from which the arrow would fly, where it would land. After countless repetitions of the same scene, how could she not know?
So she simply tilted her head slightly, letting the arrow “just barely” brush past her.
No one would believe Ming An Princess’s words—just as no one had once believed Shen Miao’s. The humiliation, the misunderstanding, the disgrace—it was time for this pampered princess to experience it firsthand.
Of course, that wasn’t all.
Shen Miao held up the bright red apple and smiled. “If it were my turn, I’d ask Your Highness to hold this apple between your teeth.”
The hall had been murmuring softly, but the moment Shen Miao’s words registered, silence fell instantly.
Ming An Princess’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you say?” Her voice grew shriller, strained with panic into an unpleasant rasp.
Shen Miao gazed at her with a smile, her eyes still carrying a trace of innocent clarity. “Didn’t Your Highness say this was Qin State’s custom—that the archer decides where the apple is placed? Your Highness chose to place it on my head, and I complied. Now…” She smiled generously. “If Your Highness is afraid, we can always choose someone else.”Her words only served to infuriate Ming An Princess even more. To anyone else, it would seem as though Ming An Princess was cowardly and unable to accept defeat, humiliating herself in front of the people of Ming Qi, Great Coolness, and Qin State.
Yi Peilan gasped in shock and whispered to Shen Yue, "Is she insane? How dare she confront Ming An Princess like this?"
Earlier on the Verification ground, Shen Miao had stood her ground against Cai Lin, but that was because Shen Xin's official rank was no lower than Cai Daren's. Now, however, her opponent was a princess of a nation, and yet Shen Miao still dared to provoke her—this was truly beyond anyone's expectations. Cai Lin and Cai Daren exchanged glances, both smiling bitterly. They had initially thought Shen Miao was targeting Cai Lin, but now it seemed she didn’t even spare a thought for a princess. What more could be said?
Among the princes' seats, there were murmurs of astonishment. Prince Li chuckled meaningfully, "This Miss Shen certainly holds a grudge."
Ming An Princess glared fiercely at Shen Miao, who merely smiled faintly in response, unfazed. Left with no choice, Ming An Princess could only turn to Huangfu Hao for help.
Huangfu Hao cleared his throat, also angered by Shen Miao's audacity. Ming An Princess represented the dignity of Qin State, and he couldn’t simply ignore her displeasure. He glanced at Emperor Wenhui and then at Shen Miao, saying, "This is just a game. Why must the young ladies of Ming Qi be so relentless?"
Emperor Wenhui turned his gaze toward the Shen family.
Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan sipped their tea calmly, as if they hadn’t heard the exchange above. Shen Qiu and Luo Ling watched with composed interest but remained silent. Feng Anning and Luo Tan, however, stared at Ming An Princess with visible indignation.
The Shen family’s stance was clear—they had no intention of backing down and were openly challenging Ming An Princess. Shen Xin was also seething inside. Earlier, Ming An Princess had cornered Shen Miao without leaving her any room to retreat. Now it was her turn to taste that bitterness. What you do not wish for yourself, do not impose on others. When Ming An Princess schemed against others, she should have considered how it would feel to be on the receiving end. Since the Shen family was already thrust into the spotlight, and since the people of Qin State had targeted them from the start, there was no need to hold back. Shen Xin’s temper flared—after all, those with nothing to lose fear nothing. Even if Ming An Princess were to be shot dead today, so be it.
Emperor Wenhui, observing Shen Xin’s attitude, understood perfectly. Shen Xin had always been protective, especially when it came to Shen Miao. If Shen Xin was willing to step forward as the target, Emperor Wenhui was happy to let him. Moreover, he disliked Ming An Princess’s arrogant disregard for Ming Qi and intended to humble her. Smiling, he said to Huangfu Hao, "This is merely a game among the young ones. Why should the Crown Prince worry so? As long as they are enjoying themselves, I naturally won’t interfere."
Huangfu Hao hadn’t expected the Shen family to be such a tough opponent, nor had he anticipated Emperor Wenhui’s cunning neutrality. For now, he had no choice. Besides, the ministers of Ming Qi were growing bolder, whispering among themselves. If he refused outright, Qin State would lose all face. He shot a warning glare at Ming An Princess and said, "Ming An, since you proposed this, you must see it through with Miss Shen." Then, glancing meaningfully at Shen Miao, he added, "Since it’s just a game, Miss Shen surely won’t harm you."The implied meaning was that if anything were to happen to Ming An Princess, Shen Miao would surely pay the price.
Hearing such a threat, Shen Miao merely smiled and said, "Rest assured, Your Highness. Since we haven’t signed a life-and-death contract, this humble subject would never dare harm the Princess."
The more she spoke like this, the more uneasy Ming An Princess felt. But now that she was in a situation where retreat was impossible, she had no choice but to follow Shen Miao’s instructions. As she walked to the other side, her gaze was like a knife, slicing into Shen Miao with every glance. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, her eyes brightened, and she sneered, "But Miss Shen, not just anyone can draw my bow. I’m afraid you—"
Before she could finish the words "can’t draw it," Shen Miao had already pulled the bowstring with effortless ease.
Unlike Ming An Princess, who had struggled with the draw, Shen Miao’s posture was graceful, her movements smooth, as if the bow had been hers for decades and she was intimately familiar with it. She smiled at Ming An Princess, meeting her disbelieving stare, and said coolly, "A fine bow. Your Highness’s bow suits me quite well. My thanks."
She beckoned for a maid to tie the black cloth over her eyes. Just as the maid was about to move, Prince Rui picked up the black cloth from the tray, twirling it between his fingers. The crowd watched in astonishment as he walked behind Shen Miao. With one hand, he gently lifted her chin from behind, tilting her head slightly, while the other hand wrapped the cloth around her eyes.
Luo Tan’s eyes widened as she tugged at Feng Anning’s sleeve. "What—what does this mean?"
It wasn’t just Luo Tan who was curious. Even Emperor Wenhui, seated high above, frowned slightly. Ming An Princess stared at Shen Miao with undisguised jealousy, her eyes brimming with murderous intent.
Blinded by the cloth, Shen Miao could see nothing, but she could feel the person behind her moving with gentle precision. His fingertips were cool, and when they accidentally brushed against her cheek, it was like snowflakes kissing fabric—a faint, fleeting chill. Yet, for some reason, the places he touched soon warmed subtly.
When the person behind her finally stepped away, Shen Miao turned toward Ming An Princess, nocking an arrow to the bowstring.
The crowd held their breath, watching her every move with tense anticipation. Some silently criticized Shen Miao for her recklessness—forcing Ming An Princess to hold an apple in her mouth was indeed a humiliation, but it also meant that a single misstep could wound or even kill the princess. If a Qin State princess were to die in Ming Qi, Qin would never let the matter rest. Even if Shen Miao paid with her life, it wouldn’t be enough—the entire Ming Qi would suffer the consequences. The only way to ensure Ming An Princess’s safety was to deliberately miss by a wide margin, but that would still disgrace Ming Qi.
No matter how they thought about it, the only way Shen Miao could emerge victorious was if she shot the apple cleanly from Ming An Princess’s mouth. But that was nearly impossible.Huangfu Hao stared intently at Shen Miao. While others might not know, Ming An Princess was his sister, and he was well aware of just how heavy her bow truly was. Ordinary women couldn’t draw that bow—even those with martial skills or some foundation in martial arts, be they women or men, would need time to adjust to it before they could wield it properly. Yet just now, Shen Miao had casually drawn the bow with such effortless familiarity, her movements smooth and her expression relaxed, as if she had handled this bow countless times before, making it seem like second nature.
But that was impossible. Ming An Princess was visiting Qin State for the first time, and Shen Miao had never touched this bow before. A spark of interest flickered in Huangfu Hao’s heart, and his gaze deepened as he studied Shen Miao, as though she were some fascinating new discovery.
Shen Miao remained oblivious. She closed her eyes, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on the arrow, every fine scratch on the heavy bow’s surface.
Just like in her past life.
She had held this bow countless times before. Ming An Princess would always generously hand it to her after shooting Shen Miao into a humiliating state, saying, “Your turn.” In truth, Shen Miao had practiced in secret over and over—she could hit the target. But every time, she deliberately shot wide, enduring the laughter of Ming Qi’s princesses and princes, her head bowed in shame.
Because she was a hostage. She had to endure humiliation, to live under another’s roof without defiance. Even if she could win, she had to lose—lose in a way that pleased Ming An Princess, so she could survive and return to see Fu Ming and Wan Yu again.
Those most difficult years were etched into her heart, just like the ancient patterns on this bow. The forbearance of her past life could now be unleashed openly. She was no longer the Empress of Ming Qi—now, she could freely, without restraint, challenge Ming An Princess, just as Ming An Princess had once done to her.
She said, “Please do not dodge, Your Highness.”
With that, she released her grip. The nearly fully drawn bow let out a sharp twang , and the arrow shot toward Ming An Princess like a shooting star!
Ming An Princess’s vision blurred in fright. The arrow came too fast—she wanted to dodge, but there was no time. A sharp pain struck her mouth as the arrow suddenly loomed before her. She wanted to scream, but the apple in her mouth muffled it. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed.
The palace maids behind her rushed to catch her. Huangfu Hao shot to his feet, his expression darkening dangerously. Gasps filled the hall, but Shen Miao merely removed the black blindfold with leisurely grace and walked over to the unconscious Ming An Princess, plucking the apple from her mouth.
The bright red apple had the arrow embedded halfway through, the rest of the shaft still protruding. It hadn’t pierced Ming An Princess’s throat, but the sight was unmistakable.
A perfect hit!
“It seems my luck is quite good—unfortunately, I hit everything.” She smiled.
A wave of astonished murmurs swept through the hall. The officials of Ming Qi were first stunned, then flushed with excitement, breaking into applause. Someone exclaimed, “A tiger father does not beget a dog of a daughter!”It was Princess Ming An who proposed the mounted archery contest, and Shen Miao had no choice but to accept the challenge. Yet in the end, while Princess Ming An failed to hit the target and was even frightened into unconsciousness, Shen Miao succeeded. The difference in skill was clear at a glance. Though Emperor Wenhui harbored suspicions toward the Shen family, at this moment, Shen Miao had greatly boosted his pride by making the Qin State representatives eat humble pie. The emperor was thoroughly pleased. Looking at Shen Xin, he said, "General Shen, you’ve raised an excellent daughter!"
Shen Xin cupped his hands modestly in response.
Standing in the hall, Shen Miao felt a light breeze lift the hem of her skirt, making it flutter like a blooming flower. Her gaze lingered quietly on Princess Ming An, who was being supported away by her maids, as she suppressed the myriad emotions in her eyes. When she turned her head, however, she met the gaze of Prince Rui, who was watching her intently.
The expression beneath his mask was unreadable, but his eyes held a cool, ambiguous warmth that was somewhat perplexing. It was impossible to tell whether he was smiling or not. After a brief glance at Shen Miao, he returned to his seat in the VIP section.
Huangfu Hao felt humiliated but had no idea how to salvage the situation. Though the incident had been sparked unexpectedly by Princess Ming An, it had escalated to this point largely because of Shen Miao. Glaring at her, he sneered, "Who would have thought Miss Shen possessed such skill?"
Shen Miao lowered her head and retreated to her seat.
She always appeared so gentle and harmless—composed and dignified now, as if the ruthless ferocity she had displayed while shooting the arrow had never existed. Her noble and imposing demeanor made it seem as though she held the moral high ground, leaving others speechless even if they wished to vent their anger.
"Shen Miao, you were just..." Feng Anning grabbed her hand excitedly. "If you were a man, I’d marry you."
"An eye for an eye—how satisfying!" Luo Tan chimed in. "Little cousin, I always knew you weren’t the type to let others bully you." Back in Xiaochun City, the Luo family had seen enough of Shen Miao’s temperament to know better. Weak and easily bullied? Only the blind would think so.
Shen Miao lowered her eyes. Everyone assumed she held a grudge and had retaliated because Princess Ming An had provoked her. Little did they know that her arrow had avenged the grievances of her past life. Against someone as cunning as Fu Xiuyi, she had to proceed with careful planning step by step. But for someone like Princess Ming An, failing to repay the humiliation she had suffered in her past life would make a mockery of her rebirth.
Some people required patience, while others would come looking for trouble even if she did nothing. Though she acted cautiously, there were still matters where her temper remained unchanged. With her family’s protection and her own advantages in hand, why shouldn’t she stand up to Princess Ming An? She had struck her right where it hurt!
Luo Ling handed her a cup of warm tea and asked gently, "Are you alright, little cousin?"
"I’m fine," she replied with a faint smile. She sensed a sharp gaze lingering on her, but when she glanced around, no one seemed to be looking her way. She dismissed it as her imagination.
In the VIP section, the masked young man tapped his finger lightly against the wine cup before him. The white jade ring on his finger gleamed softly under the light.
...A perfectly good tribute banquet was unexpectedly disrupted by such an incident. Yet when traced back, it was Ming An Princess who had brought this trouble upon herself. Meanwhile, Shen Xin, who had just returned to the capital and been reinstated to his official position, made a striking impression once again at the Ming Qi tribute banquet with his unyielding stance and Shen Miao's brilliantly executed arrow shot. Regardless of the outcome, Shen Xin's current high-profile demeanor inevitably stirred a sense of wariness in others.
At the princes' seating area, Fu Xiuyi's expression had shifted from initial composure to quiet observation, his gaze frequently drifting toward Shen Xin's direction. Occasionally, his eyes would pass over Shen Xin and linger on the quietly seated young maiden in the purple robe.
She was not the only one attracting attention—many eyes in the hall were fixed on Shen Miao. While some young talents found her captivating, others, like Huangfu Hao, cast unsettling glances her way. Eventually, even someone as careless as Luo Tan noticed and remarked, "Why is everyone staring at little cousin? Can't a person eat in peace?"
Luo Ling chuckled and said to Shen Miao, "Cousin, why don’t we switch seats?"
Luo Ling's seat was slightly more towards the inside. After Shen Miao switched places with him, his tall frame could shield her somewhat, blocking prying eyes, making her feel much more comfortable for the time being.
The tribute banquet finally concluded without any further incidents.
Huangfu Hao left midway, saying he wanted to check on the Ming An Princess, who had fainted from fright. Naturally, no one stopped him, but everyone understood that after today, the Ming An Princess would likely hold a grudge against Shen Miao. Although Shen Miao had Shen Xin's protection, if the princess found some excuse to target her, it would be easy. The glances cast toward Shen Miao couldn’t help but carry a hint of sympathy.
Only Shen Yue and her group found some satisfaction in watching Shen Miao. Shen Wan had probably intended to reconnect with Shen Xin. Now that Shen Xin had been reinstated and even "invited" back by Emperor Wenhui, maintaining too hostile a relationship between brothers wasn’t good. However, this time, Shen Xin was resolute. He walked past Shen Wan without even a glance, showing no intention of greeting him. Everyone noticed and understood.
When Shen Xin was forced to leave the capital, the news of his split from the Shen family was known throughout the city. It’s always easier to add flowers to brocade than to send charcoal in snowy weather. Now that Shen Xin had made a comeback, for Shen Wan to suddenly approach him—any man with pride would ignore it. In this regard, Shen Xin had firmly taken the moral high ground.
Shen Wan didn’t persist in pressing his unwelcome advances either. Since Shen Xin ignored him, he didn’t force himself forward. The two brothers acted like strangers.
After the banquet, some of Shen Xin’s former colleagues came to greet him. Luo Xueyan led Shen Miao outside first to wait for the carriage.
Luo Tan skipped ahead cheerfully, while Feng Anning had already left with Lady Feng. Luo Ling and Shen Qiu walked behind. Turning past a palace gate, they reached the carriage Shen Xin had arranged. Shen Miao turned her head and happened to see a tall figure approaching slowly from the far end of the palace corridor.
Before she could clearly see his face, she spotted the glint of a silver mask under the lantern light, casting an eerie brilliance. The gold-threaded embroidery on his robe hem stood out vividly in the night, its intricate patterns shifting indistinctly, exuding an extraordinary opulence.
Shen Miao studied him carefully. The young man stopped some distance away, tilting his head slightly—perhaps looking in their direction.
Shen Miao watched him quietly.
In the night, the palace corridor stretched deep and shadowy. Cloaked in moonlight, stepping through swaying tree shadows, his expression was unclear, yet he seemed like a celestial or demonic figure from a painting. Slowly, he raised his hand, fingers slightly curled, and lightly tapped three times on the pillar by the palace gate.
Shen Qiu and Luo Ling noticed Shen Miao had fallen behind. Shen Qiu walked over and asked, "Little sister, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing," Shen Miao replied, snapping out of her thoughts.
"Let’s wait in the carriage. The wind is chilly outside—don’t catch a cold," Luo Ling said gently.
Shen Miao nodded and turned to walk toward the carriage. But then she suddenly paused and glanced back at the long corridor once more.The corridor was bathed in moonlight like flowing water, with flower branches casting intoxicating shadows on the ground. As the breeze passed, the branches trembled, but the empty hallway showed no trace of any figure. It was as if everything just now had been an illusion.
Luo Tan's hushed urging voice came through. Shen Miao turned around, lowered her gaze, and lifted the hem of her skirt as she stepped into the carriage.
...
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