59 Decisive victory with one arrow

nts trembled with fear as they replied: "R-rumors are circulating that Miss Third has indeed won the title. Third Miss has returned home, and gifts congratulating her have been sent from the Qin famil...59. A Single Arrow Decides the Outcome

The courtyard of the Imperial Garden was packed with a bustling crowd, and even distant corners had idle palace maids and eunuchs peering curiously at this rare spectacle within the palace walls. Emperor Mo Jingqi and Empress Qian accompanied by concubines and nobles attending the royal banquet were all there to witness the event.

The Imperial Garden had never seen such a gathering of people before; apart from the emperor, empress, various consorts, and several prominent members of the royal family and high-ranking officials, everyone else could only watch from afar. But clearly, no one was bothered by this minor detail as each person was eagerly watching the two individuals on the empty ground.

Princess Ding did not request a target for their archery contest; how were they going to compete without one

Lady Guan sat beside the emperor with her face cold, but her gaze swept over Ye Li coolly, now carrying an inquisitive tone. Mo Jingqi lowered his head and looked at his beloved consort's expression, then smiled softly: "What is my empress watching It seems she has a liking for Princess Ding" Lady Guan frowned, saying icily, "Your Majesty jests. I am merely curious." Mo Jingqi laughed with a deep meaning, "There are not many people who can pique your interest, Empress. But in my view, Princess Ding may not have much of a chance."

Lady Guan raised her eyebrows, still as cold and indifferent as before. A flash of fiery gloom passed through Mo Jingqi's eyes as he continued: "Princess Lingyun is the beloved daughter of Emperor Xiling, well-versed in both literature and martial arts since childhood. In Xiling, her archery skills are even more renowned than her swordsmanship."

"What benefit does it bring to your Majesty if she loses" Lady Guan asked coolly.

Mo Jingqi smiled without speaking, his gaze turning toward Mo Xiuyao sitting calmly not far away, a faint sadness in his eyes.

"My lord…" next to Mo Xiuyao, Qing Shuang anxiously watched Ye Li who was preparing herself at the center of the field. After following her mistress for so long, how could Qing Shuang be unaware that her young lady had hardly ever practiced archery At most, she had only gone with Third Master Xu when they visited his family. How could her skills compare to Princess Lingyun's lifelong dedication to mastering the bow

Mo Xiuyao said calmly: "Be patient."

Le Tengfeng sitting beside watched Mo Xiuyao's calm expression and frowned, wondering if Princess Ding truly had some trump card. However, whether they won or lost made no difference to them regarding Xiling. Le Tengfeng couldn't help but curse silently in his heart; Grand Uncle Emperor was old and weak.

能否為我解釋一下這段文字的主要內容？不需翻譯，隻需用泰語概括。謝謝。這段文字描述了皇宮禦花園裡的一場箭術比試的場景。定王妃和淩雲公主將進行這場比賽，吸引了眾多圍觀者。柳貴妃對這場比賽表現出濃厚的興趣，並且皇帝也關注著墨修堯的反應。葉璃從未認真學過射箭，但她的對手淩雲公主從小就開始苦練箭法。雷騰風對此事感到困惑，因為無論輸贏對他們來說都冇有好處。

Are you confused Why did you choose Lingyun, this girl, to go to Dong Chu Even the least favored princess in Xi Ling’s imperial palace is more sensible than her. "Ding Wang, it's all because of this girl's lack of sense." I heard that Ding Wangfei is the daughter of a powerful family in the capital [Chapter 059]. Obviously, Ye Li had made quite an impression at the competition in the Imperial Garden this afternoon. In just a short time, not only those officials present in the Imperial Garden but also everyone attending the banquet now knew about what happened that afternoon. Looking at Mu Tong winking and making faces to Qin Zhen who was sitting next to her and Xu Qingfeng openly praising Ye Li, she had no doubt that this matter would have spread all over the capital by now. She just didn’t know how it would be passed on—would they say that Ding Wangfei is both talented in literature and martial arts Or would they talk about the fierce Ding Wangfei who even frightened a spoilt Xi Ling princess to tears

Thinking of the latter possibility, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.

The so-called palace banquet was nothing more than fine wine and food, beautiful songs and dances. Listening in on the emperor chatting with envoys from various countries or officials whispering to one another, Ye Li picked up dishes that she found interesting. After all, you can’t expect to eat until full at such banquets. She would just have a midnight snack after returning home.

Until a figure in red appeared in the performance. Looking at the dancer’s graceful moves with surprise, Ye Li turned her head and asked, "Why is Yaoyi here" Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly, “They must have invited her specially to perform in the palace. Yaoyi comes from the teaching pavilion, and she is the best dancer there. Last year during the empress dowager’s birthday banquet, they also specially invited her for a performance.”

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked, “What does Your Highness think of it”

Mo Xiuyao replied, "Of course, it's good. What do you think, A Li"

After watching for a while, Ye Li nodded and said, "It’s indeed very impressive." Yaoyi was also someone she had heard of before—she could truly be called an extraordinary woman in the capital. She made waves with her musical skills and dancing ability, becoming the owner of the top brothel in the city even before turning 25 years old. With connections to many powerful people in the capital, it was rumored that Lord Mu Yang’s son Mu Yang was one of her regular clients. The Third Young Master Feng also called her a friend. Throughout history, extraordinary women often came from the dust and mud. This era could only produce such liberated women.

Yaoyi's dance performance was naturally impressive—about 70% of the men there had lecherous looks on their faces. The women all wore envious or resentful expressions as well. Of course, there were also those who truly appreciated her artistry, but they only accounted for a small portion of the audience. Once she finished dancing, Yaoyi quickly disappeared from everyone’s sight, leaving behind only lingering fragrance that made people yearn for more. Looking at all the bustling and differently expressive people in the hall, Ye Li felt even more bored than before. After telling Mo Xiuyao that she wanted to get some fresh air, Ye Li left with Qing Luan and Qing Shuang.

The gentle night wind blew outside the hall, gradually blowing away the fragrance of rouge brought over from inside the hall. Ye Li took a deep breath. Ignoring the music and zither sounds coming from within the palace, the imperial palace in the dead of night seemed especially quiet. Walking slowly on the silent path, her somewhat restless mood began to calm down. Just as she was about to go sit in the pavilion ahead, an unfamiliar maid blocked their way. "I have come to greet Ding Wangfei," the maid said.

Qing Luan warily stood before Ye Li and asked, “Who are you”

The maid bowed slightly and replied, "I am a lady-in-waiting in Empress Yi's palace. Empress Yi would like to invite Ding Wangfei to the Yao Hua Palace for a chat."

Ye Yue was pregnant so she didn’t attend tonight’s banquet. She had sent a maid earlier this afternoon to invite Ye Li, but Ye Li politely declined her invitation on the spot. Ye Li naturally knew what was going through Ye Yue's mind, but even as sisters, she didn't have any intention of using Ye Yue and the Ye Family for personal gain. Mainly because Ye Yue’s plans were too impractical. If she just behaved herself carefully and kept a low profile, she might give birth safely and still be able to rely on someone in the future. But if she started imagining things that don’t exist… even though they had only met a few times before, Ye Li felt that pregnant Ye Yue was not as pampered by the Ye Family as everyone thought.

"I am rather tired today; please tell Empress Yi to let me visit her a couple of days later when I pay my respects. We’ll talk then."

The maid’s face showed some anxiety, "Your Highness, forgive me—Empress Yi indeed has something urgent she would like to discuss with you.

Ye Li said coolly, "Even if there is an emergency, it's unlikely to be of any use to discuss with this Consort. Oh right, Concubine Yao’s mother, Madam Wang, is also in the palace hall now. Why don’t I let someone go and invite her out for you What do you think"

"Your Excellency, Concubine Yao only requested Your Excellency to pay a visit!" The palace maid said. By the time she reached the words "pay a visit," there was already an element of coercion in them. Ye Li's expression darkened as she gave a cold laugh and said calmly, "This Consort Royal does not know that a Concubine needs this Consort Royal to personally pay her a midnight visit!" The words "pay a visit" were emphasized heavily. The Consort Royal of the Prince Ding was highly esteemed; even in the palace, she only needed to perform grand rituals for Empress and Dowager Empress. Even the honored consorts received half-kneeling salutes from her. As for a mere Concubine, it would be more appropriate if Ye Yue had to give half-kneeling salutes to Ye Li to show respect towards the Prince Ding王府.

"This… I spoke out of line and apologize on behalf of this Consort Royal. Concubine Yao has an emergency and requests Your Excellency to make a trip for her sake as sisters."

Ye Li looked at the palace maid with some suspicion, saying casually, "To be honest, I have also been to Palace Yaohua before. You seem unfamiliar." The palace maid forced a smile and said, "I am plain-looking; it's not unusual for Your Excellency to forget me." Ye Li shook her head and said, "That’s incorrect. This Consort Royal is certain that out of the six senior maids and eight chamber attendants serving Concubine Yao, there isn’t anyone like you. Could it be that Concubine Yao would send a palace maid responsible for cleaning to invite this Consort Royal"

"I…" The palace maid’s face turned panicked as she tried to turn around and leave. Ye Li signaled Qinglun with her eyes. Qinglun stepped forward without any effort, delivering a blow behind the palace maid's neck. She fell softly onto the ground.

"Your Excellency." Qingyu frowned and looked at Ye Li, waiting for further instructions.

Ye Li frowned slightly before suddenly turning around with her gaze directed towards the flower bushes by the roadside, asking, "Who’s there"

A slim figure emerged from among the bushes. In the moonlight, her alluring face added a touch of calmness.

"Miss Yaoji." Ye Li said, "How did you end up here"

Yao Ji smiled charmingly and replied, "I am unworthy of such honor; Your Excellency can just call me Miss Yaoji."

Yao Ji approached with a glance at the unconscious palace maid on the ground, raising an eyebrow and saying, "Your Excellency, what’s this" Ye Li smiled and said, "Miss Yaoji must have heard it earlier. There are always some strange occurrences in such grand palaces." She waved her hand behind her, and a shadowy figure appeared like a ghostly apparition beside Ye Li. "Your Excellency," Ye Li pointed to the palace maid on the ground and instructed, "Take her away. Don’t scare anyone." The shadowy figure lifted the person effortlessly and disappeared into the night.

Yao Ji smiled and said, "I’ve heard that Your Excellency acts decisively from Feng San; today I saw it firsthand."

"Has Feng San mentioned me to you" She recalled that she wasn’t particularly close with such a renowned figure in the capital city as Feng San.

Yao Ji covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Feng San speaks highly of Your Excellency; his judgment Yaoji has always admired. To meet Your Excellency today is truly my good fortune for three lifetimes."

Ye Li smiled as she lowered her eyes, "It's a blessing for me to see the maiden's graceful dance."

The Jade Fairy fluttered her long eyelashes. She asked in a playful tone, "I just promised to keep it a secret for the duchess." Ye Li said with a smile, "Thank you. Why are you still here so late" The Jade Fairy sighed softly, saying helplessly, "Some people and matters are too annoying, so I was looking for somewhere to hide. It seems that fate has brought us together."

Ye Li understood. As the Jade Fairy had both beauty and talent, many in attendance must have been tempted by her. However, those who dared to糾纏in the imperial palace were not ordinary people either. "Would you like me to send someone to escort you out of the palace"

The Jade Fairy showed a grateful expression and said, "Then I thank Your Grace."

"It's nothing." She turned around and gave Qingyu some instructions before bidding farewell to the Jade Fairy and returning to the grand hall where music and dance were in full swing.

When Mo Xiuyao saw her return, he gave her an enquiring look. Ye Li shook her head helplessly. Sitting down next to Mo Xiuyao, she whispered what had happened just now in the imperial garden. Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "I'll send people to investigate later. I hope you will stay with me tonight." Ye Li casually nodded. She noticed that the atmosphere in the hall seemed even stranger than before. The original music and dance had long stopped, and everyone's eyes were subtly directed towards the envoys of Western Ling and Southern Zhao. Even her quiet arrival did not attract much attention.

Hua Tianxiang gave Ye Li a strange smile, discreetly pointing toward Western Ling with his chin. When Ye Li looked over, she saw that Princess Qingyun from Western Ling was crying with red eyes again. Obviously, it wasn’t a good day for her; how could she cry so soon

"What's wrong" Ye Li asked softly.

Mo Xiuyao’s smile was cold, "The Prince of Zhen Nan stated that Western Ling wishes to establish an alliance with the Great Chu. But before he finished speaking... Princess Qingyun opposed it loudly. In the end, His Majesty agreed to marry into Western Ling, but not Princess Qingyun."

"Then what"

The envoy from Southern Zhao then presented a royal letter from King of Southern Zhao, indicating that they were willing to marry their Princess Qixia to Great Chu.

...

"His Majesty's meaning is: Princess Qixia will enter the palace, while Princess Qingyun will be engaged to Prince Li."

———o0O———art man who saw clearly and thought deeply. The more he saw and thought, the more afraid he became, which is why he chose to live as an uninvolved bystander.The Southern Marquis shook his head without...