Yu Wan lifted her skirt and followed.
Yan Jiuchao glanced at the little shadow on the ground from the corner of his eye and smiled faintly.
Prince Cheng was also in the grassland. Of course, he was not here to watch archery. He was just worried that something would go wrong again, so he immediately rushed here after settling down the envoy.
He saw Yu Wan and Yan Jiuchao walking over and went forward to greet them. “Cousin, Cousin-in-law.”
Yan Jiuchao nodded indifferently and looked at the group of people on the grassland. “Who’s competing with arrows?”
Prince Cheng replied, “Big Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, the Second Prince of the Xiongnu, the princes, and the young masters of the aristocratic families are also here.”
The Fei Yan Hall had also arranged for an opera troupe, but the group of men did not like to listen to opera. At first, they threw the arrows, but later on, it somehow became archery. Fortunately, although the Prince Cheng Manor was not luxurious, its location was big enough. Prince Cheng had gotten someone to set up an archery target on the grassland. The guests placed a bet on whose archery skills were the most accurate and invited Xiao Zhenting and General Wei Yuan of Nanzhao to oversee it in case anyone cheated.
“Who shot well?” Yu Wan asked.
Prince Cheng smiled humbly and said, “The Second Prince of Xiongnu has the best archery skills. His arrows didn’t miss and hit the bullseye. Third Brother and Fourth Brother aren’t bad either. They followed closely behind.”
Only the Eldest Prince missed seven to eight arrows after shooting ten arrows.
This was difficult to tell others.
However, there was no need for him to say anything. Yu Wan could tell that the Eldest Prince had lost miserably just by looking at his disheveled appearance.
Prince Cheng was not sure if his cousin and cousin-in-law was just here to watch or if he also wanted to shoot arrows. His cousin was ignorant and incompetent. He did not look like someone who knew archery, let alone his cousin-in-law.
While Prince Cheng was thinking, Yan Jiuchao had already brought Yu Wan to the grassland.
After the first round of competition ended, the Second Prince of Xiongbu scored ten bullseye arrows and won the first place without any suspense. The people on the horse’s back were not empty words. The Third Prince followed closely behind with eight bullseye arrows, and the Fourth Prince and a young master from an aristocratic family ranked third with five bullseye arrows.
They won a lot of money betting on the Second Prince of Xiongnu. When the second round began, everyone bet on the Second Prince of Xiongnu.
“Hey! Are we still brothers? Why are you betting on him and not betting on me?” The Fourth Prince looked at the princes who were usually on good terms with him angrily.
The few of them cleared their throats awkwardly. Only a fool would bet on you to win with a difference of five arrows and ten arrows!
The Fourth Prince was so angry that he threw the arrow away. “I’m not playing anymore!”
“Hey, Fourth Brother!” The Third Prince pretended to call him, but the Fourth Prince left without looking back.
The Third Prince’s mother was Virtuous Consort, a first-grade consort. His status was as noble as Yan Huaijing’s. However, the Virtuous Consort was not as smart and capable as Worthy Consort Xu, and he was not as good as Yan Huaijing in every aspect. That was why he was at a disadvantage in his father’s eyes. It was not easy for Yan Huaijing to be absent today. He understood that the time to show his skills had arrived.
He was only two arrows away from the Second Prince of Xiongnu. As long as he caught up to him or defeated him, his father would definitely treat him differently.
Just as the Third Prince was rubbing his palms together and was about to try, a tall, bearded man in his thirties or forties said in a rough voice, “I’ve long heard that not only is Grand Marshal Xiao good at combat, but his archery skills are also superb. I wonder if I, Helian, have the chance to experience Grand Marshal Xiao’s archery today!”
Yu Wan looked at the other party strangely. This person seemed to be smiling, but his tone was filled with disdain. There was actually someone in the Great Zhou Dynasty who dared to speak to Xiao Zhenting like this?
As if guessing her confusion, Yan Jiuchao glanced at the person and said, “General Wei Yuan of Nanzhao, Helian Qi.”
So it was the people from Nanzhao. Yu Wan asked, “Is this General Wei Yuan powerful?”
Yan Jiuchao said, “The Helian family is quite powerful. They once produced a Divine General and people called him the Beiming War God. But Helian Qi is still a little unsatisfactory.”
“Why would the people of Nanzhao call him Beiming War God?” Yu Wan was puzzled.
Yan Jiuchao said, “His name is Helian Beiming. Helian Qi is his cousin.”
Yu Wan nodded in enlightenment. “In that case, this General Wei Yuan can’t compare to Grand Marshal Xiao at all?”
Yan Jiuchao snorted. “He’s not even worthy of carrying his shoes.”
Yu Wan looked at him in surprise. “It’s rare for you to speak up for Grand Marshal Xiao.”
Yan Jiuchao placed his hands behind his back and said expressionlessly, “Just stating the facts.”
Yu Wan asked in shock, “Then why is he still so arrogant? Isn’t he afraid that Grand Marshal Xiao will slap his face?”
In Yu Wan’s opinion, since Xiao Zhenting was so powerful, General Wei Yuan would simply be embarrassing himself by sparring with him.
“Why? Grand Marshal Xiao doesn’t want to give me face?” General Wei Yuan pressed forward step by step.
At this point, it would be unreasonable for Xiao Zhenting not to go on stage. Xiao Zhenting stood up from his seat.
When everyone saw that he was going on stage, they were even more excited than watching the princes fight. Even the Fourth Prince, who had left, came back eagerly.
This was their Great Zhou’s War God. He was invincible, and yet someone had actually dared to provoke him? Just wait to be slapped in the face!
Everyone even forgot to place their bets. They stared straight at the burly and strong man in the middle of the field, unwilling to blink.
Helian Qi also went on stage. He came to Xiao Zhenting’s side.
The guards of Prince Cheng Manor presented bows and arrows to the two of them.
Xiao Zhenting was used to heavy bows. He could also use such light bows. He picked up his bow and arrow. “After you, General Wei Yuan.”
“Wait.” Helian Qi raised his hand. “I’ll use my own bow.”
The guard of Prince Cheng Manor looked at Xiao Zhenting. Xiao Zhenting nodded, and the guard left with his bow.
Helian Qi said, “Come! Bring me my bow and arrows!”
Everyone guessed what kind of bow this envoy from Nanzhao would use. Soon, one of his subordinates came up with a bow.
There was nothing special about the bow, but that person…
Everyone’s gaze landed on this subordinate, or to be precise, on his silver armor.
It… it looked a little familiar…
In the crowd, someone exclaimed, “Ah, isn’t that Grand Marshal Xiao’s armor?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the subordinate, who was wearing the armor that had carried half of Xiao Zhenting’s honor, knelt on one knee beside Helian Qi.
This was simply a slap to Xiao Zhenting’s face and to the Great Zhou Dynasty’s face.
Xiao Zhenting’s expression changed.
Yan Jiuchao clenched his fists and his eyes gradually turned cold.
