14 Archery

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Shinian felt that her plan was truly meticulous. Nie Cheng said they needed to find a way to inform Liu Che about the outbreak of plague among the Xiongnu. Liu Che was so intelligent that he would naturally know what to do next. Yet Shinian thought that alone was not enough. She decided to have Wei Zifu deliver the news to Liu Che, thus giving the future Empress Liangliang the credit—a clever two-birds-one-stone strategy.

That afternoon, she sneaked into the Pixiang Hall. Wei Zifu recognized her as the one who had saved her before and was naturally surprised. When Shinian said she could help her avoid the political marriage, Wei Zifu was left speechless for a long moment.

Unable to hold back, Shinian asked, “Don’t you believe me?”

Wei Zifu shook her head and remained silent for a while before decisively saying, “You saved my life, so of course I trust you. Well, since it’s come to this, I’m willing to do anything to avoid going to the Xiongnu!”

Things were progressing quite smoothly.

In high spirits, Shinian stayed to have dinner with Wei Zifu. Wei Zifu had lost her appetite lately and looked increasingly haggard, which made Shinian feel distressed. She held Wei Zifu’s hand and said, “You must eat properly, or if you get sick from hunger, His Majesty will be heartbroken.”

“His Majesty…” Wei Zifu seemed a bit confused, as if she didn’t understand why Shinian kept linking herself with His Majesty.

Shinian didn’t explain, instead picking up a piece of meat to her lips. “Ah, eat this~”

Blushing, Wei Zifu cautiously took the meat into her mouth.

By the time they lingered, it was already late when Shinian returned to the inner court. She hummed a tune as she pushed open the door, only to find someone already seated inside.

Startled, she then recognized who it was and was even more surprised. “Your Majesty? What are you doing here?”

The room was dimly lit by a single lamp, casting shadows over Liu Che’s indistinct expression. He seemed to be watching something but didn’t turn upon hearing her. Calmly, he said, “What, this is my inner court. Am I not allowed to come here?”

“I didn’t mean that, it’s just…” According to her initial plan, Liu Che should have been busy tonight. Had Nie Cheng overestimated him? Had he failed to grasp the significance of the intelligence?

She sat beside Liu Che. He looked at her briefly before suddenly smiling. “Actually, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about how to cancel the political marriage and came to share it with you.”

Shinian’s eyes lit up as she leaned forward with delight. “Really? How do you plan to cancel it?”

“This afternoon, Wei Zifu mentioned that the Xiongnu had a major plague outbreak a month ago. I thought, after the plague, they must urgently need food and livestock. We can use this as leverage to negotiate with the Xiongnu. The Han Dynasty will supply them with emergency grain, and in return, the Xiongnu will abandon this political marriage.”

With generals like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing not yet fully grown and the Han Dynasty unprepared for a direct confrontation with the Xiongnu, this was undoubtedly a prudent compromise.

Shinian clapped her hands. “Yes! Such a good idea! How did I not think of it? Your Majesty, you are truly brilliant!”

The girl’s praise was so straightforward that in other times he would have been pleased, but tonight he had to examine everything carefully.

Liu Che remained composed. “However, now that this decision is made, I have new worries.”

“What worries?”

“If Wei Zifu doesn’t go to the Xiongnu, how should I settle her? Her situation is quite awkward—neither high nor low status. Everyone knows her original identity and why she entered the palace. She can’t be made the Xiongnu queen. I must find her a good home.”

Shinian blinked. “Your Majesty is asking for my opinion?”

Liu Che replied, “Is there a third person here?”

“Since Your Majesty asked me, I’ll speak freely. I think you must handle Wei Zifu carefully. Sending her out of the palace is impossible. After all, she’s been granted the title of princess. If you dismiss her just because she’s no longer needed for the marriage, it would look ungrateful and cruel.”

“Then I should choose a husband for her and marry her out as a princess?”

“You said it yourself: everyone knows she was once a slave and was selected to be married off to the Xiongnu. I worry that noble families would hesitate to marry her, and families of lesser status wouldn’t be worthy of a princess.”

Liu Che chuckled. “Then what do you suggest?”

“I think, if noble families won’t do, then find someone extremely prestigious, someone who doesn’t care about her origins. Like Your Majesty yourself. As the Son of Heaven, you wouldn’t care if she were the daughter of a duke or a humble slave. Besides, Wei Zifu was originally destined to marry a king, which shows she is fated to accompany a ruler…”

Shinian spoke happily but suddenly noticed that although Liu Che was smiling, his eyes showed no mirth. In the night’s darkness, he looked at her coldly. She shivered, the rest of her words caught in her throat, and she looked at him awkwardly.

“Y-Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?”

Liu Che stood up and looked down at her.

He knew she was unusual. He had known from their first meeting—a girl who fell from the sky, who saved his life, then appeared in his harem. He had suspected she was a spy, a secret agent, or an enemy’s eye planted near him. But the more he got to know her, the more he dismissed such ideas. No one in the world would dare send such an agent.

He told himself this, yet unexpectedly heard those words.

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That he should fall in love with Wei Zifu?

He turned his head, smiled softly, masking a flicker of hurt in his eyes. “No, you’re not wrong. What you said was very good. Excellent.”

For the next few days, Liu Che did not summon Shinian. She was anxious. After speaking that sentence, he had left abruptly without any explanation, leaving her to agonize for days over what she had done to offend this powerful man.

Could it be that he disliked her hint that he should marry Wei Zifu? But this wasn’t the first time she had done such a thing. Why had he never been angry before?

Confused and unwilling to bother Nie Cheng and the others too often, she waited anxiously in the inner court every day. Perhaps her eager gaze and desperate expression were too obvious, for finally, Yue Rong cautiously said, “Shinian, don’t be too anxious. His Majesty has been busy with the previous court affairs recently and just hasn’t had time for you… He hasn’t forgotten you, so don’t be sad…”

Shinian was surprised for three seconds, then looked up only to meet several pairs of eyes—some sympathetic, some pitying, some gleefully malicious. Seeing her catch them, everyone quickly looked away pretending nothing had happened.

…I’m not afraid of losing favor, okay!

Because of this, when Liu Che finally sent for her, even though her heart was soaring, she forced herself to be reserved and nodded faintly. “Understood. Let me finish this game of chess first.”

Everyone: “…”

This time it was also at the training ground, but not the vast arena in the southern army that could hold hundreds fighting, rather the emperor’s daily horsemanship and archery grounds near the Xuanshi Hall.

When Shinian arrived, dust was flying and thunderous sounds filled the air. Four fine horses galloped toward her. The rider took a longbow off his back and aimed at a distant target.

Leading was Lu Zhiyuan, his eyes shining with excitement, not aiming long before shooting an arrow that struck just outside the bullseye.

Shinian was surprised. Even in ancient times, hitting this spot was impressive, much less for Lu Zhiyuan, a modern man. After the previous night’s training, he was really quite skilled. Lu Zhiyuan looked pleased and glanced back boastfully.

Riding up were Liu Che and Nie Cheng, exchanging glances and simultaneously drawing their bows. The men smiled but their eyes were sharp as knives. Two swift arrows flew through the air and both hit the bullseye!

Lu Zhiyuan’s expression instantly fell. Watching the arrows fiercely competing for territory, Shinian was confused—who won?

Liu Che pulled the reins, pointing at the target with a smile. “How do we judge this?”

Nie Cheng smiled too. “I don’t know. Let’s wait for Wei Jun to shoot and then decide.”

The fourth rider was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen. Without a word, he took down his bow and nocked an arrow. Calm and steady even on the galloping horse, like a green pine tree.

He didn’t aim long, then released the arrow. Shinian’s vision blurred for a moment; she anxiously looked at the target, but the arrows were so clustered she couldn’t tell if he hit.

Had he missed?

The next moment, two arrows wobbled and fell off the bullseye to the ground.

Shinian’s eyes widened.

The boy hadn’t split the previous arrows as in dramas—he had knocked them all off.

Only his arrow remained perfectly stuck in the bullseye.

Liu Che laughed heartily, jumped off his horse, and casually tossed his bow aside. “That was thrilling! Competing with you three is always the most enjoyable!”

The others dismounted and kneeled simultaneously. “Your Majesty flatters us. Please forgive our impertinence!”

Liu Che smiled and helped them up. Then he looked at Shinian, who had been waiting on the sidelines, his expression subtly changing. “You have arrived.”

Shinian bowed to him while carefully observing. Whatever the reason for summoning her, he shouldn’t be angry now, right?

Unfortunately, Liu Che’s expression was lazy and unreadable. After watching for a long time, she couldn’t discern his mood. Resigned, she stood and her gaze involuntarily flicked to the boy she had been curious about. “Is this… Wei Jun?”

Wei Qing, the great General Wei! She hadn’t seen clearly before, but today she finally witnessed the legendary warrior who dominated battlefields even at just over ten years old. Apparently, Zhou Xiaohui was his fan!

Wei Qing knelt and saluted. “I, Wei Qing, pay respects to the young envoy’s wife!”

Nie Cheng tugged Lu Zhiyuan’s sleeve. They also knelt on one knee. “We pay respects to the young envoy’s wife.”

Seeing them bow their heads, Shinian realized after three seconds—oh right, she was the emperor’s concubine! That title had its perks! Having them kneel before her was a bonus!

Acting like a dowager empress, she pretended to clear her throat. “Enough, rise.”

Lu Zhiyuan: “…”

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He swallowed his resentment and stood up, wanting to protest with his eyes, but Shinian had already turned to another matter. She looked at the emperor beside her with admiration. “Seeing you today, I realize Your Majesty is not only skilled but also excellent at horsemanship and archery. I admire you.”

Liu Che didn’t even raise his eyelids. “You’re just flattering. The one who took first place today is Wei Qing.”

“Wei Jun is certainly a divine archer, but Your Majesty and Lord Nie are no less so. I truly mean it.”

For an emperor to train to such a level was rare. No wonder the records say he excelled in both horsemanship and archery—not an exaggeration.

Her expression seemed sincere, not fake. Liu Che’s eyes flickered. “Oh, you like it? That’s simple. I can teach you.”

“Eh?”

Liu Che didn’t allow her to refuse. He pulled her close and handed her a bow. “Here, lift it and aim at the target.”

Shinian: “…”

What was wrong with him? How could he just do whatever came to mind!

Liu Che stood behind her, encircling her with his arms. The emperor’s robes were fine and fragrant with dragon incense. His hands grasped hers, slowly drawing the longbow, their fingers entwining tightly.

Shinian had never been so close to a man before. Her cheeks flushed. Thinking of Nie Cheng, Lu Zhiyuan, and Wei Qing all watching nearby, she felt like she was burning up.

“Your Majesty, I don’t want to…”

“Oh, I almost forgot. I know how to cancel the political marriage.”

At the mention, Shinian’s voice caught, and she looked up expectantly. Liu Che smiled faintly and instructed, “Look ahead.”

In front of the ministers, he casually held his favored concubine as if teaching her archery, yet spoke of matters vital to the nation’s fate.

“Last time I said I wanted to use the Xiongnu’s plague to negotiate and cancel the marriage. Remember?”

Shinian nodded, of course she remembered.

“But I was puzzled. If the Xiongnu were in trouble, why hadn’t they mentioned it to the Han? Was the information wrong? So I sent spies to investigate and got a reply this morning. It turns out the Xiongnu probably felt they couldn’t show weakness now with the marriage approaching. They decided to buy grain from Han border residents to get through the crisis.”

As he spoke, he loosened his fingers; Shinian’s body tensed as the arrow grazed the edge of the target and slanted into the sky.

Watching the first missed arrow of the day, she was silent for a moment before sincerely asking, “Why don’t they just steal it? They’ve done that before!”

Liu Che smiled. “They need too much grain. Stealing won’t be enough and would scare everyone away. Otherwise, do you think the Xiongnu chanyu would be willing to spend this money?”

He took another arrow and drew the bow again but hesitated to speak.

Wei Qing couldn’t help but interject, “What should we do then? It seems the Xiongnu don’t plan to negotiate. They just want the princess and the dowry that comes with her!”

Shinian glanced at him. In these days, the three of them had gained Liu Che’s trust, even knowing he didn’t want the marriage. Wei Qing cared about his sister’s fate and despite his usual calm, he was restless.

Liu Che looked at him and raised his eyebrows. “Wei Qing doesn’t know what to do? Weren’t you the first to find out about the Xiongnu’s plague?”

Shinian’s whole body stiffened. This was bad! Wei Zifu had used Wei Qing as a cover to gain trust, but they hadn’t interrogated him beforehand!

Wei Qing was indeed taken aback. “Your Majesty… what do you mean?”

Acting decisively, Shinian released the arrow. It whistled and struck the target’s edge.

Her eyes brightened; she was genuinely excited. “Hit! Your Majesty, I hit it!”

Liu Che narrowed his eyes, looked at her excited face, and smiled warmly, patting her head. “Well done, well done.”

Shinian was embarrassed by his coaxing tone and turned away. “You better think carefully about how to pressure the Xiongnu into negotiating.”

“That, I already have a plan for,” Liu Che said calmly.