Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chu Ruoyan stepped forward slowly.
Yan Zheng’s gaze sharpened, while Chu Huaishan barked, "Ruoyan! Go back!"
However, the emperor exhaled in relief and quickly said, "Good, good! Like father, like daughter. Let County Princess Changle take on this challenge!"
Meng Ji glanced at Chu Ruolan behind her, visibly annoyed, but still sneered, "Fine. You brought this upon yourself. Don’t say I bullied you."
The palace attendants swiftly set up the tools for the pitch-pot game, but Meng Ji shook her head. "Not this."
"Then what do you want to compete in?" Chu Ruolan pressed, already sensing her ill intentions.
Sure enough, the next moment, the Southern Barbarian princess picked up an apple from the table and placed it atop Chu Ruoyan’s head. "In our land, we have a game. You balance this apple on your head. If I miss the shot, I lose. But if you dodge, I win. How about it?"
Gasps filled the hall.
It sounded simple, but with the apple placed on a person’s head, the slightest misalignment could lead to a bloody disaster.
Chu Huaishan stood abruptly. "Your Majesty! Blood must not be shed before the throne!"
Empress Pei added, "Indeed, Your Majesty. This is far too dangerous. Let’s stick to pitch-pot."
The emperor nodded, about to speak, but Meng Ji burst into laughter. "If General Yan’s wife were still here, perhaps she could’ve played with me. But it seems none of you have the courage now."
Yan Zheng’s expression darkened, and a storm brewed in An Sheng’s eyes.
Xie Yuan, Xie Yuan!
Even after eight hundred years in the grave, must her name still be invoked?
With a cold smirk, An Sheng declared, "Imperial Brother, lest the Southern Barbarians mock Great Xia for lacking even the bravery to accept a simple archery challenge, I boldly request your permission for County Princess Changle to face her."
The emperor hesitated, then turned to Chu Ruoyan. "What do you say?"
Chu Ruoyan’s gaze flickered toward Yan Zheng. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he shook his head subtly, his grip on the armrest turning his knuckles white.
Yet, given the circumstances, she had no choice.
"Changle accepts the challenge."
A solemn silence fell over the hall.
Grand Tutor Rong and the elder officials nodded approvingly, while Yan Zheng’s frosty glare betrayed his barely restrained fury.
"Your Majesty, Changle is parched. May I drink some water first?"
"Granted."
She hurried to the banquet table, ignoring the Southern Barbarians’ mocking laughter. As she lifted her cup, she quickly mouthed two words to him—
Trust me.
Yan Zheng remained unmoved. Left with no choice, she feigned a stumble and collapsed with a cry. "Ah!"
"Hahaha! So frightened her legs gave out! Can she even compete?" The Southern Barbarian envoys roared with laughter.
Chu Huaishan stormed over, but a pair of slender, pale hands reached out first. "Careful!"
Chu Ruoyan quickly placed her small hand in his, and as she rose, her pinky subtly hooked into his palm.
Yan Zheng stiffened, lifting his eyes to meet her pitiful gaze.
Worse still, that mischievous little finger, utterly unaware of its audacity, lightly scratched his palm twice more.
Yan Zheng jerked his hand away, turning his face aside with uneven breaths.
Yet the girl mistook his reaction for consent and beamed, curtsying. "Thank you, Chief Minister!"
Now, Yan Zheng had no choice but to swallow his protests.
Chu Ruoyan returned to the center of the hall. Meng Ji crossed her arms. "You first, or me?"
With a smile, Chu Ruoyan replied, "The guest goes first."
She placed the apple on her head, calm and composed.
Meng Ji took the bow, taunting, "Aren’t you afraid?"
"Why should I be?"
Meng Ji snorted, drawing the bowstring and deliberately lowering the arrowhead to aim at her eyes. "If I miss, you’ll lose those pretty eyes—or your face. Still unafraid?"
Chu Ruoyan met her gaze steadily. "You jest, Princess. Your earlier display of archery was impeccable. If you could graze Princess Jiahui’s cheek without harm, surely a mere apple is no challenge."
"Unless, of course, you miss on purpose. But if so, I doubt you’ll leave here unscathed."
Meng Ji faltered, noticing Chu Huaishan’s murderous glare and Yan Zheng’s deceptively relaxed posture—his hand resting on the chair, poised to command at any moment.
Sweat dampened her palms. She drew the bow—
Whoosh!
The arrow struck the apple dead center.
"Bravo! Superb shot!"
Only the Southern Barbarians cheered, while the Great Xia court exhaled in relief.
Meng Ji gritted her teeth. "Fine, you win." She placed the apple on her own head, muttering, "I am an envoy of the Southern Barbarians. Harm me, and my brother’s armies will raze Great Xia to the ground!"
The threat fell flat. Chu Ruoyan hesitated. "Forgive me, Princess. I was raised on music and poetry, not archery..."
She fumbled with the bow, drawing it with awkward creaks.
Meng Ji paled. "Then don’t shoot!"
Chu Ruoyan tilted her head. "Are you forfeiting?"
Meng Ji’s lips trembled. She couldn’t utter the words, but the sight of that wobbling arrow and Chu Ruoyan’s amateur grip made her sweat profusely.
A Southern Barbarian envoy bellowed, "Strike our princess, and our cavalry will slaughter your entire clan!"
Chu Ruoyan nodded sympathetically. "Understood. I’ll try not to damage the Princess’s face..."
But her trembling aim magnified Meng Ji’s terror.
Who would gamble on this? Even if they avenged her later, a ruined face or lost life...
In that split second of panic—
Twang!
The arrow flew—and Meng Ji ducked!
The hall erupted in cheers. Chu Ruoyan picked up the apple, smiling. "Princess Meng Ji, you lose."
Lost...
She lost...
Meng Ji’s eyes widened in realization. "You tricked me!"
Chu Ruoyan had feigned incompetence, exploiting her fear to force her into dodging.
But it was too late. Meng Ji spat, "Fine! I concede!"
Great Xia’s court rejoiced.
Meng Ji flicked her wrist. "Consort, present the peace treaty to the emperor!"
Chu Ruoyan and Yan Zheng tensed as Yan Zhao approached the throne, holding a scroll.
Yin Shun hurried forward. "Let me—"
The emperor waved him off. "No need. Since the Southern Barbarians seek peace, Great Xia must reciprocate their dignity. Let the consort deliver it."
Yan Zhao bowed, extending the scroll—
Then, in a flash, he drew a dagger from beneath it and plunged it toward the emperor’s heart!
