The breaths of everyone present instinctively grew lighter, their eyes fixed intently on the direction where the two arrows had been shot.
One arrow struck the black bear's heart directly, while the other veered slightly off by a few inches.
"Quick, finish it with a dagger!"
Yu Fan reacted swiftly. The men beside the bear immediately plunged their daggers into it, and with a thunderous crash, the massive beast collapsed to the ground.
The shafts of both arrows twisted slightly from the force of the bear's fall.
Song Shihuan curled her lips into a faint smile. Her arrow had struck the heart—the fatal blow. She could already picture her father's smug expression.
But at that moment, Song Yanming clenched his fists, his gaze toward Song Shihuan filled with a mix of emotions—disbelief, envy, and calculation.
The next second, his voice rang out:
"Congratulations, Fourth Uncle, for felling the black bear."
Silence instantly fell over the gathering.
"The arrow that pierced the bear's heart was clearly shot by the princess!" Yu Fan's veins bulged on the back of his hand. "How dare you distort the truth in broad daylight, Third Imperial Grandson?"
"Yu Fan, you insolent—!"
Song Yanming gritted his teeth. "Shihuan was standing right behind Fourth Uncle when she fired. Their arrows came from nearly the same angle, and the bear's fall bent the shafts. How can you be so certain it was hers?"
"Is this how your team steals credit?"
"Not just Yu Fan—we all saw it!" The rest of Song Shihuan's team, except for Song Yanzheng, erupted in protest, their faces flushed with anger.
Prince Qi quickly caught on, his heart pounding.
"Yanming... Yanming is right. Shihuan's arrow nearly grazed my ear before hitting the bear. It missed by inches. Shihuan, you were so desperate to claim the kill that you disregarded your uncle's life!"
"Besides, your team would naturally side with you. Their words hold no credibility."
Realizing that his own men had been too occupied fighting the bear to clearly see where the arrows landed, Prince Qi's eyes gleamed with triumph.
Fortune favored him.
Encouraged by Prince Qi's confidence, his team grew indignant. "We risked our lives battling the beast, and now you try to steal the glory? That's dishonorable."
Within moments, Song Shihuan was not only robbed of her achievement but also smeared with false accusations.
"Fourth Uncle, was that fatal arrow truly yours?"
Song Shihuan smiled, showing not a trace of anger.
"Y-Yes..."
"Very well." She glanced at the sky. "The hunt will soon conclude, and guards will carry the bear out. We can settle this before His Majesty."
Her unwavering confidence made Prince Qi hesitate.
The arrows were identical, and their shots had been nearly aligned. Could she really prove it?
Reassured, he shot an approving look at Song Yanming.
The boy had been sharp today.
......
As the hunt ended, Emperor Yuanyou and his retinue stared at the massive black bear, requiring eight strong men to lift it.
"Who felled this beast?" the emperor asked, straightening his posture.
"Your Majesty, it was this unworthy son," Prince Qi declared.
The emperor's smile faded instantly. "You?"
Since when had his fourth son possessed such skill?
"Your Majesty, the princess slew this bear, but Third Imperial Grandson twisted the truth to credit Prince Qi. I beg Your Majesty to judge fairly."
Yu Fan couldn't wait for Song Shihuan to speak. He dropped to his knees with a thud.
Killing a black bear—
In the Great Qi hunts, it was the highest achievement.
If Prince Qi stole this glory, Yu Fan wouldn’t even have the face to return to the Gu family!
"Yu Fan, explain yourself!"
Song Yu materialized before him in a flash, glowering at Prince Qi and Song Yanming. "You black-hearted scoundrels! Taking advantage of my absence to bully my daughter—unforgivable!"
After Yu Fan recounted the events, Song Yu rolled up his sleeves and charged at Song Yanming.
"Are you blind?"
He kicked Song Yanming squarely in the rear, then jabbed two fingers toward his eyes as if to gouge them out.
"Uncle, I truly saw Fourth Uncle's arrow strike the bear's heart."
"You saw? No one else did, just you?"
Song Yu shot a glance at Emperor Yuanyou, then mimicked him by removing a shoe. "Father, today your son will discipline this unfilial imperial grandson for you."
Within moments, Song Yanming was fleeing from Song Yu's relentless pursuit.
Howls of pain filled the air as Prince Qi's face paled. "Elder Brother, the matter isn’t settled yet. Isn’t this... excessive?"
"I’m not here to investigate. I’m here to avenge Shihuan!"
"Enough!"
Emperor Yuanyou's roar finally halted Song Yu.
How dare this brat call himself "I" in his father's presence?
Couldn’t he see Shihuan’s calm demeanor? She clearly had a way to prove the truth.
"Shihuan, you speak." The emperor’s eyes sparkled as he regarded her. An eleven-year-old granddaughter who could slay a black bear—
Just how much good fortune had the Song ancestors accumulated?
"Grandfather, Prince Qi’s men were too close to the bear to see clearly, which is understandable. But the First Imperial Grandson would have had a clear view." Song Shihuan turned to Song Yanzheng. "First Imperial Grandson, why don’t you decide?"
Song Yanzheng froze.
Seeing the shoe in Song Yu’s grip, he swallowed his words and stammered, "I... I didn’t see well either. It was probably Fourth Uncle. Shihuan is young—her strength might not suffice."
"Pfft."
Song Shihuan scoffed and strode to the bear. With effortless ease, she plucked the arrow from its heart and handed it to Eunuch Wu.
"Please wash the blood off this shaft, Eunuch Wu."
"Shihuan, what’s the meaning of this?" Song Yanming’s voice trembled with unease. "So you missed. We’re family—why make such a fuss?"
"Song Yanming."
Her direct address silenced him instantly.
"Have you no shame?"
His face flushed crimson. Pointing a shaking finger at her, he stammered incoherently.
How dare she—how dare she imply he was shameless before so many witnesses?
In the crowd, Shen Qingping lowered his head to hide a smirk.
Then, Eunuch Wu’s voice rang out:
"This arrow... it’s different."
