Chapter 485: You Really Did It?

Chapter 485: You’re Actually Good at This?

As soon as the Crown Prince spoke, everyone present was startled.

The noble ladies all gazed at Xingxing enviously.

Nie Yuke's face turned slightly pale.

She looked incredulously at the Crown Prince, then at Xingxing.

If Xingxing weren’t so young, she would have suspected that Cousin Yan fancied her!

Yu Mingzhu’s gaze darkened further, and she unconsciously bit her lower lip.

Why was it that these nobles, one after another, only had eyes for Xingxing?

Under everyone’s gaze, Xingxing hesitated only briefly before agreeing.

Perhaps because the Crown Prince reminded her of Brother Yan, and was as kind and warm as the Empress, Xingxing wasn’t particularly afraid of the Great Xia Crown Prince.

In fact… she even felt a bit of warmth toward him. What was that about?

Wondering if she was overstepping, Xingxing took the small bow handed to her by Wei Shiqing.

The bow had a jade-green hue, with the character "Jun" carved at its head—likely the Crown Princess’s maiden name (‘Jun,’ likely the Crown Princess’s maiden name).

Nie Lvming snorted beside her, "Bet you can’t draw this one either?"

Xingxing tested the tension of the bowstring and smiled, then pulled it to full draw with ease, proving Nie Lvming wrong.

Nie Lvming was stunned and praised, "You really can draw it!"

True enough, but was it that shocking that she could draw it?

Xingxing pursed her lips slightly and picked up an orange from the nearby fruit tray, weighing it in her hand.

Nie Yuke managed a strained smile. "Lady Xingxing surely doesn’t mean to have someone hold this fruit as a target?"

As she spoke, Nie Yuke couldn’t help but glance at Wei Shiqing’s face.

Once, a noble had used servants as targets, and when Wei Shiqing encountered it, he had flown into a rage and punished the offender.

Few knew of this incident, and she had deliberately brought it up.

Xingxing waved her hands hastily. "No, no, of course not! Even horses trip, and people slip up—how could we play with someone’s life like that?"

Nie Lvming nodded approvingly. "Sure, little sis can’t handle most bows, but she’s got a point."

Even Xingxing, with her gentle temper, couldn’t help but shoot Nie Lvming a glare.

What was his problem?

Why’d he keep harping on her inability to draw bows?!

Wei Shiqing said with amused gravity, "Indeed, Lady Xingxing is every bit as kind-hearted as the Empress said."

The noble ladies all chimed in agreement.

Nie Yuke went a shade paler.

Xingxing was a little flustered. In her opinion, not using living people as targets was just basic decency—why was such a thing even worthy of praise?

Nie Yuke managed a strained smile and asked, "Then, Township Lady, how do you intend to demonstrate your archery skills for us?"

Xingxing grinned. "Wasn’t the challenge about trees? I'll toss this orange toward that apricot tree and shoot it out of the air."

Nie Lvming let out a disbelieving "Huh?" "You can't even draw heavier bows—how could you possibly hit a moving target like that?"

Xingxing puffed out her cheeks, irritated. Would he ever quit?

Wei Shiqing, however, perked up with interest. "You really think you can hit it?"

Xingxing nodded solemnly, determined to set the record straight. "I can!"

Seeing the increasing admiration in Wei Shiqing's gaze as he looked at Xingxing, Nie Yuke’s stomach twisted with unease. She forced another smile. "...Township Lady, don’t push yourself. The orange is already small, and flying through the air—even elite archers might struggle to hit it. You're still young—perhaps you don’t realize how difficult this is? Even if you want to impress His Highness, you shouldn’t overreach."

Some noblewomen, sincerely worried for Xingxing and fearing she might embarrass herself, suggested, "...How about just aiming for the trunk of the apricot tree? That would still fit the theme."

But Yu Mingzhu suddenly spoke up, saying with a thin smile, "Since Township Lady said so, she must be very confident. Let’s not discourage her. I believe she can do it."

Xingxing and Yu Mingzhu were at odds, and she wasn’t foolish—she knew Yu Mingzhu wasn’t speaking out of genuine belief in her. This was clearly an attempt to set her up!

Ignoring Yu Mingzhu, Xingxing turned to her maid, Zhao Ying. "Help me throw this orange—"

Before she could finish, the Crown Prince interjected, "Let me do it."

Xingxing blinked, then passed him the orange. "Here, Your Highness."

Wei Shiqing tossed the orange lightly in his hand with a smile and asked amiably, "Wherever works for you, Your Highness?"

Xingxing replied, "Your Highness can choose. Once I nock an arrow, just toss it toward the apricot tree in the courtyard."

Wei Shiqing nodded with a smile. "Understood."

The other girls gaped—since when was the Crown Prince this friendly? Their envy toward Xingxing deepened.

Nie Yuke, however, felt a seething jealousy in her chest.

Biting her lower lip, she stared fixedly at her usually aloof cousin chatting so casually with Xingxing, too furious to get a word out.

Xingxing nocked an arrow.

Nie Lvming remained doubtful. "You’re seriously going through with this?"

Xingxing ignored him, drawing the bowstring and aiming at the apricot tree in the courtyard. Calling out, she announced, "Your Highness, I'm ready."

Wei Shiqing smiled. "Good. I’ll throw it now."

He paused, giving Xingxing time to react, then lobbed the orange toward the apricot tree in the courtyard!

Xingxing narrowed her eyes and released the bowstring!

*Whoosh!*

The arrow shot through the air with unstoppable momentum, heading straight for the orange—and before everyone’s eyes, it pierced clean through the fruit and embedded itself into the apricot tree!

The orange split apart, and the arrow, carrying a piece of orange peel, lodged firmly into the trunk.

The arrow’s feathers quivered.

The corridor was utterly silent.

Then came the crisp sound of applause.

It was Crown Prince Wei Shiqing, his eyes shining with admiration as he clapped and praised, "Lady of Blessed Peace, your archery is truly one in a million—a remarkable talent indeed."

The Crown Prince's words held great weight. The noble ladies, still stunned by Xingxing's archery, snapped out of their daze and gazed at her with complex expressions, filled with envy.

Nie Yuke turned pale.

Yu Mingzhu's expression darkened as she listened to the chorus of praise for Xingxing, her lips pressed tightly together.

Nie Lvming was also astonished. "No way, you actually did it?" He glanced at the petite Xingxing, then at the arrow embedded in the apricot tree in the courtyard, and back at Xingxing, his expression utterly bewildered.

Xingxing handed the small bow back to Wei Shiqing with both hands. "My thanks for the bow, Your Highness."

Wei Shiqing smiled and signaled an attendant to retrieve it. Suddenly, he asked, "...Given your exceptional archery, may I ask who taught you? Some master archer?"

Xingxing's eyes softened, and she beamed. "It was a brother who taught me."

She used to love going into the mountains to play with Wei Shiyan. Not only was Wei Shiyan highly skilled in martial arts, but his archery was also extraordinary. Later, he casually taught Xingxing some basics.

Unexpectedly, while Xingxing had no talent for martial arts, she took to archery naturally, displaying extraordinary skill.

Wei Shiqing said nothing and did not inquire further about this "brother," his eyes thoughtful.

His younger brother, kept apart since childhood, lonely and isolated, had first found solace in archery.

Who else could this "brother" the young girl mentioned be, if not him?