One arrow decides victory or defeat

  One arrow decides victory or defeat

  In the empty space of the imperial garden, a crowd of people gathered, and even in the distant places, there were not a few idle palace maids and eunuchs sneaking peeks at this rare bustle in the imperial palace. Mo Jingqi and the Empress accompanied by palace ladies-in-waiting and the noblewomen who came to attend the banquet

  Empress Jing and Princess Lingyun served as witnesses. The imperial garden was filled with an unprecedented commotion, too many people had come to watch, apart from the emperor, empress, consorts, and a few prominent royal nobles, others could only stand by and watch. However, it seemed that no one was paying attention to this small matter, everyone was excited

  Bo Bo stared at the two people on the empty ground. Ding Wang Fei didn't ask for an archery target, so how were they going to compete?

  The Empress sat beside the Emperor with a cold face, but her clear and calm eyes swept over Ye Li's body with a hint of inquiry. Mo Jingqi lowered his head to look at his beloved concubine's expression, and chuckled softly: "What is my beloved concubine looking at? It seems that my beloved concubine likes the Crown Princess?" The Empress furrowed her brow

  She coldly said, "The Emperor is joking, I'm just a bit curious." Mo Jingqi smiled with deep meaning, "There aren't many people who can make the beloved concubine feel curious. However, in my opinion, Empress Ding may not have much of an advantage." Liu Guifei raised her eyebrows, still as cold as ice and frost.

  Her appearance. Mo Jingqi's eyes flashed with a hint of fiery gloom, and he continued: "Lingyun Princess is the beloved daughter of the Western Ridge Emperor, and from a young age, she has been well-versed in both literature and martial arts. In Western Ridge, her archery skills are even more renowned than her swordsmanship."

  "What good would it do for Her Majesty to lose to the Emperor?" Consort Liu said calmly.

  Mo Jingqi smiled but didn't speak, shifting his gaze to Mo Xiuyao who was sitting quietly not far away, his eyes dimming slightly.

  "Prince..." Qingfeng anxiously looked at Ye Li who was preparing in the arena. Having followed her mistress for so many years, how could Qingfeng not know that her mistress had hardly ever practiced archery? At most, she would only play with Third Master when they visited the Xu family.

  Play, how can it compare to Lingyun Princess's archery skills which she has been practicing since childhood.

  Mo Xiuyao said calmly: "Don't be impatient."

  Lei Tengfeng sat beside him, looking at Mo Xiuyao's calm expression and couldn't help but frown. Could it be that the Empress Dowager really had some kind of trump card? However, whether they won or lost, this matter would bring no benefits to the Western Hills. Lei Tengfeng couldn't help but mutter in his heart, "The Emperor is old..."

  What's wrong with you, why did you choose Lingyun to come to Dongchu? Even the least favored princess in the Western Hill Imperial Palace is a hundred times more sensible than this girl. "Ding Wang, this is all because of Lingyun's foolishness. I heard that Ding Wang Fei was the one who arrived at her place in Chapter 059. Apparently, the trial in the Imperial Garden this afternoon gave Ye Li a huge boost, and it wasn't just the officials present in the garden who knew about it. Now, everyone attending the banquet has already heard about what happened this afternoon. Looking at Mu Rongting sitting with Qinzheng, making faces and winking at herself, and Xu Qingfeng's unreserved praise for Ye Li, she had no doubt that the news had spread throughout the entire capital. The only question was how it would be told - whether Ding Wang Fei was a versatile and talented person or whether Ding Wang Fei was so fierce that he scared the spoiled Western Hill Princess to tears?

  Thinking of another possibility, Ye Li couldn't help but lower her head and chuckle silently.

  The so-called imperial banquet is nothing more than fine wine, delicious food, and music and dance performances. Ye Li listened to the emperor's polite conversation with foreign envoys or the low whispers of officials beside her in a somewhat distracted manner. She ate some dishes that she thought were not bad, anyway, you can't expect to be full from this kind of banquet, just eat a midnight snack after returning to the mansion.

  Until a bright red dress appeared in the dance, Ye Li was slightly surprised to see the dancer's elegant and unparalleled dance moves, and asked sideways: "How could Yao Ji be here?" Mo Xiuyao smiled softly: "She should have been specially invited to perform in the palace, Yao Ji came from the teaching building, her dancing skills are among the best in the capital. Last year, on the Empress Dowager's birthday, she was also specially invited to perform in the palace."

  Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked: "What does your highness think?"

  Mo Xiuyao said: "Nature is good, what does Ah Lian think?"

  Ye Li turned back and nodded: "Indeed, it's good." Yao Ji's reputation she had also heard, a rare opportunity, can be said to be one of the extraordinary women in the capital. The brothel owner was known for her piano skills and dance art that stunned the capital, and before the age of 25, she became the owner of the first high-class brothel in the capital, Qingcheng Brothel. She had dealings with many powerful officials in the capital, and it was said that the son of the Marquis of Muyang, Muyang, was her patron, and Feng San Gongzi also called her a friend. Since ancient times, extraordinary women have emerged from the dust, and only such women can live so freely and unrestrainedly in this era.

  The dance of the number one courtesan in the capital was naturally stunning enough, and at least 70% of the men present showed a drooling expression. The women also showed expressions of jealousy and resentment. Of course, there were also purely appreciative glances, but they were only a very small minority. As soon as the dance ended, Yaoji quickly disappeared outside the hall, leaving behind a faint fragrance that made people nostalgic. Looking at the people in the hall who were all in a flurry with different expressions, Ye Li felt even more bored. After telling Mo Xiu Yao that she was going out for some fresh air, Ye Li quietly left the palace with Qing Luan and Qing Shuang.

  The gentle night breeze outside the palace blew away the faint scent of rouge and wine that had been brought from inside, and Ye Li took a deep breath. Ignoring the sound of guqin, sheng, and silk coming from inside the palace, the nighttime imperial palace seemed especially quiet. Walking slowly on the secluded path, Ye Li's previously restless mood gradually calmed down. Just as she was about to sit down in the pavilion ahead, an unfamiliar palace maid blocked their way, "This servant has seen the Crown Princess."

  Qing Luan stood guard in front of Ye Li, asking: "Who are you?"

  The palace maid curtsied and said: "I am a palace maid of Ye Zhaoyi's palace, Ye Zhaoyi invites the Crown Princess to go to the Jade Flower Palace for a chat."

  Ye Yue was pregnant, so she didn't attend the evening banquet in the palace. In the afternoon, a palace maid came to invite her, and Ye Li politely declined the invitation on the spot. Ye Li naturally knew what Ye Yue was thinking, but even as sisters, she had no intention of letting Ye Yue and the Ye family take advantage of her. Mainly because Ye Yue's plans and thoughts were not reliable at all. If she was careful and content with her current situation, she might be able to safely give birth to the child and have a stable future. But if she thought about things that didn't exist, even though they hadn't met many times, Ye Li still felt that pregnant Ye Yue wasn't as favored by the Ye family as everyone thought.

  "The princess is a bit tired today. Tell Ye Zhaoyi that if there's anything, it can wait for a couple of days. The princess will go to the palace in a few days to pay her respects and they can talk then. Let's just forget about it for now."

  The palace maid's face was somewhat anxious and she said: "Your Highness, please forgive me, but the Consort indeed has an urgent matter that she wishes to discuss with you."

  Ye Li said faintly, "Even if there really is an urgent matter, I'm afraid discussing it with the empress won't be of much use. How about this: Ye Shao's mother, Madame Wang, is also in the palace at the moment. Why don't you let someone go and ask her to come out? What do you think?"

  "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine only requests Your Highness to go and pay respects!" The palace maid said, her tone already carrying a hint of coercion. Ye Lian's face sank, and she coldly laughed, saying lightly: "This princess still doesn't know that an Imperial Concubine requires this princess to personally go and pay respects in the middle of the night!" The words "pay respects" were bitten out heavily, emphasizing the noble status of the Princess of Dingguo. Even within the palace, she only needed to show great respect to the Empress Dowager, while the Noble Consorts only received half-respects from her. Not to mention a mere Imperial Concubine - if they really met, Ye Yue would have to show half-respects to Ye Lian as a sign of respect for the Dingguo Duke's household.

  "This... I, a lowly servant, have misspoken. Please forgive me, Your Highness. Ye Shao Yi indeed has an urgent matter and requests that you, in consideration of the friendship between her and the other consorts, grant her an audience."

  Ye Li looked at the palace maid with some suspicion and said in a soft voice, "Speaking of which, I have been to Yao Hua Palace before. You seem unfamiliar." The palace maid forced a smile and said, "This servant's appearance is ordinary, it's possible that the princess doesn't remember me." Ye Li shook her head and said, "No, I'm certain that among the six senior palace maids and eight inner chamber serving maids by Ye Shao Yi's side, there was no one like you. Could it be that Ye Shao Yi would send a cleaning maid to invite me?"

  The palace maid's face turned pale with fright, and she turned to leave. Ye Li gave Qing Luan a signal, and Qing Luan took a step forward, effortlessly striking the maid's neck with a knife hand. The maid's body went limp and fell to the ground.

  "Your Highness." Qing Yu furrowed her brow and looked up at Ye Li, waiting for instructions.

  Ye Li's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she suddenly turned around, her gaze shooting towards the flower bushes by the side of the road. "Who is there?"

  "The Empress Dowager." A slender figure emerged, and the enchanting face under the moonlight also added a hint of serenity.

  "Miss Yaoji," Ye Li said, "what are you doing here?"

  Yao Ji smiled and said: "I don't dare to be called that, it's enough for the princess to call me Yao Ji."

  Yaoji walked forward, glanced at the palace maid who was unconscious on the ground, raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Ding Wangfei, what's this?" Ye Li smiled: "Didn't Yaoji hear it earlier? There are always a few strange things in the deep palace." She beckoned with her hand, and a black shadow appeared behind Ye Li like a ghost. "Wangfei." Ye Li pointed to the palace maid on the ground: "Take her away. Don't scare people." The black shadow quickly picked up the person and disappeared into the night after a few movements.

  "I've long heard that Feng San said that Princess Ding is straightforward in her actions. Today, I see that it's indeed true." Yujie smiled and said.

  "Did Feng San Gongzi ever mention me to you?" She could recall that she wasn't very familiar with the famous Feng San Gongzi in the capital.

  Yao Ji covered her lips with a smile, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Feng San has always had high praise for the Queen, and his insight is something Yao Ji has always admired. Today's meeting with the Queen is truly a once-in-three-lifetimes opportunity."

  Ye Li lowered her eyelids and smiled, "Being able to see Miss's enchanting dance is also Ye Li's good fortune."

  "Just now, I will keep the princess's secret." Yaoji blinked her charming eyes and asked with a playful tone. Ye Li smiled and said: "Thank you, it's so late, why are you still here?" Yaoji sighed lightly and said: "Some people and things are too annoying, just hiding in a place is fine. Didn't expect to have fate with the princess."

  Ye Lian's face was calm, but Yao Ji's expression was not good. It seemed that many people in the scene had moved their hearts. However, those who dared to entangle in the imperial palace were not simple characters. "Why don't I send someone to escort the young lady out of the palace?"

  Yao Ji showed a grateful expression and said: "Thank you so much, Princess."

  "It's a trivial matter." After giving Qingyu some instructions, Ye Li bid farewell to Yao Ji and returned to the grand hall of Songwu Ping.

  Mo Xiuyao saw her return, handed over a questioning gaze, Ye Li shook his head to indicate that he was helpless. Walking around Mo Xiuyao's side and sitting down, he whispered about what had just happened in the Imperial Garden. Mo Xiuyao nodded: "Later I will send someone to investigate, Ah Li tonight is still with me." Ye Li nodded indifferently, only to find that the atmosphere in the main hall seemed even stranger than when she left. The original song and dance had long stopped, everyone's eyes were looking in the direction of the envoys of Xiling and Nanzhao, even Ye Li's quiet entry did not attract much attention.

  Hu Tianxiang revealed a strange smile to Ye Li, her chin subtly pointing towards the direction of Xiling Country. Ye Li looked over and saw that Princess Lingyun of Xiling was crying with red eyes again. Today clearly wasn't Princess Lingyun's lucky day; she had cried again after just a short while.

  "What's wrong?" Ye Li asked in a low voice.

  Mo Xiu Yao's smile was cold and distant, "The Crown Prince of Zhen Nan Wang expressed that Xi Ling Guo wants to form an alliance with Da Chu as Qin Jin. Before he could finish speaking...Ling Yun Gong Zhu spoke out in opposition. As a result...the Emperor agreed to the alliance with Xi Ling, but Ling Yun Gong Zhu will not enter the palace."

  "Then?"

  Then Nanzhao presented a letter from the King of Nanzhao, expressing his willingness to marry off Princess Qixia to the Great Chu.

  “……”

  "The emperor's intention is for Princess Qixia to enter the palace, and Princess Lingyun will be given to King Li."

  Digression

  Ah~ Seeing my collection increase so much, I'm so happy...