Gu Shuang was both startled and afraid, knitting her graceful eyebrows together in concern. "Sister..."
Gu Ying gave her a reassuring look, lifted her skirt hem, and strode confidently to the center of the hunting grounds. "Your subject is present."
The Tianqi Emperor saw that it was a beautiful young lady who had come out, and he realized that this countenance resembled that of Bianjing's foremost beauty, Madam Ye. He was stunned for a moment before recalling that she was Madam Ye's daughter. Then he gentled his tone and laughed, "Now both princes wish to shoot an arrow for you. What is your wish?"
In the piercing north wind, Gu Ying kept her eyes fixed straight ahead without glancing sideways at anyone. She only raised her limpid bright eyes and looked straight at the emperor on the high seat, her voice ringing clearly, "Replying to Your Majesty, your subject does not wish to choose anyone."
The Tianqi Emperor was very surprised. "Oh?"
Gu Ying bowed her head respectfully and devoutly. "Your subject wishes to try it herself."
With that simple sentence, it was as shocking as a stone shattering the sky, igniting the entire hunting ground in an instant.
Zhao Changdu raised his eyebrows in surprise, and dark undercurrents surged in his deep abyss-like eyes.
Unable to restrain himself under the eyes of the crowd, Su Huanfeng reached out and felt her forehead, as white and smooth as frozen fat. He knitted his brows. "Miss Gu, are you delirious? Your head is burning up? You're just a little girl. That tall horse is too big even for you to climb onto, how could you shoot that arrow?"
Echoing Su Huanfeng's words, Jiang Yin also looked at Gu Ying's slender figure in shock, an incredulous expression on his handsome face.
It wasn't that he looked down on Gu Ying, but in his eyes, in everyone's eyes, Gu Ying was a complete waste.
How dare she brazenly stand up and say she would shoot an arrow for His Majesty? But did she dare to face the consequences if she missed the bullseye?
Yet Gu Ying ignored all their doubtful looks and guesses. She only showed the Tianqi Emperor a calm, peaceful smile. "Your Majesty, I have made up my mind. Today I wish to shoot that arrow myself."
Su Huanfeng gritted his teeth fiercely. "Gu Ying--"
"Young Marquis need not try to dissuade me further." Gu Ying faced Su Huanfeng and smiled sweetly. "My mind is made up."
Her simple words weighed like a thousand jun.
Coupled with her harmless, sweet smile.
Su Huanfeng didn't know why, but his heart seemed to be struck by something, thumping nonstop.
"Hahahaha!" The Tianqi Emperor saw that despite Gu Ying's young age, she already had extraordinary poise. He laughed heartily, "Good! Well done, little Gu Ying! Worthy of being General Gu's daughter. General Gu is still stationed on our Dong Li border, guarding and protecting our Dong Li. His daughter, young miss Gu, also has such courage to shoot the first arrow in this winter hunt. Very good! We shall fulfill your wish!"
"Bring a horse here!"
Someone brought an reddish brown steed to the center of the hunting grounds.
Gu Ying thanked the emperor for his grace, got to her feet, and under the gloomy looks of Gu Jia and Jiang Yin, walked step by step towards the steed. She took the golden arrow and longbow from the eunuch's hands.
Zhao Changdu's cold gaze was like a shadow, fixed on her straight back.
Around her were sounds of contemptuous discussion.
"Can she get on the horse?"
"Just watch, a cowardly crybaby who's all talk. She'll just become a bigger laughingstock!"
But just after that person finished speaking, the girl in the field leapt up nimbly and vaulted onto the horse's back.
With one hand she took the reins, her posture extremely skilled and experienced.
Everyone was shocked.
Gu Jia was so angry he stood right up from his seat, looking incredulously at the nimble figure riding the horse.
Gu Ying bestowed a breathtaking smile on the crowd, ignoring the looks falling on her back. She squeezed the horse's belly with both legs.
The steed galloped across the hunting grounds like a meteor, stirring up pure white snowflakes, as if cresting clouds.
Her figure was slender and upright, like a stalk of emerald green bamboo. Her sky-blue hunting outfit fluttered in the gusting cold wind.
Her petite palm-sized exquisite face was as white as frost and snow, seeming to blend into the earth and sky's white snow.
The horse had a fiery temperament, and did not submit to her control at first. But she firmly pulled the reins, ran several dozen steps, and tamed the horse.
Then her body lightly leapt up again, one foot stepping onto the horse's back.
Everyone watched with bated breath, shocked.
She intended to use her body as the bow!
In the icy wind, her black hair was charming by her temple. Yet Gu Ying did not have a shred of nervousness.
She smiled faintly, completely calm and composed. Her movements extremely decisive and agile as she drew the bow and nocked the arrow!
Her almond eyes narrowed, aiming, getting ready to shoot!
Su Huanfeng held his breath tightly, his beautiful peach blossom eyes wide open. "Gu Ying, you must hit it..."
Jiang Yin clenched his fists tightly, his gaze fixed on that peerlessly elegant back. For some reason... scenes suddenly floated up in his mind. Of him shooting arrows, Gu Ying's eyes reddened, full of adoration and admiration for him.
His heartstrings shook uneasily... Then he saw the golden arrow in Gu Ying's hand shoot out like a meteor, immediately followed by a clear ding as it pierced the bullseye.
The crowd immediately burst into thunderous applause, looks of incredible amazement and praise on every face.
Jiang Yin's body stiffened, his head suddenly throbbing. Some vague broken scenes flashed chaotically in his mind.
He shook his head, his eyes feeling tight as he watched Gu Ying ride the horse back.
She no longer looked at him, her gaze would never fall on him again.
His head seemed to hurt more...
His heart also felt blocked up, throbbing painfully.
Zhao Changdu withdrew his gaze, his eyes still indifferent, revealing none of his emotions. Only, in an unnoticed corner, two slender fingers silently tapped on the wooden table, as if plotting something.
Su Huanfeng was so excited he nearly leapt three feet into the air. He wished he could rush forward and hug the girl who had ridden steadily back into the saddle, shouting loudly for everyone to hear, "This is my wife, Su Huanfeng's wife! Look! This is the Su family's daughter-in-law!"
After shooting the bullseye, instead of asking for rouge and jewels, Gu Ying only cared about her sick brother, which was truly unexpected.
Upon hearing this, the Tianqi Emperor laughed delightedly. "Well done! As expected of General Gu's daughter. You have excelled today. Your gallant bearing does not shame the whiskers and brows. We shall heavily reward you!"
Gu Ying's eyes reddened slightly as she bowed sincerely again. "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your abundant grace."
This way, no one in the earl's manor could stop her from treating her brother's lame leg, even if Mrs. Liu wanted to object, she would not dare defy the imperial family's face.
