Accidentally Having a Baby with the Future Emperor - Chapter 109

On the first day of the martial arts tournament, the various regional garrisons mainly displayed their military skills before the Emperor and the assembled court officials to demonstrate the might of the dynasty. There were no actual competitions that day.

All morning long, the imperial training ground resounded with the clash of arms and the thunder of hooves; a scene of iron and fire that shook the heavens. Among the various formations, the most eye-catching were naturally the Northern Yan Army led by Gongsun Yu and the Silver Dragon Cavalry led by Mo Qing. Mo Qing, a well-known scholar-general personally trained by Prince Xiao, favored a calm and disciplined formation, focused on elegance rather than aggression. The Northern Yan cavalry, by contrast, exuded a fierce and blood-forged energy. When their mock charge began, their black banners filled the sky and the sound alone was enough to frighten beasts on the surrounding hills into fleeing.

The officials seated in the stands seemed to smell the blood of the northern battlefields.

“The Northern Yan Iron Cavalry truly lives up to its name.”

Seated among the Crown Prince’s attendants, Song Yang, Zhou Wenhe, and the rest watched the simulated battle with grave expressions.

The Prince of Jin had volunteered to join the formation as an ordinary soldier, earning the Emperor’s open praise.

The southwestern troops also took part, but their performance was merely competent, nothing impressive. Xi Rong himself did not appear on the field.

The Prince of Wei, who had resented the Prince of Jin’s showmanship, secretly sighed in relief at the sight.

Matriarch Wang sneered, “The Eastern Palace has been so full of itself lately. I thought he commanded some remarkable army, but it turns out he’s no different from the rest.”

After the formation displays came the archery contest.

As the name suggests, the Emperor set up a target with two copper coins hanging before it as the challenge. Anyone who could shoot through both coins with a single arrow and strike the target behind would receive a handsome reward from the Emperor.

This was a common pastime in the army, a game that fostered camaraderie and inspired spirit among the troops, while also giving them a chance to show their skills before their generals. The event was a fixture in the capital’s martial arts tournaments each year.

Jing Xi, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly rose and requested, “Your Highness, allow this officer to shoot down the prize target, in honor of His Highness and to reward the generals and soldiers of the Northern Yan Army.”

Prince Yan waved his hand in assent.

Delighted, Jing Xi took the bow and arrows from his adjutant and mounted his horse.

Since Jing Xi had volunteered, no other generals stepped forward.

Each pair of copper coins was suspended by nearly invisible fine threads in midair. Behind them, moving targets were arranged and only one of which bore the prize. Soldiers would move the targets according to the archer’s position, increasing the difficulty.

“No wonder I heard Captain Jing has been practicing archery late into the night. So it was for this event,” said Zhang Ran with sudden realization.

Gongsun Yu nodded slightly. “This contest looks simple, but it’s not. For him to put in such effort shows some dedication.”

Just then, a voice rang out.

“Your Majesty, I have long heard that the Northern Yan Army is full of mighty warriors and unmatched marksmen. This Captain Jing’s reputation must surely be well deserved. But if there are only two coins, isn’t that too dull and an insult to such skill?”

Jing Xi’s brow furrowed. He turned toward the voice and as expected, it was Xiao Rong, who had stood up to speak to the Emperor.

The Emperor’s interest was piqued. “Oh? Rongrong, how many coins do you suggest, then?”

Xiao Rong replied, “In the ‘Nine Chapters,’ there is said to be a divine archer who could pierce ten copper coins with a single arrow. That may be mere legend but in my humble opinion, five coins would be more fitting.”

The officials exchanged looks. The holes of the coins were small and they hung freely in the air. Shooting through even two with a single arrow was no easy feat.

Five coins might be possible for a master archer, but for most generals, it was an extreme challenge.

Jing Xi couldn’t hold his tongue. “What Nine Chapters? Don’t tell me you just made that up.”

At that, Gongsun Yu and Zhang Ran both inwardly groaned. Bad sign.

Sure enough, Xiao Rong raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. “Why, that’s a well-known military text from the previous dynasty. Although it borrows its name from Qu Yuan’s Nine Chapters, it’s a true treatise on military formations and maneuvers. The surviving copies may be incomplete, but the section on archery is quite intact. What’s this? Has Captain Jing truly never read it?”

Jing Xi’s face flushed crimson. He realized he had walked right into Xiao Rong’s trap again.

Disguised among Jing Xi’s attendants, Jing Qiu and Jing Si also frowned in silence.

“That Xiao Rong… is truly cunning. Jing Xi is no match for him.” Jing Qiu broke out in a cold sweat.

Feeling the intense gaze fixed on his face, sharp as arrows and twice as deadly, Jing Xi gritted his teeth and forced himself to say, “I’ve simply read too many books. I couldn’t recall that one for the moment, that’s all.”

Xiao Rong only smiled, saying nothing.

It was Cui Daohuan who stepped in to ease the tension with a laugh. “Don’t be too hard on Captain Jing. Even this old minister sometimes forgets what he’s read when too busy with affairs of state. Since Registrar Xiao seems to have studied so many military texts and speaks so fluently of archery, he must be skilled himself. Why not invite him to demonstrate this technique of piercing five coins with one arrow?”

Xiao Rong lowered his gaze toward the Emperor. “Your Majesty, this humble official merely offered a suggestion. If the Minister feels Captain Jing cannot accomplish it, he may simply disregard my words. But to make a mere civil officer act as a divine marksman, surely that would be unfair to me.”

The Emperor stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

Jing Xi immediately said, “Five coins, then! So be it! Your Majesty, this officer is willing to try!”

Jing Qiu nearly tore his hair out in frustration.

“That boy has fallen right into the trap again!”

The generals of the Northern Yan Army, including Zhang Ran, also saw clearly what had happened. The heir of Prince Xiao had deliberately laid a snare and Jing Xi had stepped right into it. He could have kept silent and let Minister Cui deflect the matter, but he had allowed himself to be provoked. Their faces all grew grim.

The Emperor said with amusement, “Rongrong, since the Minister insists you should try, why don’t you join the match? If you win, it’s your triumph. If you lose, it’ll be mine. How about that?”

Xiao Rong nodded reluctantly. “Since Your Majesty commands, this humble subject shall obey. But Your Majesty must be prepared to suffer embarrassment.”

The Emperor chuckled again.

At that, Xiao Yuke rose and addressed Prince Xiao, “Your Highness, allow this officer to enter the field as well to win the prize for the Silver Dragon Cavalry.”

Prince Xiao nodded. “Go if you wish.”

The three of them rode into the arena together.

The soldiers quickly replaced the hanging pairs of coins with sets of five.

Jing Xi and Xiao Yuke wore full armor; only Xiao Rong appeared in a plain, loose robe.

When the contest began, the soldiers swiftly moved the targets. Jing Xi and Xiao Yuke immediately spurred their horses in pursuit of the moving prize, while Xiao Rong circled the field unhurriedly, observing.

All the officials and generals fixed their eyes on the scene below. Even Xi Rong unconsciously tensed.

As the Prince of Wei drank, he turned to General Cui Cheng.

“This is such a fine opportunity to display your skill. Why doesn’t General Cui take the field?”

Cui Cheng shook his head. “To shoot through five coins with one arrow takes not only skill, but luck. Why would I tempt fate by betting on luck?”

As he said, piercing five coins was far more difficult than two.

After missing three shots in a row, Jing Xi could no longer keep his composure.

He had practiced archery for weeks in preparation for this event, having already learned that the competition would involve two coins. When he had accepted the challenge just now, he’d thought adding three more coins made little difference since the principle was the same. He could pierce two coins even with his eyes closed, so five shouldn’t be so much harder, or so he believed.

However, once he tried, he realized the gulf between two and five was like that between earth and sky.

The challenge wasn’t only about eyesight and strength. Each time he missed, the coins strung together scattered wildly and took a long while to settle again.

And since the number of coins was limited, the more he missed, the greater the chaos. Soon, the coins were clanging and swinging in every direction. Forget hitting the prize; he could barely strike the target at all.

Sweat trickled down Jing Xi’s back.

He seethed with hatred for Xiao Rong and when he caught sight of Xiao Yuke nearby, also drenched in sweat and with no success to show, he felt a brief, bitter comfort.

However, just as his heart began to settle, a flash of white light streaked past his eyes like a serpent in flight.

The next instant, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Congratulations, Young Prince! A perfect shot! The prize has been hit!” crying out in excitement, Zhang Fu, the eunuch assigned to observe on behalf of the Emperor, announced the result.

Jing Xi looked up in disbelief.

A white-feathered arrow was buried deep in the target’s prize mark. Five copper coins hung neatly from its shaft and the arrow’s tail still quivered from the impact.

His eyes darted about in confusion before he finally realized that the arrow had pierced two different strings of coins at an angle.

Xiao Rong calmly lowered his bow, his expression unruffled. He neither glanced at Jing Xi nor at Xiao Yuke, and simply left the field.

Xi Rong’s tightly clenched right hand finally relaxed.

“Rongrong, splendid marksmanship! You shall be richly rewarded!” The Emperor beamed, clearly delighted.

Xiao Rong bowed modestly. “Your Majesty overpraises me. It was only a stroke of luck.”

In addition to the Emperor’s generous reward, Xiao Rong was also granted the day’s prize: a finely forged jeweled sword.

Looking at the long blade placed before him, Xiao Rong rose again and said, “Your Majesty, I am no man of arms. This weapon would be wasted in my hands. Please allow me to gift it to another.”

The Emperor smiled and nodded. “Very well. And to whom will you give it?”

Xiao Rong clearly already had someone in mind. Without the slightest hesitation, his gaze turned directly toward a certain spot. “I have heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is skilled with the sword. I should like to offer it to him.”

Xi Rong froze in surprise.

Song Yang, Zhou Wenhe, and the other attendants of the Eastern Palace were equally stunned.

No one had expected the heir of Prince Xiao to be so bold as to openly present an imperial gift to the Crown Prince in full view of the court. Even though he had long since been cast out of the Xiao clan, such audacity bordered on defiance.

The Emperor nodded and turned to Xi Rong. “Crown Prince, since Rongrong wishes to give it to you, accept it.”

Xi Rong bowed deeply and received the sword.

Cui Xie’s expression darkened to shadow.

Cui Cheng gave a low whistle. “That Xiao Rong is practically a fallen hound, yet still so daring. No wonder the Crown Prince is bewitched by him. Cousin, it seems your means are still too tame.”

Cui Xie’s face grew even darker.

Among the Northern Yan generals, mixed feelings stirred.

Jing Xi’s failure was expected but for the frail-looking heir of Prince Xiao to display such astounding archery was nothing short of shocking. Only then did some of the older generals recall that Prince Xiao himself had once been famed for his unparalleled skill with the bow.

The contest might have been mere sport, but as the saying went, ‘between true rivals, comparison is the cruelest blow.’

Prince Xiao’s only son was talented in both pen and sword, dazzling beyond measure.

The foster son whom Prince Yan favored most had just lost to him, publicly and utterly, a humiliation hard to wash away.

***

When the morning’s exhibition ended, Cui Daohuan personally hosted a banquet for Prince Yan at a nearby villa.

Standing at the gate to welcome him, Cui Daohuan escorted the Prince inside the grand hall.

Also attending were the Prince of Wei, Cui Cheng, and Cui Xie.

Cui Daohuan courteously offered the seat of honor to Prince Yan, who didn’t bother with politeness. Tossing his riding whip to Gongsun Yu, he sat down boldly and without ceremony.

Cui Daohuan sat below the Prince and said with a smile, “Yesterday, I had them select a few fine maids to serve Your Highness and help you relax a little. But Your Highness didn’t keep a single one. Did they fail to please you?”

Prince Yan’s expression was indifferent. “This is the capital. Even a mighty dragon finds it hard to overpower the local serpents. There are already plenty of people who take offense at me. If you send women over, wouldn’t that just hand them an excuse to grab hold of my weakness?”

Cui Daohuan nodded, clearly agreeing. “Ever since Xiao Jingming took charge of the Central Secretariat, he’s ruled with arrogance and purged anyone who disagrees with him. It’s not just Your Highness, even my own days have been far from easy. It seems I did not think things through,” he added with a rueful sigh.

Prince Yan’s presence alone was intimidating. Even seated, he exuded a force that made others avert their eyes. The loquacious Prince of Wei, usually smooth-tongued, was uncharacteristically uneasy, drinking in silence without daring to interrupt.

After several rounds of wine, Cui Daohuan shook his head and sighed. “It’s one thing for Xiao Jingming to act high and mighty, but that Xiao Rong is still wet behind the ears and yet he forced General Gongsun to kneel to him in the street! And today, he humiliated the Thirteenth Protector before the entire court. Such arrogance is intolerable. He may have appeared to target General Gongsun, but in truth, it was Your Highness and the entire Northern Yan command that he was slighting.”

Prince Yan turned his wine cup idly and cast a glance toward Gongsun Yu. “Is that true?”

Gongsun Yu frowned slightly. He and Zhang Ran had both agreed never to speak of that incident, yet somehow the Cuis had already learned of it.

Even knowing full well that Cui Daohuan had brought it up only to sow discord between Prince Yan and Prince Xiao, Gongsun Yu could only silently curse his luck.

There were two reasons for his dismay. First, the matter involved Jing Xi, the former Thirteenth Protector. If word spread, Jing Xi would no doubt believe Gongsun Yu had secretly tattled on him.
Second, after Jing Xi’s public humiliation at the archery contest that morning, Prince Yan might have appeared calm, but he surely wasn’t pleased. To hear of this incident now, who could have predicted how he’d react?

Jing Xi’s personal guards had witnessed the entire event. If the Prince chose to question them, the truth would come out anyway. Since Cui Daohuan had already exposed it in front of everyone, Gongsun Yu could no longer conceal it.

Fortunately, the silver mask he wore hid his expression. Rising, he bowed deeply and said, “It is true. The fault lies with this officer for acting without discretion and offending the heir of Prince Xiao. I feared Your Highness’s anger and therefore did not report it.”

“General Gongsun is too modest,” Cui Daohuan said, shaking his head again. “I’ve heard much and seen with my own eyes of that Xiao Rong’s temperament. Because of his talent and his good master, Xiao Jingming has indulged him until his pride knows no bounds. Arrogant and domineering, he never shows respect to anyone. General, you need not cover for him.

“After all, for a mere boy still smelling of milk, even with the surname Xiao, to treat General Gongsun so disrespectfully before the public eye, was that not a deliberate slap to Your Highness’s face?

“In the end,” Cui Daohuan continued, “it all comes back to Xiao Jingming’s indulgence.”

“Indeed,” Prince Yan said coldly, taking another slow sip of wine. “To humiliate me to this extent, it seems I must have a good, long talk with Prince Xiao about how he teaches his son.”