bookpower Chapter 62: 62: As Princess Consort Ling, Never Admit Defeat
Chapter 62: 62: As Princess Consort Ling, Never Admit Defeat
Chapter 62: Chapter 62: As Princess Consort Ling, Never Admit Defeat
Everyone knew that Murong Jiu grew up on a rural farm, yet they did not know she was proficient in everything from horseback riding to archery.
She had a tough but tender-hearted master who not only taught her to read and write but also specially hired someone to teach her how to ride and shoot arrows after discovering her interest in horseback riding.
She liked playing with knives and guns, a seeming innate passion—God knows how envious she felt the day she saw Fu Baozhu dressed in riding attire.
In her past life, once confined to the inner court, she had never touched weapons or horses again, and with her health compromised, facing Jun Haoze’s strangulation, she had no strength to fight back.
She thought, once she had given birth, she must train thoroughly, never again to be as powerless as she had been before.
And at this moment, facing the pitching game, she was not the least bit nervous.
...
The Fifth Princess and Fu Baozhu could hardly wait for her to make a fool of herself, thus they quickly agreed to a competition.
“This is the Eastern Pearl Necklace bestowed by my father, the emperor. You cannot find another one like it in all of Great Yan. Today, I will stake it as the wager. Eldest Imperial Sister-in-law, if you can win, this Eastern Pearl Necklace will be yours.”
The Fifth Princess removed the necklace from her neck, a treasure and a symbol of her status.
In Great Yan, only members of the Imperial Family could wear the Eastern Pearls, and some concubines were not allowed to wear them. Despite how favored Noble Consort Qi was, the emperor had never granted her a few Eastern Pearls.
Only the empress and the Empress Dowager were most entitled to wear Eastern Pearls.
The necklace of the Fifth Princess was given to her by the emperor when she came of age, a privilege no other princess had, precisely because she was the legitimate daughter of the empress.
She brought out this necklace, obviously to show off; Murong Jiu certainly did not have the capability to win it.
Fu Baozhu looked on with some envy.
The Fifth Princess was not afraid of losing to Fu Baozhu, because the latter would definitely return it to her.
She stood tall and proud facing Murong Jiu, “Eldest Imperial Sister-in-law, what about you, what will you wager? I’ve put forth something so valuable, surely you can’t offer too little.”
“Someone, go to the storeroom and bring out the Jade Annuli.”
Before Murong Jiu could speak, Jun Yuyan loudly proclaimed.
General Fu was surprised: “Is it the Jade Annuli that His Majesty bestowed upon Prince Ling six years ago?”
Six years prior, Jun Yuyan had waged war against the Xiongnu, recapturing six cities, and the emperor delightedly granted him the Jade Annuli from the national treasury and titled him Prince Ling, calling him the War God of Great Yan.
The title of War God came from this.
This Jade Annuli also symbolized extraordinary significance.
When it was Fu Baozhu’s turn, she hit all ten arrows.
Soon it was Murong Jiu’s turn. Both the Fifth Princess and Fu Baozhu secretly hoped to see her fail, wondering if she could even hit two.
Unexpectedly, Murong Jiu, holding the arrows with an easy demeanor, threw one gently and it went straight into the pot.
The Fifth Princess and Fu Baozhu squinted their eyes, assuming it was just good luck.
However, Murong Jiu continued in the same posture, quickly throwing all the arrows into the pot.
The two were dumbfounded, their expressions souring.
It must be luck, such a close distance, even a child could make it!
Fu Baozhu shouted loudly to a servant, “Place the pot twenty paces away!”
She refused to believe that Murong Jiu could still manage to hit it!
The Fifth Princess was eliminated, leaving only Murong Jiu and Fu Baozhu to continue the contest.
Fu Baozhu did not hold back; she picked up the arrows and started throwing at the pot, believing that the better she performed, the more nervous Murong Jiu would be, leading her to a complete defeat.
General Fu felt her excessive competitiveness was not good, but he said nothing in front of others.
Of the ten arrows, Fu Baozhu hit the target with the first nine and wore a pleased look, but the last one missed slightly and fell to the ground.
“Baozhu, you’re amazing! To hit nine out of such a distance, you’re certain to win! Eldest Imperial Sister-in-Law, maybe you should just concede.”
said the Fifth Princess.
Murong Jiu smiled faintly, “Concede? As Princess Consort Ling, the word concede will never come from my lips.”
Prince Ling is the War God, undefeated in battle. Although she was only nominally his consort, she would not tarnish Jun Yuyan’s reputation.
Jun Yuyan applauded lightly and chuckled, “Ah Jiu is right, we of Prince Ling’s Mansion never admit defeat.”
Murong Jiu locked eyes with his deep gaze, almost getting lost in his smiling, swirling deep eyes.
She steadied her mind and threw two arrows towards the pot with her right hand.
The Fifth Princess mocked, “The Eldest Imperial Sister-in-Law talks a grand game, but that throw was really perfunctory...”
Ding-dong!
Before she could finish her sentence, both arrows entered the pot together, making a crisp sound.
General Fu exclaimed, “Such accuracy!”