Сhapter 24: “Саn You… Tеach Ме Аrсhеrу Tоо?”
Shе didn’t know whу, but evеr since wаking uр with amnеsia, shе аlwаys fеlt unеasу аrоund оthеr реoрle.
Оnlу by Gu Changcе’s side did shе feеl а sеnsе of pеacе.
Аs if аfrаid he might rеfuse, Shеn Zuihuan, seеing hе hаdn’t rеsрondеd, quickly tugged аt his slееvе аnd assured him reреаtedlу, “Althоugh I don’t know аrсhеrу, I promisе I wоn’t disturb you аnd Tangtаng.”
Неаring this, Gu Chаngсe’s fingers resting on the table twitсhed slightlу.
Не rерlied sоftly, “Alright.”
Hе stoоd up аnd walkеd toward the door.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Zuihuan following closely behind.
Gu Changce lowered his head, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.
At a quarter past three in the afternoon, the sun was blazing.
Gu Tang had been practicing with her custom-made small bow and arrow on the training grounds for nearly two hours, but her father still hadn’t arrived.
Her fair little face was flushed red from the scorching sun.
The hair at her temples clung damply to her forehead.
Feeling frustrated, Gu Tang was just about to give up when she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Turning around, she saw Gu Changce walking leisurely toward her with Shen Zuihuan.
Shen Zuihuan usually avoided the sun and rarely went out on summer afternoons.
Even the short walk from her courtyard to the training grounds, which took only the time to finish a cup of tea, left her feeling dizzy from the heat.
Along the way, Gu Changce had asked her several times with concern, “Do you want to go back and rest?”
But she had firmly shaken her head each time.
Upon arriving at the training grounds, she saw Gu Tang running excitedly toward her.
The little girl spread her arms and threw herself into Shen Zuihuan’s embrace.
Warmed by the sun, Gu Tang was dressed in fiery red riding attire today.
She looked spirited and heroic.
Hugging Shen Zuihuan’s arm and rubbing against her waist, she even mussed the silk sash tied around her waist. Gu Tang looked up with her little face and asked, “Mother, are you here to watch me practice archery today?”
Shen Zuihuan nodded with a smile. “Yes, I didn’t know our Tangtang could shoot arrows. How impressive!”
Her slender, pale hand gently patted Gu Tang as she added, “I asked Qiu Yan to prepare some plum ice from the kitchen earlier. You can cool off after you finish practicing.”
Hearing this, Gu Tang’s face immediately lit up with joy.
She had been feeling unbearably hot earlier but thought she shouldn’t complain while training.
So she had gritted her teeth and persisted on the training grounds.
She never expected her mother to understand her so well.
Just as she was about to say something, her eyes inadvertently caught sight of her father’s tightly pursed lips.
Gu Changce nodded faintly and said to Gu Tang, “Come with me to the front. Don’t bother your mother.”
Then, turning to Shen Zuihuan, he spoke gently, “Huanhuan, go rest under the shade of that tree over there. If you feel unwell, let me know.”
He paused, then added with concern, “Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Gu Tang nodded repeatedly in agreement.
With that, he led Gu Tang by the hand to the center of the training grounds.
When Qiu Yan brought the plum ice, she also had a guard from the estate bring a chair.
But Shen Zuihuan didn’t sit. She felt that even Gu Tang, a child, was persevering with her training.
As an elder, she couldn’t bring herself to sit idly in the shade.
Although Qiu Yan was worried about her health, she couldn’t persuade her otherwise.
She simply considerately handed the plum ice to Shen Zuihuan, who then nibbled on it while watching Gu Changce teach Gu Tang archery.Gu Tang’s bow was clearly custom-made by a craftsman. Even someone like Shen Zuihuan, who knew nothing about archery, could tell it was a size smaller than ordinary bows.
The little girl stood with her legs apart, adjusting her center of gravity under Gu Changce’s guidance. She drew an iron arrow, warmed by the sun, from her quiver and nocked it on the bowstring.
Shen Zuihuan squinted and saw the cold arrowhead gleaming under the scorching sun.
Gu Tang’s hands were extremely steady, the tips of her fingers pulling the bowstring turning pale from the strain.
Perhaps due to the excessive effort, her round, dumpling-like face was also tightly clenched.
Her gaze was fixed intently on the target ahead.
This expression made Shen Zuihuan tense up as well, not daring to breathe too loudly.
She watched with bated breath.
Then, with a “twang—” the iron arrow left the bowstring.
It shot straight toward the bullseye.
The arrow carried such fierce momentum it seemed almost capable of piercing through the target.
The fletching trembled in the aftermath, though it was a pity—the arrow had landed slightly off-center from the red bullseye.
In Shen Zuihuan’s eyes, this was already quite impressive.
Her face flushed with excitement as she thought, How is my little Gu Tang so talented?
But Gu Tang seemed to deflate, her shoulders suddenly slumping.
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Gu Changce. “…Father, I missed again…”
She had been practicing for a long time and had even received her father’s guidance today, yet she still hadn’t hit the mark.
Gu Tang couldn’t help feeling a little disheartened.
Her father had always been strict with her.
Knowing she enjoyed martial arts, he would always find time to instruct her after returning from duty, no matter how busy he was.
Gu Tang felt she had let down her father’s diligent teaching.
Tears pooled in her eyes, threatening to fall.
But then she heard Gu Changce, in a rare moment of praise, say, “Well done. The strength was impressive.”
After a pause, he awkwardly ruffled Gu Tang’s hair and added with a smile, “You nearly knocked my target over.”
Gu Tang was taken aback for a moment before realizing her father seemed to be comforting her.
Her heart felt a little lighter.
She lowered her head and wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Then she heard Shen Zuihuan’s slightly excited voice from behind.
Gu Tang turned around just as Shen Zuihuan fed her a spoonful of cool plum ice.
The plum ice was refreshingly cool, sweet, and tangy.
She heard Shen Zuihuan’s incredibly proud tone: “Tangtang, you’re amazing!”
There was even a hint of envy in her voice. Watching Gu Tang shoot the arrow had suddenly reminded Shen Zuihuan of a close friend she had known long ago.
That girl was also from a military family and had practiced swordsmanship since childhood, excelling especially with the soft sword.
For a time, Shen Zuihuan loved following her around to watch her practice, even feeling an itch to learn herself.
But her aunt said such things weren’t for young girls—it was more practical for them to study music, chess, calligraphy, painting, accounting, and household management.
It would make it easier for them to marry later.
At the time, Shen Zuihuan had reluctantly agreed, but the thought lingered in her heart for a while.
Later, as that close friend moved with her family to guard the southern border, Shen Zuihuan gradually forgot about it.
As she grew older, she followed her father in studying literature. Sometimes, looking out at the blazing sun, she would think, Practicing martial arts in such heat must be very tough.
But now, seeing Gu Tang’s heroic and spirited demeanor, she was reminded once again of how she had felt watching her friend practice swordsmanship.Shen Zuihuan showered Gu Tang with praise.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned to the man before her and said, “Gu Changce, could you… teach me archery too?”
Her shimmering gaze met his, and Gu Changce was momentarily taken aback.
He glanced up at the blazing sun overhead, then thought of Shen Zuihuan’s delicate constitution.
After a moment of contemplation, he slowly replied, “I can, but…” He added, “Perhaps we should wait until the sun isn’t so harsh?”
Hearing this, Shen Zuihuan immediately broke into a smile and nodded emphatically.