The two young women arrived at the training grounds and headed toward the archery practice area. From a distance, they could see several young men in riding attire gathered together.
Among them stood a slender figure in dark attire drawing a bow—his posture as upright as pine or cypress, like resilient bamboo, his aura restrained yet sharp-edged.
“Eldest Brother!” Ming Yuelin called out cheerfully as she ran toward Ming Zhaohuan.
Ming Zhaohuan released his arrow and nodded at her with a gentle smile, raising a hand to steady her arm. “Don’t run, be careful not to fall.”
The arrow had already embedded itself in the bullseye.
“How could I possibly fall that easily?”
Ming Zhouqing stood with his arms crossed, holding his bow. “What, you only have eyes for Eldest Brother and can’t see your other brothers?”
Ming Yuelin glanced at him. “I see you every day. What’s so special about you?”
“Familiarity breeds contempt, is that it?” Ming Zhouqing clicked his tongue.
She lifted her chin proudly and gave a soft “hmph,” then pulled Shi Jianli forward. “Eldest Brother, this is Sister Li, Second Aunt’s niece. You must have heard of her, right?”
“Third Sister and Fourth Sister don’t care for riding and archery. Luckily, Sister Li keeps me company, or I’d have no one to practice with.”
Ming Zhaohuan finally turned his full attention to Shi Jianli, asking gently with a smile, “I saw you briefly when I returned through the West Residence today, but I didn’t catch your name?”
Ming Zhaohuan had rarely been home since he was fifteen. Shi Jianli hadn’t yet come to live with them before he left, and during his occasional visits, he’d only heard servants mention once or twice that Second Aunt had a niece staying at the residence. He truly didn’t know her name.
When they’d met briefly before his noon rest, she’d called him “cousin,” and he had only glanced at her briefly.
“Shi Jianli. I was born in spring, near an old residence with pear trees outside the alley, just at dusk. My name comes from the line, ‘The sun slants deep in the deserted lane, where pear blossoms drift like snowflakes in the breeze.'” Shi Jianli curved her lips slightly and replied softly.
Ming Zhaohuan gave a slight nod. “Miss Shi, your name suits the scene and carries deep meaning.”
Shi Jianli’s eyes flickered slightly as she lowered her lashes and nodded gently.
He seemed gentle but kept his distance—it seemed her addressing him as “cousin” had been inappropriate.
“Cousin,” she said, turning to Ming Zhouhe. Her gaze swept over the other young men. “Second Cousin, Fourth Cousin, Fifth Cousin, Sixth Cousin.”
Ming Zhouhe glanced at Ming Zhaohuan, then tilted his head slightly toward himself, signaling her to come over. “We’ve asked Eldest Brother to teach us the Can Lian technique. I’ve already learned it. Would you like me to teach you?”
“As for Second Sister, Second Brother also says she prefers what’s distant to what’s close—she doesn’t care for us ‘stinky brothers’ nearby. Let her pester Eldest Brother.”
“Alright.” Shi Jianli’s brows and eyes relaxed into a slight smile as she nodded and followed him to the weapon rack to fetch her usual bow.
Martial Archery comprises five techniques: Bai Shi, Can Lian, Yan Zhu, Xiang Chi, and Jing Yi.
Bai Shi: The arrow pierces the target, revealing the white arrowhead.
Can Lian: Firing three arrows in succession, each arrow’s tail connecting with the next arrow’s head, like linked pearls.
Yan Zhu: The arrow flies with extreme speed.
Xiang Chi: When a subject shoots with their lord, they yield a foot of space and step back as a sign of respect.
Jing Yi: Four arrows shot consecutively, all hitting the target precisely, like the ritual alignment of a well.
Ming Yuelin watched Shi Jianli and Ming Zhouhe for a moment, then selected a bow herself and begged Ming Zhaohuan to take her aside and teach her.
Once they were farther away, she tugged at Ming Zhaohuan’s sleeve.
Ming Zhaohuan looked down at her, somewhat puzzled.
Ming Yuelin leaned closer, hands on her hips, and whispered, “Sister Li is very kind. Don’t be cold to her, okay? It could affect our friendship.”
Ming Zhaohuan straightened up helplessly. “When did I ever give her a cold look? I’m just not very familiar with her. Weren’t you just saying how much you liked me? How come you’ve turned against me so quickly?”
“I’m not turning against you. Don’t falsely accuse me—that’s not a good habit.”
“Alright, lesson learned.” Ming Zhaohuan chuckled wryly. “Tomorrow’s our day off. I have plans with Youqian—would you like to join us?”
Ji Rangzhou, styled Youqian.
“What for? No, I’m not going. What’s so interesting about meeting with an old stick-in-the-mud? I’m going to watch Sister Li design new clothes. Go by yourself.” Ming Yuelin drew her bow and aimed at the target.
Under Ming Zhouhe’s guidance, Shi Jianli adjusted the height of her arm and fired three arrows in succession. After practicing for a while, she shot four more arrows, all hitting the bullseye.
“Very accurate—even more so than Fourth Brother and Second Sister,” Ming Zhouhe praised.
Shi Jianli tilted her head slightly. “Sister Lin wouldn’t be happy to hear that.”
“If Second Sister heard, she’d just exclaim, ‘Sister Li is so amazing!'” Noticing the faint smile in her eyes, Ming Zhouhe teased playfully, mimicking Ming Yuelin’s tone.
Usually, she appeared cool, reserved, and steady, but upon hearing praise, her smile still carried a touch of childish delight.
What girl doesn’t enjoy acting spoiled with family? He remembered how mischievous his cousin was as a child. But after her parents passed away, she became like this—gentle, obedient, and sensible even when being affectionate with his mother.
“That’s right, Sister Li is amazing! In every Martial Archery class, she always has the best results among the girls.” Ming Yuelin popped her head over, hands clasped behind her back. “I really admire Sister Li!”
Seeing her bright smile, Shi Jianli pinched her cheek.
Ming Yuelin tossed her bow to Ming Zhaohuan, then took the bow from Shi Jianli’s hands and threw it to Ming Zhouhe. She hugged Shi Jianli tightly. “I’m hungry. Shall we go to the kitchen and get some pastries?”
“Alright.”
Ming Zhaohuan’s gaze shifted from the deeply marked bullseye to Shi Jianli, surprised by her archery skills.
“Cousin, wait.” Before Ming Yuelin could drag her away, Ming Zhouhe called out to Shi Jianli.
He leaned in and whispered, “Tomorrow, Fang Momo is going to retrieve the Betrothal Agreement. Once it’s back, I’m going to ambush him with a sack over his head. Do you want to come watch?”
Seeing Qiao Jingchuan get beaten up would be truly satisfying.
Shi Jianli hesitated for a moment. What’s so interesting about watching someone get hit?
But Ming Yuelin was thrilled and shook her hand. “Sister Li, let’s go! Think of it as a relaxing outing.”
“Very well.”
“What time tomorrow?”
“At the beginning of the Si hour,” Ming Zhouhe replied.
“Great! I’ll go to Sister Li’s courtyard first thing in the morning.” Ming Yuelin pulled Shi Jianli away.
Ming Zhaohuan placed the bow back on the weapon rack and asked Ming Zhouhe, “Who are you planning to ambush?”
Mention of the Betrothal Agreement likely involved marriage matters.
Ming Zhouqing also leaned in to listen. “I want to hear too. I heard it involves Third Sister, but I’m not entirely clear on the details.”
Ming Zhouhe slung the quiver onto the rack and crossed his arms, explaining discontentedly, “My mother arranged a marriage for my cousin with a nephew from her maternal family. But he ended up entangled with Third Sister.”
“Yesterday, the affair came to light. The two of them tearfully pleaded not to be separated, begging my mother and my cousin to let them be together.”
“Third Sister complained about her miserable fate, insinuating that my mother wanted to marry her off to a noble family to curry favor for my career.”
“My father punished Third Sister by sending her to the Farmstead, making her farm for a month. He said it’s to let her understand what true hardship means, so she won’t complain about having too comfortable a life.”
Ming Zhouhe lowered his voice, “Our family already holds the highest prestige. Which noble household would be worth us marrying off our daughter to curry favor? I truly don’t know what Third Sister was thinking. I suspect Qiao Jingchuan must have deceived her quite thoroughly.”