Bao Yin nodded, fed Jiang Rongyin another cup of water, and then went out.
Jiang Rongyin turned over, closed her eyes, and slept for an hour. When she opened her eyes again, Bao Yin had already retrieved the Pengxi County Annals.
She lay on the bed looking at the spot she had marked earlier.
The palace holds an annual archery banquet at the royal hunting grounds in the western suburbs.
Jiang Rongyin had been there before and knew that the entire western suburban mountain was just outside the fence.
Connecting the Yuheng Mountains to the east and west, the endless mountains seem boundless to outsiders, but to Jiang Rongyin, they represent hope for life.
The archery banquet was her chance to escape.
Previously, I thought that if I could be betrothed to someone, I would be protected by the emperor’s decree and Jiang Yun would be kept in check.
Since the current plan has failed, this is the only method we can use.
Besides deciding to go to Tingzhou, Jiang Rongyin also needed to prepare some loose silver, plan the route, and arrange everything afterward.
She put the book away and closed her eyes again.
Despite having many things to do, Jiang Rongyin couldn’t help but feel happy at the thought of getting rid of Jiang Yun.
In the afternoon, Jiang Rongyin had just finished lunch when Baoyin told her that Xiang Ming had arrived.
“His Highness is at the Arrow Pavilion. Please come over, Princess.”
After conveying this message, Bao Yin was still holding the riding and archery uniform that Jiang Yun had asked Xiang Ming to bring.
He knew Jiang Rongyin’s size, and the clothes he wore fit her perfectly.
Although Jiang Rongyin didn’t want to talk to Jiang Yun, he had already become wary of her because of what had happened before.
Fearing that Jiang Yun might do something else if she disobeyed him, Jiang Rongyin cut off her chance to go out.
When Jiang Rongyin reluctantly arrived at the arrow pavilion, she saw several figures in the distance.
The spirited young man placed his hand on the longbow, then shot an arrow that hit the bullseye.
“Young Master Qin’s horsemanship and archery have improved again.”
“Want to play polo together?”
Several flattering voices rang out, and Jiang Rongyin gripped her bow and arrows tighter.
She turned around and bumped right into someone’s arms.
Where to?
The armor on Jiang Yun’s body caused Jiang Rongyin’s forehead to turn red and feel a little sore.
“Go find His Highness.”
Upon hearing his voice, Jiang Rongyin took a step back to create some distance between herself and him before replying.
This is what he said yesterday, and Qin Shiyan is also there.
Jiang Rongyin didn’t understand why Jiang Yun insisted on dragging her here, just to see if she still had the guts to talk to Qin Shiyan.
“Come here, I will teach you riding and archery.”
Jiang Yun didn’t say much. After adjusting the cold-looking armor on his wrist, he only left this sentence for Jiang Rongyin.
Jiang Rongyin noticed that the young men who had been so relaxed just moments before were now extremely respectful to Jiang Yun.
She sighed inwardly and stepped forward.
The boy’s gaze fell on Jiang Rongyin for a moment, but then quickly looked away.
Jiang Rongyin felt bitter inside, but she forced a smile onto her face. She couldn’t let Jiang Yun see through her act; she absolutely couldn’t.
Then, a hand reached out and grasped her hand holding the bow and arrow. Jiang Yun looked at Qin Shiyan and the others and said, “You may do as you please. I still need to teach Xiao Jiu.”
After saying this, Jiang Yun looked at Jiang Rongyin, but she didn’t look at him at all, not even glancing at Qin Shiyan.
“Shiyan, are you going to the Chu family to propose marriage in a few days?”
Someone asked a question from afar, and the words drifted into Jiang Rongyin’s ears on the wind.
“When I returned from Jiangnan, I heard from the Chu family that Qin Shiyan had ruined the Chu family’s young lady’s reputation and that I should take charge.”
As Jiang Yun’s voice fell, he raised Jiang Rongyin’s hand along with his.
The sharp arrow was aimed at the scarecrow not far away.
“Does Xiao Jiu think I’m ruining someone’s marriage or helping them find happiness?”
Jiang Rongyin could hear Jiang Yun’s words, one after another.
He was testing whether Qin Shiyan still existed in her heart.
Or, even if she does have it, she shouldn’t covet things that don’t belong to her.
Whether you want to get rid of him or have someone else in your heart, it doesn’t matter.
As long as Jiang Yun doesn’t let go, she can’t go anywhere.
Jiang Rongyin was like a kite held by Jiang Yun’s string. Occasionally, when the string loosened, she would want to fly far away, but the person holding the string could pull her back with just a tug.
“Your Highness is right. A woman’s innocence is of paramount importance.”
Jiang Rongyin said in a deep voice, her tone revealing nothing unusual.
Jiang Yun chuckled, watching Jiang Rongyin loosen her grip on the arrow, and asked her, “Are you willing to let go now?”
“The bow is fully drawn, Your Highness.”
If she doesn’t release the bow fully, she’ll only hurt herself.
It was already quite an achievement for Qin Shiyan to have survived Jiang Yun’s clutches.
Jiang Rongyin couldn’t cause him any more trouble. From now on, she should pretend she didn’t know him and let him live a good life.
The arrow flew out with a whoosh, piercing through the scarecrow’s head, and the powerful force caused Jiang Rongyin’s body to involuntarily lean backward.
“Your lower body is unstable, no wonder you were tired after a short while.”
Jiang Yun stood there, as immovable as a mountain.
Even though he had said those words, Jiang Rongyin really wanted to throw the bow and arrow in his face.
“Practice for another half an hour.”
Seeing Jiang Rongyin’s hesitant expression, Jiang Yun’s smile deepened.
Just then, Xiang Ming came over and said he had something important to do, so he left.
Jiang Rongyin gripped the longbow and nocked an arrow once more.
But before she could shoot, a little eunuch dropped the quiver he was holding.
Several long-feathered arrows rolled to Jiang Rongyin’s feet.
She bent down to pick it up, only to hear, “Young Master Qin is on the artificial hill.”
Before Jiang Rongyin could react, the little eunuch had already picked up all the arrows and left.
Jiang Rongyin looked up and saw a glimpse of a blue robe peeking out from behind the artificial rock not far away.
She looked away and didn’t look over there again.
Jiang Rongyin practiced archery until Jiang Yun returned.
The man glanced at the artificial rockery without saying a word, then reached out and placed his hand on Jiang Rongyin’s head: “Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to practice anymore?”
“Don’t you want your arm anymore?”
Upon hearing Jiang Yun’s words, Jiang Rongyin pursed her lips and put down her longbow.
She vaguely knew what Qin Shiyan wanted to say to her.
But this is the palace. Jiang Yun is such a meticulous person with a strong desire for control. Although he seems to have left, there must be his spies around Jiang Rongyin.
If she dared to see Qin Shiyan, Jiang Yun could keep her confined to the Guanghua Palace and her bed for three days.
After Jiang Yun and Jiang Rongyin left, Qin Shiyan emerged from behind the artificial rockery.
The boy lowered his eyes, a hint of bitterness on his face.
He wanted to explain to Jiang Rongyin that he hadn’t touched Chu Qingyin and didn’t want to marry her.
But Chu Qingyin was someone Jiang Yun wanted him to marry, so that he and Jiang Rongyin could never be together again.
“Young master, the master wants you to go back. He said that someone from the Chu family has come.”
The servant’s words made Qin Shiyan punch the artificial rock, causing blood to flow from his knuckles.
What else could the Chu family have sent for?
He didn’t want to marry Chu Qingyin; he’d rather join the army or become a monk in a temple.
The Chu family came to put pressure on Qin Shiyan.
“Young master, you!”
The servant, Sui Feng, exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Qin Shiyan’s wound, and then watched as Qin Shiyan lifted his foot and left.
At this moment, in the Guanghua Hall, Jiang Yun was pressing down on Jiang Rongyin to apply medicine to him.
I didn’t notice the wounds on his body a couple of days ago, and he even had the energy to make Jiang Rongyin act like she was dying.
“Xiao Jiu, are you settling a personal score for someone else?”
Jiang Rongyin sprinkled a bottle of medicine powder directly onto Jiang Yun, not caring whether Jiang Yun was in pain or not, and took gauze to bandage him.
Pain? That’s good, it’s best if he’s in so much pain that he’ll give up on tormenting her.