Yu Yao quickly led her people away.
The riding and archery training began. Shang Shiyan first practiced her bow grip. They had learned from previous instructors, but their results had been mediocre. Gu Peice was dissatisfied and made them start again from the very basics.
“Relax your hand. Let it move forward naturally.” His voice rang out from nearby. He was glaring at a lazy young nobleman whose arm was limp, as if he couldn’t lift it.
Gu Peice kicked him sharply in the calf. “As a man, you don’t even have this much strength? Better off castrated and sent to the palace as a eunuch.”
The young man’s face flushed red with humiliation.
“When the enemy invades the capital one day, you useless gluttons won’t even have the strength to resist.”
Their incompetence was beyond Gu Peice’s expectations. He fought and bled on the battlefield to protect this group of weaklings—how laughable.
Hearing his voice, Shang Shiyan grew nervous. She instinctively drew her bow, but her arm lacked strength and she couldn’t aim at the target.
“Don’t get distracted.” The sudden voice in her ear made her lashes tremble.
Gu Peice’s tall figure loomed over her as he bent slightly, his fingers resting lightly on her arm to help her align with the target. His imposing frame nearly enveloped the small girl in front of him, and her heartbeat almost stopped.
“Relax your arm. You’re too tense.” His deep voice, so close, struck directly at her heart.
“Don’t hesitate. Release the arrow.”
At his command, Shang Shiyan let go.
“Not bad. You didn’t miss.” Gu Peice lifted his gaze toward the target and, for once, praised her.
Shang Shiyan exhaled heavily in relief. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy—
In a secluded hexagonal pavilion, Qiuyue, abandoned by Shang Shiyan, knelt on the ground with tears in her eyes. “Second Miss, it’s all my fault. I was too careless and let the Eldest Miss catch hold of my mistake.”
“Before, the Eldest Miss was easy to fool. If I acted like today, she wouldn’t have noticed. I don’t know what happened—today she actually saw through me…”
Shang Yunrou had already tested Shang Shiyan and found her still the same foolish girl as before. Qiuyue was only trying to excuse herself.
Shang Yunrou’s face darkened with anger. She kicked Qiuyue hard. “It’s just your own laziness and incompetence, yet you dare to make excuses!”
“You can’t even outwit someone as stupid as Shang Shiyan. What use do I have for you?”
Qiuyue fell to the ground, stunned.
Shang Yunrou seemed more and more unfamiliar now. At first, she had been so gentle—when Chunhua and Qiuyue were punished by the steward, she would take their hands despite her status and apply medicine to them. She had said: “In my heart, there is no difference between mistress and servant. Everyone is equal. You are not servants—you are my friends.”
“As long as I can stand firm in the Marquis’ household, if I have food, you will not go hungry.”
“Friends should help one another. You help me watch Shang Shiyan, and I will never treat you poorly.”
If Shang Yunrou hadn’t shown such sincerity, how could Qiuyue and Chunhua have betrayed Shang Shiyan to serve her? But now Shang Yunrou beat and scolded them at will, nothing like the girl who once spoke of equality and never treated them as mere servants.
“Shang Shiyan is easy to appease when angry. Kneel outside her courtyard for three days, and she’ll soften and forgive you. Shen Zuizhi surely wouldn’t want rumors spreading that her daughter mistreats servants.”
Qiuyue’s eyes dimmed. “Yes.”
“That’s not enough.” Shang Yunrou’s gaze grew cold as she stared at Qiuyue’s face. Suddenly, she pulled the hairpin from her head and slashed it across Qiuyue’s cheek.
A bloody gash opened instantly, blood streaming down. Qiuyue screamed in pain. “Second Miss!”
Shang Yunrou smiled with satisfaction. “Now kneel before her like this. When rumors spread, let’s see how Shang Shiyan dares to drive you out of Yaoguang Courtyard!”
Qiuyue clutched her bleeding face, trembling all over, staring at Shang Yunrou with fear and unfamiliarity. She endured the pain, her voice trembling. “This servant will obey Second Miss’s orders.”
“Where is the Crown Prince?”
“Replying to Second Miss, the Crown Prince just went to the riding grounds.”
“Then we’ll go too.” Shang Yunrou rose, ignoring the blood seeping between Qiuyue’s fingers.
Yu Yao should have already arranged things according to her instructions.
At the riding grounds.
Shen Shian was skilled in riding and archery, and since he was Gu Peice’s sworn enemy, he refused to train under him.
When Shang Yunrou came looking, Shen Shian was seated in a pavilion, sipping tea.
“Brother Shian!” Shang Yunrou softened her voice as she approached. “Rou’er also wants to practice riding and archery, but Prince Lin’an seems to have a close relationship with my sister. He surely wouldn’t want to teach me. Brother Shian, could you teach Rou’er instead?”
*Close relationship.*
Those words stirred deep displeasure in Shen Shian’s heart. He believed Shiyan was doing it deliberately—knowing Gu Peice was his enemy, yet purposely drawing near to him, just to provoke his anger and catch his attention.
Just as Rou’er said, Shang Shiyan was calculating and manipulative. A woman like that—Shen Shian swore he would never marry her, even if it killed him!
“Then I will teach you.”
“Thank you, Brother Shian!” Shang Yunrou’s eyes lit up.
Shang Shiyan might win a moment’s argument, but Shang Yunrou’s true goal was not words—it was securing the support of her brothers and the Crown Prince. As long as she held Shen Shian’s heart firmly, Shang Shiyan could never surpass her in this lifetime.
How could such a fool deserve the heroine’s fortune? Such blessings should belong to her!
In full view of everyone, Shen Shian openly took Shang Yunrou’s hand and led her into the riding grounds.
Shen Shian’s personal eunuch led a horse forward. Shen Shian mounted in one swift motion, then extended his hand toward Shang Yunrou. “Rou’er, I’ll teach you to ride.”
Shang Yunrou blushed shyly and placed her hand in his.
Meanwhile, on Shang Shiyan’s side, Gu Peice ordered her to practice with Su Wenyan, telling them to get a feel for the horse on their own.
The last time Shang Shiyan had ridden, she had sat behind Gu Peice, with him guiding the horse. She hadn’t been so afraid then. Now, alone, she felt nervous.
“Hold the reins. Relax your legs.” Gu Peice walked between Shang Shiyan’s and Su Wenyan’s horses, instructing calmly.
Not far away, Shen Shian tightened his reins. “Hyah—!”
With Shang Yunrou’s startled cry, the two of them galloped recklessly across the riding grounds.
“Brother Shian! I’m so scared!” Shang Yunrou exclaimed.
Shen Shian immediately lowered his voice to soothe her. “Don’t be afraid. I’m right behind you.”