After lunch, Fu Xuechen discovered that students in this era had no mandatory midday rest system. No instructor would demand that you nap from a specific hour to another. The only requirement was to arrive punctually at the martial training grounds around half-past the Hour of the Goat—equivalent to two o’clock in the afternoon in later times—for equestrian and archery lessons.During the break, whether you sprawled across your desk snoring, continued studying diligently, chattered and played noisily with your companions, or even skipped class to roam about, was entirely up to you. However, given that this was within the palace grounds, the young study companions dared not act too recklessly. Moreover, with the cold wind blowing outside, it was much cozier inside the rooms with charcoal braziers lit. Thus, while some chose to sleep, far more engaged in lively boasting and conversation.Yunzuo was also quite interested in Fu Xuechen’s personal circumstances and asked many questions about her experiences at the Imperial Academy. Fortunately, Fu Xuechen had visited the Imperial Academy a few times while searching for storybooks for Fu Yuchen. Combined with snippets of information Fu Yuchen had mentioned in passing, she managed to respond adequately.As Yunzuo grew more animated in conversation, he also shared some details about his own situation. He and the other princes and princesses had only moved to the capital from their ancestral home in Huaidong at the end of last year. Prior to that, they had all resided in the former residence of the present emperor—the Wu Marquis Manor in Huaidong—before he unified the realm and ascended the throne.At that time, the present emperor was still leading troops to conquer the realm and had little attention to spare for his children. Aside from the Second Prince, who had accompanied him as a military clerk, the other princes were largely left to their own devices in their hometown. They either had tutors brought to the manor for intermittent instruction or attended private village schools.However, due to the turmoil of war and the need to conceal their identities as the emperor’s children for safety reasons, the tutors they could engage were of mediocre quality and could only teach them for short periods. Consequently, much time was wasted.It was only after the imperial palace in the capital was renovated, an auspicious date was chosen for the grand proclamation to the realm, and the emperor summoned all his princes, princesses, and their mothers to the capital that the Mingde Hall was established. Grand Academician Ji and Hanlin Li were appointed as instructors to educate them there, and the selection of study companions took place.“Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, and I were relatively fortunate,” Yunzuo said with a smile. “By the time we began our education, Father was already a marquis. Fourth Brother’s mother—now the Empress Mother—was managing the household, and we had some surplus wealth. Thus, we were all taught by tutors invited to the manor.”He added, “My Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother had it much harder. I heard that before they turned ten, they lived in the countryside. Not only did they attend village schools, but they also had to gather pigweed, tend livestock, and learn to farm when they returned home!”Fu Xuechen listened with a sense of embarrassment. From what she knew, her own father, Jingbei Marquis, came from a military family—a prominent clan in the Central Plains—and her mother was a noble lady from a scholarly lineage. Even when her father and grandfather led troops to join the present emperor in rebelling against the previous dynasty, it did not affect the family’s substantial holdings of farmland and shops managed by her mother and grandmother, Old Lady Fu. These assets supported a life of privilege and comfort for the children, ensuring they received all the education they needed.By comparison, before the present emperor ascended the throne, the lives of these princes and princesses were likely less luxurious and indulgent than that of a mere study companion like herself.Youth is a time of boundless energy. Neither Yunzuo nor Fu Xuechen felt the need for an afternoon nap. After chatting until it was about time, they rose and set off ahead of schedule. Shortly after the hour of Wei, the two arrived early at the martial training ground.The rooms provided for the princes and their study companions to rest had long been warmed by charcoal braziers, filling the air with cozy heat. Hot tea was also prepared, available for anyone who felt thirsty. Fu Xuechen would have preferred to stay quietly in the room, waiting for the martial arts class to begin, but the Sixth Prince was too restless to sit still, passing by the rooms without entering.Not far beyond the neighboring area stood an armory, housing weapons from the guards' barracks as well as wooden swords and blades specifically for beginners to practice with.Yunzuo dragged Fu Xuechen along and headed straight for the armory. After obtaining two bows and two quivers of arrows from the eunuch guarding the storehouse, he eagerly made his way to the training ground. "Come on! Let's go to the archery range first. I'll teach you how to improve your archery skills."Unlike the ease of riding a horse, drawing a bow and shooting arrows requires considerable arm strength. Fu Xuechen had long passed the initial novelty of archery that she felt after first crossing over into this world. She had grown lazy in her practice and now lacked enthusiasm. She really didn't want to exhaust her arm strength before the formal martial arts class even began."Yuchen, come quickly!" Yunzuo waved to her. "Let me see you draw your bow and nock an arrow first."Fu Xuechen’s eyes shifted, and she shook her head. "Your Highness, my archery skills were personally taught by my father, Jingbei Marquis. Although I haven’t mastered them yet, I don’t believe my father’s teachings were wrong. If you want to teach me, you’ll have to prove that your archery skills are more refined and superior than mine first!"Ha! So she had no expectations for her own archery skills! Yunzuo’s youthful pride was stirred."No problem! Just watch closely!" Without another word, Yunzuo selected a target, stood at the shooting position, and immediately drew the Five-dou Bow in his hand."Swish, swish!"With his first move, Yunzuo fired two arrows simultaneously. The arrows shot like shuttles straight toward the bullseye, piercing the straw target fiercely, the white fletching still trembling slightly.Fu Xuechen was astonished. She had known that the Sixth Prince, being so confident in wanting to be her private tutor, likely wouldn’t have poor archery skills, but she hadn’t expected him to be this exceptional."This move is called Star-Chasing Moon-Following," Yunzuo said, unable to suppress a smile at the corner of his mouth. He then took out three more arrows, holding them between his fingers and palm. After steadying his breath, he drew the bowstring once more.Fu Xuechen widened her eyes, thinking he would shoot three arrows this time. Unexpectedly, as the bowstring twanged, it sounded three times in succession—"twang, twang, twang"—as the three arrows were released one after another: the first hitting the bullseye, followed closely by the second, and finally the third."This is called Meteor String of Pearls," Yunzuo announced the name of the technique.Fu Xuechen touched her jaw, which felt almost dislocated, and was truly impressed!Before this, her understanding had always been that archery was a skill requiring years of practice to master through familiarity. She believed that as long as everyone practiced for a similar amount of time, their accuracy wouldn’t differ much.Who would have thought there existed such a miraculous youth in this world? How old was he? Yet he already possessed such divine archery skills. Could it be that some people are simply born with extraordinary talent, just this awe-inspiring?!"Your Highness… how did you practice? This is truly incredible!" Fu Xuechen was utterly dumbfounded.Yunzuo smiled faintly. "Naturally, it’s half talent and half diligence. Mastering the technique of applying force is especially important."What he didn't reveal was that he truly had loved practicing archery since childhood. While others might only be able to draw the lightest Three-dou Bow at nine or ten years old to begin their training, he, blessed with innate brute strength, could already draw a Five-dou Bow at the age of six.Thus, he had actually practiced archery three to four years longer than his peers. Combined with his deliberate choice of the fifty-meter target—the easiest to hit—he was able to achieve such an overwhelming effect that left his opponent stunned.
Chapter 15
The Prince Does Not Compete for the Throne