Chapter 9 : The General is Jealous

Yu Liang went to check and came back saying, “Miss Song missed the target and nearly shot through Miss Chen’s foot.”

The less you know, the better…

Song Ruoer complained, “Sister clearly doesn’t know how to do it. Why does she have to show off?”

Then came another scream. “Song Ying, you did that on purpose!”

Song Ying didn’t mean to either, so she could only apologize, “It’s my first time. Please forgive me.”

Forgive me!!!

Faer reminded her, “Miss, the target is right in front of you. Don’t deviate.”

The onlooker on both sides backed away behind Song Ying.

Now it should be safe.

Li Xingrou looked at Song Ying struggling and couldn’t help but mock her, “You’d better admit defeat. Don’t worry, come be my servant. I won’t make things difficult for you.”

Song Ying ignored her. This time, she seriously closed one eye and aimed at the target…

Whoosh…

Although it didn’t completely miss, the arrow fell halfway.

“Hahaha, that’s hilarious.”

Faer glared at those who laughed. These people were just mean.

“Come on, Miss. You’ll definitely win.”

Song Ying put her hands down. “I’m a little tired.”

Just as she finished speaking, Li Xingrou shot an arrow into the bullseye. She proudly said, “Still not going to admit defeat?”

Song Ying got angry too. “No! I can do it.”

Princess Ziyang, Yue Miaoxi, said, “Song Ying, stop being so stubborn. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?”

“Heh, a divorced wife is already a disgrace. Why would she care about more shame?”

Song Ying’s expression turned cold. She turned around and shot an arrow at the man who made the sarcastic remark.

Whoosh—

Unfortunately, the shot lacked strength and the arrow landed at the man’s feet.

Song Ying said regretfully, “So close.”

“Song Ying, you really are insane!”

Song Ying responded with a fake smile, “I’ll shoot anyone who talks too much. If I hit you, don’t blame me, just a ‘divorced wife,’ remember?”

Faer covered his mouth, suddenly feeling like it wasn’t so bad for his young lady to shoot arrows wildly. Even better if she could stab someone.

Now no one dared to speak. Everyone just exchanged glares.

Li Xingrou said, “Your quiver’s nearly empty. Once you run out, you lose.”

She had already given her plenty of chances.

Song Ying nodded, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.”

Another arrow hit the target, but still missed the bullseye.

Someone exclaimed, “What’s going on? It’s hard enough just to draw the bow, how can she shoot this far now?”

“She must be making a final desperate attempt.”

On a raised platform not far away, Yue Shaozhi took Song Ruoer’s hand and said, “Let’s go.”

“But sister…”

Song Ruoer looked at Song Ying again with worry, only to see a tall figure enter her view and walk straight toward Song Ying.

“Huh? Who’s that?”

Yue Shaozhi also noticed the man. “That’s Huo Zhen.”

Song Ruoer.”That’s Huo Zhen?”

Huo Zhen’s appearance was unexpected especially for Song Ying.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Huo Zhen replied, “Just came to join the fun.”

What he didn’t say was that someone had secretly passed him a note asking him to come. He hadn’t expected to see Song Ying being bullied by these people.

“Do you want to win?” Huo Zhen asked.

“Yes,” Song Ying replied.

Huo Zhen said, “Sorry,” then stood beside her and wrapped his rough hands around her delicate ones.

Song Ying was a little stunned, but when she saw Huo Zhen’s serious expression, she stopped pretending and quietly followed his guidance.

“Alright, just like that.”

Song Ying didn’t dare to get distracted. She loosened her fingers, and the arrow shot out, whistling through the air.

This time, Song Ying hit the target.

Li Xingrou said angrily, “Song Ying, you’re cheating! That doesn’t count!”

Song Ying replied, “I shot the arrow myself. General Huo just gave me some pointers. And you never said I couldn’t learn on the spot.”

“You…”

Yue Miaoxi spoke to Li Xingrou, “There are still two arrows left. Song Ying, if you can hit the remaining two, you win but please, General Huo, step back.”

Song Ying said to Huo Zhen, “I can do it myself, it’s fine.”

Huo Zhen stepped aside with a dark expression. He silently remembered every man and woman who had bullied Song Ying.

Song Ying only had two arrows left, just two chances. If even one missed, she would have to go home with Li Xingrou and become her servant.

“Come on, Miss, you’ve got this!”

Encouraged by Faer, Song Ying turned and smiled at her, and by chance caught sight of Yue Shaozhi and Song Ruoer on the stage.

Song Ying curled her lips, cleared her mind of all distractions, recalled what Huo Zhen had just taught her, drew the bow firmly, and aimed for the bull’s eye…

Whoosh—

The second arrow hit the target.

Faer cheered excitedly, “Wow! Miss, you’re the best!”

Li Xingrou’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists, biting her lips in silence.

The last arrow if it failed, Song Ying would truly lose.

Yue Miaoxi, of course, didn’t want Song Ying to win. She discreetly signaled a maid beside her.

The maid immediately slipped into the crowd and quietly crept toward Song Ying.

Song Ying had already drawn her bow. Her palms were sweaty one moment of distraction, and the shot would fail.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Oh! Miss Song is on her period!”

Startled and humiliated, Song Ying’s fingers loosened involuntarily. The arrow flew out but missed the target.

“Damn it!” Huo Zhen seized the maid by the throat without mercy. “You did that on purpose!”

The maid was so terrified by Huo Zhen’s fierce glare that she couldn’t speak and fainted on the spot.

Huo Zhen stormed over to Song Ying and barked at Li Xingrou, “That shot doesn’t count!”

Li Xingrou couldn’t be bothered and said to Song Ying, “You were distracted just now.”

Song Ying sighed. She had underestimated them. How could Princess Ziyang ever let her win?

Seeing that neither Li Xingrou nor Song Ying mentioned conceding, Yue Miaoxi stepped forward to declare the outcome. “Song Ying, you—”

“Princess.”

To everyone’s surprise, Yue Shaozhi spoke.

Yue Miaoxi and the others fell silent.

Song Ying looked at her ex-husband, curious what he’d say.

Based on what she knew of him, in this kind of situation especially in front of people he disliked, he would definitely say…

Yue Shaozhi said, “If you can’t handle it, don’t host it.”

Song Ying: ‘If you can’t handle it, don’t host it.’

Oh, called it.

Onstage, Yue Miaoxi’s face turned sour. She knew Yue Shaozhi had seen through her little scheme.

But why?

Hadn’t he and Song Ying already divorced?

Why would he go so far?

Could it be that he…

But how could Yue Miaoxi guess what was going through Yue Shaozhi’s mind? He gently put his arm around Song Ruoer’s waist and said with composure, “Stop dragging my wife into your messy little parties. It annoys me.”

Yue Miaoxi was deeply afraid of Yue Shaozhi. She lowered her head and dared not get angry, only replying obediently, “Yes, Miaoxi understands.”

Yue Shaozhi didn’t look at her again. “Let’s all leave.”

When the Regent speaks, no one dares disobey. The once-bustling archery field quickly fell silent.

Song Ying turned to Li Xingrou and asked, “So what now?”

Li Xingrou snorted, “You got lucky.” Then she walked off.

Faer nudged Song Ying lightly, signaling her to look to the side.

When Song Ying turned her head, she saw Huo Zhen’s resentful and aggrieved expression.

“Uh… What’s wrong with you?”

Huo Zhen clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. “You’re still thinking about him.”

Song Ying. “Huh?”

Faer leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Miss, General Huo is jealous.”

Song Ying: …