Xiao Heng wrote “Equestrian Archery.”

Duan Yunfeng had northern nomadic blood, and he grew up in the northern grasslands with his mentor, Duan Yu. He was especially skilled in horseback riding and archery, which was well-known.

As for Li Min, he could be considered one of Li Jichang’s fierce generals, but compared to Duan Yunfeng’s legendary achievements, Li Min’s reputation seemed dull in comparison.

Xiao Heng thought that if even a tenth of the rumors about Duan Yunfeng were true, there was no way he would lose.

Since it was already late, the competition was scheduled for the following afternoon.

One by one, the people left the command tent.

“Princess.”

Just as Xiao Heng was about to leave, he suddenly heard Duan Yunfeng’s voice from behind.

He wasn’t sure who he was calling.

Xiao Heng ignored it and kept walking.

“Your Highness, Your Highness…” Li Jinxi reminded him from the side, “He’s calling you.”

Xiao Heng: “…”

His hand, which hung by his side, clenched slightly and then relaxed. He grudgingly accepted that he wasn’t the emperor right now and suppressed his irritation at the way Duan Yunfeng addressed him.

He turned around.

Duan Yunfeng quickly caught up.

“Princess, you…” Duan Yunfeng lowered his long eyelashes slightly, the warm candlelight casting a glow on his handsome face, which made him seem somewhat youthful. “You looked back at me several times as you left.”

Xiao Heng: “?”

So what?

Was there anyone in this world he couldn’t look at?

Duan Yunfeng continued, “Could it be that the Princess is worried about tomorrow’s competition, worried that I might lose?”

Xiao Heng: “…” Well, actually, yes.

When he had once been the commander of the army, he had learned an important lesson: always consider every possible outcome, especially the most unlikely ones.

Seeing Duan Yunfeng’s reaction, Duan Yunfeng’s youthful brow raised with defiance. “Don’t worry, Princess. Even if I only use one hand tomorrow, there’s no way I’ll lose.”

There was no response from Xiao Heng.

The night was quiet.

Yet, in the flickering candlelight, as the evening wind swept through the white veil, Duan Yunfeng caught a glimpse of Xiao Heng lifting the corner of his mouth, as if smiling.

It felt like he was mocking Duan Yunfeng’s arrogance, yet there was a strange emotion mixed in that Duan Yunfeng couldn’t understand. The smile disturbed his heart, and the soft veil grazing his neck made him itch. All the blood in his body seemed to rush up to his head. He blurted out, “Then if I win tomorrow, let’s choose a day to marry.”

“….”

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

“Uh—”

Duan Yunfeng suddenly felt his chin cool, and his face was lifted up.

Xiao Heng took out a folding fan from his waist and used it to raise Duan Yunfeng’s chin. He turned Duan Yunfeng’s face, inspecting it left and right, his gaze full of scrutiny, as if inspecting his own possession.

The gaze was direct, and though the evening breeze was cool, Duan Yunfeng felt his ears burn. He lowered his eyelashes, and his gaze wandered uncontrollably. Time seemed to slow down, slow enough for Duan Yunfeng to feel that his fingers, which hung at his side, had started to stiffen. Only then did the person before him nod, as if signaling his approval.

It was as if he had said he was ready.

…

After sending Duan Yunfeng away, Xiao Heng returned to his temporary tent. Li Jinxi, who had been standing nearby, looked hesitant, as if he wanted to speak but was unsure.

Xiao Heng silently flipped through a book. “Do you have something to ask? Just ask.”

Li Jinxi paused, then said, “Your Highness, why didn’t you just admit that the corpse was… the emperor’s?”

By doing so, neither Duan Yunfeng nor Li Jichang would pursue the emperor’s whereabouts, and His Majesty would be at less risk of revealing his identity.

Xiao Heng replied, “Li Jichang has imperial ambitions. To clear the way for this, he killed all the royal princes. To him, whether the emperor is alive or dead doesn’t matter. If Duan Yunfeng were aligned with him, after the high official said ‘yes,’ there would be no need to repeatedly verify the body.”

Li Jinxi finally understood. “So, Your Highness thinks that the Prince of the north does not support Li Jichang’s claim to the throne, and that was why you tested his stance?”

If Duan Yunfeng supported Li Jichang, he would have directly announced that they had found the emperor’s body.

Xiao Heng nodded.

Duan Yunfeng’s attitude earlier had clarified everything. No matter what his true feelings were toward the royal family, at least outwardly, he was supporting the Yan clan. He needed to use this legitimate title to challenge Li Jichang.

The alliance between the Prince of the north and Li Jichang was coming to an end.

Of course, observing Duan Yunfeng’s stance was only one side of the story. If someone were to announce that the emperor was dead, how could he possibly return in the future?

Xiao Heng sneered. Would he say that he had gone to the underworld and borrowed a soul to come back to life?

…

The next morning, Li Jichang held a ritual by the Luo River and was promoted to regent of the Great Yan Dynasty.

He appointed his general, Han Hu, as the commander of the Imperial Guard, selected a new force of ten thousand men from his army to become the royal guards, and took control of the capital. He promoted Duan Yunfeng to the position of Right Minister of the Ministry of Works and General of the Cavalry, while also promoting a series of officials and military officers who had followed him in the uprising from Henan and Huainan.

The Chu army, with long spears and silver armor, lined up by the Luo River. Anyone who opposed his rule was immediately killed on the spot. The former officials of the Yan court were silent, too afraid to voice any objections.

But they all knew in their hearts that Li Jichang’s purge of the old Yan officials had only just begun.

After the regency ceremony, in the afternoon, Li Jichang ordered three large targets to be set up at the military training field for the horseback archery competition between Duan Yunfeng and Li Min.

The rules were simple: each person would ride three laps, draw a bow, and shoot nine arrows. Whoever hit the center of the target the most would win.

When Xiao Heng arrived at the training field, he immediately spotted Duan Yunfeng. Today, Duan Yunfeng wore a crimson satin ribbon around his forehead and a round-necked scarlet robe. When the wind blew, the ribbon fluttered, and he looked bright and striking, almost like a moving red flag in the military camp.

He took a seat at the outer edge, watching Duan Yunfeng mount his horse. Duan Yunfeng didn’t hold the reins, and his waist and abdomen swayed with the horse’s movements, giving off a lazy and relaxed aura, like a nobleman strolling through the garden.

Duan Yunfeng trotted his horse for a couple of steps, then couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Heng. He smiled, trotted a couple more steps, and looked back at Xiao Heng, grinning. The horse was so unsteady that he collided with the vice-general running beside him.

“Yo…” The vice-general pulled on the reins and turned to follow Duan Yunfeng’s gaze, joking, “General, since meeting the princess, you’ve become even more radiant. Are you planning to become a big red flower tomorrow?”

“Get lost!” Duan Yunfeng laughed and kicked him. “Why didn’t I realize you were so chatty?”

Duan Yunfeng urged his horse to gallop away.

Not long after, Li Jichang took his seat in the main position and looked at the surrounding generals, smiling, “Since everything is ready, let Young Master Duan go first.”

At that moment, servants walked to the sides of the training field and began to beat the drums, causing the sound of the drums to reverberate like the rushing flow of a river.

Duan Yunfeng took a dark iron longbow from his attendant. It was over five feet long, with a string as hard as iron, clearly not something that could be drawn by ordinary arm strength.

He casually pulled the bowstring, then tugged the reins and galloped across the battlefield. In that instant, he seemed like an arrow released from its bow, no longer displaying any of the earlier carelessness.

Amid the thunderous drumbeats, Duan Yunfeng’s hair flew in the wind. He directly drew three long arrows from his quiver, biting the fluttering ribbon from his forehead, with deep, cold eyes that looked like distant stars in the fierce wind.

In that moment, he seemed to transform into an eagle soaring over the northern desert and a wolf racing across the plains.

Duan Yunfeng turned his body and drew his bow, firing three arrows at once.

The yellow dust flew in the air as Xiao Heng, watching, could see the killing intent in Duan Yunfeng’s focused gaze, the intent of a general preparing his soldiers for battle and galloping on the front lines.

In a daze, Xiao Heng almost seemed to see the endless banners of the Yan army from back in the northern deserts.

That year, he had ridden across the northern grasslands, behind him the elite Yan army in black armor, unstoppable in battle. The army stretched for tens of miles, and he had fired an arrow that struck a wild goose. The soldiers had all shouted in unison, “May the sun and moon endure, may the Yan dynasty forever endure!” It had truly been a scene of battle with gold and iron, like a tiger devouring the land.

That year, he led the army to defeat the Turks, chasing the Turkic Khan Achina for over three hundred miles. Achina had submitted to Yan, and he became the only emperor in the world, receiving tribute and paying respects from all nations.

That year, the capital city of Luoyang was a stronghold, a city of thousands of blooming flowers at night, a sacred land where the common folk no longer feared the ravages of war, where there were no eunuchs controlling the court, no rebellious armies trampling over towns, and no arrows that could pierce the city walls…

“Whoosh!”

As the drumbeats fell, Duan Yunfeng released all three arrows at once.

The silver-glinted arrows streaked through the air like shooting stars, piercing the target like steel nails.

In less than half a cup of tea’s time, Duan Yunfeng had completed a round of the horse track, shot three bows, and hit all nine arrows dead center, not missing by even a hair.

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the training field.

Xiao Heng glanced sideways and saw Li Jichang staring intently at Duan Yunfeng, his lips curling into a praise-filled smile, but his eyes briefly flickered with a shadowy expression.

Xiao Heng could sense a fleeting feeling of jealousy, unwillingness, and suspicion in his eyes…

He turned back. Duan Yunfeng had already dismounted and tossed the bow to an attendant, lifting his eyes to smile at Xiao Heng.

To obtain a thousand soldiers is easy, but a general is hard to find.

Xiao Heng could see that Duan Yunfeng was a rare sharp sword, capable of stirring up blood and chaos in times of turmoil.

The best way to avoid being harmed by such a sword was to hold it in one’s hand.

Prince Duan Yunfeng had no political acumen, and in times of turmoil, if you didn’t advance, you’d retreat. Duan Yunfeng had already lost his chance to compete for dominance among the heroes. He would only waste talents like Duan Yunfeng.

Li Jichang, too, lacked the ability and could not control him.

But Xiao Heng could.

He knew how to use him.

Xiao Heng focused on that figure in red on the training field and a thought rose in his heart…

He wanted to possess him and use him for himself.

---

After Duan Yunfeng had finished, it was Li Jichang’s son, Li Min, who took his turn.

He didn’t possess the same skill as Duan Yunfeng, and after running three laps on the horse track, he shot nine arrows, hitting eight of them. However, several arrows missed the center of the target.

At this point, the winner had already been decided.

Li Min dismounted with a dark face and threw his bow to the ground.

As the son of the King of Chu, Li Min was used to having his will followed, and after entering the capital, there were many who flattered him. In his eyes, the world already belonged to his Li family, and it was only the Duan family from Hedong who were insistent on rejecting his proposed marriage alliance. They had no respect for him. His request to marry the princess was just a roundabout way to pressure the Duans. He hadn’t expected his father to reject his request, and Duan Yunfeng had shown him no mercy in the competition.

Could a barbarian from the desert really stand on top of him?

Li Min’s close attendants saw his dissatisfaction and, in front of everyone, suggested to Li Jichang, “Both of the heirs are skilled in archery and horseback riding, and I find it hard to judge who is better. There are many princesses in the Yan royal family; why not avoid straining relationships over this?”

Anyone with eyes could see that Duan Yunfeng had defeated Li Min, and this suggestion was clearly an attempt to avoid admitting defeat.

Duan Yunfeng, who had been lazily leaning against the railing watching Li Min’s “performance,” threw away the grass he had been chewing, raised an eyebrow, and smiled, “Since you think the archery contest is inconclusive, how about we settle it with a duel on the stage?”

Li Jichang shook his head with a smile, “No need. The winner is clear; there is no one better than my nephew when it comes to archery and horseback riding…”

“Father!” Li Min immediately retorted angrily, “I want to compete with him on the stage!”

Li Jichang’s expression darkened, seemingly angry but holding back in front of the generals. “If that’s the case, you may decide for yourselves. If you go to the stage, just keep it within limits.”

The drumbeats sounded again.

Li Min took a long spear and stepped onto the stage first. He had inherited his father’s looks and physique, standing over six feet tall with a broad chest and shoulders, giving him a formidable presence.

Duan Yunfeng stepped onto the stage as well, taking a long spear similar to Li Min’s. He spun it twice in his hand, showing off his spear technique, which made him appear graceful and elegant in his attire.

Li Min, who hated this pretentious display, yelled and lunged at Duan Yunfeng with his spear.

“Clang!”

Li Min’s attack was blocked by Duan Yunfeng’s spear, the force so great that it caused his tiger’s mouth to ache.

It seemed as though Duan Yunfeng could predict every one of his moves. As he dodged and struck, his attacks were as fast as a fierce storm. In the blink of an eye, a flash of silver appeared, and Duan Yunfeng’s spear was already at Li Min’s throat. Li Min raised his spear to block, but Duan Yunfeng grabbed the handle and snatched the weapon from his hands.

Facing an unarmed opponent, Duan Yunfeng tossed both spears to the ground and, using his bare hands, threw Li Min to the ground.

The sound of the drums stopped, signaling the end of the contest.

Seeing that the outcome had been decided, Duan Yunfeng loosened his grip on Li Min and extended a hand to help him up.

But in that moment, Li Min, seizing the opportunity when Duan Yunfeng wasn’t paying attention, suddenly picked up a spear from the ground and swung it at him. Duan Yunfeng’s eyes narrowed, and with a quick step, he stomped on the spear tip, kicking it off the stage. He then seized Li Min’s arm and threw him to the ground. Li Min’s back hit the ground with a painful thud, and he glared at Duan Yunfeng, muttering something filthy under his breath.

Whatever he said, it instantly enraged Duan Yunfeng. He kicked Li Min hard in the chest.

The kick sent Li Min curling up like a dog, rolling in pain on the ground. He spat out blood and cursed, gritting his teeth: “You’re just a barbarian from the Qiehu tribe, of course you’d be the one to look at it.”

As he spoke, he shakily tried to stand, only for Duan Yunfeng to kick him again, sending him flying. With a loud crash, Li Min slammed into the weapon rack at the back of the stage, knocking down two swords from the shelf.

“Say that again to me, see what happens.”

Duan Yunfeng grabbed Li Min by the collar and lifted him off the ground, slamming him into the weapon rack. His veins bulged as he gritted his teeth.

“Ugh! Ugh!” Li Min’s face turned bright red, blood staining the corner of his mouth as his head tilted weakly to one side. The previous arrogance was gone. He desperately tried to tug at Duan Yunfeng’s arm to catch his breath, but he couldn’t budge him at all.

“Didn’t your father teach you how to speak properly?” Duan Yunfeng threw Li Min to the ground and kicked him three more times. “Since you have no father, today I’ll take pity on you and teach you, the undisciplined beast, how to behave!”

Seeing the situation escalate, several people from the crowd rushed forward. Four or five men struggled to pull Duan Yunfeng off, finally managing to separate them. Li Min, clutching his chest, curled up on the ground.

Duan Yunfeng’s face was cold, full of anger. He kicked over the weapon rack and shoved away the hands of those trying to calm him down, causing them to stumble. The people around him no longer dared to touch him.

“Young nephew…” Even Li Jichang, who came forward to say a few words, received no attention from Duan Yunfeng. It was as if he didn’t exist, and Duan Yunfeng walked straight through the crowd.

Both the He Dong army and the Chu army knew that the son of the North King had the same fiery temper as his father. Once his anger flared, no one could stop him.

Without looking back, Duan Yunfeng walked along the Luo River toward the west. No one dared to follow him until half an hour later, when the deputy general caught up on horseback. He said that Li Jichang had scolded Li Min, and in the future, Li Min would have to apologize to him in person. The wedding date between Duan Yunfeng and the princess had already been set, and after much persuasion, the deputy general finally got him to return.

By the time Duan Yunfeng returned to the military camp, most of his anger had subsided, but he remained silent and serious. He didn’t go back to his command tent but instead paced in front of another tent.

The deputy general quickly saw through his thoughts and had someone inform Xiao Heng.

“General.” Shortly after, Li Jinxu came out. “Why are you standing outside? Why don’t you come in and sit?”

Duan Yunfeng hadn’t planned on speaking to the princess yet, but with Li Jinxu’s words, he had no choice but to go in.

He lifted the curtain and saw Xiao Heng standing behind it.

“I…” Duan Yunfeng took a deep breath. The words he had been thinking about just moments ago suddenly escaped him.

Xiao Heng raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

Duan Yunfeng realized that Xiao Heng must have seen his impulsive behavior earlier, which made him feel a bit embarrassed. Still, he was angry, a feeling that blocked his throat as he struggled to find the right words. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, wishing he could punch Li Min a few more times.

Why hadn’t he just kicked the guy to death earlier?

After a brief silence, Duan Yunfeng forced out a sentence, “I won.”

Li Jinxu nodded repeatedly, “The general is unmatched in bravery, everyone can see it.”

It wasn’t just about winning. Li Jichang’s son would probably be bedridden for a while.

Duan Yunfeng looked at Xiao Heng and opened his mouth again.

It shouldn’t have been like this. In his imagination, he would have descended from the stage with grace, walking toward his beloved amid cheers, and then calmly saying those words.

But now, staring into those deep, ink-like eyes, he clenched his fist, suddenly feeling nervous. His words were stuck in his throat, and as he thought about it, he became even more restless, almost wishing to punch Li Min again.

Why hadn’t he just kicked the man to death?

Finally, after a moment of silence, Duan Yunfeng managed to squeeze out, “Marry me.”

“From now on, you will be the princess of Great Yan, my legitimate wife, and the only son-in-law of the North King.”