On the other side, Ling Ruiyin returned to the bedroom with the help of Mammy Chang, and she kept frowning on the road. Mammy Chang was concerned and quickly asked, “The ladies’ performances today in the competition were wonderful. But why is Your Majesty still upset?”
Ling Ruiyin sighed, “It’s because of Xue. I was looking forward to her performance most, but she unexpectedly broke her finger. Moreover, she didn’t seem to be in a state today. I also felt annoyed when I saw her being like this.”
According to what Ling Ruiyin had said, Mammy Chang also felt that Shi Qingxue was a bit strange today, “It seemed that when Infanta Baoning came up with the archery competition, Sixth Lady became somewhat absent-minded.”
“Well? Did you also notice it?” Ling Ruiyin recalled the previous scene and continued to say, “When I asked her why she got injured, she didn’t answer me, but unconsciously looked at Baoning…”
Ling Ruiyin suddenly thought of a hint, but she denied it at the next moment, “It shouldn’t be like that. Those two are sisters and they are in a good relationship. There shouldn’t be conflicts between them.”
Mammy Chang also agreed, “Everyone knows how nice Sixth Lady is to Infanta Baoning, and Infanta Baoning is also a person who is always grateful. They can’t be in conflict with each other.
However, the injury on Sixth Lady’s hand is severe. The Royal Doctor just reported that it was like being scratched by something like a scissor. If it had cut deeper, it would have hurt her bones.”
Ling Ruiyin was shocked, “Is that so serious?”
“Yes! Although she has applied medicine to her wound, it is impossible for it to recover in a day.” Mammy Chang was also worried, thinking that even though Ling Ruiyin had given Shi Qingxue one more day to consider about it, the result wouldn’t be different.
Ling Ruiyin guessed out what Mammy Chang was thinking in her heart, and smiled helplessly, “Chang! How can’t I feel pitiful for Xue? But you also saw the situation just now. If I had really cancelled the contest, her reputation would have been ruined.
She was the granddaughter of Shi Yunyang! At that time, Shi Yunyang was so badly injured that he almost lost his arm, but he still held the knife and went to the battlefield. I have even been admiring his spirit till today. Although Xue has been spoiled, I also hope that she has the backbone even when she loses the game.”
Shi Qingxue did not know Ling Ruiyin’s real thoughts. She had been in a trance since Shi Baoning proposed the archery competition. She couldn’t believe that Shi Baoning would actually do it.
If the injury on her hand was not caused “inadvertently” by Shi Baoning last night, she might think Shi Baoning’s advice was not on purpose. But at this moment, she couldn’t deceive herself.
But why?
Shi Baoning was willing to help the outsiders to humiliate her own sister!
“Sixth Lady, don’t think about it any more. Your hand will definitely recover. We don’t have to participate in tomorrow’s contest. Anyway, your archery skills are great. If anyone dares to laugh at you, we can go and slap her face fiercely when your injury recovers!” Dong Shuang looked at Shi Qingxue pitifully, for fear that Shi Qingxue would be too headstrong.
Shi Qingxue looked at her right hand and smiled reluctantly, “How can it be so simple? This thing has come to this point. Don’t they all just want to force me to admit that I am defeated, or to withdraw?”
Dong Shuang cried out even more aloud and whined, “Sixth Lady, I feel it worthless for you. You are so kind to First Lady, but she doesn’t care about you at all. It’s so not worthwhile…”
Her cry was so funny, as if the person they bullied had been Dong Shuang herself.
Even though Shi Qingxue was bothered and annoyed, she was amused by the cry. She reached out her hand and pinched Dong Shuang’s fleshy face, saying with a smile, “Eh, isn’t it me who has been injured? Why are you crying? You look like a muddy cat.”
Dong Shuang didn’t hide, and muttered pitifully, “I am being sad for you. You don’t feel distressed, but still laugh at me. You are so heartless!”
“Okay, I won’t laugh at you. I feel distressed for you instead. Is that enough?” Shi Qingxue said in a perfunctory way, and asked Xia Mang to take her away to freshen up.
Dong Shuang still refused to leave. She grabbed Qingxue’s sleeve and begged in a low voice, “Sixth Lady, it’s okay if you lose! Please treasure your own body. Don’t force yourself to take part in the contest tomorrow!”
Helpless, Shi Qingxue glanced at Dong Shuang. She met her firm gaze and could only promise, “Fine. I won’t hurt my right hand, okay?”
Dong Shuang thought for a while and believed that she had got Shi Qingxue’s words. Then she left with satisfaction.
However, the next day when Ling Ruiyin asked again about Shi Qingxue’s thought, she answered like this.
“As Your Majesty often says, no matter what competition it is, it will be pleasant as long as I participate in it. Therefore, I don’t expect to win this time, but I just ask myself not to be a deserter.”
Ling Ruiyin nodded with satisfaction and smiled, “You are indeed the granddaughter of Shi Yunyang. You really inherit his unyielding spirit! Well, today you can shoot the arrows at will. Just don’t force yourself and hurt yourself again.”
Shi Qingxue promised obediently.
Qin Yanyan didn’t expect that Shi Qingxue actually had the courage to continue the competition. Wasn’t she afraid of losing her hand?
But it was a good thing in this way. She walked to the front of Ling Ruiyin with small steps and said with a shy smile, “Your Majesty, I mentioned our contest with His Highness yesterday and he was very excited. He also said that he couldn’t let us perform in front of you alone, and he also looked forward to showing his ability to you. But he is afraid to make you angry, so he is now waiting outside. What does Your Majesty think of it?”
Ling Ruiyin liked the lively atmosphere most and certainly agreed, “My grandson is also here. Great, I will enjoy the feast for the eyes today!”
As she talked, Mo Junhao walked in first, followed by several princes. It seemed that those young people in the imperial palace couldn’t bear the loneliness and all came to join the fun.
Ling Ruiyin brought so many noble ladies to travel together with her this time, not only to relieve herself from boredom, but hoping that these noble ladies could spend more time with the princes so that she could pick up some future concubines.
The situation at this moment was exactly what she wanted, so she couldn’t be more overjoyed. She also made her servant prepare a full set of archery tools well, so that the young men could also show their capabilities on spot.
Mo Junhao had been triumphant recently, and quickly grabbed the opportunity to show off first. And his archery skill was also extremely accurate. Except for one arrow that missed slightly, his other arrows all hit the bullseye.
Other princes also showed their skills and were praised by Ling Ruiyin.
Seeing that the atmosphere was pushed to the highest point, Qin Yanyan suddenly said, “Now Their Highnesses have all showed their capabilities. Qingxue, isn’t it your turn to show us your exquisite archery skills?”
Ling Ruiyin agreed to let the young men shoot arrows first in order to give Shi Qingxue more time to prepare, and at this moment, it was not good to postpone it any more. So she said, “Qingxue, are you ready?”
Shi Qingxue nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Sister Xue, is your hand injured? Does it matter? Have you seen the Royal Doctor?” Shi Qingxue just picked up the bow, when Mo Junhao hurriedly came to her.
His eyes were full of concerns, and he seemed not afraid to make others aware of his feelings for Shi Qingxue, which made Qingxue sick.
But Shi Qingxue tolerated and smiled gently at Mo Junhao, “Thank Your Highness for your concern. I’m fine.”
Mo Junhao still looked worried, he grabbed Shi Qingxue’s hand, “Let me see. If the injury is really too serious, don’t participate in it. It will be bad if your injury becomes worse.”
This ambiguous move immediately attracted the attention of many people, and this was exactly what Mo Junhao wanted. He seemed to be more careful with her, as if Shi Qingxue had been made of snow in winter. He feared that she would melt if he held her in his hands, while he was also afraid that the cold wind outside would tear her apart. His behaviors were very much enamored.
Shi Qingxue didn’t know what Mo Junhao wanted to do, and she didn’t care.
Looking at the fake face of the other party, she became more annoyed and sneered, “I am all right. Your Highness, please stay away from me, since the arrows don’t have consciousness. It will be bad if I hurt Your Highness.”
Qin Yanyan also stepped forward and pulled Mo Junhao, saying softly, “Yes, Your Highness is noble. Don’t be too close to such places.”
Mo Junhao avoided Qin Yanyan’s hand and concealed the disgust in his eyes, “It’s okay. Sister Xue’s hand is injured. If I can’t accompany her here, I will be too worried about her. But Yanyan, for real, you should stay away. It will be worthless if your face is hurt!”
Qin Yanyan covered her face, fearing that Shi Qingxue really shot the arrow to her face in the next second.
Shi Qingxue felt sick of these two people’s interaction, and drove them away coldly, “Okay, I am going to shoot the arrows, so please move away.”
After being rejected several times, even Mo Junhao became a little angry. But when he glanced at Mo Junyang who was standing far away and watching this coldly as if it had been none of his business, he suddenly smiled contentedly again.
He smiled softly, “Well, I won’t bother you. I will wait for you beside the target and watch you, okay?”
Shi Qingxue thought in her heart, “You’d better stay far away from me, and never show up in front of me.”
But glancing at Mo Junhao’s greasy look, she suddenly didn’t want to make him live so at ease. Since he dared to provoke her, he should be ready to pay the price!
She gave a bright smile to Mo Junhao. Until he became elated, she said softly, “This being the case, Hao… Your Highness, please wait for me over there.”
Even though she was putting on a show, she couldn’t call that person Brother Hao any more.
Of course, Mo Junhao promised her. He walked fast to the target and waved at her. But Leng Jing grabbed Shi Qingxue’s bow, and whispered seriously in a low voice, “Qingxue, don’t you want your hand? It is badly injured. If you still force yourself to draw the bow, then you won’t be able to shoot the arrows with this hand again!”
“Miss Leng is right. Sixth Lady, didn’t you promise me that you wouldn’t participate in the competition yesterday? Let’s withdraw, shall we? Let’s not do such a dangerous thing.” Dong Shuang cried aside again.
And Qin Yanyan, who became jealous of Mo Junhao’s behaviors, said sarcastically, “Somebody shouldn’t reluctantly show herself off. Even if you succeed in shooting all the ten arrows, you will lose to me at last. Why bother?”
As she spoke, she glanced at Qingxue’s right index finger wrapped in gauze, and she pretended to be surprised, “Oh! How did the Royal Doctor wrap your hand into the shape of a rice dumpling? This is really troublesome. How are you supposed to draw the bow? Do you need me to help you remove the gauze?”
Qin Yanyan was hoping Shi Qingxue’s hand to be disabled, so she pretended to be kind and came up. But Shi Qingxue didn’t accept it. She moved sideways to avoid her hand, and said coldly, “No, thanks.”
“Well? Then I really want to see how you can draw your bow when your hand is wrapped like this!” Qin Yanyan stepped aside and looked forward to seeing Shi Qingxue being ashamed.
Shi Qingxue took back her bow from Leng Jing without changing her look, and suddenly sneered, “Who says that I can only draw the bow with my injured finger?”