After a few customary salutations, the Princess returned to her seat. Hua Qiyue and the others sat in their special seats.

Most hunts began with a pa.s.sive hunt, followed by an active hunt.

In other words, they would hunt in this ground first. The better hunters would then leave to hunt actively in the forest.

"Your Majesties, some people can't even shoot. Can I challenge that person?" After taking his seat, Liu Shaoming exclaimed, obviously unhappy that his House Master had put him down.

Liu Shaoming's aunt was Empress Liu. The Lius were a powerful family. Now that Liu Shaoming saw the woman he disdained, he would do everything in his power to humiliate her.

"Shaoming, what nonsense are you up to?"

Empress Liu censured him, displeased. Liu Mo pulled Liu Shaoming brutally down and made him sit. "Your Majesties, Shaoming is young and immature. Don't take his nonsense to heart."

The Changlong Emperor smiled quietly. "Shaoming, if that person accepts your challenge, you may."

Anyone could challenge an opponent during a hunt. Usually, the challenge revolved around the number of beasts killed, the speed of the compet.i.tors and how accurately they could despatch their arrows.

The ultimate winner would win a reward from the Changlong Emperor.

After all, it was all for royal entertainment. But the winner would win honor before the Emperor. That would be quite enough.

Liu Shaoming sneered. "Since His Majesty has said so, I would like to challenge someone!"

He said this and turned his head back, his eyes landing coldly on Hua Qiyue.

Hua Liting had to frown. Although he had kept a distance from Hua Qiyue in the past few days, she was still his daughter.

Very few women could master archery together with Qi Art.

Because they would have no time to practice archery.

If Hua Qiyue lost to Liu Shaoming, it would not look good for the Hua family.

"Hua Qiyue, I am challenging you! Whoever shoots the most beasts wins! If you lose, you will kneel and kowtow to me. If I lose, I shall pay you 100,000 taels of silver!"

Liu Shaoming said in a loud voice, his eyes full of derisive provocation.

The crowds gasped. They did not expect such a feud between the two. But Liu Shaoming was smart. He would only lose money if he lost the contest. And he had so much silver to spend.

But Hua Qiyue would have to kowtow to him if she lost. It was very unfair. It looked like Liu Shaoming was trying to humiliate her.

"Miss, don't accept the challenge. This Liu Shaoming is so shameless!" Youshui and Lv Xin felt aggrieved for Hua Qiyue's sake.

The Changlong Emperor too knitted his brows in some displeasure. But since the Liu family was his Empress's family, he could not say anything.

Hua Mengs.h.i.+ heard him and gloated. She could not deal with Hua Qiyue, but someone else surely could!

Although Caining and Caiqing did not quite like Hua Qiyue, they still felt much displeasure at someone humiliating their mistress.

Hua Qiyue put down the grapes in her hand indifferently and smiled radiantly. "Very well. I accept this challenge!"

Her words caused a great commotion among the crowds. Even the Changlong Emperor felt a little surprised. She was still a woman and had never learned archery. Was she confident that she could even shoot with a bow?

"Miss, why did you accept? You have never learned archery before!"

Youshui said worriedly.

Lv Xin and Qiuyun stared at each other, worry clouding their brows. Hua Liting sat silently at one side. He did not speak. Due to his second wife's "suicide", he had borne Hua Qiyue some grudge.

Caining and Caiqing curled their lips. They felt that Hua Qiyue was overconfident. She would have to bear with the consequences herself.

"Princess Jinghua, you've never learned archery before. Are you sure you want to compete with Young Master Liu?" The Changlong Emperor asked with concern.

He was giving her a way to back out. Had Hua Qiyue pondered deeper, she would have realized that she was at a disadvantage. Clever people know where their interests lie and will back out just the way the Changlong Emperor had intended.

Hua Qiyue smiled quietly at the calm Empress Liu and answered respectfully. "Your Majesty, I'd like to try. After all, Young Master Liu's offer of 100,000 taels of silver is very tempting!"

Her words amused the Changlong Emperor somewhat. Hua Qiyue doesn't lack money, does she? She must be feeling very confident.

Princess Mingzhu and Ouyang Liuer stared at each other, a mocking expression in their eyes.

The way they saw it, Hua Qiyue was itching for a humiliation. After all, Liu Shaoming was the young master of the Liu family, renowned throughout the capital for his genius in archery...

This time, Hua Qiyue would surely lose. And she would subject the entire Hua's Mansion to great humiliation.

"Qiyue, you don't need to do this if you don't know archery." Hua Liting could no longer keep to himself. Although he had differences with Hua Qiyue over Second Madame, she was still his daughter.

Hua Qiyue shook her head. "Don't worry, Father. I won't let you down."

With these words, she stood up relaxedly and walked over to the hunting ground. The company gasped. They did not expect Hua Qiyue to be so cool and confident. It was not a fight but a hunting contest. Why was she still so confident?

Liu Shaoming saw her so quietly confident and was somewhat astounded. In his heart though, he was delighted. Hua Qiyue's dead this time!

Liu Shaoming stepped out, sizing Hua Qiyue up with his derisive eyes. He stood by her side. The huge cage in the center was facing the hills. There was an iron door on a hillside cliff. The door slowly opened.

The countenances of the crowds all changed slightly.

This was the first time Hua Qiyue was at the hunting ground. She sensed that the iron gate was holding back ferocious beasts.

As expected, after some time came the faint, savage roars of tigers from the inside. Roar...

Ferocious tigers dashed out, their eyes gleaming with fierce light. There were almost 40 of them. Fortunately, the giant cage was trapping them all inside. They saw the surrounding humans and instantly a famished, greedy look appeared in their eyes. They hurled themselves wildly at the ma.s.sive iron pillar, making loud clanging noises.

This crazy scene made many timid girls scream and close their eyes.

Yet Hua Qiyue stood calmly where she was. These ferocious tigers were not terrifying, far less so than enemies who were trying to kill her in secret.

Today would not be a peaceful day. Hua Qiyue knew that Liu Haoming was the Empress's nephew. She could not determine if they were in collusion together.

Two Qi Artists brought in an exquisitely-made bow and a quiver of sharp arrows for each contestant. Hua Qiyue took them in her hands and looked nonchalantly at the roaring, ferocious tigers in the cage.

"What shall we do? Miss hasn't even learned archery. Won't she get badly defeated?" Youshui asked worriedly.

Lv Xin shook her head. "No... but it's strange. First Miss seems very confident. In other words, she will not lose."

After all, Hua Qiyue had never failed in anything she had confidence in. Even on that night when Empress Liu was holding the banquet and Second Madame was trying to frame her. First Miss always found a way to defeat her opponents...

Hua Liting twitched his brows a little. As far as he could remember, Hua Qiyue had usually kept herself at home, but... Hua Qiyue was now so different from who she used to be.

He really suspected that she was no longer the same Hua Qiyue.

"Young Master Liu, it has always been ladies first. How about letting me shoot first this time?" Hua Qiyue looked quietly at Liu Shaoming, speaking calmly.

Liu Shaoming snorted coldly. "Very well, you can go first. I'd like to see how you can beat me!"

"Since you two have agreed, we shall take the moment the hourgla.s.s runs out of sands to signify the compet.i.tion's close. Princess Jinghua shall start, followed by Young Master Liu. One, two, three... begin!"

Xiaolizi stretched his vocal cords. When he had finished, Hua Qiyue flung down the bow in her hand. She grabbed half the arrows from the quiver, quick as lightning. Whizz...

Before the crowds could react, she had already let loose the arrows in her hands. They were like whizzing meteorites!

"Good heavens! Hua Qiyue isn't using a bow!"

"Is this archery? She's awesome... she has shot so many ferocious tigers without a bow!"

"Not just a few. Look, it's one tiger per arrow. They all end in their vital spots, killing them. Even if Young Master Liu matches her feat, it's still a tie!"

"Arrows fired like meteorites. So ruthlessly despatched and so accurate! Awesome!"

The crowds were whispering in awe. Liu Shaoming's countenance looked exceptionally ghastly. He glared at Hua Qiyue loosing the arrows, killing the tigers in the cage. Those ferocious tigers did not even have a chance to roar. They all collapsed, their limbs s.h.i.+vering as blood drenched the yellow soil!

The other tigers saw what had happened. Some rammed against the iron cage in fury, making clanging noises. Others ran away in panic. But none of them could escape Spiritual Qi's iron cage!

Liu Shaoming's pulse began to race. He could not believe the scene he was witnessing!

Hua Qiyue had not learned archery. How could she always. .h.i.t the tigers' vital spots?

Yet this was what was happening. Hua Qiyue's movements were flowing and graceful, not at all strenuous. Her eyes were so calm and indifferent. Even the Changlong Emperor and Hua Liting had to nod and smile.

Empress Liu's face sank. She did not expect her nephew to lose. This woman was certainly powerful. She could not allow such an enemy to live. No way!

Before the sands had run out, Hua Qiyue had already fired all the arrows on the quiver stand. She had hit 15 tigers with 15 arrows. Every one had struck home.

"Princess Jinghua has shot 15 tigers. Now, it's Young Master Liu's turn!" Xiaolizi smiled. He was a favorite of the Changlong Emperor. Naturally, he could guess the Emperor's thoughts.

The Changlong Emperor was pleased and so Xiaolizi treated Hua Qiyue with the utmost courtesy.

Liu Shaoming smiled disdainfully, saying angrily, "Your Majesty, Hua Qiyue did not use a bow. Does this still count as an archery contest?"

"Young Master Liu, you told us that whoever shoots the most tigers wins. You did not stipulate the use of a bow. And I'm firing arrows too. Doesn't that count as archery?" Hua Qiyue replied nonchalantly. "Let His Majesty decide!"

The Changlong Emperor grinned, stroking his long beard. He nodded and smiled. "Princess Jinghua's right. I haven't stipulated that one must only use a bow. Since she has unleashed the arrows with her hands and killed 15 tigers, 15 tigers it shall be!"

Empress Liu's countenance remained unruffled. The Emperor had said this. Liu Shaoming, though unconvinced, had to take up his bow and arrows and shoot grudgingly!

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