Don't Raise A Black Lotus Flower; Use The Emperor As A Substitute [Transmigration novel] - Chapter 15

The person responsible for teaching the princes archery and horsemanship was none other than the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Xue Jin. He had arrived early at the practice field and was busy directing several guards to set up the targets.

“Commander Xue, here so early?” Lin Ruoxuan greeted him with a smile.

Ji Ruxue also nodded politely, saying, “Commander Xue.”

Xue Jin’s expression was rather peculiar. He had likely heard that Zhou Sixun had been released, but as a man far more tactful than his close friend Zhong Huaixiu, he immediately masked his confusion. He cupped his hands and laughed, “Fourth Prince, Superintendent Lin.”

The three exchanged polite but hollow pleasantries. Soon, the Second Prince, Ji Ruhan, and the Third Prince, Ji Ruhai, arrived. Only the Crown Prince, Ji Ruyuan, was still missing.

“The Third and Fourth Princes are still young, so today’s target is set at fifty paces, half the distance of the guards’ daily training,” Xue Jin explained. After setting up the targets, he picked up a stiff bow, nocked a white-feathered arrow, drew back his arm, and fired three times in quick succession.

Swish, swish, swish.

The three arrows pierced the center of the bright red bullseye, their white-feathered tails still vibrating from the impact.

The crowd erupted in cheers. “Magnificent archery! Commander Xue is truly skilled! A real marksman!”

Xue Jin smiled and shook his head. “This is nothing, as it is only fifty paces. Reports from Liaodong yesterday stated that the Prince of Ningyuan shot a Jurchen general, Kanda, and pinned him directly to the flagpole of his own camp. That was on a real battlefield, against a moving target wearing armor!”

A guard gasped in shock, “Is that true?”

Another guard immediately replied, “If Commander Xue said it, it must be true! That is the Invincible God of War, the Prince of Ningyuan! He has been on the battlefield since he was sixteen, fighting over a hundred battles without a single defeat. His military brilliance is divine! If not for the Prince of Ningyuan, the people of Liaodong would never have known peace these past years!”

Listening to the crowd praise Xiao Tunan, Lin Ruoxuan could not help but smile inwardly. In the original book, Xiao Tunan was a god of war, but he had not expected these burly guards to be such devoted fanboys.

Ji Ruxue also nodded. “I have heard stories about my uncle as well. He is indeed formidable.”

Lin Ruoxuan immediately realized this was a perfect opportunity to build favor for the protagonist. He quickly agreed, “True. Having an invincible god of war like the Prince of Ningyuan is a blessing for the people and for the nation.”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

Xue Jin, who had previously been critical of Lin Ruoxuan, lit up as if he had found a kindred spirit. “Superintendent Lin thinks so too? Have you met the Prince of Ningyuan?”

Lin Ruoxuan stammered, “Well, as for that, I…”

Before he could finish, Xue Jin interrupted him directly. “Superintendent, to tell you the truth, some years ago when I escorted Master Song to Liaodong, I saw the Prince of Ningyuan with my own eyes! You know, when he is at war, he eats and sleeps with the soldiers, drinks with them, and wrestles them. He has no airs at all!”

Xue Jin began to brag about Xiao Tunan with such enthusiasm that it looked like a scene of a star-struck fan praising their idol. The crowd listened with excitement, caught up in the fervor.

Ji Ruxue, however, was less animated. He sighed, “It is a pity I have never met my uncle. If I have the chance, I would love to ask him for advice on military strategy.”

Lin Ruoxuan smiled. “There will be a chance.”

Xue Jin nodded. “Your Highness, do not be anxious. Once Liaodong is pacified, the Prince of Ningyuan will return to the capital. The Prince has stayed in the cold, harsh wilderness of Liaodong for years. He is over thirty now and unmarried; he must be anxious to return and marry a lady of the capital. Who would not want a wife and children at home?”

As the group gossiped about the bachelor Xiao Tunan, a dull, menacing bark echoed through the air. Woof, woof, woof!

Lin Ruoxuan paused and looked toward the gate of the practice field.

Indeed, Crown Prince Ji Ruyuan and his companion Lu Heng were walking in, laughing. Ji Ruyuan was leading a massive black Tibetan Mastiff by a leash, looking highly pleased with himself. After barking twice, the beast panted heavily. It was fierce, with a head the size of a bushel basket and eyes like copper bells. Its mouth dripped saliva, and its thick, brown-black fur made it look as large as a calf. It was clearly Black General, the imperial-gifted Tibetan Mastiff.

Ji Ruhai cheered, “Eldest Brother, you brought Black General!”

Seeing the beast, the bold in the crowd were excited, while the timid turned pale.

“Is this the Tibetan Mastiff gifted by the King of Northern Tibet?” Ji Ruxue whispered.

“Yes, that must be it.” Lin Ruoxuan squinted, carefully examining the fierce dog, feeling a sense of unease. While strong and ferocious, the dog seemed extremely agitated; its eyes were red, and it was drooling. Thinking of that terrifying possibility, Lin Ruoxuan felt his throat go dry. He watched the mastiff with bated breath. Sure enough, there was a small puddle of water ahead, and the mastiff became instantly agitated. It began to growl with a hoarse, deep sound and refused to pass. Only when Ji Ruyuan tugged hard on the leash did it barely manage to skirt around the puddle.

Oh my god, agitation, drooling, fear of water, could it be early-stage rabies?

Lin Ruoxuan felt a chill run down his spine. He whispered, “Your Highness, there is something wrong with that dog. Stay away from it later.”

Ji Ruxue looked at the mastiff, sensing something was off. “Mm, I understand.”

Once Ji Ruyuan arrived, all four princes were present. Xue Jin led them to select bows and arrows and adjusted their postures. “All right, let us begin.”

Ji Ruhai, ever the impulsive child, went first. With a swish, he hit the eight-ring mark.

Second was Ji Ruhan. Though the refined Second Prince was a good student, he was not skilled at archery, barely managing a three-ring shot. He looked embarrassed. “I have made a fool of myself.”

Ji Ruyuan curled his lips. “The Six Arts of a gentleman are Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, and Mathematics. Second Brother’s studies are the best, but his archery is mediocre.”

“Eldest Brother is right,” Ji Ruhan said respectfully.

“I will try.” Ji Ruyuan took a stiff bow, spun it around in a showy display, nocked a white-feathered arrow, narrowed his eyes, and aimed directly at the bullseye.

Ji Ruyuan and Ji Ruhai’s mother was Consort Li. The Li family had produced many famous generals, and Consort Li’s brother, Li Zheng, was the Regional Commander of Liaodong. Thus, Ji Ruyuan and Ji Ruhai were descendants of a military family, and archery came naturally to them.

Sure enough, as Ji Ruyuan narrowed his eyes and released his fingers, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, and his arrow struck the center of the red bullseye.

“Magnificent! Truly worthy of the Crown Prince!”

Ji Ruyuan smiled triumphantly and tossed the bow toward Ji Ruxue. “Fourth Brother, would you like to try?”

The practice field fell silent. Everyone knew the bow was a two-stone stiff bow. Ji Ruxue was only fourteen and sat in a wheelchair; there was no way he could draw it!

Lin Ruoxuan frowned, ready to speak, but Ji Ruxue spoke first. “Commander Xue, may I borrow that light bow?” He pointed to a smaller, lighter bow on the rack behind Xue Jin.

“Of course.” Xue Jin handed it to him.

Ji Ruyuan sneered, “That is right. A child should just play with toys.”

Ignoring him, Ji Ruxue picked up the light bow, tested the tension, drew an arrow, and extended his arm. Swish. He missed the target entirely.

Ji Ruyuan chuckled. “Fourth Brother, where did your arrow go?”

Ji Ruxue ignored him and fired another. Swish. The two-ring mark.

Ji Ruyuan curled his lip. “I think you should stop embarrassing yourself.”

Ji Ruxue pressed his lips together and fired again! Swish. The arrow vanished.

Ji Ruyuan feigned surprise. “Oh, where did the Fourth Brother’s arrow go? Why has it disappeared again? Fourth Brother, you are a cripple, why are you wasting everyone’s arrows?”

Ji Ruxue looked at the distant target, his pale face expressionless. Lin Ruoxuan comforted him softly, “It is all right. We will take it slow.”

Xue Jin also squinted at the target, his expression becoming increasingly strange, as if he had seen something impossible. He shook his head in disbelief but finally mounted his horse and galloped toward the target.

Ji Ruhai asked in confusion, “What is Commander Xue doing?”

Xue Jin rode to the target, reached out, and pulled out the arrow Ji Ruyuan had shot into the bullseye. He noticed the tail of the white-feathered arrow was peculiar—it seemed slightly longer and had tiny cracks.

His eyes narrowed. With a firm tug, the arrow split into two! The arrow shaft on the left was intact, but the tail of the arrow on the right was split open. The last arrow Ji Ruxue had fired had actually pierced through the tail of Ji Ruyuan’s arrow!

Xue Jin stared for a long time before raising the two pieces high. “Fourth Prince, what marvelous archery!”

The entire practice field was silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar.

“Did you see? The Fourth Prince split the Crown Prince’s arrow! I saw it! I saw it! Did you hear the Fourth Prince is only fourteen? A hero is born of youth!”

Lin Ruoxuan was stunned. So, it was not just the protagonist who had a halo; the grand antagonist had one too!

He looked at the two pieces of the arrow in Xue Jin’s hand and sighed sincerely, “Your Highness, you are truly amazing. You will surely achieve great things.”

Ji Ruxue’s mood had been calm; he felt archery was simple and nothing to boast about. But hearing Lin Ruoxuan’s sincere praise, his calm heart fluttered inexplicably. No one had ever praised him so genuinely before. The feeling of being complimented was strange, even peculiar; he was very unaccustomed to it.

Yet, after that strange feeling passed, Ji Ruxue felt a surge of irrepressible joy. It was a wonderful sensation, as if a warm, light butterfly was fluttering excitedly within his icy chest.

He could not help but steal a glance at Lin Ruoxuan and ask tentatively, “You say I am amazing? Really?”