Mountains and rivers pray for peace

Chapter 140
The archery pavilion has already been set up. In the center of the field, five archery targets for competitions are fixed with iron target frames. A row of longbows made of rosewood wood are arranged on the wooden frames on the side, and several cow hides are hung on them. The bow and quiver, shining in the sun.

Before the archery competition, the first [-] female candidates who need to be shortlisted will be divided into three groups by drawing lots to determine the order of playing.Huo Qi randomly took a wooden stick from the stick, and after looking at it for a while, he handed it to the little eunuch who was counting. Luo Rou looked at it and sighed: "You are in the third group, we are really not in the same group." .”

As if to respond to Luo Rou's words, the little eunuch took Huo Qi's wooden stick, and then sang loudly: "All the third group has been drawn, in order - Li Jiayin, Nie Ying, Wang Rong, Liu Yiyi, Huo Qi!"

Liu Yiyi was talking to Nie Ying, but when she heard that Huo Qi was in the same group as herself, the cold light in her eyes shot towards Huo Qi's back like an arrow.

Although the rankings of the three gates yesterday were revealed three days later, Huo Qi already had the upper hand.Duke Ning's Mansion is already related to Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, and Huo Qi seems to be treated differently by Concubine Shu. However, she won the first place in the piano competition today and stole the show in front of the Fifth Prince. How hateful!For the current plan, she could only crush Huo Qi in the two categories of shooting to have a chance.Thinking of this, she couldn't help but touch the magnet hidden in her sleeve.

Nie Ying was in a worried mood. She was talking to Liu Yiyi. When she saw that she didn't respond, she suppressed her displeasure and said, "Yiyi, why are you in such a daze?"

"It's nothing." Liu Yiyi suddenly came back to her senses, and moved the magnet to the depth of the armhole.

Nie Ying had already seen the small movements in Liu Yiyi's hands, and she only showed a completely ignorant expression on her face.She really didn't like Liu Yiyi's shameless demeanor, but this kind of stupidity and ignorance just happened to fulfill her extraordinary intelligence.

She hooked her lips, and said with a hint: "Yiyi, do you think there will be someone cheating in the archery competition?"

"Yingniang, what are you talking about? How is this possible?" Liu Yiyi's heart skipped a beat, but she looked at the person in front of her calmly.Could it be that she was unpredictable and knew that she was going to use some tricks on the target?

Nie Ying smiled lightly: "I'm just talking casually. You're right. Of course, no one will do such a stupid thing. After all, a competition cannot completely determine the final result, but if you are caught cheating, this will That’s called digging one’s own grave.”

Liu Yiyi was so frightened that she broke into a cold sweat, and even her face began to tremble slightly. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Nie Ying might have noticed her motives.But she rolled her eyes and her expression returned to normal in the blink of an eye.

Nie Ying's words reminded her that it is not fatal to perform poorly in the competition. Anyway, in the two imperial archery, most of these contestants are embroidered pillows, just passing the scene.Even if Huo Qi is overwhelmed by her, what can he do?As long as the archery is barely passable, the chance of being shortlisted is still not small.But if Huo Qi was caught cheating, the matter would be different.Not only would she not be able to enter the palace, but her reputation would be ruined, and she would not be able to lift her head up for the rest of her life!

Thinking of this, Liu Yiyi laughed sinisterly.

On the other end, Luo Rou looked worried, and said in a low voice: "Just play by ear and make sure the arrow hits the target. Those girls who come from the families of generals are not very powerful, even if they laugh at you, they won't be able to laugh at you."

Huo Qi subconsciously rubbed the thin callus on the middle finger of his right hand, raised his eyebrows and smiled: "It is true that my father is a civil servant, but what does my eldest brother do, do you have any impression?"

Luo Rou was taken aback, then slapped her head and smirked: "I almost forgot, your elder brother is a general."

Huo Xian made great achievements in suppressing bandits in the past, and was rewarded by Emperor Xiaowen for the second time in less than half a year. His fame rose suddenly, and even his father mentioned to her that Huo Xian's youthful talents are worthy of great use.But when everyone in the capital mentions the Huo family, their first reaction is always that Duke Ning.

She looked at Huo Qi's weak and slender body for a while, and said doubtfully: "Your eldest brother is no problem riding and shooting, but I have never heard of you being able to do this. Could it be that you are hiding some tricks?"

"Maybe?" Huo Qi smiled slyly.

Huo Xian taught her the art of imperial archery from an early age. When she first learned it, she only wanted to learn two life-saving skills. Later, she enjoyed the sense of control brought by the bow and arrow in her hands and the freedom of galloping on horseback.It was also during this process that she realized how much fun and ambition women lost in the boudoir.

After her rebirth, she would also practice diligently during breaks, and later made rapid progress under Huo Xian's guidance.Not only was she capable of killing enemies on the battlefield, but she was more than capable of fooling a competition, so she had nothing to worry about Yu She, except that she was afraid of someone shooting a cold arrow in the back.

Luo Rou couldn't figure out Huo Qi's intentions, and felt that someone like her would definitely not make her lose, so she felt relieved.She stared at the almond-shaped eyes, and glanced at the two people who were walking towards the archery booth: "The examiner for the two subjects of imperial archery is here."

Huo Qi followed Luo Rou's gaze, and saw a man with a leopard head and ring eyes, a swallow jaw and a tiger beard, eight feet long and short, 34 to [-] years old, and a man of integrity. He was Zhang Rong, the commander of the imperial army.The other person was rather refined, with delicate features, but it was Cui Xin whom Huo Qi hadn't seen for a long time.

As soon as Cui Xin, the famous General Ningyuan, appeared, the electors were nervous, and there was a commotion in the audience seats.

The fifth prince frowned, and said coldly: "Father actually asked Cui Xinlai to be the examiner for the selection of female officials? He is a foreign minister who climbed up from the bottom."

"Father respects General Cui. This is known to all civil and military officials in the court. What's so special about it? Heroes don't ask where they come from!" The sixth prince twirled a green jade grape and threw it into his mouth.

The fourth prince's expression was gloomy.He tried to win over Cui Xin very early on, but this person didn't like anything, and kept saying that he only worked for Emperor Xiaowen, so he didn't dare to be his guest of honor.He would not believe these high-sounding words, it was just that the benefits were not big enough to tempt him.

However, Shen Yuning's eyes were cold and he couldn't help but sneer.Every year, the promotion of female officials is a perfect opportunity for the major families in the capital to install spies in the palace to form cliques for personal gain.Rather than saying that Cui Xin came to be an examiner, it would be better to say that he came to keep an eye on Emperor Xiaowen to prevent these selected girls from having anything to do with the princes.

Two flowers bloom, one for each.Less than a quarter of an hour after Cui Xin and Zhang Rong were seated, the internal guards ushered in the first group of girls to compete.

The five selected women lined up in a row, and there was a chaos. The competition ended quickly, but the result was extremely tragic.Except for the two Kankans who had hit the target, everyone else's arrows landed outside the target without fail. There was even one person who couldn't draw the bowstring and was mercilessly sentenced to abstain by Zhang Rong. There was a burst of malicious boos on the court.The noble lady seemed to be unable to bear the humiliation and ran down the stage in a daze.

Huo Qi watched quietly, feeling helpless.

In fact, these noble girls have good qualifications, which can be seen from the piano competition.It's just that in previous years, the selection of female officials did not examine the two subjects of imperial archery. In fact, these two subjects were suddenly added this year.No kung fu can be mastered in a day or two, so naturally they are not good at archery.

Luo Rou's second group didn't make any jokes like the first group. Everyone hit the target with at least one arrow, and Luo Rou hit the target with three arrows. Very outstanding.

After Luo Rou came off the field, her face was still a little happy, but she still didn't get carried away.She shook Huo Qi's hand: "When I was a child, I was very accurate when shooting a slingshot. I didn't expect that even in archery, a blind cat can hit a dead mouse."

Huo Qi smiled.

At the same time, the eunuch not far away shouted loudly: "The third group chooses women to play—"

Luo Rou glanced nervously at Huo Qi, but Huo Qi squeezed Luo Rou's palm, and then went onto the stage without looking back.

Shen Yuning stared at the blue scenery with a smile that was not a smile, she was graceful, soft and harmless, and it was impossible to imagine her murderous appearance wielding swords and swords.But he clearly remembered that that day at Longyang Peak, the moonlight was bleak, the girl sat on the horse safely, and shot and killed the fish that slipped through the pile of corpses without blinking an eye.

That accuracy is excellent.

(End of this chapter)