Concubine Li was not satisfied with this decision.
“I’ve made up my mind about this matter; you should inform Shan’er of it sooner,” King Yan said, ignoring Concubine Li’s pouted lips, before rolling over and falling asleep.
He didn’t even notice that she was still behaving like a little girl despite her age. On the day of the riding and archery competition, Yin Hui and other female relatives were allowed to follow King Yan to watch the competition.
Before they set off, Wei Luo mentioned to Yin Hui, “Liao Shisan will also be participating in the competition that day.” Yin Hui seemed a bit concerned and asked, “Uncle Liao is skilled in swordsmanship, but can he handle riding and archery?”
“Liao Shisan is exceptional in swordsmanship, and his eyesight is incredibly accurate. He can shoot arrows through targets from a hundred steps away,” Wei Luo explained. Yin Hui developed even more admiration for Liao Shisan after hearing that.
When they arrived at the competition site, Wei Luo went to prepare with the soldiers, leaving Yin Hui, Ji Xianxian, and others to find their seats. Yin Hui couldn’t help but notice that Wei Shan didn’t seem very happy. Her red lips were tightly pursed, and she appeared to be avoiding looking in any particular direction.
Ji Xianxian leaned closer to Yin Hui and whispered, “Father has asked our second sister to choose between Feng Teng and Yang Pengju as her husband.”
Yin Hui was taken aback, immediately realizing that in her previous life, Feng Teng had been disqualified as a suitor. This left Yang Pengju as the sole candidate for King Yan’s son-in-law. Thus, Wei Shan didn’t have much of a choice.
But… as Yin Hui’s gaze swept over the robust Feng Teng and the slender Yang Pengju, she had a feeling that Wei Shan would still choose Yang Pengju.
After everyone had gathered, King Yan delivered an impassioned speech, and the first riding and archery competition began.
After that, the young military officers like Wei Tong, Feng Teng, and Yang Pengju took the stage.
In her previous life, Yin Hui had rarely had the opportunity to watch Wei Luo’s impressive skills. The dragon boat rowing competition in May was all about brute force and cooperation, so she couldn’t help but be captivated by Wei Luo’s performance.
Four fast horses were released at the same time, and Wei Luo’s horse, the famous white-hoofed black horse, galloped as if it were flying. It ran so swiftly that it appeared as though Wei Luo had released all four arrows simultaneously. Even when the first arrow hit the target, it was still slightly trembling. By the time Wei Luo reined in his horse and came to a stop, it was a truly graceful sight.
Concubine Guo praised him with a smile, “The third son is truly skilled.”
Xu Qingwan and Ji Xianxian glanced at Yin Hui simultaneously.
Yin Hui basked in the satisfaction of her husband’s impressive performance. She couldn’t help but feel proud.
Wei Shan watched the competition silently, her gaze shifting back and forth between Feng Teng and Yang Pengju’s faces. The more she observed, the more dissatisfied she became. Feng Teng seemed too burly. Despite his attractive facial features, there was a roughness about him that made him appear unsympathetic. As for Yang Pengju, while he had an appealing physique, his facial features seemed rather ordinary. Particularly when he stood next to the third brother, he appeared like an inconspicuous star in the presence of a bright moon.
After the initial four participants, several other military officers followed, whose names were mostly unfamiliar to the female family members. The first to arrive was the Qianhu from the escorting army, followed by Baihu (military positions), a general, and finally, eight carefully selected soldiers.
Liao Shisan entered the guard for the first time, and got the rank of a small official through a martial arts competition. If he wanted to go up, he needed to make military achievements, or become a blockbuster in that competition, and get an extraordinary promotion from King Yan.
When Wei Luo appeared on the stage, Yin Hui just watched him show his skills purely with the mentality of watching a show. When Liao Shisan rode on the stage amidst Ji Xianxian’s yawn, Yin Hui’s spirit was completely lifted up, and her heartbeat began to speed up.
Out of the four small officers, three appeared to be of regular build, but the fourth one stood out due to his muscular frame. Ji Xianxian was concerned about whether the horse under the burly man could support his weight.
“You know him?” Ji Xianxian inquired, noticing Yin Hui’s peculiar interest.
Yin Hui smiled without giving an answer, and the competition soon began.
While the performance of the minor officials paled in comparison to the high-ranking military officers before them, Liao Shisan proved to be an exception. When he stopped after shooting four arrows, the other three contestants were just preparing to fire their third arrows.
Feng Su, already aware of Liao Shisan’s skills, noticed the narrowed eyes of Gao Zhen and Yang Jingzhong, the commanders of the other two guards.
King Yan, with a smile, commented, “This guy isn’t bad. Arrange another round for him, and have the third son, Feng Teng, and Yang Pengju compete against him.”
To truly gauge Liao Shisan’s abilities, he needed to compete with opponents of similar skill levels.
Shortly after, Wei Luo, Liao Shisan and the other two formed a new line. King Yan had even provided a robust horse for Liao Shisan.
The order sounded, and the four of them rushed out like arrows flying off the string.
The competition concluded swiftly, with Liao Shisan finishing second, just behind Wei Luo, in terms of riding speed and archery accuracy.
King Yan stroked his beard thoughtfully and remarked, “I wonder if this person intentionally allowed my third son to win.”
Suddenly, Gao Zhen left the table and addressed King Yan with urgency, “My lord, I want to challenge him.”
King Yan responded with a smile, “Very well, you may engage in a sword duel.” Among his three commanders, Feng Su excelled in marksmanship, while Gao Zhen was renowned for his swordsmanship.
To ensure fairness in the competition, wooden weapons were prepared since it was a martial arts competition.
Gao Zhen and Liao Shisan each selected a wooden sword and stood beneath the martial arts viewing platform, ready to commence.
Both of them had imposing figures, capable of wielding immense strength, and they brandished their wooden swords with vigor. Every clash of their weapons sent shudders through the ears of Yin Hui and the onlookers.
Though they were not martial experts and could not discern the intricate techniques, King Yan watched intently, leaning forward in anticipation.
As the fierce battle extended to fifty clashes, Liao Shisan unexpectedly exposed an opening, and Gao Zhen seized the opportunity to strike at his waist with the wooden sword.
With quick reflexes, Liao Shisan pulled his body back, narrowly avoiding Gao Zhen’s attack.
King Yan was elated and exclaimed, “Great! Today, we’ve gained another general!” He hopped down from the platform and made his way towards Liao Shisan.
Liao Shisan immediately knelt down and paid his respects.
King Yan personally raised him, displaying genuine camaraderie, and inquired, “May I know your name?”
Liao Shisan replied in a deep voice, maintaining his composed demeanor.
King Yan patted him on the shoulder and announced loudly, “Liao Shisan, starting today, you are Qianhu under my command!”
Liao Shisan expressed his gratitude by bowing and saying, “Thank you for your recognition.” Meanwhile, Gao Zhen, who was observing the proceedings, subtly turned his wrist.
Gao Zhen had a hunch that Liao Shisan deliberately revealed a weakness during their duel.