Since Rong Baoyi promised to teach Gu Lan, she taught with great seriousness.
Taking advantage of the instructor for horseback archery not having arrived yet, she carefully explained to Gu Lan the categories and handling of longbows and shortbows.
Her voice, though sowhat immature, was articulate and orderly, clearly showing she had studied these theoretical aspects in private.
Gu Lan: "Why don’t you demonstrate one for ?"
Rong Baoyi said helplessly: "Young Master, you’re a grown-up, didn’t the Marquis teach you martial arts and archery... Plus, didn’t you have quite a fierce fight with the Second Prince a few days ago?"
She considered that Miaoyan was still present and was too polite to say that it wasn’t a fight; it was a one-sided beating by Gu Lan.
Gu Lan replied: "My father is busy leading troops into battle; where would he find the ti to teach these things? As for martial arts, that’s just my innate talent, learning by myself from manuals."
Rong Baoyi twitched her lips but suddenly thought of herself.
Marquis Gu guards the Northwest Border of Dayan, resisting the Qiangrong, and fights enemies in the Northern Territory, while her father clashes with Wei Country at the Southern Border, constantly engaged in battle, also not seeing her for a year.
However, her father returned victorious this ti and can accompany her and her mother in the capital for a while, while Young Master Gu genuinely cannot see his father.
Suddenly, Rong Baoyi felt a bit sorry for Gu Lan.
In her heart, Young Master Gu had beco a pitiful playboy, neglected by his father and unloved by his mother, bullied every day, and learning martial arts to protect himself...
Moreover, Gu Lan is now her brother’s companion, and under his guidance, her brother has beco quite obedient, even exercising today.
However, she needed to seek Miaoyan’s opinion.
Rong Baoyi looked towards Miaoyan, asking with her eyes.
Rong Miaoyan looked at the two, smiled, and said softly: "Baoyi, just go teach Gu Lan, and by the way, pick a bow for yourself."
Rong Baoyi sighed in relief, guilted herself silently, and nodded: "Young Master, please."
Miaoyan is such a good person; this ti was just an accident! She would support Miaoyan and Gu Lan in the future!
With gratitude in her heart, Rong Baoyi went to the wooden rack with the bows and arrows and picked one for herself.
Although this bow was small and simple, taken especially to teach Gu Lan, it was her first bow.
She cherished the bow, with techniques deeply ingrained in her heart and recalling the words of Rong Shuo who taught her in childhood, as well as that distant laughter.
"Is my daughter so brave planning to beco the second Princess Chang’an of Dayan?"
"I don’t want to be Princess Chang’an; I want to be the General of Breaking Prison!"
"Hahaha, ambitious!"
...
Rong Baoyi took a deep breath, raised the bow, and carefully aid at the target in the distance.
Suppressing her flaming spirit, she softly explained to Gu Lan and Rong Yunhao while releasing the bowstring.
The arrow flew from the string, hitting bullseye a hundred paces away!
Gu Lan curved his lips, applauding first, and Miaoyan got excited: "Baoyi, I didn’t expect you to be so amazing, just like a female general!"
The others eagerly joined in the applause.
Only Rong Heng, staying away from the assembly ground and the female presence like Rong Miaoyan, remained indifferent.
Gu Lan glanced at him, noticing his indifferent deanor, thinking, indeed, it’s Brother Hang who dislikes all won, even when it’s his niece.
Rong Baoyi put down the bow and arrow, her emotions surging.
She couldn’t describe the feeling, only that the instant the arrow flew, it seed her heart also soared over the towering, enclosed palace walls.
But turning back, seeing the appreciative eyes of Young Master Gu and Ning An, her restless heart returned securely, with sothing more than before.
It turned out, she really could achieve this.
"Your Highness Princess, today I had a surge of poetic inspiration and wrote these words. Would Your Highness kindly critique them and provide so guidance?"
At this mont, Yan Qing’s companion Cao Chen approached, humbly presenting Rong Miaoyan with a piece of paper.
Cao Chen, who always liked to flaunt his talent in the Imperial Family schools, was glad for the opportunity to talk to Miaoyan, a mischievous glint in his eyes, but outwardly maintaining the deanor of a gentleman.
Miaoyan asked: "Isn’t today your n’s day for horseback archery lessons? Why are you asking to critique poetry?"
Cao Chen eagerly flattered: "My poem praises the unparalleled skills of the Dayan boys in horseback archery, excelling in both literary and martial arts."
Nearby, Han Xuan’er smirked sarcastically: "So, Young Master Cao praises Dayan boys, implying our Dayan girls can’t excel in both fields? Baoyi’s archery was better than yours, wasn’t it?"
Cao Chen laughed awkwardly: "When I return, I’ll certainly write a poem praising County Princess Changle, and Your Highness Princess and County Princess An Rou, who are equally outstanding!"
Rong Miaoyan didn’t take it, only glanced at the paper in his hands and smiled gently:
"Young Master Cao, how old are you?"
"Eighteen," Cao Chen straightened up, thinking he was close to winning Rong Miaoyan’s favor.
In the Imperial Family schools, Qin Zhenghu and he were the oldest until Yuan Lang arrived.
"At eight, my poems were better than yours," Rong Miaoyan rolled her eyes.
"..."
Rong Miaoyan glanced at the frail and short Yan Qing in the corner, then looked at the awkwardly smiling Cao Chen and Qin Zhenghu, who never let go of his book, and finally, at the aloof and gloomy "Fifth Imperial Uncle" Rong Heng, letting out a breath.
Lastly, her gaze fell on Gu Lan.
Looking back and forth, Young Master is still the best-looking.
Moreover, she understood, like herself, Gu Lan realized Baoyi envied the practicing male archers, thus asked Baoyi to choose a bow for herself.
Young Master Gu is truly a gentle and upright person.
"Sigh, our Dayan n, whether in talent or appearance, are declining with each generation," Rong Miaoyan said regretfully, "Only Young Master is pleasing to the eye."
Cao Chen felt like his chest had been pierced by an arrow even before starting archery practice.
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