It turns out she was learning from a collection of failures, no wonder she never hit the target.
After so thought, Lian Hua said tactfully, "Xiao Yinyi, you’re quite good at teaching. Look how well I mimic what you’ve taught . No one’s perfect, right? Perhaps the heavens granted you the talent to be a teacher but took a little back sowhere else. See, I’ll try it my own way."
Xiao Yinyi was a nickna that had just been given to her. She didn’t like being called ’sister’ as it felt fake and odd, like how others in the palace addressed each other.
Xiao Jizi on the side couldn’t help but laugh. Indeed, his master had mimicked too well, hence why she didn’t hit a single target.
In the midst of throwing, he too had felt sothing was off, but since Kong Yinyin spoke so confidently, he assud she was very skilled—only to realize...
Ah, dear mother, one was brave to learn, and the other was brave to teach.
The master’s way of consoling soone was also interesting; wasn’t it just a way of saying the teaching was lousy?
Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi were slow to catch on. Seeing Xiao Jizi stifling laughter and after thinking it through, they finally had an epiphany. It wasn’t that the master hadn’t learned well; she had learned too well...
Kong Yinyin felt sothing was amiss when she listened to Lian Hua, but seeing her sincere expression, she accepted the comfort, and after all, it sounded like she wasn’t entirely useless.
After consoling her, Lian Hua began another round of tossing arrows. She picked up an arrow, aid using her own thod, and gauged the strength needed.
Everyone held their breath, not daring to exhale for fear of disturbing her concentration.
With a "whoosh" followed by a "clang," the arrow hit right in the center of the pot.
"It’s a hit, it’s a hit!"
"The master got it, she’s amazing!"
Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi imdiately cheered.
Xiao Jizi watched, nodding repeatedly, convinced that his master was truly adept at these kinds of gas and that her past slingshot achievents were indeed not bragging.
Kong Yinyin was dumbfounded... Just like that, it was a hit?
"Oh, it’s just average skill, have to be modest when outside," Lian Hua said, clearly delighted, yet feigned modesty.
No sooner had she finished speaking than she eagerly gestured for the Young Eunuch guarding the golden lon seeds to co over, puffing her chest out with pride, "Hurry, hurry, bring the golden lon seeds over."
The Young Eunuch handed her one, scratching his head, doubting his eyes. It seed that the master had transford in an instant into a professional, relying on experience, not luck.
Having received the golden lon seeds, Lian Hua excitedly passed it around for everyone to touch, and then stuffed it into Kong Yinyin’s hands, "Here, you are my arrow-throwing ntor. Take it, this is your bonus."
Kong Yinyin was stunned, looking at the golden lon seed in her hand, suddenly feeling as if it were burning.
She hurriedly whispered her refusal, but Lian Hua waved her hand generously, "Ah, it’s the first win; I must honor the ntor who led into this. Besides, there’s a whole pouch more, plenty to go around. Wait, I’ll win them all."
Having said that, Lian Hua looked around and then moved a few steps to the side, selecting a new "feng shui treasure spot" for playing Pitch-Pot. She gestured to the Young Eunuch in charge of the arrows to bring her eight arrows.
The Young Eunuch thought to himself that after ten rounds, they had only hit the target once, yet they spoke with such confidence as if the bag of golden lon seeds was already in their possession.
He was a Young Eunuch newly transferred from the traveling palace and had inquired a little before taking on this task. He had heard that there were a few consorts in the palace good at Pitch-Pot, but they probably were not these two in front of him.
Kong Yinyin stood still, clutching the golden lon seeds in her hand, feeling a slight warmth in her chest. Looking a few steps away, the person she was observing was surrounded by her servants. She couldn’t see the person, but she felt warmth in her heart.
The people privately say that Beauty Lian is arrogant and overbearing, but why does she appear nothing like the rumors? Rather, she carried no airs at all, which made Kong Yinyin feel that Beauty Lian was better than those others by a thousand, no, ten thousand tis.
Just as Lian Hua took the arrows and was about to restart her throw, soone approached from behind them.
From a distance ca a voice, laced with mockery, "Oh, isn’t that Sister Yinyin? Aren’t you supposed to be packing your valuables? How co you’re out here? Being sent out of the palace and you still think you’re a consort?"
Another voice followed with a strange laugh.
Without turning her head, Kong Yinyin knew it was Cui Laner who had arrived.
She turned, bowed her head, and after paying her respects, replied softly, "Isn’t Sister Cui also one to be sent out of the palace?"
She had heard that Cui Laner was on the list to be sent out as well.
Neither of them had ever been favored. Cui Laner, taking advantage of having entered the palace earlier, bullied her because she could not bully others. Every ti she saw Kong Yinyin, she would scorn her for her poverty.
Years ago, Cui Laner ca to her, claiming she had news about where His Majesty would be, and persuaded her to "try her luck," planning to use her as a stepping stone. She didn’t go, and from then on Cui Laner hated her.
While they spoke, Cui Laner walked closer, accompanied by another consort.
Seeing soone who usually wouldn’t dare to make a sound now talking back, Cui Laner stood still and angrily said, "I have already expressed my wishes to Vice Manager Liu, asking to stay in the palace. After he presents it to His Majesty, I’m sure it won’t be long before I have the decree allowing to stay. Don’t you see, you and I are not the sa. Look at you, with your destitute appearance. Are you hoping to take advantage during the Longevity Event just to leave the palace wealthier?"
The consort at her side added maliciously, "Isn’t that so? If you don’t take the opportunity to grab what you can now, when you’re sent out of the palace in the future, you’ll have to live a poor life with your family, hehehe..."
Struck by the truth in those words, Kong Yinyin’s face turned red, and she lowered her head in silence, filled with embarrassnt. Indeed, she was planning to do just that—hoping to win so silver to take back to her family and provide so support.
Feeling the familiar rush of victory, Cui Laner saw a hint of pleasure arise within her as she glanced at the group of servants, who seed to be blocking soone behind them; each was holding arrows, clearly there to pick them up for their masters.
She said, "Those servants over there, how dare you loaf around here while the palace is so busy? Co and pay your respects. Do your masters need to teach you manners and etiquette?"
The consort beside her sneered, "Sister Cui, it’s really true that birds of a feather flock together. Those who are close to Changzai Kong don’t even understand the basics. You still hold the status of a Talented Lady. It would be good to discipline them, to teach them a lesson."
The consort speaking was Daying Jia.
Ever since she was demoted, few of the consorts and concubines in the harem bothered to associate with her. During the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration she attended, Cui Laner overheard her lanting her misfortune and cruel fate on the way back.
Upon talking, they realized they were both unsatisfied and troubled souls. Further conversation revealed they had similar temperants. Over ti, their relationship improved, especially since Cui Laner often visited her during her confinent. Daying Jia taught her all she knew about jewelry, clothing, and adornnts, deepening their bond even more.
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