FBC – Chapter 249 Conspiracy

They say a year’s prosperity begins in spring.

Spring marks the start of the four seasons — a symbol of renewal, of life stirring once more, of everything waiting to flourish.

The grand festival held on the first day of the third month was the royal family’s way of sharing this vibrant, colorful spring with the people.

Jinming Pond bustled with noise and excitement, overflowing with laughter and cheer.

In the Qionglin Garden, flowers were in full bloom, dazzling and radiant.

On this day, the Ministry of Rites would be busy from dawn to dusk.

In the morning, there was a naval dragon boat race at Jinming Pond. After the noon banquet, nobles and favored courtiers would accompany the Emperor to Qionglin Garden, where a grand imperial “Hundred Flowers Banquet” awaited them.

The rear gardens of Qionglin had once been a vast riding and archery ground stretching for ten li. Now it was a sea of green, so wide and open that just one look could make the heart feel free and refreshed.

Normally, royal princes and noble heirs would come here to practice riding and shooting, but today the event was especially grand.

The imperial guards were adorned with flowered hairpins, wearing brocade robes woven with golden threads, jeweled bows and arrows slung at their backs, a golden spear in one hand and a dragon-phoenix banner in the other. Ten thousand riders thundered across the field, bells clanging, spirits soaring.

The mounted archery competition was not limited to the four princes — many noble sons also joined in.

Though Zhao Yuze’s heart was heavy, he knew today was the final decisive contest.

Even though he had won the dragon boat race earlier, he had not received his father’s praise — still, a victory was a victory.

If he could win the archery as well, his father would surely look at him differently.

He took two deep breaths to steady himself.

The competition had three rounds:
— The first, shooting at stationary targets from horseback.
— The second, shooting while riding.
— The third, shooting at live prey.

In the first round, everyone performed steadily. The First and Second Princes tied for first place; Left Chancellor Zuo Fengtian’s eldest son placed second, and Sun Chongyang third.

Zhao Yuze regained his confidence. He smiled and said to Zhao Yuxuan, “Second Brother, this round you don’t have to let me win. Show me your real skill.”

Zhao Yuxuan smiled. “Very well.”

With a boom of the starting cannon, a dozen horses shot forward like arrows, galloping around the field.

The targets were moving, pushed on wheeled carts by imperial guards. Whoever hit the most bull’s-eyes would win.

The second round went smoothly — the Second Prince missed one arrow, and the First Prince took the lead.

Zhao Yuze’s face flushed with pride and excitement.

The third round was the most thrilling. Each contestant had to gallop around the field and, within the time it took an incense stick to burn, return to the starting point having shot the most prey.

The guards wheeled a large cage of sparrows to the center of the field. At the drumbeat, the cage was opened, and hundreds of sparrows burst into the sky, filling the air in a chaotic cloud.

At the cannon’s roar, the riders surged forward, hooves kicking up dust. Suddenly, two horses flanked Zhao Yuxuan, blocking him in so he couldn’t break through.

Seeing this, Zhao Yuwen immediately spurred his horse to help.

Then the second cannon exploded.

Guards yanked open another cage gate — thousands of sparrows shot up, darkening the sky.

Zhao Yuze loosed an arrow — two birds fell with one shot. Excited, he nocked another arrow, ready to fire again — when he suddenly saw Zhao Yuxuan ignore his attackers, draw three arrows at once, and let them fly in a whistling burst.

Each arrow pierced through two or three birds. The crowd erupted in cheers.

While Zhao Yuze stood stunned, Zhao Yuxuan fired again — three more arrows, all hits, bringing down six or seven sparrows each time.

Zhao Yuwen’s aim was equally fierce, matching Zhao Yuxuan arrow for arrow.

Zuo Fengtian’s son and Sun Chongyang galloped over as well, each tackling one of the riders harassing Zhao Yuxuan, driving them off and freeing the two brothers.

Zhao Yuze grew anxious. His horse was the fastest, but his sparrow count lagged behind.

The riders were competing fiercely, the spectators shouting wildly — no one noticed the single arrow quietly sliding out from behind the barrier.

Zhao Yuxuan’s horse was just about to overtake Zhao Yuze’s when, all of a sudden, it let out a shrill, pained neigh, reared up, and bolted madly in the opposite direction.

Zhao Yuwen was thrown high into the air. He grabbed the reins, but they snapped — with a cry, he nearly flew off. His foot caught in the stirrup, and the panicked horse began to drag him across the field.

“Good heavens! Save him!” the Empress cried, near tears.

Murmurs rippled through the onlookers.

“The horse’s spooked!”

“It was fine before — how could it go mad now?”

“Could someone have tampered with it?”

Lady Gu Hua twisted her handkerchief nervously, heart pounding.

No one could be allowed to die — if something went wrong now, everything would be ruined.

Though everything had been planned, she still broke out in a cold sweat.

The imperial guards spurred their horses toward Zhao Yuxuan’s direction in a rush.

Zhao Yuwen and the others abandoned the competition, wheeling their horses to save him.

Zhao Yuze froze, reining in uncertainly.

If he kept racing now, even if he won, it would look wrong.

He gritted his teeth and turned his horse to follow.

Then Zhao Yuxuan, using the stirrup for leverage, twisted his waist sharply and, in one fluid motion, swung himself back into the saddle. He pressed close to the horse’s back, refusing to be thrown no matter how wildly it bucked.

Zhao Yuwen was the first to reach him. “Brother! Here!”

“Take my horse!” Sun Chongyang galloped up too, lashing his whip against his horse’s flank. Drawing close, he grabbed Zhao Yuxuan’s arm — and with one strong heave, leapt off as Zhao Yuxuan mounted his horse in midair.

Without a word, Zhao Yuxuan spurred the horse and dashed back toward the field.

Zhao Yuwen also wheeled his horse around, the two galloping side by side back to the track in moments.

Zhao Yuze’s horse, startled by the chaos, began spinning in circles. Desperate, he pulled out a dagger and stabbed its hindquarters.

The horse neighed in pain and bolted — but still ended up a step behind Zhao Yuxuan and Zhao Yuwen.

Counting the sparrows they had brought down, Zhao Yuxuan ranked first, Zhao Yuwen second.

Zhao Yuze was utterly stunned.

Impossible.

How could this be?

The two brothers exchanged a glance — and smiled.

The Empress, who had been crying moments earlier, suddenly gasped in disbelief and joy.

“They won? My sons won?”

Gu Hua nodded. “Yes — the Second and Sixth Princes have won. Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

The Empress, tears still on her cheeks, grabbed Gu Hua’s hands tightly.

There were too many people around to speak freely.

She looked deeply into Gu Hua’s eyes, squeezing her hand in gratitude.

Gu Hua had told her, Victory comes at the edge of danger. She had warned that the Second Prince might have to endure some hardship — but the Empress hadn’t expected this level of risk.

Zhao Yuxuan’s soft armor had been torn by the saddle, his clothes ripped, his cloak draped hastily over him as he returned to report before the Emperor’s dais.

The Emperor frowned. “What happened? Why did the horse suddenly panic?”

Zhao Yuxuan bowed. “Your Majesty, it was my lack of skill.”

“Your Majesty,” Zhao Yuwen interjected, “someone shot a hidden arrow — it struck the horse!”

Gasps spread through the crowd — so there was foul play!

All eyes instinctively turned toward Zhao Yuze.

His face flushed with anger.

It wasn’t him!

The Emperor’s expression turned dark and terrifying. Twice now, under his very nose, someone had dared use underhanded tricks!

His gaze sliced sharply toward Consort Jiang, then shifted to the grim-faced Prince Ping’an.

Consort Jiang blanched. “Impossible! There were so many horses crowded together — the horse must have been startled!”

Zuo Fengtian’s son said coldly, “Bring the horse — a single look will tell.”

The imperial guards had already restrained the horse — and found an arrow lodged in its hind leg.

The guard captain rode forward to report, “Your Majesty, the Second Prince’s horse was struck by a hidden arrow, causing it to go mad.”

The field fell utterly silent.

A grand festival — filled with nothing but treachery and schemes.