Chapter 27: Ups and Downs (V)

Since Yang Yuhuan was appointed as the Imperial Concubine in the fourth year of Tianbao, Li Heng lived in constant fear, worried that any misstep might anger his father and the favored concubine, resulting in his downfall. In terms of lineage, Yang Yuhuan was his mother’s generation, and with her special favor from the emperor, there was a high possibility she might give birth to a prince. But perhaps due to the emperor’s advanced age, despite the nightly revelry in Xingqing Palace, Yang Yuhuan’s belly showed no signs of pregnancy. Since she had no heirs, the threat she posed to him diminished significantly. Already walking on thin ice under Li Linfu’s oppressive pressure, Li Heng hoped to form an alliance with the Yang family to jointly confront their powerful enemy.

Through his efforts, he established two marital ties with the Yang family, and with their help, he managed to weather the crisis temporarily. Yet what troubled Li Heng was that although the Yang family treated him respectfully and kindly, Yang Yuhuan herself held an indeterminate attitude toward him, making her intentions hard to fathom. If she had been an ordinary concubine, it might have been fine, but she was the most favored one in the harem! With just a word, she could order the emperor to send lychees from Lingnan via the imperial road, and she could also influence the succession to the throne. Li Heng had tried every means to please her, to no avail—until today, when a box of plums led to a surprising turn of events!

“Heng, hurry and thank your mother.”
Seeing Li Heng dazed, Li Longji smiled and reminded him.
“Ah, your servant thanks your mother. May your beauty endure forever, and may the Tang Dynasty thrive under your grace!”
Li Heng bowed deeply, uttering praise after praise.
“That child…”
Yang Yuhuan shook her head with a smile, feeling warmth in her heart. She herself had not given birth to a son for her third son, so she always felt somewhat disappointed. Now, seeing the crown prince’s respectful devotion, it somewhat relieved her concerns.

Li Heng quickly stood up and returned to his seat. Though overjoyed, he tried hard to control his emotions, lowering his gaze and concentrating.
“The crown prince is kind and filial. Now, Yuhuan, you should be at ease.”
Li Longji patted Yang Yuhuan’s hand to comfort her.
Yang Yuhuan nodded and said, “Third son, why not start the competition?”
“Good. I hereby declare the competition begins! Yuan Yi, announce my decree—the spear-throwing contest starts now!”
Li Longji stroked his beard and ordered Gao Lishi.
Gao Lishi bowed slightly and gave a few instructions to the attendants nearby.
“By the emperor’s decree, the spear-throwing competition begins now!”
“By the emperor’s order, the spear-throwing competition…”

After the initial announcements, the imperial guards standing about ten steps away from the pavilion received orders and brought several small pots, placing them on the ground. There were ten lacquered pots in total, all with their mouths facing upward and thick waists and narrow mouths. The further back the pots were arranged, the smaller their mouths became, making it naturally harder to hit them.

“Sanlang, you can’t stop my master from competing today, or our bet won’t hold.”

Yang Yuhuan suddenly remembered something and hurried forward to wrap her arms around Li Longji’s neck.

Li Longji was afraid of this tactic and immediately agreed.

“Even if Yuhuan doesn’t say anything, I wouldn’t let Qilang participate. Those competing in this pot-throwing contest are all nobles from Chang’an. If Qilang, this skilled archer, joins, there’s no need for others to compete. Don’t worry; I haven’t summoned him to Furong Garden today.”

“That’s much better!”

Yang Yuhuan smiled faintly, revealing two dimples.

“The first competitor is Yang Xuan, the Minister of Rites.”

The eunuch shouted loudly.

The first competitor was Yang Xuan, the son of Yang Zhao. Although Yang Xuan had already reached the rank of Minister of Rites, he was still just a young man in his early twenties. The nobles of Chang’an loved three things above all: archery, hunting, and women. Raised in luxury since childhood, Yang Xuan lacked strength. He couldn’t even draw a soft bow more than a few times, let alone a hard bow weighing over two stones. Thus, he opted for pot-throwing, which required less physical effort. Over time, his skills in pot-throwing became well-known in the circles he frequented, and this contest was an excellent opportunity to showcase himself—how could he refuse?

After bowing in the direction of the pavilion, Yang Xuan strode to the white line ten steps away from the pots.

He took a red-lacquered bamboo arrow from the guards and gently rubbed its surface to calm himself. Taking a deep breath, he drew out an arrow, twisted it slightly, and threw it without aiming. With a “thud,” the small arrow pierced straight into the pot closest to him.

“Good, good!”

Seeing this, Yang Zhao clapped his hands in approval, encouraging his son. Of all his sons, he had the highest hopes for Yang Xuan. If he could make a good impression on the emperor through today’s contest, Yang Xuan’s position might even rise further.

Thinking this, Yang Zhao glanced smugly at Li Linfu in the front row and sneered.

Encouraged by his father, Yang Xuan became more and more confident. In no time, he hit four pots in a row, earning applause even from the emperor himself.

“Pot-throwing is simple—just aim at the mouth of the pot and throw!”

Yang Xuan silently recited the techniques for throwing darts in his mind, took a deep breath, and grabbed a bamboo dart to aim at the sixth pot. One, two—throw! With a whoosh, the bamboo dart shot from Yang Xuan’s hand, tracing a graceful arc straight toward the pot’s opening. Just as the tip was about to pierce it, the dart suddenly veered slightly and fell to the ground, brushing against the pot’s side. “Ah!” Caught off guard by this turn of events, Yang Xuan’s face turned pale instantly as he let out a cry. “Failed!” The eunuch observing nearby announced the result emotionlessly, declaring Yang Xuan’s attempt a failure. “This… this…” Yang Zhao was momentarily stunned, staring in disbelief at his own son. Hadn’t he said it was foolproof? Hadn’t he claimed he’d hit all ten pots? How could he fail already on the sixth one? This brat… “Well, Xuan’s throw wasn’t bad either.” After all, he was a member of the Yang family. Li Longji, unwilling to see Yang Yuhuan upset, comforted her with a smile. “Third Brother, don’t try to flatter me. Do you really think I don’t understand archery? Xuan still has a long way to go.” Yang Yuhuan leaned into Li Longji’s arms, cooing repeatedly. “Oh, right. I forgot—our Yuhuan is a master archer after all.” Li Longji chuckled and patted Yang Yuhuan’s delicate shoulder playfully. “Third Brother!” Yang Yuhuan lightly punched him with her soft fist, hitting his still muscular chest. “The second contestant: Censor Lu Zhonglun.” In the distance, the red walls of the city loomed over the jade pathways, while green canopies stretched across the golden embankments. She unfastened her precious robes and belt for him, and performed songs and dances for his enjoyment. Amidst the beauties and the lingering scent of wine, his voice carried far, far away.