Chapter 334: Imperial Princess

At the entrance of the courtyard, a dozen bodyguards stopped Empress Helen of Byzantium. She carried a bow and arrows, and the soldiers demanded that she leave them at the entrance. Helen refused firmly, leading to a dispute.
The soldiers were polite to Helen. Captain Cao Bao, who spoke Turkic, bowed to her and said, “Your Highness, without the general’s special permission, no one carrying weapons may approach him. That’s our rule. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”
“I heard your general is an excellent archer. I came here specifically to compete with him. How can I compete if I leave my bow and arrows at the entrance? I cannot accept that.”
“How do you know I’d agree to compete with you?” Li Qing’an appeared at the entrance with a smile.
Helen smiled slightly and said, “It’s simple. If you can’t defeat me, there’s no need to discuss military cooperation between Anxi and Byzantium.”
Li Qing’an’s eyes narrowed. As he had guessed, this beautiful Western princess was tasked with facilitating military cooperation between the two sides. It was strange that she had revealed this suddenly. But after a moment, he understood—it must be because the trade negotiations had been settled. The Byzantines might have set a condition: no military cooperation without a trade agreement.
Li Qing’an took her in. Under the dim moonlight, she wore form-fitting clothes and high leather boots, highlighting her graceful figure in all its curves. Smiling, Li Qing’an said, “Then please come in!”
The bodyguards stepped aside, and Helen walked into the courtyard with her head held high. Glancing around, she said proudly, “Let’s have a night shoot. Archery in the dark truly tests one’s skills. Let’s begin!”
Her bow was long. She planted one end in the ground, drew back the bow, and shot at a small tree about sixty steps away, the size of a teacup. The arrow traced a parabolic path and struck the trunk deeply. Li Qing’an clapped softly and said, “Excellent archery! There are indeed few women who can shoot like you!”
“Women?”
Helen snorted in dissatisfaction. “I’m one of the top three archers in Byzantium, the general’s most prized disciple. How dare you insult me like this?”

Li Qing’an smiled slightly. From the series of actions she had performed—drawing the arrow, nocking it, drawing the bow, and shooting—he could tell that this woman had indeed been taught by a master. Her movements were extremely graceful, flowing smoothly as if in one continuous motion, showing that she had put in a great deal of practice. For a young woman of her age, she was indeed quite good. However, her shooting technique was still not sophisticated enough, appearing somewhat immature. Calling her one of Byzantium’s top three archers was somewhat an overstatement, simply because she was a Byzantine princess.

“You must have been aiming at that white scar on the tree! But you missed by an inch. Do you know why?”

Eleni’s face turned red. She had indeed aimed at that small white scar, but for some reason, when she shot, she couldn’t find the right feel, causing her to miss by such a small amount. Although Li Qing’an had pointed it out, she refused to admit it. She pouted and said, “Can you really tell?”

“Do you know why you missed?” Li Qing’an asked with a smile.

Although Eleni refused to admit it verbally, she was very curious and blurted out, “Why?”

“Because you were nervous. Your mind wasn’t calm enough. As an archer, you’re a bit too inexperienced.”

Li Qing’an took her bow and arrow and turned his back to the small tree. Suddenly, he turned around, and at that moment, the arrow was released at lightning speed. With a sharp “thwack,” it hit the center of the white scar. Eleni was stunned. Li Qing’an then returned the bow and arrow to her, shaking his head. Although this bow was also long, it was a single-piece bow with too weak tension, not satisfying enough.

He said to his bodyguard, “Go! Bring me my bow and arrow.”

One of the bodyguards rushed off and soon brought back his bow and arrow. This huge bow was as tall as Li Qing’an himself, clearly requiring tremendous strength to draw. It was also a seven-stone bow, one of the famous bows he had collected. It might not seem impressive at first glance, but it had been crafted over three years by the three best bowmakers in Anxi. Moreover, the arrows used were iron arrows—only such a strong bow could fully unleash the power of iron arrows.

Seeing her stare at his bow and arrow with astonishment in her eyes, Li Qing’an handed them to her and said with a smile, “Want to give it a try?”

Eleni took the bow and arrow reluctantly. As her hand settled on them, she realized the arrow was made of cast iron, emitting a dark green glow under the faint moonlight. She nocked the iron arrow, and at that moment, she finally understood how far her archery skills fell short of Li Qing’an’s—she couldn’t even draw this bow. She gathered all her strength, but the massive bow, slightly taller than her, only stretched halfway. Her arms trembled. Li Qing’an silently admired her—for a woman to be able to draw his bow halfway was already quite impressive.

He reached out and said with a smile, “Give it to me. This bow isn’t suitable for you.”

Eleni returned the bow and arrow to Li Qing’an, ashamed. Yet her curiosity overcame her embarrassment. She wanted to see Li Qing’an shoot. The bow reminded her of her master’s huge bow, which she also couldn’t draw. Could Li Qing’an possibly compare to her master?

“General, please shoot an arrow!”

Li Qing’an took the bow and arrow and said with a smile, “I’ll shoot that tree scar again!”

He stepped back until he reached the corner of the wall, now about 120 steps away from the tree. To most people, in the darkness of night, it would be impossible to even see the shadow of the tree. But Li Qing’an aimed at an egg-sized scar on the tree trunk. Fortunately, the scar was white, and to his extraordinary eyes, it appeared as a small white dot.

He raised the bow evenly, straining his arms. With a creaking sound, the bowstring was slowly drawn back until it was fully stretched, his arms motionless as if holding immense force. Eleni’s eyes widened in astonishment. As an expert, she hadn’t noticed anything special when Li Qing’an used her bow and arrow, but now, with his own bow, his masterful presence became evident. He was as steady as a mountain, his aura mighty and formidable, and his sharp arrowhead was terrifying.

Li Qing’an narrowed his eyes. At that moment, his mind was clear—all struggles for power and family troubles faded away. There was only the arrow in his mind. He felt its power, the ultimate beauty of strength, which brought him immense comfort, as if the arrow had a life of its own and was in harmony with his heart.

He smiled slightly, and the iron arrow flew from the string. Its long shaft left a dark trail in the air. The arrow wasn’t fast, but it seemed to carry immense force. Silently, it headed straight for the small tree 120 steps away. With a “crack,” the arrow pierced the scar, its powerful force tearing a two-foot-long gap vertically through the tree. The scar was left with a round hole, and the arrow continued through it, embedding itself in the wall ten feet away.

Li Qing’an let out a soft sigh. He was very satisfied with this arrow shot. It had been a long time since he had shot an arrow, and he had thought his skills would have faded, but to his surprise, he had shot it so perfectly that even he himself was impressed.
Eleni was stunned. Her master could not shoot an arrow like this. This kind of arrow shooting, seemingly clumsy yet precise, deeply shocked her. This was true archery skill. She felt insignificant, her heart surging with emotion so intense she could hardly control it. Slowly, she knelt down. At that moment, her understanding of archery reached a new level.
Li Qing’an stepped forward, pulled the arrow from the wall, and handed it to Eleni. “This arrow is for you!”
Any slight dissatisfaction Eleni might have had toward Li Qing’an vanished completely. All she felt was admiration and respect. She accepted the arrow with reverence and looked at Li Qing’an sincerely, saying, “I hope this arrow will symbolize the desire for military cooperation between Byzantium and Anxi.”
Li Qing’an nodded. “I hope your father shares the same thoughts as you!”
……
That night, Li Qing’an had a dream. In the dream, Mingyue and Wuyi stood before him, both crying and complaining of their grievances. Suddenly, each grabbed one of his arms and pulled hard in opposite directions like in a tug-of-war. In anger, he broke free from them, only to realize he had used too much force, causing them to fall to the ground, bleeding profusely.
Li Qing’an woke up abruptly, his heart pounding and drenched in sweat. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he sat up and looked out the window. A crescent moon still hung in the sky, with a few dark clouds passing in front of it, making the moonlight flicker.
Unable to sleep again, he sat up, put on a coat, and walked to the gate. Two bodyguards were standing outside, faithfully guarding him. Li Qing’an smiled at them and asked, “What time is it?”
“It’s already the fifth watch.”
Li Qing’an nodded and smiled again. “Go and rest. I don’t want to sleep anymore. There are guards at the gate and patrols around, so nothing will happen.”
The two soldiers hesitated for a moment, then bowed and left. The courtyard was quiet, with only him left. Standing on the steps, a breeze blew towards him. The wind no longer carried any chill, but rather a hint of spring warmth. To his surprise, it was a southeast wind, coming from the Hot Sea, carrying its unique warmth.

Today is the first day of February; in later generations, it will already be March, and early spring has arrived. Li Qing’an felt a faint restlessness in his heart—a desire for spring that had ignited within him. Yet when he thought of the conflicts between the two women at home, this desire was mixed with a hint of worry. This desire, tinged with annoyance, left him troubled. At such times, he wanted to find a woman to vent his frustration thoroughly.

It was then that Li Qing’an accidentally saw the tree that had been shot through. Eleni’s curvaceous figure seemed to reappear before his eyes. That Western beauty exuded a deadly allure—her full breasts, her long, straight, and rounded legs, her round and firm buttocks. He remembered her reluctant gaze as she left, a gaze filled with suggestive boldness that made Li Qing’an’s heart race. He thought he should keep her tonight. At that moment, his heart was filled with a desire to possess her.

……

Li Qing’an could no longer fall asleep. He lay in bed, lost in thoughts until dawn broke. Just as he dozed off, the neighing of a warhorse woke him again. A bodyguard rushed over to report, “General, the Byzantine princess has arrived.”

Li Qing’an was startled. He sat up quickly and asked anxiously, “What time is it now?”

“It’s not completely light yet; it’s still early!”

Li Qing’an breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself, ‘If she’s in such a hurry to come, could it be that she also wants to see me?’ At that moment, a bold idea arose in his mind……

Li Qing’an washed up briefly and went outside. He saw Eleni practicing archery on the grass. She was standing eighty steps away, facing away from him, aiming at the crack in the small tree from last night. Five or six arrows already sat embedded in that crack.

But Li Qing’an’s gaze was fixed on her. She was wearing the same tight outfit as last night—red last night, but white today—still very tight, revealing her devilish figure. His gaze finally settled on her firm buttocks. He admired the curves of her hips and waist as she shot arrows, and his bold idea grew even stronger.

Suddenly, Eleni turned around, looking at him with a half-smiling gaze, as if she could see through his thoughts. Li Qing’an felt awkward. He cleared his throat twice and said with a smile, “You came so early?”

Eleni put away her arrows and slowly walked toward him, looking at him with a suggestive gaze. “Why didn’t you go home last night? You slept here.”

“I often stay here when I’m busy with official duties; it’s quite normal.”
“Hypocrite!” Eirwen shook her head. “You clearly have other reasons. You’ve been away from home for so long, and it’s only been a day since you returned. Don’t you want to spend time with your family?”
Li Qing’an didn’t want to discuss this with her, so he changed the subject and said with a smile, “Get ready! We’re leaving soon.”
“I’m already ready. We can go at any time.”
“Very well!”
Li Qing’an turned to give an order to his bodyguards, who left. Soon, a large carriage stopped at the gate. Seeing it, Eirwen asked in surprise, “Aren’t we riding horses?”
Li Qing’an shook his head and said, “I have many tasks to handle. Sitting in a carriage allows me to deal with some official matters. Besides, we can discuss military cooperation.”
Eirwen looked at him thoughtfully before smiling and saying, “Alright! I’ll ride in the carriage with you.”
Li Qing’an packed up briefly, and they got into the carriage. Surrounded by hundreds of bodyguards, the carriage headed south. The place Li Qing’an was going to was Dongcheng, located about three hundred li south of Suiye, on the south side of the Rhei Sea. It used to be a small city under Suiye’s control but is now a training base for crossbowmen of the Anxi Army. Li Qing’an wanted to show Eirwen the powerful crossbowmen of the Anxi Army.
The carriage moved slowly. Inside, Li Qing’an reviewed two urgent reports from the River Region. They had just arrived—violent clashes between Zoroastrians and Islamic Shiites had broken out again in Bukhara, resulting in over a hundred deaths. This was indeed a troublesome issue. The root cause was that after the Zoroastrian temple in Bukhara was demolished by the Abbasids, a huge mosque was built there. Since the leader of the Ali faction was buried there, it became a sacred site for Islam in the River Region. Yet the original site was also a sacred place for Zoroastrians. With the sacred sites of the two religions overlapping, disputes over it led to continuous bloodshed between the two groups. Now, Li Fei Yuanli suggested forcibly demolishing the mosque and restoring the temple, but Li Qing’an disagreed. With the River Region already unstable, extreme measures could trigger a Shiite uprising, giving the Abbasids an opportunity. He wrote four words in the report: “Maintain the status quo!”

Sitting across from Li Qing’an, Eirwenni felt a bit bored. She lay half-reclined on the soft cushions, watching Li Qing’an’s every move with keen interest. She already had a favorable impression of him. Yesterday morning, his teasing had annoyed her, and if it had been anyone else, she would have reacted immediately. But Li Qing’an had made a good impression on her. Despite her annoyance, she decided to “forgive” him. Last night’s archery competition further impressed her with his superb skills; admiration in a young woman’s heart turned into infatuation, keeping her awake all night as images of his agile form while shooting flashed through her mind, prompting her to come here at dawn.

At that moment, her gaze fell on a crossbow above Li Qing’an’s head. Curious, she looked at it—she had never seen one before.

After finishing reviewing the reports, Li Qing’an noticed Eirwenni’s gaze fixed on the crossbow above him. He put down his pen and casually took down the crossbow from the wall. It was a standard Tang dynasty crossbow, exquisitely crafted, hung there as a decoration on the carriage. He handed it to Eirwenni and said with a smile, “I heard that the Byzantines don’t use such weapons?”

Eirwenni shook her head. “It looks like a bow, but I really haven’t seen one before.”

In fact, military crossbows had appeared in Europe during the Western Han dynasty before disappearing for a long time, reappearing only a thousand years later. So it was understandable that Eirwenni had never seen one—this was also one of the reasons why Li Qing’an took her to see it.

Knowing about several battles between the Anxi Army and the Arabs, he realized that several advanced weapons of the Tang dynasty must have reached the Arabs, including crossbows. He had already received news from Hezhong that Gao Xianzhi had captured 300 crossbowmen among the soldiers in Turfan. The Arabs had already obtained the crossbows and arrows from them. This was why Mansur came to the Tang dynasty seeking more advanced crossbow-making techniques. Even if they couldn’t obtain them, they could still imitate them. Li Qing’an had thought about this for a long time. He knew of the panic caused by crossbows in Europe throughout history. If the Arabs acquired powerful crossbows, it would not only disrupt the balance of power in the West but also make them stronger in their conquest of Europe, turning their attention to threatening Eastern security. Therefore, Li Qing’an considered whether, for the sake of military balance, he should sell the obsolete old crossbows to the Byzantines so they could counter the Arabs, which would also facilitate military cooperation between them.

In front of Eirwenni, Li Qing’an drew a bowstring on the crossbow, loaded an arrow, and handed it to her, saying with a smile, “Try it!”

“I don’t know how to use it,” Eirwenni replied doubtfully as she took the crossbow.

“Come on! I’ll teach you.”

Li Qing’an came behind her, placing one hand on her arm to help her hold the crossbow steady. “That’s it, keep your head up and chest out!”
His hand then slid to her waist, gently pressing it. “Your waist must be straight—this is very important.”
He pressed his palm against her buttocks as well. “This part needs to be straight too.”
The astonishing elasticity of her buttocks made him reluctant to let go, but he finally released them reluctantly. He took both of her hands, almost holding her in his arms, and whispered instructions in her ear. Holding her hands, he pressed his index finger against her fingers and guided them into the bow’s mechanism, whispering, “That’s right! Hold it there, follow my commands.”
Aelenni glanced back at him slightly, her deep blue eyes flashing with a seductive glint, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.