Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The final martial trial was held at the imperial archery grounds.
Father and Her Majesty the Empress sat with me on the high viewing platform, watching the young men race beneath us on horseback.
It was another mounted archery contest, but this was no childish game with a paper kite like the one on my birthday. This time, guards of the Palace Command ran ahead holding small targets aloft. Each contestant had to hit the moving bull’s-eye before the court eunuch would draw a circle beside his name.
That circle meant he had qualified to become a prince consort.
Qin Yan was the first to strike the target. He rode with such ruthless determination that he knocked a slender scholar in blue robes from his horse just to pass him and claim first place.
Gasps swept across the platform.
Behind me, a noblewoman of the imperial clan clutched her embroidered handkerchief. “Goodness, that young man charges about like a wild bull. I hope he hasn’t hurt the poor fellow badly.”
Someone hid her mouth behind a round silk fan and murmured, “That is Her Majesty’s nephew…”
The woman froze, pressed her lips together in embarrassment, and stole a glance at the Empress.
The Empress was frowning. She, too, thought Qin Yan had gone too far.
“Ah Yan has no sense of restraint. His Majesty must punish him later.” Even as she spoke, she hurriedly ordered an attendant, “Help the injured gentleman from the field and summon a physician.”
Father only laughed and waved the matter aside.
“A man who wants to marry my daughter had better be willing to risk everything! That Qin boy has courage and cunning. I like him.”
Father turned to me with a warm smile. “Don’t you agree, Jiajia?”
But my attention had wandered.
I was not looking at Qin Yan, the victor. I was watching the injured scholar. Instead of leaving the field, he calmly set his dislocated arm back into place, wiped the blood from his brow, and swung himself onto his horse again.
He finished third.
Princesses of our dynasty had always chosen their consorts from the first- and second-place candidates. He had missed his chance by the narrowest margin.
When the contest ended, Qin Yan went over to him. They seemed to know each other. Qin Yan clapped him on the shoulder and appeared to offer an apology.
The scholar gave a slight shake of his head.
A dry summer breeze drifted down from the eaves of the high platform and stirred the blue ribbon in his hair, like a ripple crossing a silent lake.
He raised his head, and our eyes met across the distance.
At the same moment, Qin Yan noticed where I was looking. He broke into a wide, white-toothed grin and waved at me.
I lowered my eyes, then quietly turned to glance at the eunuch’s register.
The man who had placed third was named Jiang Shou.