Phoenix Cries Return to Court

"Where has the Crown Prince been?" Lin Xi asked, barely suppressing a laugh.

"It's all thanks to Madam," Fu Chen complained, his teeth grinding as he rubbed his aching arms. "You were so cunning this morning, assigning the homework and then disappearing. You should at least have loosened my reins! I'm the Crown Prince! I can't be forced to study like a child, hanging my head from a beam and pricking my thigh with an awl, every day!"

Lin Xihe took a few steps closer, her gaze falling on his face, which was covered in red marks and coated with a thick layer of yellow ointment. She said leisurely, "Doesn't Your Highness's current appearance just prove that my method of 'teaching according to aptitude' is not bad?"

As Shen Jueyan listened to the two of them talking back and forth, he suddenly recalled Fu Chen's disheveled state in the study that day, and couldn't help but shudder.

Unable to win the argument with Lin Xihe, Fu Chen became somewhat frustrated. He picked up the bow and arrow beside him and haphazardly pulled the string, but the next second he almost stumbled because he didn't control his strength well. He said bitterly, "I've been practicing archery all morning, and I haven't even hit the target much. If I keep practicing like this, I'll lose face completely at the hunting banquet in a few days!"

Before Lin Xihe could offer any words of comfort, Shen Jueyan interjected, "Then I'll come and tutor the Crown Prince every day before the hunting banquet."

"Huh?" Fu Chen's eyes widened suddenly, the aggrieved look on his face vanished instantly, and he looked at Shen Jueyan to the side with a puzzled expression. "Didn't Ayan just reject my suggestion outright, saying that you're so busy with official duties every day that you don't even have time to catch your breath? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"Could it be that there's something about the Eastern Palace that attracts you?" Fu Chen blinked and said slyly, "Could it be that while I was practicing archery, you took a fancy to one of my Eastern Palace's maids? If so, Ayan, just say the word, and I'll send her to your residence on a lone horse."

"Cough cough." Shen Jueyan was startled by his words and coughed, a thin layer of red appearing on her ears.

"Which one has caught your eye, Ayan?" Fu Chen persisted. He winked at Shen Jueyan and said, "Which one has caught your eye, Ayan? How about I..." Before he could finish speaking, Shen Jueyan swiftly stepped forward and covered his mouth with the water bottle in his hand.

"Your Highness is tired, please have some water and rest," the man said in a deep voice.

Fu Chen had been practicing all morning and was extremely thirsty, so he immediately grabbed the water bottle and started gulping down water.

Just then, a servant rushed over and respectfully reported, "Your Highness, the bows and arrows you ordered the craftsmen of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion to make are finished. The craftsmen are currently waiting for you to inspect them in the main hall!"

"That's wonderful!" Upon hearing this, Fu Chen's face lit up with joy. He shoved the kettle into the servant's hand and hurried toward the main hall. After taking only two steps, he stopped, turned back to look at Lin Xihe and Shen Jueyan standing there, and waved his hand, "Please make yourselves at home, I'll be right back."

Having said that, he vanished in the blink of an eye, as if the wind was blowing beneath his feet.

Lin Xihe shook her head helplessly, her gaze falling on the target and bow and arrows not far away. Suddenly, she recalled her days as Empress Dowager, practicing archery in the Shou Kang Palace. Back then, her archery skills were superb; she could hit a target from a hundred paces away, and she was so full of vigor and pride. Even Emperor Sheng was taught archery by her. Now, having not touched a bow and arrow for a long time, she suddenly felt a stirring in her heart and couldn't help but eagerly try it out.

She stepped forward slowly, picked up the ebony bow and arrows, nocked the arrow, drew the bow, and aimed—all in one fluid motion.

With a "whoosh," the arrow shot through the air, creating a sharp whistling sound, and accurately struck the bullseye.

A hint of smugness flashed in Lin Xihe's eyes. He then nocked another arrow, and before long, all nine arrows hit the bullseye.

Just as she was about to shoot her tenth arrow, she suddenly felt a familiar presence behind her, followed by a pair of strong arms gently encircling her waist. Lin Xihe shuddered, nearly dropping her bow and arrow, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

A familiar scent of agarwood wafted into her nose. Lin Xi subconsciously looked around and found that the guards and servants who had been nearby had all quietly retreated, leaving only the two of them in the vast training ground.

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying crabapple petals that landed on their shoulders, filling the air with a faint fragrance of flowers and sandalwood.

Shen Jueyan's chest pressed tightly against her back, and she could feel the man's strong heartbeat, intertwined with the fluttering of her own heart.

Shen Jueyan remained expressionless, his long, slender hand gently covering Lin Xihe's soft hand holding the bow. He slightly adjusted her posture, saying, "Eyes, arrow shaft, and target, all three in a straight line. Keep your mind steady and don't waver."

His voice was deep and husky, with a touch of magnetism, and his warm breath brushed against her ear, making Lin Xihe's face even hotter.

Lin Xi forced herself to calm down, her eyes fixed on the bullseye, but her fingers still trembled slightly. Shen Jueyan seemed to notice her unease and said in a deep voice, "Don't get distracted."

Lin Xihe took a deep breath, then aimed at the bullseye. Just as she was about to release her grip and fire the last arrow, a deep, husky male voice suddenly came from beside her ear, "How did you know my name is 'He Er'?"

The memory of that day in the cave was still vivid in Shen Jueyan's mind. After returning to his residence, he recalled it countless times, repeatedly confirming that he was not hallucinating. However, in the past few days, he had been calming himself down, suppressing the urge to ask questions, and silently observing her every move, waiting for the perfect opportunity to suddenly throw out this question to test her true feelings.

Lin Xihe's heart skipped a beat, and her fingertips tightened unconsciously, but in an instant, she regained her composure and said calmly, "Who in the world does not know you? There are occasional rumors about the interesting things that happened when I was young, but I only heard about them by chance."

The moment she finished speaking, she abruptly released her fingers. There was a whistling sound, and when she looked again, the arrow had landed steadily in the bullseye.

A smile unconsciously appeared on Lin Xihe's face, but the moment she turned around, she met Shen Jueyan's eyes, which were full of inquiry.

Shen Jue remained silent, gazing at the woman before him whose smile had not yet faded. He thought to himself that if it were an ordinary woman, she would surely speak recklessly after he had spoken her mind. Although this Wen was a lady of the inner quarters, she had such a temperament, which was no ordinary person.

Thinking of this, his eyes darkened, and his doubts surged. Who exactly was this woman? What was her purpose in approaching the Crown Prince?

"You..." Shen Jueyan looked at her, his thin lips parted slightly, wanting to ask more questions, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know where to begin.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

The next second, Fu Chen's loud voice rang in their ears, filled with undisguised excitement, as it approached, "Ayan, Master, come and see my new bow and arrow! It's amazing!"