Chapter 89: Provocation

The commotion wasn't limited to Jun Jun Yiyi's side; on Jun Jun Zijin's side, a disturbance arose as well.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin so favored, Gao Gao Shanshan was so angry her eyes seemed ready to spit fire. Today at Liulidian, Noble Consort Gao had failed to punish Jun Jun Zijin, leaving her extremely unwilling; she had long been planning how to deal with Jun Jun Zijin.

Although Jiahe Junzhu, Jun Jun Yiyi, and Jun Jun Zhidie were equally jealous.

But Jiahe Junzhu is now betrothed to the Fifth Imperial Prince, who warned her not to openly seek trouble with Jun Jun Zijin today. Jun Jun Yiyi and Jun Jun Zhidie dared not commit an offense against the wind and seek discomfort for Jun Jun Zijin here.

But Gao Gao Shanshan, relying on her aunt being the current Noble Consort, believed the word "caution" was never something she should consider. What if Jun Jun Zijin's medical skills were excellent? Gao Gao Shanshan had at least learned martial arts for a few years; how could she compare to Jun Jun Zijin, a useless person who sat in a carriage every day? Gao Gao Shanshan thought proudly, only wanting to regain the face she lost at Liulidian Palace just now, completely forgetting the thorough beating she received at Bi Bo Ting.

Gao Gao Shanshan proudly came before Jun Jun Zijin and challenged, "Jun Jun Zijin, do you dare to compete with me in horseback archery?"

Jun Jun Zijin slowly rotated the wine cup in her hand, not even lifting her eyelids; she had no intention of paying any attention to Gao Gao Shanshan's provocation. In her view, Gao Gao Shanshan was merely a bully taking advantage of power, a clown; as long as she didn't make the mistake of seeking a beating at her hands, Jun Jun Zijin truly found it too much trouble to care.

He Ling'er looked down on Gao Gao Shanshan's arrogant appearance and could not stand Gao Gao Shanshan openly provoking Jun Jun Zijin; she blocked in front of Gao Gao Shanshan, glaring with angry eyes, and said:

"Gao Gao Shanshan, if you want to compete in horseback archery, I'll compete with you. Our Jun Zijin's hands are for taking pulses and curing illnesses; how precious are they? How can they be compared by just anyone?" He Ling'er's words were full of defense for Jun Jun Zijin.

Hearing this, Gao Gao Shanshan snorted coldly, her face full of disdain: "He Ling'er, what sort of thing are you, worthy to compete with this Young Lady?" Her tone was filled with arrogance and contempt.

At this moment, Quan Quan Qingle also spoke up; she stood up abruptly, glaring at Gao Gao Shanshan:

"Gao Gao Shanshan, how are you speaking? Looking for a beating, are you?"

Quan Quan Qingle's words carried a degree of authority; as a legitimate Imperial Junzhu of the royal family, she naturally would not allow Gao Gao Shanshan to be so presumptuous.

Gao Gao Shanshan, however, didn't care at all; she was proud and arrogant, looking down on everyone, and simply looked down on Jun Jun Zijin, He Ling'er, and Quan Quan Qingle. She snorted coldly and looked challengingly at Jun Jun Zijin:

"What? Jun Jun Zijin, do you dare not? Or do you simply rely on luck, creating some so-called vaccine to grab attention, when in fact you are just a useless person with a false reputation?"

Jun Jun Zijin finally lifted her eyelids, glanced lightly at Gao Gao Shanshan, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly, revealing a trace of coldness that was there yet not there. She said slowly, "Young Lady Gao, are you sure you want to compete with me in horseback archery?"

Gao Gao Shanshan sneered contemptuously: "Stop talking nonsense! If you give Crown Prince Brother to me, maybe when I'm in a good mood I'll let you off!"

Jun Jun Zijin put down her wine cup and stood up. "Gao Gao Shanshan, since you want to compete so badly, then today I will play along with you, and teach you that there is always someone better."

Sunlight shone on the vast horse arena; the spectator stands were in an uproar, everyone expecting a spectacular contest. Gao Gao Shanshan, dressed in a magnificent tight riding suit, stood in the center of the arena, her gaze toward Jun Jun Zijin full of provocation and pride, a cold smile curling her lips.

Not far away, Jun Jun Zijin, in a lake-blue riding suit, looked heroic and spirited, her expression calm and unhurried. She sat quietly on a tall, magnificent horse, her gaze sharp as a torch, her demeanor self-possessed. Though she spoke not, that air of calm composure could not be ignored.

Both women held long bows; Gao Gao Shanshan pointed to the bullseye fifty paces away and said, "Follow the rules: the horse cannot cross the inner circle, and three arrows will decide the winner."

For two young ladies to compete, thirty paces was usually far enough. Gao Gao Shanshan intentionally said fifty paces, wanting Jun Jun Zijin to cry in public.

"Shoot copper coins, one hundred paces. One round decides the winner." Jun Jun Zijin said lightly.

Huh! Including the Emperor, the entire crowd was shocked.

Someone in the crowd screamed: "Is Junzhu Lady Qingping crazy?"

A daughter from a civil official's family competing in horseback archery with Gao Gao Shanshan, who had learned martial arts for a few years; no one present had ever seen Jun Jun Zijin shoot an arrow, and no one believed she knew archery. She carelessly made such a crazy demand; if she wasn't a madman, what was she?

Gao Gao Shanshan even felt Jun Jun Zijin was simply unable to accept defeat and was deliberately causing trouble:

"Jun Jun Zijin, are you afraid of losing and deliberately making a scene?"

Jun Jun Zijin walked forward two steps, her eyes wide with anger, pointing at the arrow target and saying in a cold voice:

"Arrows are used on the battlefield to shoot and kill foreign enemies! They are not for your playing house. Have you ever heard of a foreign enemy standing still and waiting for you to shoot him?"

Emperor Tianqi Emperor Quan Quan Wuji's eyes widened; Quan Quan Aoyu's hand holding a teacup paused, his eyebrows raised; Quan Quan Tianchen was stunned, then unconsciously bent slightly at the waist and asked Quan Quan Aoyu, "Is sister-in-law really capable?"

Quan Quan Aoyu's mouth twitched, pretending not to hear. How could he answer? He had once asked that girl, besides medical skills, qin playing, and hard martial arts, what else she could do, but the girl only blinked and said, "Just wait and see."

Second Imperial Prince Quan Quan Qiming mocked, "That girl from the Jun family is making a fool of us! Even among everyone present, the number of people who could hit the target could be counted on one hand."

Seventh Imperial Prince Quan Quan Tianwu, holding a piece of pastry, had forgotten to eat; hearing this, he came to his senses: "Second Brother, Sister Jun Zijin would never be like you say!"

Two more people were biting their teeth hard and glaring at Jun Jun Zijin.

One was Prime Minister Gao; his eyes looked as if he wanted to swallow Jun Jun Zijin alive, his face even more gloomy and terrifying; he cursed Gao Gao Shanshan in his heart for making a bigger and bigger scene, thinking, "With all this fuss, how can we wrap this up?" Gao Gao Shanshan didn't know Jun Jun Zijin's abilities, but he did.

Gao Gao Shanshan was the daughter born of Concubine Wu; although she was a concubine-born daughter, because she was born with noble fortune in her fate, she was highly valued by Prime Minister Gao; her food, clothing, and use of goods were the best among the Young Ladies of the manor. Originally, Concubine Wu, who had lost favor and been confined, not only regained her freedom because of Gao Gao Shanshan's return, but Prime Minister Gao also frequently stayed in Concubine Wu's courtyard. He originally wanted to marry Gao Gao Shanshan to Third Imperial Prince Quan Quan Tianyi, but her daughter, Noble Consort Gao, seemed not very enthusiastic about the matter. Furthermore, because Gao Gao Shanshan insisted on liking the Crown Prince, the matter had been put on hold.

The other was Noble Consort Gao; she turned to look at the Emperor, seeing that the Emperor's gaze toward Jun Jun Zijin held a degree of interest. Noble Consort Gao frowned tightly, her eyes staring fixedly at Jun Jun Zijin, as if she would not stop until she burned holes through Jun Jun Zijin's internal organs.

Quan Quan Wuji stared at Jun Jun Zijin for a long while; just how many wonders did this girl have? He couldn't wait to find out either.

"Good!" Suddenly, Quan Quan Wuji spoke loudly, "Girl, well done!"

Gao Gao Shanshan's heart was bitter! Her face turned green then white; fifty paces at a static target was already her limit, yet Jun Jun Zijin wanted to shoot copper coins at one hundred paces. She now wished she could beat herself to death; why had she provoked that plague god today? But now the Emperor had spoken, so she couldn't back down; she could only steel herself and go forward.

A eunuch brought three copper coins and hung them side by side on a tree.

With a crisp whistle, the competition officially began. Gao Gao Shanshan barely steadied her mind and urged her horse to gallop out; fifty paces was already a limit challenge for her, let alone the small hole of a copper coin at one hundred paces; she couldn't even see clearly, so where should she shoot? Now there was no other way; she could only try her utmost.