Chapter 4: The Archer
783 Words
The palace had finally fallen silent.
The sounds of laughter and conversation had disappeared from the corridors, and one by one, the guests had returned to their rooms.
Lan Yuze's room and Shen Lie's room were directly opposite each other.
Behind the closed doors, both were awake.
Lan Yuze stood beside his window.
As he did almost every night, he looked toward the moon.
The silver light fell across his face.
His long black hair moved gently with the night breeze.
Across the corridor, Shen Lie sat inside his own room.
He had tried to sleep.
But his eyes kept drifting toward the window.
He didn't understand himself.
Why did he suddenly want to see Lan Yuze?
Again.
Just once.
He frowned and looked away.
What is happening to me?
He had never cared this much about someone he had only met recently.
He tried to control himself.
He couldn't.
Finally, Shen Lie stood and walked toward his window.
He looked outside.
Lan Yuze was still there.
Shen Lie's expression softened.
Then Yuze slowly walked away from the window.
As he passed through the garden beneath Shen Lie's window, a faint, clean fragrance drifted through the night air.
Shen Lie paused.
It was subtle.
Yet somehow, he noticed it immediately.
He breathed in quietly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He liked it.
More than he expected.
His eyes followed Yuze until he disappeared into his room.
Shen Lie remained by the window for a long moment.
Then he quietly whispered,
"What are you doing to me, Lan Yuze?"
---
The next morning, the palace grounds were filled with excitement.
The first event of the King's martial competition was archery.
All the princes had gathered on the training grounds.
Targets had been placed far across the field.
The rules were simple.
Each participant would shoot three arrows.
The prince whose arrows landed closest to the center would win.
One by one, the princes stepped forward.
The first prince raised his bow.
He released.
The arrow landed near the center.
The crowd applauded.
The second prince shot.
His first arrow was good.
His second went slightly to the side.
His third missed the center completely.
One after another, the princes competed.
Some managed to hit the center once.
Some twice.
A few failed to hit it at all.
Then—
"Prince Shen Lie."
The crowd became quiet.
Shen Lie stepped forward.
He picked up the bow.
Several princes watched carefully.
Everyone already knew what was coming.
Shen Lie pulled the first arrow.
He released.
Thud.
Bullseye.
The crowd erupted in applause.
He drew the second.
Thud.
Another bullseye.
A few princes exchanged uncomfortable looks.
Shen Lie calmly drew the third.
He released.
Thud.
The third arrow struck exactly beside the first two.
Three perfect shots.
The crowd cheered.
Shen Lie lowered his bow.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Some of the princes looked jealous.
"Of course."
"Who can compete with him?"
Shen Lie paid no attention.
He returned to his place.
Then the official called the next name.
"Lan Yuze."
Silence.
Then several princes laughed.
"Lan Yuze?"
"He's participating too?"
"Look at him."
"Does he even know how to hold a bow?"
Another prince laughed.
"He looks more like a scholar than an archer."
Yuze heard them.
He didn't react.
He simply stepped forward.
Shen Lie watched him.
There was a faint smile in his eyes.
So the quiet young man could shoot?
Interesting.
Yuze stood before the target.
He picked up the bow.
The laughter slowly faded.
He didn't look nervous.
He didn't look at the crowd.
He didn't even look toward Shen Lie.
He simply focused on the target.
The first arrow was placed.
He pulled the string.
Released.
Thud.
Bullseye.
The laughter stopped.
Yuze calmly prepared the second arrow.
Released.
Thud.
Another bullseye.
Everyone stared.
The third arrow.
Yuze breathed quietly.
Pulled the string.
Released.
Thud.
Three arrows.
Three perfect shots.
The entire field became silent.
Even the princes who had been laughing moments earlier couldn't speak.
Lan Yichen smiled proudly.
Mei Lian's face filled with happiness.
Lan Qingshan nodded with quiet pride.
But Shen Lie—
Shen Lie simply stared at Yuze.
His eyes were filled with something completely different.
Surprise.
Admiration.
And something warmer.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"So you can shoot."
Yuze finally turned.
His eyes met Shen Lie's.
For a moment, neither looked away.
Then Yuze lowered his gaze.
Shen Lie's smile grew slightly wider.
The boy who looked so delicate.
The boy everyone thought was too soft for the martial world.
Had just matched his three perfect arrows.
And Shen Lie found himself more impressed than he wanted to admit.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD