I didn't ask her for the details of her meeting Cao Ping, and she didn't tell me, on the way back to Yifeng Pavilion, we walked silently one after the other, so close to each other, but so far apart, before entering the pavilion door, there was no half a word of conversation.

I can fully imagine what impression Cao Ping's song would have left on her, so I was not surprised at all when I heard her begging for permission to go to the Southern Imperial Garden to watch the Khitan envoy shoot a bow.

Every year on New Year's Day, the Khitan envoy arrives at Que, the court sees the end, the next day the Great Xiangguo Temple burns incense, and on the third day, the Yujin Garden of the South Imperial Garden shoots the bow, and the court will choose to shoot the military ministers to accompany the shooting, and give a banquet there. Because the descendants of the Cao clan originally belonged to the Jiangmen, the children of the clan are good at riding and shooting, and the ministers who accompany the shooting are often selected from the Cao family, and in recent years, this task has been repeatedly handed over to Cao Tong or his younger brother Cao Kai. Cao Ping is getting older, and he has always been good at riding and shooting, and sooner or later he will be the minister who accompanies the archery. This time, the princess invited her to the South Imperial Garden, and it should be that Cao Ping had told her that he would go with his father on the third day of the new year.

Jinshang couldn't help but beg bitterly, and reluctantly agreed, but ordered her to watch from the pavilion next to the archery field, and not to appear inside or outside the archery field, so as not to be seen by outsiders.

Yujin Garden is located outside the Nanxun Gate, built in the Later Zhou Dynasty, and repaired by the emperor of the Dynasty, and now the scale is large, in addition to the length of 500 zhang, the width of 300 zhang of the archery field, the garden also sets up a thousand pavilions and hundreds of pavilions, there is a waterfront, the forest is lush, the fragrant flowers are full of paths, and there is a "elephant house", which has dozens of elephants and all kinds of rare birds and beasts, so the princess also loves to watch on weekdays.

On the day of the Yan shooting, the princess went to Yujin Garden early in the morning, climbed to the edge of the bow shooting field early, went to the pavilion, and sat behind the curtain to wait. Suddenly, the Khitan envoy and the ministers of the Great Song Dynasty accompanied the shooting in the bow field one after another, and the leading escort was Cao Tong, who was followed by a cyan turban, wearing a white blue-edged narrow coat, a belt, and a young man wearing black boots, and the princess immediately moved closer to the bead curtain - that was Cao Ping.

The Khitan envoy wore a golden crown on his head, and the tip of the back eaves was long, like a big lotus leaf, and he wore a purple narrow robe, and he was covered with gold. Cao Tong wore a hood, a narrow coat, silk shoes, and a silver wire belt around his waist. With his fair and beautiful face, coupled with his gentle and indifferent gaze, this bow shooting outfit was actually worn by him with the elegance of a scribe's clothes.

In a few days, two columns of inner servants led forward, and Zhao Zongshi, the thirteenth regiment, came later, as the host sent by today, and climbed the main platform of the archery field to watch the battle. The envoy and Cao Tong each led the crowd to salute the high platform, and then bowed to each other, the thirteenth regiment practiced the order of the ministers to announce the emperor's will, gave the bow and arrow imperial wine, and the Khitan envoy stood with his left foot, knelt with his right foot, and bowed with both hands on his right shoulder. The courtiers of the two countries drank the imperial wine, the sound of ritual music started, and more than ten people in the Great Song Dynasty Zhaojian squad lined up in front of the buttress in purple clothes, and after the ceremony, they guarded both sides, waiting for the messenger to send the arrow.

There are ten stacks, the target surface is red, and a black side tiger head is drawn, with the tiger's eye as the bull's-eye. The Khitan envoy routinely shot with **. A Khitan man with a small head and a brocade jacket stepped forward first, stepped on the crossbow, danced and set up arrows, and aimed at the middle target first. The messenger glanced at it, and then shot it right in the bull's-eye.

The spectators high-fived and said yes, and then they all turned to Cao Tong and waited for him to respond.

The accompanying shot is with a bow and arrow. Cao Tong stepped forward calmly, drew his bow and arrows, and almost did not pause, and an arrow flashed like lightning, penetrating the tiger's eyes.

The archery class cheered in unison, and the onlookers were even more delighted, congratulating them repeatedly, the war drums beat wildly, and the music was loud.

The Khitan envoys also clapped their palms and praised each other, and Cao Tong bowed his body to thank him, slightly unreserved. Then the messenger said something to him with a smile, and pointed to his follower, as if to suggest something. The princess could not hear their conversation at a distance, and was very anxious, so she said to me, "Go down and listen to what they have to say, and come back and tell me." ”

I agreed, instructed Zhang Chengzhao and the maids who accompanied me to serve the princess, and then went downstairs to the archery field.

When he walked to the sidelines, a Khitan young man had already walked out of the group of envoys, tall, magnificent, holding a round of carved bows, as if preparing to shoot the battlement. The envoy looked at Cao Tong as if waiting for his reply, but Cao Tong groaned and did not say anything for a while.

I asked a bystander about the current situation of the minister, and he replied: "The Khitan envoy said that every year the bow shooting mode is single, and the ambassador, deputy envoy and the Great Song Dynasty accompany the shooting arrows, and they are just these familiar people for a few years. He chose a member of the Khitan tribe, named Xiao Hua, who seemed to be a sharpshooter. It's nothing to change people, but he also named the thirteenth regiment to practice to prepare for the battle......"

The thirteenth regiment likes to read on weekdays, and occasionally plays games such as chess and shooting, and is not good at riding and shooting. I'm afraid that the Khitan envoys have also heard of it, and most of them are deliberately embarrassed and provocative.

Seeing that Cao Tong did not accept this suggestion, the envoy gave a salute to the thirteen regiments on the high platform, and repeatedly invited him to come down to fight. The thirteenth regiment frowned slightly, looked very discouraged, and did not answer. Xiao Hua in the field was impatient, so he said something loudly to his own people in Khitan language, and the Khitan people around him laughed when they heard it. The Song people looked around each other, all wondering what he was talking about, and finally the Great Song Tongshi whispered to everyone: "He said that the thirteenth regiment not only can't shoot a bow, but also doesn't even have the courage to barely fight." ”

Before the words fell, I heard that one of the people in the Great Song Dynasty escort queue said a few words aloud, and what he said was also Khitan. Like everyone else, I looked at it in surprise and found that it was Cao Ping who was slowly walking into the arena talking.

The general was overjoyed and was busy translating for everyone: "Cao Gongzi said that the thirteenth regiment practice today is the host of Yan shooting, wearing a wide-sleeved robe, which is inconvenient for shooting a bow, and his riding and archery skills are more than the thirteenth regiment practice guidance, and he can be regarded as a disciple of the thirteenth regiment training, so he wants to ask the Ying substitute teacher to fight." ”

The Khitan envoy was still hesitating, Cao Ping said something to him again, and his colleague continued to translate: "He said that Xiao Hua is a member of the Khitan descendant clan, and he is the nephew of the Empress of the Great Song Dynasty, so he should not insult the Khitan envoy if he comes forward to accompany him." If the first battle is lost, it is not too late to ask the 13th regiment to practice and change clothes to face the battle. ”

At this point, the Khitan envoy could not refuse, so he agreed. Cao Ping stepped forward to greet Xiao Hua and asked him to shoot first, but Xiao Hua said: "Since you can ride and shoot, then we will each ride a horse and shoot willows." ”

Cao Ping had no objections, looked back and instructed the attendants to prepare the venue and bring his fire red horse.

The people of the archery squad quickly hung two rows of willow branches in the field according to the rules, and the branches were tied with silk handkerchiefs for recognition, and a small piece of bark was cut under it, so that it was white, and it was thought to be the bull's-eye.

Shoot the willow to determine the winner, and the result is divided into three classes: the galloping horse shoots the willow branch with a featherless horizontal arrow, shoots its willow, and catches it with his hand, and the one who gallops away on the prancing horse is the top; Those who are broken and cannot be taken are second; If you shoot and the willow branch is not broken, it is the same as if it was not shot, and it is negative.

Cao Ping still asked Xiao Hua to go first. Xiao Hua was also not polite, after getting on the horse, he took the bow and aimed, almost at the same time as the arrow was released, he clamped the horse's belly, rushed forward like a gallop, reached out before the willow branch fell to the ground, held it in his hand, and then raised it to show the public.

This series of actions was completed smoothly and smoothly, and it seems that even if Cao Ping can also break the willow and take it, it is just a tie, so the Khitan people are happy, and the Song people's expressions are slightly dignified.

And Cao Ping led the horse forward, calmly pulling the bow, aiming, releasing arrows, prancing horses, and finally firmly holding the willow branch in his hand, which looked slightly similar to Xiao Hua's movements.

The Song people were thunderous and congratulated the Cao father and son. In the end, the Khitan envoy also came over and said to Cao Tong with a dry smile: "Cao Gongzi is very skilled. This game was won by Da Song. ”

Xiao Hua was quite unconvinced, and asked loudly in Chinese: "We all caught the broken willow, and we can only say that it was a draw, how can it be said that the Great Song Dynasty has won?" ”

The envoy looked back and said coldly: "Didn't you see that Cao Gongzi used his left hand when he drew the bow?" ”

Xiao Hua was stunned for a moment, but still refused to admit defeat, and muttered: "What if he is different from others and has always used his left hand?" ”

Cao Ping smiled slightly when he heard this, and said, "Then how about I change my right hand and shoot again?" ”

Xiao Hua waved his hand: "That's it, let's try another game." Blindfolded stacking, how? ”

Shooting an arrow after blindfolding is a stunt that non-marksmen can't do. After hearing this, the Song people all looked at Cao Ping with concern, but he did not flinch, and happily responded: "Okay, then this game is better than this." ”

This time, Xiao Hua made full preparations, carefully selected the bow and arrows, walked to the bow drawer, and aimed and tested first, and then let people blindfold them with a black scarf after three times, slowly pulled the bow full, and shot an arrow, which hit the bull's-eye.

It seems that the Khitan has taken the lead again. Cao Ping slowly walked to the bow in the cheers for Xiao Huan, it was a matter of honor and disgrace in the Great Song Dynasty, and the onlookers naturally sweated for him, but his expression was calm, and he couldn't see any nervousness.

Standing still, he motioned for the waiter to blindfold him, saving even the step of aiming first. The Khitans were in an uproar, and they stared at him more and more to see how he played.

He raised his chin slightly, let the breeze blow his face, and the end of the blinding scarf fluttered backwards with the back of his head, and he stood gracefully in this spotlight of all people, silent for a long time. As if listening to a pleasant rhythm from the wind, a smile escaped from his lips.

While the onlookers were still looking at him in confusion and smiling, he suddenly raised his hand and drew his bow, which was instantly full, and sent the arrow out with lightning speed.

To everyone's surprise, the arrow flew away from the target and flew high into the sky.

Presumably at that moment of lightning, everyone thought that he had missed. However, it was only for a moment. Soon, there was a bird crying in the air, and then something crashed into the archery range.

The waiter of the archery squad quickly ran and lifted the object high - it was a lone goose, a flying goose in the air pierced by Cao Ping's arrows.

After a moment of silence, there was a jubilant cheer on the sidelines. The Khitan people still had a frightened look on their faces, and the Song people celebrated with their palms and gathered to congratulate the Cao father and son. Cao Ping took off the blinding scarf belt, smiled lightly and bowed his hand to Xiao Hua, who had a gloomy face: "Accept." ”

Xiao Hua sneered and said, "Did we talk about shooting birds in the air before?" ”

"Yes, it's the dog who broke the rules." Cao Tong opened his mouth at this time and said to the Khitans, "He was supposed to shoot the bull's-eye of the battlement, but he shot it elsewhere, and if he didn't hit it, he lost." This time shooting the bow, the Great Song Khitan has won one game each, and it is a draw. ”

The Thirteenth Regiment Lian recognized his statement, politely smiled and praised Xiao Huan, and then gave Xiao Huan and Cao Ping some jewels and miscellaneous costumes, silver saddle horses, and gold and silver utensils on behalf of the emperor. Xiao Huan's face was a little pale, and he also stepped forward with Cao Ping to thank him.

When Cao Ping left the field to change clothes, the ministers in Yujin Garden gathered on both sides of the way, cheering and congratulating him, I recognized a familiar woman's voice, followed the voice, and saw the princess standing in front of the few people, wearing a small yellow door robe, and her long hair was tightly tied in the head, looking like a delicate little chamberlain.

I immediately walked up to her and tugged at her sleeve. She glanced back at me, her smile did not decrease, she had no intention of leaving, and she did not say much to me, still turning her head to look at Cao Ping, who was gradually walking towards her.

Cao Ping's appearance is quite similar to his father, but there is a little more unique heroism of a teenager between his eyebrows. At this moment, he walked forward with a smile, his demeanor was sparse and generous, and he did not lose the graceful bearing of the son of a family, but when he walked to the princess's side, he suddenly had a childlike heart, glared at her sideways, and made a grimace.

The princess did not show weakness, puffed out her cheeks, pushed the tip of her nose upwards with her fingers, and gave him a pig's nose.

Then the two looked at each other and smiled. During this time, Cao Ping did not stop, and after raising his eyebrows to the princess, he went straight to the palace where he changed clothes. And the princess looked at him with joy on her face.

After shooting the bow, a banquet was given in the Yujin Garden as usual, accompanied by the thirteen regiments and Cao Tong and others. The princess said that she would go to the elephant house in the afternoon to see the rare birds and animals, so she stayed on the balcony and had lunch alone. After tasting two bites of the food served by the Imperial Catering Bureau, she said that she couldn't say it was good, and insisted that I go to the kitchen and ask the cook to cook her favorite dishes. I had to obey the order, and before leaving, I looked at the little yellow robe she was still wearing, and a little doubt flashed, but after all, I still didn't ask, and only said to her: "Princess, this dress is still changed." ”

She bowed her head and agreed: "Change it immediately...... Go ahead. ”

My hunch was correct: when I returned, the princess was no longer upstairs.

I asked the maids in the court, and they said in a sneing manner that the princess had gone out with Zhang Chengzhao, and no one was allowed to follow her.

I went out to look for it, and as soon as I got downstairs, I saw Zhang Chengzhao coming back humming a little song. When he bumped into me head-on, he was startled, lowered his head and wanted to slip away, but I raised his voice to stop him.

I asked him where the princess was. Probably because my expression was too stern, and his eyes even had a sense of horror, and he confessed the princess's location without much delay.

"With Cao Gongzi?" I asked.

He cowered and bowed his head. I shoved him away and strode towards where he had said.