Liu Ruyi pouted and proudly picked up his little bow and arrow. Having just made such a boast, he was naturally going to do his best to shoot. Although hitting the bullseye with all three arrows depended on luck, he was 100% confident that all three arrows would be closer to the bullseye than Liu Ying's.
"Brother, watch carefully! This arrow must be shot like this!" Liu Ruyi steadily nocked the arrow, drew the bow, and shot it with great confidence.
Whoosh!
Snap...
The entire room fell silent.
Liu Ruyi's smile froze on her face instantly; the arrow had missed all three targets!
It missed the target, the support, and thankfully, it didn't hit anyone either...
Liu Ji lowered his hands, which were about to clap, and wondered if Liu Ruyi had been blinded by victory. He often made this kind of mistake; could he have followed suit in this one as well?
Empress Lü had already given up hope of the competition, but Liu Ruyi, who had boasted so much, actually missed the target!
The courtiers of the Lü faction almost shouted "Good!" Could it be that Liu Ruyi had inherited Liu Ji's talent for boasting? Alas, that little brute's boasting had actually fooled everyone, making them think that Liu Ruyi was bound to win.
Xiao He's lips twitched violently, and a weight was lifted from his heart. As expected, that person still made a move!
"This is impossible! Father, I clearly aimed just now!" Liu Ruyi's face turned bright red; he had really lost face!
At this distance, even Liu Ying, who had never practiced archery, didn't miss the target. He missed, and he had even boasted about it beforehand...
Liu Ji cleared his throat and comforted him, "Uh, Yi'er, don't be nervous. Adjust your mindset. There are still two arrows left. I know my son's strength."
"Here." Liu Ruyi took a deep breath. Indeed, he had been a bit too hasty. There were still two arrows left. As long as he performed at his normal level, defeating Liu Ying would be a piece of cake!
Liu Ying thought for a moment and then said, "Third brother, this arrow...it seems we can't shoot it like this?"
Liu Ruyi was furious. "I deliberately let you win, brother, so you wouldn't lose too badly! This second arrow will definitely hit the bullseye!"
"Then I'll wait and see, Third Brother, go ahead and do your best." Liu Ying smiled slightly. To be able to shoot an arrow off target at such close range, his skill level was truly like that of a child.
Liu Ruyi took another breath, picked up the second arrow, drew the bow, and aimed at the target. This time, she aimed for a while longer to make sure she was on the right track before finally firing.
Meanwhile, Hao Jiu stared intently at Xiang Yu. To be honest, Hao Jiu didn't understand how that arrow had missed three targets.
It's certain that Xiang Yu is still a long way from unleashing his domineering aura, and his soul clone wouldn't dare to openly appear in front of the Black Dragon in soul form, lest it cause trouble if it were seen.
So this time, Xiang Yu used a soul clone to possess a rather obese minister, while his true self hid behind the clone using a ghost-concealing technique.
With Xiang Yu's current speed of slightly over one hundred meters per second, combined with the ability to conceal his presence, it wouldn't be difficult for him to enter and exit the main hall unnoticed.
The only concern is that the black dragon inside Liu Ji's body might suddenly emerge, but there are too many people in the main hall, and with his clone covering for the main body, the possibility of exposure is not high.
Moreover, after so much observation, Black Dragon is not a system that likes to wander around aimlessly, nor is Hao Jiu, because he feels more comfortable and safer in Xiang Yu's body.
Of course, even if we are accidentally exposed, it's not a big deal. We can just take them down.
Whoosh!
The bowstring trembled, and the arrow flew toward the center of the target. Although its speed was far slower than that of an arrow shot from a powerful bow, it was not far from the target, and the time from being shot to hitting the target was only a blink of an eye.
But in that instant, Xiang Yu, hidden in the crowd, flicked his finger, and a tiny grain of sand, almost invisible to the naked eye, struck the flying arrow with lightning speed!
The force was just right to change the arrow's flight path, allowing it to graz the target with incredible precision...
It fell to the ground with a thud, as if it had shattered something.
Liu Ji rubbed his eyes. "Is Ruyi's mentality really that bad? She missed the target twice in a row!"
Empress Lü glanced at Liu Ji and smiled slightly. It seems that Ying'er is the one who is truly blessed by heaven.
The ministers who supported the Lü clan all wore bright smiles. If the first arrow could be attributed to a mistake by the enemy, then the second arrow was enough to demonstrate their true skill.
The courtiers who supported Liu Ji and Liu Ruyi all looked extremely grim. They thought to themselves, "What's the point of Liu Ruyi coming out to embarrass himself with such little ability? Isn't this just helping the Lü family secure the position of crown prince?"
"Xiang Yu's aim is incredibly accurate..." Hao Jiu clicked his tongue in amazement, but then he thought about it again and realized that Xiang Yu's accuracy in both archery and spear throwing was unbelievable.
"Just luck," Xiang Yu said dismissively. "I don't care about the last arrow."
Hao Jiu was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter, "Hahaha... Brilliant!"
Chapter 205 The Will of Heaven
He missed the target twice in a row, which is extremely embarrassing. How can he still think of using this to compete for the position of crown prince?
"Why?" Liu Ruyi's innocent face was full of confusion, then she roared, "Father! This bow and arrow must have been tampered with!"
"Your Majesty, please do justice for my son!" Lady Qi knew Liu Ruyi's abilities; it was impossible for him to miss the target twice in a row.
Liu Ji also realized what was happening and immediately flew into a rage, shouting, "Outrageous! Who dares to be so bold!"
"Your Majesty! It's best not to jump to conclusions without evidence. Whether the arrows have been tampered with or not can be determined by having the two arrows that were shot examined." Empress Lü smiled slightly. "If the arrows are not the problem, perhaps this is destiny."
Liu Ji was taken aback. "Destiny? Someone, send a few archers to check it out."
There were many military officers present. Some went to check the remaining arrow, while others went to check the two that missed the target. However, they found no problem whatsoever.
"No tricks involved?" When Liu Ji asked this question, he realized that he was the one who orchestrated the archery competition and sent reliable people. How could he possibly sabotage himself?
"Indeed," the generals replied in unison.
These people belonged to three different camps, and no one dared to lie at this time.
Liu Ji's face was like frost. He was truly hopeless. He had done everything he could to be benevolent and righteous. What did it matter to him who inherited the throne?
However, the deposition and installation of the crown prince is related to the Black Dragon's sacrifice, and this matter requires the Black Dragon's consent.
"Dragon God, this matter is strange. Could it be that some ghost or god is behind it? Missing the target once is a mistake, but missing twice is extraordinary." Liu Ji didn't believe in any divine mandate. He had often talked about being protected by divine mandate over the years, but in reality, wasn't he being helped by the Black Dragon?
"Let him shoot the third arrow, and I will see what really happened. Even if we fail to replace the Crown Prince now, I will not blame you. As the saying goes, if one door closes, another opens. I have already thought of a replacement." After saying this, the black dragon emerged from Liu Ji's body, scanned the surroundings, and found nothing unusual.
"In that case, King Zhao, shoot your last arrow well. No matter how well you practice, if you embarrass yourself at the crucial moment, it will be your own fault for not cherishing the opportunity." Liu Ji felt ashamed that the opportunity he had gained by exposing his illness had been wasted.
"Yes." Liu Ruyi was still a child after all. After hearing the title "King Zhao," his heart sank. If the arrow was fine, then the problem lay with him.
Liu Ying wanted to encourage Liu Ruyi again, but in the end he didn't say anything and quietly walked back to Lü Zhi's side.
Liu Ruyi picked up her bow and arrow and aimed at the target again. She couldn't afford to make another mistake. Just one arrow, just one arrow that showed her true ability!
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final result: whether the position of crown prince would belong to Liu Ying or Liu Ruyi would soon be revealed.
Most people don't think much of Liu Ruyi, believing he's just a smooth talker who's good at flattery but lacks real talent.
This time, Liu Ruyi took longer to aim than Liu Ying had ever taken to aim before, and sweat dripped down his forehead...
Whoosh!
The arrow flew straight toward the target.
Bang!
Hit!
"Nine rings, not bad." Hao Jiu smiled slightly.
“Useless.” Xiang Yu glanced at the target.
At the same time, Liu Ji asked himself, "How is it?"
"Nothing is amiss. Be sure to side with Liu Ruyi later, and don't upset Lady Qi." After saying this, the black dragon returned to Liu Ji's body.
"Excellent! My son has won! My son is the Crown Prince!" Lady Qi exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the target.
Empress Lü sneered, "Consort Qi, please watch your words. The Crown Prince is my son, Liu Ying."
"What? Does Your Majesty the Empress not accept defeat? It was clearly my son's arrow that was closer to the bullseye!" Lady Qi said angrily.
"They were close, but didn't hit the bullseye. The Crown Prince hit the target with all three arrows, while the King of Zhao only hit it with one. The difference in skill is obvious!" Lü Zhi said disdainfully.
Lady Qi's eyes reddened, "Your Majesty! Ruyi, he..."
"My beloved consort, do not be afraid, I will stand up for you," Liu Ji comforted her, then stood up and announced the results of the contest, "I believe that Yi'er is more skilled and closer to the bullseye, and should win. Therefore, the position of Crown Prince should belong to the Third Prince!"
Whoosh...
A commotion broke out in the hall. According to the agreed rules of the competition, the winner would be determined by the number of times the two princes hit the bullseye. As a result, neither prince managed to hit the bullseye with a single arrow.
Liu Ruyi's last arrow was closer to the bullseye, but the first two arrows missed. If we had to determine a winner, the Crown Prince's three arrows were superior.
But His Majesty the Emperor insists that Liu Ruyi has won. What should we do? Should we have another match?
Lady Qi glanced triumphantly at Empress Lü, then turned to Liu Ruyi and said, "My son, when will you thank your father?"
Liu Ruyi looked confused, but still forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Father, for your fair judgment! Although I was lucky to win this time, I did not perform to my full potential. I beg you, Father, to let me have another match with my brother!"
"Absurd! How can such an important matter be reversed? It was clearly the King of Zhao who proposed the flawed competition rules. Neither side hit the bullseye, so the Crown Prince should be judged the winner. Your Majesty's favoritism towards the King of Zhao is unacceptable to this old minister!" Shusun Tong no longer cared about saving face. Another competition would definitely result in more losses than wins.
Liu Ji's face turned cold. "How dare you! Guards! Drag Shusun Tong out!"
Zhou Chang's anger grew stronger and stronger. He had agreed to this absurd competition because he thought Liu Ji was about to die. However, Liu Ruyi, who missed the target twice and did not hit the bullseye, was judged to be the winner and even threatened to beat the Grand Tutor.
“This is outrageous! How can the emperor, the ruler of the country, be so arrogant as to contradict himself? I believe the Crown Prince is right!” Zhou Chang suddenly stood up and stood with Shusun Tong, his eyes wide open.
"Your Majesty! I believe the Crown Prince will prevail!" Xiao He said, bowing.
"Your Majesty! I believe it is the Crown Prince who will prevail!" The courtiers on the Lü side echoed this sentiment, and many neutral courtiers also rose to express their opinions.
"I believe it is King Zhao who will win!" Zhou Xie retorted defiantly.
"I believe it is Prince Zhao who will win!" Chen Ping, Lu Jia and others also stood up to support him, and the whole court was in chaos, but it was clear that the Crown Prince's side still had the upper hand.
Lady Qi panicked instantly when she saw this situation; there were so many people opposing Liu Ji!
Liu Ruyi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she secretly ran to Lady Qi's side.
"Hmph! Enough!" Liu Ji glared at the assembled officials, finally turning to the newly appointed Chancellor Zhou Bo, "Who does the Chancellor think has won?"
Zhou Bo slowly stood up. "Your Majesty believes this contest will end in a draw. However, since Marquis Liu and the Four Sages of Mount Shang are both here today, Your Majesty might as well listen to their opinions."
Liu Ji cursed under his breath, "Does Marquis Liu think he's won?"
Zhang Liang smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, I believe it will also be a draw. What do you four think?"
The Four Recluses of Shangshan had already discussed this below, so Dongyuan Gong will answer on their behalf:
"Your Majesty! It is true that the match was a draw according to the agreed rules, but the position of Crown Prince originally belonged to the Crown Prince. Using it as a wager is unfair to the Crown Prince. Moreover, it was the King of Zhao who proposed the rules of the competition, which is even more unfair to the Crown Prince!"
The result of the contest was that the Crown Prince hit the bullseye with three arrows, while the King of Zhao only hit the bullseye with one. Even though the King of Zhao's arrow was a little closer to the bullseye than the Crown Prince's best arrow, if His Majesty were to judge the King of Zhao as the winner based on this, wouldn't that be unfair to the Crown Prince again?
We believe that since it is a draw, there is no need to change the choice of the crown prince; this is the will of Heaven!