The maidens' eyes brightened as they saw Yi Junjie stepping on the stage.
Everyone in the Imperial City knew the handsome, elegant, and gentle Yi Junjie. He had also been the target of many maidens; however, all of them were only those who were born by concubines.
A daughter born by the main wife, no matter how much attractive she found Yi Junjie would only glance at him a few times but would never think of marrying him, because, in the end, he was an adopted child of Yi Manor.
Still, they couldn't help but blush when they saw this elegant man picking up the bow and stretching it calmly with his hands.
Those hands looked so beautiful….have they ever used all these things he was using today?
They couldn't help but wonder as they looked at their hands.
However, their trance was broken soon as Yi Junjie set the arrow and released it. The arrow hit the target accurately..
There were a few claps from here and there as it was not only Yi Junjie who had hit the target. There were some other young and middle-aged men also who successfully hit the target accurately. So Yi Junjie's success didn't create much difference in their eyes.
Soon the target was set a little far away for the second round.
This time only half of the men who succeeded in the first round could successfully hit the target which obviously included Yi Junjie.
In the last and third rounds, the target was kept at the end of the hall.
So everyone was more excited this time.
Only seven people were left to compete in the third round. One by one everyone tried their luck, but the banquet hall's atmosphere became a bit awkward when it was the turn of the fifth person but the target was not hit even once.
Fifth and sixth person could also not hit the target.
Now the atmosphere became more awkward. Even Princess Wenling was frowning and twisting her fingers in her lap thinking that she might have chosen the distance too large for the third round. However, it would be shameful for those noble men if she decreased the distance now.
When it was Yi Junjie, the pressure inside the hall was too much but Yi Junjie looked very calm. His calmness seemed to assure everyone that he could do it while other noble men behind him just rolled their eyes thinking that he was just pretending.
He picked the bow and set the arrow. Everyone waited with bated breath as he released the arrow.
And the next moment, the banquet hall was filled with the sound of clapping. The single arrow in the middle of the round board looked eye-catching.
The target was hit.
.
.
.
In the front seats, Xi Ying was looking around casually searching for anything suspicious when the clapping sound from his right side attracted his attention.
He turned his head to look at the woman sitting beside him who had been sitting quietly all the time. At this moment, she was clapping with her small and smooth hands and there was a small smile on her lips.
Seeing her smile, a smile spread on his own lips and he moved his eyes towards the stage to see what was so amusing that could make a calm and composed wangfei smile.
However, as soon as he saw the reason behind Li Rui's smile, his smile disappeared and his eyes became cold.
His hands clenched into fists that were placed on his thigh and he looked at Yi Junjie very coldly.
The hall was filled with the sound of claps but in his ears, only Li Rui's clap could be heard.
Did she also admire Yi Jinjie just because he hit a target?
For a moment, Xi Ying thought of standing up and challenging Yi Junjie for an archery round.
If he won against him, then would she also clap for him with a smile like this? Xi Ying wondered as he moved his eyes to Li Rui's smile.
His heart was very bitter and he suddenly wished to wipe that smile off from her lips.
"Rui"
He called out but when she looked at him questioningly he couldn't say anything.
What could he say?
Don't smile for him…don't smile for any man except him.
However, the words that came out of his mouth were
"You're happy?"
He asked still looking at her smile.
Li Rui smile was still there as she nodded her head making his heart more stuffy.
"Last time when we visited Li Manor, I remember Aunt worrying about Elder Brother's marriage. After today, I'm sure that Elder Brother Junjie will be going to receive many proposals of marriage now and Aunt would also not leave him until he doesn't agree with her."
She shook her head with a smile as she saw her Aunt and Old Lady Yi clapping their hands with bright and proud smiles on their faces.
She didn't notice that the man beside her had gone through so many emotions all this while.
She didn't know how his heart suddenly became light when she said her last words.
Xi Ying smiled genuinely this time when he saw her smile. His hand reached out to hold her hand tightly.
What was he thinking?
She only thought of YI Junjie as her brother. Despite knowing this, how could he overreact like this, that too, could become unreasonable enough to think of childishly challenging Yi Junjie.
"Rui"
He called her again.
When Li Rui turned her head to look at him, he suddenly leaned down making her gasp.
Li Rui thought that he was going to kiss her in front of everyone and she didn't. Now she knew that he could really do something like this so she hurriedly covered her lips.
But Xi Ying only leaned enough to feel her breath on his face and she could also feel his warm breath on her cheeks.
"This Lord is losing his mind because of you with every passing day."
'So take some responsibility of this Lord and don't ever think of leaving me.'
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