Chapter 119: Chapter 119: On-the-Spot Matchmaking, Whose Son Is the Best?
Ji Qingwu wasn’t too concerned with winning or losing, but the elders in her family wouldn’t necessarily see it the same way.
Hearing this, Mrs. Qiao immediately shook her head. ’She’d never seen a "loss" that brought so much pride and honor.’
Madam Qiao took Ji Qingwu’s hand, patted it, and said lovingly, "There are always winners and losers in a competition. As long as you aren’t upset, the rest of us are just spectators enjoying the show."
Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she added, "Besides, as I see it, though you lost this match, you also won."
’Lost, but also won?’ Ji Qingwu didn’t quite understand what her grandmother meant.
Mrs. Qiao, however, understood her mother’s meaning.
Recently, news had spread—though no one knew by whom—that her eldest daughter, Qingrong, was pregnant, all thanks to Xiao Wu’s restorative care. Consequently, the wives from official families who were struggling with fertility had begun discreetly sending visiting requests to the Ji Mansion.
Today, Ji Qingwu had again made such a splash at the archery competition, even upstaging Princess Consort Wei. Many of the wives from the surrounding Military General’s Families were already looking poised to surround the girl.
’It seems we can take our time choosing a husband for Xiao Wu.’
’Families of military generals are more straightforward than those of civil servants. There’s less scheming. Perhaps a better match could be found there.’
The field was quickly prepared.
The men’s archery competition was already fierce, but when one particular person unexpectedly entered the field to join in, many of the contestants began to groan in despair.
Wei Chi Lianping, having changed his attire, entered the field. The riding gear he wore only further accentuated his tall, powerful build—a narrow waist and long, strong arms.
Zhang Chi and Feng Xiang exchanged a look. ’Why did the Great General suddenly change his mind and decide to compete? The archery competition is usually a chance for newcomers to make a name for themselves. Established generals rarely take part, let alone a First-Grade Garrison General.’
’It would be one thing if it were someone else, but this was General Wei Chi. Every arrow he fired went clean through the target. How were they supposed to compete with that?’
’His starting point was their finish line.’
Zhang Chi grumbled, "General Wei Chi, why are you competing too?"
Feng Xiang’s face fell as well. "That’s right! Shouldn’t you be accompanying Her Highness the Princess? Why come here and snatch the top prize from us?"
Mrs. Feng had been nagging Feng Xiang for half a month, insisting that he had to perform well at the archery competition to catch the eye of some young ladies and finally find a wife.
Wei Chi Lianping was looking down and adjusting the tightness of his belt. "The food at home has been too good lately," he said casually. "I’ve put on some weight, so I came out here to burn it off."
Feng Xiang glanced at the general’s solid midsection and said incredulously, "Come on, General, stop joking. Who comes to the archery competition just to burn off a meal?"
Wei Chi Lianping glanced back toward the high platform where Princess Hua Chang was seated. His expression grew serious as he asked, "Would your wife mind if your waist got too thick?"
A moment ago, Princess Hua Chang had scolded him for his lack of table manners. He was supposed to be savoring the delicate rose pastries in small, elegant bites, but he had been wolfing them down three at a time.
This boorish way of eating had annoyed the Eldest Princess, who had coldly snatched his plate away. She’d claimed, for his own good, that she’d noticed his waist getting thicker lately and would be cutting him off from sweets.
So, Wei Chi Lianping really was here to burn off a meal.
"You’re joking again, General," Feng Xiang said. "I’m not married yet."
Wei Chi Lianping nodded in sudden realization. "Ah, I almost forgot. You two are both single. Haven’t even held a girl’s hand, have you?"
The two men were already dejected about him entering the competition; now they felt even more hopeless.
Wei Chi Lianping continued, "It’s normal that you wouldn’t understand. In the art of marriage, a good physique is an important factor. Otherwise, why do you think I became the Eldest Princess’s Prince Consort and not someone else?"
Zhang Chi’s eyes widened. "Isn’t it just because back then, Mr. Ji was—"
Wei Chi Lianping clamped a large hand over his mouth.
Forcibly cutting off Zhang Chi’s words, he curled his lip in a threatening smirk. "Of course, it’s because I am cultivated both inside and out, devilishly handsome, and built like a fine jade tree."
’A jade tree... More like a great locust tree so thick it would take three men to wrap their arms around it.’
Feng Xiang knew the general’s temper, so he played along. "The Prince Consort speaks the truth. A husband’s physique is a source of pride for his wife."
Wei Chi Lianping clapped him on the shoulder. "You’re a smart one. When you get a wife, I’ll teach you a few more things about the art of marriage."
Feng Xiang was sturdily built himself, but that single clap seemed to rattle him right down to his bones.
Princess Hua Chang was seated in the place of honor beside the Emperor.
With that boor no longer beside her to disturb her peace, she contentedly sipped her tea and nibbled on delicate pastries.
Princess Consort Wei had also returned to the high platform. Though she was inwardly fuming that Ji Qingwu had shot through her target, she betrayed no sign of her displeasure.
Cradling the Suihou Pearl, she sat beside the Emperor, whispering something to him with a fetching smile.
The onlookers saw only that Emperor Wu Su’s gaze was fixed somewhere off to the side of the stands. He gave a detached nod, a minimal response.
Disappointed, Princess Consort Wei placed the Suihou Pearl back in its brocade box and handed it to the maid behind her for safekeeping.
A member of the imperial clan commented, "Princess Wei’s final arrow was truly magnificent. Only a national treasure such as this is a fitting match for you, Your Highness."
Wei Liru forced a stiff smile. "The Duchess is too kind."
’Anyone with eyes could see whose final arrow was the most spectacular.’
’It was clearly the Ji Family’s Fifth Missy whose archery was a cut above the rest; she simply had no intention of competing for a title.’
Princess Hua Chang had no patience for such false flattery. She glanced over in Ji Qingwu’s direction, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Ji Qingwu was now swarmed with people. A crowd of noblewomen had gathered around her, mostly obscuring her turquoise-clad figure from view.
Princess Hua Chang looked closer and recognized many of them as the female relatives of military generals who were on good terms with Wei Chi Lianping. Most of them, she knew, had unmarried sons at home.
One of them was even the mother of his own subordinate, Feng Xiang.
Princess Hua Chang glanced up at the Emperor’s face. He still wore that same unapproachable, cold, and distant expression of a king.
If not for the fact that his right hand, hidden beneath his sleeve, was clenched into a tight fist, Princess Hua Chang might have actually believed that Emperor Wu Su didn’t care at all.
Suppressing a smile, she spoke up. "Your Majesty, watching her shoot just now, I found Miss Ji to have the sterling character of her ancestors. Why not invite her to come up and watch the rest of the competition with us?"
Emperor Wu Su gave an expressionless nod, but his right fist unclenched.
*
Ji Qingwu was trapped in the center of the crowd, with even Mrs. Qiao pushed to the outer ring.
The relatives of military generals were often a frank and direct lot. They made their intentions clear and began to size her up for marriage right then and there.
One of the ladies pointed to a man shooting down on the field. "Miss Ji Wu, the one in blue is my son. He is skilled in both scholarly and martial pursuits. What do you think of him?"
Ji Qingwu could barely even see the man, but she quickly replied, "He seems very nice."
Hearing this, the lady to her right grabbed her arm, displeased. "Miss Ji Wu, come look at my second son. He’s the one doing mounted archery in the southeast corner. He’s a Lan Ling Chief now, with boundless potential as an official."
"He seems wonderful, too," Ji Qingwu said awkwardly.
Then the lady behind her started tugging at her, saying something else...
Just then, Li Yuzong appeared before Ji Qingwu, and her eyes lit up.
