After the last round of scoring, the servants restored the venue to its original state.
Shen Linyi and Zhou Xiaohe stood behind the red line. Each of them was given ten arrows.
After getting the arrows, Shen Linyi held one in her hand and weighed it a couple of times. She estimated its weight and the strength she would need later, then carefully observed the double - eared pot not far away.
Seeing that both of them were ready, the referee announced loudly, "Start!"
Hearing this, Shen Linyi and Zhou Xiaohe bowed to each other before starting the arrow - tossing.
Zhou Xiaohe had been confident in his arrow - tossing skills since childhood. In the entire capital, there was only one person who could beat him. But that person was not in the capital now, so he had no concerns.
He made up his mind that once he won the contest and got the prize, he would give it to Shen Linyi, hoping to gain her favor.
When he was on the third floor just now, he was attracted by Shen Linyi hiding in the corner.
She clearly wanted to watch the fun but only dared to hide in the corner. Standing on tiptoe with her maid, stretching her neck to look forward, she was so furtive, just like the little rabbit he had raised when he was a child, stealing food.
So when he saw Shen Linyi on the first floor, he boldly stepped forward to strike up a conversation.
"Score! One point!"
The referee's high - pitched voice suddenly pulled Zhou Xiaohe back to reality. He was surprised to find that Shen Linyi had scored with her first arrow.
Shen Linyi turned her head. Her bright eyes seemed to be speaking, blinking as if asking Zhou Xiaohe, "Why aren't you moving?"
Zhou Xiaohe's fingers stiffened for a moment. He didn't expect Shen Linyi to be so good at arrow - tossing. Her first arrow had landed in the pot and scored a point.
He couldn't fall behind. So Zhou Xiaohe took a deep breath and concentrated as he tossed his first arrow.
But his arrow bounced twice at the mouth of the pot and then fell to the ground.
"Bounced out! No score!"
The referee's shout told everyone present that Zhou Xiaohe's first arrow had missed.
Since he learned how to toss arrows, Zhou Xiaohe had never missed. But this time, he was affected by Shen Linyi's preemptive strike and missed his first arrow.
Now there was a more serious look on Zhou Xiaohe's face.
The people around started to discuss.
"It's really rare for Young Master Zhou to fail at arrow - tossing!"
"Yes! Even our top scholar has an unlucky start. I used to be badly beaten when I tossed arrows with Young Master Zhou. But now, we might get to see the top scholar being beaten by someone else. Hahaha!"
"Shh, don't disturb that young lady. I'm waiting to see the top scholar lose!"
A smile curled up on Shen Linyi's lips. With a gentle wave of her wrist, a casual and elegant movement, her second arrow hit the ear of the pot.
"Through the ear! Two points!"
Zhou Xiaohe opened his mouth slightly. He didn't expect Shen Linyi to hit the ear of the pot with her second arrow. Her aim was almost as good as that person's!
But now he had no time to think wildly. Zhou Xiaohe forced himself to calm down, but the more he wanted to score, the more he missed.
The arrow bounced out again when it hit the mouth of the pot and fell to the ground.
Shen Linyi didn't turn to laugh at Zhou Xiaohe for missing two arrows in a row. Instead, she was calm and steady as she tossed her third arrow.
"Through the ear! Two points!"
It hit the ear of the pot again. Zhou Xiaohe almost screamed.
Now Zhou Xiaohe didn't dare to underestimate Shen Linyi at all. He turned and seriously tossed his own arrow.
After he truly calmed his mind, he didn't miss again. Then he even showed off his unique skill of hitting the ears of the pot with both hands at the same time. After all ten arrows were tossed, the scores of the two were tied.
The referee had encountered this situation before. He asked the servant to bring out an extra arrow for a sudden - death round, but he saw Zhou Xiaohe raise his hand to stop him.
"I lost. Give the prize to this young lady," Zhou Xiaohe knew that if they continued, he might win, but in fact, he had lost.
Because he noticed that Shen Linyi had used both her left and right hands alternately when tossing arrows, and she could hit the ears of the pot with either hand. This meant that she could toss arrows with both hands at the same time.
But she didn't show this skill. She must have done it to give him, the top scholar, some face in front of everyone.
Zhou Xiaohe could admit his defeat voluntarily, but he couldn't accept others' favor.
The people around didn't understand. They only thought that Zhou Xiaohe was being modest and voluntarily admitted defeat, giving up the prize.
Shen Linyi didn't say anything, but obediently took the dagger handed by the servant.
After leaving the arena, a new round of the arrow - tossing contest began.
Zhou Xiaohe urgently called out to Shen Linyi who was about to leave. "How are you so good at arrow - tossing? Are you the daughter of a military general? Which family are you from? Why have I never seen you before?"
Shen Linyi was stunned for a moment and didn't answer.
Well... she could be considered the daughter of a military general's family.
Before her grandfather retired, he was a well - known military general in the court. Her mother was the only daughter of the general's mansion. So as her mother's daughter, she could barely be considered the daughter of a military general's family.
Seeing that Shen Linyi didn't answer, Zhou Xiaohe thought it was because she was too shy to say her name. He scratched his head and began to apologize.
"I underestimated you just now. I'm sorry. Apart from Marquis Dingguo, Xiao Jinghe, no one has ever beaten me at arrow - tossing. You're the first."
Hearing the name Xiao Jinghe suddenly, Shen Linyi subconsciously asked, "Xiao Jinghe? Do you know Xiao Jinghe?"
"Yes," Zhou Xiaohe was stunned. He didn't understand why Shen Linyi had such a strong reaction. "What's wrong?"
Only then did Shen Linyi realize that her emotions had been a bit too intense just now.
She had been thinking about using the jade pendant to recognize Xiao Jinghe but had never found the opportunity.
But for now, it was not suitable to tell her story to more people. After hesitating for a while, Shen Linyi still didn't tell Zhou Xiaohe about her plan to find Xiao Jinghe.
"It's nothing. The marquis's name is well - known. I've never seen him in person, so I'm just a bit curious."
"I see..."
Zhou Xiaohe nodded understandingly.
But before they could say more, a group of people surrounded them and took Zhou Xiaohe away.
"Come on, our top scholar. Today's Forest of Gathered Elegance Banquet is to celebrate you. You can't escape the drinks. Hurry up and come over to continue drinking."
Zhou Xiaohe was forcibly dragged away. He wanted to say something else but didn't have time.
Shen Linyi held the box with the dagger in her hand. After opening it and taking a look, she still didn't like it, so she handed the box to Liuyun.
"Liuyun, if you like this dagger, keep it for yourself. If not, find a chance to exchange it for silver."
"Okay, miss."
Liuyun replied. She was already thinking about where to exchange the dagger for silver.
After all, this useless but good - looking thing was not as attractive as silver.
Shen Linyi walked forward. Just as she was about to look for Wen Heyu on her own initiative, a group of women blocked her way.
"Are you the woman who just tossed arrows with Young Master Zhou?"
The leading woman stared at Shen Linyi intently, as if facing a great enemy.