Chapter 12: Training

Feng Bai Su had just left, and Feng Bai Wei and the other two also retreated from the hall.

Seeing her, Feng Bai Wei stepped forward with a frown and said, “Seventh Imperial Sister, you are being too presumptuous! If you truly anger Mother Emperor to the point of illness, even ten lives would not be enough to make amends.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Bai Zhi, wanting to curry favor with Feng Bai Wei, also snorted at Feng Bai Su: “Fifth Imperial Sister is right! Little Seven, you should be grateful that Mother Emperor has specially favored you by allowing you to enter the Jingji Camp. Let Second Elder Sister advise you as well, don’t be ungrateful and disappoint Mother Emperor’s expectations.”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Su raised an eyebrow. She cupped her hands towards the two, seemingly unconcerned, and said lazily, “Then I thank both Imperial Sisters for their teachings.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Watching her retreating figure, Feng Bai Zhi complained softly to Feng Bai Wei and Feng Bai Ying: “I don’t know what Mother Emperor was thinking, actually letting her go to the Jingji Camp.”

Feng Bai Ying, who had been silent until now, frowned disapprovingly upon hearing her words: “Mother Emperor naturally has her deep intentions in doing this. How can we speculate about them?”

After speaking, she also turned and walked away.

Only Feng Bai Wei and Feng Bai Zhi remained standing in place.

Feng Bai Zhi looked at Feng Bai Ying’s back, curling her lip in disdain: “What’s there to be so proud about.”

Then, she turned her head to look at Feng Bai Wei beside her, smiling flatteringly: “I heard that Mother Emperor has entrusted this year’s imperial examination to you, Fifth Imperial Sister. Congratulations! For Mother Emperor to entrust such an important matter to Fifth Imperial Sister, it seems Mother Emperor values you the most!”

Hearing her flattery, Feng Bai Wei just smiled faintly at her.

Then, wiping the smile from her face, she said coldly, “Second Imperial Sister, please excuse me. This princess has matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”

With that, without waiting for Feng Bai Zhi’s response, she turned and left.

Feng Bai Wei had been a successful person in her previous life, and now that she had transmigrated to a matriarchal society and become an imperial princess, there were naturally some things she had to strive for.

She had thought she had misjudged, believing the other to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But after today’s observation, it seems she had overthought it!

Thinking of this, a trace of disdain flashed through her deep black eyes.

It was just a pity about this position in the Jingji Camp. If it had been given to her, she could have made a great show of her abilities. What a waste…

—

After leaving, Feng Bai Su naturally returned to Qingfeng Palace first to change into a new outfit.

A sapphire blue fitted simple outfit added a touch of heroic spirit to her!

Although Feng Bai Su often danced on the Emperor’s bottom line, she wasn’t foolish enough to truly cross the line. That would not be clever, but stupid!

Although she had changed her clothes, she still rode her little red mare towards the Jingji Camp.

When she arrived at the camp today, she didn’t receive the same ridicule and mockery as yesterday, but the gazes of everyone in the camp were still very unfriendly.

In fact, it could be said that yesterday’s mocking looks were mild. Today, everyone looked as if they wanted to eat her alive.

Feng Bai Su couldn’t help but shudder, feeling like a little lamb that had entered a wolf pack, weak, innocent, and pitiful.

Fortunately, these military commanders didn’t hear these words, otherwise they might have beaten her up as a group.

Under such wolf-like gazes, Feng Bai Su quickly walked towards the tent.

As soon as she lifted the tent flap, she saw Wei Yun already sitting inside.

Seeing this, Feng Bai Su smiled and greeted her: “Your Highness.”

Wei Yun raised her eyes to look at her, and seeing her smiling face, she was reminded of yesterday’s events at the training ground.

Her forehead twitched involuntarily.

She spoke with a calm face and a cold voice: “Since Your Highness has become the deputy officer of the Jingji Camp, you naturally need to take on the corresponding responsibilities. The position of deputy officer is quite easy, the daily duty is to guide and lead the training of the military commanders in the camp. Although there were many flaws in yesterday’s performance at the training ground, I could see that Your Highness has good skills, so I believe you can handle this job.”

Feng Bai Su hadn’t expected her to start assigning tasks right away. She couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Lead the military commanders in training? How to train?”

Wei Yun was somewhat surprised that she agreed so decisively, she had thought she would make a fuss.

She instructed her personal guard beside her: “Take the Seventh Princess to familiarize herself with the training items, start today.”

The personal guard immediately responded respectfully, then led Feng Bai Su out of the tent.

The personal guard had also been at the training ground yesterday. Although she didn’t approve of Feng Bai Su’s method of toying with her opponent, that clean and neat kick in the first round had earned her admiration.

Therefore, she no longer thought of her as just a pretty face like yesterday.

She walked slowly forward, introducing the training soldiers: “The Jingji Camp has six major training items. First is formations, second is archery, third is hand-to-hand combat, fourth is horsemanship, fifth is stone lifting. Archery includes both mounted archery and foot archery, so it’s collectively referred to as six major items.”

She paused, pointing to a place, “Today, the first and second squads are just having mounted archery training. Your Highness can lead them to the back mountain for training later.”

At this point, she stopped and turned around: “As for how to train, His Highness means that Your Highness can make all the decisions.”

Feng Bai Su had been following behind her with lazy steps.

Hearing this, she nodded without much emotion: “Alright.”

—

The mounted archery training ground was in the lush Cangcui Forest near the Jingji Camp. The terrain there was flat and open, with large spaces between trees. The forest was full of birds and beasts, making it very suitable as a mounted archery training ground.

Feng Bai Su was still riding her little red mare, slowly making her way towards Cangcui Forest.

When she arrived, the first and second squads were already waiting for her at the entrance of the forest.

They were all riding tall, majestic horses. When Feng Bai Su rode in on her little red mare, it looked like child’s play in comparison.

Not all the military commanders had been at the training ground yesterday, and many in the first and second squads didn’t know Feng Bai Su.

Seeing her come on a pony, with delicate skin and flesh, her skin even fairer than those young men in the inner chambers, their gazes couldn’t help but show some contempt. They thought she must be another pampered child who had gotten in through family power.

Of course, there were naturally some who knew Feng Bai Su. However, given how humiliating the training ground competition had been, whether they had competed or not, they were all too embarrassed to speak up. It was just too shameful!

Feng Bai Su didn’t care what they thought. She leaned forward lazily on her horse’s head, supporting her chin with her hand as she said slowly: “I heard there are many birds and beasts in this Cangcui Forest, especially birds, with over a hundred species. This princess is quite curious about what they look like.”

“How about this,” she switched to support her chin with her other hand, her voice slow and casual: “For today’s mounted archery training, let’s hunt these birds. Twenty or more species will be considered passing. Oh, and this princess can’t stand the sight of bloody scenes and doesn’t like dead birds. When you shoot, it’s best to hit the wings or claws. Otherwise, even if you get twenty species, if this princess doesn’t see them alive and kicking, I might be in a bad mood and fail you anyway.”

After speaking, as if tired from talking, she covered her red lips with her hand and yawned. Lifting her eyelids, she announced: “Alright, begin! The time limit is before sunset. This princess is waiting to go back for dinner.”

After hearing the rules, the military commanders of the first and second squads were all stunned, not knowing whether they found it too absurd to react for a moment.

A hot-tempered military commander came to her senses and protested with a flushed face: “What, what kind of training method is this? It’s too absurd!”

In their previous mounted archery training, they had shot deer, pheasants, and even fierce beasts. They had never shot birds, let alone different species. This was simply too ridiculous!

Unfortunately, Feng Bai Su didn’t speak again, leaning against her little red mare with her eyes closed.

Seeing this, the soldiers could only turn their horses towards Cangcui Forest. They looked back at the leisurely and carefree Feng Bai Su, gritting their teeth and saying fiercely: “Let’s go!”

With that, all the horses’ hooves flew up, raising a cloud of dust. Each person shot like an arrow, disappearing into Cangcui Forest.

—

The trees growing in Cangcui Forest were straight and tall, with dense branches and leaves. Looking around, everything was a lush green!

Trying to find such small targets as birds in this environment was undoubtedly as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

Although the chirping of birds could be heard from all directions, the sounds were too complex and numerous, making it even harder to pinpoint specific directions.

Moreover, the most important point. It wasn’t until they entered Cangcui Forest and checked their quivers that they discovered they were only equipped with thirty arrows. In other words, to shoot twenty species of birds, they could make at most ten mistakes. And they still had to consider Feng Bai Su’s bizarre requirement of not killing these birds.

After realizing this point, the faces of the military commanders in the first and second squads all darkened.

This was simply hell-mode training! This wasn’t treating them as humans at all! How could ordinary people accomplish this?

However, no matter how tumultuous their hearts were, they could only grit their teeth and carry on now.

But in their hearts, they became increasingly resentful towards Feng Bai Su. She was simply a devil!

At this time, the forest had turned into a chaotic battlefield, with various arrows interweaving among the tree shadows, creating a series of whistling sounds.

Feng Bai Su was sitting on her little red mare just outside of Cangcui Forest. Suddenly, a sharp cold light shot towards her. She dodged it by tilting her head with her peach blossom eyes closed, and with her index and middle fingers crossed, she caught the long arrow beside her ear with a light and elegant motion.

Her long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened those enchanting eyes.

Looking at the sharp arrow in her hand that was emanating a cold light, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

Then she very casually stuffed this misdirected sharp arrow into the quiver hanging on the horse’s back.

She thought carelessly: It seems that this group inside is a bit impatient, should she go in and take a look?

—

Not far from Feng Bai Su, several young gentlemen suddenly appeared.

Wei Jing Mo looked at Shen Ruo who was leading the way, his delicate brows slightly furrowed, and spoke in a clear voice like jade: “Cousin, let’s go back, it’s too dangerous here.”

Today, Shen Ruo had sent someone to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion with an invitation, inviting Wei Jing Mo to go out and enjoy the autumn scenery together.

Shen Ke thought that since his son had recovered from his illness, he had been cooped up in the house, so he wanted him to go out and relax, to gather with young gentlemen of the same age.

After Wei Jing Mo spoke, the other young masters beside him also tried to dissuade: “Yes, let’s go back. I heard from my mother that this is where the military commanders of the Jingji Camp train, we’d better not get too close.”

Seeing that everyone wanted to back out, Shen Ruo exclaimed: “How can you all be so timid? Of course I know this is where the Jingji Camp trains, that’s why I wanted to come. Don’t you want to see the heroic appearance of those military commanders during training?”

Don’t be fooled by Shen Ruo’s scholarly family background and his gentle and beautiful appearance. Since childhood, he had especially admired those valiant generals. When he was young, he liked to pester his two cousins from the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion to watch them practice martial arts in the training ground. Even as he grew up, this habit didn’t change, and he often came here privately to observe the heroic appearance of those military commanders during training.

He continued somewhat carelessly: “Don’t worry, there won’t be any danger. I can guarantee that for you. I’ve been here several times, and not a single accident has ever happened. You can rest assured!”

Seeing his confident appearance, the young masters felt somewhat tempted.

After all, it’s normal for delicate young men to admire heroes. At their tender age, with their hearts just beginning to stir, it’s quite normal to admire those military commanders who protect the country.

As if moved by his words, several young masters nodded with curiosity and shyness in their eyes.

Seeing this, Shen Ruo turned his gaze to Wei Jing Mo, his eyes expectant: “Cousin, since we’re already here, can we just take a look? We’ll leave after just one look.”

Seeing his pitiful pleading look, Wei Jing Mo felt a trace of helplessness in his heart, and finally nodded at him: “Alright.”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo immediately cheered quietly and led everyone towards Cangcui Forest.