Chapter 46: Shen Miao Turns Tables

"My turn now."

Three simple words from Shen Miao, spoken lightly, yet carrying an inexplicable chill. It was as if her voice descended from the highest heavens, landing heavily before Cai Lin.

Cold sweat trickled down Cai Lin's face as he stared blankly at Shen Miao.

Shen Miao stepped forward and bent down to pick up the longbow from the ground. Everyone in the audience watched her every move, unable to tear their eyes away.

This was truly an unexpected turn of events. They had anticipated seeing Shen Miao frightened into a faint or losing her composure entirely. Instead, she remained completely unaffected. It was Cai Lin who was drenched in cold sweat, unable to hit the target with any of his three arrows.

After a brief silence, the crowd below began to murmur among themselves.

"Truly, a tiger father has no weak daughter! This Miss Shen has such courage!" The speaker had a good relationship with Shen Xin and had always harbored doubts about the rumors of Shen Miao being foolish. Seeing her today, he was convinced those words must be mere slander. With such courage and bearing, how could she possibly be foolish? Someone must have deliberately tried to tarnish the young lady's reputation.

"Indeed impressive. Look how she didn't even blink earlier. If that arrow had veered slightly, it would have cut her cheek. This girl truly has the air of a great general. Even if it were one of us standing there, we would probably have been startled."

"Just look at which family she comes from! How could General Shen's daughter be anything but exceptional? It seems those earlier rumors were nothing but malicious gossip. Ah, no wonder someone wanted to deliberately tarnish her reputation. A prominent tree attracts the wind. Being so outstanding at such a young age, it's no wonder she provoked jealousy."

Most officials had a fairly good impression of Shen Xin, as their interests were often interconnected. Besides, being accustomed to court affairs daily, they weren't as attentive to gossip as women in the inner courtyards and had different perspectives on such matters. Previously, Shen Miao had been young, but as she grew older, she was naturally displaying her excellent qualities.

The Prince of Zhou and the Prince of Jin exchanged glances. The Prince of Jin shook his head and sighed, "It seems we were both wrong. She truly is a person of great courage."

"Does Ninth Brother regret it now?" The Prince of Zhou smiled and looked at Fu Xiuyi. "How did you reject such an extraordinary young woman?"

"A person cannot change so drastically overnight," said the Prince of Jin. "Either this Fifth Miss Shen has encountered some master, or she was deliberately pretending to be foolish before. Regardless of which, Ninth Brother, you've lost out."

Fu Xiuyi smiled. "A beautiful and virtuous lady, but unfortunately not the one my heart desires."

Did he regret it? Fu Xiuyi didn't think so. However, Shen Miao's calm demeanor seemed somewhat jarring to his eyes. He also didn't believe that a person could change so dramatically overnight. Could it be that she had been pretending to be foolish all along? But why would she pretend? Could it be that she deliberately acted that way to make him dislike her?

Pei Lang set down his teacup. For some reason, he had just felt his heart tighten for Shen Miao. Yet she had responded beyond everyone's expectations—not only remaining steady but also frightening Cai Lin to the point where he couldn't even shoot his arrows properly.

Was Shen Miao really that formidable?

"She truly is a wonder," the Prince of Yu nodded with satisfaction, his gaze fixed on Shen Miao's figure. "I wonder... what taste would she have?"

Pei Lang frowned slightly. The Prince of Yu's words suggested he was thinking of something shameful and dirty again. Unfortunately, with his humble position, there was nothing he could do about it.

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"You lost," said Xie Jingxing, sitting casually by the window in the pavilion, his manner calm and composed.

"How did it turn out like this!" Su Mingfeng's eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets. He looked at Xie Jingxing, then at the distant platform, and asked, "Did you know this would happen?"

"Honor your wager," Xie Jingxing said, standing up and brushing the dust from his clothes.

"Fine, I admit defeat. What's my punishment?" Su Mingfeng conceded readily.

"Your punishment is to celebrate with me after this competition, with twenty-year-old rice wine. How about that?"

"You're truly black-hearted," Su Mingfeng cursed, then suddenly realized something and asked curiously, "But what are we celebrating? What happy event is there?"

"Nothing yet, but there will be soon." Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "Something truly worth celebrating."

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On the platform, Shen Miao handed the fruit to Cai Lin.

Cai Lin's hand trembled as he took it. He asked, "Shen Miao, have you ever learned archery?"

"Never." Shen Miao smiled at him. "Today is the first time I've touched a bow. But since one can shoot three arrows in sequence, if I don't understand the first shot, there's always the next one. I'll eventually learn."

Cai Lin shuddered, looking at Shen Miao in disbelief. "You must be joking?"

Earlier, Shen Miao had appeared so calm and composed, as if she regularly engaged in such activities. He had optimistically assumed Shen Miao must be skilled—after all, Shen Xin was a mighty general who might have personally taught his daughter archery. But now Shen Miao was saying this was her first time holding a bow?

How dare she!

He said, "If you know nothing about archery, how can you shoot accurately? You'll surely miss the fruit, and won't I just be throwing away my life for nothing?"

"Cai Lin, you're being ridiculous." Shen Miao spoke calmly. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft—just enough for everyone to hear. All eyes were on the purple-clad young lady with her gaze lowered, yet her aura was overwhelmingly forceful.

"When you challenged me earlier, you never asked if I knew how to shoot. When you were shooting arrows at me, you never asked if I was risking my life. So why, now that it's my turn to shoot, are you suddenly asking if I can do it?"

These words left Cai Lin speechless. Indeed, he had deliberately chosen archery—something Shen Miao wouldn't know—just to avenge Shen Yue. But now it seemed he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

"Miss Shen, my unruly son has offended you, and I apologize on his behalf. Please don't take it to heart. However, since you truly don't know archery, accidents might happen, and it would be difficult to assign blame." Official Cai finally couldn't help but speak up, urged on by his wife's frequent eye signals. As soon as he spoke, his old face reddened, but he had no choice. Embarrassing as it was, it was better than losing his young son's life.

He even used the formal term "this official" to intimidate Shen Miao. Although bullying a young lady like this wasn't honorable, Official Cai also blamed Shen Miao for her lack of flexibility, and his tone unconsciously carried authority.

But how could Shen Miao be intimidated by a mere official? She had dealt with the Xiongnu, with the imperial family of Qin, with the monarchs of Mingqi. Officials? She didn't hold them in high regard.

So everyone watched as Shen Miao slightly raised her chin. Official Cai was standing below the platform, and from a distance, he appeared like a subject prostrating at Shen Miao's feet. Her words left everyone stunned.

She said, "Official Cai, earlier I gambled with my own life, and now it's Cai Lin's turn to gamble with his. The life-and-death agreement has been made, written clearly in black and white. Even if I were to shoot him dead today, it would be completely legitimate without any complications. He must honor his wager."

Before Official Cai could speak, she continued, "A person without credibility cannot stand. These rules were proposed by Cai Lin himself. Now he's going back on his word. Is this how Official Cai conducts himself in the officialdom as well? Once the tide turns unfavorable, do you immediately change the rules?"

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Thoughts on Chap 46

This chapter marks a turning point in Shen Miao's public reputation and demonstrates the strategic brilliance she's gained from her previous life. What began as a trap set by Cai Lin to humiliate and potentially harm her has backfired spectacularly.

Shen Miao's composure under fire—literally standing still while arrows flew past her head—has shocked the entire audience. The crowd's perception shifts dramatically: rumors of her being foolish are now dismissed as deliberate slander meant to suppress the talented daughter of a famous general. The officials, who share political interests with her father General Shen Xin, quickly rally to her defense, recognizing that they misjudged her.

The various princes watching show different reactions. The Prince of Zhou seems amused by Fu Xiuyi's loss, while the Prince of Jin recognizes that Shen Miao has either found a master teacher or was pretending to be foolish all along. Fu Xiuyi, her former fiancé who rejected her, struggles with cognitive dissonance—he doesn't regret his choice, yet finds her newfound composure unsettling. Pei Lang experiences unexpected concern for her. Most disturbingly, the Prince of Yu views her with predatory interest.

Xie Jingxing, watching from afar, seems to have predicted this outcome and celebrates what he cryptically calls "something truly worth celebrating"—hinting at his growing interest in Shen Miao.

The revelation that Shen Miao has never touched a bow before is shocking. She admitted to the crowd that she'll "learn" with each arrow—essentially threatening to use Cai Lin as target practice while she figures out archery. This boldness is partly bravado, partly the confidence of someone who has already lived through betrayal and death once before.

When Official Cai tries to intervene using his position to intimidate her, Shen Miao—who ruled as Empress in her previous life and dealt with foreign invasions and court politics—sees him as beneath her concern. Her response is devastating: she turns his attempt to save his son into a question about his own integrity. By pointing out that the rules were set by Cai Lin himself, she traps the official in a moral dilemma—either admit his son is a cheat, or let the competition continue.

This chapter showcases Shen Miao's transformation from victim to victor, using the weapons of logic, composure, and her enemies' own arrogance against them.