书斋小说网

第 11 章（第1页）

ThenewsreachedtheOrchidCourtyardbeforeSuyuandid。Bythetimeshereturnedfromthecelebration，NannyZhanghadalreadyheardthateveryunmarrieddaughteroftheKhanshouseholdwasexpectedtoparticipateintheupingbridesele。ShuranwassittinguprightagainsttheheadboardwhenSuyuaered，aedieuntouchedbesideher。FromtheworriedexpressiononNannyZhangsface，Suyuanknewimmediatelythathermotherhadheardeverything。

"Yuanyuan，"Shurancalledsoftly。"ehere。"

Suyuanwalkedoverandsatbesidethebed。Shuranstudiedherfaceforamomentbeforeasking，"Youhavetoparticipateinthepetition?"

"Itseemsso。"

"Youdonthaveto。"

"Mother，refusingwouldonlymakethingsworse。"

Shuranfellsilent。Sheknewherdaughterwasright。TheKhanhadalreadyedthemforyears，butpubliclyrefusinghisandcouldgivetheotherwomenanotherreasontoattackthem。"Thendonttrytowin，"shesaidquietly。

Suyuansmiled，"Iwasntplanningto。"

NannyZhangstaredather。"Youalreadyhaveaplan?"

"Ofcourse。"

Ayao，whohadbeenstheclothesSuyuanhadwornthatday，lookedupsuspiciously。"ShouldIbeworried?"

"Youshould。"

Ayaosighed。"Ik。"

Suyuanleanedbackagainstthechair，herexpressionalmostcheerful。Shehadspeeenyearslearninghowtosurviveamongpeoplewhowerestrohanher。Ifsomeonewantedhertopeteforahusband，therewasnoreasonshecouldntsimplygivethemexactlywhattheyexpectedfromasickly，fragileprincess。

Them，preparationsbeganthroughoutthepalace。Theyoungwomenweregivennewridingclothes，bows，andhuntingequipment。Servantshurriedthroughthecourtyardswhilehorseswerebroughtfromthestables。ExcitementspreadamongtheyoungermembersoftheKhanshousehold，particularlythosewhobelievedtheyhadarealceofbeingchosenbyoneofthevisitingprinces。

Suyuan，meanwhile，appearedtotakethepetitionveryseriously。

Sherequestedabowandshechosethesmallestaimpressivehorseavailable。

Ayaostaredatit。

ThehorselookedoldenoughtorememberthepreviousKhan。

Suyuanstrokeditsneck。

"Perfect。"

Forarchery，shedeliberatelyselectedabowthatwasslightlytoeforherarms。Shetestedthestringonce，madeadoubtfulexpression，andhaback。

"Thisoneisdifficulttotrol。"

Thestablemanimmediatelyofferedanother。

Suyuanaccepteditwithagratefulsmile。

Ayaowatchedinsilence。

"Youknowhowtoshootproperly，dontyou?"

Suyuanlookedatherily。