Chapter 47: Blood Drawn

"Trust makes a man. Your son set the rule. Change now when losing—do you change rules in office when wind turns?"
Cai Lin's old line still hung in the air: *Guangwen Hall does not bend precedent for anyone. Challenger sets the terms—what, is the great general's daughter a coward like that?*
She returned it whole—slap across Lord Cai's face, seal on Cai Lin's mouth.
"You wrote the rules—you shrink from them now. One mouth, any story you like—is that how Ming Qi ministers behave?" Blade-sharp, she widened the scandal. Cold sweat ran Lord Cai's spine.
Peers filled the hall—friends and foes. Royal kin watched. One misstep and whispers could breed imperial suspicion—not only Cai Lin, but the whole house.
"Miss Shen speaks well." Prince Yu smiled odd at her. "Lord Cai—your son's rule, your son must finish."
Yu never helped anyone kindly. Every eye swung to Shen Miao—knowing, contempt, appetite.
Princes Zhou and Jing exchanged glances. Jing sighed. "Even Uncle has spoken."
"Perhaps a young sister-in-law for us?" Zhou laughed at himself and fell silent.
Yu had spoken—Lord Cai dared not argue. Rage and fear knotted; he could only bow. "Yes… this official was thoughtless." He glared at Cai Lin—pity and fury—and walked away.
Cai Lin watched his father go, stomach hollow. He had thought her all talk—then met those clear eyes and went cold. Still water beast in a girl's skin—how could it feel so frightening?
He hissed low: "Hurt me and the Cai house will not spare you." Threat only. He was trapped. If her aim slipped, he died. On hunts he had seen arrows miss kill—eye, hindquarters—prey thrashing. Was he the prey now?
He hoped she would pull soft—show for the crowd. Again: "If you're sensible today… later I won't trouble you in Guangwen Hall."
She lifted a brow and looked up.
He sweated for her nod. She had seen his kind for lifetimes—bully soft, bully hard. Let today pass and he would return worse, face saved by revenge.
Like a young badger out of the den, king of its patch until the wolf came—then cringe—yet later it would try the wolf again.
She was no wolf. She was the tiger. To keep the badger from ever daring again—snap its neck once, so fear never woke.
Smile thin: "I asked if you dared kill me while I stood here. Your shooting already answered."
"Now the question is mine. Want to hear my answer?"
Jade-smooth face still half child—spring shoot, pitiable, sweet—words brutal enough to stop hearts.
"I dare."
She turned and walked to the shooting mark.
Cai Lin stood blank until the judge called his name. The hall watched—amusement, spectacle.
His gaze found the pink girl in the women's seats. Shen Yue chatted with neighbors—not one glance at the stage. Loss bit; his plight felt uglier still.
He had started this—no retreat. Lose to a woman and Cai became capital joke—and Shen Yue below. Shame her and how face her after?
A girl's big talk—would she truly kill? Even with a life-and-death pact, blood was not explained in a sentence.
He rallied inside, calm outside, crossed to the white line three zhang out, apple on his crown.
Eyes jumped between them—something wrong in the air.
Far off Xie spoke: "Hit or miss—your guess?"
"Miss, of course." Su Mingfeng glared. "Even if she dared wound Cai Lin—could she? Few ladies train bow. And Shen Miao in Dingjing—you know she knew nothing."
Xie laughed low. "Not certain."
"Another wager?"
"Why bother—I already see the end."
Su was used to his friend's half-said mysteries. "What end?"
Xie lounged: "You lose."
Shen Yue watched the stage, chest tight. She whispered to Chen Ruoqiu: "Mother—will she hurt Young Master Cai?"
"Of course not." Chen sighed at her daughter's fever today—young, unable to settle. "Hitting a man is not that easy. Your uncle said drawing a bow takes strength. When has Fifth Girl practiced at home? She'll exhaust herself pulling the string. Don't fret—your sister is only making a show."
Was Shen Miao only playing?
No.
Hand up. Arrow nocked. Bow drawn—one motion, fluid as a thousand drills. No weak girlish fumble, no hesitation. Form so clean no one doubted a veteran archer.
Next instant the shaft flew full of killing intent toward Cai Lin.
The hall went dead still. In that silence the fallen arrow rang on stone.
And on the point—a smear of red.