Chapter 161 Top Masters Emerge from the Ranking List
Guo Chang was completely dumbfounded.
His Majesty... personally approved it?
This script isn't right!
Consort Shu didn't say it like this!
Several guards seized Guo Chang and were about to escort him away when Shen Yulou spoke.
"Your Highness, this person has no past grievances or recent animosity with me. He must be instigated by someone behind him. Why not force out the person behind him, then report it to His Majesty, and ask His Majesty for a sacred judgment."
This Guo Chang is nothing more than Consort Shu's dog; dealing with him is meaningless. It would be better to involve Consort Shu.
Prince Rui, however, frowned and said.
"Today is your wedding day; dealing with such matters is unlucky. First, apprehend this person, and report it to the Emperor tomorrow."
Shen Yulou nodded. Having caught this person, he could naturally interrogate who was behind it, so there was no rush today... The tedious ceremonies finally concluded, and guests began to toast each other, the atmosphere becoming lively once more.
The boisterous wedding banquet finally came to an end. The hosts and guests were all happy, and everyone gradually left.
As Shen Yulou was about to enter the bridal chamber, he saw Zhao Ying hobbling over, leaning on a crutch.
"Mr. Shen, congratulations."
Zhao Ying handed over a long, rectangular wooden box, inside which was a uniquely shaped short blade, its edge gleaming with a faint light, clearly not an ordinary item.
Today, Zhao Ying's leg injury was mostly healed, but he leaned on a crutch purely to conceal his recovery, waiting to astound everyone during the autumn hunt and blind them with his brilliance.
"This blade is clearly no ordinary item at first glance. Thank you, Your Highness!"
Zhao Ying's greatest reliance in contending for the throne was Shen Yulou, so of course, he had to present some valuable gifts.
Although Shen Yulou was not skilled in martial arts, this blade was far from as ordinary as it appeared.
As for the Eighth Prince and Ninth Prince, Zhao Ying did not take them seriously.
Although these two elder brothers had mended their ways, their literary and martial talents, and imperial aptitude, were still far inferior to his.
His only opponent now was Zhao Jing.
Just as Shen Yulou reached out to take it.
Whoosh—!
A sharp whooshing sound, an arrow tipped with a faint green poisonous glow, shot out like a ghost, aiming directly at both Shen Yulou and Zhao Ying!
This arrow was so fast it surpassed everyone's reaction limits!
Zhao Ying's pupils constricted, but the arrow was already close, and he had no time to dodge!
This was meant to kill two birds with one arrow!
In a flash!
Clang! Clang!
Li Hui and Song Hu struck simultaneously, one swinging a saber, the other striking with a palm, one from the left and one from the right, timely intercepting the poisonous arrow!
"Assassin!"
Li Hui's face darkened, and he quickly chased in the direction from which the arrow had been shot.
However, before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief.
Whoosh!
Another arrow, shot from a different direction!
More than one assassin?
Shen Yulou's mind recalled the second-ranked expert on the fengyun ranking, skilled in archery, whom Li Hui had mentioned.
He narrowed his eyes. It seemed that the portrait was just an appetizer.
Consort Shu's main course was this Shadowless General!
"Everyone, be careful!"
Song Hu roared, and the remaining servants, scared out of their wits, scrambled and crawled into the house.
Tao Hong and Qing Qing were on the verge of tears, shouting at the door: "My lord! Come in quickly!"
However, Shen Yulou stood in the center of the courtyard as if nothing had happened, even with a hint of playful smile on his face.
Song Hu, holding a steel saber, guarded him at his side.
The second arrow came from the north, at a tricky angle and with immense force!
Song Hu waved his hand, deflecting the sharp arrow.
Having learned from the previous lesson, Song Hu dared not leave easily, lest he fall for a feint.
But the opponent was using a bow and arrow for long-range attacks; this situation couldn't continue.
Shen Yulou said, "Song Hu, you go. Don't worry about me."
If Song Hu didn't leave, the opponent's true position wouldn't be exposed.
These two arrows were both feints!
If the opponent truly was Shadowless General, this arrow would never have been so easily blocked by Song Hu.
Such a person is like a sniper in later generations.
They don't strike easily; they only strike when they have absolute certainty.
And if they miss, they flee a thousand miles away.
If he didn't deal with him this time, Shen Yulou would have to live in constant fear every day.
You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Shen Yulou would be the bait himself!
Song Hu nodded, stomped his foot, and shot out like a cannonball towards the north.
In an instant, the vast courtyard was left with only Shen Yulou, standing with his hands behind his back.
At the same time, atop a tall tower on the east side of the Princesss Residence, a man with a long bow on his back slowly stood up.
It was Shadowless Xiao.
His face was stern, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and he slowly drew his long bow.
The bowstring was pulled into a full moon, a completely black arrow nocked on the string, its tip seemingly condensing the chill from the underworld.
This arrow was the true killing blow.
Shen Yulou looked up, as if he could penetrate the night sky and see the figure on the tower top.
He shouted into the house.
"Tao Hong, Qing Qing, close the doors and windows tightly! No one is allowed out!"
No sooner had he spoken than Shadowless Xiao released his fingers.
Buzz—!
The arrow left the string, emitting a chilling hum, as if tearing through space, carrying a world-destroying momentum, heading straight for Shen Yulou's glabella!
This arrow was unavoidable!
The strength of the second-ranked on the fengyun ranking was fully demonstrated at this moment.
It wasn't about how strong his martial power was, but that whoever he wanted dead, would die!
However, Shen Yulou remained standing in place, his expression unchanged, not even blinking an eye.
Just as the black arrow tip was about to touch his nose.
Clink!
A crisp, light sound.
A small pebble, flying from who knew where, struck the arrow shaft with incredible precision.
The unstoppable arrow instantly deviated from its trajectory, flew past Shen Yulou's ear, and deeply embedded itself into a corridor pillar behind him, its fletching still buzzing.
Shen Yulou slowly turned around.
He saw Madam Li, who had come out at some unknown time, still holding her sleeping child.
Shen Yulou seemed to have anticipated this, and smiled slightly: "Thank you, Sister-in-law, for saving me."
Madam Li's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she looked at him with complex eyes.
"You knew my identity all along?"
"I only figured it out recently," Shen Yulou smiled faintly.
Madam Li's eyes narrowed: "My husband lived with me for over a decade and never noticed. How did you know?"
Shen Yulou slowly said.
"Yesterday at Juewei Tower, Song Hu noticed that Sister-in-law's way of holding chopsticks and a wine glass was different from ordinary people; her five fingers exerted force, and her knuckles were stable, as if she had practiced some delicate hidden weapon art for many years."
"And Song Hu had seen hidden weapon experts in Wulin Kingdom. Only top-tier hidden weapon masters would have such a habit."
"Furthermore, Sister-in-law wrote her own name, Qin Xiaoyue, on the enrollment list you gave me.
This, and 'Mirror in the Moon,' the first on the fengyun ranking, both happen to have the character 'Moon'.
Isn't this too much of a coincidence?"
Madam Li frowned in confusion: "Just based on that?"
"Of course not just that."
Shen Yulou's smile became a bit playful: "The most crucial question is, Commander Li is a top expert, ranked third on the fengyun ranking. How profound is his internal energy?
Logically speaking, he should be full of vigor, capable of entertaining multiple women at night without issue."
Shen Yulou lowered his voice, saying with a sympathetic expression, "But he constantly complains of back pain and kidney deficiency, asking me for tonics.
There's only one possibility, and that is that you, Madam, have drained him dry.
Madam's strength is far superior to Commander Li's