Jiang Liu got scared when Wei Yi Yi scolded him. He hastily explains, "You're supposed to draw with your thumb. With the way you're drawing, it's easy to loose your grip once on horseback. Here, I brought you a thumb ring, big sister."
"Ah..." Wei Yi Yi realized where she was wrong. They're going to shoot on horseback. Thumb draw, while it is traditional, it is also the specific draw use when drawing a horsebow.
"...Thanks.." Wei Yi Yi did not refuse when Jiang Liu passed her a thumb ring. The color is creamy white and the surface seems to be handcrafted. "Bone?" she asked.
"En. This brother does not own any that have your size so I carved that! Aren't I talented, big sister?" Jiang Liu proudly said.
"Alright, Ah Liu is the most talented artisan there is." Wei Yi Yi praised him generously. "So I'm really not supposed to use a longbow but a light one. Maybe a pellet bow or a horsebow?"
They were short but designed for a long draw. If she draws with the regular three fingers, she'll end up with a wrong finger pinch. There's also a high tendency for the arrow to be knock off from the knuckle of the bow hand once the horse speeds up.
But with the traditional thumb draw, those things do not matter anymore as the airflow at speed will blow the arrow harder up against the bow.
Ah, there's a lot of useful things developed in the past too.
Wei Yi Yi glance at the longbow; thought of something then question Jiang Liu. "Then why did you bring a longbow in the first place."
Taking back the bow, Jiang Liu holds it up and pretend to draw the string. He then said, "Because this prince looks admirable and gallant with it!"
Wei Yi Yi paused. Her face then turned serious, Gave a profound look all over his face and nod a few times. Somehow, Jiang Liu felt violated with that kind of stare! "En. If you stood upright, don a good armor and that bow in your hand, you could pass for a young, valiant, and 'manly' general."
"Sister-in-law praise too much." Jiang Liu cannot surpass the smile forming in his lips. He put down the bow and timidly blush a little.
Still wearing her serious face, she added, "Just... do not speak nor move. Don't wave your fan either. You'll scare the living daylight of those poor maidens."
"En. Sixth Imperial Uncle is shattering his good image. Seeing it far from reality is disappointing." Jiang Chen readily supports his aunt. Wei Yi Yi nod in accordance with him.
"Wh--- !!!"
His sister-in-law laugh heartily in his face and even have the guts to pair up with a child! Jiang Liu cannot win against the two once they start ganging up on him.
After taking another set of bow and arrows at the storage, Wei Yi Yi and Jiang Liu start to compete with each other.
Jiang Liu's shots were fast and heavy. Each one struck the target with a heavy 'thud' and impels deeply onto the wood. As for Wei Yi Yi, her shots are steady and accurate. After changing into a lighter and shorter bow, although the power behind her draw decreased, it allowed her to concentrate more.
Every time her arrow landed to the center, or even just a bit closer, Jiang Chen would praise his aunt and Wei Yi Yi would turn to smile at him. After some time, Jiang Chen is no longer sitting. He kept jumping from his seat with excitement.
Jiang Liu gave a few attempts on teasing him. He would jest about how he couldn't play or tempt him into trying. This poor choice of life decision either gain him a pinch from Wei Yi Yi or a glare from Jiang Chen.
Those didn't end well for him.
Unknown for them, the imperial guards started to shift turns and the new ones are already making their rounds. One of them made his way thru the archery area.
Once the door of the archery area came in view, the guard heard a distinct sound of arrows. This alerted him into taking a larger stride and walk at a faster pace.
"Who's in there?!" He loudly pushed open the doors and shouted.
Humans are easily distracted by noise. They would immediately turn to look at the sound. Their head will turn and their eyes would stare.
Wei Yi Yi was the same. She turned around and accidentally released the arrow in the direction of the noise.
The loose arrow shot pass just a little bit above the guard's shoulder. It went straight further more and hit a pillar. The loud 'thud' echo in their heart and everyone sweats coldly.
"That's not on purpose---"
"Run!" Both Jiang Liu and Jiang Chen shouted the same thing.
Jiang Liu raised his arm and hide their faces on his sleeves. Jiang Chen then runs down from his spot while also raising his sleeves. They both grab Wei Yi Yi, one arm each, and make a run for it.
The poor guard was not able to recognize any of them in that short instant. Feeling the lingering threat from the arrow, he gulped a few times then howled. "Intruders! There are intruders!"
He repeated this a few times and run after the trio.
The thundering roar alerted everyone and they run to gather. Their captain even showed up and followed after the shouting guard.
"What happened?"
"Sir! They took something and run! They have weapons with them and initiates fire!"
The captain nodded and turn to others. "Search the area! Find them at all cost! We cannot allow anyone to waltz in and out of the palace!"