Three months later a military competition between different camps are organised. Peach goes along with Duke Su under the Su flag. She is consider the heir of the Su army. The future new lord to support the crown prince to ascend to his throne. Every old general knows who she is, they all know that Prince Xian Wen did not publicly knowledge her as his daughter but Su Shung Yu have declare this child to be legitimate and her name is place in the royal family records.
Peach rides her favourite war horse to the competition grounds. Even though she is riding behind Duke Su, everyone on the field are looking at the young girl. She have the absolute authority like her father. From a distance, she see the Tang flag flying in the air. She remember that her father had married another woman. She is a general of a large army. She is alike a man according to the gossips however she remember she had met her a few times. True she is alike a man but appearance wise, she can be a beautiful woman with makeup and all. Peach recall that general Tang offer to take her away from the Su mansion and her mother but she who loves her mother refused and run to hide behind Su Shung Yu. Today, she will meet her step mother again. This time, they will be nearly on the same status.
Duke Su and Peach get off their horses and some generals come up to greet them. Everyone is talking and laughing. Most of them are old men, so they talk about old war talks. Peach get bored but she hold that boredom away and stand behind her grandfather. She is determined not to damage the Su reputation.
"This is my granddaughter, Xian Tao Le!"
Everyone bow to her as she return the bow to each men. They begin to talk and ask her accomplishments so far.
"You are young! When there is an expedition, i'm sure Duke Su will bring you along! Learn and get more experience. No one in this dynasty is none the wiser compare to Duke Su! He is the adviser of our dynasty and he alone can change the course of the war!"
"Yes indeed! Most of the generals are starting from the Su camp and we learn from the best!"
Everyone is laughing and talking when general Tang step in the main gather tent. Everyone bow and she return the bows. She look at Peach she smile.
"You have grown up a lot."
"Greeting general Tang."
"You have your father's eyes. I hope you have his strength. Your father and i used to wrestle a lot in camp. He always win and throw me on the ground."
Peach is surprise that her father is that rough with Tang Li. Tang Li smile and said "Prince Xian Wen never treat me as a woman in camp. So it's no big surprise that he is rough with me." She pause while looking at the ground and look up at Peach.
"Have you wrestle before? Do you want to try?"
Peach is again surprise. Why would she want to spar with her step mother?
"I have not try wrestling at all. However i am now training to use the sword and spear. I am good with bows and arrows."
"Ah bows and arrows is what he is good at too. However i am not good with it. Let's do a completion on that. What do you say?"
"General Tang then sign up for the competition ground for bow and arrow under your flag and my Peach will sign up under the Su flag."
"Deal! I will do that now. " She smile and together they all walk out of the tent.
The competition on bows and arrows are the same every two years. There is two different events. The first is to ride on their horse and shot when that target is near however the target is place on a moving panel with strings that the side are being pulled by the soldiers. The distance will not be easy to see and hit. The second event is on a non moving panel the target is a picture of a leopard. Shooter needs to hit on the heart for full marks. It won't be easy as the heart is smallest compare to the other body parts.
The competition starts off with wrestling. Everyone is cheering for the person that responding their camp. It is noisy and loud. Peach watch with excitement. She have never come across this sport. Under the hot sun, she is watching every move of the men. She wonder how did Tang Li come to like this game with her father? Meanwhile she listen to Duke Su explain the rules of the game as it proceed with time. The next competition is JiJu. It's a game where the two teams ride on their horses and score points with hitting a ball with their stick on hand. It's consider a fast game when whichever team of four score the highest within a burn of a joss stick length, will consider the winner. After that, is a short break time. Steam buns, glutinous rice balls, meat dumplings and silken ToFu is served along with oolong tea or a choice of grape wine.
After the break, the completion of bows and arrows starts. Peach is stretching and getting herself ready for it. She sees in a distance Tang Li is stretching too. Beside her is a man who is holding her bow and arrows. He is bowing and receiving instructions from her. He walk off after Tang Li checks the equipments. Peach takes her quiver and sling it over her body. She looks up and see Tang Li looking at her. They bow to each other and get on their own horses. There are five competitors from five camps. Each shooter looks fierce with their piecing eyes. One of them is wearing and eye patch. Rumours say that he lost his left eye in the last war however he came back alive and wearing the eye patch ever since. He is know to be silence and sharp with his weapons at hand. He look at Peach with interest in his only right eye.