“Ah, I am so bitter!”
“Only by fighting for the robe under the scrutiny of a large crowd
Can one be recognized as a true hero
I failed to shoot all three arrows on target on the spot
Which damaged the reputation of the Marquis’s mansion in a short while
If Shaohua falls into the same situation like me
Despite my mistake, I can still stand out from the crowd
But if he obtains the robe successfully
How can I retain my reputation through all these?
People thought there were two heroes
No one expected that there would be only one
No wonder—stupid men and women snicker at me together
As it turns out—I am weak in intelligence and talents
I intend to grab my sword to kill myself
But this will make them—laugh that I shamefully go to hell
Nevertheless, I will keep my life for all future benefits
And spend time to absolve this great hatred”
Kuibi’s remorse turned into fury
Throwing the bow—he leapt off the saddle
Entering the pavilion, he bade farewell with a cupped hand salute
With anger and shame, he explained:
“My master—so that I am an incompetent person
I didn’t live up to your favor for the Liu mansion
It is regretful that the heavens destroyed the hero
I, Liu Kuibi—will be repentant all my life
I learned martial art from my father
I have a fairly good command of bow and arrow
It was usually a piece of cake for me to shoot down wild geese and shoot through leaves of a willow
Who knows why—I made a fool of myself in the garden today
Although I didn’t draw my bow fully
The fierce wind also played tricks on me
There is a saying that it is difficult to force a marriage
Whether it can be achieved is secretly determined by the gods
I bid farewell to you in front of this pavilion
I am too young and ignorant that cannot live up to your expectation”
Finished with his words, Kuibi immediately wanted to leave
His chest was full of a fury that couldn’t be appeased
The Minister urged him to stay in a hurry
With a gallant smile, he said:
“This result is not your fault
Success or failure is determined by the will of the heaven
Marriage is said to be a promise made across three life spans
You also indeed have proficient martial art skills
But this gust from the east came fiercely
And your arrow could not stop once it was shot
Who can really blame you for a predestined matter?
Please calm down to sit for a while before going back home”
Aside, students from the Hanlin Academy made a cupped-hand salute
Turning around and offering a seat humbly
Young master Liu could not reject their kindness
He reluctantly calmed down and seated himself
Minister of War turned and called for beverages
The servants immediately presented golden wine glasses
The master poured the fine wine by himself
And gleefully shouted aloud:
“Young master Huangfu—please drink it down. I will cheer up for you, the young general.”
The young master Shaohua stood up
After three cups of drinks, he opened his month:
“I am grateful for your noble regards
For considering me in this garden archery competition
Today I can only present my coarse skills
I am afraid that I am too inadequate that things will not go on well as planned”
The Minister of War smiled and said: “Why do you speak like that?
Please shoot the arrow without hesitation”
The young master Shaohua made a deep bow
Then asked a servant to bring over his horse
This young master—rightened his golden helmet, donned his battle robe
Mounted his tiger-like body on the saddle
A ferocious strength surged onto his brows
A heroic expression appeared on his face
Riding his horse, he raised his head to look
His starry eyes fixed on the green willow branch
He drew his exquisite bow as round as a full moon
The arrow shot out like a flood dragon surfacing at sea
At that moment—the three-foot-long arrow left the string
Like a meteor pulsing with cool light
It carved out a way in the red apricot forest
Split through the mountain outside of the green clouds and shadows
Similar to a python’s tail swaying in the waves
As if a dragon’s scales rolled over in the storm
With the sound of an arrow, the willow branch was shot
Witnesses cheered, shaking the ground with their voices
“Wonderful! It was shot right at the branch of the hanging robe!”
The neighborhood people cheered for Shaohua’s power
The chorus of applause encompassed the world like thunder
In front of the pavilion, the Minister of War was delighted
On his seat, eyebrows of the student from the Hanlin Academy were eased
The servants who came with their master were joyful
They raised their heads high with thrill
Lady Han too was pleased
Behind the curtain, she applauded this young talent
Beside her, Zhang Feifeng proclaimed with glee:
“Who else could be so talented?
There is nothing Shaohua cannot hit with a power so amazing
Today, he will return with the robe certainly”
The young lady from the Su family in front of the railing was amazed
Her pink cheeks were drawn in a smile like a warm spring
She marveled: “This accomplished man is utterly heroic
Why should our family worry about not being promoted?
May the gods of heaven and earth give their blessing
Let there be no obstacle towards the marriage of my miss”
Let’s move on from how happy the beauty felt inside
And instead turn to the young hero Huangfu
When Shaohua saw that he had hit the willow branch
He turned his dragon-like horse promptly
He shot an arrow towards the coin with back turned, calling out, “Hit it quickly!”
The string sounded, showing his mighty power
Here he was posed—above his saddle in a graceful gesture
Drawing his bow in backhand position rounded like the full moon
A hundred birds flew out of the clouds
A thousand flowers dancing along the shore
His heroic style was exceptional
His great ambition was remarkable
The arrow soared the distance of a hundred paces
Clang—with this loud sound, the coin was shot
Yet again the neighborhood celebrated with ecstasy
Minister Meng Shiyuan was overjoyed
“Ah, wonderful!”
The heaven shaped this young general
There was no need to worry about the country’s peace
Shooting the coin from behind was the same as shooting from the front
Even Li Guang in those days was inferior
Students from the Hanlin Academy enthusiastically praised again and again
Kuibi’s mind was a mess and muttered to himself:
“This young man is so hatefully heroic
And he deliberately flaunted his talents
It is so easy for him to hit with two arrows
There is no need to worry that he cannot obtain the court robe
I hope the heavens still save my dignity
Do not let Huangfu gain a complete victory”
Let’s turn away from the young master Liu Kuibi
And instead turn to the hero with great ability
Triumph filled his heart as he saw the coin was shot
The happiness was all consuming as he raised his eyebrows
Now was the time to shoot the third arrow
He could not help but act more carefully
The young master redirected his horse merrily
He took his bow and shot at the hanging red string
Look at him—swiftly spun the horse without hesitation
And drew the bow with a full string making the arrow fly
A three-feet-long azure dragon returning to sea
A white horse flying to the Void of Clarity
The arrow pierced through flowers and was heard only by the wind
The arrow passed through the trees only to leave the shadow of the shifting sun
Millions of green willow branches fluttered beautifully like silk threads
Thousands of red apricot flowers reflected a scarlet glow
Once the arrow passed, the red robe broke
The robe was blown down by a spring breeze
All the people shouted and cheered simultaneously
This great applause shook the Void of Clarity
“Very well, here is Master Meng’s son-in-law! Let’s hasten to congratulate him!”
Everyone ran out of the side hall
To the flower pavilion to congratulate Master Meng
Upstairs, the Madam had witnessed this
She wear a smile on her jade-lotus-like face
The bliss was immeasurable—the happiness was inexhaustible—
She put her hands together and prayed towards the blue sky:
“Thank the heavens for thinking of me
Giving me this good son-in-law
If my daughter marries such a refined husband
Why should I worry that they won’t be distinguished in the future?
This shows that the marriage was determined in the previous life
We should take this hero as our son-in-law”
The madam spoke approvingly and with delight
Feifeng was elated with a smile on her face
The beautiful Su Yingxue too was overjoyed
Her pleasant voice praised the hero again and again:
“None of the three arrows missed the target
Making you worthy of the honored young miss’s unparalleled beauty”
Madam Su beside kept praising:
“It is great that today’s effort was not futile
The miss in the boudoir is blessed with great fortune
The gentleman is as heroic and talented as though he received divine help
Such talent and appearance are indeed exceptional
In the future, they will be as harmonious as the dragon and the phoenix”
A group of maids all laughed
Going down the high tower together like a gust of wind
Talking in groups about the archery competition
There was a flurry of compliments
After the madam and the young lady left together
There is no need to describe the various follow-up arrangements
Aside from the joyful events in the inner hall
Let’s instead turn to the young hero Huangfu
His eyes focused and saw that the red robe had broke
A smile appeared on his fair face
Here is an error:
Provincial Administration Commissioner Qin—did not GOT up until bowing onto his hands for three times
should be “did not GET up”
Here is a mistake:
One—a suave gentleman adorned with emerald-sleeved garbs and a garland atop his head
The other—a gallant woman suited in embroidered armor and a golden helmet
一個是，金盔繡甲風流客。(男)
一個是，翠袖花冠美貌君。（女）
“emerald-sleeved garbs and a garland atop” is a description for the woman
” in embroidered armor and a golden helmet” is a description for the gentleman