The Double
Chapter 99 - 99 75 Thrilling_5

99: Chapter 75 Thrilling_5 99: Chapter 75 Thrilling_5 As they contemplated their next move, the dark brown horse quickened its pace, causing the crowd to exclaim in shock.

Jiang Li’s hand slipped, losing grip of the reins, left holding onto the bridle with only one hand!

Meng Hongjin felt a surge of joy, while Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yue also reveled in unexpected delight—Jiang Li was done for!

However, before they could voice their laughter, they saw Jiang Li suddenly lift her hand and grasp the horse’s mane!

The horse, pained by the neck grip, let out a long neigh and reared up.

Jiang Li seized the opportunity to lean back, smoothly rolling over, and in one stride, she was back atop the horse!

Back in position!

This hair-raising scene unfolded in a mere few breaths, leaving onlookers feeling as though their throats were being choked, too tense to utter a word.

It wasn’t until Jiang Li sat back on the horse that they finally exhaled in relief.

“This girl…” Zheng Huchen found himself speechless.

Common maidens, even the men they knew, seldom possessed such nerve and gall—not to mention Jiang Li’s equestrian skills were more skilled than imagined.

What mattered most was her calmness in the face of danger, the composure to remain unfazed even if Mount Tai were to crumble before her—this was why she excelled in Imperial Archery, among other things.

She truly didn’t seem like a lady from the Official Family, especially being only fifteen years old.

Just as people began to breathe easier, a fresh burst of astonished cries erupted around them.

Zheng Huchen focused his gaze and found himself rendered utterly speechless once more.

After regaining her seat on the horse, Jiang Li didn’t seek assistance from the guides.

Instead, she took advantage of the momentum to steer the frantic dark brown horse towards the finish line.

She was intent on completing the contest, relying solely on this maddened dark horse!

It was outrageous!

Impulsive!

But damn exciting!

Jiang Li lay close to the horse’s back, her turquoise attire flapping like a verdant streak of lightning in the wind.

It was a color synonymous with elegance and gentleness, yet now it pulsated with vitality like fresh bamboo after the rain.

It was hard to believe that such a delicate frame could hold such tremendous courage, a gentle stream with the force to roll the hardest stones.

“Look, just look…” Kong Liu excitedly tugged at Jih Heng’s sleeve.

Jih Heng, eyes fixed on her sleeve’s edge, said calmly, “I see it.”

Falling behind, Meng Hongjin’s face went ashen—she hadn’t expected Jiang Li to be so lucky.

The maddened horse hadn’t thrown her off, and now Jiang Li was ahead.

This wouldn’t do; in her panic, Meng Hongjin noticed that the crowd now cheered for Jiang Li, with no one paying any attention to her.

This was Imperial Archery!

Her specialty, and if she were to lose even this to Jiang Li, she would be left with nothing!

Suddenly exerting force, Meng Hongjin harshly flicked her riding crop and pursued Jiang Li closely.

Due to the recent turmoil, Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yue, who had fallen behind, caught up.

Seeing Meng Hongjin’s burst of energy, they were unwilling to show weakness.

As the final stretch approached, they whipped their steeds, each eager to display their skills.

This group’s inspection had finally taken on a life-or-death intensity.

However, the most thrilling spectacle was still Jiang Li.

The dark brown horse, being an animal and not human, only wanted to fling Jiang Li off even more desperately due to its pain.

Yet no matter how the dark horse bucked, Jiang Li’s grip on the reins remained steady as if nothing, aside from the maddened horse, had changed since the start.

Including her composure.

As they neared the final stretch, another row of targets appeared.

Jiang Li lay close to the horse’s back, one hand tightly holding the reins, the other reaching for her quiver.

“Look!

She’s going to shoot the targets!”

“Good heavens, she’s lost her mind!”

Jiang Li had hit all three arrows earlier, an achievement unmatched in the inspection field today.

She truly had no need to continue archery here, especially when the black horse was in a frenzy—using both hands to draw and shoot was far more dangerous than before!

“This girl has real spunk,” Kong Liu praised, “I admire her!”

Nobody cared whether he admired Jiang Li or not.

As Meng Hongjin followed closely and saw this scene, her heart tightened.

She suddenly remembered, during the mid-point archery, she had been busy scheming against Jiang Li and had not shot her arrows.

By then, Jiang Li had already scored three hits.

Now, Jiang Li already had three bullseyes, and Meng Hongjin had none.

If she couldn’t surpass that at the finish line, she’d lose to Jiang Li—it was too late!

Without a moment to spare, Meng Hongjin quickly drew an arrow from her quiver and shot towards the target at the finish line!