Chapter 657: Chapter 493 Casual Throw

Sure, here is the translated text:

Yao Mengxian’s eyes were fixed on Yao Mengdie; this girl also doesn’t quite understand the situation. This is the Princess’s Mansion—a place where one’s honor and disgrace affect all.

If she loses face, can Yao Mengdie really distance herself from it?

Under Yao Mengxian’s sharp gaze, Yao Mengdie felt some pressure. She initially wanted to say a few more words but ultimately held back. With a cold snort, she turned to speak with Yao Menglian.

Princess Rong Jia had long noticed the little squabble here and let out a snort of laughter. People say the rules at the Duke Zhen’s Mansion aren’t good, and she thinks it’s not without reason.

A legitimate daughter from the main branch hides in the manor without ever being seen, and the stepmother is not presentable either.

The girls from the second branch dare to challenge the legitimate daughter from the main branch. Being a secondary branch after the family split, they should cling to the main branch rather than make trouble for its legitimate daughter—truly foolish.

However, Yao Mengxian’s future days might not be better than those of the girls from the second branch.

Unless she marries into a family of wealth and status as the Lady of the Clan, otherwise the profit-driven people at Duke Zhen’s Mansion won’t take her seriously.

Princess Rong Jia glanced at Yao Menglian, who was sitting beside her. This one is also crafty. She kept her around for amusement as she was usually bored, and then turned her gaze to the Lake Heart Pavilion opposite.

Lu Chen stood beside Gu Chengyu, occasionally chatting with him. Gu Chengyu was uninterested, merely responding occasionally, as he was eager to return home and thinking about tomorrow’s plans.

“Brother Ji!” Yu Ting waved to Ji Mingxuan.

Ji Mingxuan was a bit helpless; he understood Yu Ting’s intentions. But with so many people here, under everyone’s watchful eyes, how dared he commit any inappropriate acts?

If discovered, wouldn’t his reputation be ruined?

Besides, even if there was a scheme, it should be Yu Ting himself doing it. Should the plan fall through, he wouldn’t be blamed.

Ji Mingxuan noticed fish food on the stone table and took some to the lakeside, pretending to feed the fish.

Yu Ting, seeing Ji Mingxuan finally coming over, signaled with his eyes towards Gu Chengyu’s side.

Ji Mingxuan turned his head and saw that Gu Chengyu was standing by the pavilion railing.

The pavilion space was not small, but with so many people, accidents like falling into the lake weren’t uncommon.

Yu Ting’s idea was simple—he just wanted to make Gu Chengyu lose face! If Gu Chengyu couldn’t swim, there would be someone to save him; it was just a matter of losing face.

As for other malicious thoughts, he didn’t have them, as their quarrel wasn’t a deep hatred.

Ji Mingxuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and gestured for Yu Ting to go himself.

Yu Ting was momentarily stunned; it was true! Ji Mingxuan had no beef with Gu Chengyu—the real conflict was with Zhu Pang. Surely, he wouldn’t care about Gu Chengyu losing face.

But if he went himself, he really didn’t have the guts.

“Well! Who knew Shao Lin’s arrow-throwing skills were so good! He actually hit with six arrows!”

In the same look exchanged with Ji Mingxuan, Yu Ting made up his mind and slowly squeezed towards Gu Chengyu.

“Lu Chen! It’s finally your turn now, right?” After waiting for two more rounds, Qin Min spoke up to Lu Chen.

“Jinyu, please go first!” Lu Chen chuckled; he had heard some rumors about Gu Chengyu knowing martial arts.

It happened three years ago when Gu Chengyu was returning home by boat and encountered River Bandits. He had contributed significantly, they said. He was curious about Gu Chengyu’s martial skills.

Unfortunately, if it were horseback archery, he could test it out, but throwing arrows relied mostly on eyesight and wrist strength.

Gu Chengyu didn’t care either way; he had to compete eventually—sooner or later made no difference.

Receiving an arrow from the servant, Gu Chengyu stood at the pavilion entrance.

Originally almost squeezing next to Gu Chengyu, Yu Ting wondered what was happening. He had managed to squeeze over surreptitiously, but now Gu Chengyu stood again at the pavilion entrance.

Gu Chengyu glanced at Lu Chen and the others watching him and couldn’t help but smile.

He gauged the distance between himself and the pot, then threw his first arrow.

With a clank, Gu Chengyu didn’t need to look to know it went in the pot. This was the first arrow; Gu Chengyu couldn’t hide his skill.

“Pretty lucky, it actually went in,” Gu Chengyu feigned surprise.

Just then, Min Feng, standing nearby, spoke up: “Mr. Zhu said earlier, Mr. Gu is very accurate, this shouldn’t be luck but skill!”

Min Feng had already thrown earlier and hit with six arrows. Since the distance was extended a bit, the results had somewhat declined compared to before.

When it was Gu Chengyu’s turn to throw, the ladies became quite lively.

“Mr. Gu’s arrow-throwing was quite casual earlier; this palace sees some real skill in him,” remarked the Eldest Princess, setting down her teacup and dabbing her mouth with a cloth.

Princess Rong Jia glanced at her mother’s expression and felt slightly moved.

“In my view, it’s just luck. Big brother has practiced horseback archery for years and couldn’t hit them all. He’s just a frail scholar; even if he studied the six arts of a gentleman, he couldn’t match big brother,” she said.

The Eldest Princess nodded and glanced at Princess Rong Jia.

Princess Rong Jia felt surprised and dared not say more.

Gu Chengyu threw another arrow, and it also went inside the pot.

Qin Min was a bit surprised; he didn’t expect Zhu Pang’s words to be true. Watching Gu Chengyu’s movements, he saw no hesitation in his arrow-throwing, seeming extremely casual—wondered about Gu Chengyu’s horseback archery skills.

Even Lu Chen became serious at the sight, his fingers spinning the thumb ring thoughtfully.

“Jinyu! Keep it up!” Zhu Pang shouted enthusiastically as Gu Chengyu hit with two consecutive arrows.

Seeing the various expressions of the people around him, Gu Chengyu knew it was enough; the next ones he could throw casually.

Having made up his mind, Gu Chengyu didn’t look carefully, randomly throwing an arrow even more casually than before.

Clank! Upon seeing it, Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but twitch his mouth—such a casual throw, and it still went inside the pot.

“Mr. Gu initially declined and showed humility; look, he hit three consecutive arrows,” someone remarked from the ladies’ side.

Gu Chengyu had hardly looked earlier and surprisingly hit again. Could it all be based on feeling? Lu Chen began to wonder.

Gu Chengyu felt speechless—he couldn’t be too casual. He should aim and throw towards the side.

Is anyone else as miserable as him? Others use all their strength to throw; he does the opposite.

This time, Gu Chengyu put in a bit more thought, slightly shifting his stance. This time it wasn’t surprising that he threw it outside the pot and onto the ground.

Yu Ting sneered; surely he couldn’t always be lucky?

Qin Min and Lu Chen exchanged glances; they couldn’t figure it out. Did Gu Chengyu get lucky earlier or deliberately miss?

Actually, at Gu Chengyu’s true level, if he took three or two arrows together, he could have thrown them into the pot.

The rules of arrow-throwing certainly judged by the most arrows thrown into the pot, but there were many different ways to play.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep