Chapter 101.1: This Favor Was a Bit Heavy
Sun Yi Lin set the arrow and pulled the bow, locking onto a little guy with a green apple on its head. Have to say, compared to the red ones, the green ones’ difficulty were even higher. After all, it wasn’t that conspicuous, and moreover, there were even more red ones running around everywhere disrupting one’s line of sight. And you can’t just focus on one little guy either. If by chance, you accidentally hit another one, then you can just directly go receive the punishment. He loosened his hold and released the arrow. Everyone all fixedly stared at the little guys, did he hit or not?
The male guest side was relatively far away after all, so a bunch of young masters all tried to lean towards this side as much as possible. But unfortunately, they couldn’t cross over those n.o.ble personages’ seats. They lean against delicately carved stone railing by the lakeside, stretching their necks, and the ones in front even got dragged by the head from time to time by the ones in the back. That scene was really……….a bunch of old officials directly shook their heads.
“Did he hit or not?”
“No, that little guy suddenly stopped. The arrow flew past grazing the apple, really a shame. If it didn’t stop, then he definitely would’ve hit.”
Sun Yi Lin was also very helpless towards the little guys that were looking to him with tilted heads. Those eyes were practically asking him: ‘Eh, what are you doing?’ To let him set another arrow would seemingly cause him to feel guilty. This was the downside between domesticated and wild animals. Moreover, domesticated ones didn’t fear people. Whether they run or stop was completely all to their own liking. They were much harder to deal with than those that continuously ran, or those that were still the whole time.
Fortunately these arrows have been treated, else Sun Yi Lin was uncertain whether or not he could still continue.
Time didn’t wait for people. While these little guys were in a daze, Sun Yi Lin rapidly shot another arrow.
“Good…….” Both the male and female guest side cried out and applauded at the same time.
Sun Yi Lin however wiped a cold sweat. He’d nearly shot the little guy’s head.
Sun Yi Lin glanced to the incense. The time spent was actually much shorter than he’d imagined, but when he went to draw another arrow, only three arrows remained. He suddenly realized something. Just now, although there was no rule on how many arrows one can shoot, it was obvious that there were only five arrows. Then, does it mean that he only has five chances, and at most, can only miss twice? The altered arrows were already a little lighter than normal arrows, their destructive power only a fraction of the original. One misstep, and one probably won’t even be able to pierced through the apple’s skin, and that definitely won’t count as a hit either.
Which great-aunt thought up of this move?
Great-aunt Jing Wan calmly sat there. Sorry, towards Sun Yi Lin’s complaint, Jing Wan expressed she didn’t receive it.
Speaking of which, the people here didn’t have the mindset of protecting animals. Even if it’s a domesticated animal, if it’s not one that any master fancies, then it definitely won’t have good treatment. Getting mistreated, getting beaten to death, were all common occurrences. Have to say, these little guys, although appear not bad, Jing Wan was certain that they all weren’t the beloved pets of any master in the Grand Elder Princess Manor. To want to let them come, their lives will most likely be disregarded. Jing Wan however wasn’t able to watch them be in danger of getting shot to death under her eyes. Not coming across such matter was one thing, but since she has come across it, then she was unable to be indifferent.
With just a line of ‘increasing the difficulty’, she was able to dispel everyone’s doubts.
On the male guest side, anyone with the least bit of good eyesight, after Sun Yi Lin’s first arrow shot out, will have already noticed the problem. They also unanimously believed that it was the for the sake of increasing the difficulty. Only Li Hong Yuan, in a near inaudible voice, muttered, “Still this compa.s.sionate and soft.”
Sun Yi Lin’s third arrow was very successful, hitting right on target. The crowd of young masters all clapped their hands and cheered for him. Although they wanted to see him embarra.s.s himself, but no matter what, he was still their modeled representative. If he were to embarra.s.s himself, it might affect everyone else’s image in the young ladies’ hearts. He just needed one more arrow to succeed. Unfortunately, the wish may be beautiful, but reality was cruel.
Sun Yi Lin’s fourth arrow once again failed. Seeing the last arrow in the container, they all wiped a cold sweat for him.
Probably because it was the most crucial arrow, everyone all held their breath, as they nervously watched. They didn’t even dare to make a sound, seemingly worried that it would disturb him.
“Good……..sigh………”
Before the word ‘good’ could be completely cried out, that arrow that was clearly speeding towards the apple lightly b.u.mped against it and fell. It was obvious, the strength wasn’t enough. This was just too unfortunate. Clearly he just needed that last little bit, how come it just………..sigh———
The first person shouted for him to come down to receive the punishment. Afterwards, even more people joined in. Since the outcome has already been determined, then they just needed to happily watch how this Gentleman Lin will make of fool of himself.
Only Jing Wan narrowed her eyes and swept a glance at the incense, and Sun Yi Lin more or less did the same thing, “Big sister Jia, don’t worry, it’s not over yet.”
“Eh?” Sun Yi Jia didn’t understand.
Only seeing Sun Yi Lin quickly rush off the platform, bending over the pick up the closest arrow on the ground, and in an even faster speed, return to the stage, set the arrow and pulled the bow. In an instant, the last green apple was directly pierced through.
“Eh, this was also possible?” Quite a few people all let out similar doubts.
Sun Yi Lin stood atop the stage, watching the incense’s last bit of spark extinguish with the corner of his mouth hooked.
A certain old official stroked his beard, “The rules just said to shoot the arrows on the stage, and within half an incense’s time, hit all the green apples. If any arrow were to land on the animal’s body, it’ll be considered a failure. It never said under this premise, one can’t come down and retrieve the missed arrows. Although this old man has poor eyesight, and can’t see the incense clearly, but from the looks of it, he did succeed. This Sun family boy is clever. Don’t know whether or not it was intentional for the game to be laid out like this, if so, then the person behind it is also very intelligent.”
After such an explanation, quite a few people all came to realization. They only saw five arrows, so they just fixedly a.s.sumed that one could only shoot five arrows, and actually forgot to have the rules connected together. As expected no less of Gentleman Lin!
Then, was it purposefully set up like this?
In reality, on the female guest side, almost everyone all didn’t expect that it would be this outcome. Previously, they didn’t hear of this situation? How should this be counted?
Rather, the servant girl standing by the incense burner very calmly spoke, “Gentleman Sun Yi Lin is in accordance with the rules, success.”
From her appearance, it seems she completely was aware of this situation. But she was just a little servant girl, if not having received instructions beforehand, even if she thought of it herself, she still wouldn’t dare announce the results of her own accord. No matter what, she would still have to ask for the Grand Elder Princess’s opinion first. It was obvious, this was deliberately setup as so, testing not only a person’s archery skills, but also one’s ability to react on the spot. Of course, if they were to encounter someone with very strong archery skills, hitting with a hundred percent accuracy, then the latter setup was just excessive.
The Grand Elder Princess pensively looked towards Jing Wan, “Luo girl, this is also your idea?”
Jing Wan nonchalantly smiled, “If not treated as a game, but rather as actual hunting, or even as the battlefield, I believe, anyone would know what to do, right? And even if it’s a game, one can still be a bit flexible, and not be that rigid, right?”
Sun Yi Lin had already came down from the stage. Hearing her words, he said, “Miss is clever, even this one was nearly tricked.” This was purely just a praise.
Jing Wan lightly smiled, but someone just felt that Jing Wan was especially bothersome to the eyes.
The Grand Elder Princess heartily laughed, “Good, good, you’re all clever children. You’ll all be rewarded.”
A servant girl brought over a tray that the others didn’t know about, sending it before Sun Yi Lin.
“This princess’s words earlier, you all most likely all treated it as empty words. On our side, we only carry on us things suitable for women to use, not suitable for you all and not convenient to give to you all either. Thus, Luo girl came up with an idea for this princess. It’s the same method, writing on a slip of paper and putting it in an embroidered pouch. However, this reward, there’s only ten altogether. Ten embroidered pouches, take one away, and there’s one less. Just pick one out yourself, and go look for his Majesty to receive the reward on another day on your own. If it’s you, you probably don’t care all that much, but this embroidered pouch can be gifted to others.”
This was practically having the Grand Elder Princess’s previous promise of ‘perform well and will be reported to his Majesty’ changed into a genuine benefit. One has to know, if the Grand Elder Princess were to just report to his Majesty, or if she forgets, or if his Majesty forgets, and nothing happens, then there was nothing one could do about it, but now things were different. Taking the embroidered pouch and personally asking for a reward from his Majesty, and receiving good things was one thing, but more importantly was the ability to meet the Emperor. Just hearing a name versus personally meeting, which one was further able to leave a lasting impression, one didn’t even need to think to know the answer.