124 Seizing the Bow
Gu Yuan watched Gu Yanfei’s every move with bright eyes and almost applauded her.
His sister’s kick was brilliant. It was light when she raised her leg, as fast as the wind, and powerful. It could be said to be fast, steady, accurate, and ruthless.
The hall was also very dark, so Gu Yanfei instructed Juan Bi to light the lamp.
After the row of candles was lit one by one, the hall lit up. The candlelight illuminated the surrounding displays and decorations.
The hall was spread out in all directions, and in front of them hung a large plaque inlaid with golden nine dragons. On the plaque were two large golden words: “Zhengqi Hall.”
These words were personally written by Emperor Taizu and given to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Below the plaque was a long rosewood table carved with tiger patterns. The familiar rhinoceros horn bow was hung on the wall in front of the plaque and table. Just like that, it was “consecrated” here.
Gu Jian could not use a heavy bow like the five-stone bow. Therefore, in the past eight years, this rhinoceros horn bow that had been passed down for four generations had been worshiped here.
In the candlelight, the ancient rhinoceros horn bow shone faintly. The broken bowstring had not been replaced and hung in midair.
“Eldest Young Master, Second Lady…” Outside the door at the back, the servant on night watch stammered.
He had been woken up by the sound of Gu Yanfei kicking the door, so he had rushed over. At this moment, his face was filled with shock, fear, and confusion. He did not know why these two masters were putting on such a posture as if they were here to raid the house.
Of course, Gu Yuan understood what Gu Yanfei meant. He raised his hand and took off the rhinoceros horn bow hanging on the wall. His thin lips curled into a faint smile.
Seeing this, how could the servant not understand that these two masters were here for the rhinoceros horn bow?
How could the servant not know the importance of this rhinoceros horn bow? The Marquis would personally come here every three days to wipe the bow. If this bow was taken away, he would not be able to answer to the Marquis!
“Big Brother, this bow belongs to you,” Gu Yanfei said with a smile. She stared at him without blinking and silently added in her heart, “My father’s title should also belong to you, Big Brother.”
The servant hesitated at the door for a while. Seeing Gu Yuan take down the bow, he boldly stepped over the threshold and tried to stop them. “Young Master, you can’t take this bow…”
“Swoosh!”
His voice was interrupted by an arrow. Gu Yanfei casually took out a stone bow hanging beside her, skillfully nocked an arrow, and drew the bow… This series of actions was done in one go.
In the blink of an eye, the arrow pierced the pageboy’s sleeve and nailed him ruthlessly and accurately to the other door, still hanging from the frame.
“Squeak.” The door panel made a rough sound as it was hit by the arrow.
Gu Yanfei did not say anything and only looked at the servant with a smile.
The pageboy felt that he had just walked between life and death. If the Second Lady’s arrow had missed by a few inches, wouldn’t it have hit his waist?!
He was so terrified that his feet were trembling. Half of his soul flew away, and he did not dare to stop the siblings anymore.
Gu Yanfei took two steps closer to the pageboy with her hands behind her back, scaring the servant so much that he shivered. It was as if he had seen the devil incarnate and subconsciously dodged back. However, there was a door fan behind him, and he could not retreat at all.
Gu Yanfei laughed freely, without the demureness that a lady should have. “Later, feel free to complain to Mingyi Courtyard. Remember to pass a message to Madam and the Marquis on my behalf.”
“The bow’s string is broken, and it even injured the Marquis. It’s really unlucky. I’ll use it to perform a ritual so as not to implicate the Marquis Household.”
She said it as if it were true, but her expression was teasing. The pageboy did not dare to question her. He nodded repeatedly, his face pale, unable to say a word.
The pageboy felt that the Second Lady was really scary, but in Gu Yuan’s eyes, his sister looked cute no matter how he looked at her.
Anyway—
His sister was right.
His sister was right!
Sighing happily in his heart, the smile in Gu Yuan’s eyes deepened. The gloominess he felt because of the new change was swept away.
The usually cold and silent young man finally had the clarity he should have at his age.
“Big Brother, let’s go.” Gu Yanfei pulled Gu Yuan away and took away the rhinoceros horn bow.
The snow outside had grown a little bigger. The snowflakes were like goose feathers, and in the blink of an eye, they were covered in wind and frost on the top of the siblings’ heads and shoulders.
Along the way, Gu Yuan played with the rhinoceros horn bow lovingly without taking his eyes off it. His fingers caressed the broken string a few times, and he recalled the scene of him secretly pulling the string in his father’s study when he was young…