Chapter 157 - 157 Please

157 Please

However, those women felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their heads and their bodies had turned cold.

Anyone could tell that Baili Yin was interested in Gu Yanfei, and the Eldest Prince was openly protecting Gu Yanfei. This was equivalent to putting his thoughts on the table.

Yu Chaoyun looked at Chu Yi from afar and subconsciously clenched her handkerchief.

Suddenly, she felt her cuff tighten. The girl in pink beside her gently tugged at her cuff, silently indicating for her to look at Gu Yanfei.

Obviously, Gu Yanfei would be their greatest competitor to become the Eldest Princess Consort.

Yu Chaoyun patted her hand comfortingly and looked down at her beautiful and slender fingers. Chu Yi’s smiling voice sounded in her ear again.

“Second Miss Gu is right. Since it’s a prize, it should naturally be given to the leader.”

The young man’s voice was clear and melodious, like a spring breeze circling everyone’s ears.

Gu Yanfei casually sheathed her sword. The crisp sound seemed to be responding to Chu Yi’s words from afar.

The corners of Chu Yi’s lips curled higher, and his black eyes sparkled. He said slowly, in an unquestionable tone, “In the next four hours, whoever has the most prey will be the champion!”

“In addition, I’ll add another prize…”

Before Chu Yi could finish, he was interrupted by Baili Yin. “Young Master Yi, if we use this flintlock as a wager, I’ll also go down and join in the fun.”

Baili Yin had that unrestrained appearance again. He seemed to be provoking and joking.

Unmoved, Chu Yi smiled and refused. “That won’t do.”

“I’ll use this pocket watch as a prize.”

Chu Yi took out an enamel-embedded silver pocket watch the size of a baby’s fist and gently placed it on the table.

Looking at this small and exquisite pocket watch, an abnormally bright stream of light flashed across Baili Yin’s eyes.

The pocket watch was also invented by Emperor Taizu of the State of Jin, Chu Jin, and was far more precise than the existing pot watch. However, the components in the pocket watch were even more complicated and detailed than flintlocks and could not be replicated. Even in the State of Jin, only a handful of people had this item, and it was said that there were less than a hundred pieces.

The piece that the State of Yue had painstakingly obtained was given to the Crown Prince, so even Bailin Yin did not have it.

Baili Yin’s eyes burned like fire. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he did not say anything.

He was the Third Prince of the State of Yue, so he naturally had to maintain his bearing as a prince. He could not fight with people below him like a young boy who had never seen the world, and could not ruin the prestige of the State of Yue.

When the young masters present heard that there was another rare and precious pocket watch today, their blood boiled and their eyes lit up.

Lu Shi smiled and cupped his fists. “Your Highness’s prize is really extraordinary.”

“If I could get this pocket watch today, my brothers in the family would definitely be envious,” another person said excitedly, staring at the pocket watch with shining eyes.

“You just hunted two badgers this morning, and you want to win? Dream on!”

“Let’s go, let’s go to the hunting ground to compete again…”

The more the young masters spoke, the more excited they became, and their blood boiled again.

Afraid that they would fall behind, they rode their horses again and set off towards the forest with great momentum.

The high-spirited figures spurred their horses away. The rapid and chaotic sound of hooves rumbled like muffled thunder and faded away, leaving behind billowing yellow smoke.

Soon, the sound of their hooves was too far away to be heard, and the surroundings were much emptier.

Other than Chu Yi, Baili Yin, Chu You, and the others, the rest were basically all girls.

Since they had nothing to do, Wei Jiaoniang called Gu Yanfei, Lu Qin, and the others to barbecue.

It was already two hours later when they finished the roasted meat and digested it.

The girls didn’t go far and simply played nearby.

They kicked shuttlecocks, played the spinning top, and played hide-and-seek… They were having a lot of fun.

Gu Yanfei was kicking the shuttlecock. She was agile and kicked the shuttlecock in all kinds of ways. One moment, she was cross-kicking, the next moment, she was kicking with her knees, the next moment, she was kicking with the tips of her feet, and the next moment, she was twisting…

The shuttlecock, made of pheasant feathers, flew in and out of the air like a lively bird.

Clap, clap, clap!

The girls applauded and cheered in high spirits.

“Catch!” Wei Jiaoniang was also kicking a shuttlecock at Gu Yanfei. The shuttlecock made a high arc in the air.

Gu Yanfei smiled sweetly and kicked the shuttlecock back to Wei Jiaoniang with her right foot. Then, she caught the shuttlecock with her left toe.

The two of them cooperated and kicked the two shuttlecocks around. They played as they pleased.

“Oh my!”

Wei Jiaoniang let out a low cry. She accidentally kicked one of the shuttlecocks high into the air.

As the rhythm became chaotic, she kicked the other shuttlecock askew. This shuttlecock “flew” up a tree. At first glance, it looked like a small bird squatting in the treetops.

Gu Yanfei could not help but laugh. She walked over to pick up the shuttlecock on the tree.

After Wei Jiaoniang picked up another shuttlecock, she walked behind Gu Yanfei and whispered, “Look at them.”

“Them” referred to the women from aristocratic families not far away.

Ahead, the shed where the women of the aristocratic families lived had been redecorated. A few gauze curtains embroidered with lotus flowers hung down on three sides, and a three-legged incense burner was lit in the shed with incense curling up.

When the wind blew, the gauze curtains fluttered like lotus flowers swaying in the wind and smoke, adding to the poetic atmosphere.

Two maidservants set up the zither table. A girl in a red dress walked over with the zither and personally placed it on the table.

Following, she sat down gracefully behind the zither table, placed her hands on the strings, and began to transfer the test strings.

“They’re burning the incense and playing the zither,” Wei Jiaoniang whispered into Gu Yanfei’s ear. “They’re playing it for the Eldest Prince, aren’t they?”

“Probably.” Gu Yanfei nodded and smiled.

In the wilderness, they would not play the zither for foxes and rabbits, right?

Looking at Gu Yanfei’s carefree appearance, a protective desire rose in Wei Jiaoniang’s heart. Yanfei is so good, I have to protect her. I can’t let those girls from noble families intercept her!