Chapter 162: Winning Once Is Enough

The group was listening to music on the painted pleasure boat, amusing themselves with pitch-pot, where the winner would drink a cup of wine.

Since there were seven or eight participants, each person only had four arrows, and the scores were calculated by tallying the points.

A friend of Cheng Chao's took the account book and stood to the side, acting as the judge.

A first arrow that landed in the pot earned ten points, piercing through the ear of the pot earned twenty points, and consecutive ear-shots earned fifty points. Consecutive shots into the pot earned twenty points, while scattered arrows earned five points.

There was also the "leaning on the pole," which earned fifty points. The so-called "leaning on the pole" meant an arrow balanced on the rim of the pot, hanging without falling.

Zhou Yuanqi was eager to try, and the Seventh Miss from Prince Rong's Mansion was also at the front—perhaps children are always fascinated by games that aren't meant for them.

Cheng Zhao watched from the side.

Zhou Yuanqi missed his first arrow.

After losing the first shot, unless he could land consecutive ear-shots afterward, victory was essentially impossible.

However, no one among the group was particularly skilled at pitch-pot, and several others missed their first arrows too.

It wasn't until Prince of Andong, Helian Xuan, took his turn that things changed.

He hit his first arrow, then landed consecutive ear-shots, and finally achieved a "leaning on the pole."

In the first round, he was the clear winner.

Zhou Yuanqi had already given up and sidled up to Cheng Zhao, poking her gently: "This guy is pretty good, isn't he?"

Cheng Zhao: "..."

What's with that tone of yours?

He's got nothing to do with you, so why do you seem so pleased? Not only are you satisfied yourself, but you also want me to think highly of him?

Have you lost your mind like Cheng Chao too?

Cheng Zhao looked at him; Zhou Yuanshen also glanced at his younger brother.

Zhou Yuanqi returned their stares dismissively, ignoring their confusion, acting completely self-assured.

Cheng Zhao realized she couldn't figure out what Zhou Yuanshen was thinking, nor could she understand the riddle Zhou Yuanqi was playing at.

Was she just slow on the uptake?

She had only just scored a minor victory in the matter of managing household affairs.

The first round was won by Prince of Andong, Helian Xuan.

He won with such skill that everyone was convinced, so they all offered their congratulations.

When the second round began, Cheng Zhao decided to join in.

She hit her first arrow and also landed an ear-shot.

But she failed on her second ear-shot, and her "leaning on the pole" didn't succeed either.

"That's very good," Fan Xiao said with a smile from the side. "The Duchess has respectable pitch-pot skills."

"Yes, I managed an ear-shot," Cheng Zhao said.

Cheng Chao, standing beside her, muttered very quietly: "You really can't take a compliment; one praise and you're floating up to the sky."

No one caught what he said.

Cheng Zhao couldn't be bothered to reply.

This time, Helian Xuan didn't join. Though Cheng Zhao's performance wasn't outstanding, she at least landed an ear-shot, so she won this round.

However, she didn't want to drink. In the sweltering summer heat, drinking alcohol made one's body feel stifled, trapping heat inside, and that made Cheng Zhao particularly irritable.

"Give it to my fourth brother," she said.

Zhou Yuanshen, who was beside her, took the cup and downed the wine Cheng Zhao had won.

No one commented, though Fan Xiao couldn't help but chuckle.

Zhou Yuanqi said, "If you want to drink, go win your own game."

Fan Xiao also asked, "Would the Duke of Chen like to play a round?"

Then he added, "And the Duchess? Let's see who wins between you two."

Cheng Zhao replied flatly, "I'm game either way."

Zhou Yuanshen nodded slightly: "That works."

Prince of Andong spoke up: "I'll give it a try too. Pitch-pot is only fun with more people."

Since he was truly formidable, once he joined the game, he was sure to win, so others avoided competing against him. But now he offered to join the match between the Duke and Duchess, and the rest didn't want to embarrass themselves, so they just stood by to watch.

"...Is the Duchess afraid to lose to me?" Helian Xuan asked Cheng Zhao.

He was smiling, but his smile was unusually faint, and the depth in his eyes was all the more intense.

Cheng Zhao said, "The outcome is not yet certain, Prince. Please, go ahead."

The three of them played pitch-pot.

Cheng Zhao said, "I'll throw out a brick to attract jade."

She started first.

This time, she hit her first arrow and then landed another one in the pot. But when she went for an ear-shot, the pleasure boat swayed, and her arrow went off target.

Cheng Zhao threw another arrow.

Perhaps because she'd missed the last one, she got flustered, and this one missed too.

A sudden wave of frustration and annoyance rose in her heart.

"...It's not like I'm performing in front of the Emperor," she quickly consoled herself. "It won't affect my future as a respected matriarch. What does it matter if I lose?"

In just a breath's time, Cheng Zhao had regained her composure.

She accepted her loss gracefully and stepped back, yielding the spot to Helian Xuan and Zhou Yuanshen.

Fan Xiao praised her again: "Hitting two arrows in a row is quite impressive."

"Thank you, Young Uncle," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

She didn't need everyone around her to be obedient. But if they weren't obedient, at least having sweet words was something she found quite pleasant.

Only Cheng Chao and Zhou Yuanshen—one her older brother, the other her husband—were neither sweet-tongued nor obedient; they just knew how to annoy her.

Over at the game, Helian Xuan started first.

He resorted to his same strategy as the first round: a first shot into the pot, consecutive ear-shots, and then a "leaning on the pole."

Zhou Yuanqi squeezed over to Cheng Zhao and whispered, "The Prince has won."

Then he added, "He's quite capable, and he's also very handsome."

Fan Xiao chuckled: "Praising the Prince right in front of your sister-in-law—that's terribly improper, Yuanqi. If anyone else heard, there'd be talk."

Zhou Yuanqi looked at his young uncle with the same disdain he showed his brute of a brother: "What do you know!"

Cheng Zhao said, "I don't understand either. Why don't you explain it to us? Why are you so insistent on praising him?"

Zhou Yuanqi replied, "I admire people with real talent."

"Then when the Duke beats him later, you can praise the Duke," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi said, "How can he possibly win now?"

His words had barely left his mouth when Zhou Yuanshen began.

With his first arrow, he achieved a "leaning on the pole"—the arrow balanced on the rim of the pot without falling. He earned fifty points.

Everyone gasped and showered him with praise.

Then came the ear-shots.

Two arrows in a row, both piercing the ear of the pot, totaling seventy points.

"If the fourth arrow also achieves a 'leaning on the pole,' does the score double?" Zhou Yuanshen asked.

The record-keeper paused for a moment: "According to the rules, yes, but..."

But it was rarely ever done.

Because a "leaning on the pole" arrow was suspended in balance and could easily be knocked off by a second arrow.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuanshen paused thoughtfully, then threw his fourth arrow.

The relaxed and composed Helian Xuan's expression turned grave. At this point, Zhou Yuanshen was only ten points behind him.

Unless Zhou Yuanshen missed this arrow, he would certainly beat Helian Xuan in any case.

Helian Xuan had never faced an opponent in pitch-pot; he always won without fail.

The onlookers couldn't help but hold their breath.

Fan Xiao moved a few steps closer.

Even the qin music from behind the screen seemed to soften.

Everyone seemed to be holding their breath.

Zhou Yuanshen released his fourth arrow.

Another "leaning on the pole."

The two arrows crossed, their tails quivering slightly, yet both stayed balanced on the rim without falling.

A cheer erupted.

"The Duke of Chen adds a hundred more points."

Zhou Yuanshen hadn't just won; he had won by ninety points.

Winning by ten was a narrow victory; winning by ninety was a crushing, devastating rout that left Prince of Andong thoroughly beaten.

Everyone was stunned with admiration, crowding around to look; all praised Zhou Yuanshen's exquisite skill.

Zhou Yuanqi ran over, picked up the two arrows—they were crossed and balanced without touching each other.

"Third Brother, you are truly formidable, a master of your time!" Zhou Yuanqi said, making a deep, scholarly bow to Zhou Yuanshen.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Cheng Zhao couldn't help but smile too.

Zhou Yuanshen reached out and gently tousled his younger brother's hair.

Helian Xuan quickly adjusted his expression, stepped forward, and said, "Congratulations to the Duke of Chen."

"Your concession," Zhou Yuanshen replied.

"Would you like to have another round?" Helian Xuan asked.

Zhou Yuanshen said, "Winning once is enough, Prince. That will suffice."

Helian Xuan: "..."