Chapter 513: A Straightforward Man

"You Da?" Sixth Master Gu looked puzzled, "Who is this person?"

"That’s not important at all. Don’t interrupt, Sixth Brother," Treasure Bead waved her hand and said, "It’s the eldest lady from Duke Zhen’s Mansion. You met her when she came back from the Imperial College that day."

Sixth Master Gu snapped, "Stay away from her in the future. You are already a handful, and adding her scheming ways might cause trouble. When things get messed up, Third Brother will have to clean up your mess."

Treasure Bead stomped her foot and shouted, "I’m not that foolish. I’m not blindly used as a pawn. I think she has a point — women playing cuju is a minority, but if it’s published and illustrated with scenes of us gathering, it becomes an elegant affair. When more people see it, naturally more women will want to play cuju. When more women play in Daxing in the future, what’s there for the Yelv Clan to boast about?"

Speaking of elegance, Sixth Master Gu handed the poetry drafts on the stone table to Treasure Bead for her to see.

"Now this is elegance. This Miss Dong is a close friend of Third Sister-in-law, well-known for her talent in the Gusu area. She was invited by Third Sister-in-law to initiate the Flowing Firefly Poetry Society in Jinling, and selected good poems to send over. Shen Changle is now busy publishing the female edition of the Firefly Collection."

Treasure Bead flipped through it carelessly, like an expert, and said, "Not bad, better than Sixth Brother’s work."

Sixth Master Gu almost laughed out of anger.

Treasure Bead thought for a moment and said, "We could play a polo match in the mansion and have Sixth Brother paint it. I have the title figured out: Ten Beauties Touring the Garden. Sixth Brother, you could showcase your flowers and plants in the painting."

Sixth Master Gu was stunned.

Treasure Bead shook his sleeve, furrowing her brows, and cajoled, "Sixth Brother, please?"

Sixth Master Gu was dizzy from being shaken, almost unable to stand. He just tried to break free when "rip" went the sound, and half of his sleeve was exposed.

"Gu! Treasure! Bead!"

Sixth Master Gu, embarrassed, hugged his exposed arm, shrieking like a wronged maiden.

Startled, Treasure Bead dropped the half sleeve she was holding and jumped two or three feet away like a dragonfly, landing on the rockery outside the pavilion.

"Come down!"

Sixth Master Gu was quite upset.

His sister was getting more difficult to manage; just a few words and she had ripped his sleeve, then dashed around like a monkey.

Treasure Bead immediately began bargaining, "Then don’t be angry with me."

"Alright," Sixth Master Gu let out a long breath, "I won’t be angry with you."

"And don’t scold me."

Treasure Bead pushed her luck.

"Fine, I won’t scold you."

Sixth Master Gu promised once more.

Treasure Bead was not afraid of being hit by Sixth Master Gu.

She immediately stepped up and returned.

Sixth Master Gu asked, "Why do I feel like your skills have improved recently?"

Treasure Bead proudly said, "Of course, Third Brother drills me half dead every morning. I honestly didn’t mean to rip your sleeve just now. I just didn’t realize my grip has gotten stronger..."

Suddenly, Marquis Gu’s voice sounded behind her, "Showing off your half-baked skills in front of your Sixth Brother, how impressive, Treasure Bead!"

Treasure Bead was startled, "...When did he come back? Moving like a ghost, without a sound."

Sixth Master Gu laughed gleefully.

Marquis Gu coldly said, "If you could hear him coming back, he’d probably never make it back from the Northern Border. With your meager skills, I doubt you’d last more than two moves against Sixteen."

"Why don’t you just say he’d beat me in one move?"

Treasure Bead grumbled, displeased.

Marquis Gu snorted coldly, "If it weren’t for Sixteen’s generosity, allowing you one move, you’d look quite foolish."

"I don’t believe it," Treasure Bead said, "Sixteen isn’t such a cunning person; he’s an honest man."

Gu Shiliu, standing behind Marquis Gu, frowned deeply.

Marquis Gu said, "I’ll make sure you understand your capabilities today."

Treasure Bead widened her eyes.

"What are you going to do?"

"Sixteen!"

"Here!" Gu Shiliu gave Treasure Bead an apologetic look and loudly replied.

Marquis Gu gestured with his chin towards Treasure Bead and said, "Take down Seventh Miss in one move."

"Yes!"

Gu Shiliu stepped forward a few paces, bowing slightly to Treasure Bead, "Seventh Miss, please."

Treasure Bead angrily said, "I won’t believe it. Third Brother, if Gu Shiliu doesn’t take me down in one move, you have to promise me one thing."

"No need to think, you won’t last till the second move."

Marquis Gu didn’t want to hear her conditions.

Treasure Bead stamped her foot in anger.

Gu Shiliu said, "Seventh Miss, in a duel, you mustn’t lose your composure. Unsteady breath allows the opponent to exploit your weakness."

Treasure Bead angrily said, "Go ahead and show me your full repertoire."

Before the words were fully spoken, she rushed forward, launching an attack.

Gu Shiliu didn’t evade but merely stepped half-heartedly with his left leg, twisting his body to rotate his hips, dodging half of his body at an incredible angle, neutralizing Treasure Bead’s fierce attack.

Then, with an inhale, he blocked with his arm, clamped again, and pinned down Treasure Bead’s hand before she could retract it.

Treasure Bead yelped repeatedly.

Gu Shiliu released her hurriedly.

Treasure Bead, without warning, immediately exerted her strength to attack again.

Every move was aggressive.

But each move was easily neutralized by Gu Shiliu.

Resilient and relentless.

Defeated repeatedly, yet fighting again.

After seeing her captured multiple times, Marquis Gu shouted, "Enough, admit defeat. You’ve tried so many times, and every time you’ve been taken in one move. Yet you still think you’re the best, always causing trouble. From tomorrow onward, you’ll train an extra half an hour."

Treasure Bead huffed, standing still without objection.

Sixth Master Gu said, "Treasure Bead’s skills are considered exceptional among women."

"Nonsense," Marquis Gu retorted, "The woman who reported the news that day has skills comparable to Sixteen and is much better than Treasure Bead."

Treasure Bead doubted, "How could that be? That day when she walked the tightrope, she almost got knocked off by my hairpin."

"That’s called keeping a low profile. Only someone like you, being half-skilled, makes a fuss. The more skilled someone is, the more they hide their edge. Have you seen your Third Sister-in-law ever boast in the inner courtyard?"

When it came to Qin Yuan, Treasure Bead became attentive, saying, "Then have Gu Shiliu accompany me for practice daily without holding back, no need to play games to appease me."

Marquis Gu was satisfied, nodding, "This is more like the Gu Family style."

Treasure Bead brightened up upon hearing that.

Pulling Marquis Gu along, she tried to persuade him to convince Sixth Brother to paint the Ten Beauties Painting for them.

Upon learning it was all because of the Crown Prince, Marquis Gu felt a burst of dislike, sneering, "You really learn nothing good. This so-called Ten Beauties Painting is just something made up by self-proclaimed romantic men. Is there any dignity in it?"