Li Cong panicked immediately and stood there hesitantly.

Nangong Luoying glanced at him, frowned, and urged, "Lord Li, please. Didn't you say you would do anything for me? Oh, by the way, it was Lord Li who taught me archery. Does Lord Li lack confidence in himself?"

Li Cong knelt down with a thud: "Princess, swords have no eyes. You are of noble birth, and I am afraid that you may be harmed."

"It's alright." Nangong Luoying stood up, drew her bow, and pointed the arrow firmly at Li Cong. "Lord Li, rest assured, I will pardon you. Go now."

Seeing that he hadn't moved for a while, Ying'er stepped forward and said, "Lord Li, please come quickly, don't keep the princess waiting."

Li Cong understood that he was probably doomed this time. He got up shakily and walked to a short distance away, looking back every few steps.

He was filled with regret. He should have waited two days longer to go to Mingyue Palace. Who would have thought that Nangong Luoying would be there watching him?

"Alright." After walking about two meters, Nangong Luoying called out to him, "That's enough. Any further and I won't be able to shoot accurately."

Li Cong nodded, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Then, then I'll just stand here?"

"Hmm." Nangong Luoying nodded: "Lord Li, please put the apple on quickly. Don't worry, even if I tilt it, it won't kill you. At most, you'll go blind or deaf."

Upon hearing her words, Li Cong almost burst into tears. He knew Nangong Luoying's archery skills better than anyone else, and he feared that he would perish here today if she shot him.

Nangong Luoying ignored him and drew her bow again, aiming at Li Cong. She closed her eyes and pulled the bowstring back with all her might. Just as she was about to let go, Li Cong burst into tears.

"Waaah, Princess, spare me! Spare me, Princess..." As he spoke, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably, and some liquid was faintly flowing down his skirt.

He had been gambling that Nangong Luoying wouldn't actually attack him, until Nangong Luoying pulled the sword tightly, and then he realized that she really was going to kill him.

"Pfft." Nangong Luoying put away her sword and burst out laughing.

Some of the palace maids and eunuchs watching nearby were also whispering among themselves.

—"Look at him, he's wet his pants."

"How cowardly! He thinks he can curry favor with our princess with this kind of attitude?"

Nangong Luoying handed the bow to Ying'er, then took the arrow and walked up to Li Cong. Looking down at Li Cong, she couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

Li Cong looked at her in confusion, only to see her break off the tip of the sword right in front of him.

Nangong Luoying raised an eyebrow: "Candle, do you really think I would kill you, since you're an official of the imperial court?"

After saying that, she threw the sword in front of Li Cong and turned to leave.

Li Cong burst into tears as he watched her retreating figure. He picked up the candle-tipped sword from the ground and tried to break it, but it shattered.

Ying'er looked at him with disdain and said, "Someone, take Lord Li back to the Li residence."

"Yes." As soon as she finished speaking, two eunuchs grabbed Li Cong from either side and carried him out.

Li Cong finally understood that he had completely missed the opportunity to become a prince consort. Once this news got out, not only would the princess not want to marry him, but even young ladies with decent backgrounds would probably not be willing to marry him. He was filled with regret.

Although Nangong Luoying may not be as beautiful as Princess Mingyue, she has the advantage of being completely obedient to her.

He's really done something awful, losing more than he gained.