Chapter 191 Li Nanke Amazes the Audience
"His Majesty has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Consort Gui and Consort Shu Wanyi have arrived!"
The eunuch's soft, feminine voice rang out outside the gate of Zishan Hall.
Princesses Zhaoning and Zhaokang also came along, each standing beside their mother.
The head maid immediately led a group of young girls to kneel down and pay their respects.
Zhao Wanqing kept trying to get closer to Xue Ting, and she was the first to notice that Xue Ting's expression was strange.
"Miss Xue, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Xue Ting pressed her hand to her stomach, her face turning pale.
For a moment, she suddenly felt a gurgling sound in her stomach, like her intestines were turning inside out, and she experienced severe abdominal pain.
But it doesn't hurt anymore.
She looked puzzled, shook her head at Zhao Wanqing, and subconsciously looked at Li Nanke.
Although Li Nanke was kneeling on the ground, he was gently rubbing his stomach with one hand, as if he was very uncomfortable.
Xue Ting's smugness resurfaced.
It seems Li Nanke can't hold on much longer!
She must have been too close to Li Nanke and was affected by him, which is why she felt abdominal pain.
Xue Ting subconsciously distanced herself from Li Nanke, stood up, grabbed Zhao Wanqing's hand, and moved to the side.
Zhao Wanqing was stunned for a moment, looking at the hand that Xue Ting was holding, her excited face turned red, and she gave Li Nanke a smug look.
Li Nanke had no idea what she was so smug about, so he looked away and looked at the person above him.
The emperor was listening to Empress Xue and Consort Wang describe the results of the first exam that morning.
Empress Xue, concerned for her reputation, only mentioned the top six and didn't mention Xue Ting, who came in last place.
After listening, the emperor stroked the black jade thumb ring on his hand and pointed at Xue Ting.
"How did the third daughter of the Xue family perform this morning?"
Empress Xue's face stiffened, and she awkwardly smoothed her temples, stammering, "Ting'er made a mistake and was punished by me."
She was upset, which affected her performance.
"Oh? What ranking did you get?"
Empress Xue felt a chill run down her spine, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter the last four words.
Consort Wang covered her mouth and giggled, giving the emperor a reproachful look.
"Her Majesty the Empress has always been strong-willed. Wouldn't His Majesty's questioning be embarrassing for her? If you want to know, Her Majesty the Empress can tell you privately tonight."
The emperor smiled and looked away.
Li Nanke overheard the conversation and pondered it silently.
Shen Cong said that the Imperial City Guard's spies were everywhere in Bianjing City, and His Majesty couldn't possibly not know the rankings of the first round of exams this morning.
Yet he still deliberately pressed for an answer in front of so many people, it seems His Majesty doesn't want Xue Ting to be the princess's companion!
In a daze, she was suddenly gently pushed, and she stumbled slightly before taking a step forward to regain her balance.
Turning her head, she saw that the person who pushed her was Zhao Wanqing!
Zhao Wanqing smiled slightly at her and said loudly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, my cousin Li Nanke is very good at pitch-pot."
My older cousin was willing to be the first to perform.
It turns out that when the head steward announced the start of the game of pitch-pot, the emperor asked, "Who would like to be the first to throw?"
Pitch-pot is a game that requires a lot of accuracy, a calm mind, and hand-eye coordination to get the pot in one shot!
The oldest girl present was only nine years old. They were all children, and they were already nervous, let alone having to play the pitch-pot game in front of His Majesty and the Empress.
Therefore, no one dared to step forward.
Li Nanke was in a daze and didn't notice that Zhao Wanqing had pushed him out like that.
"Li Nanke, are you willing to be the first to vote?"
The emperor stroked his beard and looked Li Nanke up and down.
Li Nanke withdrew his gaze from Zhao Wanqing and curtsied to the emperor.
She said crisply, "This humble woman is willing to offer a suggestion and be the first to participate!"
"Very well! Then let me see your pitch-pot skills. Don't disappoint me!"
The emperor chuckled, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Li Nanke's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the emperor was warning her not to hide her talents like last time.
She curtsied again and turned to walk towards the pitch-pot area next to her.
Xue Ting watched her retreating figure, her eyes filled with barely concealed anticipation.
My aunt said that croton powder works very quickly, and judging by the time, Li Nanke should be taking action soon.
So she just hinted to Zhao Wanqing that she had pushed Li Nanke out.
When Li Nanke plays the arrow-throwing game later, she will definitely suffer from severe diarrhea, and everyone will laugh at her.
Moreover, if one behaves improperly in front of the emperor, His Majesty will surely be very angry.
Li Nanke will become the laughingstock of the entire Bianjing city!
Never think about ever stepping into the palace again in this lifetime!
Just thinking about that scenario made Xue Ting so excited that she trembled all over, so much so that she didn't even notice her stomach rumbling.
Xue Ting nodded slightly to Empress Xue.
Empress Xue's eyes flickered slightly, and she suggested with a smile, "Your Majesty, why don't we move over there so we can get a closer look?"
The emperor thought about it and nodded in agreement.
On the ground paved with bluestone bricks, a gilded bronze pot stood a dozen feet away, the coiled dragon patterns carved on its body gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Li Nanke stopped, reached out and picked up an ebony arrow, closed his eyes, and carefully recalled the pitch-pot technique he had learned in his dream.
The sons of noble families in the court all loved pitch-pot, and almost all of them started learning it from a young age.
She only learned a little bit when she was young, and she was considered good if she could get it right four or five times out of ten.
But in her dream, while she was living in a brothel, she mastered the art of pitch-pot.
She held the arrow, her eyes closed, motionless, while the people around her murmured amongst themselves.
"That's strange, why isn't she voting?"
"Doesn't she know how to play the pitch-pot game?"
"You can't even play pitch-pot, yet you dare to be the first to step forward? Are you desperate for attention?"
Listening to the surrounding discussions, Xue Ting wondered to herself if Li Nanke was in so much pain that he could barely hold on.
I'm afraid to strain because I'll wet my pants if I do.
Her eyes widened with excitement, and she exclaimed, "Miss Li, hurry up and throw it! His Majesty and the Empress are waiting!"
Li Nanke suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright, his wrist poised like a bowstring.
Then, with a flick of the wrist, the arrow shot through the air, tracing a beautiful arc in the sunlight.
"bite!"
With a crisp sound, the arrow landed steadily in the pot.
The palace maid in charge of counting immediately said, "One piece in the pot, one point counted!"
Xue Ting stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
How could this be? Li Nanke didn't have diarrhea?
Before she could react, Li Nanke picked up two more arrows, one in each hand.
With a slight flick of both hands, two arrows were hurled out like shooting stars, and they entered the household register at the same time.
A gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd.
"Two wins in a row, plus two more chips!"
It's not uncommon to throw the arrow into the pot with both hands at the same time, but what's rare is that Li Nanke is only eight years old and already has such a high level of throwing ability!
Given time, I can't imagine how good she will be at pitch-pot!
Even the emperor showed a hint of surprise, and nodded with a faint smile.
Consort Wang smiled and exclaimed, "This young lady from the Li family is remarkable!"
A dark glint flashed in Empress Xue's eyes.
What happened?
Did Li Nanke not drink the fruit tea with croton added?
In front of everyone, she couldn't ask Xue Ting any questions, so she could only patiently read on.
According to the rules, each person had ten arrows. Except for the first time when he threw with one hand, Li Nanke threw with both hands every time.
And every single one of them hit the target!
Soon, all ten arrows had been thrown.
"All hits! Throw with both hands, score ten!"
The entire hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.
The girls looked at Li Nanke with eyes full of admiration!
"How did she train? She hits the target every time she throws with both hands, it's amazing!"
"Wow, she's amazing!"
"I think I'm starting to like Li Nanke, what should I do?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
