Hearing that the girls were about to compete, the ladies surrounding the Queen also came to join in the fun.
"Why don't we add some spice to their competition?"
"That's a good idea. Whoever wins will have the greatest honor."
"I also want the Queen's prize!"
"Then let's do as my sisters wish. I'll join in the fun too." The queen said with a smile, and took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and placed it on the tray held by the maid.
Several ladies also took out the jewelry they were wearing and placed them on the tray.
"So many people? Then I'll join in the fun and add to the excitement!" The emperor walked over with a smile and said to the concubines.
Xia Tian followed everyone in paying their respects, then quietly looked up and happened to meet Chen Nian's eyes.
Chen Nian nodded slightly at her, and Xia Tian immediately understood that the emperor must have been invited by Chen Nian.
I feel a little relieved!
After the emperor sat down next to the queen, he asked the eunuch beside him to place the jade pendant he was wearing on the tray.
"Since we are going to have a competition, we can't just ask these few of you. We might as well ask other young ladies if they want to participate. It will be more lively when there are more people!" The emperor said to the queen with a smile.
Naturally, no one objected to the emperor's words, and soon another seven or eight girls signed up. After all, even the emperor and the empress had added a prize. If they won, it would be equivalent to gaining the emperor and empress's approval in disguise, which would be a real honor.
Taking advantage of the opportunity when others were talking, Shen Nian slowly retreated to Xia Tian's side and whispered to comfort him, "Don't be afraid, just go ahead, it won't be a problem whether you win or not."
Xia Tian nodded to show that he understood!
Since you have someone backing you up, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Although she won't take the initiative to cause trouble, she is not afraid of it either.
Soon, the twelve girls who were participating in the competition were taken downstairs to change their clothes. After changing their clothes and putting on their skates at the edge of the ice rink, they waited for the command to start.
The rules of the skating competition are very simple. Everyone wears skates and skates around the ice rink, which is about 800 meters in circumference, five times. Whoever reaches the finish line first wins.
In the summer, I first got familiar with wearing skates and slowly found the feeling.
As soon as the drum sounded to signal the start of the competition, the girls rushed out immediately. Xia Tian was the last one and skated slowly. At the beginning, she was not very used to it and it was a bit difficult for her to skate. As she became familiar with it, her speed gradually increased.
At this time, Lin Saiyu, who was in the front, was almost a lap ahead of Xia Tian.
Summer began to accelerate, constantly shortening the distance between us and others.
In the stands, the emperor saw the girl who was skating clumsily at first, but in a blink of an eye, she was skating very smoothly, and her speed was getting faster and faster, and soon she surpassed most people. He sighed in his heart that the girl who was favored by Chu Xuan must have her extraordinary qualities.
When the Queen and the other ladies first saw that Xia Tian was the last one to come, they still had the leisure to joke around.
Seeing that this wild girl from the country was about to catch up with Lin Sayu, the daughter of a general who was in the first place, they all fell silent, unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in their hands, and stared at the girls in the competition.
In the stands, Shen Nian had never taken his eyes off the skating rink since the summer, following her increasingly fast figure. His clenched fists gradually relaxed, and his pursed lips slowly curled up.
When Xia Tian was the first to reach the finish line, the entire audience seemed to be paused. It was not until the emperor said "OK" that everyone reacted and it was a little unbelievable.
I thought he was a rookie, but I didn't expect him to become a king in the end.
After the competition was over, Chen Nian was the first to greet them. He took the cloak from Ningxiang and put it on Xia Tian without paying any attention to the people around him. He also tucked her hair behind her ears without hiding his joy, "Well done!"
Xia Tian looked at Chen Nian, who was particularly gentle today, and it seemed that a different emotion was slowly forming in his eyes.
She followed Shen Nian to the stands where the emperor and empress were. After paying their respects, the emperor smiled and praised, "It is indeed a match made in heaven, a woman as talented as a man!"
The empress, sitting next to him, was quite surprised by the result, but she didn't say anything in the end. She followed the emperor in praising him a few times, then asked curiously, "I remember you said earlier that you couldn't skate. Why don't I look like you?"
"Your Majesty, I really didn't know how to do it before. I was just learning on the spot just now." Xia Tian replied respectfully.
Anyway, the original body really can't do it. As for whether she can roller skate, who knows?
The Queen was just asking out of curiosity, but she didn't intend to do anything to her!
As the mother of a country, would she retaliate because of the jealousy between a few girls?
"I was mistaken," the Queen said with a smile, and ordered the maid to bring the tray over. "All these prizes are yours."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, the Empress, and all the ladies for your gifts." Xia Tian took the tray and stepped back.
Chen Nian asked for leave from the emperor and prepared to leave the palace and go home with Xia Tian.
But he hadn't walked far when he was stopped by three young ladies: Hu Mengyao, Wen Jin and Lin Sayu.
"Master Shen, Sister Wen wants to say something to you." Hu Mengyao spoke first.
Shen Nian said indifferently, "I wonder if Miss Wen has any advice?"
Wen Jin felt wronged when she heard Shen Nian's tone, which was so repulsive, "Brother Nian, have you forgotten Jin'er after not seeing her for a few years?"
When Xia Tian heard the three words "Brother Nian" next to him, he shuddered all over and got goose bumps!
Is there really an unknown story between these two people?
Xia Tian stared at Chen Nian, who looked calm and showed no signs of excitement.
"Miss Wen, it's better to call me Master Shen."
"What's so good about her? How can she compare to Sister Wen?" Hu Mengyao couldn't help but interrupt when she heard that Shen Nian and Sister Wen were so distant.
"My wife is good or not, it's not Miss Hu's turn to criticize her!" Shen Nian's expression turned cold when he heard Hu Mengyao's impolite words.
Hu Mengyao wanted to argue again, but was stopped by Wen Jin.
However, Miss Lin Si from the general's mansion kept staring at Xia Tian, her eyes full of scrutiny!
In the competition just now, Xia Tian finally surpassed her and won first place.
Xia Tian saw that Miss Wen looked like she was about to cry, so he quickly pulled Shen Nian and said, "Let's go back first, it's too cold." He then waved to the three young ladies and said, "See you later, we're leaving first."
After saying that, without waiting for anyone to react, he pulled Shen Nian and hurried out of the palace gate.
She was really a little cold. She had just worked up a sweat while skating and hadn't changed her inner clothes yet. It was really uncomfortable to wear them now.
Shen Nian took Xia Tian’s hand and didn’t let go.
When they returned to Jinglan Garden, Ningxiang quickly instructed the maid to prepare water for bathing.
Only when she was soaking comfortably in the bathtub did she feel relieved.
I came back early today. After washing up, Xiatian slept on the kang in the warm room for a while.
In the afternoon, after Shen Nian came to his senses, Xia Tian finally remembered to ask him about the arranged marriage!
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