Chapter 75: Pitch-Pot

How could the Xue family possibly compare to the royal family?

Xue Ziyuan’s forehead began to sweat nervously, and for a long moment, she couldn’t find a single word to retort. She dropped the arrow in her hand and bolted from the crowd.

Seeing her run off in such a hurry, Yao Yao couldn’t help but ask Xu Sangning, “Sister, is she having a tummy ache?”

Xu Sangning didn’t answer, just shook her head helplessly. “No.”

She’d run off to cry somewhere.

This matter would definitely reach her uncle and aunt’s ears—Xue family was in for it.

Even though Yao Yao was just a child and had spoken innocently, under the Emperor’s nose, who would dare act presumptuously?

Watching a four-year-old child scare off the Xue family’s daughter, the remaining crowd didn’t dare provoke them anymore.

Very soon, Yao Yao got a space of her own to play. She could hardly contain her excitement.

She looked at the sharp arrows placed on a small bench nearby, her eyes lighting up.

Just as she was about to grab one, Nurse Wu stopped her. “Miss Yao Yao, you’re still small, and these arrows are sharp. What if you get hurt? What would the Young Master say…”

But Yao Yao shook her head confidently. “It’s fine,” she said, puffing out her little chest. “I know arrows—they can’t hurt me!”

After all, her second brother waved a bow and arrows around the house every day!

Even she had a small bow of her own, handcrafted by their neighbor, Brother Yuanyang!

Xu Sangning was also a bit nervous. Though she had practiced pitch-pot at home, she wasn’t very good at it.

Thankfully, her grandmother wasn’t strict about such matters, or she’d be punished again.

Xu Sangning had only planned to bring Yao Yao over to watch the fun—after all, she was just a tiny child; no one would seriously expect her to try.

But Yao Yao was raring to go. She grabbed an arrow and waved it. “Sister, I just throw this into that pot in front, right?”

Xu Sangning nodded and explained the rules to her.

Pitch-pot was a common game at social gatherings among noble girls in the capital. When bored, they’d play a few rounds.

Typically, the players would be separated into hosts and guests, but since none of the princes or princesses were present today, everyone was playing freely.

Due to the Empress’s rushed preparations, thornwood arrows—typically used for pitch-pot—couldn’t be found in time, so regular arrows were being used as a substitute.

Since the Empress heard that the young noblewomen were playing pitch-pot, she had someone deliver a few pieces of jewelry, saying they could serve as prizes to bring good fortune.

As Xu Sangning explained scoring rules—initial hit, consecutive hits, ear-piercing hit, consecutive ear hits, scatter shots, and leaning pole hits—Yao Yao listened attentively, itching to try.

Xu Sangning noticed several people watching them with interest and whispered, “Yao Yao, maybe let’s find some sticks and practice a little first?”

It would be so embarrassing if they made a scene!

But Yao Yao refused. Tilting up her chubby, pale face, she confidently said, “It’s so close—it’s easy!”

She had just seen others trying to play, and they couldn’t even hit the pot from this short distance. When she played with her second brother at home, they could shoot arrows all the way across the street to the neighbor’s door!

Even though her father often scolded them for being mischievous and had to bring gifts to apologize, she and her second brother never really changed.

Eventually, her second brother even took her on horseback to the countryside to shoot wild chickens. Wild chickens had claws and could run! The pot couldn’t even move.

Seeing Yao Yao so confident, Xu Sangning didn’t stop her.

Anyway, Yao Yao was so small—if she missed, no one would dare laugh too much.

Plus, Yao Yao had a good temperament. She wouldn’t be discouraged by a small thing like this.

When Yao Yao pinched an arrow between her two chubby fingers, everyone turned to watch.

Some were curious, some looked like they were waiting for a joke, but most assumed there was no way she could hit the target.

She was just a tiny chubby kid, clearly not nimble.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Yao Yao let go.

The arrow flew as smoothly as flowing water, cutting through the air before their eyes.

It even stirred a slight breeze.

Clink!

The crisp sound rang out as the arrow landed cleanly in the pot.

The palace maid standing in front shouted excitedly, “One arrow—two points!”

Two points!

Yao Yao hadn’t expected a single arrow to earn her two points. Her eyes spun mischievously—maybe she could cut corners.

But her hands were too small to hold two arrows at once, so she gave up on throwing two at the same time and obediently picked up another.

Just before she threw her second arrow, Xu Sangning heard someone behind them mutter sarcastically.

“She must’ve caught a lucky breeze. How could a little girl possibly have that kind of strength?”

Xu Sangning was also surprised that Yao Yao landed her first shot, and while she was happy for her, she couldn’t help but think it might have been a fluke.

But of course, she wouldn’t say that out loud and crush the girl’s spirit. She kept those thoughts to herself.

As for those whispering behind her, Xu Sangning turned and glared at them angrily.

But her personality was too gentle—no matter how angry she got, those noble girls never took her seriously.

Just as Xu Sangning clenched her fists, ready to tell them off—

Clink!

Another crisp sound.

The palace maid’s voice trembled. “Two consecutive hits—add one point!”

“Huh? Only one point?”

Yao Yao was a little upset.

The first arrow got her two points, but the second only got one? What kind of rule was that?

She couldn’t wrap her head around it. She lowered her head, staring at the arrows by her shoes.

Maybe she could try throwing two at once—that’d get her two points again!

The people gossiping behind them suddenly fell silent.

The first arrow had the wind, sure, but the second was shot in still air. It had to be skill.

Xu Sangning, seeing Yao Yao land two shots in a row, no longer had any doubts—just joy.

She herself was terrible at pitch-pot—often scoring only one hit in four throws, and sometimes even that would be a leaning shot, which didn’t count.

So she always tried to avoid playing it at parties.

Watching Yao Yao perform so well, Xu Sangning suddenly felt like she had someone backing her up.

In that moment, she even forgot her grandmother’s prior warning. Unlike her usual soft-spoken self, she suddenly shouted with all her strength, “Yao Yao, you’ve got this!”

Hearing someone cheer for her, Yao Yao turned her head and gave Xu Sangning a sweet smile. “Okay!”

She had just heard the palace maid say that if someone hit all their shots, they’d win a gift prepared by Auntie Empress!

She didn’t know what the Empress had prepared, but the Empress was kind and beautiful—it had to be something good!

Excited, Yao Yao picked up two arrows at once.

Xu Sangning was momentarily confused—she didn’t realize what Yao Yao intended to do.

Only when she saw Yao Yao raise one arrow in each hand and align them, did Xu Sangning’s eyes widen in shock.

Yao Yao was going to throw both arrows at once?

Before she could react, Yao Yao’s arrows were already flying through the air.

The noble girls nearby were stunned.

Where did this little girl get the confidence to shoot two arrows at once?