Chapter 417: Weak and Sickly?

The ball possession and side selection for the semi-finals had already been decided when the four teams advanced.

According to the order of advancement, Princess Ankang got the ball possession, while the third prince got the right to choose the side.

Therefore, as soon as the game started, Princess Ankang launched an attack.

On such a rare big stage, Li Xuan chose to give the first performance opportunity to Princess Ankang.

After all, this was also Princess Ankang's first show in front of these Daxing nobles, and it was necessary to leave a deep impression.

Li Xuan first received the ball from Zhao Feng, and then passed it to Yu'er, and then Yu'er passed it to Princess Ankang, who launched the first attack of the game.

Princess Ankang looked particularly serious, and kicked the ball straight to the opposite side with all her strength.

This kick caused a commotion in the stands. No one thought that the unknown Princess Ankang actually had such strength.

Of course, there were also a small number of people who were just enjoying the game of Cuju. Seeing such a wonderful goal, they immediately clapped and cheered, which attracted a lot of cheers.

But compared with the cheers, there were more discussions.

"Oh my God, did you see it? That kitten can actually play Cuju!"

"Yes, no wonder when Manager Zhao read out the rules earlier, he said that trained animals could also participate in the competition. It seems that this cat is a trained animal."

"But can a domestic cat be trained to this extent? I can't even ask my domestic cat not to poop and pee on my bed."

"Indeed, it's okay to tame other animals, but cats are still very difficult."

"Maybe Princess Ankang has people who are good at training animals around her."

"But training a cat is really incomprehensible."

In the eyes of ordinary people, training a cat is not worth the effort and will be twice the result with half the effort.

Because cats have poor obedience and generally have strong personalities, it is difficult to just make cats more obedient.

Some people who know Princess Ankang's situation are even more amazed.

"Isn't it said that the Thirteenth Princess has been weak and sick since childhood, sitting in a wheelchair all year round and unable to move freely?"

"This, this is now much better than the average person in kicking Cuju, right?"

"Yes, that's what I heard. In the past, it was said that Princess Ankang was so weak that it was difficult for her to live to adulthood. Now it seems that this is completely nonsense."

"That kick just now, it can't be kicked without a foundation of cultivation, right?"

"You don't know this, right?"

"It's true that the Thirteenth Princess was weak in the past, but recently Doctor Xue found a way to treat it, which is why the Thirteenth Princess is so healthy now."

"Ah! Is it the Doctor Xue in the palace?"

"If it's him, everything makes sense."

"Doctor Xue really deserves the name of a miracle doctor. He can easily cure any difficult and complicated disease."

"..."

In the stands, many people's topics gradually shifted to Doctor Xue. Some people even boasted that Doctor Xue had treated their own illnesses and cured them with medicine.

However, some people did not turn their topic to Doctor Xue, because they had little contact with Doctor Xue and could not boast about their friendship, so they continued to analyze the game seriously.

"I admit that Princess Ankang's kick was very powerful, even far beyond ordinary people, but His Royal Highness the Third Prince cannot be defeated by strength alone."

"His Royal Highness the Third Prince is a real strong man who has entered the middle third rank!"

Sure enough, as soon as this person finished speaking, Princess Ankang's shot was easily blocked by the Third Prince, which attracted warm cheers from the stands.

"Good!"

"As expected of His Royal Highness the Third Prince!"

"I saw the new Daxing God of War rising up, and he really has a promising future."

"This scene reminds me of His Royal Highness the Third Prince's invincible heroic figure on the battlefield. In the encounter in Dachazi Village that year, His Royal Highness the Third Prince led the people to defeat the enemy and personally killed the enemy, which greatly boosted the morale of our army!"

"Although I didn't have the chance to see it with my own eyes, the scene at that time is as vivid as it is now."

"..."

Just a simple defense attracted all kinds of exaggerated praise from the stands.

Li Xuan had sharp ears, and he heard all the messy words clearly.

"You are all too much, we are just playing Cuju!"

"What does this have to do with anything?"

Li Xuan took a breath of cold air on the Cuju field, and was amazed at the flattery of Daxing.

But at this time, some insiders questioned the words of the previous person.

"Didn't you say you just killed a horse?"

Seeing that someone didn't know what was going on, someone immediately said angrily:

"Isn't the enemy's warhorse an enemy?"

A small group of people in the stands started arguing.

"Then it should be called an enemy horse..."

Let's not talk about arguments that have nothing to do with the game.

But there were also people with discerning eyes who could see that Princess Ankang didn't have any cultivation skills, at least the kick just now showed no signs of using any blood and qi.

"No cultivation?"

"But this power is really not small..."

"But in the face of the gap in cultivation, it is probably still difficult to win."

It can be seen that more people did not speak out like others, but just analyzed silently in their hearts.

In the Taiji Palace, it was even quieter.

Below Emperor Yongyuan and Empress Wu, a group of court officials sat, watching the game silently, which was in sharp contrast to the excitement in the stands.

It was not that the atmosphere in the Taiji Palace was solemn. Before the game started, they were still talking about Cuju in a relaxed atmosphere.

But from the start of the game, after Princess Ankang shot, these court officials watched the game more seriously than anyone else.

If you observe carefully, you can also find that they occasionally exchange glances secretly.

In short, the atmosphere in the Taiji Palace has unconsciously become dull, but no one has stepped forward to mediate the atmosphere.

The third prince stopped the attack of Princess Ankang, and after hearing the support of the audience, he couldn't help but smile slightly, thinking to himself:

"Ankang is not a concern, and the maid next to him is also."

"Only the cat is a little hard to say..."

The third prince stopped the ball and passed it.

He was the first to touch the ball, and the next attack could only be handed over to his two eunuchs.

While passing the ball, the third prince winked at them.

The two eunuchs immediately understood.

After two passes, the ball was passed to the front, and then a eunuch launched a shot that was not inferior to Princess Ankang.

However, the trajectory of this shot was really mediocre, and it was shot at the goal of Princess Ankang at an angle that was almost non-threatening.

Li Xuan took a glance and made a judgment immediately:

"Without tricks, Ankang can barely cope with it."

"Humph, deliberately kicking over there, right?"

He couldn't help but sneer, and immediately figured out the other party's intention.

Although the Third Prince did not kick the ball directly at anyone, and it seemed that he was heading for the goal, the trajectory of the shot was too easy to intercept, and the easiest to defend was Princess Ankang, who was closest.

This ball almost brushed past Princess Ankang's body.

The Third Prince's intention was very clear, which was to let Princess Ankang take the initiative to defend this ball.

On the surface, Princess Ankang's strength was the weakest here, and she was also one of the most important protagonists of this game.

If Princess Ankang could not continue to participate in the competition, the Third Prince could win the game legitimately.

At that time, the Third Prince would not have to suppress her too much with his cultivation, and he could also let Princess Ankang retire due to exhaustion or injury, and the win would be considered elegant.

Because these balls were not kicked directly at Princess Ankang, but Princess Ankang took the initiative to defend.

"You not only want to win, but also want to win beautifully, right?"

"You underestimate Ankang too much."

Li Xuan instantly saw the other party's intention, but he did not move at all. He just turned his head and looked at Princess Ankang, casting a trusting look.

Those present, whether they knew Princess Ankang or not, they all had to get to know the girl in front of them again.

Yu'er also turned her head and looked at Princess Ankang.

But unlike Li Xuan's confident and trusting eyes, there was more worry and tension in Yu'er's eyes.

Although she knew in her heart that Li Xuan would not put Princess Ankang in danger, Yu'er could not help but worry about Princess Ankang.

At this time, Princess Ankang took action.

Quiet as a virgin, moving like a rabbit.

Princess Ankang switched between moving and quiet in the blink of an eye.

Many people in the stands had not seen clearly yet, and Princess Ankang turned around and ran towards her own goal.

Then, she turned back to confirm the trajectory of the ball, and with a light jump, her body was freed from the constraints of the earth like a light feather, and soon rose to a higher position than the ball.

Princess Ankang opened her arms, lying comfortably in the air as if she was lying in bed, and gradually turned her body around.

In the Taiji Palace, several big men couldn't help but stretch their necks forward, and their brows frowned.

I don't know if they can't see clearly now, or if they feel dazzled.

Princess Ankang didn't give them too much time to react. The girl's soft figure was like a big bow slowly opening to the full moon, and the next moment it suddenly tightened.

At this moment, the flying ball naturally arrived at Princess Ankang's feet.

"Bang!"

The ball flew back at a faster speed than when it came.

The two eunuchs who served the third prince were so scared that they hurried to stop it, but they didn't stop it. The third prince was forced to take action himself, and only then did he barely stop the ball in front of the goal.

After a moment of silence, the whole audience was in an uproar.

"This, this..."

"Is the Thirteenth Princess also a master?!"

Originally, everyone was optimistic about the Third Prince, who had a higher level of cultivation, but no one expected that Princess Ankang could actually make such a powerful counterattack.

Especially the inverted hook performed by Princess Ankang in the air earlier was so beautiful that everyone who knew about Cuju clapped their hands in amazement.

At this time, Princess Ankang turned half a circle in the air and landed lightly again.

"Elegant, too elegant!"

The Eighth Prince shook his head and clapped his hands in admiration.

The other princes also had different expressions.

Except for the Fifth Prince and other friends who were really happy for Princess Ankang, most of the others felt like they had eaten a fly, except that some people ate smaller flies and some people ate larger flies.

"Is this called not practicing martial arts?"

"So the half-dead sitting in a wheelchair before was all performed for us, right?"

The Sixth Princess was so angry that she pounded the table and cursed.

The First Prince and the Fourth Prince, one on the left and one on the right, immediately reached out and held down the Sixth Princess's hand that was pounding the table, asking her to pay attention to her image.

"Forget it, Sixth Sister."

"Ankang is one step ahead, so she can't be blamed for anything."

The Fourth Prince persuaded.

The Sixth Princess was so angry that she was gasping for breath, but she calmed down after being persuaded by her two brothers.

The mood of others was probably similar to that of the Sixth Princess.

The atmosphere outside was warm, and the dull atmosphere in Taiji Palace was also broken.

There were only a few clattering sounds, followed by the sound of dishes colliding.

Several nobles and leaders could not help but suddenly stand up from their seats and looked at the Cuju field in disbelief.

And one of them who reacted the fastest immediately turned back and asked Emperor Yongyuan:

"Your Majesty, it seems that the Thirteenth Princess has not practiced martial arts yet?"

These are people who have entered the Taiji Palace by virtue of their military exploits. They either fought their way out of the bloody battlefield or had a family background. Their own cultivation was also quite impressive. They could see at a glance that Princess Ankang did not have the power of Qi and blood.

Emperor Yongyuan looked calm and answered:

"Ankang has been weak and sick since childhood. Recently, she has recovered some health under the care of Doctor Xue. Naturally, she has never practiced martial arts."

The eyes of several nobles who stood up twitched when they heard this, and the others who were sitting turned their heads silently to look at Emperor Yongyuan.

"Weak and sick?"

The leaders were speechless as never before.

If Princess Ankang, who had performed such a perfect hanging hook in the air before, was considered weak and sick, I am afraid there would be few healthy people in the world.

But those present were all bigwigs in the court.

They all knew about Princess Ankang's situation.

They naturally connected the situation in front of them with what they had heard before, and got a similar answer, and unconsciously looked at Empress Wu who was sitting next to Emperor Yongyuan.

"Princess Ankang is gifted. She has been dormant for many years to protect herself."

"But now she is showing her talent in public without any scruples. Perhaps the time has come."

"The Cuju competition at the Chongyang Banquet was also your majesty's idea..."

Everyone sitting in the Taiji Palace was a smart person. They immediately thought of the key and their faces were different.

And the few nobles who stood up were even more delighted.

They glanced at Empress Wu and snorted in their hearts. The one who first asked Emperor Yongyuan continued:

"So that's it."

The man nodded and continued:

"But your majesty, since the Thirteenth Princess has just recovered, I want to do my part."

"As we all know, you can't just take medicine to recover from illness. You also need to exercise accordingly to recover better."

"Your majesty, I have some experience in this. Why don't I teach the Thirteenth Princess a health-preserving exercise to help her recover soon? Isn't it wonderful?"

Unfortunately, before Emperor Yongyuan could reply to this, someone sabotaged it on the spot.

"Old Qin, you said you have experience in killing and creating karma, so I admit it."

"When did you learn to preserve your health?"

"You are lying to the emperor, do you still have any shame?"

The nobleman called Old Qin blushed and glared at the saboteurs.