In the end, no matter how much Shen Jiao threw a tantrum, she couldn't maintain her dignity. When her shoes were pulled off, she secretly sniffed her fingers. Fortunately, there was no unspeakable odor. Otherwise, she would have suggested that the house be demolished and rebuilt.

She had roughly figured out a bit of the tyrant's habits: whenever she displeased him, he would harm her belongings. Last time it was the bedding, and this time it was the shoes. He really had principles.

Before leaving, Ji Yan threatened fiercely, "I'm punishing you by not letting you eat today. You'll stay here alone and reflect on your actions."

After saying that, he left with a pair of deerskin boots belonging to Shen Jiao. Because it was too dark, she couldn't even see the tyrant's dashing departing figure clearly.

However, why would the tyrant suddenly make such an unreasonable and baffling request as to use a finger?

Could it be that the volcano erupted because the grape skins weren't completely removed when eating the grapes?

Shen Jiao felt that things weren't so simple, but she was so hungry that she couldn't spare the mind to think about anything else.

...

Chen Bao, his head throbbing from the shock, returned home in a daze, forgetting even his plan to give his rascal son a good beating, and headed straight for his backyard.

Chen Bao had no concubines, so the backyard was transformed into a small martial arts training ground. When Zhou Hu arrived, he was still practicing on a wooden stake, using the same set of boxing techniques he had taught Shen Jiao that day.

He refused to believe he would lose again tomorrow; he was determined to avenge his defeat.

Although, I said that without much confidence.

"General Zhou, your timing is perfect. My husband may be a while away. Please sit and wait. I just made some hibiscus cake for A-Lu. It's fresh out of the oven. Please have a taste."

It is said that Chen Bao was tall and strong, but his wife, Bai, was a delicate beauty from the water towns of Jiangnan. She was slender and petite, and spoke softly and gently, so much so that people dared not raise their voices.

Zhou Hu had visited the Chen family countless times, but he was afraid that his loud voice would frighten the young woman. Not wanting to offend his host, he took a piece of hibiscus cake as a token gesture, smiled, and said, "The whole military camp knows that my sister-in-law has excellent cooking skills, so I am truly fortunate to have such a delicious meal today."

That's true. When the battle was urgent, Bai would often cook some meals and send them to reward Chen Bao's soldiers. On the other hand, he didn't even have a wife, let alone a potential partner, which made him very unhappy.

But when Zhou Hu thought of Shen Jiao, he calmed down and sneered inwardly, thinking that not all women were as virtuous and capable as Bai Shi.

If he were to unfortunately encounter a wife like Shen Jiao, he would be incredibly unlucky.

Zhou Hu swallowed the hibiscus cake, "My sister-in-law's skills are indeed well-deserved."

Bai hurriedly said, "In that case, General Zhou, would you please stay for dinner?"

Zhou Hu frowned. "It's this late, and you haven't had dinner yet?"

Madam Bai smiled helplessly, "My husband went to the backyard as soon as he got back. He seemed to be in a bad mood, so I didn't bother him. Anyway, I'm not very hungry, and A-Lu hasn't come back from playing yet, so it's alright."

Zhou Hu frowned immediately. He already had a full beard, and now he looked even more creepy. He thought to himself: Anyone would be in a bad mood in this situation. With that thought, he greeted Bai Shi and couldn't wait to go find Chen Bao.

Chen Bao caught sight of him, his eyes lit up, and he thought, "Good thing you came!" Without saying a word, he punched Zhou Hu. As long as he won, what did it matter who he fought?

Zhou Hu assumed Chen Bao was venting his anger and immediately accepted the challenge. After about half an hour, Chen Bao finally pinned Zhou Hu to the ground, but he was even more unhappy.

So it wasn't that his martial arts had declined, but rather that Miss Shen was truly exceptionally talented! Chen Bao felt quite distressed, finding it hard to imagine how terrifying her achievements would be if Shen Jiao continued to learn, or rather, if she were to become a disciple of a powerful figure.

Could we find a shaman to let him possess Miss Shen's soul for even half an hour? He wants to experience what it's like to be a genius.

To Zhou Hu, Chen Bao's existential-doubting state appeared as a sign of the unbearable suffering caused by being manipulated by evil forces.

He said angrily, "Your Majesty has really gone too far this time."

To treat a subject like this for a mere dancer! Beauty has corrupted the ruler! Beauty has truly corrupted the ruler!

"Yes, yes, that's really too much." His Majesty really wanted to criticize someone. Why did he have to choose him? There were clearly better options, such as... Chen Bao looked at Zhou Hu resentfully.

"What happened to your face? Who hit you?" Zhou Hu hadn't been paying attention because the fight had been so intense, and that's when he finally noticed Chen Bao's bruised and swollen face. To be honest, ever since Chen Bao got married, he'd been especially fond of his not-so-handsome face.

After all, she's already so beautiful. If we mess with her any further, she might become unbearable to look at. What if she runs away because she's ugly? Who would we complain to then?

It's all because I'm too ugly.

Chen Bao had no intention of hiding anything from Zhou Hu, with whom he had shared life and death, and coincidentally, he really didn't want Zhou Hu to be the only one questioning life.

Chen Bao: "It's Miss Shen, Zhou Hu, you don't know, she..."

"How is that possible?" Zhou Hu couldn't stand this utterly unsophisticated lie and interrupted him abruptly. "Even if His Majesty ordered it, you can't just lie through your teeth. How could a little woman who wouldn't even dare to step on an ant beat you?"

Chen Bao: "..." Which eye of yours saw that she didn't dare to step on an ant? Miss Shen didn't hold back at all when she stepped on him.

Zhou Hu laughed in anger, "Although I don't want to admit it, even I, a master, can't beat you. You're telling me that a woman so weak that I could crush her with one hand defeated you? I have no grudge against you, why do you treat me like a fool? Your injury was inflicted by the shadow guards around His Majesty, wasn't it?"

Because Shen Jiao was unhappy, His Majesty ordered the Shadow Guards to deal with Chen Bao in order to please the beauty. Zhou Hu suddenly realized the truth and his disgust for Shen Jiao reached its extreme.

Now, Chen Bao didn't know how to explain it. Actually, to be precise, it wasn't a victory, because Shen Jiao had only learned a few moves. However, the few moves he had taught her were completely overwhelmed.

If he continues teaching, he'll be kneeling at Shen Jiao's feet and calling her "teacher."

However, this is indeed a fantastical story.

Chen Bao put himself in Zhou Hu's shoes. If Zhou Hu had been teaching Shen Jiao today, he would probably have thought Zhou Hu was talking nonsense too.

The more you explain, the more confusing it becomes. He waved his hand and said, "Believe it or not, it's the truth. You'll find out later. By the way, what brings you here?"

Zhou Hu nodded. "Yes, something is indeed wrong. It's like this..."

He relayed Wang Dazhuang's message to him. The matter had escalated considerably. In the afternoon, even Chen Bao's deputy general came to him, but since Chen Bao was with the Emperor at the time, the deputy general dared not go.

In short, there are quite a lot of objections from everyone right now.

"So, you're targeting Miss Shen like this just because of this?" Chen Bao was shocked. What had Miss Shen done wrong? She was just a pitiful little thing arranged by His Majesty. "Seriously? I, the person involved, have no objections. Why are you all so agitated? It seems I've been too busy lately, which is why those little brats are so bored. I'll go back and deal with them right now."