Upon hearing this reason, Jing Zhe couldn't help but chuckle.

"Fifth Sister, why didn't you succeed?"

"Alas, although my military rank is not low, the Prince of Jin's power is even greater. Many ministers in the court are his men, and every time I bring up this matter, they deflect the question..."

Liu Jinghong shook her head, and then, thinking that she had not been able to see the Jing couple before their deaths, she felt even more grief-stricken and remorseful.

Jing Zhe squeezed her hand and comforted her, "Fifth Sister, don't blame yourself. It's not that you didn't try hard enough, but that Prince Jin is too difficult to deal with."

Then she laughed and said, "So you don't need to blame your second sister. If you can't do anything about it, she certainly can't either!"

"That's different!"

Seeing Jing Zhe defending Zhu Xinning at every turn, Liu Jinghong pouted in dissatisfaction: "Her father is the Prime Minister, so his words definitely carry more weight than mine! Besides, I've never seen anyone speak up for their father in court!"

"How often does Fifth Sister usually attend court?"

Liu Jinghong thought for a moment: "If there is no war, it will be about once a month? If there is war, I don't need to come to report on my duties."

Jing Zhe thought that with the constant fighting in Liangzhou, Liu Jinghong could only attend court a limited number of times a year. Even if Zhu Xinning really mentioned it, how would she know?

Upon hearing Jing Zhe's idea, Liu Jinghong became even more displeased. She pouted and finally asked, "If your second sister and I were both in danger, who would you save?"

"..."

Jing Zhe seemed to have heard a similar question in his previous life.

Regarding the potentially fatal question, "If your mother and I fell into the river at the same time, who would you save?", it seems a better approach is to ask, "If your father and I fell into the river at the same time, who would you save?" and then simply follow the other person's answer.

But if you encounter someone with a short temper who says, "How dare you ask me that?", then that's a different story.

However, this answer is not applicable now.

Because Liu Jinghong's father is his father, and his father is no longer alive...

So after thinking about it, he had no choice but to answer honestly, "Save my second sister."

"..."

Liu Jinghong suddenly turned her head, her eyes seemingly spitting fire, which terrified Jing Zhe.

"Fifth Sister, listen to me! Neither my Second Sister nor I know martial arts. If we're really in danger, we'll both have to wait for you to save us!"

Liu Jinghong was very dissatisfied with this explanation. She glanced at the deserted open space near the Jing family's residence and said indifferently, "I'll teach you some martial arts! That way, if we really encounter danger, you won't have to use not knowing martial arts as an excuse!"

"..."

Jing Zhe found himself with little room to refuse, so he could only say "okay" and follow her to the open space...

...

Soon after, a man's howl echoed from the open space...

"Fifth Sister, why are you hitting someone?"

"Isn't this to teach you martial arts?"

Does teaching martial arts mean you have to hit people?

"Fists and kicks have no eyes!"

"But...you hit me hard!"

"Is there any martial arts training that doesn't hurt?"

“…”

"Come on, try this trick again!"

"I won't try!"

"Don't run away!"

"You think I'm stupid for not running away after you hit me?"

"Okay, stop running away, I'm not fighting anymore..."

"real?"

"Yes, really—"

"You... ah... oh..."

"Heh, how could that be?"

"..."

Jing Zhe's agonizing screams echoed again from the open space, heart-wrenching and pitiful...

Half an hour later, Liu Jinghong, having vented her anger, looked at Jing Zhe's evasive manner and felt both amused and pitiful.

"Hey, come here, let me take a look at your wound."

Liu Jinghong deliberately held back, each strike was very light, but Jing Zhe screamed so miserably that it made her feel insecure, so she decided to check him over, otherwise she wouldn't feel at ease.

"Need not!"

Jing Zhe said defiantly, thinking to himself, "Do you think I'm stupid for slapping someone and then giving them a sweet treat?"

"Really not going to?"

Liu Jinghong's eyes sharpened; judging from the posture, it seemed like another attack was imminent.

"Use it! Why wouldn't I use it?"

Jing Zhe quickly came over. What backbone and dignity? They don't exist, okay?

Liu Jinghong checked and found nothing wrong; it could only be said that Jing Zhe was too precious.

"You, although you have internal strength, are still too weak. You can only withstand a few blows more than the average person. With that, you still want to win? You probably just want to send your precious second sister out of Anguo as soon as possible!"

"Fifth Sister, don't underestimate people!"

"That's true! Even if you had a weapon, could you wield it with your current physique?"

"My weapons can be used by anyone who isn't stupid; it has nothing to do with physique."

Jing Zhe said confidently.

"Tch, who would believe that? Starting tomorrow, I'll continue teaching you martial arts. Even if you don't become much stronger, last-minute practice is always better than nothing! You won't be completely clueless on the battlefield!"

Upon hearing that Liu Jinghong was going to teach him martial arts, Jing Zhe was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly and ran into the house.

...

Seeing the two return, Aunt Wu greeted them with a smile.

For years, she had longed for this moment, waiting for the young master and young lady to come home every day, so that the huge mansion would finally have some life.

"Zhe'er, Jinghong, hurry up and wash up, the food is ready and we're waiting for you!"

"Alright, I've been starving!"

Jing Zhe was telling the truth. After breakfast, he had a quick bite to eat after his battle with Wang Yingqiu, and then he had been running around. It was almost evening, and he was a little hungry.

Just as the food was served, there was a knock on the door.

"Who could it be so late? Could it be Xinning?"

Zhu Xinning is the only young lady who resides permanently in Jingzhou City. She often comes over to visit when Liu Jinghong is not around, which is why Wu Ma said this immediately.

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinghong was greatly alarmed, seemingly worried that Zhu Xinning had come to steal her away. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she immediately went on high alert.

A short while later, Aunt Wu came in, shaking her head.

"A simple-minded man stood outside the door, saying he was looking for the young master..."

Jing Zhe clapped his hands and then walked out.

Liu Jinghong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

When he went outside, he saw Hanhan standing there blankly, looking quite pitiful. Jing Zhe was also a little embarrassed: "Haha, if you hadn't come, I would have almost forgotten about you!"

"..."

He looked up, looking so silly, why did he seem to want to cry?

"But how did you know I was here again?"

"I was originally waiting for the young master at the Prime Minister's residence, but then Young Master Zhou passed by and said that you came west with a female general. He saw you from afar but didn't dare to follow. As soon as I heard that, I knew that the young master had come here with your fifth sister, General Jinghong!"

Jing Zhe thought about it and realized that when he walked with Liu Jinghong, who was wearing armor, on the streets of Jingzhou City, they were indeed very eye-catching. It was normal that Zhou Zhi, who was passing by, did not notice him.

This guy wanted to pester him to write calligraphy, so it was quite surprising that he didn't show up.

"Where is Young Master Zhou? Didn't he come with you?"

"Of course he wants to come."

The simpleton said with a hint of smugness, "But I told him I'd definitely do it next time!"

Her round face shone brightly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

————