RWNEFE -Chapter 436 One Punch Sends the Yue General Flying!

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and praised, “You are a real man, but thank you—there’s no need. If you fight bare-handed, I’ll also fight bare-handed, so that when you lose, your Third Prince won’t deny it.”

Yue Chuhe’s face darkened even further.

“Our Yue general is upright and honorable. Seeing that you are a woman, he intended to give you an advantage. Yet you bite back at us instead. We of Yue have truly seen Great Zhou’s way of treating guests!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Great Zhou’s hospitality is for friendly allies. As for those who are not friendly—blades, spears, and clubs—we do not mind meeting them with force.”

“You…” Yue Chuhe was once again rendered speechless with anger.

“Don’t be so arrogant. Once the fight begins, you’ll regret it and end up crying and begging for mercy!” Yue Chuhe had great confidence in his general’s strength. This time, coming to Great Zhou, he had brought along the strongest general in the Yue Kingdom.

When the time came, they would surely disgrace Great Zhou!

“What are you waiting for? Let’s settle this with our fists and see real skill,” Shen Lanxi said, glancing at Zhou Ruyuan and stopping him with her eyes.

The arrow was already on the string; it had to be fired. Trying to persuade peace now would only be cowardice.

Wasn’t this exactly how he had lost repeatedly in Dongchuan and the northwest?

“Begin!” Che Mingyuan shouted, then quickly stepped aside.

The Yue general did not take Shen Lanxi seriously at all. She was just a small woman—her waist not even as wide as his palm. He figured a light wave of his hand would be enough to break her arms and legs.

With a loud bang—

Before anyone could even react, the Yue general had already been sent flying five or six meters and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Yue Chuhe: “……”

Impossible. It had to be impossible!

The Yue general had been too contemptuous and overconfident. When Shen Lanxi struck, he hadn’t even raised his arms to block.

He had intended to let the people of Great Zhou see the physique of a strong Yue warrior, to let this ignorant woman witness the might of Yue men.

He never expected that the one sent flying would be himself.

Broken… his shoulder blade was definitely broken. His entire left arm had lost strength. His head had hit the ground as well, and now it buzzed.

How could a woman possess such strength?

Could she actually be a man in disguise?

For the sake of face, the Yue general gritted his teeth and struggled to stand. Once upright, his burly body swayed twice, giving the impression of a “robust Lin Daiyu,” which made the onlookers burst into laughter.

“The Duke Protector once sparred with our God of War, and even the God of War lost. What is a Yue general compared to that?”

“How ridiculous—he actually compared himself to the God of War earlier?”

“The last person who tried to defeat the Duke Protector is still lying in bed!”

Hearing the discussion, Zhou Ruyuan’s face darkened.

Someone among the crowd quickly reminded the commoners, and they hurriedly changed the subject.

“The Duke Protector pacified Dongchuan and the northwest one after another, beating the three Turkic tribes until they begged for mercy. As for Yue…” A final scoffing sound was enough to make the Yue envoys’ expressions change.

Shen Lanxi’s voice was low. “Still want to continue?”

“Yes!” the Yue general answered.

The Yue envoys, however, did not want to lose even more face. It was already humiliating enough; continuing would only make it worse.

At least now, a shred of dignity remained.

“This is a friendly contest between two countries’ envoys. Let it end here. If blood is shed, it will be difficult for Great Zhou to explain,” a Yue envoy whispered to Zhou Ruyuan.

Zhou Ruyuan stepped forward. “Today’s match ends without a victor. The Yue envoys have traveled a long distance and are fatigued. After they have rested and recovered, if they still wish to compete, we can arrange another time.”

The Yue envoy pulled Yue Chuhe aside and spoke to him in low tones. Unable to swallow his pride, Yue Chuhe merely snorted and entered the guesthouse.

The Yue envoys hurried after him.

With the excitement over, the crowd dispersed.

“Lanxi…” Zhou Ruyuan called out as Shen Lanxi turned to leave.

“Father Emperor asked us to receive the envoys to foster goodwill, not to offend them.”

Shen Lanxi looked at him coldly. “Prince of Zhen’nan, I think you shouldn’t be called a God of War—you should be a peace negotiator. Next time war breaks out, you should be sent to negotiate. You would surely cede territory, pay indemnities, and swallow humiliation, making Great Zhou lose all dignity.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face turned iron-green as he clenched his fists in anger. “If we offend Yue and they cut off next year’s grain supply, hundreds of thousands of soldiers will have no food. If disaster follows, can you bear that responsibility?”

Shen Lanxi let out a cold laugh. “If enduring humiliation could truly buy peace, then when envoys from those two rebel factions come, you should handle them the same way. Let’s see whether His Majesty will appreciate your approach.”

Zhou Ruyuan stiffened, his face turning livid.

How could dealing with foreign states be the same as dealing with rebels and traitors?

Shen Lanxi was clearly twisting logic!

“Since you are so stubborn, if Yue really uses grain as leverage, I’d like to see how you explain it to Father Emperor!” Zhou Ruyuan snapped, then stormed off.

…

Inside his room, Yue Chuhe began smashing things in a rage.

“Go and find out whether what they said is true.”

“If they dared to lie to me, tomorrow when we enter the palace, I will definitely have the Great Zhou Emperor execute that wretched woman!”

The accompanying officials hurried out to gather information.

Two hours later, reports detailing Shen Lanxi’s various achievements were presented to Yue Chuhe.

He listened, dumbfounded.

“She’s actually a discarded wife?”

“That God of War is her former husband?”

“She captured Dongchuan and the northwest—places even the God of War couldn’t take?”

“Great Zhou’s God of War is that blind in judgment?”

“General, how does Shen Lanxi’s strength compare to yours?”

The Yue general lowered his head in shame. “I am inferior.”

Yue Chuhe began calculating in his heart. Aside from her being a discarded wife, everything else was impressive.

If he married this woman as a secondary consort, she would certainly intimidate all the restless troublemakers beneath him.

The next day, when Emperor Renxiao received the envoys, Yue Chuhe presented his gifts and then suddenly said something astonishing:

“Yesterday, Yue Chuhe fell in love with Shen Lanxi at first sight. I ask Your Majesty, the Emperor of Great Zhou, to grant this wish!”

The entire court fell silent.

Send the pillar that stabilized Great Zhou to Yue?

Send the emperor’s most trusted and relied-upon minister to another country?

A Duke Protector of such rank and power—go to another nation? Whose country would she then protect?

This Yue prince was shamelessly arrogant!

For once, the entire Great Zhou court was united in thought.

Emperor Renxiao’s expression darkened. “Lanxi, what is this about?”

Shen Lanxi stepped forward and spoke bluntly. “Most likely, after losing face at the guesthouse yesterday, the Third Prince of Yue intends to take revenge.”

“I see,” said the emperor.

Yue Chuhe stood to argue. “No. I truly admire you and wish to marry you.”

Shen Lanxi let out a mocking laugh. “Many people admire me. Must I marry all of them?”

With that single sentence, she shifted the matter from affairs of state to a mere personal matter of romance.

Emperor Renxiao smiled. “Since this is a private matter between you, settle it yourselves after court is dismissed. If you cannot resolve it, then come to me, and I will mediate.”

Yue Chuhe still wanted to speak, but an accompanying envoy tugged at him, and he could only retreat unwillingly to the side.