Chapter 41: The Might of a Single Kick

Xie Tingyao naturally did not dare.

The memory of Tang Chaochao severing her maid's head right before her eyes was still vivid in her mind.

She had also witnessed with her own eyes how Tang Chaochao had kicked the imperial attendant flying earlier that day.

"Tang Chaochao, you know full well that I don't know martial arts. Aren't you simply trying to make things difficult for me on purpose?"

Tang Chaochao smiled faintly.

"So Miss Xie does know what deliberate harassment means? Everyone present knows that I grew up in the wild mountains. How could I possibly have learned to play the zither, play chess, practice calligraphy, paint, or compose poetry?"

Xie Tingyao was practically driven mad with rage, yet she could find no words to refute Tang Chaochao.

"Spare me your clever sophistry!"

"Enough!" Consort Jing's voice rang out, cutting off whatever Xie Tingyao was about to say next.

Consort Jing looked at Tang Chaochao, her expression calm and her voice gentle.

"Second Miss Tang speaks with reason. Tingyao, you were indeed being overly aggressive."

Rebuked by her paternal aunt, Xie Tingyao's eyes instantly reddened.

Consort Jing said nothing more to her, her gaze returning once again to Tang Chaochao.

"Since Second Miss Tang is skilled in martial arts, why not spar with the young gentlemen present? After all, among the noble ladies here, truly none of them know martial arts. Consider this as Second Miss Tang having fulfilled the talent requirement, how does that sound?"

Tang Chaochao curled the corners of her lips.

Making her spar with men was a pretext; wanting to humiliate her was the real intention.

A woman learning martial arts would naturally not have the physical advantages of a man, but Tang Chaochao was an exception.

"Naturally. Since the young ladies are delicate and precious, my words just now were merely in jest. If someone were truly beaten to a pulp, I'm afraid my father would be summoned into the palace by His Majesty yet again tomorrow."

Xie Tingyao clenched her teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

Tang Chaochao was openly mocking her father for running to the Emperor to file complaints every other day!

Consort Jing's expression remained unchanged.

"That is all for the best. However, I have one condition beforehand: if any of the young gentlemen wish to step forward, they must take care not to injure Second Miss Tang. Otherwise, this Consort will certainly not spare them!"

Everyone present understood the true meaning behind such reverse psychology.

Tang Chaochao said indifferently, "Consort Jing would do better to tell them to use their full strength. This young lady has no desire to win an undeserved victory."

Hearing this, Consort Jing adopted a troubled expression and said, "Since Second Miss Tang is so confident, then do as you please!"

She had originally worried that someone might fail to grasp her true intent, but she never expected Tang Chaochao to actively dig her own grave.

Tang Chaochao walked slowly into the center of the grand hall, awaiting the first challenger.

Xu Jiaye, who had been cowering in a corner watching the spectacle, noticed his good friend growing eager to make a move.

He hastily grabbed his friend's arm and whispered, "Don't go up there, Zusong!"

Lin Zusong looked at him in confusion and asked, "Why?"

Xu Jiaye glanced at Tang Chaochao before replying, "I can't explain it to you in a moment. You'll understand once some sucker goes up there first."

Xu Jiaye muttered inwardly—how could he possibly let his own humiliating experience become public knowledge?

In any case, whoever went up there next was bound to suffer a disastrous defeat.

Consort Jing surveyed the silent crowd. "Is there truly no one willing to spar with Second Miss Tang?"

Naturally, there were young men among the audience who were willing.

If they could properly teach Tang Chaochao a lesson on behalf of Consort Jing, it would surely catch Consort Jing's eye.

One had to remember that this Consort Jing had two imperial princes of her own.

Even the Emperor's only daughter was raised under her care.

One could easily imagine the depth of the Emperor's favor toward her.

Therefore, as soon as Consort Jing finished speaking, a young man stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "This humble youth is willing to give it a try. If I happen to injure Princess Chao'an, I ask that Your Ladyship holds no blame!"

Before his voice had even faded, he executed a flip and landed directly opposite Tang Chaochao.

Tang Chaochao sized him up; his appearance was utterly ordinary, and even his earlier movement lacked fluidity.

Seeing someone step forward, Consort Jing said, "In that case, let the match begin!"

The young man cupped his hands toward Tang Chaochao. "Princess, offense is taken!"

Tang Chaochao watched as he assumed a starting posture, fists clenched, and charged straight at her.

His momentum was full, but unfortunately, his martial arts skills were mediocre at best.

She did not even move. Just as he was about to reach her, she lifted and lowered her foot with a speed too swift for others to catch clearly.

Those who failed to see clearly only had time to catch a flutter of Tang Chaochao's skirt, while she remained standing firmly in her original spot.

As for the young man, he let out a miserable scream and crashed to the floor like a dead dog.

Just as everyone was struck with astonishment, an unharmonious voice rang out.

"This act is far too fake!"

Tang Chaochao turned her gaze toward the voice, hooked her finger at the speaker, and said, "Then you come!"

Seeing all eyes turn to him, the man stood up with absolute confidence and declared, "I'll go then! That fellow was definitely putting on an act."

With those words, the man leaped forward, his hands forming eagle claws as he lunged mercilessly toward Tang Chaochao's neck.

Yet before he could even reach her, he was kicked flying through the air.

A miserable shriek followed immediately after.

Consort Jing's complexion had turned pitch black.

Good-for-nothing! He couldn't even defeat a mere girl.

Noticing Consort Jing's foul expression, another person immediately jumped out.

Yet from beginning to end, Tang Chaochao resolved every single combat swiftly with a single kick.

This left all the young gentlemen present utterly humiliated with no ground to stand on.

Lin Zusong looked gratefully at his good friend Xu Jiaye and said, "Jiaye, Princess Chao'an's martial arts are actually this formidable. Good thing you stopped me. Otherwise, I would have lost all my dignity!"

Xu Jiaye rolled his eyes and retorted, "Even if you hadn't gone up, our gang of young masters hasn't lost much less face by now."

Xu Jiaye was right.

Because Tang Chaochao had already kicked nearly half of the young nobles flat on the ground.

If word of this got out, how could any of them ever show their faces again?

The Third Prince, Murong Si, wore a faint smile—well, at least he wasn't the only one who had taken a beating anymore.

When people talked about this in the future, his humiliation wouldn't seem quite so prominent.

Seeing that no one dared to step forward anymore, Consort Jing forced a smile onto her face and said, "As expected of a general's daughter, Second Miss Tang's martial prowess is truly remarkable."

Hearing this, Tang Chaochao offered a modest reply, "Consort flatters me."

The fight was over, and it was time to wrap things up.

Seeing that she had failed to deal with Tang Chaochao, Xie Tingyao felt deep resentment, yet she could think of no better method.

At that very moment, palace maids brought over bowls of fruit wine.

Consort Jing smoothed away the displeasure from her face and smiled, "This is fruit wine I brewed myself. Today, I've brought it out for everyone to taste."

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately cast aside the unpleasantness from moments earlier, showering Consort Jing with another round of flattery and gratitude.

Tang Chaochao looked at the wine pitcher the maid had placed before her, having no intention of drinking.

Liu Rulan, however, approached with measured grace.

She held a cup of wine in her hand; her cheeks remained swollen and red, yet she wore an expression carrying a trace of apology.

"It was Rulan who was in the wrong earlier. I ask that Second Miss Tang please do not hold it against me. Rulan offers this cup of wine in toast—will Second Miss Tang forgive me?"

As she spoke, Liu Rulan stepped forward, picked up the wine pitcher beside Tang Chaochao, and poured a cup for her.

Tang Chaochao looked at the wine cup offered before her, the corners of her mouth curving upward.

"Since Miss Liu wishes to apologize, why not drink both cups? Then I shall forgive you, how about that?"

The wine cup Liu Rulan was holding paused slightly.

The smile she had forced onto her face nearly shattered completely.

Seeing her expression, Tang Chaochao asked in simulated confusion, "Miss Liu, they are merely two cups of wine. Could it be that your apology was just empty words?"

Liu Rulan never imagined Tang Chaochao would say such a thing.

The cup of wine she had handed to Tang Chaochao was laced with poison.

How could she possibly drink it herself?

Just as she was caught in a difficult dilemma, Consort Jing, seated at the head of the table, suddenly spoke up.

"It seems some minor misunderstanding has arisen between Miss Liu and Second Miss Tang. Still, they are merely harmless little spats. Second Miss Tang might as well drink this cup of wine and let bygones be bygones with Miss Liu?"