Chapter 66: Despising Women

Jiang Yiming struggled to crawl up from the ground.

Tang Zhao walked slowly toward him as if taking a leisurely stroll. She lifted her foot and stepped on his back, applying a slight amount of pressure to pin him back to the ground.

"Strategist Jiang, do you simply not believe that soybeans can be pressed for oil, or do you not believe that a woman can research how to do it?"

"Do you think that you men are naturally superior to women? Or shall I ask more bluntly: do you despise women from the bottom of your heart?"

Jiang Yiming's face flushed crimson. He stiffened his neck and shouted, "Is it not so?"

"Oh?" Tang Zhao arched an eyebrow with the tip of her toe.

The kick sent Jiang Yiming rolling halfway across the ground. As he lay on his back, the foot pressing against his chest felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, leaving him gasping for breath.

Fearing that his strategist and friend might die today, Prince Xuan approached with awkward, uncoordinated steps and stood beside them, advising, "Zhao-zhao, Zhao-zhao, please show some mercy with your feet."

Out of respect for Prince Xuan, Tang Zhao released seventy percent of the pressure.

Jiang Yiming gasped for fresh air.

"Years ago, the Jiang clan was framed by treacherous people. Every adult male in the family was executed, leaving only the strategist, who escaped due to his youth, to wander the entertainment quarters with the female relatives."

The scorching sun and fierce winds of the Northwest seemed exceptionally cruel to him, yet Tang Zhao could still discern the handsome, elegant face of the youth from thirty years ago from the wretched state of the man beneath her feet.

"Later, a fire broke out in the entertainment quarters, and all the women of the Jiang clan perished in the flames. Everyone said the sons of the Jiang family died in that fire, but in truth, they did not."

Jiang Yiming's eyes widened, and his struggling limbs gradually stilled.

"After escaping the quarters, you drifted through the streets, mingling with beggars. While fighting dogs for scraps of food by the roadside, you encountered Princess Yingde upon her triumphant return to the capital."

Jiang Yiming's eyes trembled.

"Princess Yingde pitied your background and valued your intelligence. She brought you into the princess's manor to educate you meticulously. You did not fail her expectations, and your talents surpassed all the scholars in the land."

"But you forgot that the tree that stands tallest is the first to be broken by the wind. You were too dazzling, and too much of an eyesore," Tang Zhao sighed, though her words held not a shred of sympathy. "You were framed once again."

Jiang Yiming's pupils constricted, and his entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

Gu Ci and Prince Xuan exchanged a look; both father and son shared the same expression of shock and bewilderment.

"When the Turks invaded, Princess Yingde led her troops to the Northwest. To save you, she insisted you serve as her strategist. The late Emperor, loving and feeling guilty toward his daughter, eventually agreed."

Tang Zhao did not continue. She closed the interface of the system in her mind that displayed Jiang Yiming's life story, her tone turning from flat to cold. "You say women are inferior to men. Then let me ask you."

"Dozens of women from the Jiang clan gave their lives to pave an escape route for you. Were you moved?"

"Princess Yingde rescued you from destitution. Were you grateful?"

"Eighty thousand women fought to defend the Northwest border cities, preferring death over letting the enemy into Great Yu. Do you respect them?"

Jiang Yiming's lips quivered, but he could not speak.

Tang Zhao answered for him. "You were not."

Jiang Yiming suddenly lunged upward in a fit of rage. Tang Zhao was quick to retreat, but she still stumbled two steps before one of his hands grabbed her arm to steady her.

Tang Zhao turned around. Gu Ci withdrew his hand and stepped in front of her to shield her.

Jiang Yiming roared, "Shut up! Shut up! What do you know? Do you know how much I miss it? Do you know how much I want to go back to the past?"

"I would rather it had been me who died! I would rather have stayed in the entertainment quarters for the rest of my life!"

That way, he could have stayed with his mother and sister forever, and he would never have had to lose Princess Yingde.

Tang Zhao ignored his fury and said coldly, "You were not."

Jiang Yiming was about to curse again when he heard the woman's clear, cold voice: "Because you despise women."

Jiang Yiming's roar caught in his throat.

"Jiang Yiming, you came into this world because of women, you escaped death because of women, you acquired your skills because of women, and you survived the wars because of women." Tang Zhao truly could not fathom it. "Everything you have achieved in your life has been through the grace of women. How do you have the face to repeatedly disparage the words of women? How do you have the face to look down on them?"

Jiang Yiming felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

Tang Zhao's tone shifted. "In terms of being thick-skinned and shameless, we women indeed cannot compare to a 'great man' like you. If you despise women because of that, then I, representing all the women in the world, concede defeat."

Every word was like a sharp dagger, performing a slow execution on Jiang Yiming's body and soul. He was in such agony that he let out a loud retch, spat out a large mouthful of blood, and collapsed backward.

Prince Xuan stepped forward to support him and silently led him back to the wooden hut.

Tang Zhao brushed her hands off. *Little guy, trying to fight me?*

Since she was a child, she had been the undisputed champion of cursing in her village. After starting school, she had become more refined, upgrading from mere cursing to psychological warfare.

When she encountered those as thick-skinned as herself, she resorted to physical attacks.

Ever since she had been severely tricked once and learned her lesson, she was usually the one tormenting others.

"Misfortune is a blessing"? If that's the case, anyone can keep it!

Gu Ci turned around. Seeing the woman's nonchalant expression, he paused for a moment before saying, "Next time, you can just knock him unconscious."

After all, compared to mental trauma, physical pain was easier to recover from.

Prince Xuan, who was preparing to return to the camp to call for a military doctor, heard this as soon as he stepped out. He immediately took a wide detour to avoid the young couple.

Tang Zhao nodded casually and followed him back.

As they walked, Gu Ci praised her, "Those kicks just now were quite good. Your strength has increased significantly; those months of training with the stone locks weren't wasted."

Tang Zhao felt proud. Lying on the wooden planks, Jiang Yiming vaguely heard their voices and fell into an even deeper stupor.

The military doctor arrived, examined the injuries, and checked his pulse. He turned pale with shock. Not only did he prescribe medicine for bruises and to suppress "heartfire," but he also prescribed a year's worth of calming decoctions, repeatedly warning them not to let the man get angry again—otherwise, there would be no need to call him; they could just dig a hole and bury him.

Prince Xuan:... Gu Ci:... Tang Zhao: *Looks at the sky.*

Prince Xuan waved his hand, and the doctor tactfully took his leave.

Prince Xuan suggested, "Zhao-zhao, let Yuan Ye take you out for a walk these next few days." He suggested she avoid appearing in front of Jiang Yiming for the time being.

Tang Zhao nodded obediently. *Oh!*

Jiang Yiming remained unconscious for two days and one night. When he finally opened his eyes, Prince Xuan held his nose and forced three bowls of medicine down his throat, so bitter he felt like he would vomit bile.

"What is this?"

"Coptis!"

Jiang Yiming broke down. "You know I hate Coptis the most!"

Prince Xuan said sincerely, "There's no choice. Doctor Ge said that if you don't drink it and get knocked unconscious by a few words again in the future, don't bother calling him for help—just bury you directly to save everyone the trouble."

Jiang Yiming:...

Recalling the painful experience of being verbally torn apart, Jiang Yiming's face turned deathly pale as he clutched his chest.

Prince Xuan: *Oh, crap!*

"Deep breaths! Quick, take deep breaths!" Prince Xuan was so anxious he wanted to breathe for him.

It took Jiang Yiming a full stick of incense's time to recover.

Prince Xuan was amazed; the little girl's skills were profound.

Jiang Yiming asked, "Where is Commandery Princess Zhao Shan?"

Prince Xuan grew wary. "Are you looking for another scolding?" Was he looking to lie in a grave, or did he want another year of Coptis?

Jiang Yiming closed his eyes to avoid looking at him. "I was wrong before. I should apologize to Commandery Princess Zhao Shan."

Zhao-zhao: *You heartless pig!*