Xie Shengxiao stared at Yang Houcheng and raised an eyebrow: “So, Young Master Yang does have opinions about women?”

Yang Houcheng’s eyes widened: “How does this mean I have opinions about women? Everyone has their strengths—men are naturally stronger and excel at warfare, while women excel at embroidery and tailoring.”

Xie Shengxiao restrained herself and moved her lips, saying word by word: “I don’t know how to embroider!”

“Eh, you don’t?” Yang Houcheng was stunned and couldn’t help looking at Qiao Zhao.

Miss Qiao said calmly: “I don’t either.”

Yang Houcheng: “…” Were the young ladies he knew problematic, or was his understanding of girls problematic? This was truly a perplexing question!

Xie Shengxiao’s glance at Qiao Zhao was full of appreciation, then she turned to look coldly at Yang Houcheng.

Yang Houcheng silently averted his gaze and said to Shao Mingyuan: “Tingquan, take me along, please.”

“Alright.” Shao Mingyuan quickly agreed.

Ahem, if he didn’t agree soon, his friend and Zhaozhao’s friend would start fighting, and it would be bad if it affected his relationship with Zhaozhao.

“Please take me along as well, Your Lordship.” Xie Shengxiao said, not to be outdone.

Yang Houcheng couldn’t help saying, “Miss Xie, please don’t cause trouble. You should have witnessed how formidable the pirates’ combat strength is. Wasn’t falling into their hands once enough?”

These words undoubtedly hit Xie Shengxiao’s sore spot.

Being sold to pirates like cargo was already the greatest humiliation of her life, and this bastard had to specifically remind her of it?

“Young Master Yang, actions speak louder than words. Since you think I’m a burden, why don’t we go outside and have a match?”

Yang Houcheng reflexively retorted: “How can that work? I don’t fight with girls!”

Xie Shengxiao took a deep breath to control her impulse to punch the man in front of her in the face, and said coldly: “Young Master Yang is afraid he can’t beat me, isn’t he?”

Yang Houcheng’s eyes suddenly widened as he carefully examined Xie Shengxiao, saying incredulously: “Miss Xie must be joking.”

“If that’s the case, then why don’t you dare go outside and compete with me?” Xie Shengxiao crossed her arms in front of her chest, disdain flashing in her eyes.

Being looked down upon in martial prowess by a girl, Young Master Yang immediately couldn’t stand it and walked outside: “Then let’s go out and try.”

Xie Shengxiao curved her lips, nodded to Qiao Zhao, and walked outside gracefully.

The room quieted down. Chi Can picked up his teacup, took a sip, and snorted with laughter: “That idiot—such a simple provocation method, and he scurried right out?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Provocation doesn’t matter whether it’s simple or complex—the key is who uses it.”

If Zhaozhao told him he wasn’t as good as another man, he probably couldn’t help but spar with that man either.

“He’s heavy-handed and doesn’t know restraint. It would be interesting if he made the young lady cry.” Chi Can smiled.

Qiao Zhao glanced at Chi Can and smiled: “He won’t.”

“Why not?” Chi Can asked back.

“Miss Xie doesn’t like to cry.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Chongshan can’t beat Miss Xie.”

Chi Can originally had no interest in watching the excitement, but hearing Shao Mingyuan say this, he immediately put down his teacup, stood up, and said: “If that’s the case, I’ll go watch the fun.”

Young Master Chi walked unhurriedly to the doorway, leaned against the door frame to look out, and his eyes couldn’t help but widen a bit. Then he slowly raised his hand to hold his forehead.

Although he loved bickering with Yang Houcheng, having his friend beaten by a young lady without being able to fight back was quite embarrassing!

The two people fighting on deck attracted quite a few people who secretly watched.

Since they were on someone else’s ship, Xie Shengxiao didn’t want to attract too much attention, so she decided on a quick battle. She swept her leg to kick Yang Houcheng’s knee hollow, toppling the tall man to the ground, then stepped on his chest and asked: “Do you yield?”

Yang Houcheng lay flat on the deck warmed by the sun, feeling that all his dignity had been lost in this lifetime. Hearing Xie Shengxiao ask this, he couldn’t bring himself to say the word “yield.” His mind went blank, and he raised his hands to tightly grasp the ankle stepping on his chest.

Xie Shengxiao was stunned.

At this moment, Young Master Yang’s mind was completely devoid of the four words “men and women should be separate.” Taking advantage of Xie Shengxiao’s moment of confusion, he grasped the young lady’s ankle and twisted it, causing Xie Shengxiao to fall onto the deck.

Yang Houcheng rolled over and pinned Xie Shengxiao beneath him, his large hands like palm fans firmly controlling her hands as he loudly asked: “How about it? Do you yield?”

Chi Can held his forehead.

Whether Miss Xie yielded or not, he didn’t know, but he was certainly convinced.

What happened to never fighting with girls? Yang Er, you’re something!

Heads poked out from various rooms.

“Captain is amazing!”

“Captain, I thought you were losing just now. Thank goodness, thank goodness—you didn’t bring shame to our Imperial Guards!”

“How could the captain lose? That guy looked frail—”

“Shut up, all of you!” Yang Houcheng roared, and the surroundings immediately fell silent.

He slowly lowered his head and stared blankly at the person beneath him.

What had happened? If he said he knew nothing about it, would anyone believe him?

Xie Shengxiao’s face was iron-gray as she asked coldly: “How long are you going to sit there?”

Yang Houcheng jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, not daring to look at Xie Shengxiao again, and fled.

In his panic, he crashed into Chi Can.

Chi Can grimaced in pain: “Yang Er, were you bitten by a mad dog?”

“I, I—” Yang Houcheng’s face was as red as a cooked shrimp. He pushed Chi Can aside and rushed directly into the hall, hiding behind the standing screen.

Chi Can smiled: “Tingquan, you guessed wrong. Yang Er won.”

Shao Mingyuan had no idea what had happened and could only maintain a calm and collected appearance on his face, coughing lightly: “Nothing is absolute.”

After saying this, he quietly touched Qiao Zhao’s hand and quickly wrote in her palm: “Not being able to see is so troublesome.”

Somehow, Qiao Zhao read a bit of grievance in this sentence he wrote.

With so many people around, it wasn’t convenient to speak. Qiao Zhao quickly squeezed that large hand once, then let go.

Shao Mingyuan was completely satisfied and curved the corners of his lips.

Xie Shengxiao got up, returned to the hall expressionlessly, and said to the screen: “What is Young Master Yang hiding? That didn’t count just now—let’s go again.”

Yang Houcheng’s terrified voice came from behind the screen: “No need! I yield, isn’t that enough?”

It was over, completely over. He had just sat on a young lady’s body—did he need to take responsibility or not?

After her initial anger passed, Xie Shengxiao, dressed in men’s clothing, looked relatively calm. Hearing Yang Houcheng say this, she reluctantly nodded and looked at Shao Mingyuan: “Your Lordship, may I land on the island with you?”

“Yes.”

Only then did Xie Shengxiao show a trace of a smile: “Thank you for your gracious permission, Your Lordship. I’ll go back and check on those young ladies first.”

After Xie Shengxiao left, Shao Mingyuan said to Chi Can: “Shixi, I see Chongshan has suffered quite a blow. Why don’t you stay and console him? Zhaozhao and I will leave first.”

Young Master Chi, who was left behind, glanced at the screen and snorted: “Is hiding useful? Come out quickly!”