Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

As evening approached, Madam Yan returned to the Yan residence with General Tao.

The first thing he did upon returning home was to summon a servant and ask, "Is Madam Shen in the manor?"

"Reporting to Madam, Lady Shen went out with you this morning and has not returned yet."

"They're not back yet?" Madam Yan was taken aback. Usually, they would have sold out by this time.

On second thought, what if they have some private matters to attend to?

So he said to General Tao, "Father, let's wait for Madam Shen. When she comes back, we'll go to the kitchen together. Today you can also experience cooking for yourself."

General Tao: "..."

I just don't understand what's so great about cooking for yourself.

A long time passed, even after Yan Wenli had finished his official business and returned.

The group still did not see Shen Qing.

As Madam Yan gazed at the darkening sky, a sense of worry crept into her heart: "Has Madam Shen encountered some trouble? We should quickly send someone out to look for her."

Yan Wenli quickly sent his servants out.

Before long, a servant ran back to report:

"We saw Madam Shen's stall cart on a side road, but we didn't see Madam Shen herself. We guess... we guess..."

The street vendor's cart was left on the road, which was clearly an accident.

Madam Yan immediately became anxious: "Quick, quick, get everyone out to search!"

"Don't worry, I will lead the guards of the General's Mansion to search for her. I will definitely bring Lady Shen back safely."

General Tao's expression turned serious. Although he hadn't intended to make Shen Qing his adopted daughter, he had developed some affection for her after their meeting during the day.

Especially after eating someone else's brown sugar glutinous rice cake.

In addition, his daughter valued Shen Qing very much, so he searched the entire capital to find Shen Qing.

"Father, I'll go with you!" Madam Yan was frantic. "Besides, I think Madam Shen's disappearance is definitely related to Master Jin of the Golden Sparrow Tower!"

General Tao gave Madam Yan a deep look, knowing he couldn't stop her, and could only nod: "Let's go find someone!"

"I'll go find someone to help too!" Yan Wenli hurriedly left the mansion.

......

Shen Qing opened her eyes groggily, feeling a splitting headache and her whole body was unresponsive.

After a while, she began to take in her surroundings.

It was pitch black except for a faint light coming through a small window, through which one could vaguely see piles of firewood all around.

This is a woodshed.

Good heavens, how did she end up locked in the woodshed?

She didn't know many people in the capital, the only one she had a slight grudge against was Master Jin.

If it's Jin Ye, then it's for her spicy snack recipe.

Therefore, she should not be in any danger in the short term.

But if it were someone else...

Shen Qing felt that the more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

They can't be crazy diners, can they...?

Well, since we're already here, let's make the best of it. Let's conserve our energy and adapt to whatever comes our way.

Shen Qing simply lay down and waited for the people who had arrested her to come and negotiate with her.

Nine times out of ten, a recipe is required.

As she lay there, she suddenly remembered that she had a system attached to her.

What if the system can help?

Shen Qing's eyes lit up, and he immediately opened the system.

[Ding—Congratulations, host, for successfully setting up your stall today! Spicy strip sales progress (1200/1000). Spicy strip mission successfully completed!]

[Ding—Congratulations, host, you have received a random skill as a reward.]

[Random skill selection is in progress...]

Extraction failed.

???

Shen Qing was dumbfounded. How could this possibly fail?

But the next moment, the system's voice rang out again:

[The host has been detected to be in a dangerous environment. To ensure the successful completion of subsequent tasks, this random skill will be changed to a targeted skill.]

[Targeted skills are being distributed... Targeted skills distribution successful.]

[Congratulations, host, on acquiring unparalleled martial arts skills]

???

Is this even possible?

Peerless martial arts? Did she hear that right? Can you just send something like that out like that? It's not like it's a cabbage.

Just as Shen Qing was thinking it was outrageous, she suddenly felt a warm current flow from the top of her head down her spine to the soles of her feet. Where the warm current passed, she felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation and comfort.

In an instant, her body felt no longer heavy, but incredibly light, and her slender hands were suddenly filled with strength.

He casually picked up a piece of firewood from the side; the firewood was as thick as a bowl.

With both hands, gently fold it.

click-

The firewood broke instantly.

Shen Qing was immediately overjoyed. Wow, that's amazing!

Wouldn't she be able to do whatever she wanted from then on?

Do you just beat up anyone you don't like?

This system is better than ever before.

With such unparalleled martial arts skills, how could a small woodshed possibly confine her?

She could probably kick that broken door open with a single kick.

Just as Shen Qing was about to kick open the door and leave, there was a noise outside.

"Open it!" The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of a lock being opened could be heard.

With a creak, the door opened.

The light was a little too bright, so Shen Qing squinted slightly. After a moment, she could finally make out the appearance of the person who had come into view.

With his round face and small eyes, isn't that Jin Ye?

"Madam Shen, now that you've seen me, you must understand. Hand over the recipe for the spicy strips obediently."

"I'll let you go if you give me the spicy snack recipe."

Jin Ye had a smug look on his face, his squinting eyes filled with a deep sense of pride, as if he had everything under control.

Shen Qing rolled her eyes: "I already told you that, and even if you tie me up now, I'll still give you the same excuse."

"I don't believe you! You can't fool me!" Master Jin was already blinded by greed. "The spicy snack recipe or your life, you choose!"

He was certain that Shen Qing would never risk his life for a formula.

After all, people value their lives.

"It seems you don't give me a choice." Shen Qing chuckled lightly, looking at Master Jin as if he were a clown.

In the past, she might have had some reservations, but now, strangling Master Jin is as easy as strangling an ant on the roadside.

Jin gritted his teeth: "You're really stubborn. Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson!"

"Oh?" Shen Qing smiled throughout. "It's still uncertain who will show whom who's better."

"You two, get up there and prick him with needles!!" Jin Ye shouted, eager to deflate Shen Qing's arrogance.

Upon hearing the order, two strong servants approached Shen Qing with long needles in hand, a smug smile on their faces.

"Madam Shen, I advise you to tell me sooner rather than later."

"We brothers won't hold back. As the saying goes, 'the ten fingers are connected to the heart'..."