#58Intelligence has taken over.
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 58 Intelligence Takes Center Stage
Song Hu was a bit puzzled; how could he not crush such a common egg?
Using all five fingers, he only felt the egg in his palm was like a stone.
He always felt that with just a little more force, he could crush it, but he just couldn't.
Seeing that time was running out, Song Hu half-squatted, concentrating all his strength in his arms.
His already robust forearms thickened a bit more due to the blood rush.
His entire arm was trembling, he gritted his teeth, and sweat ran down the prominent veins on his forehead.
At this moment, he looked even more exaggerated than when he was carrying the tripod earlier.
It was as if he was using all his might, like a baby nursing.
It was just an egg, was it that difficult?
Everyone present was a high-ranking official; eggs were the most common food in their homes, and eggshells were very fragile, which is why the idiom 'to strike a stone with an egg' exists.
But now, a strongman like Song Hu couldn't even crush an egg, which was absolutely astonishing.
"Time's up!"
Song Hu immediately collapsed, panting heavily; those few seconds had truly exhausted all his strength.
Gongsun Changlin's face darkened, "How can this be?"
Song Hu said, "This egg really can't be crushed."
Seeing everyone's puzzled looks, Shen Yulou said, "Hand out eggs to everyone, let everyone try."
If they didn't try it themselves, they would always think they could do it.
The eunuchs handed an egg to everyone, and all the civil and military officials took one to try, even Emperor Ren held an egg and squeezed it for a while.
Everyone tried it and only then realized that this egg was indeed not easy to crush.
Gongsun Changlin said coldly, "Lord Shen, everyone can't crush it, and you can't crush it either, so isn't it still a draw?"
Shen Yulou smiled faintly, "Who said I couldn't crush it?"
With that, under everyone's gaze, Shen Yulou raised his hand, an egg resting in his palm.
Then, he squeezed it hard.
With a crack.
The egg shattered!
Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.
It was as quiet as when Shen Yulou shattered the wulin shield with one punch last time.
Shen Yulou's seemingly effortless action made everyone doubt their perception of reality.
Many of the martial generals present felt they were very strong, yet they couldn't crush an egg even with all their might.
But in Shen Yulou's hands, it was so easy.
Everyone had been staring at Shen Yulou's hand just now; he crushed it according to the rules, without cheating.
How could this be?
Shen Yulou said, "Lord Gongsun, I won, didn't I? From now on, Vanguard Song will belong to my Hun Kingdom."
Song Hu's expression changed, and he roared.
"Damn it!"
He threw the egg in his hand to the ground with force.
With a crash, the egg shattered.
Suddenly, Gongsun Changlin realized something was wrong.
"No, this isn't right!"
"Shen Yulou! This isn't right!"
"We were all squeezing raw eggs, but you squeezed a hard-boiled egg! This isn't right!"
Instantly, the hall erupted in an uproar.
Everyone then realized that Shen Yulou had crushed a hard-boiled egg, while the eggs in their hands were raw.
Although they didn't know if there would be a difference between raw and cooked.
However, since it was a competition, it had to be fair.
Song Hu squeezed a raw one, and you squeezed a cooked one; this certainly wasn't fair.
Shen Yulou rubbed his chin.
He hadn't expected the Envoy to be so clever, even with his feet off the ground while sitting in the chair.
He had indeed used a hard-boiled egg, which was easy to crush, unlike their raw eggs.
He had initially thought he could get away with it, but unexpectedly, Song Hu, in a fit of anger, threw the egg, revealing his flaw.
Song Hu immediately became furious, "You cheated!"
Emperor Ren also frowned; he was about to win, but then he was discovered. Was Shen Yulou's reliance just this little bit of cleverness?
If he only relied on this small cleverness, then this time the loss would be significant.
All the civil and military officials also glared angrily; they admitted that Shen Yulou had some skill when he broke the shield last time.
But that was just a small trick.
If such a small trick were used in such a major national affair, it would be too reckless.
The ownership of the Nylon River would determine the fate of the people in several cities.
If Shen Yulou messed up this time, his life would probably be in danger!
Everyone's gazes were like knives, and Shen Yulou felt as if he had daggers at his back.
However, he showed no panic and said.
"Come, give me a raw egg, and I'll crush it for you again."
A eunuch brought over a bamboo basket, and Shen Yulou said, "Lord Gongsun, please pick one for me."
Gongsun Changlin picked up an egg, shook it, confirmed it was a raw egg, and handed it to Shen Yulou.
"Shen Yulou, this time I'll see how you cheat!"
Shen Yulou picked up the egg, looking at it left and right.
"The egg Lord Gongsun picked is truly excellent, good shape, round, and this egg looks like a double-yolker..." Gongsun Changlin frowned, "Just crush it, why so much nonsense!"
Shen Yulou said, "Look at what you're saying, don't I need to gather my strength?"
...Outside the Golden Throne Hall, the Palace Maids and eunuchs were still watching the excitement from a distance, but they were below the steps and couldn't see what was happening inside the hall.
Tao Hong stood on tiptoes and said, "How come I see Lord Shen speaking inside, but I can't hear what he's saying, I'm so anxious!"
Qin Guiru's delicate brows furrowed slightly, "I also saw him speaking. In such an important occasion, what is he talking about?"
This was a strength competition; how could Shen Yulou, a frail scholar, have any say?
Tao Hong said, "Should I find someone to inquire?"
Qin Guiru nodded. Normally, she didn't like gossip, especially about court affairs, which she cared even less about.
But today, with Shen Yulou there, she suddenly wanted to know what Shen Yulou was doing.
If allowed, she really wanted to go into the hall to see.
Shen Yulou shouldn't be as embarrassing as Zheng Feifan, right?
Tao Hong waved to a eunuch in the distance, and the eunuch immediately scurried over.
Tao Hong said, "He's my junior; I mentored him when he first entered the palace."
"Little Dezi, how is it inside?"
Little Dezi said, "Sister Tao Hong, it's really lively inside. It's the third round of the strength competition, and Lord Shen and Vanguard Song are competing."
The two women were immediately startled.
"What? Lord Shen competing in strength with Vanguard Song?"
They had seen Song Hu earlier below; he had actually lifted the Nine-Legged Tripod, his strength was terrifying.
How could Shen Yulou possibly compete with such a burly general?
Little Dezi said, "Lord Shen already won just now, but they said Lord Shen cheated, so they have to compete again."
Qin Guiru was dumbfounded, "Shen Yulou actually won?"
This was too ridiculous.
This guy could actually compete with Song Hu; wasn't this a fantasy?
Qin Guiru looked at Shen Yulou's figure from afar, and suddenly felt that she had underestimated him a little before