My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!

Rest days indeed served a purpose. Yesterday, I attended a family banquet at the Song family's residence and spent the better part of the day playing with Song Mu'er. As a result, the fatigue that had accumulated over many days had dissipated significantly, and I felt much lighter.

Had I learned the principle of "relaxation and tension" earlier in life, I definitely wouldn't have struggled so much and wouldn't have ended up here.

Throughout the day, I, as usual, presided over cases at the Chang'an County Government.

It was not until the end of work today that my lifespan increased by three days.

The number of cases I dealt with each day was gradually decreasing. After all, being under the Emperor's nose, there weren't that many cases to begin with. The bustling scene from the previous days was merely the result of accumulated cases. I estimated that in a few days, gaining two additional days of lifespan for each day's judgements would be quite good.

Therefore, I needed to find ways to create more achievements for myself.

To me, achievements were life itself.

After work, I walked out of the courthouse and waved to a figure in the courtyard.

County Captain Wang hurriedly ran over with a smile on his face and asked, "Young Master, do you have any orders?"

I said, "Take some people with you and follow me to a place."

"Understood, sir!"

County Captain Wang didn't ask any questions and immediately went to gather his men.

Housekeeper Wu, still concerned about the meal at home, asked in confusion, "Young Master, aren't we going home?"

I replied, "Let's go to Yunmeng Academy first."

Housekeeper Wu did not ask why I was going to Yunmeng Academy; he had grown accustomed to my inscrutable and mysterious way of doing things.

This morning when I left home, I had even asked him to prepare some rolling pins, and he still didn't know their purpose.

If I were going anywhere else, he might have needed to make advance arrangements to ensure my safety. Since Yunmeng Academy was located within Chang'an City near the bustling area, if any danger arose, a signal would swiftly bring the Imperial Guard patrolling the city.

...

In Daxia today, the Imperial Examination was the only path to entering officialdom.

This rule was established at the time when Grand Ancestor founded the nation, and it had not changed in hundreds of years.

Whether they were nobles or the sons of officials, those seeking a governmental post had to go through the selection of the Imperial Examination. This led to the proliferation of academies both large and small throughout Daxia. As the capital, Chang'an had academies everywhere.

The content of the Imperial Examination was based on Confucianism, involving rites, music, archery, chariot driving, writing, and arithmetic. These six arts were impossible to master through self-study alone, and each academy hired highly skilled masters who provided the students with the most comprehensive education possible.

Due to this monopolization of resources, even the smaller academies were extremely expensive to attend. The students of the academies were either rich or noble—the academies were the source of courtiers, and naturally, the officials in the court also came from powerful families.

Among the four great academies in Chang'an, Yunmeng Academy, although not as renowned as the other three, was not to be underestimated. Very few civil servants in Daxia came from Yunmeng Academy, but more than half of the military officers did.

This place was not the cradle of civil servants, but it certainly was the nursery of military officers.

If the nobles in Daxia hoped their progeny would achieve something in the military, they usually sent them to Yunmeng Academy for further education.

The main entrance of Yunmeng Academy faced the bustling Chang'an Street, while behind the academy was a tranquil forest. Within the forest, small paths intersected and occasionally, tea houses, bookshops, and music workshops were hidden among the trees.

Though this area was not as lively as Chang'an Street, due to its serene environment, it still attracted students from the academy, and the businesses did quite well.

At this moment, in a tea house in the forest, in an elegant room on the second floor.

I sat by the window, gently sipped my tea, and looked out the window towards the back entrance of the academy.

The academy dismissed students half an hour later than the government office ended work, and only a few figures could be seen there.

I prayed that Song Yu and the others wouldn't stand me up.

County Captain Wang, along with a dozen constables and government officials, were drinking tea in another elegant room. They were paying for their own tea since they were technically working overtime. He also had to pay them overtime, and he didn't want this extra expense to go to waste.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

Following several dull bell sounds, figures continuously emerged from the academy's back gate.

Mostly young people, in groups of three or two, some entered teahouses and restaurants, others the bookshops and music workshops. At one moment, more than ten figures emerged magnificently from the academy, and others stepped aside upon seeing them.

"Isn't that the Zhou brothers? What do they want with such a large group?"

"Their expressions don't look friendly..."

"I wonder who's going to be unlucky this time."

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, a group led by two young men walked towards an open clearing in the forest.

Just then, several enthusiastic hawking calls suddenly came from somewhere beneath the trees ahead.

"Selling rolling pins, top-quality rolling pins!"

"Fine pear wood rolling pins, don't pay if they aren't solid!"

"Rolling pins for sale, cheap! Only ten cents each!"

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse clothes, with a simple and honest face, set up a straw mat under a tree and neatly arranged dozens of rolling pins on it.

Many people shook their heads in secret at this scene. The man obviously had no business acumen—who sells rolling pins outside an academy gate?

Even if one were to sell rolling pins, it should be in a bustling market area or a residential area.

The most frequent passersby here were the students of Yunmeng Academy. Selling erotic banned books might be profitable, but why would students need rolling pins?

Even if he shouted himself hoarse today, he would not manage to sell even one.

Thinking this, suddenly a figure approached the man, bent down, picked up a rolling pin, and swung it through the air a few times, making a "whoosh" sound. From the sound alone, it was clear these rolling pins were made of real quality.

Afterward, he tossed down an ingot of silver, saying, "Give me ten, and keep the change."

The ingot was a whole tael, enough to buy a hundred rolling pins. Overjoyed, the man picked up the silver, repeatedly thanking, "Thank you, young master, thank you."

The figure beckoned, and a group of people came over, each taking a rolling pin from the man and heading towards a clearing in the woods.

Seeing this, other students couldn't help but sigh, thinking the man was a fool blessed with good luck. Selling rolling pins here coincidentally as the Zhou brothers were looking to start trouble was fortuitous. Not only could these Huali wood rolling pins be used for rolling dough, they were also suitable for fighting, certainly painful when used to hit someone.

Before long, another group of people emerged from the back gate of the academy.

"Selling rolling pins, top-quality rolling pins."

"Top-quality Huali wood rolling pins. If they're not sturdy, you don't have to pay!"

...

Song Yu heard the strong man's hawking and paused, walking over, picking up a rolling pin, and weighing it. Finding it very sturdy, an idea crossed his mind, and he turned to say to someone, "Brother-in-law, do you have silver on you? This feels good to use, we might need it later."

The slim, refined young man shook his head, saying, "It's best not to use it."

Song Yu, puzzled, asked, "Why?"

The refined young man explained, "According to Daxia Law, fighting with bare hands results in forty cane strokes; fighting with a weapon calls for sixty. Once you use this, it's considered armed assault, vastly different from fighting empty-handed..."

Song Yu said, "You mean the Zhou family would report to the authorities?"

Disputes among General's family members were always settled amongst themselves. Anyone reporting to the authorities would be ridiculed by everyone; besides, the Chang'an County Government dared not interfere in matters of the General's families.

Chen Ling shook his head, saying, "It's still best to consider all aspects."

Song Yu waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, let's just listen to the brother-in-law, we wouldn't want the Zhou family to accuse us of bullying."

Following that, he spoke to Chen Ling, "Brother-in-law, you're not strong; just stay here and watch, so you're not accidentally hurt. With Wang Hua here today, there shouldn't be any problems."

"That works; the Imperial Guard is patrolling nearby. If you guys are at a disadvantage, I'll bring them here." Chen Ling nodded, knowing he wouldn't be much help if he went along; it might distract them instead. It was better to stay here and keep watch, ready to call for help if things got out of control.

With that, Song Yu led a group of men aggressively towards the clearing deep in the woods.

At this moment, unbeknownst to everyone, a figure stood quietly watching them from the second-floor window of the teahouse behind them.

Housekeeper Wu stood behind Li Nuo, his expression astonished.

He finally understood why his young master had asked him to prepare rolling pins that morning.

So this was their intended use.

Legalism's cultivation speed correlates with the severity of the sentences imposed—flogging, caning, imprisonment, exile, death. Each level of punishment increases the cultivation speed by one grade; therefore, within the allowance of the law, Legalism always prescribed severe sentences.

Fighting barehanded merited only flogging.

But holding a stick changed the nature of the act to armed assault.

Housekeeper Wu looked at Li Nuo with relief thinking, this is what it means to be a true father and son. The young master's move alone prodvided at least three parts of the old master's true transmission.

Li Nuo turned back, saw Housekeeper Wu's astonished look, and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Housekeeper Wu, with admiration, said, "Young master, that move was brilliant!"

Li Nuo glanced at him, said dismissively, "What's brilliant about it? I'm just selling rolling pins, selling them isn't illegal..."

After saying that, he added, "Keep an eye on them, don't let them cause too much trouble."

Watching Housekeeper Wu jump out the window, Li Nuo picked up his teacup again.

Though the rolling pins were made of regular wood and had no sharp edges, a blow to the vital spots could be deadly.

If these troublemakers got carried away, there really might be an accident.

Then his fault would be grave.

Though the law couldn't touch him, his conscience wouldn't let it pass.

With Housekeeper Wu, who had reached the Fourth Realm of Martial Path, there was no need to worry about this issue.

Strictly speaking, this act of pouring oil on the fire was somewhat unethical; however, he needed to survive. Only by living could he promote Legalism, uphold justice, and it was time to see if the "Law Code" would understand this...