Li Xuanjing

The Great Xia government offices closed very early. The Chang'an County Office typically dismissed work around 4 PM.

Li Nuo found the early closing time a bit jarring.

In his previous life, he worked over twelve hours a day, and working overtime on Saturdays and Sundays was the norm. He never even dreamed of getting off work at 4 PM.

After returning from the County Office, he read some Legalist classics and explained some problems to Mu'er. Soon, it was time for dinner.

The Li family's meals were always very lavish, eight dishes and one soup, yet only three people ate them.

Li Nuo, Song Jiaren, and Song Mu'er.

As for the master of this household, Li Nuo's father in this world, Li Nuo had been here for several days and hadn't met him once. He only heard from Steward Wu that his father was usually busy with official duties and didn't come home often. He often stayed at the government office, and even when he did return, it was late and he left early.

His official duties must have been extremely demanding. Li Nuo was already asleep when his father returned at night, and his father had already left before Li Nuo woke up in the morning.

They were father and son who rarely saw each other.

The Li Manor's dinner tonight was even more extravagant than usual, featuring spicy rabbit legs and braised chicken legs. Song Mu'er had specifically requested these two dishes. The Li family's cook had excellent skills; every dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, rivaling even famous chefs of later generations.

Li Nuo had attended some important banquets with his dean and felt that the skills of those famous chefs from later generations weren't even as good as his own family's cook.

Song Mu'er couldn't stop picking up food, her little mouth full as she said, "Brother Li Nuo, your family's food is so delicious, much better than ours..."

Li Nuo had heard Steward Wu mention that their cook was a highly paid Gourmet school disciple. The Gourmet school sect didn't possess any special abilities, but their cooking was exceptional. The chefs in the imperial kitchen were all, without exception, from the Gourmet school.

As Li Nuo picked up his chopsticks, he suddenly remembered something. He looked at Song Mu'er, who was happily eating, and warned her, "Mu'er, after you go back, absolutely do not mention that you ate delicious food at my house, especially don't tell Ning'er..."

Song Mu'er looked up, puzzled, "Why?"

If she didn't tell Song Ning'er that she had eaten a particularly delicious meal at Brother Li Nuo's house, wouldn't this meal have been eaten in vain?

Li Nuo knew from her darting eyes that she was definitely planning to brag to Song Ning'er back home. Given Song Ning'er's personality, she would probably come to the Li Manor to cause trouble again. Li Nuo's head already ached just thinking about it.

He quickly said, "Don't ask why. Just remember, absolutely do not tell Ning'er."

Under Li Nuo's strong insistence, Song Mu'er finally agreed obediently, though with a hint of regret, that she would keep it a secret this time.

After dinner, Song Jiaren took Song Mu'er home.

Li Nuo returned to his room to continue reading.

As a newcomer, there was still much he needed to learn about this world.

The introductory level of the Legalist school was indeed difficult, but once one got the hang of it, even if it wasn't for offense, at least defensive and self-preservation capabilities would be greatly enhanced. Even at the First Realm, one could unlock the art of restraint. If Li Nuo had possessed the power of the First Realm of the Legalist school at the county office entrance that day, he wouldn't have needed his wife to intervene; that arrow couldn't have harmed him.

While they were all at the initial stage, among the Various Masters, including the martial artists, only the Legalist school could achieve this.

Martial artists in the Body Sculpting Realm lacked True Qi protection and couldn't become impervious to blades and spears. The Confucian school only gained sufficient defense after the Third Realm with their Righteous Qi. As for the other schools, their abilities leaned more towards support.

In terms of individual strength, at least in the early stages, the Legalist school was definitely unique.

Once one reached higher realms, each school had its own strengths and possessed incredibly wondrous abilities. There wasn't an absolute hierarchy of strength.

For example, the Agricultural school could control the weather, the Military School could greatly boost the morale and combat power of soldiers, the Medical school was immune to all diseases and could even regenerate severed limbs, and the Mohist school could, with a single person, control thousands of mechanical puppets, conquering cities and territories with ease...

Of course, the Legalist school was also powerful. At the Fourth Realm, one could wield the power of imprisonment, drawing a circle on the ground to create a prison and trap people to death in place. At the Fifth Realm, one could wield the power of exile, forcibly moving opponents. Warriors of the same rank would be unable to get close. By the Sixth Realm, a single word, "Death," could cause immediate demise...

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Even if he didn't cultivate in these schools, he had to understand them to avoid being tricked without realizing it.

He slept a little later today. Li Nuo only extinguished the lamp and went to bed when sleepiness overcame him.

A quarter of an hour later, a carriage slowly traveled through the streets of Chang'an.

It was well past curfew, but none of the patrolling street guards dared to stop this carriage. As the carriage passed by, they respectfully stood by the roadside, watching it go.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Li Manor. A figure alighted, and Steward Wu smiled as he went to greet him, saying, "Master has returned."

His expression held a hint of regret. "Young Master just went to sleep. It would have been better if Master had returned a quarter of an hour earlier."

The refined and handsome middle-aged man entered the Li family home, went to the study, and wrote for a while. Steward Wu looked at the two poems on the paper with a smile and said, "Master also knows about what happened at the Song Manor last night..."

This morning, he had learned from the servants of the Song Manor about the events at the birthday banquet last night.

The Young Madam's birthday gift for Old Madam Song had been secretly replaced with stones. At a critical moment, the Young Master composed two poems consecutively, not only resolving the crisis but also pleasing Old Madam Song and earning widespread praise.

He asked with some joy, "Master, were these two poems written by the Young Master very good?"

The middle-aged man nodded. "Not exceptionally good, but they have some merit."

Steward Wu said with relief, "Heaven has eyes. This old servant always said that Master's son couldn't possibly be an idiot. When the Young Master was little, he often played alone in Master's study. Could he have learned these things then..."

The middle-aged man looked at the two congratulatory poems on the paper and after a moment asked, "Tell me again in detail about the assassination attempt on the Young Master that night..."

Steward Wu began, "That night, this old servant had already gone to sleep when I heard the Young Master's cry. I immediately rushed to his room and found that maid holding a dagger, about to harm the Young Master. Fortunately, I arrived in time, and the Young Master only sustained minor injuries.

Afterward, the Young Master's behavior seemed somewhat abnormal. He first hit his head against a pillar, and after waking up the next day, he jumped off the roof. He also completely forgot everything about his past. Since the Young Master woke up, he has become intelligent. He can not only do calculations but also judge cases and write poems, as if he were a different person. If this old servant hadn't secretly looked at the mole on the Young Master's backside, I would have truly believed the Young Master had been switched... "

He had watched the Young Master grow up since childhood and was familiar with every part of his body. After secretly conducting a thorough examination, he was absolutely certain that the Young Master was the genuine Young Master.

The middle-aged man fell silent and said nothing further.

At this moment, Steward Wu thought of something and looked troubled. He said, "Right, Master, the Young Master seems to want to cultivate the Legalist school. For the past few days, he has been judging cases at the Chang'an County Office and has even started studying the Great Xia Codex..."

The middle-aged man was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why does he suddenly want to cultivate the Legalist school?"

Steward Wu replied helplessly, "It was a misunderstanding. That day, the Young Madam mistakenly thought the Young Master had improper intentions towards that female assassin and beat him up. The Young Master seemed indignant and kept pestering this old servant, asking for ways to become stronger. He has no martial arts foundation, so this old servant told him about the Ways of the Hundred Schools, and he chose the Legalist school himself."

The middle-aged man nodded slightly and said, "Among all the schools of thought, the Legalist school indeed has the fastest progress and the greatest strength."

Steward Wu asked, "Master, what should we do now? Should we stop the Young Master? Practicing the Legalist school is truly too dangerous..."

The middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "Let him be. As long as he likes it himself."

Steward Wu heard this and said nothing more.

Although practicing the Legalist school was dangerous, with the Master present, he could protect the Young Master.

However, what would happen when the Young Master learned the truth?

He couldn't help but worry for the Master and the Young Master.

The middle-aged man stood up, slowly walked to the window, and looked at the courtyard where the lights had already been extinguished. A meaningful smile appeared on his face as he softly said, "The Legalist school..."