The Capital's Most Handsome Young Man

Capital punishment was undoubtedly harsher than corporal punishment.

According to the "New Laws of Great Wei" he had read that morning, slanderers and those who incited hatred were all sentenced to death. Was that criminal code harsh?

One had to understand that reinstating corporal punishment also had a downside: once it was restored, many desperate outlaws would no longer fear the law, and the law would lose its deterrent force.

Then the fundamental purpose of criminal law would be lost. Knowing they would not die, they would become even more brazen.

The "Laws of Han" recorded a case in which a man had his tongue removed for slander, then had his left limb severed.

He endured it and survived, but afterward he did something even worse: he violated a respectable woman. He was castrated, survived again, recovered again...

One victim after another followed, until he had injured ten people and killed ten. In the end, this man starved to death because he could no longer feed himself!

So, should corporal punishment be restored?

The question had been troubling Lin Ke lately.

At first, he had thought many things about the old society were unreasonable.

But now he understood that a sacred dynasty's legal system was shaped by the social conditions of its time, while also needing to uphold the dynasty's authority.

As he saw it now, he needed a thorough understanding of everything in the Great Wei Sacred Dynasty, from the lowest rungs of society through the middle and all the way to the top, before he could find the answer.

It really is hard to learn from history... The knot in Lin Ke's heart seemed to loosen. Standing beside the window, his expression gradually relaxed, and he let out a soft breath.

Just then, the white-robed figure from the painting studio appeared outside the Tongfu Grand Restaurant.

He was the man Wang Lin had just thrown out of the Immortal Realm Painting Studio.

The man walked straight into the restaurant and, upon seeing Lin Ke, asked, "Are you really Lin'er's disciple? How long have you been studying under her?"

Lin Ke nodded and said with a smile, "This is only my twelfth day."

The man's eyes lit up at that.

He probably thinks Wang Lin is single and he still has a chance. That must be why his eyes lit up... Lin Ke thought.

He pulled over a stool and sat beside Lin Ke, tidying his slightly disheveled hair while patting the dust off his clothes.

He had only just begun to say, "I..."

"Hey, can't you see I'm drinking tea here? How am I supposed to drink with you kicking up all that dust?"

A customer nearby held up his cup of tea and glared angrily at the white-robed man.

Awkward.

The man in white waved a hand, raised his chin, and called to the proprietor, "Proprietor, bring this gentleman two fresh cups of good tea! I'll pay later!"

"Coming right up!" the proprietor answered with a beaming smile.

Having said that, the man went on tidying himself. Hearing his offer, the customer set down his cup without another word.

The man in white began slowly, "I've known Wang Lin for so many years, and this is the first time I've ever heard of her taking a disciple!"

Lin Ke's eyes brightened. This man probably knew quite a lot about Wang Lin.

The man in white looked at Lin Ke and asked, "What's your name?"

"Big brother, my name is Lin Ke," Lin Ke said as he wiped the windowsill.

The man smiled faintly and tilted his chin up at a forty-five-degree angle. "You know how to show respect. From now on, you're under my protection. If anything happens, mention my name. With looks like mine, anyone has to show me some respect."

Lin Ke was speechless for a moment before saying, "Big brother, I don't even know your name."

But Lin Ke had not said everything he wanted to. What he still wanted to say was: The person who bullies me is the very one who threw you out.

The man kept his chin raised as he declared, "Listen well. I am Ye Jun, the capital's most handsome young man, beloved by everyone who sees me, greeted by blooming flowers, and so dazzling that horses bolt at the sight of me."

Lin Ke stared, dumbfounded. That was the flavor-what a familiar line!

He seemed to have used it before while filming.

Next, Ye Jun began recounting how he had enchanted wealthy young ladies, how he had enchanted...

After listening to all this, Lin Ke delivered a calm verdict in his heart: This guy is so fucking full of himself!

Can a man really be this shameless?

Wang Lin went too easy on him!

Lin Ke simply watched quietly as Ye Jun talked at him, spittle flying everywhere.

Even the restaurant waiter, who had come from the backyard and finished serving a customer beef and noodles, was stunned by what he heard. How could anyone be this narcissistic?

The capital actually had someone this thick-skinned?

Someone even more full of himself than the proprietor?

No, the proprietor was just miserly and stingy, not particularly narcissistic.

When the waiter shifted his gaze toward his employer, he saw the proprietor looking back at him with a beaming smile.

He hastily lowered his head.

Meanwhile, the proprietor smiled as he watched the white-robed man talking to Lin Ke.

Before long, having finished recounting all the exploits brought about by his handsome appearance, this handsome young man walked out of the restaurant with his chin held high and left without looking back.

For no other reason than that a woman stood at the restaurant entrance...

Afterward, three pairs of eyes in the restaurant followed the man's retreating back. They exchanged looks, then burst out laughing once Wang Lin had left.

"Ha ha ha, ha ha, hahahahahaha..."

The three men's laughter lingered in the restaurant for a long time.

Passersby who heard it could not help stopping to see what had happened inside...

Two hours passed like that. Lin Ke stepped out of the restaurant, but did not hurry back toward his courtyard.

He glanced at the Song-Listening Entertainment House next door. It was brightly lit, with laughter and playful commotion drifting out now and then.

Lin Ke walked briskly over, stopped at the entrance to the Song-Listening Entertainment House, and tapped the doorframe with his knuckles.

Footsteps soon approached.

"Ah! Young Master Lin, what brings you here?"

It was the girl whose attempt to close the door Lin Ke had interrupted last time. She looked at his face, seeming pleasantly surprised, and asked.

"Miss, sorry to bother you again. Sorry for the trouble, but could you tell the matchmaker I need to see her about something?"

The girl covered her mouth and smiled. "After you left last time, Mama said that whenever you came by, we should just ask what you wanted to do, then take you there."

A little puzzled, Lin Ke looked at the girl inside the doorway and asked, "Why did the matchmaker say that?"

The girl could no longer suppress her laughter and said:

"Heeheehee, Mama told us there was nothing to worry about. Most people have a thief's desires but not a thief's nerve, or they have the nerve but not the desire. But you have neither."

Lin Ke's mouth fell slightly open before he said with a helpless smile, "The matchmaker really knows how to read people!"

"Heeheehee, come in, Young Master Lin. What are you here for?"

The girl beckoned Lin Ke inside, then asked with a smile.

Lin Ke smiled helplessly. "I'm here to find your best dancer. I've been studying a move or two lately and want to test them out."

Hearing that, the girl smiled and said, "Young Master Lin, Sister Bingbing is our best dancer!"

Lin Ke paused briefly. So it's her!

Bingbing.

The girl who performed the sword dance!

Lin Ke thought for a moment, then asked the girl, "Miss, is she available right now? Could you take me to see her?"

The girl smiled. "Young Master Lin, just call me Xiao Shang. Sister Bingbing shouldn't be busy right now. I'll take you to her!"

Lin Ke smiled and nodded.

Then Lin Ke followed Xiao Shang to a room on the second floor. Huang Shang told him to wait by the stairs while she went to knock.

He watched Xiao Shang walk over and knock on the door. She said something to the person inside, and a head poked out to look at him. Then he heard the door close.

Xiao Shang walked back to Lin Ke and said with a smile, "Let's go!"

Lin Ke stayed where he was, his brows knitting slightly. "Xiao Shang, is Miss Bingbing unwilling? Why don't I go speak to her?"

Hearing that, Xiao Shang could not help laughing again. "Pfft... Young Master Lin, you can't exactly stay alone in Sister Bingbing's room to discuss things with her, can you?"

A helpless look instantly crossed Lin Ke's face. How did my thinking turn into that of such a clueless straight guy?