Wife, Protect Me! - Chapter 7

Li Nuo had just been thinking that girls in ancient times should play the zither and do embroidery, not wield swords and spears, fighting and killing.

Now he changed his mind.

How wonderful it was to wield swords and spears. If his wife only knew how to play the zither and do embroidery, he would already be a dead man.

“Protect him well.”

The aloof woman tossed out a sentence, then soared into the air, swiftly darting toward a distant tall building.

The arrow from earlier had been shot from a window somewhere in that tall building.

After the perilous moment they had just experienced, Steward Wu pulled Li Nuo back into the county magistrate’s office.

A short while later, the aloof woman walked into the county magistrate’s office again.

Steward Wu immediately asked, “Young Mistress, did you catch the assassin?”

The young woman shook her head.

One strike missed, then fleeing far away without leaving any traces—the other party was likely a professional assassin.

Steward Wu sighed. The master had offended so many people that it was impossible to guess the culprit. He could only say, “Let’s go back first.”

Li Nuo got into the carriage and silently moved closer to his wife.

That arrow from earlier had left him shaken, and being nearer to her made him feel more secure.

At the same time, he found it somewhat hard to believe.

In this world, were the families of officials in such high danger? This was the capital of a nation, right under the emperor’s feet. In just one day, he had already faced two assassination attempts. It seemed the public security in Great Xia wasn’t very good.

No wonder Steward Wu brought so many people when going out…

Not long after, the carriage passed by a certain shop. Steward Wu pulled on the reins, jumped off the carriage, and said, “Young Master, Young Madam, please wait a moment. The master might return tonight, so this old servant will buy some pastries the master likes…”

Habitually patting his waist, his expression suddenly froze, and he exclaimed in surprise, “Where’s my money pouch?”

Hearing this, Li Nuo pulled out a money pouch from his own waist and casually tossed it over, saying, “Use mine.”

Steward Wu caught the money pouch and asked in astonishment, “When did this old servant’s money pouch end up with the Young Master?”

Li Nuo didn’t know either. Perhaps Steward Wu had left it by the bed, and it got tangled up when he was putting on his clothes. Steward Wu didn’t dwell on it, entered the pastry shop, bought a package of pastries, got back on the carriage, and shook the reins once more…

…
Court Minister Mansion.
Li Nuo’s room.

Li Nuo sat at the table, looked at Steward Wu, extended his right hand, and made a grasping motion in the air, asking, “When I jumped down from the roof this morning, that move of yours was…”

The events of the past half-day had given Li Nuo a profound understanding of the dangers of this world.

Although his wife was formidable—so much so that she could catch arrows with her bare hands—she couldn’t always be by his side to protect him.Seeking help from others is not as reliable as relying on oneself; it’s best to keep one’s safety in one’s own hands.

Moreover, for Li Nuo, when there was danger, having Niangzi by his side was the safest, but when there was no danger, she was the most dangerous.

Li Nuo rubbed his chest, where a dull ache still lingered.

Whether it was protecting himself from assassins or from Niangzi, he had to become stronger.

Steward Wu thought for a moment and said, “Is the young master referring to when this old servant immobilized you? That was actually object manipulation using True Qi. With cultivation at the Fourth Realm of Martial Arts, it can be easily accomplished.”

Li Nuo raised an eyebrow: “Martial Arts?”

Remembering that the young master had damaged his brain and forgotten everything, Steward Wu patiently explained, “Martial Arts is a method of improving oneself. Upon initial entry, it enables ordinary people to possess immense strength. Those with profound cultivation can manipulate objects with their Qi, walk on air, and injure others with mere flowers or leaves. Cultivated to its ultimate realm, one can even move mountains and seas…”

Li Nuo’s eyes grew brighter as he listened. This world, though a bit dangerous, seemed quite fascinating.

He asked eagerly, “If I cultivate Martial Arts, can I defeat my wife?”

Steward Wu shook his head, promptly dousing his enthusiasm with cold water, “Young master, you lack a Martial Dao Foundation and cannot cultivate Martial Arts. Moreover, the young mistress is a rare genius in Martial Arts. Even this old servant is no match for her. Even if you had a Martial Dao Foundation, your strength would never catch up to the young mistress…”

The light in Li Nuo’s eyes instantly dimmed. Was he doomed to never turn the tables and take charge?

Noticing Li Nuo’s disappointment, Steward Wu comforted him, “Young master, don’t lose heart. There are countless people in this world without a Martial Dao Foundation. Though you cannot cultivate Martial Arts, you can still study the ways of the Hundred Schools…”

Li Nuo deflated like a punctured ball and asked weakly, “What are the Hundred Schools?”

Steward Wu said, “The way of the Confucians cultivates the self, regulates the family, governs the state, and brings peace to the world. It can nurture a Righteous Qi, fearless against all methods—would the young master like to learn it?”

Li Nuo asked, “Can the Righteous Qi defeat the young mistress?”

Steward Wu shook his head, “No.”

Li Nuo waved his hand, “Then I won’t learn it.”

Steward Wu continued, “The way of the Strategists involves warfare on the battlefield, using killing to enter the Dao. The qi of conquest is invincible—would the young master like to learn it?”

Li Nuo asked, “Can the conquest qi defeat the young mistress?”

Steward Wu thought for a moment and said, “The qi of conquest is nurtured on the battlefield. If the young master can campaign for decades, using war to nourish his qi, it might not be impossible to catch up to the young mistress…”

The battlefield was perilous, with weapons having no eyes; one misstep and he could end up wrapped in a horsehide shroud. Besides, enduring decades of hardship—he might not even live that long. Without a second thought, Li Nuo waved his hand, “No, I won’t learn it.”

Steward Wu went on, “The Mohist School excels in craftsmanship and mechanical arts, surpassing all other schools. Once Mohist True Qi is mastered, with puppets enhancing the body, a mortal can rival the divine…”

Li Nuo shook his head, “But that’s still a mortal, right? No, I won’t learn it…”

Steward Wu said helplessly, “The True Qi of medical experts can greatly benefit the world and save the people, or modestly preserve health and prolong life—would the young master be willing to learn it?”

After a pause, he added, “Learning medicine won’t help you defeat the young mistress.”

Li Nuo felt disheartened. His days were numbered; preserving health was useless to him, and learning medicine couldn’t save him either.

Steward Wu sighed and continued, “Legalism is the framework of the world and the standard for all matters. It clarifies rewards and punishments, distinguishes evil from righteousness. Upon first entering the path of Legalism, one can master the Imprisonment Art. Cultivated to its depths, one can even draw a circle on the ground to create a prison, have words become law upon utterance, and turn spoken rules into reality…”

Hearing this, Li Nuo abruptly looked up.

Legalism—wasn’t this a perfect match for his expertise!

“Drawing a circle to create a prison” and “words becoming law upon utterance” sounded incredibly powerful. If he mastered these, would he still need to fear that woman?

Moreover, he needed to adjudicate cases to extend his own lifespan. The two complemented each other perfectly, each enhancing the other.

This was undoubtedly the most suitable path for him.

Li Nuo immediately turned to Steward Wu and said, “I want to cultivate Legalism!”

Steward Wu was slightly taken aback and asked, “Why?”

In his previous life, studying law was mostly for career prospects. In this life, studying law was naturally for survival.
And… to avoid domestic violence.

But of course, Li Nuo wouldn’t voice these inner thoughts. Since his cheap father in this world was the Minister of the Court of Revision, studying law could be considered following in his father’s footsteps.

So he cleared his throat and replied very seriously, “Of course, it’s to follow in my father’s footsteps, uphold justice, advocate for the people, punish the wicked and eliminate the corrupt…”

Steward Wu’s expression turned awkward.

How should he tell the amnesiac young master that his father was the most corrupt official in the court?

For a son to arrest his own father—wouldn’t that be defying heaven?

But as servants, it wasn’t their place to speak of such matters. When the young master regained some of his memories, he probably wouldn’t be clamoring to punish the wicked and eliminate the corrupt anymore.

Li Nuo noticed that when he expressed his desire to pursue the path of Legalism to advocate for the people and punish the wicked, Steward Wu’s expression became conflicted, and he even sighed.

His lips moved several times as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

A sense of foreboding welled up in Li Nuo’s heart, and he asked, “Don’t tell me I don’t have the foundation for Legalism either?”

Steward Wu immediately replied, “No, no, only Martial Arts requires a foundation. Anyone can study the paths of the Hundred Schools.”

Li Nuo breathed a sigh of relief and said irritably, “Then what’s with the sighing? You scared me…”
He couldn’t wait and urged, “Hurry up and tell me, how should I cultivate Legalism?”

Steward Wu coughed lightly and said, “Young master, I know you’re in a hurry, but first, don’t be. Your most important task now is to recuperate. We can discuss these matters later…”

Li Nuo looked serious. Joking aside, after today, he would only have ten days left to live. What “later” was there to speak of?

He looked at Steward Wu earnestly and said, “I know you’re not in a hurry, but I am. Please tell me now, immediately, right away…”