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

Li Nuo had faced countless assassination attempts as he grew up.

Last time, someone had deliberately committed a murder in Chang'an to lure him into investigating, before setting an ambush for him. There were eight experts of the fourth realm from the Martial Path, and if it weren't for Li Nuo exchanging all his lifespan for a momentary strength of the fourth realm, he would have almost certainly died.

That case, and the case involving Nanny Wang, had extremely similar methods of murder.

This meant that the same person who hired the Heavenly Mountain Seven Killers and bribed Nanny Wang to arrange for Gu Yanran to enter Li Mansion to assassinate him was very likely the same person.

Considering the same time point, the one who shot the cold arrow at the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office might also be him.

Li Nuo looked at Song Yiren and asked, "King Rui… are you sure?"

Song Yiren said, "That effeminate voice around him, I'll never forget it."

She looked at Li Nuo and asked, "Have you offended King Rui before?"

Li Nuo didn't even know King Rui, let alone offended him.

Clearly, King Rui had suffered a great loss at the hands of his father and took his revenge on him.

The people in Chang'an who wanted him dead were not limited to just King Rui.

Before Gu Yanran made her move, the real Li Nuo had already died.

His surroundings seemed peaceful, but in reality, danger lurked at every step.

Li Nuo nodded slightly and said, "I understand. It's enough that you know about this. Don't tell anyone else."

Song Yiren asked, "Why, won't you report this to the authorities?"

Li Nuo shook his head and said, "Without evidence, reporting it would be futile."

That was the Prince Regent.

Unless King Rui was caught red-handed, even with evidence, nothing could be done to him.

A Prince of the first rank couldn't be tried by the Ministry of Justice or captured by the Zongzheng Si; only His Majesty could judge him.

Song Yiren said, "I am the evidence, I can testify for you."

Li Nuo waved his hand and said, "It's useless. Doing so would only put you in danger too. If they dare to kill me, what's stopping them from coming after you?"

Although being at the fourth realm was formidable, they had eight at their disposal; her strength was negligible.

Song Yiren was slightly stunned, then asked, "Are you worried about me?"

Li Nuo walked into the courtyard and said, "Go to sleep early."

Song Yiren watched his retreating figure, a slight smile appeared on her pretty face.

Li Nuo thought his wife had returned to the Song Residence. After entering the room, he realized she wasn't there.

Song Yiren came in from outside, and Li Nuo asked, "Do you have something else?"

Song Yiren said, "No, but you haven't answered my question last time. How did you kill that fourth realm expert?"

Li Nuo thought for a moment and said, "I have cultivated a special technique. Usually, I don't have any True Qi in my body, but at critical moments, I can have the cultivation of the fourth realm for an instant. However, after using it once, it needs a long time to recover…"

Song Yiren exclaimed, "How can there be such a technique?"

She only knew about some special techniques that kept True Qi undetectable, but the cultivation was real.

Such a technique, she had never heard of.

Li Nuo said, "In this vast world, all sorts of strange things exist; even the Yuqing Heart Technique exists. What's so strange about this?"

After fending off Song Yiren, Li Nuo originally wanted to return to Li Mansion but found that Housekeeper Wu had already left as he reached the door.

He couldn't possibly walk back to Li Family from the Song Residence alone; he had to go back to his room.

Song Yiren, hearing the noise, jumped the wall from next door and asked, "Aren't you going back?"

Li Nuo said, "The curfew is about to start, I'll go back tomorrow."

Song Yiren said, "Then play a tune for me."

Li Nuo said, "It's too late, you should sleep, others are sleeping too."

Song Yiren thought for a moment and said, "Then draw a painting for me."

Li Nuo said, "It's too dark to see."

"Write a poem then?"

"I have no inspiration right now…"

...

Li Nuo suspected that there was some kind of conservation law between twins. The words his wife didn't say seemed to have been said by Song Yiren in return.

After a good night's sleep, the next morning when he returned to Li Mansion, he met Lord Father-in-law at the courtyard gate.

Li Nuo had something to ask for his help, and seeing him entering Song Yiren's courtyard, he followed.

The Imperial Examination had already ended, and to enter the Ministry of Justice he still needed arrangements from the Ministry of Personnel.

After listening to him, Song Zhe shook his head and said, "The Ministry of Personnel is powerless in this matter."

Li Nuo asked in surprise, "Why?"

Song Zhe slowly said, "According to the usual practice, the top ten of each Imperial Examination are directly appointed by the three provinces without going through the Ministry of Personnel. You, as the new top scholar, initially enter the court with a sixth-rank official position. There are only four Assistant Ministers in the Ministry of Justice with a sixth-rank, and currently, there are no vacancies. Unless they are promoted or demoted, it's impossible for you to take a position in the Ministry of Justice."

Li Nuo originally thought that with a Minister of Personnel as his father-in-law, within the allowable grade, he could be any official he wanted.

He never expected that winning the top scholar would make things more complicated.

Song Zhe looked at him and said, "But you needn't worry. The top ten of each examination will serve in the Six Departments and Nine Si and will not leave Chang'an. If there is any news from the three provinces, I will inform you immediately."

Li Nuo serving in the Ministry of Justice was certainly the most convenient.

Of course, not being in the Ministry of Justice would not stop him from investigating and arresting people.

First, let's see how the court plans to arrange his affairs.

Song Yiren stepped out of the room, and Song Zhe approached and asked, "Yiren, your birthday is coming soon, what gift would you like?"

Li Nuo, standing by the door, turned to look back.

Was it not to say that my wife's birthday is also approaching?

We've been married for almost a year now, yet I still do not know my wife's birthday.

After leaving the Song Residence and getting into the carriage, Housekeeper Wu asked, "Young Master, are we going home?"

Li Nuo thought for a moment and said, "Let's head to King Chun Mansion first."

The carriage slowly set into motion. Meanwhile, inside Song Residence, Song Yiren shook her head and said, "I don't want any gifts."

Song Zhe spoke again, "Old Lady had people choose several young, distinguished men for you. Not only are their families reputable, but they are also talented and handsome. Would you like to meet them?"

"Talented and handsome?" Song Yiren asked, "Do they look as handsome as the husband I chose before, and can they become the top scholar in the Six Arts?"

Song Zhe's expression stiffened, not knowing what to say next.

So-called talent and appearance were only relative to ordinary people.

Those who have become Advanced Scholars are, without exception, the best among the best.

As for the top scholar of the new class, add yet another level of excellence.

And the top scholar in the Six Arts, since the inception of the Imperial Examination, has only appeared twice; it might never happen again.

A moment later, he slowly walked out of the courtyard, breathing a long sigh.

Yiren still really cares about this matter...

At that moment, at King Chun Mansion.

The gatekeeper of King Chun Mansion, who already knew Li Nuo, ushered him into the mansion, saying, "The Prince is not in right now, Young Master might have to wait a bit longer."

Li Nuo asked, "Is the Princely Heir around?"

The gatekeeper responded, "The Princely Heir is here, he rarely goes out. I will take you to him."

Soon, Li Nuo was led to a grand hall.

As Li Nuo entered the hall, he noticed it was large in area, but most of it was occupied. It was filled with various mechanisms, not only small Mechanical Beasts and Objects but also Mechanical Giants as tall as twenty feet.

Li Yun was sitting amidst the piles of mechanisms, busily working on something.

Hearing a noise behind him, he turned around and, taken aback, said, "My lo…"

Before he could finish, he realized something and asked, "Should I call you Brother or Uncle?"

Li Nuo said, "Whichever you prefer…"

He and Li Yun didn't interact much, but because of his father's relationship with King Chun, there was always a sense that they were not outsiders to each other.

Last time, when they wiped out the Thief Sect, Li Yun had been of great help to them.

It was somewhat embarrassing to say, but he was here to ask for Li Yun's help again.

Li Nuo said, "I would like you to help me make a small mechanism."

At the mention of mechanisms, Li Yun's eyes lit up, and he asked, "What kind of mechanism?"

After listening to Li Nuo's description, Li Yun nodded and said, "It sounds like an interesting device. It's not too difficult; I should have it done in three days. You can come and pick it up then."

What Li Nuo wanted to make was not actually something very complicated.

His wife's birthday was approaching soon, and he wanted to give her a special gift.

She liked music, flower arranging, painting, and the like. After some thought, Li Nuo decided to give her a music box.

He only had a basic understanding of how a music box worked and couldn't make one himself, but in this regard, Li Yun was a professional. Li Nuo could simply propose the idea, and Li Yun would know what to do.

Returning to Li Mansion, Li Nuo and his wife tidied up a bit, then went back to the Song Family.

Li Mansion was too quiet; although his wife did not like overly bustling places, Li Nuo was worried she might get bored.

Two days passed, and Li Nuo planned to visit King Chun Mansion to check on the progress. When he arrived at the gate of Song Residence, he ran into his Lord Father-in-law.

Song Zhe looked at him and said, "The Three Provinces just issued an imperial decree to the Ministry of Personnel. Your official appointment has come through."

Given that it was his first official position, Li Nuo was quite concerned and asked, "What position?"

Song Zhe answered, "Assistant Minister of Rites."

Li Nuo was slightly taken aback and asked, "Isn't that my uncle's position?"

Song Zhe explained, "Your uncle has been promoted to Prime Minister of Taichang. The position of Assistant Minister of Rites is vacant, and since you excel in the Ritual Department, it was decided that you should fill it."

His father-in-law had served in the Ministry of Personnel for many years and certainly understood the officialdom better than him. Li Nuo directly asked, "Is this appointment considered normal?"

Song Zhe didn't know what to say.

His appointment could be seen as both normal and anomalous.

The Three Provinces and Six Ministries are the core departments of the court. Assigning a new Advanced Scholar directly to the Six Ministries is considered a significant placement.

However, the Ministry of Rites is somewhat special. Although it is known as the leader of the Six Ministries, its authority is far less than that of the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Revenue. It is the kind of place where the duties are numerous, yet the power is fettered.

Unless one sits in the position of Assistant Minister of Rites or Chief of Staff where one can directly participate in policy making, the role of Assistant Minister of Rites involves maximum work but minimal involvement in the core of state affairs.

Placing the new top scholar in the position of Assistant Minister of Rites seems like a stepping stone but is actually minor.

It seems those higher up may not wish for the son of Li Xuanjing to hold a key position.

His excellence was not just in the Ritual Department; by rights, he was capable of any position.

The second and third place in this year's Imperial Examination, though half a rank lower than his, were both assigned to the Secretariat—the real heart of the court.

Seeing his father-in-law silent, Li Nuo smiled courteously, "The position of Assistant Minister of Rites will be it then. There's no high or low in official positions; all serve the court just with different responsibilities. It doesn't matter where I am…"