IDWBE -Chapter 395 Disaster from Nowhere

Unfortunately, Lin Yi did not understand much about law. What he had done so far was merely surface-level reform.

The enormity of a legal system and the complexity of handling legal affairs were beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

He had personally seen, at a judicial office, that merely the standardized interpretations surrounding “mediation of disputes” could fill an entire room. Without patience, even with high intelligence, ninety-nine percent of people would be discouraged from studying law.

He would have to invite back those Imperial Academy scholars and court elders who often scolded him. They were the true legal experts.

Sometimes he was aware of his own flaw—he liked to assume a sense of superiority as a modern man and look down on the ancients.

But after thinking it through, he realized he only bullied the weak. Were Leibniz, Newton, Schrödinger, Planck, or Cavendish not also “ancients”? Why didn’t he dare look down on them?

Most importantly, those great Confucian scholars were hardly “soft persimmons.” In terms of expertise, they far surpassed him.

In court, when they spoke phrases like:

“The essence of legislation is to make the virtuous delight in good governance, and the wicked fear its consequences.”

“Officials must study the laws thoroughly, understand their intent, and adjudicate matters clearly.”

“Law is like a carpenter’s ink line—concise in text, direct in example; it does not exhaust all reason.”

He barely understood them—but still felt they were impressive.

Professionally, they could utterly crush him.

At times, he needed to be more humble and stop assuming everyone else was foolish.

The brain capacity of ancient people was no different from his own. No one was inherently smarter.

Amateur theorizing was dangerous—never use your hobby to challenge someone else’s profession.

And one must understand the limitations of one’s era.

“Your Highness,”

Xiao Xizi followed closely behind Lin Yi. “Liu Chaoyuan grows more and more presumptuous.”

Lin Yi snorted. “Then give him a warning. A man must know his place. Those who play both sides won’t end well.”

Xiao Xizi glanced at Ye Qiu. Liu Chaoyuan was a Grandmaster—it would take someone like Ye Qiu to deliver the threat properly.

Ye Qiu bowed. “This subordinate will warn him at once.”

After Lin Yi and the blind man walked away, Ye Qiu cast Xiao Xizi a cold look.

Xiao Xizi quickly said, “Young Master Ye, I act only for the Prince’s sake. Please don’t be angry. A few days ago, your younger brother Ye Chen had a conflict with the Qin family. I went personally to settle it. He even asked about you and sent his regards.”

(Your own brother got into trouble. I handled it. I’ve given you face. You should give me face.)

Ye Qiu said coldly, “What has that to do with me?”

Xiao Xizi swallowed his frustration.

That was your own brother! Everyone knew that although you acted indifferent, anyone who offended him met a bloody end.

But he dared not say such words aloud.

If Ye Qiu got angry and beat him, crying to the Prince would only earn laughter—and perhaps two words: You deserved it.

There were few people Xiao Xizi dared not offend. This bastard was one of them.

After all, he was a Grandmaster.

Xiao Xizi himself had reached Ninth Rank—people praised his talent—but in front of Ye Qiu he barely dared breathe. Comparing goods makes one discard them; comparing people makes one furious.

This was a world where the strong ruled.

“Eunuch Xi—”

“Master Ye, we are family. No need for such distance.”

Hearing the address, Xiao Xizi’s legs trembled.

Ye Qiu only snorted and vanished.

Xiao Xizi sighed.

He Lian approached cautiously. “This is the imperial palace. To leap about so freely—he shows no respect for you.”

Xiao Xizi sneered. “When the Chief returns, I’ll report it. He won’t get away with it.”

He Lian grinned. “You are wise, Eunuch. Let him know we’re not to be trifled with.”

Xiao Xizi asked, “His Majesty summoned Lu Yixiang again?”

He Lian replied, “Lu Yixiang doesn’t know his place. Shall I block him?”

“No need. Qi Province and Ji Province are under the Prince now. If the Prince doesn’t care, let them jump around. They won’t escape his palm.”

Then he added, “And remember—don’t clash with Bao Kui or Ma Gui. They’re from the Prince’s guard. If things reach the Prince, he’ll believe them, not you.”

He Lian nodded quickly. “Understood.”

He wasn’t foolish. Bao Kui and the others commanded troops and held real power. Not people to provoke.

“If you don’t know your place,” Xiao Xizi warned, “I’ll send you to the Cold Palace as a sweeper.”

He Lian paled and knelt.

Since the Prince took control, even the women of the Cold Palace had been pardoned. It was now truly empty. Being sent there meant solitary exile.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai left the palace escort and headed toward North City.

Each carried a massive hammer.

They stopped before a gambling den.

The doorman froze. “Sirs… you’re not from around here?”

He pointed nervously at a notice: no one may carry weapons within Ankang City. Violators would be arrested, beaten, and sent south for hard labor.

Yu Xiaoshi shoved him aside and entered.

Inside, the gambling hall buzzed—dice, dominoes, shouting.

When the two men walked in with hammers, silence fell.

Under the new Liang Code, even carrying a blade in the city was illegal. Martial artists had been netted like fish by officials. Even a Seventh-Rank gang leader had been captured recently.

Who were these two idiots to swagger in armed?

Yu Xiaoshi slammed his hammer onto a table. “Ge Laoshan! Get out here!”

The table split in half.

A seductive woman descended the stairs. “Do you know where you are? This is no place to cause trouble.”

A man whispered to her. Her expression changed. She smiled stiffly. “You two are skilled—but remember the rules of Ankang. Shall I call the authorities?”

A-Dai ignored her and headed upstairs.

“Stop! Is there no law?” she shrieked.

“Let’s talk!”

A dark-faced man hurried down, still pulling on his clothes—Ge Laoshan, former bandit chief.

Before he could finish descending, A-Dai punched him in the head and dragged him into the hall.

“Confess or not?” A-Dai demanded.

Yu Xiaoshi punched him again. Blood flowed from Ge’s nose.

Onlookers stared in shock.

This was Ge Laoshan! Owner of ships, gambling houses, brothels, and a thousand men. An Eighth-Rank expert.

Yet he didn’t fight back—like a mouse before cats.

“Confess or not?!”

After a while they stopped.

Ge gasped. “Confess to what? I don’t even know!”

Yu Xiaoshi looked at A-Dai. “What’s he confessing to?”

A-Dai scratched his head.

Ge burst into tears. “At least let me die knowing why!”

Someone shouted, “I’ll report this!”

“No!” Ge roared. “No one leaves!”

Then he forced a bloody smile. “Being beaten by you two is my honor.”

The authorities themselves were helpless before these two fools. Even the Prince found them troublesome. Complaining would only invite worse trouble.

Yu Xiaoshi finally shouted, “You bastard! You dared say people from Songyang are no good!”

“Yes! Did you say it?” A-Dai demanded.

Ge was dumbfounded. “I’m from Nanzhou myself! Why would I say that?”

“Cao Xiaohuan said you did!”

Realization dawned. Ge howled, “She slandered me! I never said that! Don’t believe villains!”

Inside, he cursed Cao Xiaohuan’s ancestors.

You can’t deal with me yourself, so you sent these two idiots after me?!