Chapter Seventeen I Want to Learn Martial Arts

  She ran to a secluded place, Du He let out a long sigh, seeing that Princess Chang Le hadn't followed her, she muttered: "That woman is really troublesome, my parents didn't care about so many things. What's she being so particular about?"

  He didn't know, however, that Princess Chang Le had been paying attention to him for three years and was familiar with everything about him.

  But all of this changed dramatically in just one short month. Princess Chang Le naturally had many unanswered questions and was even more concerned about him.

  Du He glanced at Fang Yi'ai beside him and saw that he was looking at himself with a strange expression, as if thinking of something.

  "What's wrong?" Du He asked strangely.

  Fang Yi's eyes suddenly filled with tears as he knelt down and said: "Big brother, teach me martial arts!"

  Du He was shocked and stunned, hurriedly thinking of helping him up, but found himself unable to lift him. Fang Yi'ai looked frail, but his body had a terrifying strength.

  "Get up and talk, if you don't get up, I'll leave!" Du He semi-forcedly threatened.

  The house was left with only love, and he stood up, let out a long sigh and said: "Big brother, you also know that I'm not cut out for studying literature. Actually, since I was young, I've liked practicing martial arts, yearning to become a general like Wu Zong, Bao Gong, Kui Gong, Jiang Gong, and Yi Gong, going into battle, killing enemies, and bringing glory to the country. But from young to old, father has been forcing me to study literature, making me learn this and that, but I just can't seem to get it in. Big brother, you must be quite skilled in martial arts since you can defeat Luo Tong. Teach me, let me learn too." His eyes rarely showed a pleading expression.

  Fang Yi's usual carefree and nonchalant demeanor hid a profound depth of thought that no one could have anticipated.

  "Have you told your father about this?" Du He also wanted to help him, but Fang Yi thought he was learning the art of killing enemies on the battlefield, while what he knew was a martial art that wasn't suitable for the battlefield.

  The art of killing is simple, born only to kill the enemy. Those with exceptional talent need only practice for a year or two to become a fierce general. However, his martial skills are complex and varied, focusing on internal cultivation. If you want to achieve something, it's impossible without decades of hard work.

  Du He had experience from his past life, so he was able to practice with twice the efficiency. But if he were to pass it on to Fang Yi Ai, how could Fang Yi Ai possibly be like him, effortlessly facing any sudden dangers?

  You should know that internal skill exercises are dangerous, and Fang Yi's loving heart is arrogant, fundamentally unsuitable for learning.

  "No!" Fang Yi Ai let out a long sigh, shaking his head vigorously: "How dare I! You don't know my old man's temper, at home he's like a tyrant, except for Mother, no one can control him. If he finds out that I'm not willing to study literature, he'll surely beat me to death."

  "Then go tell your mother!" Du He said casually.

  "It's no use saying it. My mother listens to me in everything, but only this matter is not listened to, she is afraid that I will have a mishap!" Fang Yiai understood his mother's doting feelings and did not show any complaints, but had a different kind of sorrow, with words revealing her longing for martial arts.

  "You have this physique and don't use it for martial arts, it's really a waste."

  "Big brother, is this agreed upon?" Fang Yi Ai was overjoyed.

  Du He shook his head and said: "Big brother isn't deceiving you, this martial art emphasizes cleverness and temperament, with your arrogant temperament, you can't learn it."

  A face full of regret and longing.

  "Big brother can't do anything for you, the only thing he can do is encourage." Du He patted Fang Yi'ai's shoulder and said seriously: "Bravely go tell your father about your own thoughts, maybe your father will be very angry, maybe your father will beat you up. But at least you expressed your own wishes, no longer muddle through life."

  Fang Yi's heart skipped a beat, but Fang Xuanling's lingering aura made him reveal a hint of fear: "Or, big brother can accompany me together!"

  "If I can, I will not hesitate! However, if I go, it would only make you appear insincere and your father look down on you. This matter concerns a lifetime, so you must resolve it yourself." Du He had already formed a brotherly bond with Fang Yu Ai, and as a brother, he did not want to see the same cowardly Fang Yu Ai from history reappear. Rarely hearing Fang Yu Ai's heartfelt words, he was determined to encourage him to muster up his courage and overcome this hurdle. Otherwise, he would forever live under the shadow of Fang Xuanling and become a pathetic cuckold."

  Du He shouted: "You worship E Gong, Bao Gong, Kui Gong, Jiang Gong, and Yi Gong, but do you know that they are all fearless warriors who are not afraid of death? You want to be like them, going into battle and killing the enemy, and you must also be able to face life and death calmly. If you're not even afraid of death, what's there to fear about your father? Can he eat you up?"

  Fang Yi Ai suddenly woke up with a start and burst out laughing, "Big brother is right, after all, it's just a matter of kneeling or prostrating oneself, what's there to fear?"

  The house revealed a majestic and somewhat tragic appearance of a heroic figure that would never return.

  "Do you need to be so dramatic?!"

  Help people to the end, send Buddha to the West.

  Being able to make friends with Du He is also a blessing from Fang Yi's love.

  After school, Du He didn't go home directly but instead went to the house of Yu Ai alone and wandered around near the Xuanwu Gate.

  Because the Hongwen Temple is located in the imperial palace, Du He enters and exits the imperial palace every day, carrying an entry permit to prove his identity. On the grounds of waiting for his father, the guardian general at the Xuanwu Gate did not make things difficult for him, but only asked him not to act rashly.

  After waiting for about half a time, Du He saw his father Du Ruhui walking and chatting with someone in the distance, looking very happy.

  The only person in this world who can have such an unrestrained and casual conversation with Du Ruhui is Fang Xuanling.

  They walked out of the Xuanwu Gate, and Du He came up to greet them: "This must be Uncle Fang, nephew Du He pays his respects!"

  That man was Fang Xuanling.

  Fang Xuanling stretched out his hands and helped Du He up with a smile.

  Those hands, although strong and robust, were also white and tender, with smooth palms and slender fingers. The first joints of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger on his right hand each had a hard callus, clearly caused by writing at a desk.

  The master of the hand, although having a certain age, still has a clear and bright appearance, with a robust figure, three long whiskers under his chin, a simple hat and clothes, a plain dress. It's hard to imagine that such a person would be the famous Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty.

  At the time when Du He was sizing up Fang Xuanling, Fang Xuanling was also sizing up Du He.

  "Ke Ming, this child has a divine look in his eyes and an air of grandeur. He is definitely not an ordinary person!" Fang Xuanling stroked his beard in admiration. People living in their era were all mature and refined, each with their own way of judging character.

  Du Ruhui hummed lightly and said: "This kid is still far from it!" Although he said so, his tone still revealed a hint of satisfaction.

  Du Ruhui paused for a moment and said: "Second Brother, is there something important that you want to see me about?"

  Du He looked at Fang Xuanling and said: "My purpose is to find Uncle Fang, I have a few questions to ask him."

  Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were shocked.

  Du He smiled and said, "Nephew knows that Uncle Fang was born into a scholarly family, has read extensively since childhood, and learned the ways of governing the world from books. That's why he has achieved what he has today. But if Uncle Fang were born into a military family and forced by his father to practice martial arts day and night, would he have achieved what he has today?"

  "Second Brother?" Du Ruhui was perplexed.

  Fang Xuanling is also puzzled, what kind of problem is this?

  But Du He didn't seem to be joking, Fang Xuanling hesitated for a moment before answering: "I don't know!"

  "But if Uncle Fang gives up his studies and takes up arms, can he become a famous general like Ehuo Gong Wei Zhengde, Baogong Duan Zhiyuan, or Yigong Qin Qiong?" Du He asked again.

  "Impossible!" A man should know himself, and Fang Xuanling was no exception. How could he not know that he had no talent for martial arts?

  "Finally, if Ban Chao had not put down his pen and taken up arms to achieve a lifetime of great fame, but instead continued to study literature, would he have achieved such greatness in history?"

  "It's hard to say, but the possibility is not great!" House Xuanling did not understand at all why Du He asked the question, but still answered according to his own true thoughts.

  Du He smiled slightly: "Nephew has finished asking, as for why he asked this question, House Uncle will know when he returns to the mansion."