History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 99: Arm wrestling

As he stepped out of the house, he deliberately used a lot of force, and with a loud "bang," one of the door panels was ripped off and fell to the ground.

The other side was just repaired yesterday.

The guards on duty in the courtyard hesitated. Should they go and carry the door now? Or wait until this bastard was a little further away? While the guards were pondering, Zhao Xiu walked up to one of the guards, put two fingers together, and poked the man's forehead hard. The guard had to take a step back to avoid getting his neck injured.

"Haha, I'm a very nice person, don't be afraid. Where are your officers? It's already so bright, why aren't they at the government office yet?"

The registrar appeared at the courtyard gate carrying a candle without a flame, muttering to himself as he walked, "I need to raise a chicken so it can wake me up in the middle of the night. Oh dear, what's Attendant Zhao doing standing in the courtyard?"

Zhao Xiu dared not use force against a subordinate official of the prefectural governor's office, but he could mock him with his words. He said sarcastically, "Raising chickens is good, you can play with the eggs they lay, tsk tsk tsk, I think I'm missing a dog, so it can come to my side whenever I call it, haha."

The clerk's smile turned to anger.

Zhao Xiu stopped laughing and rolled up his sleeves: "What, can't you even take a joke like this?"

The registrar turned to the guards on duty: "Can't you hear me? The servants are telling you to get out of here! Hurry, hurry, just in time, Governor Yuan is back. He's adding morning training this morning, so hurry up and head to the drill ground."

"I need to wash my face!!" Zhao Xiu shouted.

Clerk: "I'll fetch water for the servants."

"Don't think I can't tell you're being sarcastic, Clerk Gou. Not all servants are the same."

"The attendant was not only strong, but also incredibly bold; he cursed every clerk in the land with just three words."

"Fetch water!!" Zhao Xiu decided to temporarily stop arguing with this person.

The registrar threw a stone into the well: "Hit it! Listen, how loud it is."

"Hoo—" Zhao Xiu stretched his neck. Fine, you've got a sharp tongue! Just you wait, if I don't break a dozen of your soldiers' wrists today, I'm not Zhao Xiu!

In the training ground.

Since Zhao Zhi had agreed to Governor Yuan's request, she had already traveled halfway across the city to get here. The courtyard was surrounded by low trees, and in the open space between the trees and the weapon racks, there was a flat-topped stone that was about half a person's height.

Soldiers would usually stand on either side of this large rock and arm wrestle. If someone wasn't tall enough, they would stand on a stone slab.

Zhao Zhi tested the height: "It's okay."

Yuan Zhi asked, "Shall we have a competition?"

"I am strong, Governor, please put on your gloves first."

No. Yuan Zhi hid his little thought with a loud laugh: "Haha, don't underestimate me, no need! My hands are very rough."

Zhao Zhi stepped forward first and raised her arms.

Hehe—Yuan Zhi secretly raised his arm in delight.

"Ah, so loose, so loose, so loose, hiss—"

What incredible strength! It turned his hands into chicken claws.

A soldier from the prefecture came to report: "Prefect, Xue Zhixiao, the Tiger General, requests an audience."

Yuan Zhi roared, "Didn't I say that if Warrior Xue comes, please come in!"

Zhao Zhi saw Xue Zhixiao standing at the courtyard gate and thought to herself: None of them are easy to deal with. After helping him this time, I will never come again.

Xue Zhixiao strode over, clasped his hands in a salute to Governor Yuan, and then curiously glanced around at the soldiers in the training ground. Why were they all wearing dark face masks, covering half their faces?

"Is there drill today?" He gestured with his face.

“Yeah.” Yuan Zhi explained, “They’re all ceremonial soldiers; it wouldn’t look good if they got too tanned.”

Xue Zhixiao pretended not to notice the lie and said apologetically, "The governor should have heard about what happened to Attendant Zhao. I really have no authority to deal with him, so I want to finish what I need to do for the Crown Prince as soon as possible and return to Luoyang."

"If there's anything I can do to help, please feel free to speak up, Warrior Xue."

"I would like to ask the governor to help me arrest two people."

"Pingcheng people?"

“Yes, they’re both in Pingcheng County. One was a female slave in the old palace, surnamed Zhang, and has now been hired by Cui Academy. The other is the top student in the spring examination of the Book of Poetry, surnamed Wei and named Yao.” Yuan Zhi took a huge step and stopped between Xue Zhixiao and Zhao Zhi! “Excuse me, my pants are stuck in my crotch today.”

He put his right hand behind his back and waved it frantically at Zhao Zhi, trying to calm her down. Then he replied with a worried expression, "It's difficult to arrest someone for no reason. Besides, you know that the Prince of Rencheng sent an envoy to commend the promotion of the new school in Pingcheng. This female student is on the list of those who received the awards."

Xue Zhixiao quickly explained, "The governor has misunderstood. It's not a real arrest, much less imprisonment. I apologize for my misunderstanding. This matter cannot be heard by others; I must explain it in detail in private."

This step didn't go through.

Zhao Xiu has arrived.

Xue Zhixiao said with disgust, "No wonder I felt a tightness in my chest for no reason just now. He really is getting up earlier every day!"

Yuanzhi: You should feel a tightness in your chest. If you go to a quiet place, your heart will be smashed flat!
Without needing the registrar's introduction, Zhao Xiu clasped his hands in greeting to Yuan Zhi: "Prefect Yuan, I am Zhao Xiu, a servant of the Crown Prince. Prefect, you have finally returned to your office."

"What, while I was away, who bullied the servants?"

"In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince prefers me to serve him. To distinguish me from the other servants, the Crown Prince will add my surname before their names. Alternatively, the governor may call me by my given name."

"I understand. What brings you here so early, servant?"

Zhao Zhi let out a soft laugh.

Zhao Xiu, seizing the opportunity to back down, questioned, "What are you laughing at? A mere soldier from the prefecture, so utterly unruly!"

Yuan Zhi: "Those who are skilled in martial arts are often lacking in manners, and the same is true for their servants."

Zhao Xiu said, “When you were the magistrate of Luoyang, I heard that you dared to argue with the Imperial Censor over the road. His Majesty personally handled the matter and made you part ways. Today, I see that you, Governor Yuan, are indeed as upright and fearless of powerful figures as the rumors say.” He emphasized the word “powerful figures,” referring to the Crown Prince.

Zhao Zhi grew impatient and asked in a gruff voice, "Are we still going to have an arm wrestling match?"

"Oh ho?" Zhao Xiu stretched his neck and rolled up both sleeves. "I've seen people die violent deaths, but I've never seen someone so eager to die."

He stood by the rock first, raised his arm, and urged, "Come on!"

Zhao Zhi went over and raised her arm.

The two put their hands together.

One throw.

Zhao Zhisong let go: "Okay, I won."

Zhao Xiu looked at his hand, which was pressed flat on the stone platform. Wait, what just happened? He couldn't remember.

"Wait, that doesn't count! You broke it before I even started transporting the power."

"Please make sure you call me when you have time."

"You..." The word "trash" was stuck in Zhao Xiu's teeth. "Best of three rounds, I admit defeat just now. Come on!"

Zhao Zhi raised her arm.

Without pausing, she pressed down on Zhao Xiu's hand.

How short was this process? Xue Zhixiao tried to get a closer look, but his raised leg hadn't even landed yet.

What a humiliation! Zhao Xiu cried out, "One more round!"

Governor Yuan reminded him, "Isn't it supposed to be best of three rounds?"

"I'm talking about the left and right hands, you need to win two out of three rounds to win."

Zhao Zhi: "Whatever you want, come on." She raised her arm first.

Zhao Xiu's eyes darted around, and he said to Xue Zhixiao, "My hands are sweating, you can take my place this time." Anyway, he had already lost two games with his right hand.

Let's try it! Xue Zhixiao had always been dissatisfied with this lackey. All that talk about superhuman strength was just flattery and bragging on behalf of the Crown Prince!
Xue Zhixiao took his position and raised his right arm.

He had just met Zhao Zhi's cold eyes... *click*

(End of this chapter)