My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 245 It's alright, I still have the Golden Gourd Hammer
With a stern face, Li Xuanba left Yang Xuangan's place, bid farewell to his classmates, and stormed back home.

When Li Xuanba returned to his residence, there was someone waiting for him at the door.

Upon seeing Li Xuanba, the man smiled and bowed in greeting.

"My lord!"

This man was considered quite old even within the Imperial Academy, much older than Li Jiancheng. He had a short beard, but his face was rather unattractive, pockmarked and uneven. He greeted Li Xuanba, who was much younger than him, with a smile.

Li Xuanba knew this person. He also hung out at the Imperial Academy. His studies were neither good nor bad. He was the kind of noble son who was waiting to graduate and take up an official position. He shared the same surname as Li Xuanba and was called Li Shanheng.

His grandfather was Li Mu, the Duke of Shen and a Grand Pillar of State. His father was Li Zhi, the former General of Chariots and Cavalry. At present, the most powerful person in their family is his uncle, Li Hun, the General of the Left Guard.

After the emperor ascended the throne, he reformed the military system of the country many times, changing the original twelve guards to sixteen guards. Each guard led forty to sixty Eagle Banners. On ordinary days, these generals had no real power and could only supervise the training of the Eagle Banners. Only when the emperor gave the order could they lead their Eagle Banners to war.

Li Xuanba was not close to Li Shanheng. This student never got close to others, was aloof, and rarely spoke. He also rarely needed Li Xuanba's help with exams.

Li Xuanba was taken aback for a moment, then politely returned the greeting.

Although he didn't know why the other party had suddenly come, Li Xuanba couldn't refuse a guest. He led the person into the courtyard. Li Shanheng walked into the courtyard and immediately saw all kinds of equipment piled up in the yard.

There were broken wooden figures, various stone locks and stone weights. Li Shanheng even saw a pair of extremely exaggerated hammers, the kind of golden melon hammers he had never seen in his life.

He quickly flattered, "I've long heard that you, my lord, are fond of martial arts, and seeing you today, it's certainly true!"

"This golden mace is amazing!"

Li Xuanba remained quite humble, welcoming the other party into the house. The two sat down, and Liu Chounu prepared some tea, placing it in front of them.

Then, the two of them just stared at each other.

Li Xuanba wasn't very good at socializing, and Li Shanheng was clearly not very good at talking either, so the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Li Shanheng cleared his throat and took the initiative to start the small talk, "Is everyone in your family alright?"

The two then engaged in an extremely awkward and embarrassing exchange of pleasantries.

After exchanging pleasantries, the atmosphere fell silent again.

"What brings you here, Mr. Li?"

Li Xuanba asked.

Seeing that the other party was so direct, Li Shanheng no longer concealed himself and replied, "My lord, I am here on my uncle's orders to make your acquaintance. My uncle is not in a position to speak directly with the Duke. There are villains who want to harm him. Knowing that you and I are in the Imperial Academy, they sent me to contact you. I would like to meet the Prince of Tang. Please help me with the introduction."

"You want to see your elder brother?"

Li Xuanba asked, "Is it about the nursery rhyme?"

Li Shanheng was somewhat surprised, "Your Excellency knows?"

"Of course I know. Among the nobility, there are not many with the surname Li. Among the civil officials, my father should be the first, and among the military generals, your uncle should be the first."

Li Shanheng gave a bitter smile. "My family's enemy has just gained power, and then this happens. My uncle is very worried about this. Earlier, the young master sent someone to visit my uncle, and my uncle wanted to meet with him, but the enemy is too powerful."

Li Xuanba didn't know who Li Shanheng's enemy was. He thought for a moment and then said, "I will go back to the manor later and tell my brother about this matter. We'll see what my brother decides. If it's really difficult to meet, I can introduce you to my elder brother."

"it is good."

Li Shanheng was also decisive. Seeing that the matter was settled, he resumed his usual aloof and indifferent expression, bowed to Li Xuanba again, and hurriedly left.

After finishing his business at the Imperial Academy, Li Xuanba led his men to prepare to leave.

When Li Xuanba led the group to the gate of the Imperial Academy, the soldiers there suddenly blocked the carriage.

Meanwhile, in the residence of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, two doctors who were quite close to Yang Xuangan were sitting beside him, and several teaching assistants were sitting in the distance. Yang Xuangan was enthusiastically discussing important matters with them. Yang Xuangan had far more friends than Li Yuan, and he associated more with scholars. Many Confucian scholars had close relationships with him.

As Yang Xuangan was speaking, he noticed Lu Shida, who hadn't said a word.

"Before I took office, His Majesty spoke of Assistant Instructor Lu. The Emperor values ​​Assistant Instructor Lu highly and instructed me to listen to his advice more often."

Yang Xuangan wasn't talking nonsense; Yang Guang had indeed said so. Yang Guang himself particularly favored Southerners, perhaps out of fear of the Northern nobles, or perhaps for some other reason. Many of the people he promoted and relied on were former Southerners. Lu Shida looked at Yang Xuangan, "If the Duke wants to hear my advice, then please forgive my rudeness first."

Yang Xuangan said earnestly, "Lord Lu, please speak frankly. I will not blame you."

“Duke! To humiliate one’s own students because of a private matter between elders is, in my private opinion, despicable and immoral. Such a person is unworthy to serve as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, in charge of the nation’s education and culture.”

Lu Shida was really impolite. He just looked at Yang Xuangan calmly and then said some extremely unpleasant things.

The two scholars were greatly alarmed, and one of them hurriedly said, "Duke, the Duke of Lu is not him."

"No problem, no problem."

Yang Xuangan waved his hand, not caring at all. He looked at Lu Shida and asked, "Lord Lu, are you referring to my reprimand of Li Xuanba just now?"

"Who is the Duke? He is a high-ranking official in the country, a pillar of the nation, and a key figure in the emperor's administration. To pick a fight with a child of ten years old and maliciously humiliate him shows no sign of a high-ranking official. It is shameful and infuriating."

"Li Xuanba, though young, is kind, knowledgeable, and studious. Everyone in the Imperial Academy loves him. I really can't understand why the Duke would humiliate such a child. It is truly despicable to me."

Those PhD students were too afraid to speak.

Yang Xuangan remained unperturbed; he even seemed to agree with Lu Shida's words, "That's probably how it is."

"However, please don't be angry, Assistant Instructor Lu, and don't say these things outside."

"I will pretend I didn't hear anything, and everyone here should refrain from discussing this matter further, and just pretend I didn't hear anything."

As Yang Xuangan spoke, he looked at Lu Shida and met his gaze deeply.

"Lord Lu, be careful what you say, be careful what you say."

Lu Shida found it somewhat amusing. Was this guy threatening him? So what if you're a Duke? Did he really think the whole world was afraid of you? But in an instant, Lu Shida sensed something was wrong, because there was no threat in Yang Xuangan's eyes when he looked at him; he seemed somewhat helpless.

What does it mean?
Could it be that he was forced to do it? Did someone order him to do it? Who the hell could order him to do that?!
Lu Shida's eyes suddenly cleared.

Yang Xuangan spoke again, "Come, everyone, let's continue our discussion of classical texts and not talk about anything else."

At the doorway, Li Xuanba's chest heaved as he looked at the soldiers before him, too angry to speak.

"My lord, please do not blame us. The Imperial Academy has its rules and regulations, and we cannot enter and leave at will. We are just following orders."

"Then why don't other people have to follow the rules?"

Why am I the only one who can't come in or out?

"Your Excellency is young and needs special care. There were thieves lurking around the gate of the Imperial Academy earlier, and they almost injured you. If Your Excellency wishes to go out, please write to the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and obtain permission before having your family come to fetch you. This will also prevent Your Excellency from being harmed by thieves."

"Alright then, please inform the chief priest, and then we will send someone to invite your father and brothers to come."

"Yes, as long as he is the Marquis's elder brother, that will suffice."

"My lord need not worry about your safety, nor theirs. There are no traitors inside or outside the Imperial Academy at present."

Li Xuanba was not good at socializing; he was not as eloquent as his second brother.

Faced with these soldiers who were deliberately picking a fight and intentionally trying to humiliate him, Li Xuanba couldn't come up with any strong words to refute them.

So he took the golden mace from his waist.

"Step aside."

"I want to go home now."

Ah, my lord.

"Bang~~~"

(End of this chapter)