Chapter 1362 – Ladies’ Tea Party (Part 5)
What’s Han Yu up to right now?
He’s checking on the homework of his eldest son, Han Run, his bastard son, and his bastard daughter.
The two sons seem calm, but the bastard daughter’s face has gone completely pale from fear.
Han Yu isn’t exactly a strict father, but he’s not overly indulgent either; he’s quite the typical patriarch of a feudal family. He converses with his sons regularly, but his daughter is raised behind closed doors, hardly seen outside of formal greetings or festivals. It’s rare for him to even check on her homework directly.
Han Run is undoubtedly fine—this kid is talented, hardworking, and even Han Yu, who is usually picky, is quite satisfied with him.
But when it comes to the bastard son and daughter, it’s a whole different story. The bastard son is lazy and more interested in play than study, while the daughter stutters and can’t get a single word out during the assessment.
Seeing her father’s brows furrowed, the bastard daughter’s eyes well up with tears, her frail little body trembling slightly.
Weak, pitiful, and helpless.
Han Run says, “Father, little sister is just a bit nervous; don’t frighten her.”
Han Run doesn’t interact much with his half-siblings, and the three of them definitely don’t share a close sibling bond.
However, the relatively closed and simple environment of the academy has somewhat lessened the barriers between legitimate and illegitimate children.
Seeing his half-sister so timid and anxious in front of their father, Han Run feels a twinge of sympathy and speaks a kind word for her.
Upon hearing this, Han Yu’s expression softens a bit.
He turns to his daughter, saying, “That’s enough for today. We’ll check again tomorrow. Go and prepare well.”
The bastard daughter nods, on the verge of tears.
“Having girls study is already against the norm, and my father is even harsher on little sister—”
The questions that stumped him for years still don’t satisfy his father, let alone a half-sister who’s only been studying for a year.
They leave the main hall, with the bastard brother trailing a few steps behind Han Run, and the bastard daughter following them.
Han Run calmly says, “Half the students at the academy are girls. You should try discussing this with them.”
The bastard brother blushes.
Dare he say anything?
Dare he say that, when others might beat him up?
“Not gonna say it,” he mumbles, “the girls at the academy—are they still even girls?”
In his view, girls should be as compliant and soft-spoken as the maidservants and housemaids at home.
Who would’ve thought—
Han Run furrows his brows and says, “That incident was your fault in the first place. Luckily, Father is busy and didn’t ask too many questions; otherwise…”
The bastard brother quickly begs for mercy, saying, “Elder brother, please don’t say anything! Let’s keep our voices down; walls have ears!”
Han Run sighs. He’s referring to the incident where his half-brother didn’t know when to be serious and made crude remarks towards a female classmate, only to get grabbed by the collar and shoved against the corridor, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers. If the girl hadn’t held back, his brother’s arm could’ve been twisted or even broken.
The matter reached the Teacher’s ears, and the bastard brother got scolded by a few of them.
Making light of classmates is simply lacking in gentlemanly behavior!
The Teacher didn’t support his brother but rather punished him to clean the classroom after school for a whole month.
“Now you’re scared?” Han Run asks, “Didn’t your classmates warn you not to provoke the girls’ class?”
All the older male students know you can’t provoke any of the ladies in the girls’ class at Golden Scales Academy.
They may look completely normal on the surface, but they have incredible strength; the senior girls can easily overpower several grown men.
The sheer destructive power is truly terrifying!
Not just the other girls; Han Run has also noticed that his half-sister, who has studied at the academy for a year, possesses some abnormal strength.
He doesn’t realize that it’s due to the martial arts training the girls’ class has been learning.
The physical training taught in the girls’ class at Golden Scales Academy was derived from female military training. This training method was developed by scientists in Jiang Pengji’s world, specifically tailored for enhancing female physical capabilities. It maximizes their potential, strengthening muscles and bones, giving them a solid combat power, even if it doesn’t reach Jiang Pengji’s level.
Boosting physical strength and combat ability is a bonus; the key aspect is that it significantly optimizes the female body.
For instance, menstrual pains are alleviated, and the pain and risks of childbirth drop dramatically.
These two aspects are a true blessing for women in this era.
These are the immediate benefits. The long-term advantage is that the physical training accelerates positive genetic evolution in women.
The effects may not be obvious in one or two generations, but after ten or twenty, they become significant.
Han Yu has no idea that his seemingly delicate and quiet daughter has unknowingly been led astray.
“Sir, there’s a carriage from the Governor’s Mansion outside.”
“Could it be that the Lord is summoning me?” At the mention, Han Yu tenses, wondering what it could be about… He quickly prepares…
He barely gets his rear end warm on the seat before throwing on a thick, warm cloak.
Outside, the world is draped in white, and snowflakes drift down.
“What could the Lord be summoning me for?”
Jiang Pengji says, “This matter needs Jingrong to explain.”
Jingrong?
What kind of trouble has Yang Si added for him now?
Han Yu looks over at Yang Si, only to find him giving a look that says—don’t blame me, I’m also at a loss here.
Han Yu is engulfed in suspicious silence.
Yang Si must have caused some mischief.
Sure enough—
After understanding the situation, Han Yu truly wants to rush over and strangle Yang Si for being such a pitiful excuse for a man!
Whatever grudges you have, can’t you just save them for after the New Year?
To indulge a concubine at the expense of a wife is one thing—poor character, and some career impact.
To overstep and break the law—that’s going to end badly for everyone involved!
Jiang Pengji seems oblivious to Han Yu’s fiery glare and seriously asks, “Wenbin, how do you think this should be handled?”
Han Yu replies, “Naturally, we should dismiss and investigate.”
No matter how the blame came about, those folks can only accept their fate!
However, Jiang Pengji is not satisfied after hearing this.
“Why do these people dare to step out of line? Isn’t it because of the collapse of propriety and the lack of accountability?”
With that, Han Yu understands; the Lord wants to revise this part of the law.
No wonder they called him over.
Unfortunately, Han Yu only guesses half of it correctly.
Jiang Pengji continues, “Earlier, Jingrong also mentioned the incident involving that family in Chang’an Alley. Don’t you think the father there is at fault?”
Han Yu is about to speak when something suddenly comes to mind. He hesitates, swallowing his words and displaying a thoughtful expression.
If it’s merely about revising the laws, the Lord could send someone to inform him. There wouldn’t be a need to send a carriage to fetch him.
Unless—
The true purpose is not just about that but rather something much more urgent and complicated.
Han Yu tentatively asks, “Does the Lord mean… to find this person guilty and punish him with multiple charges?”
Convicting a father for being deaf to his son’s needs is indeed tricky, especially as there are currently no laws for that.
Jiang Pengji retorts, “Why? Do you think he shouldn’t be held accountable?”
Han Yu honestly replies, “It’s hard to conclude; it’s difficult to establish guilt.”
If a father injures his son and ends up jailed, the innocent child could also be accused of being unfilial.
Though this logic seems roundabout, that’s the way of the world.
“If I were to cause the injury of an innocent child, the child’s father would surely seek justice from me,” Jiang Pengji says without a hint of anger but rather a chilling indifference. Although this indifference isn’t directed at Han Yu, both he and Yang Si feel a chill run down their spines. Jiang Pengji continues, “Why is it, when the roles are reversed and it’s a father injuring his son, he is considered innocent?”
