NOVPUBHorse Field.
Zhou Yu’s clothes were already soaked with sweat.
Horse Riding was actually a very tiring subject, requiring intense concentration during the driving process, and it greatly drained both physical and mental strength.
Though he was already very tired,
he continued to practice.
Because Li Nuo was watching by the side.
If he didn’t leave, it didn’t feel right for Zhou Yu to stop.
Zhou Yu had intended to use dinner as an excuse to go home and rest.
But just after he finished a lap, he saw Li Nuo had someone bring dinner to them, not the simple meals from the Horse Field, but a lavish feast from an outside restaurant.
The dinner was extremely rich, with meat and vegetables, as well as desserts and fruits.
Before eating, Li Nuo even thoughtfully used the Medical School’s Poison Testing Needle to test the food for poison.
Zhou Yu was stunned and said, "Brother Li, this is unnecessary, who would poison me..."
Li Nuo put away the Poison Testing Needle and said, "You can’t say that for sure, you’re a strong contender for the top scholar in Horse Riding, and since the Imperial Examination only takes place every four years, who knows what vile methods those people might use to become an Advanced Scholar, it’s always good to be cautious."
Zhou Yu was his hope, naturally, Li Nuo had to be more considerate.
Zhou Yu didn’t say anything more. He felt that Brother Li was incredibly meticulous, even more thorough than his own father.
After the meal, he felt a bit of strength return and felt too embarrassed to go rest, so he gritted his teeth and, dragging his exhausted body, climbed on the carriage once again.
Now, at the Zhou Mansion.
During the evening banquet.
The Minister of Transportation glanced at a spot next to the table and asked Zhou Tao, "Where’s your brother, did he go out to mess around again? With only half a year left until the Imperial Examination, he’s still indulging so much, I think he’s planning to go gain experience in the army!"
Zhou Tao put down his chopsticks and said, "Dad, you’ve got it all wrong. When I came back, I heard from Xu Yuan and the others that my brother was practicing Horse Riding at the Horse Field all afternoon. When they left, he was still practicing..."
Hearing this, the Minister of Transportation was taken aback, the piece of food he held with his chopsticks fell to the table.
That rascal, since when did he become so diligent?
He knew better than anyone how exhausting the Horse Riding part of the Imperial Examination was. Most people would be completely drained after a few runs.
To stick with it for an entire afternoon, one must either be disinterested or extremely dedicated.
After the banquet, as the sky grew dark, Zhou Yu finally dragged his weary body back to the Zhou Family.
Horse Riding was indeed exhausting. A whole afternoon of one horse, one carriage, was more tiring than a night’s battle with several brothel ladies.
If it hadn’t been for Brother Li keeping watch, he certainly wouldn’t have been able to persevere.
He was so tired that he didn’t even want to bathe, and just as he was about to return to his room to sleep, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard.
"Stop."
The Minister of Transportation walked out of his room, said nothing but took Zhou Yu’s hand, and saw a clear bloodstain in his palm, obviously from friction with the reins.
This confirmed that Zhou Tao hadn’t lied to him; the boy really hadn’t gone out to cause trouble.
Despite using both carrot and stick, persuading and punishing, he had never seen him work this hard before. He had no idea what had spurred him to suddenly become so diligent today.
He just hoped this wasn’t a fleeting impulse. If Zhou Yu could bring back the title of top scholar in Horse Riding, he would feel like he had a successor.
He let go of Zhou Yu’s hand, his tone softening as he said, "Go take a bath, and get to bed early. Training should be balanced with rest; don’t overexert yourself..."
Although his father’s gentle tone was a bit shocking to Zhou Yu, he was too exhausted to appreciate it. While bathing, soaking in the tub, he fell into a deep sleep...
At the Song Residence.
Li Nuo had just taken a bath too.
He wasn’t tired, of course, because he had spent most of the day supervising Zhou Yu’s training.
But that didn’t mean he hadn’t done anything.
At the very least, he had leisurely familiarized himself with a few routes and even practiced his riding skills in the grass field.
Riding for a long time, his body naturally picked up some smells, and he needed to wash them off before going to bed.
Though riding skill wasn’t tested in the Imperial Examination, it was an essential life skill.
The carriage was comfortable enough for sitting, but if one needed to travel urgently, one had to ride a horse.
A Martial Artist at the Fourth Realm could burst with speed faster than horses for a short duration, but it wasn’t sustainable, True Qi stamina was limited.
Therefore, for slightly longer distances, even Martial Artists would opt for horseback.
Unless one reached the Fifth Realm, with True Qi as vast as the seas, then one could support long durations of flight.
Legalism, upon reaching the Fifth Realm and controlling the power of exile, wouldn’t have problems traveling.
Exile could not only banish others but also oneself; in an instant, one could send oneself miles away, equal to teleportation.
When Li Nuo returned to his room, his wife was reading.
She was looking at books related to the Imperial Examination.
Next to her, the book "Shuo Wen" was no longer a constant presence.
This indicated that after this period of effort, she had become familiar with enough characters.
In the long run, he believed she would be able to shed the label of being uneducated.
After a refreshing sleep, the next day Li Nuo did not head to the Horse Field.
He intended to visit the Ministry of Justice.
A week had passed, life span had not increased by a single day; instead, it dwindled every day, which would cause anyone to panic.
If this continued, it wouldn’t be good.
After all, during the spring exams, he would need to trade life span for skills, and he must accumulate more over the half year.
Otherwise, it would be awkward if he lacked enough to trade during the Imperial Examination.
Li Nuo rode to the Ministry of Justice; after Housekeeper Wu’s specialized training yesterday, today’s carriage ride was noticeably more stable.
Li Nuo jumped down from the carriage and greeted the Government Official at the entrance of the ministry.
