Chapter 3: Fallen Willow Trees in the Female Yamen

"When Weishou just learned to walk, do you remember the day you came back and said there were rats at home, and they made holes in your martial arts field?"

The Duke of Wuguo nodded in a hurry, "Yes, that's true. I had someone catch a fierce cat, but it was of no use. As soon as it was fixed, there were holes again. Ah, are you saying..."

The Duke of Wuguo looked at Min Weixiu in surprise.

Min Weixiu wished she could find a hole to hide in. She had never heard her mother mention these things before.

"It was indeed Weixiu. When children learn to walk, they usually just make a thumping sound, but she managed to make a hole with every step..."

"And on her first birthday, Master Liu gave her a gold necklace with precious pearls embedded in it. It was very luxurious. I only took my eyes off her for a moment, and all the pearls were plucked off and scattered on the ground, turning the gold necklace into a lump of gold."

Min Weixiu was amazed. It turns out that when she was young, she was like a ferocious beast. It's not easy for the people around her to have survived until now.

The Master Liu mentioned by the Princess of Lin'an is the current empress, and in the Great Chen Dynasty, the emperor is called the "official family" and the empress is called the "saint."

Liu Luan, the niece of the empress, is a popular candidate for the prince's consort.

The Duke of Wuguo scratched his head as he listened, "The more you say that, the more it itches in my heart. My daughter has great abilities. How can she be confined to the women's quarters? Even if she doesn't go to the battlefield, she can't waste her talents. Otherwise, it's a waste of talent."

"Moreover, with the Liao dogs in the north and the Xia bandits in the west, how can we say that the world is at peace?"

Min Weixiu agreed deeply.

The Duke of Wuguo's mansion may look grand, but in reality, it is full of crises. In just one year, their whole family will face earth-shattering changes.

Neither beauty nor wealth has given her a way out.

It's her physical strength that saved her younger brother's life and led to the General Min at Yanmen Pass.

Status is given by others, but true ability belongs to oneself.

Regardless of gender.

"Father, mother, follow me." Min Weixiu said, walking out with big strides, almost tripping over her skirt.

Below her small building is a small garden, now in late autumn, looking desolate with yellow grass and fallen leaves, only a few golden chrysanthemums still showing some vitality.

The Princess of Lin'an glanced at Wang Mama, who understood and led all the servants to leave the small building and disperse from a distance.

Min Weixiu pointed, "Father, see this willow tree. In spring, its catkins often make my brother cough. Let me pull it out."

The Duke of Wuguo took a look and thought, this old willow tree is so big that he can't even hug it. It's truly majestic, with deep and tangled roots. Even if the servants were to dig it out, it wouldn't be done in a short time.

He is known for his strength, but he doesn't dare to boast about such a feat. He is confident that he can uproot the willow tree!

Min Weixiu walked up to the willow tree, gently patted it, took a deep breath, squatted down, grabbed the trunk, let out a loud shout, and then exerted all her strength.

The old willow tree trembled and was pulled out of the ground, revealing its yellowish-white roots, bringing out a large clump of soil.

Min Weixiu lifted the big tree and leaned it against the wall, then patted the dirt off herself.

The Princess of Lin'an almost fainted. My child, how can you get married like this?

The Prince's consort should not even think about it. My nephew, the prince, is as fragile as a bug to you. A slap in a dream is like regicide!

The second son of the Duke of Hanguo, and the eighth son of the Duke of Zhengguo, both known for their strong and rough appearance, who knows if they can withstand...

The Princess of Lin'an was restless. For so many years, she had not seen Min Weixiu reveal her abilities. Now, it truly exceeded her imagination.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Wuguo was ecstatic, his eyes shining with joy.

Thinking that Min Weixiu was already fourteen years old and had never practiced martial arts, yet she could jump three feet high, he regretted, "I've neglected my youngest daughter!"

At this moment, while the Princess of Lin'an had not yet come to her senses, the Duke of Wuguo had already pulled Min Weixiu and was rushing to his armory.

The Duke of Wuguo's mansion is located in the northeast corner of the city of Kaifeng. From the small building, Min Weixiu can see the eaves of the palace.

The old lady Min had three sons, besides the eldest son, Min Gui, who was good at martial arts, the other two sons were both on the path of civil officials. The second son, Min Wen, passed the imperial examination in his early years and had a bright future.

The third son repeatedly failed the exams, so he asked his elder brother for help and found a position as an official.

There was also the fourth son, who was born out of wedlock and lived in a corner in the south, leading a low-key life with his family, except for the morning and evening family worship.

The Duke of Wuguo's mansion was originally formed by the merging of two mansions, the one to the east being the Princess of Lin'an's mansion, and the one to the west being the Duke of Wuguo's mansion, which was remarkably vast.

This was also a common complaint about the mansion, that it violated the rules.

Min Weixiu passed through the pavilions and arrived at the martial arts field in the front yard, where the Duke of Wuguo took her into the armory. "Weixiu, see if there's anything suitable here."

This was Min Weixiu's first time entering the armory of the Duke of Wuguo's mansion. In her previous life, she had been striving to be a lady of a noble family until the mansion faced a major change, and she had never been to such a crude place.

Later, when she went to the border, she wanted to return to the mansion, but it was no longer possible.

As Min Weixiu looked around, she saw an array of weapons, including the large golden-hilted saber and the "Moon in the Water" sword...

The first thing Min Weixiu picked up was a pair of battle-axes. The Duke of Wuguo smiled, "These were used by the founding general of Daqing, Cheng Yaojin. My daughter has good taste."

"Not fierce enough." She wanted to be a big villain, and carrying an axe just wasn't imposing enough.

Duke Wu nodded, "Then how about the Guandao? It's rumored to have been used by Guan Er, or maybe the pair of big hammers? It's said to be General Li's Tianma Meteor Hammer!"

Min Weixiu looked deeply at Duke Wu, wondering where her father had gotten so many fierce weapons.

Could it be true that he was really a corrupt official who abused his power?

Min Weixiu thought, "Father, do you have a wolf's tooth club?"

Duke Wu laughed heartily, "Like father, like daughter. Your older brother is not as strong, he's learning the spear, it takes many stabs to kill; unlike me, I use the wolf's tooth club, even if the Liao dog doesn't die, I'll still skin him alive. Come, come, what I have the most of here is the wolf's tooth club."

Min Weixiu nodded. When she left Duke Wu's mansion in her previous life, she didn't take anything except the wolf's tooth club that Duke Wu had always used. It was her most handy weapon.

Speaking of this wolf's tooth club, it was truly brutal, only a fierce person could use it, do you know why?

Because the head of the club was made of iron, and when it struck, it was like a heavy hammer. It was covered with iron nails and hooks all over, so when it struck, the enemy would be riddled with holes, it could be said that blood was always shed when the club was used, it was a deadly weapon.

Most people would shiver just holding it in their hands.

There were rumors that Duke Wu had slaughtered thousands of people on the battlefield with the wolf's tooth club, making people tremble at the mention of his name. Oh, later, these defeated small countries were all incorporated into the Great Chen, and Duke Wu, the hero, became a villain in the eyes of the literati, accused of being inhumane and ruthless.

Min Weixiu reached out and weighed the options, finally choosing the heaviest one, "Father, I'll choose this one."

Duke Wu nodded with a smile, "My child, come and spar with your father."