A luxurious carriage slowly meandered through the streets of Chang'an.
Li Nuo sat inside the carriage compartment, and before they reached the County Magistrate's Office, he lifted the curtain to observe everything outside.
Indeed, this place resembled ancient Huaxia, as the carriage traveled along, Li Nuo glimpsed through the window: whether it was the pedestrians' attire or the style of the buildings along the street, everything was imbued with antiquity, devoid of any traces of modern technology.
Moments later, Li Nuo let the curtain fall, returning his gaze to the inside of the carriage.
Opposite him sat a cold woman, cradling a long sword in her arms, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Li Nuo, though she said nothing.
Under her scrutinizing eyes, Li Nuo felt like he was sitting on pins and needles; danger seemed to emanate from every inch of this woman, and that kick she had delivered to Li Nuo—she had yet to apologize for it.
Fortunately, the carriage came to a gradual halt with a "hush," and Housekeeper Wu lifted the curtain and cheerfully said, "Young Master, Young Mistress, we have arrived at the County Magistrate's Office."
Li Nuo breathed a sigh of relief and was the first to leap out of the carriage.
The two Government Officials guarding the entrance to the County Magistrate's Office were idly chatting. Upon seeing a carriage adorned with three distinct cloud patterns parked at the entrance, the older constable's eyelids twitched. The three cloud patterns indicated that the carriage's owner held an Official Position of Standard Third Rank, and it was known that the Chang'an County Magistrate himself was merely a fifth-rank official.
What sort of wind was blowing today in the County Magistrate's Office, which deity had it carried in?
Not daring to show any negligence, he hurried over with a bowed back and respectfully asked, "May I know how this humble official can be of service to these distinguished guests?"
...
Chang'an County Government.
Above the public hall.
The Chang'an County Magistrate was presiding over a theft case, and just as the two suspects were stubbornly defending their contradictory statements and he was struggling to discern the truth, a constable hurriedly ran in from the outside of the hall and whispered in his ear, "My Lord, people from the Minister of Justice's residence have arrived..."
"Who came?"
Hearing the words "Minister of Justice," the Chang'an County Magistrate immediately forgot the case at hand. His muddled mind instantly cleared as he stood up blankly from his chair. He bumped his thigh against the corner of the table, yet he was completely unaware of it, his forehead breaking out into a fine sweat, his mind echoing with the words "Minister of Justice."
Then, the memories of his lifetime began to rush back with startling speed.
Except for the secret visit to the brothel a few days ago, he didn't think he had done anything wrong recently. Although the court did not promote officials visiting prostitutes, there was no explicit prohibition either. Plus, a petty matter like visiting prostitutes would not disturb the Minister of Justice...
Within a few breaths, the fine sweat on his forehead had turned into large drops of cold sweat.
The words "Minister of Justice" truly made the officials in Chang'an lose their courage. Being higher in rank by a whole four levels, the Minister of Justice was indeed the one with complete control over the lives of officials like him.
In the midst of summer, the hall felt chillingly cold.
He remembered very clearly; his predecessor, the previous Chang'an County Magistrate, had died at the hands of the Minister of Justice...
What did he come today for?
Could it be because of this morning's case? Damn it, damn it, it must be because they were dissatisfied with the judgment of that case. Now everything was ruined!
He had merely pitied the girl out of soft-heartedness, intentionally blurring her criminal charges to spare her life. Now it seemed to have brought great trouble upon himself.
Oh Confucian Saint above, all the sages manifest your spirits, losing his official cap was one thing, he could only hope that the ruthless man would show some mercy and spare him a way out...
Alas, it seemed unlikely; that ruthless man was notorious for his cruelty, leaving no survivors behind. He probably wouldn't make it out alive, and he couldn't help but wonder if his family would be spared a few lives. Hoping that, sharing the same Confucian heritage, that person would let his wife and children go...
He could no longer attend to the case before him; taking three steps for every two, he ran outside quickly, extremely nervous yet forcing out a radiant smile on his face, he said, "What an honor to have such distinguished guests. This lowly official has failed to greet you from afar, please forgive me, forgive me..."
Housekeeper Wu smiled and said, "My Lord is too polite. This is our Young Master, and this is the Young Mistress..."
Li Nuo found it difficult to adapt to the sight of the official in front of him, wearing a light crimson official robe and bowing and scraping so obsequiously to them.
For Li Nuo, a minor clerk from the future, it was unthinkable to even have the opportunity to meet an official of the Chang'an County Magistrate's status, let alone expect one to be so subordinate in front of him.
Before Li Nuo could speak, the Chang'an County Magistrate suddenly said with solemnity, "The audacious assassin, so brazen as to dare attack the Young Master. Young Master, rest assured, this official will punish them severely to give you proper redress..."
Li Nuo gestured with his hand and replied, "There's no need for that. Lord County Magistrate, simply judge according to the Law is sufficient."
The Chang'an County Magistrate, somewhat recovering from his shock, looked at Li Nuo curiously. There was a rumor that the Minister of Justice's son was a fool, but upon seeing him for the first time today, this young man appeared dignified, with a clear and penetrating gaze, not the least bit resembling a fool.
Furthermore, it seemed that he wasn't there to trouble him?
Unable to determine if there was a hidden meaning behind Li Nuo's words, the County Magistrate ventured to ask, "Young Master, how do you want the judgment to be passed, to execute immediately?"
Li Nuo was unfamiliar with the Daxia Law of this world, but under normal circumstances, the death sentence would not be so hastily delivered.
It appeared that the County Magistrate wanted to please him.
Li Nuo shook his head and said, "Just punish according to the law."
Seeing his response, the Chang'an County Magistrate thought for a moment and, attempting to gauge Li Nuo's reaction, said, "According to the 'Daxia Law,' he who strikes with weapons in a fight and does not cause injury shall receive a hundred lashes; if a weapon injury occurs, regardless of the size of the blade, whether it be of metal capable of taking a life, the sentence is imprisonment for two years... Therefore, I have sentenced her to two years of imprisonment. Is the Young Master satisfied with this judgment or not, for I can still amend it if you wish..."
Li Nuo had studied ancient laws and was familiar with the phrasing thereof; the general intent of this law was that causing an injury with a weapon, even if the victim was unharmed, warranted a hundred lashes, and no matter the size of the blade, as long as an injury was inflicted, the minimum sentence imposed was two years of imprisonment.
According to Daxia Law, the female assassin's actions fell into the latter category, which warranted a two-year prison sentence.
And in later generations, if she were to be sentenced for attempted murder, I fear her sentence would be even longer.
But these weren't the main point.
The main point was...
Two years.
The female assassin was sentenced to two years, and Li Nuo's lifespan just happened to increase by two days. Could there be a connection?
This was only Li Nuo's preliminary guess. Next, he planned to verify it.
Li Nuo thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I only suffered some superficial injuries. Two years of imprisonment, isn't that a bit heavy... Why don't we just release her?"
Housekeeper Wu had nothing to say about this, as did the aloof woman; she glanced at Li Nuo and remained silent as well.
The Chang'an County Magistrate looked at him in surprise, thinking to himself that the Minister of Justice was notoriously ruthless, well-known throughout the court. Yet, he had such a kind-hearted son. If it were any other noble's offspring, two years of imprisonment would be nothing; the female assassin would have surely faced death, and before that, unimaginable torture.
Then, he said with a smile, "Your compassion is admirable, young master. Although the Daxia Law stipulates two years of imprisonment for injuring with a blade, if the victim does not pursue the matter, she can be released without charges. I will go and make the change right away."
Matters of the Ministry of Justice's household were, of course, more important than the cases he was currently handling. The Chang'an County Magistrate had someone fetch the closed case file, found the page of the verdict, and began to rewrite it.
Li Nuo paid close attention to the numbers on the "Law Code" at all times.
When the Chang'an County Magistrate finished writing the release of the female assassin without charges, and had signed and stamped it, Li Nuo's vision blurred.
"Name: Li Nuo."
"Lifespan: Three days."
His lifespan returned to three days, and the "Law Code" could no longer be opened.
Li Nuo's chest rose and fell slightly; his breathing became a bit hurried.
Indeed, the increase in his lifespan was related to the judgment of the case!
As for the specific quantitative relationship between the two, further verification was needed.
After the Chang'an County Magistrate finished amending the verdict, just as he was about to have the female assassin brought out, Li Nuo showed a look of displeasure and said, "Forget it, releasing her is letting her off too easily. Just sentence her to one year..."
The Chang'an County Magistrate was speechless inside but still said, "As the young master wishes..."
Having said that, he took a new piece of verdict paper and continued writing.
"Name: Li Nuo."
"Lifespan: Four days."
As the female assassin's sentence became one year, Li Nuo's lifespan changed to four days.
And when she was sentenced to two years, Li Nuo's lifespan was five days.
It seemed that for each additional year she was sentenced, Li Nuo could live an extra day.
After the verdict was rewritten, the signature fixed, and the seal affixed, the Chang'an County Magistrate asked with a hopeful smile, "Is that satisfactory, young master?"
Li Nuo said, "One year, two years, it's not enough to quell the hatred in my heart. Sentence her to three years..."
The Chang'an County Magistrate took a deep breath and managed a smile, "We can do that, but according to the law, the crime of injuring someone carries a maximum sentence of two years of imprisonment. If we sentence her to three years, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice may not approve it..."
Li Nuo said, "That's fine, issue your sentence..."
Watching as the Chang'an County Magistrate changed the sentence to three years, Li Nuo discovered that his lifespan went back down to three days.
It seemed that the "Law Code" would only increase his lifespan according to the current law. The maximum sentence for the female assassin's crime was two years; any judgment that exceeded the maximum limit set by the law was invalid, and Li Nuo stood to gain nothing from it.
Next, he tried six months, one and a half years, two and a half years..., even the death penalty, and found that the death penalty and a two and a half year sentence were ineffective, one and a half years increased his lifespan by a day, half a year added nothing, it seemed that any fraction beyond a full year was discarded...
The Chang'an County Magistrate rubbed his sore wrists, maintaining a strained smile and asked Li Nuo, "Is it fine now, young master?"
With a slightly embarrassed expression, Li Nuo said, "Let's just stick to the Daxia Law, two years it is. I really have troubled Lord Pei..."
At that moment, the Chang'an County Magistrate's anger had reached a boiling point.
Change after change...
Did this playboy come to the government office to amuse himself?
After all, he was the Capital County Magistrate, a Standard Fifth Rank official. Did he really think he was afraid of the Minister of Justice?
Sadly, he was.
Very much so.
Still wearing a sunny smile, the Chang'an County Magistrate said, "It's no problem. I'll write it once more. It's not a big deal..."
[ps: New book update times are temporarily set for twice daily at twelve noon; additional chapters sponsored by alliance leaders will be posted after the book goes on sale.]