Chang'an County Government.
Li Nuo looked at the two lines of text in the Law Code, his heart pounding with excitement.
"Name: Li Nuo."
"Lifespan: Twenty-six days."
This morning, he only had ten days left to live, but now it had increased to nearly a month.
Of these, six days were due to Cui Ze's three-year imprisonment and exile three thousand li, and the lack of caning had no effect on the increase or decrease of lifespan. As for the death sentence of the woman who killed her husband, it added a full ten days to Li Nuo's life, which was the most significant increase he had seen so far.
Daxia's penalties were divided into five levels: flogging, caning, imprisonment, exile, and death.
So far, based on Li Nuo's experimentation, only sentences of imprisonment and higher could increase his lifespan. The maximum term of Daxia's imprisonment was three years, exile was three thousand li, so imprisonment and exile could add up to three days of lifespan at most, while the death penalty added ten days.
By this calculation, it actually made more sense to sentence someone to life imprisonment or exile of ten thousand li. But since prisoners need to be fed, keeping them for too long would be a waste of food. The maximum term of Daxia's imprisonment, therefore, was three years. If a three-year imprisonment wasn't enough, they would add exile. If even that was insufficient, it was better to simply behead the criminal.
As for why exile was only up to three thousand li, it was because anything beyond that was no longer under Daxia's jurisdiction.
Pei Zhe had been standing by Li Nuo's side, watching him write one verdict after another, each with different penalties. Although he did not understand why Li Nuo was doing this, it was not the only thing about him that Pei Zhe couldn't fathom.
No wonder his handwriting was so good with such a love for writing.
It was strange, though, that he wrote so well and yet did not know many characters—an oddity indeed that normal people found quite hard to comprehend.
Writing with a brush was truly a tiring task. Li Nuo set down his pen, about to rub his sore wrist, when suddenly a harmonious melody reached his ears.
The music was flowing and mournful; it was unclear what instrument was being played. At the climax of the performance, the music abruptly ceased, leaving the listener hanging. Li Nuo walked to the door and glanced around, Pei Zhe inquired, "Young Master, what are you looking for?"
Li Nuo said with confusion, "Didn't you hear someone playing the qin just now?"
Pei Zhe smiled and said, "Of course I heard it. The person was playing one of the 'Six Musics,' 'Cloud Gate,' specifically from the ninth chapter, seventh section of 'Cloud Gate,' played with the Confucian's Vast True Qi. The sound is extremely penetrating; sometimes it seems to be right by your ear, but actually it's miles away. However, the music sounded a bit unfamiliar; I'm not sure which Confucian disciple of the Initial Realm is practising the Six Musics, preparing for the Imperial Examination. It's not allowed to play True Qi music within Chang'an City, he must have been careless..."
Li Nuo was slightly surprised, "Lord Pei is also versed in music theory?"
Pei Zhe stroked his beard with a bit of pride, "This official is also a Confucian disciple. Since childhood, I studied the Six Arts, and have some understanding of music theory."
In fact, "some understanding" was just his modest way of speaking. The Imperial Examination tested on the 'Six Arts.' Not all Confucian disciples excelled in music theory, but those Confucian disciples who were named on the gold list in the Imperial Examination would certainly be proficient in all Six Arts including rituals, music, archery, chariot racing, writing, and arithmetic, without exception.
Back then, the Imperial Examination had even more fierce competition than now, with candidates easily numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Yet, only a few dozen could become Advanced Scholars and secure an official position. Among tens of thousands, only one was chosen—a genuine selection of one in ten thousand. Any of these individuals could not master every single one of the Six Arts to the pinnacle, but they definitely didn't have any significant shortcomings.
But after the Imperial Examination, such knowledge was seldom used, and with lack of practice, it would gradually fade away.
Speaking of the Chang'an County Magistrate, the first impression that came to Li Nuo's mind was that of a rather feeble and unreliable image.
Call him unreliable, but he had a masterful command of the 'Daxia Law,' flipping to the exact legal provisions effortlessly. Hearing just a piece of music, he knew the chapter and section of the tune and could guess the musician's identity and realm, even what they were about to do, impressing Li Nuo.
Li Nuo remembered Housekeeper Wu once said, "The way of Confucianism is about cultivating oneself, ordering the household, governing the country, and pacifying the world, which nurtures Vast Qi, fearless against all methods." But Li Nuo had not yet witnessed it, so he asked the Chang'an County Magistrate, "May I know which realm Lord Pei's cultivation of Vast True Qi has reached?"
Confucian disciples cultivate the Six Arts, and their abilities are related to the Six Arts.
The first three realms are still in the stage of cultivating Qi and have no offensive power, but their defense is not weak. With Vast True Qi protecting the body, one is immune to the powers of the Hundred Schools.
Upon reaching the Fourth Realm, one could undergo a qualitative change, condensing Vast Righteous Qi into clouds and soaring through the sky, corresponding to "Object Manipulation" of the Six Arts.
Upon reaching the Fifth Realm, one could comprehend the Vast Sound and use ordinary musical instruments to inflict widespread damage on groups, corresponding to "Music" of the Six Arts.
And in the Sixth Realm, one became a Confucian Semi-Saint, capable of forming ethereal arrows of righteous qi, corresponding to "Archery" of the Six Arts. Even warriors of the Sixth Realm had to retreat at its sight.
It was said that the Confucian's clouds of righteous qi could facilitate sustained flight for long durations, covering thousands of miles in a day, something even warriors of the Object Manipulation Realm could not accomplish. They could at most fly for a quarter of an hour before their True Qi was completely depleted.
Hearing Li Nuo's words, Pei Zhe was taken aback, then silently bowed his head.
Li Nuo looked at him and said, "Don't be stingy, Lord Pei. I just want to see for myself. You've been cultivating for so long; surely you have reached the Fourth Realm of Confucianism by now. Condense a cloud of righteous qi for me to see..."
...
Moments later, at the entrance of the Chang'an County Government Office.
Before boarding the carriage, Housekeeper Wu softly coughed to remind Li Nuo, "Young Master, in the future, it's best not to ask Confucians to what extent they have cultivated their Vast True Qi. It's very impolite..."
Li Nuo was puzzled, "Why?"
Housekeeper Wu explained with resignation, "The path of Confucianism, to 'cultivate oneself, manage the household, govern the nation, and bring peace to the world'—these nine words are easy to say, but incredibly difficult to practice. Youngsters, fresh and carefree like newborn calves, can naturally nurture Vast Righteous Qi with their sense of justice. But once they start serving as government officials, it's rare for anyone to maintain their original intentions after a long time. Without their original intentions, it's hard to make any progress in Vast True Qi, and it could even regress. Some officials, after a lengthy career, can't even gather a trace of Vast Righteous Qi..."
...
It turned out that in this world, both Confucian and Legalism cultivators were bound by certain intangible constraints.
Legalism was objectively hindered from cultivating, as its practitioners would offend many nobles and encounter external obstacles.
Confucianism was subjectively difficult to cultivate. Maintaining one's original intentions for a while was easy, but keeping them for a lifetime, especially after entering officialdom and facing various temptations, was difficult. How many could maintain a pure heart?
Cultivating oneself, managing the household, governing the nation, and bringing peace to the world—these lofty ideals of Confucian Disciples sounded grand, but the reality was harsh. Those who recited these words daily, once they entered officialdom and became beneficiaries of the system, found it very hard to return to their initial state.
Reflecting on cultivation, this meant stagnation or even a substantial regression.
While other schools were becoming stronger with cultivation, Confucianism seemed to become weaker.
However, as an entry point into officialdom, despite becoming weaker with cultivation, countless people still eagerly pursued it.
Housekeeper Wu sighed and said, "Reaching the Fifth Realm in Martial Path is not unusual, but cultivating Vast True Qi to the Fifth Realm could turn one into a Great Scholar, revered by thousands. Sadly, such people are few throughout Daxia, not to mention how scarce those in the Fourth Realm are..."
Li Nuo thought to himself that although Confucianism and Legalism were considered powerful among the Hundred Schools, their cultivation conditions were so harsh. Compared to the Martial Path, there was little competitiveness. How could they not decline?
No wonder the Chang'an County Magistrate had not answered his question and seemed rather downcast afterward.
Recalling something, he suddenly asked, "Isn't my father also a cultivator of Confucianism? Which realm has he cultivated to?"
Housekeeper Wu smiled without directly answering, merely saying, "This question, even this Old Servant does not know. Young Master, you'll have to ask your Lord Father yourself..."
Li Nuo shook his head; to be honest, he was not very familiar with that respectable father of his. Even if he saw him, he wouldn't be able to ask such questions.
As Li Nuo's carriage was slowly heading towards Li Mansion.
At the Chang'an County Government Office.
Having just seen Li Nuo off, Pei Zhe had not had a chance to relax when the prison chief hastily ran over, his face full of panic, whispering in his ear: "Lord, it's bad news, Zhang Xiaoyun has committed suicide in jail!"