Wife, Protect Me! - Chapter 25 - Li Nuo's Favoritism

Chang’an County Office
Rear Office

Only after personally watching Li Nuo eat two large bowls of dumplings, drain a bowl of dumpling soup in one go, lean back contentedly in his chair with a satisfied burp, and show no particular attention to his wife did Pei Zhe finally set his mind at ease.

It seemed that he genuinely liked dumplings.

At the same time, Pei Zhe felt somewhat puzzled. He had been eating dumplings made by his wife for nearly twenty years without ever finding them especially delicious. Could it be that other people’s dumplings simply tasted better than one’s own?

Li Nuo had only been in this world for a couple of days. He had eaten meals at his own home and attended the Song family’s banquet, yet what satisfied him the most was this simple homemade dumpling meal.

It wasn’t about the flavor, but rather an emotional connection.

Full and content, he couldn’t help but praise, “Your wife’s culinary skills are exquisite. Lord Pei, you are truly fortunate.”

Pei Zhe’s wife was an attractive middle-aged woman who appeared to be around the same age as Song Jiaren’s aunt, yet their temperaments were completely different. Lady Pei had a gentle and virtuous demeanor, perhaps due to her military family background, while Song Zhen’s aunt gave off a more straightforward and bold impression.

Praised by Li Nuo, Lady Pei smiled and said, “Young master, if you like them, you may visit often.”

Li Nuo certainly intended to frequent the county office—it was closely tied to his survival. After Lady Pei left, Li Nuo recalled something and asked, “Lord Pei, that Zheng Yuanwai’s concubine… is she still in the county jail?”

The woman had been sentenced to death and still required review by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Review, so she shouldn’t have been transferred so quickly.

Mentioning this, Pei Zhe shook his head and sighed. “Perhaps knowing she couldn’t escape death, the woman dashed herself against the prison wall and committed suicide yesterday, right after you left…”

Hearing that Zheng Yuanwai’s concubine had died, Li Nuo was stunned for quite a while.

Although he had handled many death row inmates in his previous life, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

A life that had been vibrant like a flower yesterday had withered and fallen today.

It left him feeling somewhat emotional.

One must abide by the law and discipline.

Li Nuo had originally wanted to ask whether she possessed any other special skills, but now he could only abandon the idea.

After her portrait dimmed, he probably wouldn’t reignite it. Being skilled at kicking shuttlecocks and adept at dressing up were indeed outstanding abilities, but they weren’t worth risking his life for.

However, although Zhang Xiaoyun had committed suicide, his lifespan hadn’t changed.

Thinking about it, that made sense.

After all, even if she hadn’t taken her own life, she wouldn’t have escaped legal punishment. The final outcome wouldn’t have changed. If the Law Codex had reclaimed the added lifespan because of this, he would have been utterly wronged…

After finishing the dumplings, Li Nuo took a short nap in the rear hall of the county office. Last night, the couple next door had made such a commotion that he hadn’t slept well. If he ever stayed overnight at the Song residence again, he would have to choose a room farther away from theirs.

However, yesterday had been a special circumstance—the Song residence had limited rooms available. He probably wouldn’t encounter this situation next time.

After the short nap, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.

By then, several constables had prepared the cases to be tried in the afternoon, and all parties involved were already waiting in the courtyard outside.

Before the end of the workday, Li Nuo presided over only four cases.

One marriage dispute, one inheritance case, one land property dispute, and one theft case—all minor matters that could be adjudicated according to the Law Codex without much controversy.

The petty thief, having stolen only a small amount, couldn’t be sentenced too severely.

Still, Li Nuo wasn’t entirely without gains. After concluding the final case, his remaining lifespan in the Law Codex increased by one day, returning to twenty-five days.

This indicated that extending his life didn’t require handling severe punishments alone; accumulating minor cases could also contribute.

The day hadn’t been wasted. After finishing the last case, Li Nuo turned to the Magistrate of Chang’an and asked, “Lord Pei, are serious and major cases common in the county office on ordinary days?”

Pei Zhe shook his head. “Not many. Ninety-nine percent of the cases are minor ones, just like today’s.”

As the capital of Great Xia, Chang’an naturally enjoyed the best public security under the emperor’s watch. Guards patrolled the streets day and night. If major crimes or murders occurred frequently, his position as the Magistrate of Chang’an would be untenable.

At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.

As the center of power in Great Xia, Chang’an seemed calm, yet concealed undercurrents of turmoil. How much filth and corruption lurked in the unseen shadows remained unknown.

Li Nuo glanced at the sky. At this time yesterday, Zheng Yuanwai had already confessed. A day had passed, and the special skill he had acquired from her should have expired.

He checked the Law Codex and confirmed that her portrait had indeed dimmed.

To verify his suspicion, Li Nuo asked Steward Wu to buy a shuttlecock. He tried kicking it twice—the first time, he misjudged the force and direction, sending it flying over the courtyard wall; the second time, he missed entirely.

This skill had undoubtedly come from the woman who had committed suicide out of guilt.

He even had the Magistrate of Chang’an bring the shuttlecock into the prison for the female assassin to try.

Pei Zhe had grown accustomed to Li Nuo’s peculiar behavior and didn’t bother asking any questions.

Though Gu Yanran was somewhat puzzled, since Lord Pei had shown her kindness, she complied with his request without hesitation.

While the female assassin kicked the shuttlecock, Li Nuo observed from around the corner.

She had once been the daughter of an official household, skilled in calligraphy and passable at shuttlecock kicking, but she was far inferior to Zheng Yuanwai’s concubine.

Even if her portrait were still lit, Li Nuo wouldn’t have inherited her shuttlecock-kicking ability, confirming his hypothesis.

To gain the Law Codex’s recognition, being merely “good” wasn’t enough—one had to master a skill to its peak.

And this female assassin’s shuttlecock skills were nowhere near those of Zheng Yuanwai’s concubine.

Zhang Xiaoyun’s portrait dimming wasn’t the only change in the Law Codex. Li Nuo also noticed that Cui Ze’s portrait had vanished entirely.

Li Nuo speculated that only prisoners possessing exceptional skills could have their portraits retained for an extended period. Ordinary people like Cui Ze, who were utterly useless, simply didn’t qualify to have their portraits remain in the Law Codex. After one day, the portrait would vanish on its own.

A moment later, Li Nuo stepped out of the Chang’an County Office and stretched lazily.

After all the effort today, he had gained only one extra day of lifespan.

Though just a single day, it was better than nothing.

It might seem like today made little difference, but if he could add one day to his life every day, wouldn’t that be a form of immortality, in a way?

The carriage soon arrived back at the Li residence.

As soon as Li Nuo stepped into the courtyard, he caught sight of Song Jiaren’s tall and graceful figure.

Beside her were two small figures.

The two little girls wore identical clothes, had their hair styled the same way, and wore matching accessories, yet their expressions were completely different.

The one with a floral forehead decoration and light makeup, looking as pretty as a little fairy, stood with her hands on her hips and a proud smile on her face. The girl beside her, however, was pouting, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried.

Li Nuo had already taken a step into the courtyard but immediately retreated.

He never expected Song Ning’er to chase him all the way from the Song family to here.

If it had been morning, it wouldn’t have been a problem—he could have easily given her a pretty makeup look. But now, his cosmetic skills had expired. To reactivate the ability by relighting the portrait, he would have to consume his remaining lifespan.

He had no intention of wasting his already scarce lifespan just to please a girl he barely knew.

He planned to slip away and avoid them until they left, but a sharp-eyed maid from the Song family spotted him at the gate and immediately pointed in his direction, exclaiming loudly, “The young master is back!”

Not long after.

Inside the Li residence.
In Li Nuo’s small courtyard.

A maid from the Song family looked at Li Nuo with pleading eyes and said, “Young master, please give Miss Ning’er the same makeup as Miss Mu’er. I beg you…”

But no matter how much she pleaded or how loudly Song Ning’er cried, Li Nuo remained unmoved.

Li Nuo felt helpless inside.

This wasn’t about giving Song Ning’er makeup—it was about costing him his life.

He had worked from morning till night, mediating disputes and presiding over judgments, expending who knew how much effort and energy, all to earn just one more day of life. How could he waste it so carelessly?

The harder something is to obtain, the more one cherishes it.

If anyone wanted to take his life, not even Song Ning’er—not even Song Jiaren—could make him budge.

There was no room for negotiation on this matter.

But he couldn’t explain why.

Seeing Li Nuo remain silent, the maid turned her pleading gaze to Song Jiaren.

Song Jiaren’s lips moved slightly, but she said nothing. Her intuition told her that he must have his reasons for acting this way.

Seeing that Li Nuo showed no response, Song Ning’er pouted even more, tears welling up in her eyes again.

Song Mu’er glanced at Li Nuo, then at Song Ning’er, sighed inwardly, took a handkerchief from her small bag, dampened it at the courtyard fountain, and wiped it haphazardly across her own face. Then she ran over to Song Ning’er and said, “Now we look the same…”

Song Ning’er looked at her sister’s smudged face, wiped her tears, gave a soft humph, and took the maid’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

Li Nuo could only smile wryly.

It turned out she didn’t really want a pretty makeup look—she just wanted whatever her sister had. If her sister didn’t have it, she didn’t need it either.

Fortunately, his niangzi didn’t have such a younger sister; otherwise, he would never have a peaceful day in his life.

He gently ruffled Song Mu’er’s head. An older sister was still an older sister, and Mu’er was so sensible—there was no reason not to favor her. Who wouldn’t love someone so well-behaved and understanding?

After Song Ning’er and the Song residence maids left, Song Jiaren looked at Li Nuo and asked softly, “You don’t like Ning’er?”

Li Nuo didn’t answer, but Song Mu’er beside him replied instead, “Of course not! That time when Brother Li Nuo came to our house, Ning’er refused to play with him. When Brother Li Nuo wanted to play with her rattan ball, she wouldn’t let him and even said she wouldn’t play with fools…”

Song Jiaren glanced at Li Nuo, recalling an incident.

Before the old madam’s birthday banquet, Li Nuo had visited the Song residence once. He wanted to play with Ning’er’s toy, but she refused. This upset him greatly, and he caused quite a scene at the Song residence until Mu’er finally managed to calm him down…

That incident had been laughed about by the Song residence servants for a long time.

It was also the first time Song Jiaren had met Li Nuo.

She had originally thought she would spend her life with a husband who only possessed the mentality of a child. She never expected that in just a few days, such tremendous changes would occur in him.

She looked at Li Nuo and asked, “Is it because of this?”

Of course, Li Nuo couldn’t reveal the real reason. Fortunately, Mu’er had already provided a perfect excuse for him. Li Nuo said quite naturally, “Who told her not to let me play with her rattan ball…”