Wife, Protect Me! - Chapter 4

A luxurious carriage slowly made its way through the streets of Chang’an.

Li Nuo sat inside the carriage, taking advantage of the journey before reaching the county office to lift the curtain and observe everything outside.

This was indeed a place similar to ancient China. As the carriage traveled along, Li Nuo looked through the window and saw that both the clothing of the pedestrians and the architectural style of the buildings along the street were full of ancient charm, with no traces of modern technology anywhere.

After a moment, Li Nuo lowered the curtain and turned his gaze back inside the carriage.

Across from him, a cold-faced woman held a long sword in her arms, occasionally glancing at Li Nuo but saying nothing.

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Li Nuo felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. This woman radiated danger from head to toe, and she had yet to apologize for kicking him earlier.

Fortunately, the next moment, the carriage came to a gradual stop with a “whoa.” Steward Wu lifted the carriage curtain and said with a smile, “Young Master, Young Madam, we have arrived at the county office.”

Li Nuo breathed a sigh of relief and immediately jumped out of the carriage.

Two guards stationed at the entrance of the county office were chatting idly. When they saw a carriage with three cloud patterns embroidered on its curtain stop at the gate, the older constable’s eyelids twitched. Three distinct cloud patterns indicated that the owner of this carriage held a third-rank official position. It was worth noting that the Magistrate of Chang’an was only a fifth-rank official.

What wind had blown such a high-ranking official to the county office today? Which esteemed personage had arrived?

Not daring to delay, he bent at the waist and hurried forward, asking respectfully, “Greetings, esteemed guests. How may this humble servant be of service?”
…

Chang’an County Office.
In the main hall.

The Magistrate of Chang’an was presiding over a theft case. Just as the two suspects were arguing their respective sides, making it impossible for him to discern the truth and leaving him frustrated, a constable rushed in from outside the hall and whispered in his ear, “Your Honor, someone from the Court of Revision is here…”

“Who’s here!”

Upon hearing the words “Court of Revision,” the Magistrate of Chang’an forgot he was in the middle of a trial. His drowsy mind instantly cleared, and he stood up from his chair in confusion, bumping his thigh against the corner of the table without even noticing. Fine beads of sweat immediately formed on his forehead, and the words “Minister of the Court of Revision” echoed in his mind.

Then, the memories of his entire life began to flash before his eyes.

Aside from secretly visiting a brothel a few days ago, he hadn’t done anything wrong recently. Although the court didn’t encourage officials to frequent brothels, it wasn’t explicitly forbidden either. Besides, such a minor matter shouldn’t warrant the attention of the Court of Revision…

In the span of a few breaths, the fine sweat on his forehead had turned into large, cold beads of perspiration.The title “Minister of the Court of Revision” truly struck fear into the hearts of Chang’an’s officials. Higher rank crushed those beneath, and the Minister not only outranked him by four full grades but also held genuine control over the lifelines of officials like him.

In the height of summer, the courtroom felt terrifyingly cold.
He remembered clearly—his predecessor, the former Magistrate of Chang’an, had died at the hands of the Minister of the Court of Revision…

Why was he visiting today?

Could it be because of this morning’s case? Damn it, damn it! They must be dissatisfied with the judgment in that case. Now he was done for!

He had only taken pity on the girl, softened momentarily, and deliberately obscured her charges to spare her life. Now, he had brought great trouble upon himself.

By the Confucian sages above, and all the ancient philosophers, losing his official position would be one thing—he just hoped that wolf would show mercy and spare his life…

Alas, that seemed unlikely. That wolf was notorious for devouring people without leaving even bones behind. He probably wouldn’t survive this. He wondered if any of his family members might be spared. As fellow Confucian disciples, he hoped that man would let his wife and children live…

He could no longer focus on presiding over cases. Taking three steps in two, he rushed outside, heart pounding with anxiety, yet forcing an exceedingly bright smile on his face as he said, “Your esteemed presence honors this humble official. I failed to greet you properly—please forgive my offense, forgive my offense…”

Steward Wu smiled and said, “You flatter us, Your Honor. This is our young master, and this is the young mistress…”

Li Nuo looked at the official in pale crimson robes bowing and scraping before them with obsequious smiles, feeling momentarily unaccustomed to such treatment.

The Magistrate of Chang’an—in later eras, nominally equivalent to the district chief of the capital’s core area—was someone a minor clerk like Li Nuo would never have had the chance to meet, let alone have such a high-ranking official bowing and scraping before him.

Before Li Nuo could speak, the Magistrate of Chang’an solemnly declared, “Those damned assassins, how audacious to dare attack the young master! Rest assured, young master, this official will punish them severely and give you a proper account…”

Li Nuo waved his hand and said, “That won’t be necessary. Your Honor should judge according to the law, sentencing as appropriate.”

The Magistrate of Chang’an, having slightly regained his composure, glanced at Li Nuo in surprise. Rumors said the Minister of the Court of Revision’s son was a fool, but meeting him today for the first time, this young man appeared dignified and handsome, with clear, spirited eyes—nothing like a fool at all.

Moreover, it seemed the other party wasn’t here to cause trouble for him?

Uncertain whether there was hidden meaning in Li Nuo’s words, he tentatively asked, “How would the young master prefer the sentencing? Immediate execution?”

Li Nuo didn’t understand the legal system of this world’s Great Xia, but under normal circumstances, death penalties wouldn’t be so rashly decided.
This Magistrate was probably trying to curry favor with him.

Li Nuo shook his head and said, “Just sentence according to the law.”

Hearing this, the Magistrate of Chang’an felt a stir in his heart. After a moment’s thought, he tested the waters again: “According to Great Xia Law, ‘Those who in a fight use weapons to chop or shoot at others but fail to hit shall receive one hundred cane strikes; if edged weapons cause injury—edged weapons referring to metal objects, regardless of size, capable of killing—the penalty is two years of penal servitude…’ Therefore, this official sentenced her to two years of penal serviance. Is the young master satisfied with this judgment? If not, this humble official can still change it…”

Li Nuo had studied ancient law and was very familiar with such legal phrasing. The general meaning of this statute was that injuring someone with a weapon, even if no harm was caused to the victim, warranted one hundred lashes, while any weapon causing a wound, regardless of size, carried a minimum sentence of two years imprisonment.

According to the Great Xia Law, the female assassin’s actions fell into the latter category, meaning she would serve two years in prison.

In later times, if charged with attempted murder, her sentence would likely be even longer.

But these were not the main points.

The key point was…
Two years.

The female assassin was sentenced to two years, and Li Nuo’s lifespan had just increased by two days. Could there be some connection between the two?

This was only Li Nuo’s initial speculation, and he intended to verify it next.

After thinking for a moment, Li Nuo smiled and said, “I only suffered some minor injuries. A two-year sentence seems a bit harsh… How about we just let her go?”

Steward Wu said nothing in response, and the aloof woman glanced sideways at Li Nuo but remained silent as well.

The Magistrate of Chang’an looked at him in surprise, thinking to himself that the Minister of the Court of Revision was known throughout the court for his ruthlessness, yet he had raised such a kind-hearted son. If it were any other noble’s child, a two-year sentence would be nothing—the female assassin would inevitably face death, and likely endure inhuman torture before that.

Then, he smiled and said, “Young master, you are truly benevolent. Although the Great Xia Law stipulates that injuring someone with a blade warrants a two-year sentence, if the victim does not press charges, the accused can be released without penalty. This official will make the change immediately.”

Matters of the Court of Revision were, of course, more important than the case he was currently presiding over. The Magistrate of Chang’an ordered someone to retrieve the already closed case file, found the page with the verdict, and rewrote it.

Li Nuo kept a close watch on the numbers in the Law Codex.

When the Magistrate of Chang’an wrote that the female assassin was to be released without penalty and signed and stamped the document, Li Nuo’s vision blurred.

“Name: Li Nuo.”
“Lifespan: Three days.”
His lifespan had reverted to three days, and the Law Codex could no longer be opened.

Li Nuo’s chest heaved slightly, his breathing somewhat hurried.

The increase in his lifespan was indeed related to the sentencing of this case!

As for the specific quantitative relationship between the two, further verification was needed.

After the Magistrate of Chang’an amended the verdict and was about to order the female assassin to be brought out, Li Nuo feigned anger and said, “Forget it. Letting her off is too lenient. Let’s sentence her to one year instead…”

The Magistrate of Chang’an was speechless but replied, “As you wish, young master…”

With that, he took out a new verdict paper and began writing again.

“Name: Li Nuo.”
“Lifespan: Four days.”

When the female assassin’s sentence was changed to one year, Li Nuo’s lifespan became four days.
When she had been sentenced to two years, his lifespan was five days.

It seemed that for every additional year she was sentenced, Li Nuo gained one more day of life.

After rewriting the verdict, signing, and stamping it, the Magistrate of Chang’an smiled and asked, “Young master, is this acceptable?”

Li Nuo said, “One or two years isn’t enough to satisfy my anger. Sentence her to three years…”

The Magistrate of Chang’an took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said, “Very well, but according to the law, the maximum sentence for assault is two years imprisonment. If we sentence her to three years, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Revision might not approve…”

Li Nuo replied, “It’s fine. Just sentence her as I say…”

Watching the Magistrate of Chang’an change the sentence to three years, Li Nuo noticed that his lifespan had reverted to three days.It seems the Law Codex would only grant him additional lifespan according to the current legal statutes. The female assassin’s crime, at most, warranted a two-year sentence. If the punishment exceeded the maximum penalty stipulated by law, the judgment would be invalid, and Li Nuo would gain no benefit at all.

Subsequently, he experimented with half a year, one and a half years, two and a half years… and even the death penalty. He discovered that the death penalty and the two-and-a-half-year sentence were invalid. A one-and-a-half-year sentence increased his lifespan by one day, while half a year yielded no increase. It appeared that any fractional part beyond a full year was discarded…

The Magistrate of Chang’an rubbed his sore wrist, forcing a smile as he asked Li Nuo, “Young master, is this acceptable now?”

Li Nuo replied apologetically, “Let’s just follow the Great Xia Law and sentence her to two years. I truly apologize for troubling Lord Pei so much…”

By now, the Magistrate of Chang’an’s anger had reached its peak.
Sentencing, revising, sentencing again, revising again…
Was this spoiled brat visiting the county office just to toy with him?

After all, he was the Magistrate of the capital, a fifth-rank official. Did they really think he was afraid of the Minister of the Court of Revision?
Well, actually, he was.
Extremely afraid.

The Magistrate of Chang’an maintained a bright smile and said, “It’s no trouble at all. This humble official will simply rewrite it once more. It’s hardly a bother…”