My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 85 - 81: The Truth [Request for Monthly Ticket]_3

Li Anning didn't say anything; she walked out of the courtyard and got into a carriage parked at the entrance.

Although the County Magistrate's words were not very polite, they were well-intentioned, so she decided not to hold it against him.

Pei Zhe glanced at Li Nuo and casually asked, "Is this person a constable from the Ministry of Justice? Does the Ministry have female constables?"

Li Nuo nodded, "Roughly so."

Pei Zhe was taken aback, "Roughly so? If not a constable, could she be an arrest officer?"

In Daxia, women were not allowed to hold official positions, but there were no restrictions on becoming a constable. He hadn't thought any higher than that.

Li Nuo said, "Her name is Li Anning, the youngest princess of the Royal Family, cultivating at the Ministry of Justice. You've recently arrived in Chang'an, so it's normal that you don't recognize her."

County Captain Wang was walking ahead and hadn't heard County Magistrate Pei's voice for a while. Turning back, he saw him sitting on the ground. He quickly walked over and helped him up, asking with concern, "Lord Pei, Lord Pei, what happened to you..."

...

After being brought to the County Magistrate's Office, Han Zhuo woke up, but since waking up, he had been silent, refusing to say another word.

But whether he spoke or not didn't matter.

The Chang'an County Magistrate, the County Magistrate, and Princess Anning were all present; it was unlikely that they would conspire to frame a student from the academy who had no relation to them.

In the eyes of both the common people and nobles of Daxia, such a deed was something only a great villain like Li Xuanjing could commit.

Especially since Princess Anning was a strong figure in the Fourth Realm of Legalism. As a dignified princess of the nation, with no grievances nor enmities against him, she wouldn't compromise her cultivation for the sake of framing him.

Han Zhuo had indirectly caused his mother's death, an unfiliable, grievous sin, deemed unpardonable by law and deserving of execution.

Any person who incited Han's mother to commit suicide would not face such severe punishment.

Only Han Zhuo, as her son committing such a crime against human decency, could receive such a sentence. It was an outrage against both the heavens and public sentiment; only death could appease the law.

Even if there was amnesty for everyone else, there would be none for him.

Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.

After Pei Zhe finished writing the judgment for Han Zhuo, ten more days were added to Li Nuo's lifespan by the Law Code.

Though Han Zhuo was a disciple of Confucianism, he had not cultivated Vast Qi and was merely considered an ordinary person; the increase in Li Nuo's lifespan was not doubled.

Such a beast, seeking glory through matricide, could hardly cultivate Vast Qi.

Confucianism and Legalism had their similarities but also their differences.

Both schools required entering officialdom; Legalism gained cultivation through judging cases, while Confucianism involved self-cultivation and ruling the country, judging cases to correct injustices and securing the welfare of the people, also augmenting one's cultivation.

A despicable person, as long as he continuously judged cases accurately, could smoothly ascend to a high realm in Legalism; judging was merely part of the process of cultivation.

But if one's heart was corrupt, even a lifetime of judging cases could never yield even a trace of Vast Qi.

The Vast Righteous Qi of Confucianism was the best calling card of the Confucians.

Those who could not cultivate Vast Qi were not necessarily villains; they might just lack greatness, favoring personal affairs over the greater good.

But those who cultivated Vast Qi were surely benevolent officials with a vision for the greater good.

Officials possessing Vast Qi, even if they erred, were only doubted for their capability, not their intentions, for they wouldn't be able to cultivate Vast Qi otherwise.

Compared to officials, actually, more academy students managed to cultivate Vast Qi.

But cultivating Vast Qi wasn't necessarily related to their academic performance.

Mastering the Six Arts but being ruthless at heart, they naturally lacked Vast Righteous Qi.

Though performing poorly academically but with a heart for the people, could still potentially cultivate Vast Qi.

Han Zhuo clearly belonged to the former group.

County Magistrate Pei sighed deeply and said, "His mother did so much just to clear his suspicion, and yet he ended up with such a fate, how tragic, truly tragic..."

He bowed to Li Anning and said, "Princess, regarding the matter at Qingfeng Academy, the Ministry of Justice must be informed and sent there. Otherwise, if the academy stirs up trouble, this humble official cannot bear the consequences..."

The academy held a peculiar position in Chang'an; although it was filled with students and teachers who lacked official positions, even high-ranking court ministers did not wish to offend them.

Those young people, fearless as newborn calves, had clear yet foolhardy beliefs; expressing their dissatisfaction by protesting on the streets of Chang'an, no government office wanted to be blocked by them.

If the situation escalated, it was still these officials who had to deal with the fallout from the court.

Having concluded the case, Li Nuo bid County Magistrate Pei farewell and prepared to go home.

Just as he walked out of the government office, a figure followed him out. Li Anning stepped in front of him, curiously asking, "How did you tell he had something to hide? Teach me..."

Li Nuo shook his head and replied, "That, if you know, you know; if you don't, there's really no way to teach it."

Li Anning gave him a sideways glance and said with dissatisfaction, "So stingy."

Li Nuo got into his carriage and said to her, "Princess, until we meet again."

Li Anning wasn't surprised Li Nuo knew of her identity.

He was Li Xuanjing's son and could easily discover her identity.

Although she was keen to learn how he could discern a criminal at a glance, given his special status, she had no means of using any special measures.

Growing up hearing about Li Xuanjing's deeds, even she felt somewhat frightened of him.

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, she turned and reentered the County Magistrate's Office.

As Pei Zhe was checking to see if the Princess had left, he was startled upon seeing her return, immediately bowing and saying, "This humble official was not aware of your identity, Princess; please forgive my offense..."

Li Anning waved her hand, unconcerned, and said, "Arrange for some men to escort that beast to the Ministry of Justice; let the Ministry handle this case!"

The Ministry had the authority, and Pei Zhe promptly complied.

Moments later, watching a group depart, he leaned against the stone lion at the entrance of the government office and sighed deeply.

Chang'an was truly different from other places. Before, as a minor seventh-rank County Magistrate, he could decide on matters big and small. Now, despite being promoted to a Standard Fifth Rank, he often found himself at the mercy of those without any official titles.

In this world, it seemed better to be born well than to perform well...