Chapters
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Though the county yamen had already set up a table at the entrance, with constables energetically hawking to the crowd, this was the first time people had seen anything like it. The curious onlookers simply watched from a distance—no one dared step forward to file a complaint. Just then, two sturdy-looking men pushed their way through the crowd. One of them had the other by the collar, shouting angrily, “You owe me money, don’t pay it back, and you dare hit me? I’m dragging you straight to…
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The next morning, Li Nuo ate breakfast alone. His wife had taken Song Muer home the night before and, as usual, hadn’t returned. Li Nuo was used to this by now. His father had already gone out early that morning. Although today was officially a rest day, the Court of Judicial Review, as the highest judicial institution in the empire, had to re-examine all criminal cases above minor offenses from every prefecture and county in the country. Its officials were much busier than those in other…
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At Chang’an County Office. It wasn’t even time to clock out yet, and Li Nuo had already finished all the day’s cases. Handling court cases had been his specialty in his past life, and now, as he grew more familiar with the Great Xia Code, his efficiency only improved—allowing him to complete the workload ahead of schedule. Today’s gains weren’t bad. Though the cases were still trivial domestic matters, the legal code had surprisingly rewarded him with two extra days of lifespan. He’d…
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At the break of dawn, Li Nuo got up early, stretching comfortably in bed. The past few days had been especially fulfilling, which made even his sleep extra restful. He woke up full of energy. The only downside was that his already limited lifespan had ticked down by another day. After hastily eating breakfast, he headed straight to the Chang’an County Office with Steward Wu in tow. Not long after, County Magistrate Pei Zhe stumbled out from the rear hall yawning, greeting Li Nuo with a tired…
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In Great Xia, government offices closed quite early. The county office in Chang’an, for example, shut down around four in the afternoon. It was so early that Li Nuo still hadn’t gotten used to it. Back in his previous life, he worked more than twelve hours a day. Working weekends was the norm, and even in his dreams, he never dared imagine getting off at four o’clock. After returning from the county office, he read some Legalist classics and helped Muer with her homework. Before long, it was…
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Li Nuo’s explanation was… unexpectedly convincing. Song Jiaren didn’t know how to respond. He really was like a child—simple and straightforward. As she looked at him, something dawned on her, and she asked, “You remember things from before?” Li Nuo paused for a moment, then replied, “Just that one.” Song Jiaren said nothing more. Sometimes he was overly clever, and other times he acted like a child. No wonder Muer liked him so much—two kids playing together made perfect…
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The imperial palace. As the morning court session ended, countless officials streamed out of the great hall in succession. Although His Majesty hadn’t personally attended court in over a decade, the meetings on the first and fifteenth of every month still followed tradition. A prince would preside over them, and all officials of fifth rank and above in Chang’an were required to attend for the discussion and resolution of major state affairs. Today’s morning court had been routine as usual,…
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After the banquet ended, Song Jiaren led Li Nuo to a room in the Song estate. In the Great Xia Dynasty, there was a nightly curfew, though it started a bit later—around ten in the evening. After that time, without a legitimate reason, no one was allowed to loiter on the streets. Violating the curfew could result in a beating if caught by patrolling guards—or worse, imprisonment. Though it wasn’t quite curfew yet, some guests lived far away, and others were too drunk to leave. As a result,…
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Li Nuo’s gaze sharpened. The gift his wife had prepared was supposed to be a pair of jade ruyi scepters. Now, it had been replaced with two slabs of stone. Someone had swapped their birthday gift! His first reaction was to glance at the maid who had stepped back. Her expression seemed completely normal—it probably wasn’t her. As a servant of the Song family, she wouldn’t have dared to pull something like this. But the real issue right now wasn’t who did it. At this very moment,…
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Song Estate. Rear Courtyard. Inside a quiet room, Li Nuo stood before a mirror, doing the hair of a delicate, porcelain-like little girl. Her rosy cheeks were still stained with tears, and she sniffled softly from time to time. Beside him stood another girl who looked exactly the same, arms crossed and lips pouting in displeasure. By now, Li Nuo had learned that the two girls beside him were Song Ning’er and Song Mu’er, twin sisters and daughters of Song Jiaren’s fourth uncle. It all…
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