Opening the Doors to Handle Cases

The next morning, Li Nuo ate breakfast alone.

His wife had escorted Song Mu'er home the previous night and hadn't returned, a situation Li Nuo was long accustomed to. His father had left early that morning. Although it was a holiday, the Court of Judicial Review, as the highest judicial body, had to review all cases of Imprisonment or above from across the country. Officials at the Court of Judicial Review were busier than those in other departments.

Working overtime even on holidays, the father and son shared a surprising level of understanding on this matter.

After breakfast, Steward Wu escorted him to the Chang'an County Office.

On the way to the County Office, Li Nuo suddenly remembered something and asked, "It was Old Madam Song's sixtieth birthday, why didn't my father go?"

He had heard from Steward Wu that his father and his wife's father were close friends, which was why he and his wife were betrothed before birth. Now that the two families were even closer, as close friends and in-laws, even distant relatives of the Song Family had attended Old Madam Song's birthday banquet. It seemed inappropriate for him not to be there.

Li Nuo had been curious about this matter that night.

Steward Wu coughed lightly, "Uh, well..."

Of course, he couldn't tell the Young Master that just his father's name struck fear into the hearts of countless officials in Chang'an. If he had personally attended Old Madam Song's birthday banquet, it wouldn't have been a surprise for the Song Family, but a fright.

He chuckled dryly and said, "Perhaps it's because the Master is busy with official duties. Young Master, you know that the Master is the Minister of Justice and also in charge of the Mingjing Division, which oversees all officials. He holds a high position and handles many official matters every day, sometimes he really can't find the time..."

Li Nuo didn't think much of it; such things were understandable.

In later generations, it was common to miss even the last moments with one's parents due to work, often seen in the news, so he was used to it.

However, in Great Xia, this was not something to be praised.

Ancient people placed great importance on filial piety. Even the most significant matters could not compare to seeing one's parents off in their final moments. If an official committed such a transgression, their career would essentially be over. Old Madam Song was not his grandmother, so his father's absence was merely a breach of Propriety, not something with severe consequences.

Thinking of another matter, he added, "That night, I also didn't see my mother-in-law..."

On the night of the banquet, among Old Madam Song's children, only his father-in-law was present alone. Li Nuo had initially wanted to ask his wife, but then decided against it, thinking it might touch upon some sad memories and cause her to get angry and hit him.

Steward Wu smiled and said, "Young Master, you may not know, but Lord Song and Madam Song parted ways more than ten years ago. After that, Madam Song left Chang'an..."

Li Nuo had thought his mother-in-law had passed away, but he hadn't expected they had simply divorced due to a breakdown in their relationship.

More than ten years ago... His wife was only eighteen this year. This meant that, like him, she had grown up with almost no maternal love?

No wonder his wife didn't have any feminine charm...

But he couldn't blame her. Lacking maternal love since childhood, and her father seeming to be the traditional stern father who wasn't good at interacting with his children... Thinking of this, Li Nuo couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

Li Nuo's own background was more tragic than hers, but at least he had had a very happy childhood.

He chatted with Steward Wu the entire way, mainly asking about his own situation. Besides matters concerning the Song Family, Li Nuo also learned from Steward Wu that the old Li family line consisted only of him and his father. His father had no relatives, and his mother's side seemed to have died out...

Steward Wu sighed with emotion, "After Madam passed away, the Master never remarried. The Li Family will depend on the Young Master to continue the line in the future, but with the Young Master and the Young Madam in their current state, alas..."

He had watched both the Master and the Young Master grow up.

He had long considered himself part of the Li Family. The Young Master and the Young Madam had the title of husband and wife, but not the reality of it. He saw it and worried about it.

Li Nuo did not respond to Steward Wu's words.

Having children required an emotional foundation, and he and his wife were not yet that familiar with each other...

Soon, they arrived at the Chang'an County Office.

Although it was a holiday, the runners who stayed behind to work overtime at the County Office were all full of energy. Working for one day meant half a month's salary, which would make them willing to work for a whole year without rest.

But that was impossible. The County Magistrate had said that such good things would be done on rotation. Next time, a different group of people would be assigned. Everyone expressed their support for Lord Pei's fair arrangement and were willing to give half of their extra salary to Lord Pei.

As for those who were unwilling, Lord Pei had kindly arranged for them to go home and rest.

Before noon, Li Nuo had finished handling all the cases.

There were no serious or major cases today either. Seven minor cases only increased his Lifespan by one day.

After dealing with the last case, an assault and battery, Li Nuo looked at the Magistrate of Chang'an again and asked, "Are these the only minor cases today?"

Pei Zhe was somewhat helpless. "The backlog of cases in the County Office has all been handled by the Young Master. If no one reports a case, there probably won't be any cases to hear for the next few days."

The common people generally held a sense of fear towards the government.

Unless they suffered a grave injustice and had no choice but to seek help from the authorities, most people were unwilling to step foot inside the County Office.

Li Nuo frowned slightly. It was one thing to have no cases to hear today, but to have none for the next few days? His Lifespan was dwindling day by day; would he just sit back and wait to die?

No, no, he had to do something.

After a moment of thought, an idea popped into his mind.

A quarter of an hour later.

On the streets of Chang'an, pedestrians passing by the County Office noticed something strange.

Two constables from the County Office carried a long table out of the yamen and placed it at the entrance. Writing materials were laid out on the table, and a person who looked like a scribe sat properly behind the long table.

Seeing this, many passersby slowed their steps, wondering what the officials were up to.

Someone asked doubtfully, "Isn't today a holiday? The yamen gate is usually closed on holidays. What's going on today?"

As everyone was wondering, a runner walked out of the County Office.

The runner walked onto the street, and the crowd parted. He cleared his throat and shouted loudly, "Look, look! Don't miss out! The Magistrate is publicly hearing cases today! The County Office scribe will write petitions for free, for one day only! An opportunity not to be missed, it won't come again! If you have grievances, come forward; if not, come and show your support..."

The runner's face turned red from shouting, and the onlookers were stunned.

Some people, having lived their entire lives, were seeing such a scene for the first time.

The Government Office, in their minds, should have been a solemn place. How had it turned into something like a brothel trying to attract customers or a market stall hawking its wares?

They even looked up at the plaque above the County Office entrance. Is this really the Chang'an County Office?

Outside the County Office, several constables were enthusiastically calling out.

Inside the County Office, Li Nuo stood behind the door, observing the situation outside.

In his previous life, when he first started working, the court had organized grassroots outreach activities, setting up mobile courts in villages and towns. While educating the public on the law, these initiatives also helped people resolve legal issues, earning widespread praise from the local populace.

However, the enthusiasm of the people of Great Xia for this matter didn't seem to be as high.

Could it be that under the Emperor's gaze, the seas are calm, the rivers are peaceful, the nation is prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, with no grievances to be heard?

Beside Li Nuo, the Magistrate of Chang'an, Pei Zhe, saw this and beckoned two runners over. He said, "You two, go back and change into casual clothes, and then..."