I Don't Have a Friend Like You!

Li Nuo felt a sense of helplessness.

The former Magistrate of Chang'an was a crucial witness, and now that he's dead, investigating this case will be even more difficult.

Behind Li Nuo, Steward Wu looked up at the sky and sighed inwardly.

They had been out all day; when would Young Master go home? He was already hungry. The new cook at the Li Manor was truly exceptional. He had even thought about what dishes he would eat for dinner, yet here he was, waiting.

At one point, he couldn't help himself and asked softly, "Young Master, are you going to handle this case?"

Li Nuo glanced at the elderly woman, who was so grief-stricken she was almost fainting, and asked Steward Wu, "Can the Court of Judicial Review investigate this case?"

Magistrate Pei dared not investigate, and Li Nuo could understand him. Although handing it over to the Court of Judicial Review meant he wouldn't be involved, he still wanted to seek justice for this old woman, even if he gained nothing from it.

Steward Wu smiled and waved his hand, saying, "No need for such trouble..."

He beckoned to someone in the distance. A peddler carrying a shoulder pole put down his goods and trotted over, asking, "Steward Wu, what are your orders?"

Steward Wu said, "Go to the Official of the Ministry of Personnel's residence and ask him if his son raped a girl half a year ago."

The peddler asked, "And then?"

Steward Wu waved his hand, "No 'and then.' Just ask and come back."

The peddler nodded and sprinted off in a certain direction, soon disappearing from Li Nuo's sight.

Li Nuo looked at Steward Wu and asked, "That's it?"

Steward Wu smiled, "Young Master, please wait a moment."

Li Nuo didn't know what he was planning, but he still had some cases to handle today. He first invited the old woman to rest aside and continued to deal with the remaining cases, thinking to himself that if all else failed, he would find his father tonight. With the methods of the Court of Judicial Review, investigating a case shouldn't be difficult.

Pei Zhe glanced at Steward Wu and silently mourned for the Official of the Ministry of Personnel.

Life is like this.

In the eyes of some people, commoners are like ants.

But in the eyes of others, you are also an ant.

At this moment, in a grand mansion somewhere in Chang'an, a lavish family banquet was being held.

The Ministry of Personnel was responsible for the performance evaluation of over ninety percent of the Great Xia's officials. As the Official of the Ministry of Personnel, Wang Duo was extremely busy with his official duties on a daily basis. It was precisely because of this that he cherished his days off so much. Every holiday, he would put aside all his official business, burn incense, bathe, and spend time with his family...

The Wang family was prosperous, with harmonious brothers who were like one body. The only regret was that he himself had only one son.

As part of the main branch of the Wang family, he should have had more children.

However, when his wife was pregnant, she suffered a miscarriage, and after giving birth to their son, she could no longer conceive. Over the years, Wang Duo had not considered taking a concubine.

He came from a humble background. In his early years, his wife, to support his studies, even while pregnant, worked tirelessly every day, washing clothes and weaving cloth, busy from morning till night. She scrimped on food and clothing, and all the money she earned was spent on him. How could he bear to make her unhappy?

Fortunately, they had a son. Although he was spoiled by his mother since childhood, under his father's guidance, he had not degenerated like other dissolute youths. Not only had he reached the Martial Arts Second Realm at a young age, but he also applied himself to his studies. If he could pass the imperial examination in the future, as the Official of the Ministry of Personnel, he could guarantee his son a smooth career...

Even if he couldn't pass the imperial examination, with the foundation he had built, he could ensure him a lifetime of prosperity.

Halfway through the family banquet, Wang Duo glanced at the young man sitting below him and asked, "How are your studies at the academy recently?"

The young man was eating and coughed a few times upon hearing the question. "It's, it's improved compared to a few months ago."

Wang Duo nodded. "Study hard at the academy. Even if you can't master all Six Arts, you should at least excel in one, and your other five subjects shouldn't be too weak. As long as you can pass the imperial examination, even if it's just the lowest rank of Jinshi, I can ensure you rise from the ninth rank to the seventh rank within ten years..."

With his father, the Official of the Ministry of Personnel, in court, once he entered officialdom, he would soar to great heights. The young man repeatedly nodded in agreement. Just then, a Wang Family Servant hurried in and said, "Master, someone just arrived outside the manor asking if you had a question for him."

Wang Duo put down the food he had picked up and asked, "A question? What question?"

The servant glanced at the people at the family banquet, hesitating to speak.

Wang Duo looked at him and said, "There are no outsiders here. Speak your mind."

The servant hesitated for a moment and then said, "That person asked if, Master, if Young Master raped a girl half a year ago..."

The young man froze upon hearing this, then his face turned angry. "That old geezer, is he never going to stop? That was just an impulse after drinking. If it were any other time, even if her daughter stood naked in front of me, I wouldn't even glance at her..."

With his status, he lacked for nothing when it came to women. It was just that those who actively threw themselves at him were either used goods who had been with countless men or calculating women with ulterior motives who wanted to marry into a wealthy family. He didn't think much of them. That time, he had gotten drunk and wanted to try the taste of a respectable girl, not expecting it to become such a persistent problem afterward.

"You shut your mouth! You caused this mess!" Wang Duo glared at him, then looked at the Wang Family Servant and asked, "Which yamen is that person from? Chang'an County Office, or the Ministry of Punishment?"

Half a year ago, because of this matter, he had confined his son to his room and punished him by making him face the wall for three days.

Punishment was one thing, but as a father, he couldn't just stand by and watch his son's future be affected by this incident.

Even if it could be settled with a fine, leaving a criminal record would affect his future promotions if he passed the imperial examination. He was the Official of the Ministry of Personnel and knew these things best.

The only ones who could handle this matter were the Chang'an County Office and the Ministry of Punishment. The previous Magistrate of Chang'an had also approached him about this matter, assuring him face-to-face that there would be no issues. He had also spoken to the Ministry of Punishment, and for the past six months, no one had brought it up again.

Could it be the newly appointed Magistrate of Chang'an?

It seemed this new magistrate didn't understand the rules...

He thought to himself, and the servant spoke, "He said he's from the Dali Temple Minister's Mansion."

Clink!

The jade chopsticks in Wang Duo's hand suddenly fell onto the table.

Crack!

The dining hall was a mess, with bowls shattered all over the floor.

A moment later, at the Wang Family residence.

The young man's face was ashen, and he knelt on the ground, trembling. Clutching Wang Duo's leg, he stammered, "Father, you must save me!"

A richly dressed woman also grasped Wang Duo's hand, her eyes blurry with tears. She said, "Master, we only have Yue'er, our one child. You cannot abandon him. If anything happens to Yue'er, I won't live either!"

Wang Duo's complexion was equally pale, but as the head of the household, he forced himself to calm down. "You two stay here. I'll go visit a few Lords first."

A moment later, Wang Duo hurried out the back door and successively visited several prominent households nearby.

These included officials from the Ministry of Punishment and the Capital Prefecture.

Normally, they would have to bow and scrape before him, greeting him with smiles. Today, however, he had a favor to ask, so Wang Duo adopted a very humble demeanor.

"I heard magpies chirping first thing this morning. So it's a distinguished guest visiting. Lord Wang, please, take the honored seat!"

"Why has Lord Wang graced us with his presence? Quickly, quickly, go fetch my prized tea!"

The situation was urgent, so Wang Duo cut to the chase. "To be frank, my son has run into a bit of trouble..."

"Lord Wang, rest assured, your affairs are my affairs. For this year's Civil Service examination assessment, I will have to trouble Lord Wang for his consideration..."

"It's about your son's case, isn't it? A small matter, a small matter. I'll have someone inform the Chang'an County Office right away."

However, after Wang Duo explained the details, their attitudes took a sharp turn.

"What, this case has been personally flagged by the Minister of Justice?"

"Lord Wang, this official is afraid I cannot help you with this matter..."

"My Lord is ill and truly cannot receive guests."

"Lord Wang, my Lord says he is not here."

"See the guest out, see the guest out!"

Wang Duo walked through the streets in a daze. Those officials who had once bowed and scraped before him, those colleagues who had called him brother in the past, initially greeted him with smiles. But upon hearing that the case involved the Court of Judicial Review, their expressions changed. Not a single one was willing to lend a hand. Eventually, he couldn't even get through their doors.

Finally, after much hesitation, Wang Duo entered the last mansion.

He explained his purpose to the gatekeeper, and before long, a refined middle-aged man walked into the courtyard. Seeing Wang Duo's pale face and terrified expression, he asked in confusion, "Scholar Wang, what's wrong?"

Wang Duo strode forward, grabbed the man's hand, and said anxiously, "Vice Minister Chen, you must save me!"

The middle-aged man patted his hand. "Don't worry, tell me what happened slowly. We've been friends for many years. If you're in trouble, how can I stand by and do nothing?"

The next moment, after hearing Wang Duo's account of the events, the middle-aged man exclaimed in shock, "What, your son raped a commoner and Li Xuanjing's people are after him?"

Wang Duo nodded. "Lord Chen, you must save me!"

The middle-aged man's face darkened.

Save, save, save, save my ass!

Officials in Chang'an, even those who hadn't made mistakes, feared being targeted by Li Xuanjing. Not to mention someone who had committed such a grave crime.

Who was Li Xuanjing?

He was Yama himself!

Who dared to interfere in a case he was investigating?

Reach out and your hand gets chopped off; stick your head out and your head gets chopped off.

The middle-aged man unhesitatingly pushed Wang Duo's hand away and said firmly, "We've known each other for twenty years. Today, that friendship ends. From now on, I don't have a friend like you!"