While Zhou Yu and the others were at a loss, a figure hurried into the county office. When Zhou Yu saw him, it was as if he had seen his savior. He immediately ran forward, grabbed his arm, and cried, "Father, save me!"
He knew how terrifying flogging was. After ninety strokes, even if he did not die, he would lose half his life.
The middle-aged man who had hurried into the county office glared fiercely at him but did not pay him any heed. Instead, he abruptly shook off his hand, walked up to Lieutenant Wang, and said apologetically, "Lord Wang, I'm truly sorry. I, Zhou, failed to educate my son properly and caused you trouble. Lord Wang need not take my position into consideration. Judge them as you see fit. In a while, I'll take them home and punish them severely!"
Although the Director of the Department of Chariots was a Principal Fifth Rank official, on the same level as the Magistrate of Chang'an, he was still extremely courteous when facing the seventh-rank Lieutenant Wang.
Every official in Chang'an with even the slightest channel for gathering information knew that the Magistrate of Chang'an was a man of Minister of Justice Li Xuanjing. The officials of the Chang'an County Office naturally enjoyed a corresponding rise in status, and this was not someone a mere Director of the Department of Chariots could afford to offend.
In the past, when facing a Principal Fifth Rank Director of the Department of Chariots, Lieutenant Wang would certainly have bowed and scraped, treading on eggshells.
But now, behind his back stood Minister Li. Every action of his represented not only himself but also Minister Li. He could lose his own face however he pleased, but Minister Li's dignity absolutely could not be harmed.
Putting on an imposing air, he nodded at the Director of the Department of Chariots, waved his hand, and said, "Carry out the sentence."
The young master had given him special instructions earlier, so when two constables came over carrying flogging staffs, Lieutenant Wang reminded them, "Mind the force."
Flogging was a technical skill. With the same ninety strokes, one could beat a person to death on the spot, or one could ensure the prisoner still left lively and kicking after the punishment. An experienced constable could grasp the proper degree very well.
The young master's meaning was to give these people a small lesson, and Lieutenant Wang naturally did not dare act recklessly.
These people not only all had backgrounds, they were also students of the academy. If he really beat them to death or crippled them, he could not bear the responsibility either.
The Director of the Department of Chariots had served as an official for many years and naturally knew some of the unspoken rules. Hearing the four words "mind the force," he knew this was probably not the worst possible outcome and finally relaxed. He cupped his hands toward Lieutenant Wang and said, "Thank you, Lord Wang."
Lieutenant Wang also clasped his fists. "You're too kind, too kind. Someone, bring Lord Zhou a chair..."
The Director of the Department of Chariots smiled. "Thank you..."
Seeing that his father had already made his position clear—not only refusing to save him but also sitting there chatting and laughing with the Chang'an magistrate—Zhou Yu immediately understood the gravity of the situation. He did not dare utter another word and obediently lay facedown on a long bench.
Bang!
A staff came down on his buttocks. Although Zhou Yu grimaced in pain, it was still bearable.
Smack!
At the same time, a bamboo strip landed on Song Yu's buttocks.
Song Yu's expression turned blank with astonishment. That strike felt like a tickle, without the slightest pain. Although caning was originally lighter than flogging, this was far too light. Any lighter and he would not have felt it at all.
This was definitely not normal caning.
He was an exceedingly clever man and soon understood that this was his brother-in-law giving him special consideration. Moved, he also felt even more ashamed.
Once he recovered, he began shouting loudly.
"Ah!"
"It hurts so much!"
"Go easy!"
The bamboo strip did not hurt him, yet Song Yu cried out miserably. He could not let anyone think his brother-in-law was practicing corruption and deception.
This exaggerated performance made the two constables administering the punishment shake their heads. Over there, the person receiving flogging did not make a sound, while over here, the person being tickled by caning was screaming as if he were being slaughtered. Hearing it made them want to viciously whip him with the bamboo strips in their hands.
Of course, an idea was merely an idea. They did not have the nerve to do it.
Lord Wang had said that this person was the young master's relative. They could not fail to understand such basic human relations.
The punishments on both sides proceeded at the same time and ended quickly. In a little over a quarter of an hour, everyone who had participated in the brawl had finished being punished.
For these scions of official families, the punishment had more symbolic meaning than practical effect. Those who had received caning could still grit their teeth and rub their buttocks, while those who had suffered flogging could still stand in the courtyard and howl. This was rarely seen in the past.
The Director of the Department of Chariots cupped his hands toward Lieutenant Wang and said apologetically, "I've caused Lord Wang trouble..."
Lieutenant Wang replied courteously, "Lord Zhou, you're being too serious."
"I will certainly pay you a personal visit another day to express my thanks."
"You're too kind, too kind..."
After the two of them traded polite words for a while, the Director of the Department of Chariots left with his two sons. The others also departed, each of them wailing.
This trip to the county office taught them one principle.
If they fought in the future, they had to keep the number of people below three—and never carry weapons!
If one asked what they hated most at that moment, it was not themselves for failing to listen properly in class.
What they hated most—was that fellow who sold rolling pins!
Was that man out of his mind? Did he know how to do business at all? Why sell rolling pins outside the academy?
At that moment, in the rear hall of the county office, Li Nuo had just lifted his teacup when his movement suddenly stopped.
Two lines of text were clearly floating above the Code of Law.
"Name: Li Nuo.
Lifespan: One hundred and nine days."
His lifespan had been ninety-four days earlier. The twenty scions of official families had received only the lightest caning and flogging, yet they had still added a full fifteen days to his lifespan.
He finally understood why the Legalist school liked making trouble for officials and powerful nobles.
Passing judgment on them really did twice the work with half the effort. What he gained was lifespan; for a Legalist Disciple who had already comprehended the Power of Law, what increased would instead be cultivation.
With such tremendous benefits, who would not be tempted?
It seemed that from now on, he still needed to take better care of these spoiled young masters...
This small test had also given him a deeper understanding of the Code of Law.
Perhaps the Code of Law had reduced the increase in lifespan because he had sold rolling pins, but it would not affect the judgment in the broad sense.
He had gained quite a lot today. In a joyful mood, Li Nuo walked out of the rear hall of the county office. He had just arrived in the front courtyard when a figure trotted up to him.
It was Song Yu, with whom he had previously had an unpleasant encounter.
Song Yu clasped Li Nuo's hand tightly and said apologetically, "Brother-in-law, thank you so much for today. I was in the wrong before, and I said some very excessive things to you. You're a magnanimous man who doesn't hold a grudge against a petty person. Please forgive me..."
Li Nuo was slightly taken aback.
He had sentenced Song Yu to punishment, yet Song Yu had actually turned around and thanked him?
Had this fellow been beaten stupid?
He glanced at Song Yu's buttocks, then at the constables who had administered the punishment, and realized that they must have shown some human consideration. He waved his hand at Song Yu and said, "There's no need to thank me. I was only handling the case according to the law..."
Song Yu said sincerely, "No, no, no. That fellow Zhou didn't play fair and actually brought weapons. If you hadn't arrived with your men in time, we would have suffered badly today... You knew we were going to fight here and were worried we'd be at a disadvantage, so you stationed people here in advance to ambush them, didn't you?"
"Er, well..."
"I know it. You even arranged for a Martial Dao expert to help me from the side. Otherwise, Zhou Yu's staff would have struck me right on the head!"
Song Yu looked at Li Nuo with an expression that saw through everything. "Originally, you planned to leave us alone if we didn't suffer, didn't you..."
"..."
Li Nuo finally sighed, patted Song Yu on the shoulder, and said, "I still can't hide it from you. I originally hadn't planned to intervene. Who would have thought that fellow Zhou would play so dirty? By the way, you've just received caning. How do you feel? I should have told them to go even easier on you..."
Song Yu waved his hand. "I have to thank you for telling them to hold back. They already went easy enough. The caning didn't feel like anything. It's that damned Zhou Yu who struck so hard. I took several blows across my back, and it still hurts. And that damned rolling-pin seller—if I see him again, I'll upend his stall..."
Li Nuo advised him, "There's really no need to go that far. He runs a small business, and making a living isn't easy for anyone."
Song Yu hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand magnanimously. "Since that's what my brother-in-law says, I'll let him off..."
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