NOVPUBLi Nuo almost forgot.
Princess is fatter than his wife.
If she were just a little fat, it would have been okay since clothes have elasticity and room to give; a little fat or thin wouldn’t have made a difference. But the problem was that Princess was so unreasonably fat.
His wife’s clothes were all tailor-made for her, and it was truly difficult for her to fit.
The issue was, amongst the women in the Song Residence, only his wife had comparable height.
Big households, when choosing serving girls, often opt for those who are petite and delicate.
A serving girl taller than the mistress would easily overshadow her.
Gu Yanran was about 1.6 meters tall, which was considered tall among the serving girls of Li Mansion.
Whereas his wife and Princess were exceptionally tall among women, both being over 1.7 meters.
The clothes of those serving girls, even if she was willing to wear them, would turn ordinary dresses into crop tops.
Li Nuo wouldn’t mind, but she definitely would.
Apart from the serving girls, those robust women who did the heavy work were indeed tall and strong, but Princess certainly wouldn’t wear their clothes either.
In the middle of the night, where could Li Nuo find suitable clothes for her?
Out of no choice, he could only find a clean set of his own clothes.
Li Anning usually dressed in a neutral style; wearing his clothes, besides being a bit loose, looked quite pleasing to the eye.
She took so long bathing that Li Nuo estimated the curfew would soon be in place. Thus, he said, "It’s too late, why don’t you stay here for the night? Your clothes should be dry by tomorrow morning."
While Li Anning bathed, the serving girls of the Song Residence had already washed her dirty clothes.
There was a slight breeze in the evening, so hanging them overnight should suffice.
Li Anning yawned and said, "Alright, I’m quite tired too, and I have to interrogate the Liyang County Captain at the Ministry of Justice tomorrow morning."
This courtyard was normally inhabited by only Li Nuo and his wife.
He arranged a wing room for Li Anning and, after settling everything for her, returned to the room where Li Anning bathed.
Li Nuo picked up his wife’s set of clothes, intending to return to his room. After a moment’s thought, he wet them with some water.
Telling her the truth about why Li Anning didn’t wear her clothes would be too hurtful.
After doing all this, Li Nuo returned to his room and explained to Song Jiaren, who was reading a book, "The curfew is about to start. I let the Princess stay in our house for the night. She will leave tomorrow. Oh, and her bathing just now got your clothes wet, so I’ve hung them outside for you."
Song Jiaren nodded without saying anything.
But she knew everything.
Even without emanating her True Qi, her perception at the Fourth Realm of the Martial Path far exceeded that of ordinary people.
If she couldn’t hear the conversations within the same courtyard, then what was the point of her years of cultivation?
Although what that Princess said was indeed disheartening,
Seeing her intentionally wet clothes hanging in the courtyard, she felt a warmth in her heart.
Mumu was right; he was truly good to her.
Looking at the figure in front of the bed, for the first time, she felt some of her thoughts waver.
Another uneventful night passed by just like that.
The next day, after having breakfast at Song Residence, Li Nuo and Li Anning went to the Ministry of Justice together.
A local County Magistrate was usually of the Standard seventh-rank, while those in small counties, far away from Chang’an, with fewer people and smaller administrative areas, might only be Secondary seventh-rank.
Liyang County was adjacent to the capital, Chang’an. Although it had a small jurisdiction, it was classified as an Upper County, and the County Magistrate was a Standard Sixth Rank officer.
When one rises, others follow; the Liyang County Captain was two grades higher than the average, an Official Position of the Standard eighth-rank, which was the highest official the Ministry of Justice could handle.
If he were promoted half a rank higher, it would belong to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.
As a parent official, accepting bribes and valuing life as grass were not problems that could be solved simply with a fine in silver.
If it was just once or twice, and without causing irreversible consequences, perhaps a demotion or dismissal would suffice, with the worst outcome being stripped of the official title and a ban from reappointment. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝔠𝔬𝖒
However, if it was more than once and had already caused severe consequences, aside from the official title, what would be stripped off included the head.
Li Nuo had only apprehended official’s progenies, never the officials themselves.
Based on his understanding of the Law Code, even if he hadn’t acted personally, but having played a key role in this case, the Law Code would not be stingy in rewarding him.
When he just arrived at the Ministry of Justice, Li Nuo heard that after the overnight interrogation, the Liyang County Captain had confessed to many crimes.
With these charges added together, he could only hope to be a good official in his next life.
The Ministry of Justice was not like the Chang’an County Government.
This was the stronghold of Legalism, with plenty of means for case examination.
To confess to get leniency, to resist to get severity—it wasn’t just empty talk.
One night in the Ministry of Justice, and he might even remember the times he wet the bed as a child.
Shortly after arriving at the Ministry of Justice, Li Anning came in with a dossier and two official seals.
He placed the dossier and the seals on the table and said to Li Nuo, "You cracked this case, it’s your duty to stamp it."
Whoever cracked the case reaped the credit—that was the rule of the Ministry of Justice.
In principle, the Assistant Minister and Chief of Staff Lord should be using the seals on the dossier.
But with their cultivation, such a small case would be of little help to their cultivation practice.
To motivate subordinate officers, after personal review, the lords would hand over the stamping to the officer who contributed the most.
Li Nuo didn’t stand on ceremony with Li Anning.
When it concerned his own life, there was no need for courtesy.
Carefully pressing the two seals, Li Nuo glanced at the Law Code and felt a surge of joy within him.
Indeed, an officer appointed by the court was incomparable to those frivolous second generations.
