The Sage of Confucianism above, the various philosophers manifesting their spirits—losing his official hat was one thing, but he only hoped that wolf would show some mercy and spare him a way out...

Alas, that seemed unlikely. That wolf was notorious for being ruthless, never leaving even bones behind. He probably wouldn’t survive this, and he wondered if his family might be left with a few survivors. For the sake of being fellow disciples of Confucianism, he hoped that man would spare his wife and children...

He couldn’t even bother to finish reviewing the case. Taking three steps in two, he hurried outside, his heart filled with anxiety, yet he had to force an extremely radiant smile onto his face and said, “Honored guests, I apologize for not welcoming you from afar. Please forgive me, please forgive me...”

Mr. Harris smiled and said, “No need to be so formal, sir. This is our young master, and this is the young madam...”

Emily Thompson looked at the official before him, dressed in a light crimson robe, nodding and bowing with a fawning smile. He found it hard to adapt for a moment.

The magistrate of Chang’an County, in modern times, would be equivalent in rank to the head of a core district in the capital. Emily Thompson, a mere junior clerk, would never have the chance to meet an official of this level, let alone have such a leader nod and bow before him.

Before Emily Thompson could speak, the magistrate of Chang’an County solemnly said, “Those damn assassins, so audacious as to attempt to assassinate the young master. Please rest assured, I will punish them severely and give you a proper explanation...”

Emily Thompson waved his hand and said, “That’s not necessary. Magistrate, just follow the law and sentence as appropriate.”

The magistrate, having somewhat regained his composure, glanced at Emily Thompson in surprise. Rumor had it that the son of the Minister of Justice was a fool, but seeing him for the first time today, this young man was handsome and spirited, with clear and bright eyes—he didn’t look like a fool at all.

Moreover, it seemed the other party wasn’t here to cause him trouble?

He couldn’t quite figure out if there was a hidden meaning in the young man’s words, so he probed, “How would you like the sentence to be, young master? Execution on the spot?”

Emily Thompson didn’t understand the laws of this world, the Great Xia, but under normal circumstances, the death penalty wouldn’t be handed out so lightly.

This magistrate was probably trying to curry favor with him.

Emily Thompson shook his head and said, “Just sentence according to the law.”

Seeing him say this, the magistrate’s heart stirred. After thinking for a moment, he probed again, “According to the Great Xia Code, if one injures another with a weapon during a fight, even if no injury is caused, the punishment is one hundred strokes with the cane; if there is an injury, regardless of the size of the weapon, as long as it can kill, the minimum sentence is two years of penal servitude... So I sentenced her to two years. Is this punishment satisfactory to you, young master? If not, I can change it...”

Emily Thompson had studied ancient law and was very familiar with this kind of wording. The gist of this statute was: if you injure someone with a weapon, even if you don’t actually hurt the victim, you get a hundred strokes; regardless of the weapon’s size, as long as it causes a wound, the minimum sentence is two years in prison.

According to the Great Xia Code, the female assassin’s actions fell into the latter category—she should serve two years in prison.

In modern times, if judged as attempted murder, her sentence would probably be even longer.

But none of that was the main point.

The main point was...

Two years.

The female assassin was sentenced to two years, and Emily Thompson’s lifespan had just increased by two days. Was there a connection?

This was just Emily Thompson’s initial guess. Next, he planned to test it.

Emily Thompson thought for a moment, then smiled and said, “It was just a superficial wound for me. Isn’t two years a bit too harsh? How about letting her go?”

Mr. Harris said nothing to this, and the cold young woman glanced sidelong at Emily Thompson, but also remained silent.

The magistrate looked at him in surprise, thinking: the Minister of Justice is known for his ruthlessness, yet he has such a kind-hearted son? If it were any other powerful family’s child, two years would be nothing—the female assassin would surely be put to death, and not before suffering inhuman torture.

Then he smiled and said, “Young master, you are truly benevolent. Although the Great Xia Code stipulates two years of penal servitude for injuring someone with a weapon, if the victim does not press charges, she can be released without punishment. I will amend the verdict at once.”

The affairs of the Minister of Justice’s household were, of course, more important than the case he was currently handling. The magistrate had someone fetch the already closed case file, found the sentencing page, and rewrote it.

Emily Thompson kept a close eye on the numbers atop the “Code”.

When the magistrate wrote that the female assassin was acquitted and signed and stamped it, Emily Thompson’s vision blurred.

“Name: Emily Thompson.”

“Lifespan: three days.”

His lifespan reverted to three days, and the “Code” could no longer be opened.

Emily Thompson’s chest rose and fell slightly, his breathing a bit rapid.

His increase in lifespan was indeed related to the verdict of this case!

As for the exact quantitative relationship between the two, further testing was needed.

After amending the verdict, the magistrate was about to have the female assassin brought out when Emily Thompson’s face showed a hint of anger, and he said, “Forget it, letting her go is too easy. Let’s sentence her to one year instead...”

The magistrate was speechless, but still said, “As you wish, young master...”

With that, he took a new sentencing paper and continued writing.

“Name: Emily Thompson.”

“Lifespan: four days.”

When the female assassin’s sentence became one year, Emily Thompson’s lifespan became four days.

And when she was sentenced to two years, Emily Thompson’s lifespan was five days.

It seemed that for every additional year she was sentenced, Emily Thompson could live one more day.