It’s clear now that some things have become obvious: Emily Thompson doesn’t need to be directly involved in a case—so long as he participates in a case, he can receive a lifespan reward from the Code.

But to what extent does he need to participate? That’s still unknown.

Emily Thompson couldn’t wait to continue testing this. After all, eleven days would pass in the blink of an eye, and he had to handle more cases if he wanted to keep this hard-won second chance at life.

He looked at the Mayor Carter and asked, “Does Mr. Sullivan have any other cases here?”

Mayor Carter looked helpless. This young master had become addicted to judging cases, and he hadn’t even had lunch yet. But he didn’t dare say anything. As it happened, there were still a few unresolved cases at the yamen, so he might as well let him have his fun…

A quarter of an hour later, Emily Thompson looked disappointed.

There were indeed a few cases left at the Carter County Office, but all of them had conclusive evidence and only awaited sentencing. For these cases, even if he personally wrote the verdict, the numbers in the “Code” didn’t change at all.

He had been too optimistic. It seemed that for a case to increase his lifespan, even if he didn’t have to be at the center of it, he still needed to be sufficiently involved.

Mayor Carter, holding the verdict written out by Emily Thompson himself, exclaimed, “Young master, your ‘flower script’ small regular script is truly beautiful—there are probably few in Chang’an who can match it…”

He realized he had underestimated Emily Thompson.

Describing his “flower script” small regular script as “beautiful” was far from enough. In terms of this script, there might not be anyone in all of Chang’an who could write better. This required not only long practice, but also talent.

He had always thought the son of the Dali Temple Minister was a fool, but today he discovered that not only was he clever, he could also write with such skill.

However, this elegant and graceful “flower script” small regular script was usually learned more by women; for men, it seemed a bit effeminate. If a man wrote in this style, he might be ridiculed.

It was as if Emily Thompson had the soul of a woman skilled in calligraphy inside his body.

Not just Mayor Carter, even Emily Thompson himself could hardly believe it.

He had never learned brush calligraphy before, nor did he know what “flower script” small regular script was, but when he copied the verdict from Mayor Carter, his writing turned out so delicate and beautiful—he even tried to make it look a bit uglier on purpose…

Emily Thompson smiled and said, “Just practiced aimlessly on my own…”

A fool being able to write so beautifully was indeed odd, but since he was a soul transmigrant with no incriminating evidence on him, even that old man couldn’t keep an eye on him all the time.

Besides, even if Emily Thompson claimed he wasn’t the young master of their family, no one would believe it…

This “flower script” small regular script wasn’t important. What mattered was that he couldn’t cut corners; in these eleven days, he had to personally and deeply participate in more cases if he wanted to survive in this world.

A moment later, at the entrance of the Carter County Office, Emily Thompson waved to Mayor Carter and said, “Mr. Sullivan, if there are any cases in the next few days, be sure to have someone notify me…”

Mayor Carter smiled and said, “Absolutely, absolutely…”

…

After sending off that living Buddha, Mayor Carter sat back in his chair and rubbed his face. After smiling for so long, his face was stiff.

He really didn’t know what was wrong with this young master—he’d even gotten addicted to hearing cases.

A beautiful woman stepped out from behind the screen, stood behind him, and gently massaged his shoulders. She asked curiously, “Master, who was that just now? You were so cautious with him…”

Mayor Carter waved his hand and said, “Ah, let’s not talk about it. It was better when I was a county magistrate elsewhere—everyone had to watch my mood. Now that I’ve been transferred to Chang’an and promoted several ranks, I have to play the underling to everyone. When will these days ever end…”

The woman didn’t say anything, and Mayor Carter changed the subject, “But that Emily Thompson really made me see him in a new light. That method of questioning—even I hadn’t thought of it. No wonder he’s that man’s son. And that ‘flower script’ small regular script—there’s a hint of a true master’s style…”

The woman asked, “What method of questioning?”

A moment later, the woman exclaimed in surprise, “If it’s a made-up lie, it’s hard to recount it backwards? There’s really such a thing?”

“It’s normal for you women not to understand these things. Let me explain,” Mayor Carter said proudly. “If it’s something you’ve really done, even if you recall it backwards, you generally won’t make mistakes. But if it’s a lie you made up on the spot, it’s very hard to recount it in reverse order…”

The beautiful woman thought for a moment and asked, “A few days ago, you said you went out to investigate a case and came back very late. What did you do that day? Tell me in reverse order…”

Mayor Carter’s expression froze, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

He then laughed and said, “Oh, that was days ago—I’ve already forgotten…”

The woman’s tone turned dangerous: “Master, your memory isn’t that bad. Let me remind you: you came back and read in the study for a while, drank two cups of tea, and then went to sleep. No matter what I did, you didn’t respond…”

“That day, I was just too tired…”

“Nonsense! You can’t remember a single thing—did you go to the brothel again and lie to me about investigating a case?”

“I did not!”