My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 390 - 261: Investigating Couple Duo

Honglu Si.

Li Nuo sat in the government office, propping his chin with one hand, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Honglu Si really was a good place for retirement.

The workload was light and leisurely. Those older officials could move out a small chair and sit in the courtyard to bask in the sun all day long.

Li Nuo could have managed such matters, but he chose not to.

These elderly folks, having served the court their entire lives, would retire in a couple more years—there was no need to be too harsh on them.

Besides, there was not much to do at Honglu Si anyway.

In the five days since he'd arrived, Li Nuo had only dealt with two matters.

The Chu Country's embassy reported a leaking roof, and Li Nuo had sent an official letter to the Ministry of Industry to have someone fix it.

The Wei Country's envoy hoped the Four Directions Hall would change up the menu; they were tired of the same dishes almost every day.

Thus, Li Nuo also informed the cooks at the dining hall of the Four Directions Hall to vary the dishes a bit.

To accommodate the reasonable requests of the envoys from different countries was the primary duty of Honglu Si.

After Li Nuo's arrival, Prime Minister Zhao had simply taken a long leave. He would retire honorably in half a year, with a higher monthly salary than before retirement.

Daxia Law's "Official System Law" stipulated that Daxia officials could choose whether to retire after the age of sixty.

If the officials were in important departments, such as the Three Provinces and Six Ministries, and were physically able, they often chose to continue working. But at a place like Honglu Si, it was better to retire early, enjoy the twilight years, and leave opportunities for the younger generation.

With time to spare, Li Nuo simply practiced his cultivation exercises while attending the government office.

He was still in the Body Shaping Realm and needed to stimulate his body for cultivation.

Once he cultivated his Inner Breath, he would be able to practice Internal Cultivation Methods.

Some of the elderly officials at Honglu Si sat at the entrance of the office, watching the new Prime Minister work, beginning to reminisce about their past before letting out a sigh, how good it was to be young...

No one noticed that a junior official quietly left from the back door of Honglu Si.

King Han's Mansion.

Princely Heir Li Qian was confined to the mansion for three months, unable to leave during that time.

As he sat on the plush couch, he felt slightly more comfortable after hearing the person finish speaking.

Although Wang Hang was dead, he hadn't come away completely empty-handed.

That Li Nuo was a Law Practitioner, yet practiced the Martial Path while attending office—the reason behind it was clear.

Legalism had a hidden agenda, and he would never be able to practice Legalism again.

But the thought that someone had secretly plotted against him still left a sour feeling in his heart. Looking at Lin Ting, he asked, "Have they caught that Mr. Su yet?"

The thought of that person cunningly appearing before him to gain his trust made him itch with fury.

Lin Ting shook his head and said, "Many people have been dispatched to find him, but he is unlikely to show up again."

He looked at the Princely Heir of King Han and asked, "Are you really not allowed to leave for three months?"

Li Qian displayed an aggrieved expression, "Heh, my father won't let me go out—what can I do? He dares not confront Li Xuanjing, but he has ways to deal with me. Three months it is then; after all, I have no face to go out now..."

Before long, Lin Ting left the grand hall with a sigh.

In another secret chamber, the Capital Governor looked at King Han and said softly, "This mission has also been successful, only the last two remain..."

King Han asked, "Was it done cleanly?"

The Capital Governor reassured, "Don't worry, just like the previous times, no one will find out anything..."

...

Honglu Si.

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Li Nuo had just finished a set of Shangqing Palm Skill, his body steaming with heat, preparing to sit for a bit before ending the workday and going home when a clerk hurried in and said, "Sir, there's a new task..."

Honestly, although Li Nuo disliked dealing with affairs at Honglu Si, at the moment, he was hoping for more tasks to come his way, even if it was just fixing a roof. At least it would keep him from boredom.

He wiped his face with a damp towel and asked, "What task is it?"

The clerk replied, "Prime Minister Wu of Guanglu Si has passed away. According to regulations, you need to go to Wu Mansion to offer condolences."

Although a task had come up, it was not exactly a pleasant one.

Besides serving foreign guests, Honglu Si was also responsible for handling funerals.

For a fifth-rank official or Secondary Fifth Rank official who died in Chang'an, it was necessary for Honglu Si's Prime Minister to go offer condolences.

If a fourth-rank official died, the Assistant Minister had to accompany as well.

For the death of a third-rank official or higher, the Minister of Honglu Si had to personally attend.

The Prime Minister of Guanglu Si oversaw sacrificial rites, court assemblies, and the preparation of feasts and meals. He held the same official rank as Li Nuo, a Secondary Fifth Rank position. One man representing the Honglu Si was enough for the occasion.

Regarding the deceased with great respect, after Li Nuo and the others finished their duties at the end of the noon work session, he went home to take a bath and changed into a set of black official robes. Only then did he return to the Honglu Si, leading a procession majestically to the residence of the Prime Minister of Guanglu Si.

Because of this unique duty, the officials from the Honglu Si all had an additional set of official uniforms compared to other officials.

While they were still some distance from the Prime Minister of Guanglu Si's residence, sixteen musicians, arranged in four rows, began to play a dirge – an indispensable part of the Honglu Si's mourning ritual.

For mourning a fifth-rank or higher official, sixteen musicians in four rows play the dirge; for mourning a third-rank or higher official, thirty-six musicians in six rows would perform.

These were examination points for the Ritual Department of the Imperial Examination, something which Li Nuo had not expected to actually use one day.

At the entrance of the Prime Minister of Guanglu Si's residence, people were already waiting to greet those from the Honglu Si.

Li Nuo was led to the mourning hall where a housekeeper-like old man approached a woman dressed in plain white mourning clothes and said, "Madam, the official from the Honglu Si has arrived."

The woman appeared haggard as she approached Li Nuo and performed a courtesy, saying, "The mourning widow greets the official. Thank you for coming to bid farewell to my deceased husband."

Li Nuo made a gesture of virtual support and said, "Madam, please dispense with the formalities."

Then, he offered three sticks of incense in front of the hall and said to the woman, "Lord Wu passed away in the prime of his life, and the court has lost a pillar of strength. I too feel deeply saddened. However, death is irreversible, so I implore you not to grieve excessively. It's important to take care of your health…"

The woman sighed and said, "My husband's health had always been poor; now, at least, he is free."

While at the Honglu Si, Li Nuo had learned about the life of this Guanglu Si Prime Minister, as it was necessary research before their visit.

The official indeed suffered from some chronic illness and had been bedridden at home for several months, so his passing was considered a natural death due to illness.

Precisely because of this, it was the Honglu Si, not the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Justice, that had come here.

After offering some words of comfort, Li Nuo prepared to take his leave.

Some officials from the Honglu Si would stay to help with mourning arrangements.

At this moment, two figures entered the mourning hall.

They were two younger women, also dressed in plain white and with the look of recent widows.

Upon seeing them, the earlier woman walked over and said, "This is an official from the Honglu Si, here to pay his respects to our late master. Hurry up and greet the official."

"Greetings to the official…"

The two women bowed to him, and Li Nuo's gaze fixed intently on them.

Feeling uncomfortable under Li Nuo's stare, the women's complexions grew unnatural. The widow also noticed something amiss, and although she felt the official's behavior was overly impolite, she dared not voice her concerns.

With the master gone and their household's pillar fallen, how could they risk offending the court's dignitaries?

Li Nuo also realized his rudeness and soon averted his gaze, asking, "And who might these two ladies be?"

"These are my husband's two concubines," the woman introduced briefly, then glanced at them and said, "What are you standing around for? Go outside and attend to the guests…"

After bowing to Li Nuo again, the two hurried off.

Li Nuo sensed their wariness toward him and did not stay long. As the Prime Minister of the Honglu Si, his duty on behalf of the court to pay respects was fulfilled. Next, the officials from the Honglu Si would assist them.

The widow watched Li Nuo depart and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The master had only just passed away; what would she do if the official took an interest in them...

After leaving the Prime Minister of Guanglu Si's residence, Li Nuo did not return to the Honglu Si but instead went to the Ministry of Justice.

In the familiar government office, Li Anning was earnestly reviewing documents, while on the other side of the table, Gu Yanran was practicing her calligraphy.

Gu Yanran was the first to notice Li Nuo; she hadn't seen him in what felt like ages. Startled, but then overjoyed, she immediately stood up and exclaimed, "Young Master!"

Li Anning looked up, and upon seeing Li Nuo, she too stood up quickly, asking excitedly, "What brings you here?"

In her past fantasies, both of them were in the Ministry of Justice, so they could stick together day and night.

Alas, one spouse was in the Ministry of Justice and the other in the Honglu Si; the sight of him in the Ministry of Justice naturally filled her with surprise and joy.

She signaled Gu Yanran with her eyes, and Gu Yanran silently left the room, also closing the door of the office behind her.

Before Li Nuo could explain his business, Anning threw herself into his arms, her lips drawing near.

Although office passion was thrilling, Li Nuo had serious matters to discuss this time. He kissed her lightly and then said, "There's a case you need to investigate…"

Li Nuo had originally thought it was just a routine expression of condolences.

However, when the two junior concubines of the Guanglu Si Prime Minister appeared, portraits of the two women surfaced on the Law Code.

This suggested there was something suspicious about his death.

That's why Li Nuo had given them a few more glances and been mistaken by the widow.

His current role did not encompass investigating cases.

But with Anning involved, there could be no one more suitable.

Together, they could investigate the case, cultivate together, and maybe even ascend to the Sixth Realm of Legalism...