Madam, protect me!

Ministry of Punishment.

Within the government office.

Li Nuo looked at Li Anning and asked, "In other words, if the Anti-Theft Department can be promoted nationwide, I can be promoted to the second level?"

Li Anning nodded and said: "Otherwise, why do you think so many Legalist predecessors risked their lives and spent their lives promoting reforms and restructuring? It would be better to enact one law than to catch a thousand thieves..."

Li Nuo looked back on the history of Legalism, and it seemed that this was indeed the case.

The earliest strong Legalists had their own set of Legalist theories.

They lobby everywhere with their own theories. Once their theories are adopted and vigorously promoted by any country, their cultivation will also rapidly improve in a short period of time.

This is how the earliest Legalist high realms came about.

As the Legalist system gradually improved, Legalism no longer had any innovations in the general direction.

Later Legalist disciples could only make some minor changes based on the original laws.

For example, the scope of atonement was tightened from the death penalty to exile.

Or, increase the redemption amount and increase the price of crime.

Promoting legal reform can benefit tens of millions of people. It is naturally more meaningful and more rewarding than catching a few thieves and convicting a few murderers.

However, high returns are often accompanied by high risks. The current laws are the result of multi-party games.

Most people who want to break this balance end up paying the price with their lives.

However, what Li Nuo wanted to do did not touch anyone's cake, so the risk was not that great.

Li Anning said: "Establishing the Anti-Theft Department in the entire Daxia requires countless manpower and financial resources. It is far from simple. The imperial court has always been very cautious about such reforms and will not take it lightly. Agreed, it needs to be discussed in court..., do you think I haven’t thought of doing this?”

Li Nuo was indeed thinking simply just now.

Playing house with Li Anning in Chang'an, the superiors gave his father face and turned a blind eye.

But promoting institutional change, even a small one, is not easy.

At least, he doesn't have this energy himself.

But it's not impossible.

Dali Temple.

When Li Nuo came to Dali Temple again, he heard someone playing the piano from a distance.

Some officials and servants of Dali Temple were standing or leaning in the courtyard with their eyes closed, looking like they were enjoying themselves.

Taiyue Department is not far from Dali Temple. Taiyue ordered Liu Shang to come to Dali Temple to practice piano every noon. At first, everyone in Dali Temple thought it was noisy, but now they are used to hearing him play a few pieces of music every noon.

After just one song, a certain official opened his eyes and saw a figure. He immediately stepped forward and said, "Master is here. Master Li is playing chess with His Highness Prince Chun. I will take you there..."

Dali Temple, Temple Qingyamen.

After Prince Chun dropped a chess piece, he said to Li Nuo: "Why haven't you come to Prince Chun's Mansion recently? The chef in the Prince's Mansion has developed many new dishes. Next time, bring your wife to try..."

Li Nuo explained: "I have been busy with some things in the Ministry of Punishment recently, and I will definitely visit Uncle Chun in a few days."

King Chun said: "Don't wait a few days, just today. After the game of chess, you and your father will go over. I will ask someone to speak to the cook and ask them to start preparations now..."

Li Xuanjing said: "There are still some important matters in Dali Temple today, so let's wait for another day."

King Chun was a little disappointed, but he still said: "Okay, Xuan Jing said it will be another day, then let's change it..."

While playing chess, Li Xuanjing asked: "How is the matter in the Anti-Theft Department going?"

Li Nuo immediately said: "Everything is going smoothly. We can catch dozens or hundreds of thieves every day and help some people recover their stolen property. It won't be long before the thieves in Chang'an are not so rampant..."

Since this topic was brought up, Li Nuo struck while the iron was hot and said: "Those who broke into the door are not only good at being thieves, but they are also good at catching thieves. There are many of them. It would be a waste to let them stay in prison like this." , if anti-theft departments can be established in other state government offices, it will not only allow them to atone for their crimes, but also benefit more people..."

King Chun looked at Li Nuo and said with emotion: "As expected of Xuan Jing's son, he was able to come up with such a method, unlike that useless guy in our family who only knows how to play with a pile of broken wood and make love with the wooden woman every day. This king must have done something wrong in his previous life to give birth to such a bastard son..."

Li Nuo quickly said: "Actually, this idea was originally thought up by Princess An Ning, and... the prince is from the Xiu Mo family. He is already in the fourth realm at a young age. There is no doubt that he is a genius of the Mo family. How can he be said to be? It’s useless…”

King Chun sighed and said, "Hey, you don't know, a few days ago, he actually said he wanted to get married to that wooden woman..."

"..."

Li Nuo didn't know how to answer this.

Although he himself is relatively traditional, he has been impacted by various advanced ideas of later generations.

Although he couldn't understand this kind of thing, he respected it.

Especially since Li Yun is from the Mo family, it is even more understandable.

The Mohist family is not like this. They regard the institutions they build as their hard work. Over time, many Mohist disciples will develop special feelings for the institutions.

Let’s take a step back.

What Li Yun likes is, after all, a spy, and a spy woman...

King Chun waved his hand and said: "Let's not talk about him anymore. You just said that you want to set up anti-theft departments in other state capitals. Although this idea is a good one, it may not be that easy to do on such a large scale. Reform needs to be discussed by the courtiers. Starting from tomorrow, Prince Rui will supervise the country. He hates your father the most and will definitely not let you get what you want..."

Even King Chun said this, it seems that this matter is really not easy.

King Chun patted him on the shoulder and said: "However, if you are not in a hurry, wait a few more months. When the next time uncle supervises the country, he will definitely complete this matter for you..."

Li Nuo cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Uncle Chun."

King Chun waved his hand again: "Hey, family, what can I say thank you for? Remember to bring your wife to our house for dinner next time... By the way, I heard from Li Yun last time that you and An Ning are practicing together?"

Li Nuo nodded.

Prince Chun showed a look of relief on his face and said: "Concubine Ning passed away early. An Ning lost her mother when she was six years old. She has always been very withdrawn. I didn't expect that she could become friends with you..."

Li Nuo's expression was stunned.

Has Li Anning's mother passed away?

No wonder she was so angry when she learned that Han Zhuo's mother had been instigated to commit suicide by him in the last Han Zhuo case...

What some people want in their dreams, others throw away.

There was a plate of oranges beside the chessboard where the two were playing chess. King Chun took out one and handed it to Li Nuo, saying: "This is the best tangerine cultivated by farmer Gao Jing himself. Try it, it tastes better than the tribute from Jiangnan." Oranges are okay, eating them is good for your health..."

In Li Nuo's arms, there were actually two oranges that came from Li Anning.

Looking at these tangerines, King Chun recalled some past events and said, "I remember that Concubine Ning liked to eat tangerines very much, and even planted an orange grove behind Changning Palace with her own hands. The tangerines that were sent as tribute from Sinong Temple back then, Father and Emperor gave all the rewards to Concubine Ning, which caused quite a bit of criticism from the other concubines..."

Li Nuo's expression was startled again, and the orange in his arms suddenly became heavy.

It turns out that the reason why she likes eating oranges so much is because of her mother...

He also steals her oranges every day...

He really deserves to die!

Li Nuo took the tangerine handed over by King Chun and did not eat it, but put it in his arms.

"You don't like to eat oranges?" King Chun thought that he didn't know the value of this orange, and said: "This tangerine is not an ordinary orange. It is a mother plant nourished by farmers in the fourth realm and above with the farm's true energy. The knot is extremely precious, and only the princes of the prison country are qualified to taste it, and Prince Chun’s Mansion only got three pieces..."

Li Nuo took a look and saw that apart from the one in his arms, there were two left on the plate on the table.

He smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle Chun. I want to take it back and eat it with my wife."

Li Xuanjing handed him the other orange on the plate and said, "I don't like oranges, so you can take it back too."

"this……"

"Take it."

"Thank you, father. I'll go back first."

After Li Nuo left, King Chun looked at Li Xuanjing in surprise and said, "I have known you for so long, but I have never heard that you don't like oranges?"

He peeled the last mandarin orange, gave half of it to him, and said, "Try it, this orange tastes really good..."

…

Ministry of Punishment.

Li Nuo walked into the government office, and Li Anning immediately asked: "How is it?"

Li Nuo shook his head.

Li Anning didn't say anything else. As she expected, this matter was not an easy one even for the Minister of Dali Temple.

Li Nuo silently took out three oranges from his arms and placed them on the table.

Li Anning's expression was startled, and she was greatly surprised.

He always only steals his own oranges, but he still returns them.

And one more was returned.

She peeled an orange and put it in her mouth. The next moment, her expression was stunned again.

This is not the taste of Jiangnan Gongtanger.

This was the taste of the tangerines produced by the mother plant at Sinong Temple deep in her memory.

When my mother-in-law was still here, she could eat a lot of these top-quality tangerines every year.

But since her mother passed away, she has never eaten tribute oranges from Sinong Temple.

The familiar smell coming from the depths of her soul brought back many memories of her mother-in-law.

A tear slipped quietly from her eyes.

Li Nuo looked at Li Anning blankly. He just ate an orange. Why was he crying?

Are the oranges from Sinong Temple really so delicious?

This made him feel even more guilty.

If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have stolen her oranges.

With great guilt, he silently took out the last orange hidden in his arms...

After an unknown amount of time, Li Anning wiped her tears, looked at Li Nuo, and asked, "Where did you get this orange?"

Li Nuo said honestly: "Just now at Dali Temple, His Royal Highness King Chun gave two."

The tangerine mother plant in Sinong Temple produces so few fruits every year that even if she were a princess, she would not be able to get even one.

My father has so many princes and princesses that only a few princes who oversee the country are eligible to enjoy them.

It's not that this tangerine has such high value, but it's a status symbol.

Li Anning looked down and saw that there were indeed two oranges, which were obviously different from the other two.

Two of them were Jiangnan tribute oranges that Li Nuo had stolen from her. The other two were more colorful and had a refreshing fruity fragrance that could be smelled from a long distance away. They were obviously the best fruits grown from the mother plant of Sinong Temple.

She looked at Li Nuo in great surprise and asked in disbelief, "Are they all for me?"

Although Li Nuo and his wife also like to eat oranges, for them, these are just for food.

Since the oranges from Sinong Temple have special meaning to Li Anning, it's okay to give them all to her.

One night of marriage is a hundred days of grace, three nights of marriage is three hundred days.

Fake marriage is discounted, there are also one hundred and fifty days.

Li Nuo looked back and found nothing. He walked to the door and looked outside, then walked back and said, "No one in our family likes to eat oranges, so I'll give them all to you."

After saying that, he sat on his chair and took a file to look at it.

However, his mind could not be completely focused on the file.

As expected of the oranges cultivated by Sinong Temple, Li Anning peeled an orange, and the whole room was filled with a strong fruity fragrance.

Li Nuo couldn't help swallowing a few mouthfuls of saliva.

I don't know what such a fragrant orange tastes like.

When this thought came to his mind, a slice of orange was handed over from the side.

Li Nuo turned his head to look at Li An Ning and said, "I'll do it myself..."

As soon as he opened his mouth, the orange slice was stuffed into his mouth.

He took a bite, and the fragrance was overflowing. It was so delicious that he cried.

No wonder Li An Ning cried just now. This orange is more delicious than the peach before.

Another orange slice was handed over. Li Nuo just stretched out his hand and wanted to do it himself, but it was stuffed directly into his mouth again.

Li An Ning ate half of an orange and gave half to Li Nuo.

She looked at the remaining tangerine and said, "Take this one back and let them taste it too. This is from the mother plant of Sinong Temple. The taste is different from the tribute oranges in other places..."

Although Li Nuo gave her both tangerines, she, Li An Ning, was not an ungrateful woman.

She didn't think of taking away all the things that should have belonged to Song Jiaren.

"Okay then."

Li An Ning said so, and Li Nuo didn't say much. He took the last tangerine back and divided it between his wife and Mu'er and Ning'er.

Three people share one tangerine, and each person can only get two slices.

Song Mu'er tasted a slice of tangerine, widened her eyes and said: "Brother Li Nuo, this tangerine is so delicious, better than all the tangerines I have eaten, do you have any more?"

Li Nuo said: "No, this is what the uncle gave me last time, there are only two."

"What about the other one?"

"I ate it."

Song Mu'er ate her two slices of tangerine and went to the yard to swing.

After Ning'er got her two slices, she disappeared soon.

Song Jiaren ate one slice herself and handed the other to Li Nuo.

Li Nuo shook his head and said: "I have eaten it, you eat it."

Song Jiaren's hand did not retract.

Li Nuo could only reach out and take it.

This is the difference between my wife and Li An Ning.

Although he was not allowed to refuse, the same orange slice, the lady would silently hand it to him, while Li An Ning would directly stuff it into his mouth.

The next day, when Li Nuo came to the Ministry of Justice, it was obviously quieter than yesterday.

He remembered that today was the first day of the month.

Every first day of the month, the regent princes rotated, and a regular court meeting was held, and officials above the fifth rank had to attend.

Li Nuo realized that today was the first day of October.

The spring exam was on the first day of February, and the imperial examination was on the first day of March. There were still five months left before the imperial examination.

Li Nuo walked into the yamen, and Li An Ning had not come yet.

He sat in Li An Ning's seat. Her chair was soft, with cushions under her buttocks and behind her back, which was much more comfortable to sit on than his chair.

While she was not here yet, Li Nuo made himself a cup of tea and drank it leisurely.

Without Li An Ning by his side, the yamen seemed particularly quiet.

At this time, the palace and the hall were a little noisy, and many officials were talking endlessly.

As October came, the regent prince changed from Prince Gong to Prince Rui.

The regent prince rotated every month. This policy has been implemented for nearly ten years. The court officials have long been accustomed to it. What they are discussing at this moment is a proposal by Li Xuanjing, the Minister of Dali Temple.

Li Xuanjing holds two key departments, Dali Temple and Mingjing Division, and can be said to be powerful in the court, but he rarely speaks in court.

But every time he speaks, it will set off a bloody storm, and I don’t know how many people will lose their heads.

Therefore, when Li Xuanjing stood up, many officials couldn’t help but feel a little nervous, wondering who he was going to attack again.

Fortunately, he didn’t want to kill anyone this time.

Some time ago, Chang'an County Yamen, the Ministry of Justice, and Dali Temple jointly enforced the law and cracked a large-scale thief organization. Hundreds of thieves were arrested, causing the prisons of these yamen to be overcrowded.

The Minister of Dali Temple proposed that a thief arrest department be set up in the yamen of each state, which is specifically responsible for arresting thieves.

At the same time, these captured thieves will be sent to the local anti-theft offices, so that they can catch thieves with their own strength and make up for their mistakes.

Although this proposal does not require killing, it is also very troublesome.

Each county government expands a new department. The Ministry of Revenue needs to allocate funds and the Ministry of Personnel needs to determine the responsibilities. Should this department be assigned to the county lieutenant or set up another official position?

If the power is assigned to the county lieutenant, will it break the power balance of the local county government?

If another official position is set up, will it cause redundant officials and honorary positions? How much more salary will the court have to pay every year?

These are all things that need to be discussed by all departments.

For national affairs, it is better to be quiet than to move. Besides, there has never been such a precedent for letting criminals catch criminals.

Many officials are opposed to it.

But they didn't speak.

Finally, an official stood up and said: "I object. The arrest of thieves is the responsibility of the local county government. The county lieutenant is responsible for it. It is really unnecessary to establish a separate anti-theft department..."

The second official stood up and said: "It is a shame to let prisoners perform official duties. I heard that an anti-theft department has been established under the Ministry of Punishment and many thieves have been recruited. It is simply ridiculous. Nonsense!”

Soon a third figure stood up and said, "In my opinion, the Anti-Theft Department of the Ministry of Punishment should also be banned!"

After someone took the lead, there were more and more objections in the court.

But they just felt that there was no need to go around the country, and selectively ignored the Anti-Theft Department of the Ministry of Criminal Justice.

Who doesn’t know that Li Xuanjing’s son is a legal practitioner?

He did these things to pave the way for his son.

The last person who wanted to interrupt his son's cultivation path was already dead.

Offend him to the point of death, who knows what he will do.

The three officials who just spoke are all members of Prince Rui. With the support of the two major families, Prince Rui's strength has increased dramatically in the past two years, but he has suffered a lot at the hands of Li Xuanjing. Naturally, he will not let Li Xuanjing get what he wants.

Among all the courtiers in the palace, only a few censors from the Yushitai supported this reform, but their voices were soon drowned out by the voices of opposition.

Above the Golden Palace, a young man with a high crown on his head and a stern face slowly stood up and said: "Since so many people are opposed, this matter will end here, and there is no need to discuss it further..."

Not long after, today's court meeting ended and the courtiers returned to their offices.

Ministry of official affairs.

An official bowed his hand to the new examination doctor and said: "Master Sun is so charming. He dared to be the first to stand up and refute the minister of Dali Temple. I admire him, I admire him..."

Dr. Sun glanced at him and said, "What's so admirable about this? I always say what I say. The official positions in the imperial court are redundant enough. Is it necessary to set up an additional anti-theft department?"

The official patted him on the shoulder and said: "Master Sun has just come to Chang'an, and he still doesn't understand some things. Forget it, forget it..."

Seeing Dr. Si Xun leave, Dr. Kao Gong twitched his lips in disdain.

Wasn't he just a minister from Dali Temple, scaring them like that?

His Highness Prince Rui regarded Li Xuanjing as a thorn in his side. He had just arrived in Chang'an, so he naturally wanted to perform well in front of His Highness.

It doesn't matter whether there is an anti-theft department, what matters is your attitude.

Whatever Li Xuanjing supported, he would definitely oppose.

When no one in the palace dared to oppose Li Xuanjing, the traitorous official, he was the only one who stood up without hesitation.

In Sun Jian's own eyes, he was a righteous man who was not afraid of power and dared to speak out.

He really didn't believe that a dignified exam doctor was a fifth-grade court official, and there was Prince Rui behind him. So what could Li Xuanjing do to him?

While he was thinking this, two figures walked in from outside.

Doctor Sun frowned and said in a deep voice, "Don't you know how to knock on the door when you come in?"

The two looked at each other, turned and exited the door, knocked on the door, and walked in again.

Sun Jian frowned and asked, "Who are you, and why are you looking for me?"

The two men in black spoke slowly.

"Sun Jian, the doctor of merit examination."

"The Mirror Department found a large amount of property of unknown origin in your house. Please follow us to the Mirror Department for investigation."

Sun Jian's face turned pale.

No, those things are in the secret room underground at home. The secret room can only be opened through a specific mechanism. How did they know?

On the way to the Mirror Division, Sun Jian saw two other familiar faces.

Just now in the main hall, the three of them took the lead against Li Xuanjing.

Just after the morning court ended, the three of them were taken into the Mirror Division together.

What is this if not revenge?

He wasn't even willing to wait two days!

Three officials of the fifth rank were arrested as soon as they asked. This is Chang'an!

Is there no one who can take care of him?