Chapter 35: Complaint

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

It was said that widows faced trouble until the end of their days, and people always subconsciously saw them in the worst possible light.

Shen Li was a little disappointed to witness this for herself. She had heard horror tales about women’s rights in ancient history, but experiencing it herself was another matter entirely.

So what if you carry the blood of an Imperial Censor? As long as there are no men in the palace, no one will support you, and you will be a character that anyone can spurn.

They just wanted to pin the blame on you and then stand on the moral high ground to criticize you.

When the wall falls, they would point at the ruins for the other women to see.

See, women should know their place. Otherwise, when it comes to the problem of chastity, only death awaits.

Shen Li grabbed Xiao Shuang and headed off to the authorities.

However, she was faced with another issue.

Their palace was located in the Wanping District. When the officer heard the whole story, he displayed a difficult expression.

Liao Wenbin only saw a young lady complaining about a small squabble, so he didn’t pay much attention to her. He stroked the beard on his chin and drawled lazily, “These people only scolded you a little and didn’t hurt you. It’s not even considered a personal grudge, so you can’t convict someone with this.

Do you want me to send someone to mediate?”

Some staff members had been specially trained to mediate disputes between neighbors. Usually, they would handle trivial matters like “your dog ate my chicken” or “your chicken stepped on my field”.

Shen Li saw that Liao Wenbin was only trying to get rid of her, so she became even more furious.

She took two steps forward and looked straight at Liao Wenbin.

“They spoke vulgarities. How can that not be considered hurting people? That’s emotional damage! I want to sue them on these grounds.

They cursed and swore. They used vulgarities in public.

They slandered, which involved fabricating and spreading false information, insulting the dignity and reputation of others, and causing grief.

They also caused destruction to my property. They threw rotten vegetable leaves and eggs at my door, causing the door and the ground to corrode.”

Shen Li turned to look at one of the assistant scholars.

“Why don’t you look it up?!

“I have one more request. I want to be compensated for the cost of the repairs, as well as the emotional damage!”

As soon as she said this, the expressions of those people who were shouting happily just now suddenly changed. The group of people who were watching the show outside the door also began to discuss among themselves.

It was the first time they had seen someone speak out a list of statutes.

Liao Wenbin and the assistant were also shocked by Shen Li’s words.

They had heard of Shen Li before. Her father was posthumously granted this position and had nothing else. It was a hollow house of nobility. Shen Li was a mute. She seemed to have only regained her voice very recently.

However, such boldness was truly shocking.

Also… Did the crimes she had just mentioned really exist in their laws?

Liao Wenbin and the scholar looked at each other. The scholar silently took out a thick book of laws and flipped through it. He nodded affirmatively with a pale face.

Liao Wenbin coughed awkwardly.

“This… In the past, no one has ever sued anyone for such crimes.”

Shen Li said with a cold face, “That changes now.”

Liao Wenbin choked and asked Shen Li in return, “But the thing you speak of… do enlighten me. What’s emotional damage?”

Shen Li walked forward and picked up Liao Wenbin’s gavel.

This action gave Liao Wenbin a shock. He stood up immediately and took a step back subconsciously.

“You… What are you doing?”

Shen Li had already expected this reaction from him. She smiled and said, “My Lord, don’t worry. I’m just explaining to you what it means.”

Liao Wenbin cleared his throat. He realized that he had overreacted. He braced himself and said, “You… If you want to talk, then talk. Why are you snatching my stuff?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Li shook the gavel in her hand and said, word by word, “Did my actions just now hurt you, Sir? Or did I cause you any substantial harm?”

Liao Wenbin was about to say no, but he felt that something was wrong. When he paused, Shen Li continued.

“Although I didn’t touch you, you were scared by my actions just now, weren’t you?

“Did you think I was going to use this to attack you and smash your head?”

Liao Wenbin subconsciously touched the back of his head. When he thought of the scene that Shen Li described, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Shen Li took two steps forward.

“If so, is it possible that when you see this gavel in the future, you’ll think that someone will use it to hurt you?

“Would the fear haunt you so much that you can’t look at it directly anymore, and you can’t even be promoted to a court or a county magistrate in the future?”

Shen Li put down the gavel with a bang and concluded.

“This is emotional damage. It can’t be seen or touched, but it hurts you to the bone.”