Qingyun's Love: Tiger Boy Falls in Love with a Pretty Lawyer

Seeing that Master Wu showed no mercy, Ran Mo simply said bluntly, "Master Wu, if Young Master Wu's matter was still your family affair, now I have accepted the commission of your craftsmen to have a good talk with you. I hope that we can have an equal and friendly dialogue with the goal of resolving the matter."

"Equal? ​​Let me ask you, how old are you, how many years have you been an official, and what is your official rank? Are you still qualified to talk to me on an equal footing? Not to mention Li Yi, who is just a craftsman in my mansion. Although he didn't sign a contract to sell himself, he must follow my orders. I am talking to you on an equal and friendly basis. Are there any rules of seniority or inferiority?"

"Master Wu, your words are wrong. I didn't say I was your equal in rank. We are here to discuss the matter at hand. How can an unequal dialogue resolve a problem? That's entirely up to you. Furthermore, Dayue Kingdom law states that officials must handle disputes fairly and evenly, which naturally includes the concept of equality. If even the government does this, then the rich and powerful and the common people should follow this principle as well."

Ranmo's words were a bit ahead of their time. But there was nothing she could do. In that era, the concept of equality before the law hadn't yet emerged. She could only grasp at fragments of the law and elaborate on them, somewhat with a certain degree of intimidation. She wasn't sure if it would be effective against the official in front of her.

"Hahaha." Master Wu clapped his hands again, as he had done last time, and said, "You are indeed worthy of being a lawyer. You can actually come up with such a perverse and heretical theory that disregards the distinction between high and low. It is only because I am merciful that I will not pursue this matter. Otherwise, based on your words, I would have sent you to the government office for punishment."

Then he waved his hand and said, "You don't need to waste your breath on me. Go wherever you need to go to sue for fraud. Don't delay making money."

The latter sentence really pissed Ran Mo off. This old man was too disrespectful of her professional honor. She was going to fight him to the end today. She kept her tone calm but said forcefully:

"Whether the government will punish me for what I said, I believe that as a lawyer, I understand the law better than you, Master Wu. I've never heard of anyone breaking the law by demanding equal treatment in a dispute. On the contrary, some people distort the law at every turn, treating the laws of the Great Yue Kingdom as their own family rules, interpreting them however they please and exploiting them however they please. That's probably a greater crime."

She paused, then raised her voice again, "As for your disrespectful remarks against lawyers, should we, like last time, compare the profession of lawyers with certain other professions to see whose tactics and schemes are truly despicable and betray the spirit of Taoism?"

Ranmo's words were powerful and resounding, hitting Master Wu's soft spot. She was actually a little nervous, after all, in this day and age, saying something ahead of its time could get her into trouble. So, she was taking a gamble, wondering if Master Wu would consider her disobedient or even convict her for her words.

Master Wu was so shocked by Ran Mo's words that he was speechless for a long time. Fortunately, he didn't faint. He was a little confused as to why the words of this frail, scholarly man in front of him felt so strange and yet so oppressive, like a voice from another world, unheard of yet deafening.

He felt a bit out of words, and the only thing he could offer in retaliation was "You are speaking out of sheer treason and nonsense." But saying such things in front of the younger generation seemed incompetent.

Given his status and even his inner strength, he didn't have the urge to just pick on a young man and then have him brought before the authorities. That wasn't something someone like him, who had weathered many storms and humiliations for many years, would do.

He even had a vague feeling that, while a little irritating, engaging in this kind of conversation with a young man like him also felt strangely novel and refreshing. It was as if it had rekindled a certain fighting spirit and desire to win that had been dormant deep within him for years.

Back then, he was also a gifted and eloquent speaker, but after so many years of officialdom, he had long since toned down his edge. Occasionally, he longed to relive the thrill of engaging in hearty debates and debates. But the opportunity never came again.

For years, he had been greeted with respect and admiration throughout the palace and even the city. Who dared to argue with him? Except for that rascal from his own family, who had somehow drunk some kind of magic potion and upset him over a woman's affairs?

This young man, aside from his profession as a lawyer, may have a sharp edge to his words and actions, but he also has his merits. His clear thinking, sharp reflexes, and refreshing perspectives are all signs of potential development. And since he's able to hang out with Qingsheng and Weiye, his character can't be bad either.

For a moment, he even had some thoughts of cherishing talent. But he was determined not to expose it now. Wouldn't it make people think he had given up? How would he establish his authority in the mansion in the future?

Thinking of this, he put on a stern face, ready to use all his life's learning and experience to convince this young man with reason, to make him understand who is the real master and who is the orthodox spokesperson for the Taoist order.

"Even if you speak eloquently, it is not your turn to point fingers at how to understand and apply the laws of the Dayue Kingdom. Even if you want to negotiate on an equal footing, let me ask you, do you understand the full picture of the matter? You only listen to one side's arguments and are deceived into speaking for him. Young man, you are still too naive." Mr. Wu changed the subject and seemed to be concerned about Ran Mo.

The two noticed that Master Wu's tone had slowed down, and they exchanged glances. Qingsheng said respectfully, "Thank you, Uncle Wu, for your consideration. I came to consult with you because I was worried I might not have the full picture."

Ran Mo continued, "You just mentioned the whole story. It's possible that Li Yi didn't tell us something. Could you tell us more about what happened?"

Master Wu glanced at her and said, "Li Yi has been a craftsman in our mansion for many years. His skills are indeed excellent. We value him very much and treat him well. But a while ago, for some unknown reason, he proposed to leave the mansion. He is not a slave, so we can't stop him if he wants to leave.

"It's just that he's been in charge of the decoration work in the mansion for many years. He's leaving and leaving a mess behind. We should at least have time to prepare. Besides, we're going to have a banquet in the mansion soon and need to decorate the reception venue. Wouldn't it be a waste of time if he left now?"

The two of them thought what Master Wu said made sense. Li Yi hadn't mentioned this to them before. However, this shouldn't be a difficult problem to solve. If it didn't work out, they could talk to Li Yi again and see if he could postpone their departure, giving both parties more time and leeway to prepare.

Ranmo shared his thoughts with Master Wu, and first decided to see if Master Wu agreed to extend the handover period through negotiation. If so, they could go talk to Li Yi. Mediation meant running around to do the work.

The two originally thought that Mr. Wu would have no objection to this proposal. Unexpectedly, Mr. Wu said coldly, "No, this is not a question of whether to extend it or not. He can't leave now or in the future."

Huh. They were both speechless. What kind of temper did this old man have? He seemed to be looking up, but he suddenly changed his mind. It was really hard to communicate with him.