TDLWFJ 01

Chapter 1 

“In the fourth month of the Imo year, I hereby grant a divorce on the grounds of the husband’s brutality. The defendant, Husband Lee, shall pay the plaintiff, Madam Yang, a compensation of one hundred nyang.”

As the Chief Magistrate of Hanyang delivered his verdict, the defendant, Lee, collapsed onto the courtyard floor and pleaded desperately.

“Your Excellency! This is unjust! I was merely trying to discipline a wife of poor conduct—how can this result in a divorce, and compensation at that? I cannot accept this! I cannot pay! I’d rather you cut open my belly instead!”

As Lee rolled around on the dirt in a frenzy, the magistrate simply turned away and closed his eyes, as if weary of the entire scene.

Fifty nyang was enough to buy a seven-room thatched house in Hanyang.

And now he was being ordered to pay double that?

Although Lee had amassed wealth running a merchant guild, the thought of giving it to his wife made him feel like he was dying inside.

More than anything, he had no intention of divorcing her.

“Oh, the injustice! If disciplining one’s wife leads to divorce, then which married couple in all of Joseon would still be intact?”

“Pfft.”

As the man ranted passionately, a light, almost amused laugh rang out.

Lee snapped his head toward the source. His furious gaze landed on a beautifully dressed woman in a chima jeogori, her long ribbon trailing behind her—Hari.

Meeting his eyes, Hari approached gracefully and whispered softly:

“You’d best keep that mouth shut. The more you make a scene, the worse your charges will become.”

Lee shot to his feet and glared at her as if he would kill her.

That sly woman had used her silver tongue to manipulate his wife. Now he was about to lose both his spouse and his wealth.

How could he possibly vent this injustice?

“Or… would you like to continue? Go on until you’re satisfied. It will only add the charge of a grave moral crime.”

“W-What did you say? You so-called legal advocate—are you stupid? A husband striking his wife is not a crime!”

“That’s right. But a child harming their parents is. Shall we make that clear?”

Lee’s eyes trembled violently.

With a serious expression, Hari turned to the magistrate and spoke:

“Your Excellency, as the defendant appears unwilling to accept the ruling and may appeal to the Ministry of Justice, I, as the plaintiff’s legal advocate, request that his crime be reclassified as a grave moral offense.”

At the mention of a “grave moral offense,” the courtyard erupted into murmurs.

Such crimes referred to violations of fundamental Confucian relationships—children harming parents, servants harming masters, wives harming husbands.

“Oh dear, it seems that young lady from the censor’s household has finally run out of tricks. Just because the husband struck his wife in anger, she’s calling it a grave moral crime? Absurd.”

“Indeed. And what kind of noble lady involves herself in divorce cases like this? How shameful. If I were her father, I couldn’t show my face in public.”

No one cared about the verdict anymore—they were all gossiping about Hari.

Used to such talk, she let it pass through one ear and out the other as she continued:

“The defendant, Lee—!”

Raising her voice, she drew everyone’s attention. Even those criticizing her looked on with curiosity, wondering what she would say next.

After ensuring silence had fallen, she spoke clearly:

“He broke Madam Yang’s leg and cut off her hair.”

The courtyard stirred.

“The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents; to dare damage them is the beginning of unfilial conduct.”

The magistrate narrowed his eyes.

“Yet this man has harmed his wife’s body, thereby driving a stake through the hearts of her parents—whom he should honor as his own. If this is not a grave moral offense, then what is?”

Hearing this, Lee was left speechless, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Unable to bear it, he grabbed his own legal advocate from the crowd by the collar.

“You bastard! Say something! Do your job!”

A grave moral crime was no small matter.

It would be far better to accept the magistrate’s original ruling.

Lee’s advocate lowered his head deeply.

“You should stop. If you continue, it won’t end with compensation—you’ll be sentenced to flogging.”

Flogging was a punishment where the criminal’s buttocks were beaten with a large paddle.

If lucky, it would end with torn flesh—but it could just as easily lead to permanent disability or even death from infection.

Hari stepped between them.

“So, what will it be? Shall we take this to the Ministry of Justice and continue the case? I don’t mind at all.”

She smiled confidently.

Lee cast one last glance at an official he had heavily bribed.

But the man avoided his gaze entirely.

Even his final lifeline had turned away.

Lee’s face went pale as he collapsed to the ground.

He had lost.

He had been certain he would win.

In Joseon, for a wife to file for divorce—and win?

“Perhaps Joseon is truly doomed…”

Lee muttered in despair.

Looking down at him stood a woman, chin raised proudly, a confident smile on her face.

The very cause of all this chaos—

A divorce specialist and legal advocate who preached the “Three Don’ts” to the women of Hanyang—

Ahn Hari.

“Thank you.”

The moment they stepped past the gates of the magistrate’s office, Madam Yang bowed deeply.

Hari, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned back.

“What did I tell you? I said I’d set you free.”

Madam Yang lifted her head, her face filled with a swirl of emotions.

When she first filed for divorce, she had been certain she would lose.

She expected to be scolded and cast out as a wicked wife.

Still, she had gone through with it—because she feared she would be beaten to death otherwise. At the very least, during the trial, her husband wouldn’t strike her.

But now, not only had she won—

She had received a large compensation.

“If only I had trusted you sooner… I wouldn’t have all these bruises…”

She gestured to her swollen eye.

“But… it’s really over now, isn’t it? I don’t have to go back to that house anymore?”

“The magistrate stamped the ruling himself. You’re truly strangers now. If he comes causing trouble, go straight to the authorities—or come to me. I’ll make sure you get a generous settlement. My fee is ten percent, of course. Though hopefully it won’t come to that.”

Hari smiled brightly, and Madam Yang returned it.

“I’m so glad I listened to you. You are my lifelong benefactor. I may be lowly, but if you ever need help, please call on me. I will be your hands and feet.”

She bowed repeatedly.

“I’ll remember that. Now, what did I say was a woman’s virtue?”

At the question, Madam Yang clenched her fists and raised them.

“The Three Don’ts! Don’t cry over a man, don’t get beaten, and don’t endure it! I won’t forget!”

Tears streamed down her face—not from weakness, but as a final farewell to the years she had endured.

“Yes. Live that way from now on. Don’t hide and cry, don’t let anyone harm you—not even with a flower. And if someone does, don’t endure it.”

That was their farewell.

As Hari turned away, Madam Yang bowed deeply once more.

“Miss, let’s go!”

Hari’s maid, Maldong, hurried after her, chattering excitedly.

“Miss, the marketplace is in chaos right now.”

“Why?”

“Why else? News of Madam Yang’s victory has spread!”

“Already?”

Though there had been a slight delay in receiving the official ruling document, it had only been half an hour.

And yet, the news had already spread beyond the magistrate’s walls.

“People really have nothing better to do.”

Hari shook her head, but Maldong widened her eyes.

“You think it’s just boredom? It’s because they’re interested in you! You’re famous now. Many women have come looking for me lately, asking if they can really get a divorce through you.”

“And what did you tell them?”

“That with you, it’s guaranteed—every single time. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Maldong looked at her with admiration and awe.

Hari recalled how the maid had been just six months ago—

“Miss, you want to become a legal advocate? Help someone get divorced? That’s impossible! There’s no such thing as a female advocate in all of Joseon!”

Back then, Maldong had doubted her completely.

Now, she trusted her enough to believe even the impossible.

And it had only taken six months.

“But, Miss… I’ve always wondered. Why did you suddenly decide to become an advocate?”

Hari, who had been walking lightly, came to a stop and looked up at the sky.

With distant eyes, she recalled the past—

Six months ago—

The moment she had suddenly fallen into the Joseon era.