The playboy county magistrate

"My elder brother, having enjoyed the privileges of being the eldest son since childhood, has accomplished nothing. I, as the second son, have struggled every step of the way, carving out my own path through hardship. What wrong have I done?"

"In the past, you held a superior position over me because of your status as the eldest son, and I tolerated and yielded to maintain the dignity of our clan. Today, I hold an important position in the court, but I still respect your status as the eldest brother, which is to uphold the rules of human relations."

"But if my elder brother still tries to use the rules of hierarchy to manipulate me and interfere in court affairs—"

He paused slightly at this point, and Li Xuanzhi's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"Then don't blame me for acting according to the law without showing any leniency."

This was not a heated argument between brothers, but a warning from the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

Li Xuanjing shuddered, feeling a chilling pressure wash over him, forcing him to instinctively take a half-step back, a genuine sense of fear rising in his heart.

He then suddenly woke up with a start.

The person before him was no longer the younger brother he could scold and bully at will.

This is the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a fourth-rank official who holds the power to supervise all officials, can impeach high-ranking officials beyond his rank, and is in charge of the promotion and demotion of officials.

It was personally supported by His Majesty to rectify the court and counterbalance the powerful families.

Let alone the eldest son of a noble family, even a high-ranking official of the first rank in the court could be impeached based on facts and investigated impartially.

His clan title and status as the eldest son were worthless in the face of the laws and supervisory authority of the court.

But the jealousy and resentment in her heart ultimately overwhelmed her reason.

Li Xuanjing clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. The pain made his head throb, and the ferocity in his eyes intensified.

He stared intently at Li Xuanzhi, his voice cold and trembling:

"Excellent, excellent! Following the law without showing any leniency!"

"Li Xuanzhi, you've grown wings and dare to threaten me now! Don't be too smug!"

"The political landscape of the court is ever-changing; rise and fall can happen in the blink of an eye. Grand Tutor Huo and his entrenched senior officials have held sway over the court for decades, their influence deep-rooted and their protégés widespread. How could a newcomer like you possibly shake their position?"

"And that princess of the Northern Desert, because of you, the entire nation was punished and lost face. You have enemies both inside and outside! I'd like to see how long you can hold onto this high position as censor!"

He was almost obsessively eager to see Li Xuanzhi fall, to watch his younger brother, who had risen against all odds, crumble overnight and return to being that insignificant, groveling figure at his feet.

Li Xuanzhi watched his manic and obsessive appearance silently, feeling nothing but indifference.

He had long known that kinship within the clan was weak.

But I never imagined that my elder brother would be so insane, preferring to hope for turmoil in the court and unrest in the country rather than see me stand on the right path and bring peace to the nation.

"I follow the righteous path, promote new policies, eradicate corruption, and bring peace to the people. I have a clear conscience before Heaven and Earth, and as a subject of the emperor, why should others worry about me?"

Li Xuanzhi said no more, turned sideways and stepped past Li Xuanjing, who stood frozen in place. He calmly walked towards his secluded and simple old courtyard.

"From now on, I will reside in the mansion and will not interfere with the private affairs of the mansion."

"But please remember, elder brother, do not interfere in court affairs, do not obstruct new policies, and do not condone clansmen's abuse of power for personal gain."

"Now, I really do know how to investigate."

The cool and detached words, falling in the tranquil courtyard, weighed more than a thousand pounds.

Li Xuanjing gazed at that increasingly tall and solitary figure. The wind, carrying a chill, brushed against his face, but could not dispel the pent-up jealousy and gloom in his chest.

Li Xuanzhi's words, "Now, I really can investigate," were like nails, piercing his heart and filling him with both fear and anger.

But he was helpless.

Li Xuanzhi of today is no longer a pushover.

"Just you wait...you better wait."

Li Xuanjing gritted his teeth and his eyes flashed with rage. His fingertips dug into his palms, suppressing all his resentment.

He dared not act recklessly in public again, but he had already made a secret resolution in his heart that he would never sit idly by and watch Li Xuanzhi rise to power.

The servants outside the courtyard held their breath, none daring to step forward and offer any advice.

On the other side, Li Xuanzhi's old courtyard was secluded and quiet, completely out of place with the bustling mansion.

The courtyard was simple and the furnishings were all old items from when he lived in the mansion in his youth.

Although simple, it was very clean, which showed that the servants in the mansion were quite diligent, and at least his mother, Zhang, cared about him.

"Why must you speak so bluntly and confront him today, young master? Li Xuanjing is narrow-minded. If this feud is formed, he will surely hold a grudge and wait for an opportunity to cause trouble."

As soon as Liu Yunrou finished speaking, Gu Pan'er took over and continued:

"It's more than just holding a grudge. As the eldest son of the Earl's family, he cherishes his reputation and values ​​hierarchy above all else. Today, being publicly warned by the young master has completely shattered his pride, and he will surely target others in every way from now on. Family matters will likely become another burden for the young master outside of court politics."

Li Xuanzhi stood under the eaves, his expression calm and undisturbed.

"Now that I hold a high-ranking position in the supervisory system, I am already infringing upon the interests of powerful and influential families. As a prominent clan, the Earl's family is caught in the middle of this game and can no longer remain unaffected. If I continue to back down and tolerate them today, they will surely rely on their clan name to allow their members to interfere in government affairs and break the law in the future, making the situation even more difficult to resolve."

Rather than being passively controlled in the future, it's better to draw a clear line today.

Establish clear rules to prevent others from using clan ties to coerce him.

He saw things clearly; family matters were matters of the court.

In the complex web of powerful families, clan ties are never a source of warmth or vulnerability, but rather a fatal flaw that is most easily exploited by adversaries.

"Second Young Master, Master requests that you move to the main hall for discussion."

Although Li Xuanzhi is no longer someone who can be ordered around at will in the mansion, Marquis Cheng'en, Li Dehai, as the head of the family, has accumulated power over decades. Within the clan rules, he still holds absolute authority.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanzhi's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly.

Liu Yunrou frowned slightly and whispered a reminder:

"Young master, the master has summoned you now, probably to use the family's reputation to blackmail you."

Gu Pan'er snorted coldly, "It's nothing more than the same old cliché of considering the big picture and brotherly respect. They want you to back down, compromise, accommodate the eldest son, and support the clan."

Li Xuanzhi waved his hand dismissively, "There's no escaping it. The Earl's family gave me life and raised me; this bond must be faced eventually."

He knew in his heart that Li Dehai's intervention at this time was by no means simply to mediate the conflict between the brothers.

Rather, they saw his current power and promising future and wanted to use the bond between father and son and the greater good of the clan to firmly bind him to the chariot of the Earl's direct line.

He stepped out and headed straight back to the main hall of the Earl's Mansion.

The main hall was solemn, with the fragrance of sandalwood wafting through the air.

Marquis Chengen, Li Dehai, remained seated in the main seat, his face solemn.

Only Li Xuanjing stood to one side in the hall; his mother, Madam Zhang, had already left.

"Xuanzhi has arrived."

When Li Dehai spoke, he deliberately softened his tone. Gone was his usual indifference and aloofness; instead, he exuded a deliberate warmth and intimacy.

Li Xuanzhi bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Father."

He was courteous and measured, yet distant and aloof, showing no trace of intimacy or warmth.

Looking at his increasingly outstanding demeanor, Li Dehai slowly spoke, taking the initiative to appeal to his emotions and build rapport:

"He established himself in Pingzhou and made numerous great contributions, eventually receiving imperial favor. As his father, I am very pleased to see this."