The playboy county magistrate

The two groups of carriages met on the long street. The Zhang family patriarch quickly got out of his carriage and looked at Zhang Shi, who was also getting out of her carriage but was dressed in imperial robes and had a graceful demeanor. His eyes were full of relief and affection.

"Good child, it's the family's fault. We shouldn't have trusted that bastard back then and sent you into that cannibalistic pit. Now, you've finally overcome your suffering and are able to hold your head high. The unease and guilt I've felt for so many years can finally be relieved a little."

A whispered word from a loved one instantly shattered Zhang's long-standing inner conflict.

Her eyes welled up slightly, and her smile was gentle. No longer was she the timid and aggrieved woman who used to shed tears; she calmly nodded and bowed.

Li Xuanzhi also stepped forward to greet him respectfully, displaying impeccable manners, dignified bearing, and extreme humility towards his elders.

The Zhang family uncles looked at their outstanding and exceptionally handsome nephew.

Thinking back on his reputation for integrity in the court and the emperor's favor, I am filled with emotion.

The child who was once neglected and unloved in the Earl's mansion has now grown into a pillar of society, a man of great talent who protects his mother and far surpasses the scions of many noble families.

The two teams merged into one, becoming even more magnificent and grand, and headed together towards the imperial residence in Qinghefang, Dongcheng.

Qinghefang was a prestigious neighborhood in the capital, a gathering place for powerful and wealthy people.

Li Xuanzhi's imperial residence was located in the heart of the neighborhood, with a spacious courtyard and a well-proportioned layout. It featured blue bricks and gray tiles, and a tall, imposing vermilion gate.

It perfectly matches the status and regulations of a fourth-rank imperial censor, being elegant and dignified, neither extravagant nor shabby.

Before the main residence's carriages and horses even arrived, the entrance to the neighborhood was already filled with civil and military officials who had been waiting for a long time.

The principal officials of the Six Ministries and the supervising secretaries of various departments, their colleagues in the Censorate, the scholars of the Imperial Academy, and the newly promoted officials all came to pay their respects.

Some brought calligraphy and paintings, some gave elegant ornaments, and some presented everyday gifts.

In the past, people dared not associate too closely with Li Xuanzhi for various reasons, for fear of causing trouble.

Things are different now. Whether it's out of genuine sincerity or self-serving flattery, the congratulations are undeniably heartfelt.

The group stood on the steps in front of the mansion, chatting and laughing.

The area in front of the new mansion was filled with a harmonious and prosperous atmosphere, brimming with joy.

When the grand procession arrived at the mansion gate, drums and music began again, and cannons fired lightly, creating a festive atmosphere.

Li Xuanzhi first helped Zhang Shi out of the carriage and led his mother to stand on the steps in front of the main gate.

The guests all bowed and offered their congratulations.

"Congratulations to Madam Zhang on receiving the title of Imperial Noblewoman! May you enjoy good health and longevity!"

"Congratulations to Imperial Censor Li on moving to your new residence! May your future be bright!"

Madam Zhang calmly raised her hand in return, her tone gentle, "Thank you, gentlemen and ladies."

She was dignified and proper, with no trace of the humility, restraint, and timidity she had shown in the Earl's mansion in the past.

Li Xuanzhi stood beside his mother, and returned the greeting to his colleagues in court with a bow, expressing his gratitude in a clear voice.

"Thank you all for your kind invitation. My humble abode is newly completed today. I will prepare some light tea and snacks later, and I hope you will understand."

His humble demeanor, devoid of the arrogance of someone in a high position or the pride of someone who has suddenly gained power, only made him more admirable to everyone.

Zhang's relatives followed closely behind and entered the mansion to offer their congratulations.

Looking at the spacious, well-organized, elegant, and clean new house.

Seeing Zhang's peaceful and dignified life, and her nephew in the prime of his life, everyone felt at ease and gratified.

From now on, Zhang will have a son to rely on and an honorable title. She will no longer be confined to her secluded house and subjected to bullying.

Inside the new mansion, the air was filled with lively chatter and laughter. Guests came and went in an endless stream, and the entire hall was filled with joy and peace.

The Chengen Earl's Mansion, located several streets away, was even more desolate and cold.

The long corridor was deserted, with no one passing by. The hall was solemn, devoid of any festive atmosphere.

The once grand hereditary mansion is now so desolate and deserted.

The servants in the mansion stood at a distance, none daring to speak or laugh. They even walked on tiptoe, afraid of offending their master.

Li Dehai remained standing motionless beneath the corridor, his body cold and lifeless.

Even though we were so far apart that we couldn't hear anything, I could still faintly hear the sound of drums and music from afar.

That glory should have belonged to the Earl's Mansion, and the prosperity of the clan should have been its own.

The sun was setting in the west.

The guests at the new mansion gradually dispersed.

The servants and attendants tidied up the courtyard and arranged the banquet hall in an orderly manner.

Liu Yunrou and Gu Pan'er worked together seamlessly to manage the household affairs, keeping the new mansion in perfect order.

The front yard was quiet, but the main hall in the back yard was warm and inviting.

Not all of Zhang's relatives left; the closest of them remained to chat.

Stripped of the polite congratulations to outsiders, what remains is the most genuine care and affection from loved ones.

Zhang changed back into a simple, elegant dress, her brows and eyes relaxed and gentle, revealing a rare sense of ease and tranquility.

Now, thanks to Li Xuanzhi, Zhang's father, who has been promoted by the emperor to Minister of Revenue and concurrently Minister of Rites, is also Li Xuanzhi's grandfather. Looking at his daughter and grandson, he is filled with satisfaction.

Then, he raised his voice slightly towards the outside of the courtyard.

"Bring it in."

As soon as he finished speaking, several servants from the Zhang family filed in.

Boxes of sealed mahogany crates were carried into the main hall. They were neatly arranged and almost filled half of the hall.

The wooden box has a smooth lacquer finish and exquisite locks, making it clear at a glance that it contains valuable treasures.

Seeing this, Zhang was slightly taken aback, and spoke softly:

"Father, why is this? Today, Father, Mother, my elder brother, and my sister-in-law have come from afar to offer their congratulations, and I am already deeply grateful. Why prepare such heavy gifts?"

Looking at her gentle and forbearing eyes, Madam Zhang felt both pain and sigh in her heart.

"Good child, your family has seen and remembered all the grievances you have suffered since you married into the Chengen Marquis's family."

"When you got married, the Zhang family prepared a generous and complete dowry. However, after you entered the Earl's mansion as his second wife, you were bound by the rules, and Li Dehai secretly embezzled and deducted the dowry from it at every turn. Most of the dowry ended up in the Earl's mansion's public funds."

Upon hearing this, Zhang's eyes welled up with tears, and her nose stung with a soreness.

She married into the Earl's mansion full of expectations, bringing with her a generous dowry.

However, because she was a second wife, she was restricted in many ways, and her dowry was used as public property in the household.

He had saved every penny he had accumulated over the years, and had been living a meager existence year after year.

If it weren't for the occasional financial support from my brothers and sisters-in-law, I probably wouldn't be alive today.

"Now that you've left the Earl's mansion and received an imperial title, you no longer need to be subservient to others or suffer bullying."

"Today, my family has taken the initiative to send over all eighteen extra loads of dowry that were secretly prepared back then but were not carried over."

He raised his hand to signal his people to open the chests, revealing boxes of treasures.

The finest gold ingots, the warm and translucent jadeite, the exquisitely crafted jewelry and headdresses, the rare and precious calligraphy and paintings, and the finest silk and satin fabrics—each piece is a masterpiece.

Moreover, the two thick wooden crates in the center contained a thick stack of neatly arranged account books, banknotes, land deeds, and shop documents. The papers were yellowed, but they were kept clean and organized.

"This is the clan dividend that the Zhang family has kept specifically for you since they started owning a shop."

Li Xuanzhi's maternal grandfather pointed to the account book and slowly continued:

"When you got married, the clan established a rule that all annual dividends and profits from the clan's properties, fields, and shops under your name would be sealed up separately. They would not be included in the clan's public property, but were kept for your future use."

"Year after year, there's a surplus, year after year, savings. Not a penny has been touched, not a penny has been lost. Whether you're doing well or feeling wronged in the Earl's household, your family will always have a way out for you, and you'll always have a safety net."