The playboy county magistrate

Seven days later, the auspicious wedding day selected by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau will take place.

The day was clear and bright, an extremely auspicious day for a wedding.

In the past seven days, the capital city has been bustling with activity.

When the officials chatted privately, everyone sighed at the marriage.

Before dawn, the new residence of the Imperial Censor in Qinghefang was already bustling with activity.

The entire mansion was adorned with red decorations, and the vermilion gates and red plaques gleamed brightly.

Pairs of lanterns hung under the eaves, and red silk ribbons draped and cascaded down the corridor.

A brand-new, bright red brocade carpet was laid in front of the steps, stretching from the inner courtyard all the way to the outside of the long street.

Without a trace of vulgarity or extravagance, it instead accentuates the festive yet dignified atmosphere of the brand-new mansion.

The bridal chamber in the inner courtyard was even more exquisitely decorated. There were brocade curtains with tassels and mandarin duck pillows. Double happiness symbols were pasted on the windows, and dragon and phoenix candles and pomegranates, symbolizing many children and blessings, were placed on the table.

Madam Zhang rose early and took her seat in the inner hall, her hair neatly styled and her demeanor dignified. A gentle smile, barely concealed, lingered in her eyes, though her gaze was slightly red.

She sat quietly in the hall, gazing at the festive red hues that filled the mansion, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Madam, the weather is so fine today; it's a good omen for harmony and peace year after year."

The old woman beside Zhang brought forward tea, her eyes filled with genuine joy.

She had been by Zhang's side all these years and had seen her at her most disheveled and down-and-out.

Now that she has finally escaped from the manor of the Marquis of Chengen, which was like a cage that could devour people, I feel much more at ease and at peace.

All of Zhang's maternal relatives came out to help them welcome and see off guests.

At this moment, the maidservant beside Zhang's eldest aunt was standing to the side helping to count the wedding gifts. Upon hearing this, she smiled and softly echoed:

"Miss Pei is of virtuous character; once she marries into your household, the whole family will surely live in harmony. You, my lady, can rest assured and enjoy your life to the fullest!"

As they spoke, the sound of footsteps could be faintly heard. Li Xuanzhi, having changed into his wedding attire, stepped steadily out of the inner room.

Today he wore a bright red wedding robe, embroidered with dark cloud and crane patterns, and a jade belt around his waist.

His black hair was tied up high, his jade crown was perfectly placed, and his eyebrows and eyes were clear, handsome, and gentle. At first glance, he seemed to be the embodiment of a rare and outstanding person.

Zhang looked up, her eyes instantly filling with tenderness, and said softly:

"My son, you are truly outstanding today."

Li Xuanzhi walked up to his mother and bowed respectfully.

"My mother has worked hard for many years. Now that I have started my own family, I will definitely protect her and ensure her peaceful and stable life in our home."

"Yes, yes." Madam Zhang nodded repeatedly, gently stroking his sleeve as she carefully instructed him. "Today is our wedding day, so it's our duty to be courteous and respectful, but true sincerity is what ensures a lasting relationship. Yuan'er is a wise and kind girl; you must treat her with respect and tolerance from now on."

"Your son will remember your teachings, Mother." Li Xuanzhi solemnly replied, "The rest of my life is long, and I will treat her with sincerity and give her peace of mind."

What Li Xuanzhi didn't say was, "I will never let her follow in your footsteps, Mother."

However, these words were too hurtful and ruined the festive atmosphere of today.

However, in the brief moment the mother and son looked at each other, they understood the meaning hidden in each other's eyes.

A loud announcement came from outside the door from the Ministry of Rites: "The auspicious hour is approaching! The wedding procession is ready; groom, please depart!"

Suddenly, drums and music resounded throughout the city, their joyful melody echoing down the long street.

Zhang smiled, reached out and straightened Li Xuanzhi's clothes, and gently patted his shoulder.

"Go and bring back the mistress of our Imperial Censorate."

Zhang had no desire to hold onto the power in the inner quarters of the Imperial Censor's residence. She came to live in her son's house to enjoy a life of luxury, not to be a hardworking old woman.

In addition, since the daughter-in-law is genuinely fond of the son, she would never do anything to make things difficult for her, causing the son and daughter-in-law to drift apart or quarrel.

Li Xuanzhi nodded emphatically before quickly leaving the room.

The royal wedding procession, bestowed by the emperor himself, lined up in a grand procession in front of the gate, with a special official from the Ministry of Rites leading the way and palace ladies accompanying the procession.

The banners were bright and the music was festive.

People lined both sides of the street early in the morning, creating a sea of ​​people and a joyous atmosphere. Everyone was eager to witness this grand wedding, a spectacle rarely seen in the capital in recent years.

"Look! It's Imperial Censor Li's wedding procession!"

"Such a grand display is truly rare!"

"After all the hardships, the good times have finally come! Who would have thought that the纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) of yesteryear would have such a grand wedding today, marrying a girl from the Pei family!"

The place was bustling with noise and cheers; the streets were filled with blessings and envy.

Meanwhile, within the Pei residence, a festive atmosphere prevailed.

The boudoir is warm and cozy, with fragrant mist rising gently.

Pei Qingyuan sat gracefully before the dressing table, dressed in a bright red wedding gown embroidered with patterns of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons.

Her eyebrows and eyes were gentle and beautiful, her face was lightly powdered, and her lips were adorned with cinnabar.

She shed her usual scholarly elegance and gained a touch of radiant beauty, like a newlywed blush.

Madam Pei personally combed her younger sister-in-law's hair, the wooden comb slowly gliding through her hair, each stroke filled with reluctance and anticipation.

"My sister is getting married today. From now on, she will be the mistress of another family and will no longer be a carefree little girl." Madam Pei's voice was gentle but tinged with sadness. "Your elder sister-in-law only has three pieces of advice for you: First, maintain harmony in your family; second, respect and care for your mother-in-law, and be polite and filial; third, be of one heart with your husband, and respect and understand each other."

Pei Qingyuan's eyes were also red as she looked at her gentle reflection in the bronze mirror.

"I remember everything you said, elder sister-in-law. Rest assured, elder sister-in-law, I will never tarnish the reputation of our Pei family, nor will I ever betray his sincere heart."

"You are so understanding and sensible; your elder sister-in-law is most at ease with you." Madam Pei smiled gently, placing the last gilded wedding hairpin in her hair. "Xuanzhi is of upright character and pure heart; he is a worthy man to whom you can entrust your life. From now on, you two will be of one heart and mind, and live in peace year after year."

A maidservant attending to her makeup chuckled and teased, "Miss and Imperial Censor Li are a match made in heaven, a union blessed by the royal family. From now on, they will surely live in perfect harmony, with happiness year after year!"

Pei Qingyuan's ears turned slightly red, and she lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.

Before long, the joyous wedding procession approached from outside the gate, with drums and music filling the air, and the area in front of the Pei residence instantly became lively and bustling.

"The groom has arrived!"

Inside the gate, Pei family members and their relatives, following custom, blocked the entrance to greet the guests, creating a lively atmosphere.

Li Xuanzhi stood before the Pei residence, dressed in a bright red auspicious robe, his posture upright. His eyes were gentle and smiling, completely devoid of the cold and stern demeanor he displayed in the imperial court; he was humble and polite to everyone.

Pei's cousin stepped forward with a smile, cupped his hands in a joking gesture:

"Today, Imperial Censor Li is marrying my elder sister. He must answer our questions and demonstrate sincerity before he can enter the house for the wedding!"

The people around them echoed their agreement.

Li Xuanzhi smiled calmly, his red silk robes making his features appear even more gentle, and his tone was humble.

"Please feel free to ask me any questions; today, to welcome the beautiful lady, I will answer them all."

The younger members of the Pei family, who had initially intended to joke and tease, became quite interested upon seeing this.

Everyone knows that Li Xuanzhi is incorruptible and an upright member of the Qingliu faction, but very few people know that he is also very learned.

Today's wedding celebrations provide the perfect opportunity for everyone to glimpse his literary talent.

The eldest cousin from the Pei family, who was also a prodigy who had become famous at a young age, was the first to raise his hand and pose a question.

"Since this is an auspicious occasion for marriage, let's not test your knowledge of policy and current affairs. Instead, I would like to ask Imperial Censor Li to compose a seven-character quatrain on the theme of 'auspicious marriage' on the spot, with a time limit of three breaths. Is that acceptable?"