The playboy county magistrate

As the red candle burned down to its last wick, the sky outside the window was already beginning to lighten.

The soft morning light filtered through the gauze-covered window paper, creating a gentle, misty white that lightly blanketed the bed.

The brocade curtains hung low, and the tassels fell silently, without the soft rustling sounds of last night.

The warmth of the bed lingered.

Pei Qingyuan lay on her side, her long hair cascading onto the plain white brocade pillow, its black and soft texture making her face appear even whiter and more delicate.

Her long eyelashes drooped gently, her eyebrows and eyes relaxed, giving her a soft, languid, and innocent look.

Her shoulders were soft and graceful, gently covered by a thin blanket, revealing only half of her slender neck, which shone with a faint porcelain white light in the daylight.

Li Xuanzhi didn't move, but simply lay quietly on his side. His elbow was resting on his head, and his gaze was gentle on the face of the person beside him.

He gazed at her quietly for a long time before slowly raising his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing against a stray strand of hair near her temple.

The fingertips are warm, the hair strands are soft, and the touch is tingling.

Perhaps the slight movement of her fingertips disturbed her light sleep, for the person on the pillow's eyelashes trembled twice, like the fluttering of a butterfly's wings, subtle and gentle.

Pei Qingyuan kept her eyes closed, gave a soft, indistinct hum, and subconsciously leaned slightly closer to the warm spot.

Li Xuanzhi felt a slight tingling in his chest, a gentle thud in his throat, and a deeper tenderness in his eyes.

He quickly withdrew his hand, not daring to disturb her again. He simply turned slightly to tuck the thin blanket that had slipped down around her.

After a while, Pei Qingyuan slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, just awakened, were misty and hazy, yet clear and clean.

She blinked blankly at first, then her gaze slowly focused, and she saw the handsome face so close to her.

After a moment of stunned silence, a faint shyness slowly crept up her ears and quietly blushed down her neck.

She subconsciously shrank back slightly, lowered her eyes, and dared not look him in the eye again, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but curve slightly.

Looking at her soft, newly awakened state, Li Xuanzhi's heart melted completely. He chuckled softly, his voice slightly hoarse, incredibly alluring.

"woke up?"

Pei Qingyuan gave a soft "hmm," her voice barely audible, and still dared not raise her eyes.

"Were you tired last night?" Li Xuanzhi leaned closer, his breath light and gentle, brushing against her forehead. "You must have had a hard night."

Pei Qingyuan's face flushed even more, her fingertips gently gripping the quilt. The fabric was delicate and slightly cool, calming her chaotic and tender emotions somewhat: "It's no trouble at all, it's all what I should do."

After a brief pause, she mustered her courage and quietly glanced at him.

The morning light fell on his brows and eyes, fading the ambiguity and intensity of last night, leaving him with a clearer and cleaner appearance.

"My husband woke up so early," she said softly, her tone gentle and natural, though still a little reserved.

"I'm used to it," Li Xuanzhi replied casually, his gaze falling on her reddened earlobes, a faint smile in his eyes.

"I feel more comfortable being awake today than usual."

Pei Qingyuan understood his unspoken meaning, and her heart warmed. She looked up at him earnestly: "From now on, you can be at ease every day."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanzhi's eyes flickered slightly, and he leaned closer.

The two closed the distance instantly, their breaths mingled again, and his warm breath gently enveloped her.

Pei Qingyuan's eyelashes fluttered, and her heart tightened slightly. She subconsciously held her breath, her small face tensing slightly, but she still slowly closed her eyes, raised her head slightly, and waited obediently.

But Li Xuanzhi simply gazed quietly at her reddened eyes and brows, and whispered tenderly:

"Okay, I'll have you every day from now on."

As he finished speaking, he raised his hand, gently placing his palm on the top of her head and caressing it tenderly, a faint, doting smile appearing on his lips.

Just as Pei Qingyuan was feeling secretly embarrassed and annoyed, very light footsteps came from outside the door.

Tang Zheng cleared his throat, holding his sword, and asked for instructions in a low voice from outside.

"Young master, madam. The old lady is already waiting. It's getting late; you should get up and wash."

Li Xuanzhi knew perfectly well that he would have to bring his new bride to serve tea today, otherwise he wouldn't have let her off so easily.

On the second day after the bride enters the household, she must rise early to serve tea and pay respects to the elders. This is a custom that cannot be neglected in the slightest.

Upon hearing the sound, Pei Qingyuan panicked slightly and hurriedly tried to sit up. However, due to the soreness in her back and weak legs, she let out a soft hiss, her eyes showing a hint of awkwardness typical of a newlywed.

Li Xuanzhi never expected that even though he had held back so much, he could still torment his wife so badly.

"Slow down." Li Xuanzhi reached out and firmly supported her waist, his palm warm and strong. He gently supported her, his tone tender.

"No rush, take your time. Mother was just worried that I would bother you again early in the morning, so she specially sent Tang Zheng over to remind you, not to urge you."

Li Xuanzhi's movements became increasingly gentle and careful, not daring to exert any force, and a trace of barely perceptible pity flashed in his eyes.

Pei Qingyuan felt relieved as he steadily supported her, and leaned against his arm.

"I must visit my mother today; I can't be late."

Having been raised with traditional etiquette, she knew that serving tea to a bride in the morning was a first-class courtesy and dared not neglect it in the slightest.

Li Xuanzhi chuckled softly, helped her sit up slowly, and helped her get dressed.

"Your mother is gentle and kind-hearted. Besides, with me here, you don't need to be reserved at all."

Looking into his firm yet gentle eyes, Pei Qingyuan felt all her unease vanish and nodded softly, "Mm."

Li Xuanzhi lifted the thin blanket, casually picked up a clean outer robe from the side, and put it on. Then he turned around and reached out to steadily help her off the bed.

Pei Qingyuan landed on her feet, her body swaying slightly. Her legs felt weak, and her body tilted gently to the side.

Li Xuanzhi reacted quickly, his long arm sweeping around her and pulling her firmly into his embrace.

His arms were enveloped in a soft, warm embrace, her touch gentle and delicate. His heart skipped a beat, then he firmly steadied her shoulders, looking down at her slightly flushed cheeks, his voice low and tender. "Stand firm?"

Pei Qingyuan nestled in his arms, her ears turning bright red. She softly replied, "Mmm, I'm standing firm."

Li Xuanzhi released her hand and took a half step back. He lifted the curtain for her, saying, "Go wash up; I'll wait for you in the outer room."

"My husband may go first," Pei Qingyuan said softly, lowering her eyes to straighten her clothes.

"I'll stay with you."

He didn't want her to feel awkward and uncomfortable alone, and he was willing to accompany her to take this first step after marriage.

Lian Qiao, the maid Pei Qingyuan brought from her maiden home, stood quietly outside the curtain, both dressed in neat blue cloth dresses, their expressions gentle and respectful.

Hearing the slight movement inside, Lianqiao gently lifted the hanging brocade curtain and bowed to enter.

"Young master, madam, your toiletries are ready."

The maid Lian Qiao spoke softly, her gaze lowered obediently, not daring to look at him recklessly.

Su Qingyuan still carried a hint of lingering shyness as she gently smoothed her slightly disheveled hair. Her fingertips touched the strands, and she realized that her loose hair from the previous night had completely fallen away. Her long, dark hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, further emphasizing her delicate and beautiful face.

Li Xuanzhi stood to the side, watching her slightly flustered movements, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. He turned to the maid Lian Qiao and whispered an instruction:

"You may leave now; there's no need for you to wait here."

"Yes."

The only sound in the room was their breathing, gentle and long.

Li Xuanzhi walked to the dressing table, picked up a wooden comb, and turned to his newlywed wife, who had finished washing up, asking gently, "Shall I comb your hair?"

Pei Qingyuan was slightly taken aback, looked up at him, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

She nodded gently, her voice soft: "Okay."