The playboy county magistrate

Pei Qingyuan walked slowly to the dressing table and sat down. The bronze mirror reflected her gentle features, and the tips of her ears still had a faint blush.

Memories of a tender night resurfaced, making her afraid to look directly at her reflection in the mirror. She could only lower her eyes slightly, placing her hands gently on her knees, her posture docile and obedient.

Li Xuanzhi stood behind her, bent down and raised his hand, gently inserting the wooden comb into her jet-black hair.

His fingertips were distinct and his strength was steady. Yet, his movements as he combed her hair were exceptionally gentle and slow, as if afraid of pulling her hair too hard.

One stroke, two strokes, and her black hair spread out smoothly without the slightest hesitation.

Pei Qingyuan gazed quietly at his meticulously combing hair through the bronze mirror, her heart melting completely.

Li Xuanzhi helped her tie up her elegant, flowing hair and inserted a simple jade hairpin into it.

Lacking the grandeur and solemnity of a wedding phoenix crown, her attire is elegant and dignified, perfectly suited to the bride's tea ceremony attire today.

Li Xuanzhi checked it over once, then leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear, "It's done."

Pei Qingyuan looked up at the bronze mirror. Her makeup was simple, her hair was neatly styled, and her eyes and brows were gentle and charming.

Her tall and handsome husband stood beside her; the two were a perfect match, complementing each other beautifully.

She slowly rose and gave him a slight curtsy, saying, "Thank you, my husband."

Li Xuanzhi reached out and firmly supported her arms, then chuckled softly, "Between husband and wife, there's no need for such formalities."

After getting ready, the two walked out of the bridal chamber side by side.

Passing through the corridors and courtyards, the festive atmosphere of yesterday's streets and halls filled with red silk has mostly faded. The mansion is now clean and elegant, with only a few scattered wedding lanterns under the eaves, silently bearing witness to yesterday's perfect union.

The bluestone ground in front of the courtyard is spotless, and a gentle breeze brings the fresh scent of the plants and trees in the courtyard.

Inside the main hall, Madam Zhang was already sitting and waiting.

Today, Zhang was dressed in a navy blue brocade casual dress, looking elegant and dignified.

It lacked yesterday's grandeur and opulence, but instead exuded a touch of the gentleness and kindness of the past.

Holding a cup of warm tea, she waited quietly. Her eyes were full of a peaceful smile, without a trace of severity.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Zhang looked up. She saw her son and daughter-in-law walking side by side. The smile in her eyes became even more genuine, and her features were incredibly gentle.

Pei Qingyuan stopped in the hall, gathered her skirts and curtsied, her posture dignified and proper, her manners impeccable.

"Your daughter-in-law greets Mother." Her voice was gentle and clear, each word respectful. "From now on, I will pay my respects to you morning and evening, and serve you with utmost devotion, observing all the proper conduct of a wife."

At just the right moment, Pei Qingyuan's personal maid, Lian Qiao, brought over a prepared cup of tea and handed it to Pei Qingyuan.

The white porcelain teacup was warm to the touch, and the aroma of tea was delicate and subtle.

Pei Qingyuan held the teacup steadily with both hands and handed it to Zhang Shi.

"Mother, please have some tea."

Looking at her gentle and sensible daughter-in-law, Zhang felt a surge of tenderness and joy in her heart.

She gently took the teacup and immediately took a small sip. Then, with lightning speed, she placed the teacup on the table and reached out to help Pei Qingyuan, who was kneeling on the ground, to her feet.

"Good child, get up quickly." Zhang's tone was extremely gentle, and she gently placed her palm on the back of her hand.

"There's no need for such formality. From the moment you entered my home, you are truly the mistress of the Zhang family."

Zhang directly handed over the keys to the Imperial Censorate's treasury and accounting office.

Pei Qingyuan was still in a daze.

It is said that after many years of hardship, a daughter-in-law becomes a mother-in-law. How many women can take over the management of the household early in the morning after entering the family, when the mother-in-law is still healthy?

When Zhang saw Pei Qingyuan's reaction, she knew that giving up the management of the backyard was too sudden.

But she really didn't want to worry about it at all, and this was the Imperial Censor's residence, her son's mansion.

The son's wife is the proper mistress of the house; why should the old lady have the right to point fingers in the inner quarters?

If you want your family to be harmonious and prosperous, elders should try to minimize their presence and avoid constantly interfering.

Zhang Shi secretly used a bit of force, finally bringing Pei Qingyuan back to her senses. Following Zhang Shi's pull, Pei Qingyuan rose gracefully, lowered her eyes, and stood respectfully, softly replying, "Your daughter-in-law will remember Mother's teachings."

Pei Qingyuan, who had been somewhat uneasy, lost the last trace of panic in her heart.

She was worried that her husband had taken two concubines before her. She also heard that the two concubines had a good relationship with her mother-in-law.

What if the mother-in-law supports those two and they lose face?

Now we don't have to worry about those things anymore.

Zhang then took the brocade box that had been prepared beforehand from the tray held by the nanny behind her and handed it to Pei Qingyuan.

The brocade box is made of fine material with elegant patterns, clearly a carefully prepared gift for a first meeting.

"Yesterday was so busy with the wedding that I didn't have time to give you a gift."

Looking at her features, Zhang continued with a smile:

"This box contains a pair of warm jade pieces that were part of my dowry. They are smooth and gentle, and have a calming and soothing effect. I am giving them to you today as a token of my affection, and also as a wish for you to have a peaceful and prosperous life, with everything going smoothly and filled with joy and happiness."

Holding the heavy brocade box, Pei Qingyuan felt a warmth in her heart and quickly bowed to decline.

"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Mother. You may keep this precious gift for yourself."

"Take it, then take it." Madam Zhang smiled and pressed her hand down, her tone gentle but leaving no room for refusal. "Xuanzhi is fortunate to have such a virtuous wife as you, and it is also a blessing for the Zhang family. This is your own home, and besides, you cannot refuse a gift from your elders. Do you understand?"

Zhang's words were quite clear, and Pei Qingyuan, being a smart person, naturally understood the deeper meaning behind them.

The Imperial Censorate had a close relationship with the Zhang family, the maternal family of Li Xuanzhi's mother-in-law, which extended far beyond the lineage of Li Xuanzhi's own family, the Earl of Chengen.

Even now, she hasn't invited her father-in-law, the Earl Chengen, to have tea with his daughter-in-law, nor has she mentioned him at all, which shows how strained their relationship has become.

Now that she is Li Xuanzhi's wife, she naturally has to stand with him.

As long as Li Xuanzhi and her mother do not reconcile with the Chengen Earl's Mansion, she, as the newly appointed head mistress, will not be able to build closer relations with the Chengen Earl's Mansion.

Even her maternal family, the Pei clan, must not have any dealings with the current branch of the Chengen Earl's Mansion.

"Thank you, Mother. We will be of one heart and mind as husband and wife in the future. If I encounter anything I don't understand, please don't look down on me for being foolish. I ask for your guidance."

Looking at her gentle and sensible appearance, Zhang was more and more pleased, her eyes full of loving smiles. She felt that talking to a smart person was so easy and effortless.

"From now on, there's no need to be bound by formalities every day in the manor. I have a mild temperament and dislike complicated procedures, so you can just live as you please. Xuanzhi is calm and steady, but also a little stubborn. From now on, you two as husband and wife, just be tolerant and understanding of each other, and that will be enough."

"Your daughter-in-law understands." Pei Qingyuan nodded gently, her eyes and brows docile.

Standing beside him, Li Xuanzhi felt a sense of peace as he watched his mother's relaxed expression and his wife's gentle and serene demeanor.

He used to worry that his mother would be wronged, and he also worried that his newlywed wife would be awkward and uncomfortable when she first entered the family, causing a rift between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

In retrospect, all his concerns were unnecessary.

Zhang looked up at her son, her tone a mix of reproach and relief.

"From now on, you must not bully Yuan'er. As husband and wife, we are one, and the most important thing is to treat each other with the same heart and cherish each other."

Li Xuanzhi bowed slightly, his expression solemn and resolute: "Mother, rest assured, I will protect my wife and children for the rest of my life and will never neglect our duties."

He disdained to do something as favoring a concubine over his wife.

Pei Qingyuan stood to the side, secretly raising her eyes to look at her husband beside her, her eyes filled with a gentle, subtle light.

Seeing the two exchanging glances and understanding each other, Zhang finally felt completely relieved.

"Alright, let's have breakfast together."