The playboy county magistrate

Li Xuanzhi spoke calmly, but Pei Qingyuan's heart tightened.

After he finished changing his clothes, he slowly walked into Zhang's courtyard and saw his mother, Zhang, and his newlywed wife, Pei Qingyuan, sitting around a stone table, looking anxious.

Hearing footsteps, the two of them looked up at the same time.

Madam Zhang slowly sat up straight and spoke softly, "Has something happened at court?"

Li Xuanzhi walked up to the two of them and first bowed deeply to Zhang Shi. Then he raised his eyes and looked at Pei Qingyuan's gentle and beautiful face, his eyes filled with undisguised guilt and reluctance.

"Mother, Yuan'er."

He spoke very softly, with a barely perceptible hoarseness.

"By imperial decree, proceed south to Nanjing immediately to investigate old cases involving river works and canal transport."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly became heavy.

Zhang's fingertips trembled slightly, and her hand holding the teacup tightened abruptly, causing the warm tea to ripple gently.

She had long known that her son was in a difficult situation in the court, but she never imagined that things would happen so suddenly.

On the second day of his marriage, while ordinary grooms would not even be willing to step out of their bedroom, he was about to embark on a long journey.

"Leaving immediately?" Zhang's throat tightened slightly. She suppressed the bitterness in her heart and tried to keep her tone calm. "Can't you wait a little longer? You're supposed to accompany Qingyuan back to her parents' home tomorrow."

For a woman getting married, returning home is a very important event. If Li Xuanzhi were to leave like this, those who don't know the inside story might start to smear Pei Qingyuan.

Zhang was genuinely very satisfied with her daughter-in-law.

Although she had handed over all the power to manage the household affairs to Pei Qingyuan, it didn't mean she knew nothing.

This child is very good at managing the household; he keeps the accounts, social interactions, and other complicated matters very organized and clear.

Li Xuanzhi was also somewhat helpless, as he really hadn't expected things to be settled so quickly today and to have progressed to this point.

"The imperial decree has been issued, and it is no longer up to your son to decide." Li Xuanzhi lowered his eyes. "The old case in the capital is too complicated. His Majesty has ordered me to go to Jinling to collect evidence and investigate the case with full authority. There must be no delay."

Zhang looked at him quietly, and finally just sighed softly.

"Go ahead." Madam Zhang nodded gently, her eyes filled with heartache and affection.

"For an official, loyalty to the emperor and service to the people are his duty, and he must be extremely careful in his actions when he is away from home."

"Your son will remember your teachings."

Li Xuanzhi bowed again, a bitter feeling welling up inside him.

Then, he slowly turned his head, his gaze fixed on Pei Qingyuan.

Pei Qingyuan sat quietly to the side, without crying or showing any signs of grievance.

But in those clear eyes, there was a faint sense of emptiness and reluctance.

She didn't utter a single complaint from beginning to end.

Li Xuanzhi walked slowly closer and gently took her slightly cool fingertips in his hand.

The moment their fingertips touched, Pei Qingyuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she almost couldn't suppress the tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this." Li Xuanzhi looked down at her, his voice full of guilt. "I've left you alone at home so soon after our marriage; I'm so sorry."

Pei Qingyuan gently shook her head, looked up at him, and spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

"My husband has served the country and its people; how could he have wronged me? I just... can't bear to see you go."

Li Xuanzhi raised his hand and lightly brushed his fingertips across the corner of her slightly cool eye, the movement so gentle it seemed to drip with tenderness.

"The journey to Jinling is long and the case is dangerous. My return date is uncertain."

He looked into her eyes and continued to give her instructions, word by word.

"If you have any trivial matters or are bothered by outsiders, just handle them yourself. If you cannot resolve them, then send a message to His Majesty or the Empress. In short, your own safety should be the priority."

Li Xuanzhi knew very well that regardless of whether the emperor would be wary of him in the future, his current situation was relatively safe.

In order to allow him to make a big splash in Jinling, the emperor would definitely help him stabilize the rear.

The emperor was certainly willing to have his family's safety completely protected by people sent by him.

Furthermore, this is also a great opportunity. A good chance for the emperor to prove to his courtiers that as long as one is a good minister, his family will be treated well.

Pei Qingyuan nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly reddening, but she still smiled steadily.

"I remember everything. I will guard the house, protect my mother, and wait for my husband to return. My husband, please be careful in everything you do while you are away. Do not be reckless; safety is the most important thing."

Tang Zheng also walked in from outside the courtyard and reported in a low voice.

"Young master, the carriage, travel permit, and luggage are all ready, and we can depart at any time."

Li Xuanzhi released her hand, then gently embraced her, tenderly holding her in his arms for a moment.

After a moment, he slowly loosened his grip, turned to the side, and bowed deeply to Zhang.

"Mother, I will surely be able to close the case and return to the capital as soon as possible to serve you."

"Go ahead." Zhang raised her hand and waved, blinking rapidly several times before her vision cleared. "Don't neglect official business."

……

Once the carriage left Yongning Gate in the capital, the population gradually thinned out.

The official road was wide and straight, with endless fields of green wheat on both sides.

The wind ripples through the rice paddies, creating waves of light green.

The sun rose higher and higher, making the wooden roof of the carriage slightly hot.

The sound of the wind on the road mingled with the sound of wheels rolling over gravel, creating a monotonous and dull symphony.

Li Xuanzhi sat upright inside the carriage.

The carriage walls swayed and bounced, but he remained perfectly still.

His back remained straight, showing no sign of laziness or slackness.

The sorrow and bitterness I had suppressed upon returning home had already been mostly dispelled by the cool breeze along the way.

He lay on his lap with a simple map of the Linghe River works, his fingertips resting on the position of the Jinling Grand Canal Transport Office, stroking it repeatedly.

Jingzhong Xungui deliberately obstructed the proceedings, launching an attack in court. While seemingly trying to protect an old case, he was actually afraid that the investigation would delve deeper and uncover the vested interests that had entrenched themselves in Nanjing for years.

The more layers of blocking are implemented, the more it proves how deep the water is in the local area.

He lowered his gaze to the paper, his brows furrowed and his lips pressed into a sharp, straight line.

This time, the other side will definitely not sit idly by and watch him arrive in Nanjing smoothly.

The road ahead will certainly not be safe.

Outside the carriage, Tang Zheng sat upright beside the driver, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, constantly scanning the official road ahead and behind, as well as the dense forest on both sides.

He had followed Li Xuanzhi for quite some time, especially after Li Xuanzhi entered officialdom, during which time he experienced several assassination attempts and ambushes.

He was suddenly separated from his newlywed wife and ordered to go south. It seemed like a grand display of imperial favor, but in reality, he had already fallen into the enemy's trap.

Since it's inconvenient to take action in the capital, this official road is the best place to do so.

The carriage sped along, gradually reaching Luoxia Slope, a hundred miles away.

One side is a steep earthen slope, covered with dense forests, their branches and leaves intertwined, blocking out the sun.

On the other side are low-lying wastelands, with an open and unobstructed view.

It can be said to be the most secluded and easiest place to set up an ambush on the official road leading to Jingling City.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, scattering into dappled, uneven spots of light that fall on the road, creating a flickering effect.

The carriage, which had been moving steadily and swiftly, suddenly slowed down, and the rhythm of the horses' hooves hitting the ground inexplicably became half a beat off.

Tang Zheng's eyes narrowed sharply, and he shouted in a low voice, "Stop!"