The playboy county magistrate

"But I don't believe it..." Fu Xiaoxiao murmured softly, with a hint of stubbornness and a self-torturing clarity.

"That young lady was gentle, beautiful, and talented; she was a rare beauty. You may take her in, or you may discard her."

She voiced her deepest concerns, a barrier she could never overcome.

In Fu Xiaoxin's mind, Li Xuanzhi was the chess player, someone who could control the course of the world. And she was merely a pawn.

How can such an unequal bond last?

At this moment, Li Xuanzhi understood her resilience and her unease.

She spent half her life walking a tightrope, witnessing betrayal and seeing through the coldness of human nature. She didn't believe in the compassion of the powerful, nor did she believe that those who wield the chess pieces would linger for their own.

But he insisted on shattering all her preconceived notions.

Li Xuanzhi gently loosened his grip, pulling her tightly into his embrace. The warm, comforting embrace shielded them from the world's troubles, leaving only the sound of their intertwined heartbeats.

No matter how good other people are, it's none of my business.

He whispered in her ear, his breath warm.

"The world fawns on those in power and flatters me, all for my current favor and authority. Only you, who initially approached me to spy on me, now remain here to survive."

"I am not rejecting a beautiful woman, but all those in the world who try to enter my life and replace you."

"Chess pieces can be changed, and the game can be altered. But you, Fu Xiaoxiao, are unique and irreplaceable."

The words, so tender and gentle, seemed to promise the rest of their lives, or to proclaim their feelings.

Fu Xiaoxiao buried her face in his chest, her tense muscles completely relaxing. The guardedness, suspicion, and unease that had accumulated in her heart for many days collapsed at this moment.

She raised her hand and gently wrapped it around his waist, her fingertips gripping his robe tightly, as if she had grasped the only piece of driftwood in a desperate situation.

This embrace was no longer a game of strategy, no longer a gamble.

It is decadence, dependence, and being unable to control oneself due to deep-rooted feelings.

"My lord..." she said softly, her voice trembling with sobs. "I can hardly tell what's real anymore."

I can't tell if you're acting or if I'm just imagining things.

"I'm afraid that I might win the gamble for a better life, but end up losing my heart."

As an assassin, the worst thing you can do is fall in love, especially your target.

Once you fall in love, it becomes your weakness, your vulnerability, and your fatal flaw that others can exploit.

What she feared most was never that Li Xuanzhi would kill her, but that he would use gentleness as a blade and favoritism as a net to make her willingly fall into his trap, only to crush her true feelings with his own hands in the end.

Li Xuanzhi lowered his head, his nose brushing against her temple, a tender and affectionate gesture filled with tenderness.

"Then we won't distinguish between true and false."

"From now on, there is no need for testing."

He spoke slowly, each word a gentle promise.

"Just stay by my side and I will protect you for the rest of your life. I will keep you from being homeless and lonely."

"If this is all just a play, I'll play along for the rest of my life."

Unbeknownst to anyone, this gentleness was still part of Li Xuanzhi's scheme.

No one will truly give their heart to someone who once schemed to kill them, but the thrill of conquest is irreplaceable by any other joy.

When I become even more powerful and get old, I can write an autobiography to pass down to future generations. I can boast to my descendants about how charismatic I am.

Li Xuanzhi felt like he had forgotten to do something. What was it again?

Well, some things are just impossible to figure out no matter how hard you try. If you leave them alone, who knows when the idea might pop into your head on its own?

……

The main courtyard of the Li family mansion in the capital.

Unlike the gentle, humid climate of Jiangnan, the leaves of the sycamore trees in the courtyards fell silently, carpeting the ground with a bluish-gray hue.

Pei Qingyuan, Li Xuanzhi's legal wife, sat gracefully by the window, dressed in an elegant brocade dress, her makeup dignified and meticulous. Her eyes were calm and serene; she had just finished arranging all the affairs of the household and was about to have a sip of tea before continuing to check the account books.

Since marrying into the Li family, she has been in charge of managing the household affairs and overseeing all matters. She is law-abiding, dignified, and composed, and has never overstepped her bounds or made any mistakes.

Since Li Xuanzhi went to Jinling, she stayed behind in the capital's mansion. She managed household affairs daily, quietly awaiting her husband's return. She neither concerned herself with external affairs nor with power struggles, simply tending to her spacious mansion and living a peaceful life.

Now, everyone in the Li family respects her as the mistress of the house. Even though Li Xuanzhi is away from the capital for a period of time, it has not affected her reputation for maintaining a peaceful and stable household.

A maidservant entered the courtyard quietly, stood by the door with her head bowed, looking hesitant and as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Pei Qingyuan raised her eyes slightly, her tone calm and even. "What is it?"

The maid hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not conceal the truth and reported it to the maid in a low voice.

"Madam, there's been a rumor circulating in the capital lately that the Prefect of Jinling, in an attempt to curry favor with you, has presented you with a young lady from a scholarly family. Not only that, but there's also a woman of unknown origin staying at the official post station to serve you, attending to you daily and being extremely close to you for quite some time now."

"Most importantly, everyone in Jinling knows that the Lord is staying in Jinling, indulging in romance and gentleness, and being extremely indulgent towards the beauties around him, which is completely unlike his usual aloof and self-possessed self."

As the rumors drifted into her ears, Pei Qingyuan's fingers, which were resting on the account book, suddenly tightened, and several pages instantly became crumpled.

She stayed in the capital to take care of her mother-in-law and the other two concubines in the inner quarters. She was dutiful and virtuous, managing everything meticulously and without the slightest mistake, eagerly awaiting his return to the capital every day.

As a wife who was married in a grand and proper ceremony, she had to hear about her husband having a new lover from other people.

A faint hint of bitterness flashed across Pei Qingyuan's eyes, but there was not a trace of suspicion.

She loved Li Xuanzhi too much, and understood him too well.

He was naturally aloof and proud, with a firm will.

Back in the capital, countless noble ladies took the initiative to show their affections to him, but he coldly rejected them all, never giving anyone even the slightest thought.

But now, separated by thousands of miles, with the gentle breezes and moonlight of Nanjing, rumors are rampant. It's impossible for her not to overthink or be heartbroken.

Seeing her remain silent, the maid became even more frightened and quickly bowed to comfort her.

"Madam, most of the rumors circulating are just officials trying to curry favor and spread misinformation. They may not be true, so please don't overthink it."

Pei Qingyuan slowly closed the book, her eyes gentle, and sighed softly.

"I don't think too much about it, I just... miss him."

"He has always been strict with himself, cautious in every step, and never dared to slack off in the slightest. Now he is far away in Jinling, with no one to advise him or take care of him. If he really is tempted by pleasure, it is understandable."

She would never speak ill of his true intentions. In her eyes, he was always that young man carrying a heavy burden and full of fatigue, not a powerful minister who inspired fear.

Others feared his immense power and unpredictable ambitions. Only she felt sorry for him, alone and without anyone to rely on.

"There's no need to deliberately investigate or verify." Pei Qingyuan gently shook her head, her eyes filled with complete understanding and deep affection.

"If he truly has a beautiful woman by his side and can enjoy a moment of pleasure, I am happy for him."

"I live in the capital, guarding the Li family mansion and stabilizing his rear. That is the only thing I can do for him."

Her mind was pure and clear, free from the narrow-mindedness of jealousy and shrewdness of powerful officials and their wives; she possessed only a heart full of sincere affection.