The playboy county magistrate

Pei Qingyuan watched the three figures disappear into the distance and whispered:

"These past two days, Sister Fu has been very careful in her words and actions at home, strictly adhering to the rules. She has never wandered around or tried to curry favor with anyone, nor has she whispered with the servants. She has made no mistakes whatsoever and is indeed a well-behaved person."

It was precisely because Fu Xiaoxiao was helpless and had no desires that he dared to bring her back to his residence without hesitation. He was not afraid of causing trouble in the inner quarters, nor was he afraid that others would use this as an excuse to frame him.

Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly. "She is intelligent and knows what her foundation is. If anyone has any improper thoughts or ideas, you can deal with them as you see fit. You don't need to ask my opinion on everything."

The news of the imperial favor and bestowal of titles spread throughout the capital city's court within an hour of the palace banquet ending.

Li Xuanzhi, who already wielded immense power, solidified his position as the most promising new figure in the court after receiving personal praise and commendation from the Emperor and Empress. His influence was unparalleled, and no one could rival him.

As dusk settled, the atmosphere inside the study of the Marquis of Chengen's residence was heavy and oppressive.

Marquis Chengen, also known as Li Xuanzhi's biological father, Li Dehai, sat upright at his desk, one hand resting on the edge of the table, the other tightly gripping a book.

His knuckles were white, his face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with deep anger and fear.

The tea on the table had long since gone cold, and the surroundings were deathly silent.

"You bastard! You've really grown wings!"

After a long silence, Li Dehai spoke in a deep voice, his tone cold and harsh, filled with suppressed anger.

"Having been away in Jinling for half a year, I've been back in the capital for two days now. I even visited the Pei residence and sent someone to deliver an invitation to the Zhang family, but I refuse to set foot back at the Marquis's residence!"

Li Xuanzhi had already sent a letter to his maternal grandfather's family when he went to the Pei residence.

After receiving the invitation, the Zhang family was overjoyed and busy for a long time. The servants in charge of purchasing went to many places to buy things with great smiles.

Everything he ate, drank, used, and played with was the best. Furthermore, after Li Xuanzhi received the Emperor and Empress's favor, there were even more spies watching his every move and that of his relatives and friends, making it impossible to keep such news a secret.

The butler, standing to the side, bowed his head, not daring to speak, his face respectful but his heart filled with helplessness.

Their master, the Earl of Chengen, has always been extremely concerned with his reputation, valuing worldly hierarchy and clan pomp above all else.

Now, Li Xuanzhi, the second son of the Marquis of Chengen, who has established his own household without relying on the clan, is enjoying immense prestige and has even left the Marquis's residence with his wife. His aloofness and indifference towards everyone remaining in the Marquis's residence is simply unavoidable.

Ironically, the second young master, Li Xuanzhi, became increasingly successful, making the old master and the eldest young master, Li Xuanjing, seem like blind and mentally challenged good-for-nothings.

Who knows how those people outside are laughing at the Chengen Marquis's mansion right now, how they're mocking the Marquis of Chengen for being a blind and stupid fool.

Li Dehai grew angrier the more he thought about it, and his voice suddenly rose several decibels.

"When he bought his official position and went on his journey to Nanjing, he faced immense danger and peril. Although I did not offer him any full assistance, I tacitly allowed him to go and did not obstruct him."

"Now that she's made something of herself, who in the entire capital doesn't envy the Zhang family for having the son of a young powerful minister? Everyone assumes I'm not their biological father!"

"He, on the other hand, remained unmoved while others mocked the Cheng'en Earl's Mansion. Now that he's returned to the capital, he goes straight back to his private residence, prioritizing his own family. He enters the palace to receive rewards, attends a banquet personally hosted by the Emperor and Empress, and revels in the limelight. He completely forgets about his biological father and clan!"

"Everyone says that my Cheng'en Earl's family has benefited from his influence, but who would have thought that I, his biological father, couldn't even get a cup of wine at his wedding or a cup of wine to celebrate his return home!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanjing, the eldest son of the legitimate wife who was standing to the side, flashed a hint of jealousy in his eyes. However, he feigned gentleness and obedience, stepping forward half a step and softly advising:

"Father, please calm down and don't let this upset you. Perhaps my second brother has just returned to the capital and is busy with court affairs and social obligations. He has not had time to spare for the moment. He did not mean to slight you or neglect the clan. It is absolutely not because he was ordered to separate the family that he has disowned our ancestors."

His tone was gentle and seemingly persuasive, but every word he uttered was actually a provocation.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Li Dehai's anger intensified, and he coldly snorted:

"Complex? Social obligations? He spent half a year living a carefree life in Jinling, enjoying boundless prestige. After returning to the capital, he had a beautiful wife by his side and was favored by the emperor. How could he be too busy to extricate himself? Clearly, he had no father in his heart and no clan in his eyes!"

"And the Pei family too!"

Li Dehai changed the subject, directing all his anger at Pei Qingyuan, becoming increasingly dissatisfied.

"As a daughter-in-law of the Li family, she received an imperial decree and was favored by the royal family. Yet she failed to uphold filial piety and respect her elders!"

"Her husband has been home for two days, and as his legal wife, she has not advised him to visit his relatives and pay respects to his biological father. Instead, she has settled comfortably in her private residence, completely ignorant of the proper etiquette and clan rules!"

"Even daughters-in-law from ordinary families know to return to their ancestral home, pay respects to their elders, and serve their elders. She's from a scholarly family, yet she's so utterly lacking in humility and manners!"

This rebuke is completely unreasonable; it's just taking out one's own anger on others.

Li Dehai had always favored his eldest son, and consequently harbored a natural prejudice against Li Xuanzhi's wife. Now, taking advantage of the fact that he hadn't visited, he finally unleashed his pent-up resentment.

Li Dehai was a man who valued his reputation above all else. He feared that Li Xuanzhi's prestige would completely overshadow Li Xuanjing's, leaving his household utterly disgraced.

Now, what I fear has changed; I am utterly worried that Li Xuanzhi will completely disown him as his father and the Chengen Earl's lineage.

He paused for a moment, his face grim, and then spoke in a firm tone.

"Since the couple has been so reluctant to come, then I, as their father, will send someone to invite them! You, as the eldest brother, must immediately go to Li Xuanzhi's private residence and convey my order: that the couple come to the Earl's mansion at once to apologize!"

"I want to ask Madam Pei directly why, as a daughter-in-law of the Li family, she is ignorant of etiquette and disrespectful to her elders, allowing her husband to alienate the clan!"

Li Xuanjing was overjoyed to hear that Pei Qingyuan was also coming. However, he remained outwardly respectful and obedient, bowing and replying:

"Your son obeys. He will go there in a moment and invite his second brother and sister-in-law back to the manor. This will also allow his sister-in-law to become familiar with the rules of the noble family and to fulfill her duties as a daughter-in-law, so that she will not make any mistakes in the future and cause gossip."

"Go ahead," Li Dehai waved impatiently. "Remember to be courteous and don't let anyone say that my Earl's Mansion is abusing its power. Just invite them on the grounds of family ties."

"Yes, son understands."

Li Xuanjing bowed and withdrew. The moment he stepped out of the study, all the gentleness and obsequiousness on his face vanished, leaving only a sinister expression.

He walked slowly along the corridor of the Earl's mansion. The sunlight outside was scorching, and the flowers and trees were lush, but in his heart, there was endless darkness and jealousy.

As a descendant of the Li family, he was the legitimate eldest son and had been pampered since childhood, well-versed in poetry and literature. He was poised to inherit the title, but in the end, he accomplished nothing and remained unknown.

On what grounds?

Why is it that Li Xuanzhi, the younger brother born to his second wife, was able to rise to the top of the court and enjoy such great prestige?

Why was he able to marry Pei Qingyuan?

He knew full well that Li Xuanzhi now wielded immense power and had meticulously planned his schemes, making him unshakeable in the court. Overt impeachments, suppression, and attempts to flatter him would be insufficient to harm him at his core.

However, their weaknesses differ.

Li Xuanzhi's mother, Zhang, and his wife, Pei Qingyuan, were his weaknesses.