The playboy county magistrate

This is a huge scandal!

Once confirmed, Li Xuanzhi's future will be ruined!

"Your Majesty, Li Xuanzhi was originally the second son of this old minister. He was raised and nurtured by the Li family, which enabled him to establish himself in the world and enter the court as an official."

"But ever since he was promoted and gained power, and took wives and concubines, he has completely forgotten his roots! He is seduced by the women in his bed every day, and has long forgotten the kindness of those who gave him life and the affection of his siblings!"

"At yesterday's family banquet, I merely offered a few casual words of advice, urging him to uphold filial piety and fulfill his duties. He immediately turned hostile in front of everyone and stormed off!"

"Today, they have gone even further, brazenly declaring that they will completely sever all ties with my Cheng'en Marquis's Mansion. The bonds of father-son affection and brotherly affection will be severed!"

"He has become so arrogant and domineering with a little power, looking down on everyone. He has even committed acts that disgrace the family and betray the moral code, such as bullying his elder brother and disobeying his biological father! If he is not severely punished, it will be difficult to rectify the atmosphere of the court and uphold the ethics of the people! He will not be able to set an example for the world, but will corrupt the atmosphere of the entire court and disgrace all officials!"

His tearful accusation was delivered with heartfelt sincerity. Those unaware of the situation might genuinely believe that Li Xuanzhi was a heartless, arrogant, and rebellious son, a parasite tarnishing the image of all officials.

Li Xuanjing, who was standing next to Li Dehai, also knelt down and bowed his head in agreement.

"Your Majesty is wise to see that my second brother's temperament has changed drastically, becoming increasingly stubborn and extreme."

"As the elder brother, I repeatedly advised and tolerated him. Our father, mindful of our blood ties, always yielded. Yet, my second brother showed no mercy, making unfounded accusations against our family. He even possessed fabricated 'evidence' and threatened to suppress and harm his own brother, driving our father to his death!"

"The entire household is living in constant fear and insecurity. We truly don't know what we did to offend our second brother, to deserve such turmoil within the family and such fratricide!"

The two of them worked together, one playing the victim and the other offering a tearful account, while the other testified with feigned grievances. They managed to portray the Cheng'en Earl's family as pitiful people who had suffered countless injustices and were devoted to their family.

The emperor on the dragon throne gradually grew cold and stern, his gaze sweeping lightly over the father and son kneeling below, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

"Is what you said true? Think carefully before you speak."

Li Dehai hurriedly kowtowed, completely failing to detect that the emperor had shown leniency and given them a chance to withdraw their lawsuit. Instead, his tone became resolute and increasingly agitated.

"Absolutely true! Your Majesty, I would never dare to deceive you! Every word is true, not a single lie!"

Li Xuanjing echoed, "Your Majesty, I swear on my life that every word is true! I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for my father!"

The emperor glanced at Li Xuanjing, his eyelids drooping.

He really couldn't stand this eldest son of the Marquis of Chengen's family.

Incompetent and petty, he's clearly a treacherous villain.

Just then, the clear voice of the eunuch announced something again from outside.

"Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review, Li Xuanzhi, requests an audience!"

Upon hearing the sound, everyone turned to look at the entrance to the Imperial Study again.

Despite being publicly sued by his biological father, Li Xuanzhi remained calm and composed, displaying a steady demeanor and showing no sign of distress.

Upon entering the Imperial Study, Li Xuanzhi bowed calmly, his posture respectful and his manners impeccable.

"Your subject Li Xuanzhi greets Your Majesty."

Before the emperor could speak, Li Dehai, who was kneeling on the ground, turned his head first, his eyes wide with anger, and shouted sternly.

"You unfilial son! How dare you come here!"

"You disobeyed your own father, severed ties with your clan, and even bullied your elder brother! You have committed grave mistakes, yet you show no remorse, and you still have the audacity to step into the palace!"

Li Xuanjing also looked up at him, his eyes filled with malice, but his face was full of heartache and disappointment.

All eyes were fixed on Li Xuanzhi.

Li Xuanzhi merely raised his eyes slightly, looked at the kneeling father and son, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He remained calm and composed, yet his words were clear and distinct.

"I originally wanted to ask Your Majesty to forgive the Earl of Chengen for his disrespectful behavior in front of the Emperor. But since my father has publicly accused me of being disobedient, unfilial, and estranged from my family, I will not ask Your Majesty for mercy."

Marquis Chengen, Li Dehai, felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

broken!

They dared to interrupt the emperor and reprimand him in front of him.

Putting aside the fact that Li Xuanzhi was a good minister in the emperor's eyes, the fact that he dared to rebuke this matter before the emperor could speak was enough to make him lose his head eight hundred times over.

Before Li Dehai could even kowtow and confess his guilt in fear, Li Xuanzhi uttered another sentence.

"Today, in front of His Majesty and the ministers, I will properly settle the score of kinship within the Li family with my father and elder brother."

The fact that Lady Zhang left the Chengen Earl's Mansion to follow Li Xuanzhi to the new mansion to become the old lady was known to everyone in the court.

Although everyone felt that Li Xuanzhi, as the son, had insisted on separating his biological parents, those who knew about Zhang's ordeal thought that Li Xuanzhi had done the right thing.

In addition, many officials in the imperial court had wives and concubines at home, and their wives were mostly noble ladies from prominent families.

Everyone admired Li Xuanzhi immensely, feeling that if they had a son like him to back them up, their own men wouldn't be able to act so arrogantly.

Moreover, many officials are henpecked husbands, believing their wives are the most important people in the family and that everything they say is right.

Therefore, Li Xuanzhi was not greatly affected by the fact that he had taken his mother out and cut off all contact with his father.

Upon seeing this, a flash of approval crossed the emperor's eyes, and he said in a deep voice.

"Granted. Minister Li, please answer truthfully. I will make a fair judgment on right and wrong."

The ministers all wanted to leave at this moment, not wanting to get involved in other people's affairs.

But the emperor didn't give them a chance at all, and even gave seats to the ministers who had been standing and discussing matters for almost half an hour.

Li Dehai suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and a sense of unease arose inexplicably.

But since things had come to this, he could only grit his teeth and roar angrily.

"Consider it a day! I have acted uprightly and honestly! It is your actions that are truly intolerable to heaven and earth!"

Li Xuanzhi raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, and looked directly at Li Dehai. His first words immediately caused an uproar throughout the room.

"My father says I am disobedient and unfilial. May I ask, Father, what is filial piety?"

"I grew up without a proper teacher, forced to rely on my mother, who acted as my female tutor. I endured endless bullying in the household, ignored by everyone. Is silently bearing this as filial piety?"

"Or perhaps they were forced into it, and to get ahead they had to resort to dishonorable means to become spectators in court. No one offered help, no one showed compassion, and they were constantly threatened by letters from home. Having walked this path of blood and tears, are they still bound by kinship, wantonly exploited—is this what filial piety is?"

His few rhetorical questions were powerful and resounding.

The expressions of the ministers all changed.

They silently cursed Li Dehai in their hearts, calling him a blind man.

Li Xuanzhi is such a talented and young man; why don't they take good care of him?

If this were their own child, they would love to set off a few strings of firecrackers every morning when they wake up to have some fun.

Li Dehai's face stiffened, and he saw the disdain in the eyes of the ministers. He retorted sharply.

"Insolence! Stop with your sophistry! The debt of gratitude for giving birth to you is greater than heaven! I gave you life and raised you; no matter what, you should respect and be filial to me for the rest of your life!"

"The grace of giving birth and raising you?" Li Xuanzhi chuckled lightly, his smile chillingly cold.