The playboy county magistrate

Pei Qingyuan suddenly realized: "So that's how it is. Then I can rest assured."

"Don't worry." Li Xuanzhi patted the top of her head. "From now on, I will protect you from all the storms of the world. You can just enjoy your life in peace."

Pei Qingyuan looked up at him, her eyes full of tender smiles: "Being able to marry my husband is the luckiest thing in my life."

……

The days were peaceful and leisurely, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Chengen Earl's Mansion fell into complete silence, with no further activity.

The winds of change in the entire capital city have completely shifted.

In the past, some people would gossip in private about Li Xuanzhi being unfilial and heartless, but now no one dares to say a word.

After Li Xuanzhi's act of sacrificing his own family for the greater good, everyone understood that this young high-ranking official was truly unyielding to both soft and hard tactics. Moreover, he was entirely in the right and deeply favored by the emperor; to provoke him was simply asking for trouble.

One afternoon, Pei Qingyuan had nothing to do. Accompanied by her two personal maids, she planned to stroll around a newly opened cosmetics shop on the street and relax.

Having gone through so many ups and downs, she hadn't been able to go out for a leisurely stroll like this in a long time.

The horse-drawn carriage moved slowly through the streets, bustling with people.

Pei Qingyuan lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the lively scene outside. Her eyebrows curved into a smile, and she felt exceptionally happy.

The maid Yingchun fanned her from the side and said with a smile:

"Madam, you look radiant today! Ever since the Lord completely settled the matter of the Marquis's mansion, you haven't looked worried at all."

"Yes, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I no longer have to worry and feel relieved."

"I used to be so worried that something might happen at the Earl's Mansion, that someone might use filial piety and clan to manipulate my husband. I was on edge every day, but now I can finally have peace of mind."

Yingchun nodded repeatedly in agreement, "The adults are really amazing! They managed to break free from all those unpleasant things, and now no one can control us!"

The maid Panxia chimed in, "It's strange, really. Before, the ladies and young misses of the noble families always loved to gossip behind people's backs, saying that the master was cold-hearted. But these past few days, he's been quiet, not a single word has been said."

Pei Qingyuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "It's not that they don't want to talk about it, it's that they dare not."

"His Majesty personally cleared my husband's name, and all the officials have seen it. Who would dare to risk gossiping now?"

Even so, Pei Qingyuan knew in her heart that people's hearts were the most complicated. She dared not discuss it to his face, but there would inevitably be petty people gossiping behind his back.

Since no one was gossiping about her, she simply pretended not to know.

Now that my husband has a bright future ahead of him, why should I care about the idle gossip of irrelevant people?

The carriage soon stopped in front of the cosmetics shop.

As soon as Pei Qingyuan got out of the car, she heard several voices of discussion coming from a teahouse not far away. The voices were deliberately lowered, but they were still clear to the ear.

"Have you heard? The Cheng'en Marquis's mansion has completely collapsed! The eldest son, Li Xuanjing, has been exiled three thousand miles away and will never return!"

"Everyone knows about this; it's all over the capital! It's quite a sad story. A proper eldest son of a noble family, he's ruined himself to this state."

"Sigh, if you ask me, the most ruthless one is Li Xuanzhi! No matter what, he's my biological father and elder brother, yet he showed no mercy and directly exposed us in court, driving our family to the brink of despair!"

"That's right! I heard he's been cold-hearted and ruthless since childhood, and now he's turned around and purged his clan without showing any mercy. His heart is truly too cold!"

"And his wife, Pei, is no saint either! If it weren't for her constant whispering and sowing discord in his ear, how could a perfectly good family have fallen to the point of fratricide? In the end, it's all that woman's fault! As the saying goes, marrying a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations. With Li Xuanzhi saddled with such a woman, the Li family is probably doomed."

These words are incoherent, confusing right and wrong, and every sentence is a smear against Li Xuanzhi and Pei Qingyuan.

Yingchun was furious on the spot, clenching her fists and angrily saying:

"Madam! These people have gone too far! It was clearly the Earl's father and son who repeatedly plotted against us, so how has it become our fault?"

Pan Xia was also indignant. "Exactly! They were the ones who pushed their luck and brought this on themselves! Now that they've lost, they're blaming us!"

Pei Qingyuan's originally calm expression darkened slightly, and the smile in her eyes vanished completely.

She could tolerate others talking about her, but she would never allow anyone to slander and defame Li Xuanzhi.

Her husband was so kind and never intentionally harmed anyone. His retaliations were always out of desperation; why should he be allowed to be smeared and condemned as heartless by these uninformed bystanders?

Pei Qingyuan looked up and followed the sound.

Several well-dressed women from prominent families stood by the railing of the teahouse. Judging from their attire, they were all wives of Xiao Xungui, who usually loved to gather together and gossip.

Taking advantage of their numbers, they thought no one could pinpoint a specific person when they spoke, and their words became increasingly outrageous.

One of the women, dressed in pink, scoffed, her voice rising several decibels.

"I think Li Xuanzhi is ungrateful! If it weren't for the Earl's family raising him, how could he have such a high position and generous salary today?"

"Now that they've become successful, they've turned their backs on their family. Such an unfilial and ungrateful person, even if they're in power now, will inevitably fall from grace sooner or later!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a clear, cold female voice suddenly rang out.

"This lady speaks so lightly, daring to slander high-ranking officials and criticize the court's decisions without knowing the full story?"

The women were startled by the sound and turned around abruptly.

When they realized that the speaker was Pei Qingyuan, their faces turned pale instantly, their eyes darted around in panic, and they instinctively shut their mouths.

Pei Qingyuan stepped forward slowly, showing no anger or loss of composure, yet exuding an aura of pressure.

She looked at the group calmly, her words carrying weight.

"I'd like to ask you all, where does your accusation of ingratitude, cold-heartedness, and unfilial piety come from?"

The woman in pink forced herself to remain calm and said, bracing herself:

"We...we were just chatting! Why is Madam Pei taking it so seriously?"

"Casual chatter?" Pei Qingyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone turning colder. "Casual chatter is fine, but don't distort the truth or slander others."

"My husband suffered endless cold stares and bullying in the Earl's mansion, enduring hardships unimaginable to others. He relied on his own hard work and perseverance to establish himself. He never depended on the Earl's mansion for any help. How can you say he is ungrateful?"

The women were speechless, looking at each other in bewilderment, none daring to respond.

Pei Qingyuan continued, "On the other hand, Li Xuanjing, despite holding a salary, embezzled and broke the law, oppressing the people and disregarding human life."

"Earl Cheng'en, Li Dehai, is a high-ranking official of noble birth. He neglects his family affairs, protects his wicked son, distorts the truth, and falsely accuses a loyal minister!"

"His Majesty personally presided over the trial, with several high-ranking officials as witnesses. The evidence is irrefutable and irrefutable! They committed the evil first and forced me into this situation. Why should my husband be considered cold-hearted and unfilial simply because he was forced to fight back and protect his innocence?"

A series of questions, clear and forceful, left the women looking pale and embarrassed.

Pei Qingyuan's eyes held a hint of coldness. "You live in the inner quarters and are unaware of the whole picture. You arbitrarily smear loyal ministers and wantonly distort the facts based on just a few rumors."

"Is this kind of gossiping and spreading rumors what you call being knowledgeable and virtuous?"