The playboy county magistrate

Pei Qingyuan's heart raced under his gaze, and she turned her head slightly, blushing shyly.

But thinking that she was still outside, with many people watching her, and wanting to project the authority expected of the matriarch, she couldn't appear too weak, so she forced herself to be defiant and said:

"Who's protecting you? I just can't stand them distorting the truth and spreading rumors."

"They portray perfectly normal people as utterly wicked; anyone would have objected if they heard that."

Li Xuanzhi chuckled softly, his chest heaving.

"Yes, yes, yes, my wife is the most fair, she just happens to be protecting her husband."

The teasing tone made Pei Qingyuan's cheeks burn even hotter, and she couldn't help but look up and glare at him.

"You're still laughing!"

"I'm not laughing anymore, I'm not laughing anymore."

Li Xuanzhi immediately suppressed his smile and pretended to be serious, but the tenderness in his eyes remained strong. "I won't tease you anymore."

Yingchun, who was bolder, couldn't help but laugh and strike up a conversation when she saw this.

"My lord, you didn't see it! Those ladies just now said some really nasty things about you, and even slandered our lady, accusing her of sowing discord. It really infuriated her!"

Pan Xia stopped cowering like a quail and quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes! Madam is usually the most gentle, but today she was truly angered by them. Every word she said hit the nail on the head, leaving them speechless!"

Upon hearing this, the gentleness in Li Xuanzhi's eyes faded slightly, replaced by a faint chill.

He raised his hand and gently stroked the back of Pei Qingyuan's hand, asking softly:

"How long did you listen to their gossip? Did it make you feel uncomfortable?"

Pei Qingyuan shook her head and replied quite frankly:

"I'm not feeling unwell, just a little angry."

"They know nothing about the inside story, yet they smear your character based on just a few rumors. They deny all the hardships you've endured. I just feel sorry for you."

"I don't care about being gossiped about, but you shouldn't be wronged like this."

These few simple words, without any fancy language, directly touched the softest spot in Li Xuanzhi's heart.

Li Xuanzhi felt a warmth in his heart, tightened his arms, and gently pulled her into his embrace, his tone earnest and solemn.

"Silly girl."

"I've never cared what others think of me or what they say about me. I've weathered so many storms over the years, why would I care about a few idle words from women?"

Pei Qingyuan leaned on his shoulder and retorted softly, "But I do care."

"I don't want my husband's hard-earned reputation and future to be tarnished by others."

Li Xuanzhi lowered his head, his nose touching the top of her head, his voice incredibly gentle.

"Having you believe in me and protect me is enough. Whether others believe me or not is irrelevant."

"Moreover," he changed his tone slightly, a faint glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes, "they dared to make my wife suffer, and even had to waste her breath arguing with them; they certainly deserve to be punished."

Pei Qingyuan quickly looked up at him, "Don't go looking for trouble with them. I've already warned them, and they won't dare to say anything like that again."

"I know." Li Xuanzhi nodded obediently, gently reassuring her. "I won't make a big deal out of it and give you any reason to say I'm bullying you."

"But I won't let them gossip for nothing. Those who anger me will remain unscathed."

Pei Qingyuan understood what he meant and smiled with relief.

"That's good. We won't cause trouble, but we absolutely cannot suffer any injustice."

How could she not tell that Li Xuanzhi was deliberately trying to save face for her?

Before leaving the teahouse, she made a statement that if the matter ended without resolution, those people would definitely think that Pei Qingyuan's position in Li Xuanzhi's heart and in the Li family was just so-so.

Who knows, we might run into each other at some lady's banquet someday, and a few sarcastic remarks are inevitable.

Li Xuanzhi looked at her bright smiling face and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yes, we won't suffer any injustice."

"By the way, why aren't you on duty today? Why did you come out on the street?"

Pei Qingyuan suddenly remembered the important matter and asked curiously.

"After finishing my work early, I was worried that you might be bored at home since you haven't been out for a while. When I got home, I found out you were out, so I stopped by to see you, show you around, and then pick you up."

Li Xuanzhi answered truthfully, his tone indulgent, and he couldn't help but repeat it again.

"I didn't expect to see my wife standing up for me as soon as I got to the street corner."

Pei Qingyuan felt a little embarrassed by his words and gently tugged at his sleeve.

"I already said it was just something I did on the spur of the moment."

"Okay, okay, it's convenient." Li Xuanzhi readily agreed with her, but the smile in his eyes did not diminish at all.

The two walked side by side on the street, the sunlight falling on them, looking like a perfect match.

The surrounding area was bustling with people and noisy, but the two of them were quiet and sweet, as if everything around them was irrelevant.

After taking a few steps, Pei Qingyuan suddenly spoke softly.

"My dear husband, I sometimes feel sorry for you."

Li Xuanzhi turned to look at her, "Why are you suddenly saying that?"

"In the past, you and your mother were like bamboo in the Chengen Marquis's mansion, but you depended on each other for survival and had no one to protect you. No matter how much injustice or suffering you endured, you could only grit your teeth and bear it all by yourself."

Pei Qingyuan looked up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Others don't understand you; they only see your current success and criticize you for your past mistakes. No one remembers the suffering you endured."

Li Xuanzhi felt a warmth in his heart and gently rubbed her hair.

"Things are different now than before."

"Now that I have you, I'm not alone anymore."

"I used to endure it because I had no other choice. Now I don't endure it because I have a weakness, but I also have armor."

Pei Qingyuan nodded vigorously, "From now on, I'll be your armor! If anyone dares to falsely accuse or slander you again, I'll be the first to object!"

Seeing her earnestly protecting her husband, Li Xuanzhi's heart melted completely.

He stopped and looked at her intently.

"Qingyuan, remember this. From now on, I will still protect you from the storms of the world."

"You just need to stand behind me and rest assured. If someone occasionally goesssips, you don't need to bother with your words. I'll handle it."

Pei Qingyuan smiled, pursing her lips. "That won't do. Husband and wife are one. Your problems are my problems. How can I let you shoulder everything alone?"

Li Xuanzhi's eyes were filled with tenderness as he leaned down and gently approached her.

"With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"

Yingchun and Panxia behind them exchanged a glance and silently lowered their heads to suppress their laughter.

She quietly took two steps back, giving her master some space to be alone.

Pei Qingyuan's heart raced under his gaze, and she quickly changed the subject.

"Let's not talk about that. I originally came to buy some new cosmetics, but they messed things up."

"Then today, I'll help you choose carefully." Li Xuanzhi took her hand tightly and smiled gently, "Whatever you like, I'll buy it all."

"I'm not a child, I don't need to buy everything," Pei Qingyuan said with a smile.

The two walked hand in hand into the cosmetics shop, while the women who had been gossiping in the teahouse earlier had long since lost their arrogance. They were all restless and uneasy.