The playboy county magistrate

The noise inside the hall gradually subsided, and one could hear a pin drop.

The emperor lightly tapped his fingertips on the imperial desk and slowly began to speak. His voice was not loud, yet it resonated throughout the entire Golden Palace.

"You all claim that Minister Li is colluding with the enemy, accepting bribes, abusing his power, and allowing bandits to run rampant. Do you have any concrete evidence?"

The head censor immediately responded loudly:

"We have witnesses and physical evidence! The delivery of supplies in the northern deserts and the Second Prince's private visit to the interior are both traceable! Li Xuanzhi made a preemptive decision without prior notification and secretly formed alliances with foreign vassals. The facts are irrefutable!"

In the shadows, Princess Ning'an's people quietly exerted their influence. They continuously confused the public and fueled the flames, guiding the officials' opinions to amplify every minor doubt, firmly establishing Li Xuanzhi's guilt.

Tuoba Lie made a private visit to establish good relations, exchanged supplies, and the border town conceded.

These actions, originally driven by the princes of the northern deserts' selfish desire to seize power, have been deliberately misinterpreted as Li Xuanzhi actively colluding with foreign enemies and abusing his power for personal gain.

Even with mere appearances, simply rearranging the order is enough to confuse the court and shake the hearts of those favored by the emperor.

The emperor remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping over the court officials before finally issuing a command in a deep voice.

"A message sent by urgent courier from Zhenxi Pass, ordering Li Xuanzhi to immediately return with a memorial to plead his case, without delay!"

……

Meanwhile, at Zhenxiguan.

Before the storm hits the capital, chaos has already broken out on the border.

Yunlan and Hanshuo had only been incorporated into Dayong for a few days, and the people had just escaped the harsh rule of the northern deserts, their hearts still at ease. With their foundations unstable, they were most susceptible to incitement and manipulation.

Princess Ning'an's assassins, who had been lying in wait for many years, all mingled among the common people and refugees in the streets and alleys.

Shedding their former ruthlessness and murderous aura, they disguise themselves as ordinary citizens and down-on-their-luck merchants, spreading rumors far and wide. Every word is vicious, every sentence pierces the heart.

"Be careful, everyone! The government of Dayong may seem to be benevolent, but in reality, it is far more harsh!"

"I've heard that the imperial court despises us as remnants of the northern deserts, vassals of the border towns. This autumn, they plan to clean up our household registers, forcibly conscript young men into the army, and expel the old and weak from the border!"

"The previous tax reductions were all a pretense of appeasement! Once the borders are stable, they will double down on collecting back taxes from previous years. No household can escape, and every family will suffer!"

"The so-called food and fodder relief is all a temporary show, used to win people's hearts. In reality, it has nothing to do with us, the people who have submitted to the northern deserts! Once the government has gained a foothold, that will be the time when we are displaced!"

Rumors spread like wildfire, like poisonous weeds, and instantly reached both border towns.

People living on the border have suffered from war and are inherently fragile and suspicious, and cannot withstand the slightest incitement or persuasion.

In just a few days, the people of both cities were in turmoil and filled with anxiety.

Discontent began to rise among the common people, and many homeless people gathered in the streets. They stopped to discuss the matter, filled with fear and unease, and there was a growing sense that they were about to cause trouble.

In the shadows of the streets, several assassins gleamed with malevolent intent. They secretly fanned the flames, constantly intensifying public resentment, waiting for an opportunity to ignite a large-scale civil unrest.

As night fell, the moonlight grew dim.

Outside the garrison of Hanshuo City, the night was as black as ink. Several dark figures crept along the wall, their movements elusive and swift.

Mid-level generals in the military are the backbone of border defense. If they fall, the defense will inevitably falter, and morale will collapse.

At that time, all the chaos will be attributed to Li Xuanzhi's lax military discipline.

The blade was drawn, its cold gleam flashing and disappearing in an instant.

The assassins lunged forward, charging straight into the captain's sleeping quarters!

Just as the sharp blade was about to pierce the tent, dozens of locking nets suddenly flew out from the shadows all around.

The intertwined iron chains, gleaming coldly, instantly sealed off all escape routes!

"Take it down!"

Tang Zheng's deep shout pierced the night, and hundreds of guards suddenly appeared.

The armor blades reflected light as they closed in.

The assassins' pupils constricted, their faces filled with astonishment.

Knowing their plan had been exposed, the assassins did not choose to surrender. Instead, they brandished their blades and launched a counterattack, attempting a desperate breakout, determined to fight to the death.

However, the guards of Dayong were well-prepared and worked together seamlessly, combining offense and defense effectively.

Moments later, all the assassins were captured.

The blade fell to the ground, the shackles bound him, and he had no power to resist.

Under the cover of night, Tang Zheng stood in the center of the formation, his eyes cold as he looked at the assassins who had been completely subdued.

"Detain them all, interrogate them rigorously, and preserve their confessions as evidence! Furthermore, compile a book detailing today's street rumors, the movements of the assassins, and the entire assassination attempt!"

"yes!"

The study was still brightly lit.

Li Xuanzhi sat upright at the table, listened to Tang Zheng's report, and looked at the layers of evidence on the table with a calm and unwavering expression.

Holding the secret report from the capital that she had just received, Pei Qingyuan said softly:

"The impeachment in the capital is a done deal, and the imperial edict has arrived urgently. Half of the civil and military officials have seconded it, and public opinion is raging. Everyone is waiting to see you ruined and forced to confess your crimes."

Li Xuanzhi raised his eyes, gazing at the deep night outside the window, a slightly cool smile curving his lips.

"Princess Ning'an wants to create chaos and ruin my reputation."

Little did I know, this place full of danger was never my dead end.

He raised his hand, his fingertips tracing the thick stack of irrefutable evidence. "It's not just about her fate, but about the fate of the entire northern desert."

Empty words and fabricated charges in the imperial court cannot withstand the solid, irrefutable evidence from the border.

The fabricated charge of treason could not withstand the confession of the assassin and all the evidence.

Princess Ning'an gambled everything, stirring up a storm throughout the city. What seemed like a decisive move actually exposed all her hidden plans and secret schemes to the light of day.

"Gather all the evidence and send it to the capital along with the memorial. I will personally write a reply, dismantling the charges one by one."

Half a month later, the reply from Zhenxiguan, along with a thick stack of sealed documents, was sent to the capital and delivered to the Golden Palace.

At this time, the political climate in the court remained the same as before.

In recent days, censors have taken turns to offer their opinions, and relatives of the empress have repeatedly seconded them, making it almost a settled matter in the court.

Everyone believed that Li Xuanzhi was young and arrogant, and his temperament was volatile. He had secretly colluded with foreign vassals, abused his power, and harmed the border. All that was needed was for him to return and confess his crimes, and for the emperor to punish him, so that this overly brilliant young minister could be completely removed.

Many officials had already secretly chosen sides, preparing their impeachment memorials and drafting their own arguments. They were just waiting for the emperor's mood to shift so they could kick him while he was down, utterly plunging Li Xuanzhi into the abyss from which he could never rise again.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his fingertips gripping the pile of impeachment memorials that had accumulated over the past few days. His face was calm and expressionless, but his eyes held scrutiny and consideration.

The messenger outside the palace bowed and hurried into the palace, holding a sandalwood box high with both hands, and announced loudly:

"Your Majesty, the Border Supervisor Li Xuanzhi has personally submitted a report. Enclosed are all the witnesses, physical evidence, confessions, and case files from the border!"

The wooden box landed on the ground and was placed steadily on one side of the imperial desk.

The entire hall held its breath instantly, all whispers ceased, and countless eyes focused on the wooden box.

Their eyes held a variety of thoughts: expectation, mockery, certainty, and unease.

The censor who led the impeachment raised a slight smile.

In his view, even if Li Xuanzhi was eloquent and persuasive, he could only offer empty words to atone for his crime.

Faced with undeniable and obvious accusations, there is ultimately no way to refute them, and they will inevitably be held accountable today.

The emperor raised his hand, signaling the eunuch to open the box.

The plain-colored Xuan paper was laid out, the ink characters upright and sharp, the brushstrokes steady as a mountain. It was Li Xuanzhi's own handwritten petition.

There was not a single word of pleading, nor a trace of cowardice or excuse. Only a clear and organized list of facts and a meticulously dissected rebuttal of the evidence.

Li Xuanzhi speaks frankly from the outset, without avoiding or dodging, and is quite open about it.