The playboy county magistrate

Outside the Meridian Gate.

The emperor stood on the steps, waiting quietly.

The Empress and her family members who had received the imperial decree to come and wait together, as well as Li Xuanzhi's mother, Zhang, and Pei Qingyuan's brother and sister-in-law, all held their breath and waited for the arrival of Li Xuanzhi and Pei Qingyuan.

"Your Majesty, the Meridian Gate is indeed an unlucky place. Why don't we wait for Lord Li somewhere else?"

The emperor knew that many people were beheaded at the Meridian Gate, but it was the closest place to the Ten-Mile Pavilion.

He was eager to meet Li Xuanzhi, this key minister, and hadn't considered things in detail for the time being.

As for the other court officials, they simply overthought things, thinking that the emperor had deliberately chosen this place to give Li Xuanzhi a warning.

Let him know that even with many merits, he must always remember his place. Otherwise, he wouldn't be missing from the list of those to behead at the Meridian Gate.

Therefore, no one tacitly mentioned anything amiss about the Meridian Gate; only the Empress, finding the sight jarring, brought it up.

So, after thinking it over, the group decided to go to the West Warm Pavilion, where the emperor usually summoned his trusted ministers for discussions.

"Li Xuanzhi requests an audience—!"

Li Xuanzhi entered the hall, performed the standard court etiquette between ruler and subject, and respectfully kowtowed.

"Your subject Li Xuanzhi, accompanied by his wife Pei Qingyuan, has been ordered to return to the capital to pay homage to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Rise."

"My dear minister, you have rendered outstanding service in guarding the border, achieving unparalleled merit and securing peace for our vast land. There is no need for further formalities; please come closer."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Xuanzhi stood up, walked steadily forward, and stopped five steps away from the emperor.

"Li Xuanzhi was appointed to a critical mission and single-handedly guarded the Northwest. He refuted slander, eliminated internal troubles, recaptured two cities, conquered the northern desert, and ended a century-old border crisis. He stabilized the situation in the northern desert without depleting the national treasury, a feat that benefits the nation and future generations."

"Such achievements are unprecedented, enough to be the best in our time and a model for future generations."

The court officials standing inside the West Warm Pavilion and those waiting outside its doors were all shaken, and no one dared to voice any objection.

The border turmoil of the past few months, the slander and chaos in the court and among the people, and the power struggle between the two countries have all been witnessed and heard by everyone. Li Xuanzhi truly deserves this praise.

"Li Xuan is hereby promoted to the rank of Second-Rank Grand Councilor, holding the power to draft central government proposals and participate in the deliberation of major military and political affairs!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in a roar!

Regent Minister!

Such a young cabinet regent!

Those who could be called geniuses among their peers at this time would at most be fifth-rank officials.

But what about Li Xuanzhi?

Li Xuanzhi has only been around for a few years, and in his early twenties, he has already reached a position that many people can never achieve in their entire lives!

The power to draft proposals is a core power of the cabinet.

It can draft imperial decrees, approve memorials from officials, and make decisions on all matters of state.

This is the real power of a prime minister!

The expressions of the veteran ministers and powerful officials changed slightly, their eyes filled with shock, but none of them dared to utter a word of rebuttal.

After all, anyone who offends Li Xuanzhi and dares to trip him up will either die or be maimed; even a foreign princess would not fare well.

They're not stupid; no one will dig their own grave again.

Moreover, Li Xuanzhi was already a second-rank official and a powerful official in the cabinet.

In the past, they relied on their power and status to constantly suppress Li Xuanzhi. Now, how could they dare to openly confront Li Xuanzhi head-on?

It's like an egg hitting a rock. Aside from splattering Li Xuanzhi with blood when you die and disgusting him, it won't serve any practical purpose or bring you any benefit.

The young man entered the cabinet, wielding great power to draft resolutions, and was granted special permission by the emperor to make independent decisions on all affairs.

This extraordinary promotion completely shattered the power structure that had persisted for hundreds of years in the Dayong court.

The powerful elite families and veteran officials who held sway in the central government were suddenly and forcefully ushered in by a young figure. Everyone knew that the atmosphere of the court was about to change.

Many senior cabinet ministers and hereditary nobles left the palace with somber expressions and heavy steps.

They endured for decades, relying on old rules, cultivating personal connections, controlling the government, and monopolizing officialdom.

They all knew that Li Xuanzhi would definitely join the cabinet in the future, but they didn't expect him to join so early.

No one was willing to relinquish their power, especially since they had served in the court for decades and wanted to leave the cabinet with dignity, rather than be looked down upon by Li Xuanzhi.

Cabinet Office.

In the past, those on duty here were all white-haired, veteran cabinet ministers who had served several dynasties. The atmosphere was calm and the rules were strict.

Li Xuanzhi changed into a purple-patterned official robe of the second rank, with a jade belt around his waist, and stood tall and straight in the main hall of the cabinet.

The other four cabinet ministers stood on either side, all of them over sixty years old and veteran officials who had worked in the court for decades.

They were either heads of prominent families or former officials of the late emperor. They had deep roots and extensive connections throughout the court and the country.

The four men's gazes fell on Li Xuanzhi. They appeared calm, but their eyes held scrutiny and probing intent.

The chief minister, Zhang, had white hair and beard, and his tone seemed humble, but it actually contained a deeper meaning.

"Lord Li has just entered the cabinet, a great honor bestowed by the Emperor. His youth and talent are truly rare indeed. From now on, if you have any questions about cabinet affairs, please feel free to ask, and we will do our best to help."

"However, the cabinet is burdened with heavy workloads and has a small staff, so it is best to learn and observe as much as possible, to exercise discretion and make decisions independently. But remember not to cause any trouble or create any undesirable situations."

This means that Li Xuanzhi had to handle any difficult or troublesome matters that might offend people.

Do you want to watch helplessly as Li Xuanzhi, who is new to the central government and has a shallow foundation, first encounters setbacks and frustrations in trivial matters, and becomes helpless?

The other three Grand Secretaries echoed this sentiment, their smiles gentle but their attitude distant.

"Yes, Lord Li is in his prime, and we certainly believe in your abilities."

The group tacitly agreed to stick together and observe. They planned to use old rules and precedents, along with a mountain of complicated administrative affairs, to wear down the young minister's ambition.

They were certain that Li Xuanzhi might not be familiar with the complex affairs of the court and the rules of governance.

If he mishandles things or makes even the slightest oversight, someone can seize the opportunity to launch an attack, diminish his favor with the emperor, damage his prestige, and render him powerless within the cabinet.

As expected of someone in the cabinet, so calculating. Calm and collected, yet subtly cunning.

Li Xuanzhi's gaze swept lightly over the four people, taking in the probing and scheming in their eyes, and he understood.

These veteran officials were not afraid of thunderous intimidation or crushing power. What they feared most was breaking the old rules and shaking their very foundations.

Their seemingly cheerful demeanor today is actually the first collective pressure exerted on this newly rich man by the veteran cabinet faction.

Li Xuanzhi remained neither humble nor arrogant, nodded slightly, and got straight to the point.

"All of you are senior officials in the court. As I am new to the central government, I should humbly seek your guidance and work together to manage state affairs."

He abruptly changed the subject, pointing to the mountain of memorials and documents piled up in the hall, his tone suddenly sharp.

"However, there are many long-standing problems in the administration of state affairs. Local officials are lax in their duties, and corruption is rampant. Border military farms are underutilized and their accounts are unclear. Hereditary privilege by powerful families is rampant, crowding out career paths. These are all deep-seated and chronic diseases."