The playboy county magistrate

Upon hearing this, the Empress slowly raised her eyes, her gaze filled with helplessness, and gently shook her head.

"I am well aware that Lord Li and Lady Pei are of upright character, gentle and sincere, and are rare good men and virtuous ministers in this era."

"But the Crown Prince is, after all, my child, the heir apparent of the Great Yong Dynasty. He has been raised in the deep palace since childhood. Now he must leave the palace, leave his parents, and live in the residence of a subject. What mother wouldn't feel pain in her heart? What mother wouldn't be anxious?"

The voice was soft and gentle, yet it concealed endless grievances and melancholy.

The education of the crown prince and the daily life of the princes have always been entirely managed by the royal family. The Grand Tutor gives lessons, and palace servants attend to them.

Throughout history, no emperor has ever sent his young crown prince to be raised in the residence of a minister.

This was never a simple matter of seeking a teacher and learning; it was a last resort for the emperor, burdened by illness and turbulent political strife, to entrust his son to a powerful patron.

The Empress, having held the position of Empress and served the Emperor for many years, was more aware than anyone of the turbulent court politics and the intrigues within the palace.

The emperor appeared to be in his prime and healthy, but she had noticed his recent weakness, cough, and decline in strength, keeping it all to herself. She dared not speak out, dared not reveal her condition, and could only silently endure it.

Since the emperor didn't say it explicitly, she didn't point it out. As long as the emperor remained calm, she had to keep her composure and not let anyone notice anything amiss.

But the more he tried to suppress it, the more intense his fear became.

"His Majesty's health... has long been severely depleted."

The Empress lowered her eyes, her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were filled with tears.

"If it weren't for the machinations within the palace, and if His Majesty weren't worried about the sons of the other concubines usurping the throne, and the endless infighting within the harem, His Majesty would never have come to this."

"Sending the Crown Prince out of the palace and to the residence of Prefect Li Xuan is not about seeking a teacher or learning; it is clearly about... finding the only way for the Crown Prince to survive."

One sentence reveals all the profound meaning.

The positions of Empress and Crown Prince may seem supremely prestigious, but in reality, they are already fraught with danger.

The remaining concubines and their offspring coveted the throne and coveted imperial power. The remnants of powerful clans, unwilling to accept defeat, plotted a counterattack. Internal and external collusion was intertwined, both overt and covert.

The emperor was poisoned, the source of which could not be found, and the culprit could not be caught, so he could not protect the young crown prince in the palace.

Only by sending the Crown Prince out of this tangled prison of the palace and to the cleanest, most trustworthy, and most capable person to protect him can the Crown Prince be guaranteed a lifetime of peace.

Upon hearing this, the maid's eyes instantly reddened. She dared not reply and could only silently lower her head.

The palace fell silent once more, with only the soft tinkling of the copper bells on the eaves rustling in the evening breeze outside the window, making the deep palace seem even more desolate and bleak.

……

Imperial Garden, Thousand Carp Pond Pavilion.

A cool evening breeze stirred ripples across the pond. The shimmering water reflected the sunlight and shadows.

The young prince stood in the pavilion, unlike any other child who would play and misbehave.

He stood quietly to the side, without making a fuss, so sensible that it broke your heart.

The emperor leaned against the pavilion, his face growing paler. Only his eyes held a deep weariness born of years of experience in the art of imperial power.

He gazed at the tall and young men before him; the young minister was exceptionally handsome and composed as a rock.

The child is calm, insightful, and precocious, which brings a sense of peace to my heart.

"Xuanzhi, are you having doubts?"

The emperor suddenly spoke softly, breaking the silence in the pavilion.

Li Xuanzhi stood to one side, bowed slightly upon hearing this, and nodded frankly, without concealing anything.

"I truly do not understand. I am still young and lack experience. In terms of seniority, reputation, and experience, I am inferior to many of the veteran officials in the court. Your Majesty's entrusting the crown prince to me is far too risky."

Although the emperor had explained it to him before, Li Xuanzhi still felt that something was not quite right.

"Furthermore, Your Majesty has delegated too much power and placed too much trust in me today. I am filled with trepidation."

He spoke frankly about his true feelings, without a trace of pretense or politeness.

Excessive favor and honor are a curse, not a blessing. Overbearing power is a danger, not a safety.

Throughout history, ministers who wielded immense power and governed on behalf of the emperor rarely met a good end.

Even if the emperor issues an imperial edict, so what? A new emperor brings a new court. If you really want to solve this problem, there are always more solutions than problems.

Upon hearing this, the emperor coughed softly twice. This time, the cough was gentle, but it still affected his blood and qi, causing his fingertips to turn slightly white.

He gazed at the fish swimming in the pond, his tone calm yet revealing a profound sense of vicissitude.

"I know your concerns. People say that if a monarch delegates too much power, it will inevitably lead to the calamity of powerful ministers. If a minister's power is too great, he will inevitably be betrayed."

"Ke Xuanzhi, have you ever looked at the dynasties throughout history? There were countless powerful ministers with deep-rooted influence and shrewd calculations. But which one of them wasn't deeply entangled in court factions and aristocratic family conflicts early on, willingly bound together by interests?"

"The senior officials in the court are either from aristocratic families, bound to nobles, or entangled in factions. Everyone has selfish motives and weaknesses. If I entrust the crown prince to them, within three years, the heir apparent will become a puppet controlled by these aristocratic families. The new policies of the Dayong Dynasty will be completely abolished, and the century-old malpractices will be revived."

He slowly turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on Li Xuanzhi, his words earnest and sincere.

"You are different."

"You are now free from the ties of aristocratic families and the entanglements of factions. You have achieved numerous military exploits and are of pure heart, with your ambitions set on the country rather than personal gain. You can break through barriers, you can innovate, you can eradicate corruption, and you can bring peace to the nation. What is even more commendable is that you have the people and the country in your heart, but you have no ambition to usurp power or rebel."

"My delegation of power to you is not a gamble on luck, but a gamble on people's hearts, on their vision and perspective."

Li Xuanzhi was deeply shaken and remained bowed for a long time.

At that moment, he understood the emperor's painstaking efforts and resolute decision.

It was not that the emperor was confused and abused his power, nor that he recklessly delegated power.

He was in his prime, ill, with no one he could trust or rely on. In desperation, he made the only and best option.

The emperor looked at the obedient crown prince standing beside him, a hint of tenderness and reluctance flashing in his eyes, and said softly:

"I know my own health best. The intrigues in the harem and the power struggles in the court have been entrenched for centuries. I cannot eliminate them all in a short time."

"While I am alive, I can still suppress the various forces and quell the undercurrents in the court and the countryside. But if I am gone, the Crown Prince is young and weak, and his foundation is not yet established. He will surely become the target of everyone's criticism."

"The only thing I can do for him is to pave the way for him and find him a strong backer while I am still alive, so that he can secure his throne when the time comes."

At this point, the emperor looked at Li Xuanzhi again, his tone extremely solemn.

"Xuanzhi, I do not ask you to assist him for a lifetime, but only to protect him for a few years. Teach him skills, solidify his foundation, and stabilize the court. When he is strong enough to stand on his own, you may withdraw from the court at any time if you do not wish to continue. You are free to choose whether to retire after achieving your goals and live out the rest of your life in peace."

"The secret decree I promised you was my talisman and my promise to you. The Great Yong Dynasty will not fail its virtuous ministers, and I will not fail you either."

Li Xuanzhi felt a heavy weight in his heart, a thousand thoughts churning within him.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your trust, the Crown Prince's trust, and the great Yong land."

"As long as I am alive, I will protect the Crown Prince's safety and stability, ensure the continuation of the new policies, and safeguard the peace and tranquility of the Great Yong Dynasty."

The young prince seemed to understand the weighty trust between the emperor and his subject. He straightened his small body slightly, looked up at Li Xuanzhi, and a hint of dependence appeared in his clear eyes.