The playboy county magistrate

"Thank you, Master's wife. My father sent me out of the palace not to confine me to a life of restraint, but to let me see the true nature of humanity. I want to learn real skills from you, Master, and cultivate my character."

A few words, yet insightful and wise.

Pei Qingyuan was slightly surprised, but then she understood.

The crown prince, raised in the deep palace, was exposed to the intrigues and power struggles of the court from a young age, witnessing the rise and fall of dynasties. His inherent composure and insight were simply innate.

She nodded slightly. "Your Highness is intelligent and insightful. Your future studies will surely be much easier."

The carriage traveled straight ahead and soon came to a steady stop outside the main gate of the Li residence.

The Li residence today is no longer the ordinary residence of a court official it once was.

After Li Xuanzhi entered the cabinet and took control of the central government, his residence was reorganized by the inner court.

It is elegant and dignified, without being extravagant or overstepping the bounds, yet it exudes the solemnity and majesty of a powerful minister's residence.

The imperial guards stood solemnly outside the mansion, their defenses impeccable; they were all personal guards personally dispatched by the emperor.

Layer upon layer of guards, with covert defenses. Overt and covert sentries were interspersed, making the entire mansion impenetrable.

Li Xuanzhi had already finished his cabinet duties and returned to his residence ahead of time to wait.

He stood before the gate of the mansion in casual clothes, his posture upright and elegant, his eyes gentle and serene. There was no trace of the fierce and ruthless court politics, only peace and composure.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Pei Qingyuan got out of the carriage first, then took the Crown Prince's hand and slowly walked down from the carriage.

The prince steadied himself, showing no sign of fear. He bowed solemnly to Li Xuanzhi, performing the standard apprenticeship ceremony.

"The student has met the teacher."

His manners were impeccable, his demeanor respectful, and there was not a single fault to be found.

Li Xuanzhi bent down and gently lifted his arm, his voice gentle yet dignified.

"Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities. Once you're in my household, you're family. Just settle in comfortably and focus on your studies."

"Thank you, Teacher." The prince stood up and obediently stood beside the two of them.

The three entered the mansion, passing through quiet courtyards, winding corridors, and waterside pavilions.

The courtyard prepared for the Crown Prince was simply and elegantly furnished, lacking the ornate carvings and opulent luxury of a grand palace. Yet, it was clean, orderly, and serene, making it the perfect place for reading, self-cultivation, and nurturing one's character.

All the servants in the mansion had already been counted and sorted out; they were all steady, reliable, and honest old men.

Everyone involved was trained by Li Xuanzhi before he entered the capital. There were no spies outside the palace, and no powerful families had planted agents. Each person underwent rigorous vetting and was absolutely loyal and reliable.

The Crown Prince's courtyard was located to the east of Li Xuanzhi's study in the front courtyard, and it was named Zhixueyuan (Knowledge Garden).

The courtyard contains bedrooms, a reception room, a study, a storeroom, and a warm rest pavilion.

It is well-lit and quiet.

All the household items and books were delivered by the inner court overnight.

"From now on, this will be His Highness's residence."

Pei Qingyuan pointed to the scenery in the courtyard and explained in a soft voice.

"During the day, my elder brother Pei Yuting from my maternal family will come to accompany Your Highness in studying and learning to read and write, as well as studying etiquette and classic texts. In the evening, when your teacher is free, he will teach you about the practical affairs of the court and the general trend of the world. The mansion is peaceful and undisturbed, so you can study in peace."

The crown prince looked around, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes.

The arrangement was entirely according to his preferences, and there were some small details that even his mother wasn't aware of. It was clear that the arrangement had been carefully planned after consulting with those around him. He nodded emphatically, moved.

"Thank you so much, teacher and teacher's wife. I really appreciate it."

After settling in, Pei Qingyuan, along with her servants and trusted confidantes sent by the Empress, went to the small storeroom to continue tidying up the household chores. In the courtyard, only Li Xuanzhi and the Crown Prince remained alone.

Li Xuanzhi lowered his eyes to look at the young yet thoughtful crown prince before him, softened his tone, and asked softly:

"Does Your Highness know why His Majesty insisted on sending you out of the palace and entrusting you to my care?"

The prince blinked, thinking:

Is Master confused? I was clearly present when Father spoke to him.

Have you already forgotten everything that happened yesterday?

The crown prince looked up, his clear eyes meeting his directly. There was no flinching, no hint of impatience.

"Your student is aware. The palace is poisonous, and the court is in turmoil. Your father is unwell and unable to completely eliminate these undercurrents. There are people in the palace who covet the throne and plot against you. Staying in the palace would put your student in danger. Only by residing in your residence, teacher, can you find a sliver of safety."

He slowly squatted down, looking the Crown Prince in the eye, his tone solemn and sincere.

"Since Your Highness remembers everything, you should know that in the years to come, I will protect you and be your most trusted confidant. Although the road ahead is still full of storms, Your Highness still needs to be patient and calm, accumulate strength, and temper your character. But at such a young age, you have such a serious face, and everything is written on your face, making it easy for others to see through you."

Upon hearing this, the crown prince quickly adjusted his expression, trying his best to appear expressionless.

Li Xuanzhi found it amusing and reached out to rub his head.

"You can be yourself in front of me. It's not time for you to worry about the country and its people yet, so relax a bit. Carrying so many worries at such a young age, aren't you afraid you'll stunt your growth? Then you'll have one more thing to worry about, and you won't be in the mood to study properly."

"If that time comes, you'll be neither skilled in literature nor martial arts, and you won't be able to govern the country. The court officials won't obey you, and your brothers will seize the opportunity to rebel and usurp the throne. Have you ever thought about what you and your mother will have to rely on to survive?"

The higher the social status of a family, the more intense the power struggles and conflicts of interest.

Even in wealthy and powerful families, people often die because of their own interests, let alone when such a large piece of meat as the entire country is right in front of them.

Excessive worry is not a good habit, and Li Xuanzhi didn't want to raise a tyrant or a creepy, perverted creature.

"When you are fully grown and capable of ruling the world on your own, your master will personally escort you back to the palace to protect your mother and share the burden with your father, the emperor. Protect the stability of the nation and the peace of the people."

The crown prince's expression grew increasingly solemn, his small fists clenched slightly, and he nodded emphatically.

"I will remember your teachings and never fail the Emperor's trust or your guidance. I will protect the land of Dayong in the future."

……

In the western suburbs of Beijing, in a secluded and quiet private residence that had been sealed off in the past.

The night was deep, and the candlelight in the courtyard was dim. The voices were low and suppressed, and the room was filled with a sense of hostility.

This place was once the secret stronghold of the remnants of aristocratic families, but now it has become the site of conspiracies between dismissed officials, defeated nobles, and relatives of the empress.

The court suffered a series of crushing defeats, all the familiar cabinet ministers were dismissed, the new policies swept across the country, and the crown prince moved to the Li residence...

One incident after another shattered everyone's beautiful dreams.

"It's over! It's completely over!" A powerful official from a prominent family, who was found to have obtained his official position illegally and was subsequently dismissed, slammed his fist on the table, his voice hoarse.

"His Majesty has completely relinquished power to Li Xuanzhi, and now even the Crown Prince is firmly in his grasp! The day the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the court and the country will be his alone, and we will have no place to stand!"

"That's not all!" another person replied in a deep voice, his eyes filled with malice.

"His Majesty secretly left a decree guaranteeing Li Xuanzhi's lifelong safety, ensuring no one can easily harm him. If this continues, let alone a place to stand, we might even lose our way to survival!"