The playboy county magistrate

"Get up quickly, no need for formalities. It's been a while since I last saw you, my son. You've lost some weight, but you've become even more composed and sensible."

A mother and child are connected at heart; even if they haven't seen each other for several days, they will notice every subtle change.

The Crown Prince stood up, looked up at the Empress, and spoke in a gentle and soft voice, yet with an unusual firmness.

"Your Majesty, I am doing well abroad. My teacher and his wife have treated me very well, so you need not worry."

"With Lord Li and Madam Pei looking after me, I am naturally at ease."

The Empress gently patted the Crown Prince's hand, then turned to look at Li Xuanzhi standing to the side, nodded slightly, and spoke in a gentle and sincere tone.

"These days, Your Highness has been well taken care of by you and Madam Pei. I am very grateful."

Li Xuanzhi bowed slightly. "Your Majesty is too kind. My wife and I are fortunate to have the trust of His Majesty and Your Majesty to be able to teach the Crown Prince. It is our honor. Taking care of His Highness and instructing him are our duties, and we dare not say that it is hard work."

Looking at the dignified and composed Li Xuanzhi before her, the Empress was filled with emotion.

"Although I am in the inner palace and do not concern myself with court affairs, I know that Lord Li has faced many difficulties and hardships along the way."

The Empress spoke softly, her words sincere.

"Assassination in the dead of night, a rebellion in the harem, a counterattack from powerful families. Each and every one of these events is extremely dangerous. It was you who risked your life to protect my son and the foundation of the Great Yong Dynasty."

"Without you, the court would still be in turmoil, the palace would still be shrouded in darkness, and the road ahead for the crown prince would still be fraught with thorns."

These words were not mere politeness, but rather the Empress's heartfelt recognition and gratitude.

Li Xuanzhi bowed his head and calmly replied, "Your Majesty flatters me. As a Grand Councilor of the Inner Cabinet, I receive the Emperor's salary and bear the Emperor's worries. This is all a subject's duty and should be done as it is.

Li Xuanzhi was already tired of saying this; how many more times did he have to repeat himself?

Seeing that he remained humble and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient, the Empress's eyes showed even greater admiration, and she chuckled softly.

"Everyone says you wield immense power and enjoy unparalleled imperial favor. But in my eyes, you remain steadfast in your original intentions, calm and composed. No wonder His Majesty trusts you completely and willingly entrusts the throne to you."

The crown prince listened quietly to the sound of his voice, and spoke at the right moment.

"Mother, when I ascend the throne, I will surely keep my promise today. I will respect and trust my teachers for the rest of my life and never betray the loyalty of my virtuous ministers."

Upon hearing this, the Empress was greatly pleased and nodded with a smile.

"My son's ability to distinguish right from wrong and to know gratitude and righteousness is the best form of growth."

Previously, the Empress was worried that if something really happened to the Emperor, what would happen to her son?

At such a young age, those old foxes in the court would surely devour his son alive, and stripping him of his power and status would be as easy as lifting a finger.

Now things are better; perhaps there's a way to suppress the emperor's poison for a while, and Li Xuanzhi is a legitimate member of the Crown Prince's faction.

With him protecting him, at least there will be enough time for the crown prince to grow up.

After Li Xuanzhi brought the Crown Prince over, he exchanged a few brief pleasantries with the Empress. Knowing that the mother and son had something to say to each other, he tactfully found an excuse to leave.

"I've heard that many rare and precious plants have recently been brought to the Imperial Garden as tribute. I'm quite curious about them. Would you allow me to take a look?"

The Empress's smile deepened. Where in the Imperial Garden could there be any newly arrived rare species?

She knew perfectly well what those words meant. It was precisely because she understood the unspoken meaning behind Li Xuanzhi's words that she found him even more agreeable.

"I grant your permission. Xiao Zhuozi, you will personally accompany Lord Li on his stroll. In case any inconsiderate individuals offend Lord Li."

Xiao Zhuozi was steady and quick-witted, and always followed the rules. Upon hearing this, he immediately bowed.

"This servant will obey Your Majesty's orders and will certainly accompany Lord Li well."

Xiao Zhuozi deliberately chose the nearest side path and said in a low, respectful voice:

"Lord Li, this road is quiet and leads directly to the Imperial Garden. There's no need to go around the front hall, and there are pavilions and corridors along the way, so it will take less time to travel back and forth."

Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly, his expression calm. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

He has been navigating the power struggles of the court and the turmoil within the palace lately, keeping him on edge. But now, strolling amidst the blooming flowers and willows, he feels much more relaxed.

Xiao Zhuozi glanced up discreetly and secretly admired it.

Everyone feared Lord Li's immense power and his ruthless judgment. Yet very few had ever seen him so relaxed and at ease.

With a gentle and refined demeanor, and an extraordinary bearing, she possesses a rare and exceptional charm.

The path was secluded and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Suddenly, a burst of clear, arrogant laughter came from ahead, accompanied by the tinkling of jade pendants, and the cautious admonitions of palace maids, breaking the tranquility of the garden.

"My lady, please slow down. Be careful not to let the flower branches trip your skirt! It's windy today, don't catch a cold."

Before the words were finished, a pretty and bright pink figure, surrounded by a group of palace maids, walked straight out from the depths of the flower bushes.

The visitor was Consort Lin, who had been in the palace for less than three months and was only sixteen years old.

She was beautiful and charming, and because of her innocent and naive nature, she was quite lenient and indulgent with the emperor.

Even within the palace, he was considered unrestrained and arrogant, unaware of the rules and regulations.

She had only been in the palace for a short time and had never participated in the power struggles between the court and the harem, nor had she ever seen the powerful young prime minister.

I had only vaguely heard bits and pieces of rumors circulating in the streets, and had no idea of ​​the power and influence of these officials.

"Oh, stop talking! I don't know what's wrong with me lately, all the ladies in the harem have suddenly become so insecure. If I don't get out and relax a bit, I'm going to suffocate!"

Lin Meiren was enjoying herself when she looked up and saw Li Xuanzhi standing in the path, and she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The warm sunlight fell on his eyebrows, eyes, and clothes, revealing his refined and otherworldly demeanor.

Unlike the humble and reserved palace eunuchs, or the rigid and dull ordinary court officials, he stood there alone, surpassing thousands.

Lin Meiren had never seen such a stunningly beautiful person before. She was momentarily stunned, and a strong sense of curiosity and possessiveness instantly ignited in her eyes.

She was pampered at home from a young age and received even greater favor from the emperor after entering the palace. She always wanted what she wanted, and was arrogant, willful, and had no sense of respect.

The palace maid beside her was also brought from Lin Meiren's home, and she had never seen Li Xuanzhi before.

But knowing that only eunuchs or court officials could freely roam the Imperial Garden, he felt a pang of anxiety and quickly stepped forward to whisper a reminder:

"My lord, this is a high-ranking official from the previous dynasty. Let us give him some space and not be impolite."

"The former dynasty's lord?" Lin Meiren raised an eyebrow, completely unconcerned. Instead, she looked Li Xuanzhi up and down, her tone carrying a hint of casual contempt and criticism.

"He is indeed extremely handsome, with a face and figure a hundred times more attractive than all the eunuchs and guards in the palace. I have been in the palace for a long time, yet I have never seen such a person before."

She assumed he was a newly recruited palace attendant and never considered him to be a cabinet minister.

Xiao Zhuozi's expression changed slightly. He quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and tried to help the situation out.

"This servant greets Young Master Lin. This is Lord Li, the current Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, who holds the reins of the central government. Young Master, you must not be disrespectful."