The playboy county magistrate

These five short words contain endless emotions.

He remained unconscious for only a few days. When he opened his eyes again, the child who once needed constant protection and guidance was now able to sit upright in the court, overseeing the country. He stabilized the officials, made decisions on right and wrong, and shouldered half of the Great Yong Dynasty's territory.

The crown prince strode forward, stood beside the couch, bowed slightly, his eyes filled with the genuine concern of a child, yet his tone was calm and respectful.

"Father, are you well?"

The emperor raised his hand and gently patted his shoulder, feeling immense comfort in his heart.

"I have heard that when I was unconscious, it was you and Xuanzhi who stood shoulder to shoulder in governing the court, suppressing the chaos among the officials, stabilizing the hearts of the people, and ensuring that the Great Yong Dynasty was never thrown into chaos."

"Your subject dares not take credit," the Crown Prince said humbly, bowing his head. "Without your guidance and leadership in the central government, making decisions on all matters, even if I had the will, I would not have been able to stabilize the situation. All the stability is thanks to your guidance."

Upon hearing this, the emperor slowly raised his eyes and looked at Li Xuanzhi, who had just stood up after bowing.

The emperor and his ministers gazed at each other in silence, yet their silence spoke volumes.

After a long silence, the emperor smiled gently, his expression filled with complete trust and emotion.

"Xuanzhi, thank you for your hard work."

"I was bedridden and delirious for several days, entrusting the vast empire and the young crown prince entirely to you. You have not failed me, the nation, or the people. You stabilized the situation in the midst of crisis and protected the land of Da Yong for me."

Li Xuanzhi bowed deeply, his posture respectful and his tone sincere and frank.

"It is my duty as a subject, so why should I complain about hardship? Your Majesty has placed your trust in me, and I will never fail you, even at the cost of my life. My lifelong wish is for Your Majesty's well-being, for the Crown Prince to grow up, for the country to be stable, and for the world to enjoy lasting peace and prosperity."

The emperor raised his hand, gesturing for him to rise. His gaze was distant and peaceful as he slowly expressed his innermost feelings.

"I ascended the throne at a young age, and was constrained by powerful families and ministers, trapped in the power struggles within the palace, unable to find peace. I once thought that the problems of the Great Yong Dynasty were too deep-rooted, and that I would hardly live to see a peaceful and prosperous era."

"Fortunately, you are here."

This praise is sincere, profound, and carries immense weight.

"It was you who broke the long-standing abuses of aristocratic families and established new laws and regulations. Little by little, you swept away the gloom of the past century, bringing this bright and peaceful world to the Great Yong Dynasty."

Li Xuanzhi straightened up, his brows and eyes gentle.

"This is not the achievement of your humble servant alone. It is due to Your Majesty's wise delegation of power and complete trust. It is also due to the Crown Prince's intelligence, diligence, and pure heart. In addition, it is thanks to the many court officials who performed their duties and worked together that the monarch and his ministers were of one mind and were able to achieve this prosperous era."

The crown prince listened quietly to the sound of the music and spoke at the opportune moment.

"Father, with your son and teacher by your side, the Great Yong will have no more internal troubles or hidden dangers. Your son will devote himself to reforming the government and diligently governing the country."

The emperor was deeply moved, thinking to himself that his son had truly grown up.

After experiencing so much, the emperor was no longer so obsessed with keeping power firmly in his own hands. On the contrary, he felt that while he was still in good health, he could properly teach his son how to be an emperor.

Li Xuanzhi was a subject, and even though he was very knowledgeable about the art of controlling people, he did not understand the mindset of an emperor as thoroughly as someone who had actually been an emperor.

Now that we're training the crown prince, we won't have to rely on a child and a young minister to shoulder everything if anything happens to us again.

The emperor paused to catch his breath before speaking again, his tone solemn.

"Xuanzhi."

"Your subject is here."

"I am still recovering from my illness and need to rest and recuperate. For the next few years, you will continue to manage the affairs of state, with the Crown Prince overseeing the country and assisting in governance. However, my son, you must spend half a day in the Imperial Study every three days, as I will test your studies."

The emperor's gaze was intense, filled with complete trust.

Li Xuanzhi bowed and accepted the order, his words resounding with conviction.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly devote myself wholeheartedly to serving you. I will diligently assist in governing and nurture the people. I will help Your Highness grow into a wise ruler and ensure that this prosperous era lasts forever."

The Crown Prince bowed solemnly: "Your subject will certainly humbly seek knowledge and diligently govern the country. I will not fail the Emperor's trust or the teachers' teachings."

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

The court of the Great Yong Dynasty has been completely transformed.

After the complete purge of Feng Huai'an's faction and the eradication of the century-old poison of powerful clans, there were no more factional entanglements or old malpractices hindering the government and the public.

All vacant official positions were filled by capable officials from humble backgrounds and key figures in the new policies. The circulation of resources in the Six Ministries was smooth, local policies were effectively implemented, and the deep-seated problems of official corruption that had accumulated over several years were swept away in one fell swoop.

The emperor lived a quiet life in the deep palace, refraining from disturbing the court, imposing harsh policies, and delegating all power.

Li Xuanzhi, acting as the central coordinator, governed with composure and stability. He spent his days in the cabinet reviewing memorials, regulating laws and regulations concerning people's livelihoods, and implementing policies to reduce taxes and corvée labor.

The Crown Prince observed government affairs from the pavilion and learned how to make decisions and govern in the classroom.

The master and apprentice worked together seamlessly, maintaining order throughout the court and the country.

The most difficult thing about a prosperous era is to have nothing to do.

The imperial court need not guard against treachery and deceit, the ministers need not be overly cautious, and the people need not live in fear.

Throughout the nation, only the concept of peace and stability remains.

A warm breeze caresses the face; fallen petals lie scattered on the eaves of the imperial city, while the imperial gardens are lush and verdant.

The afternoon was relatively quiet, and all the cabinet memorials were processed.

Li Xuanzhi put down his vermilion brush, raised his hand and gently rubbed his brow, finally easing the tension that had gripped him for days.

"teacher."

A clear voice came from outside the door. The Crown Prince was dressed in plain clothes without his court hat. He had shed the solemnity and majesty of his role as regent and had become more refreshing.

He walked slowly into the cabinet office, holding a booklet on local people's livelihood in his hands.

With nothing much to do these days, the Crown Prince accompanied Li Xuanzhi in and out of the inner palace and strolled through the palace gardens.

Li Xuanzhi raised his eyes, his gaze gentle. "Have you finished your lessons for today?"

"Yes, I also took a look at the reports on spring plowing in Jiangnan."

The crown prince walked to the table, gently unfolded the booklet, and smiled faintly.

"Abundant rainfall in the Jiangnan region ensured a smooth spring planting season. All granaries were opened for cultivation, and the people lived in peace and security. There were no refugees or famines. Local officials reported that the situation was stable and peaceful."

Li Xuanzhi glanced down at the documents, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

"When the government is clean and efficient, the people's livelihood is stable. When there are no powerful local bullies to exploit the people, and no officials to harass them, the people can work in peace and live a good life. This is the true meaning of the new policies."

The crown prince nodded slightly, deeply moved.

Li Xuanzhi put down his teacup, rose, and slowly walked to the window. Gazing at the clear blue sky and drifting clouds outside the palace, he murmured:

"In times of chaos, bloodshed is valued; in times of peace, tranquility is valued. Now that the storms have subsided, what we need to do is no longer to disrupt the situation and quell the unrest, or to eliminate the wicked. Instead, we should maintain order and stability, and work quietly and effectively."

The Crown Prince then stopped at the window, and together they gazed at the vast expanse of land and sky outside the palace. He asked softly:

"Teacher, will there truly be no more turmoil in the court from now on?"

Li Xuanzhi shook his head slightly, his tone calm.

Nothing in this world is absolute. But evil can be eradicated, old malpractices can be eliminated, people's hearts can be rectified, and laws can be upheld. What we can do is establish good rules, guard our true selves, and prevent evil from flourishing and chaos from taking root.

"I have taken note," the Crown Prince replied solemnly, his eyes clear.

Before long, Xiao Zhuozi, following the Empress's decree, quietly entered and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Li, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Her Majesty the Empress has noticed the clear skies and beautiful spring scenery in the palace gardens these past few days. She has prepared some refreshments and tea and invites you both to rest in the Imperial Garden."