The playboy county magistrate

Beauties from the Southern Frontier, the Northern Desert, the Western Regions, and the Eastern Sea stood in four rows in the hall.

Having shed the submissive demeanor of offering gifts before the palace, though still keeping her brows furrowed and head bowed, she had begun to secretly compete, giving the impression of a subtle power struggle within the harem.

The women from southern Xinjiang wore perfectly gentle smiles, seemingly harmless, but their eyes frequently darted out at the other three women, discreetly observing and weighing their options.

They learned the ways of survival from a young age and were best at assessing situations and using others' strengths against them.

Entering the palace was for the purpose of securing the country and seeking wealth. They would never easily make enemies, but they would never allow themselves to be manipulated.

The noblewomen of the northern nobility had an unyielding arrogance hidden in their eyes and brows.

Unaccustomed to the gentle and reserved nature of women from the Central Plains, they stood in the hall, exuding their own unique aura. Their gazes were open and sharp, neither avoiding nor faltering as they surveyed the people around them.

With her frank and unyielding nature, she disdained underhanded tactics, yet she would never back down in the slightest. Deep down, she was determined that upon entering the palace, she would gather intelligence for the northern frontier, win the emperor's favor, and live up to the Khan's trust.

The most eye-catching group was the stunningly beautiful women from the Western Regions. Their brightly colored skirts spread out on the ground, and their every glance exuded exotic charm. They were radiant and naturally alluring.

They exchanged glances, their eyes revealing unspoken calculations. Knowing that the three kingdoms of the Western Regions acted as a united front, they understood that their entry into the palace meant they shared the same lineage and would support each other.

By simply stabilizing the emperor's mind, we can bring trade benefits and border convenience to our homeland.

The most inconspicuous of them were two Japanese samurai women.

The plain-colored kimono was simple and elegant, and she stood at the very back of the crowd, almost invisible.

The two kept their eyes lowered, their breathing shallow, and their posture upright. They appeared docile and timid, almost invisible.

But whenever no one was watching, his narrow eyes would quickly sweep across the room, taking in the demeanor, temperament, and posture of each woman. In an instant, he would return to his humble and submissive state, concealing his true strength and displaying extreme forbearance.

No one chatted idly, no one lost their composure, yet a silent distinction had already been made. They were wary of each other, testing each other's limits.

They were all carefully chosen pawns by various nations, burdened with their country's mission. They appeared to have entered the palace to serve and please the ruler, but in reality, each had their own tasks and schemes.

A palace eunuch slowly approached, carrying a register of regulations, and loudly proclaimed the decree for the placement.

The four beauties were placed in the secluded side halls of the six palaces in the east and west, each residing in a courtyard, without interfering with each other.

We will provide them with food and clothing, and await their future calling to serve.

This arrangement is extremely fair. It is impartial and unbiased, showing neither favoritism nor neglect.

It both saves face for the various countries and deliberately isolates them from each other's forces, preventing them from gathering, colluding, and causing trouble.

Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down to express their gratitude, speaking respectfully, though each had their own thoughts.

The woman from southern Xinjiang smiled even more gently, feigning weakness and waiting for the right opportunity.

The woman from the northern desert frowned slightly, disliking this isolation and control, but she could only endure and comply.

A hint of regret flashed in the eyes of the woman from the Western Regions; she had failed to get close to the emperor, yet she remained calm and composed.

The Japanese woman remained expressionless, seemingly devoid of any desires. Only deep within her eyes did her calculations grow ever more profound.

The eunuchs led everyone out of the side hall one by one, and they returned to their respective residences.

With the splendor faded and the gentle facade gone, each piece, concealing its own hidden agenda, has been carefully placed within the palace walls. All that remains is for the winds to rise, and then the storms will rage.

Outside the imperial city, within the various post stations of the capital, undercurrents were already surging and churning.

The Dayong Dynasty specially established post stations in four directions to accommodate envoys from various countries.

The southern border, the northern desert, the western regions, and the eastern sea each reside in their own courtyard. Normally, they do not interact with each other and live in peace. But tonight, however, things are different. The gates of the post station are ajar, and people are bustling about.

The Khan of the Northern Desert went first to the location of the Western Regions envoy group, and then sent his personal guards to secretly send messages to the other countries, inviting envoys from all sides to gather at the location of the Western Regions envoy group to discuss follow-up matters.

The three kingdoms of the Western Regions had always acted as a group, which is why the Khan of the Northern Desert went straight to the location of the Western Regions envoy delegation.

The envoy from the southern border was always shrewd and astute. He knew that tonight's gathering concerned the interests of all the vassal states. Although he was cautious and unwilling to take any risks, he dared not be absent and offend the other states. After a moment's thought, he prepared himself and went to the meeting.

The Japanese envoy, however, has yet to appear.

Inside the inn in the Western Regions, candlelight flickered. The interplay of light and shadow cast shifting shadows on the expressions of the people present.

The Khan of the Northern Desert sat in the main seat, his brows and eyes no longer displaying the restraint and forbearance of the day, but instead filled with arrogance and resentment. His rough fingertips tapped lightly on the table, the sound dull and muffled, carrying a hint of hostility.

"During the daytime court session, we jointly petitioned for open trade and lenient governance, but Li Xuanzhi completely thwarted our efforts with just a few words. The emperor even issued a warning and emphasized the need for strict checks and balances."

"We have come from afar, offering gifts and people, and showing the utmost respect. Yet we have not received any real benefit, but have instead found ourselves in a situation where we are restricted and passively controlled."

He spoke first, his voice cold and resentful.

"Da Yong considers itself the superior nation, looking down on all sides and suppressing them. It appears to be benevolent, but in reality, it is always on guard and checks and balances, with no intention of benefiting its vassal states. If this continues, our countries will be forever controlled by Da Yong, with no chance of ever rising up."

The Loulan envoy picked up the tea on the table and took a small sip.

"What the Khan said is true. Li Xuanzhi has a sharp eye and a meticulous mind. All our plans today have been exposed by him in public, leaving us no room to hide them. As long as he holds a high position, it will be difficult for our countries to find any loopholes to exploit."

The Uyghur envoy followed closely behind, his brow furrowed, and echoed in a low voice.

"And that Crown Prince of Dayong, so young yet so troublesome, he's really hard to deal with."

The envoy from the southern border sat quietly to one side, unhurried and calm, and slowly began to speak.

"Why are you all so impatient? Today's defeat at court is merely a loss in the open game, not a complete defeat. We have already sent all our treasures and beauties to the palace; the pieces are in place. There is plenty of time in the future, so why rush things?"

Southern Xinjiang is best at patience and using softness to overcome hardness. They see through the current situation and know that head-on confrontation is by no means the best strategy.

"The Emperor of Dayong may seem fair, but he is ultimately a ruler. He has personal desires, preferences, and weaknesses. The beauties we have sent in each have their own charm and strengths. We only need to slowly infiltrate the palace and wait for the right opportunity. In time, they will surely be able to sway the Emperor's heart and influence the court. At that time, there will naturally be room for maneuver regarding trade regulations and border control."

Upon hearing this, the Khan of the Northern Desert slightly softened the fierce look in his eyes, but still frowned and said in a deep voice:

"But the palace is deep and the controls are strict. Those women are, after all, outsiders, without roots or support. Whether they can succeed is still unknown. Moreover, Li Xuanzhi controls the court with strict rules. Any slight disturbance will be detected by him in advance and nipped in the bud."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.

This is true; Li Xuanzhi, who held the central command, possessed keen insight.

Just as everyone was silent, the door was gently pushed open.

A cool night breeze swept in, causing the candlelight to flicker slightly.

The Japanese envoy walked in slowly, still wearing the same black robe, his face as cold and indifferent as in broad daylight, without a trace of extra emotion.

Upon entering, he bowed his head and closed the door, shutting out any outside noise. His movements were steady and meticulous, without the slightest oversight.