The playboy county magistrate

The atmosphere inside the carriage was quiet.

Gu Pan'er took out a clean strip of cloth and wound medicine, bent down, and gently but efficiently treated Li Xuanzhi's wound.

The wound on his shoulder, ripped open by the blade, was raw and congealed, and the touch was excruciatingly painful.

Her fingertips paused slightly, she dared not exert force, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness and heartache.

"The wound is too deep, and the bumpy journey might cause it to become infected. We can only bandage it for now to stop the bleeding. You need to see a doctor immediately after arriving in Beijing."

Li Xuanzhi sat upright, his back straight, letting her treat his wounds with a calm expression.

"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

"The new policies in Pingzhou have severed the foundation of the old aristocratic families. The joint impeachment in the court failed to convict me, so they can only gamble on the most insidious method of silencing me halfway. Today, all the assassins have been wiped out, but all the evidence has been preserved intact. For us, it is a narrow escape, but for them, it will completely throw them into disarray."

Gu Pan'er finished wrapping the last strip of cloth, carefully tightened the knot, and looked up at him:

"The old faction has deep roots, entrenched in the government and the public for generations, and holds connections and influence. This time, the evidence is irrefutable, but they will surely try every means to evade responsibility and deny everything. They may shift the blame to bandits in the mountains and local rioters to absolve themselves of any responsibility."

"I know."

Li Xuanzhi lowered his eyes, a deep, cold light flashing in them.

"What they excel at is distorting the truth and absolving themselves of responsibility. But what His Majesty wants is never the right or wrong of an assassination case."

The emperor's edict summoning him to the capital, temporarily suspending the new policies, and allowing the court and the public to impeach him was a scheme to lure the snake out of its hole.

Without the Black Wind Pass's interception, the old faction would have remained hidden in the shadows, inevitably causing the emperor a difficult situation.

Now that the evidence of old-fashioned officials privately keeping assassins and arbitrarily killing court officials is conclusive, these noble old ministers who are full of talk about the great cause of the country have personally labeled themselves as treasonous and interfering in politics.

Gu Pan'er suddenly realized, "So, all this killing and bloodshed is the evidence His Majesty wants."

"Yes," Li Xuanzhi replied. "We are both pawns and game-breakers."

The carriage swayed and rattled, traveling day and night without stopping.

The closer they got to the capital, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

Along the official roads of the prefectures and counties, one could see imperial messengers rushing back and forth and imperial guards secretly patrolling everywhere.

The area around the capital was already heavily guarded, with a sense of impending doom.

Some say that Li Xuanzhi of Pingzhou is arrogant because of his merits and has ulterior motives.

Some say that the young and powerful minister's reforms were too radical, causing chaos in the local areas and already arousing public resentment.

Even worse, some secretly spread rumors that he was unwilling to be transferred back to Beijing and had already harbored rebellious intentions.

As she traveled, Gu Pan'er overheard the whispers of the local people and merchants. Listening to those fabricated and distorted rumors, her heart grew increasingly cold.

"They don't know the truth; they just jump to conclusions based on hearsay and assume the adults are guilty."

"Public opinion has always been the cheapest and sharpest weapon in court power struggles." Li Xuanzhi's expression remained unchanged. "It's alright, it's all a minor matter."

Ten days later.

As the carriages and horses approached the first gate leading into the city, the majestic city gate opened wide.

The imperial guards standing in formation, their armor imposing, exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression.

In the past, local officials only needed to present their official credentials to enter the city when they went to Beijing to report on their duties.

Today is different; security inside and outside the city gates has been doubled. The commander of the Imperial Guards personally stepped forward to verify the situation, his gaze sweeping over the accompanying shadow guards and the carriage, his expression respectful yet filled with scrutiny.

"Is it Li Xuanzhi, the Assistant Magistrate of Pingzhou, who was ordered to come to the capital to report on his duties?" the commander asked in a deep voice.

"Exactly." A cool reply came from inside the car.

The commander raised his hand to verify the imperial edict, his gaze then falling on the wooden box of evidence that had just been moved out of the carriage and was being stored securely.

The wooden box was sealed with an imperial seal, and ordinary officials had no right to inspect it. The commander of the Imperial Guards dared not ask any questions and immediately stepped aside to make way.

"Lord Li, please enter the city."

The carriages and horses slowly entered the capital city.

The streets were bustling and noisy, with a constant flow of traffic and merchants gathering, presenting a scene of prosperity.

However, in the teahouses and taverns along both sides of the street, and in the streets and alleys, people were discussing the new policies of Pingzhou, the newly promoted powerful minister Li Xuanzhi, and the recent turmoil in the court.

"Have you heard? Lord Li of Pingzhou has achieved such great merit that he is overshadowing the emperor, and half of the court officials have impeached him!"

"The new policies are chaotic and undermine the foundation of the nation. If not for Your Majesty's benevolence, you would have already been punished!"

"Young and arrogant, he bought his way into an official position and got promoted by sheer luck. Having suddenly attained a high position, he's lost all sense of awe and respect. I fear that after this trip to the capital, he'll never have another chance to rise again!"

The carriage passed through bustling streets and alleys, but ultimately did not head towards the official post station or the Chengen Earl's residence. Instead, it stopped outside the Imperial City Guard Office.

The Imperial City Guard was responsible for inspecting the capital region, interrogating court officials, and verifying serious cases. It was a disciplinary office personally overseen by the emperor, and a forbidden zone in the hearts of countless court officials.

Before being convicted, he was first taken to the Imperial City Guard for further investigation.

This arrangement allowed the court officials, who had been observing the situation, to instantly discern the changing winds.

The Emperor was still maintaining a balance of power, not entirely favoring the reformers, and still needing to give an explanation to the old officials.

The hesitant faction became increasingly hesitant to approach Li Xuanzhi, fearing they would be labeled as forming cliques for personal gain.

The Shadow Guard Commander dismounted and bowed to report.

"His Majesty has decreed that Your Excellency has traveled a long way and should first enter the Imperial City Guard to rest and await further investigation. Tomorrow morning at court, Your Excellency will reconvene in the palace to confront the matter and clarify the truth."

Li Xuanzhi lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage, his posture upright. The strips of cloth wrapped around his shoulders were hidden beneath his official robes, and although he was covered in dust, he still maintained a dignified and imposing air, showing no sign of destitution or decline.

He looked up, his eyes slightly narrowed, at the plaque of the Imperial City Guard.

"Pending investigation" means that the crime has not yet been determined, nor has the person been exonerated.

The emperor placed him in the Imperial City Guard, both as protection and as detention. It was a period of waiting, and also a trial.

"I will go inside with you, sir." Gu Pan'er, carrying the account book in her arms, followed closely behind.

Upon seeing this, the gatekeeper of the Imperial City hesitated slightly.

"Imperial City Guard officials awaiting investigation are not permitted to bring maids, servants, or other attendants into the palace."

"She is not a servant," Li Xuanzhi said calmly. "She is in charge of all the accounts for the new policy and holds the only concrete evidence in this case. She is a key witness in this case and was ordered to accompany the investigation."

The Shadow Guard Commander chimed in at the opportune moment, "His Majesty has tacitly approved, granting permission to accompany him."

The gatekeepers of the Imperial City Guard dared not obstruct them any longer and immediately stepped aside to let them pass.

The two stepped into the gate of the Imperial City Guard side by side.

The gate slowly closed behind me, shutting out the hustle and bustle of the city and all the worldly vanities, leaving only a cold and solemn atmosphere of death.

Meanwhile, at the residence of Imperial Censor Fan.

Fan Wuwei sat upright in the main hall, holding the secret report that had just been sent back in his hand.

Upon learning that Li Xuanzhi had safely entered the capital and was already at the Imperial City Guard with his credentials awaiting investigation, his face darkened considerably.

A group of old-fashioned nobles and imperial censors gathered below the hall, all with solemn expressions, creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere.

The Black Wind Pass ambush that killed all the soldiers was something they hadn't anticipated.

An old minister gritted his teeth and spoke, his voice filled with resentment.

"My lord! All the assassins have been killed, leaving behind weapons and tokens as evidence. If these are presented in court tomorrow morning, we will have no way to defend ourselves!"

"Who said Li Xuanzhi was a spoiled brat from the Marquis of Cheng'en's mansion! Who said he was brainless and a hopeless case? He's really doing people a disservice!"