The playboy county magistrate

Before long, the house was so quiet that only Li Xuanzhi remained. Zhang hurriedly sent people out to buy all sorts of things, and then personally went to the small kitchen to prepare some snacks that Li Xuanzhi had loved since childhood.

The journey was long, and no matter how much she prepared, Zhang always felt it wasn't enough, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Meanwhile, in Li Xuanjing's courtyard.

The father of Li Xuanjing and Li Xuanzhi was staring at his eldest son, whom he had always placed high hopes on, with a stern face and displeasure.

"Your father has truly spoiled you! Your younger brother traveled all the way back to the capital, and everyone else is scrambling to curry favor with him, yet you wouldn't even bother to go and say hello. You've squandered a golden opportunity, failing to utilize such a significant advantage! Now even the Zhang family is benefiting from your success, while you, his own brother, are getting nothing. What will people say about you?"

"Those people in the court are all seasoned veterans; even a fool could tell you brothers don't get along. When they can't find a way to curry favor with your brother, won't they try to get you to pledge allegiance to him?"

"You've got a good head, so why can't you adapt when it really matters? Even if your brother knows about all the shady things you've done behind my back, what's wrong with sincerely apologizing and making a statement?"

"As long as your father is alive, he'll have to give you, as the eldest brother, some face out of respect for me. Instead of taking advantage of my presence to mend your relationship with your younger brother, all you do is stay cooped up in the house. What good will that do?"

Li Xuanjing was furious.

Does his father even know what he's saying?

From childhood to adulthood, when has Li Xuanjing ever cared about Zhang Shi and Li Xuanzhi?

If he really cared so much about their brotherly harmony, why didn't he come over and persuade Li Xuanzhi when he and others were plotting against him, so that he could act like a loving older brother to his younger brother?

Ultimately, they still felt that Li Xuanzhi was a disgrace to the entire Li family back then. If he really died, at least the Li family's dignity could be preserved.

Now that they've discovered Li Xuanzhi can bring even greater glory to the Li family, they've turned their attention to themselves.

No wonder the once-prosperous noble mansion has declined with each generation; what kind of rubbish is this!

"Father, if you have something to say, please continue. If not, please go out and close the door behind you. I still have a lot of things to take care of. If I delay important matters, you can't bear the responsibility."

Li Dehai snorted coldly, "What important matters could the Hanlin Academy possibly have to deal with urgently? Not to mention that you're just a lowly compiler there now, with nothing better to do than sit around all day. Do you really think that just because your father doesn't have any real power, you don't know what the officials in the various departments of the court are supposed to do?"

The palace at this time.

Inside the main hall of the Empress's Phoenix Palace.

"Sister-in-law, please send someone to fetch my brother. I'm really curious about what Li Xuanzhi looks like."

The Empress shook her head helplessly and gestured to the nanny beside her to take the three-year-old prince, who was sleeping with a calligraphy brush in his hand, out of the room.

"Why are you suddenly interested in Li Xuanzhi? I seem to remember hearing that even if someone falls for a cat or dog, they wouldn't have any feelings for a playboy like Li Xuanzhi."

Princess Changning is the current emperor's biological sister, born of the same father and mother. Their relationship is far stronger than that of the emperor's other half-brothers.

After the late emperor passed away, the empress dowager lived a secluded life, rarely venturing out even once a year. In addition, the emperor doted on his younger sister, so Princess Changning was raised to be completely unruly.

If this were the daughter of a court official, she wouldn't be satisfied even if she were beaten eight times a day. But what can she do when her family has powerful backing?

Princess Changning touched her nose somewhat embarrassedly, but quickly regained her self-righteous demeanor.

"I used to be young and spoke without thinking. But now that I'm older, I need to share some of the burden with my elder brother and sister-in-law. I've heard that Li Xuanzhi is implementing some new policies; how can he manage without someone of my own keeping an eye on him?"

"Besides, Li Xuanzhi is so quick-witted. If he sends out a hidden sentry, it might be discovered, and it would only increase the other party's vigilance. But I'm different. I'm a princess, a woman. I have plenty of ways to lower his guard."

"The Empress also dotes on Princess Changning very much. After all, Princess Changning is someone she has watched grow up. Although they are sister-in-law and sister-in-law, it is absolutely no problem to say that Princess Changning is like half a daughter to the Empress."

"Hahaha, you wouldn't come to the palace before even when we invited you, but this time you came on your own without being invited. Do you have some good news to share?"

The emperor walked in from outside, laughing heartily, and stared at Princess Changning with a smile.

"Brother, do you have a portrait of Li Xuanzhi?"

The emperor raised an eyebrow, subtly exchanging a knowing glance with the empress.

"What's wrong? Has my royal sister finally come to her senses and is willing to let go of her mortal desires?"

And it must be said, the emperor did have a good impression of Li Xuanzhi, and this time, Li Xuanzhi did such a wonderful thing, so his goodwill towards him soared even higher.

However, the marriage of a royal princess is a major event. Although the emperor dotes on his younger sister, he still takes it quite seriously when it comes to such an important matter.

Princess Changning's heart skipped a beat when she saw her brother's expression.

Before she had even seen the portrait, Princess Changning had already begun to praise Li Xuanzhi in various ways.

"Li Xuanzhi's family does have a noble title, which is much better than that of newly promoted court officials who have no real power or influence, isn't it?"

"Moreover, Li Xuanzhi has offended all the powerful figures in the capital this time. It is impossible for Li Xuanzhi to reconcile with any of them and restore the relationship to its former state. If he wants to save his life and the people he cares about, he can only choose to rely on Your Majesty."

"His status and position are a perfect match, and you don't need to worry about him choosing the wrong side. Isn't such a good candidate for a future sister-in-law?"

At this point, Princess Changning added another sentence.

"Perhaps he deliberately pretended to be a playboy before, so that he could better understand the lives and hardships of ordinary people. Otherwise, how could someone who had never been involved in politics before, in a completely unfamiliar place, have built up Fuyu County so well in such a short time, and also gradually improved all aspects of Pingzhou in such a fast pace?"

"Moreover, Li Xuanzhi was a playboy in the capital for so many years, yet no one ever said he looked like a toad, let alone that he was ugly and had unrealistic dreams. This is enough to show that Li Xuanzhi was quite handsome. The reason I still want to take a look at his portrait is because some people can analyze a lot of things from facial features."

"Once I take the portrait away, I'll find a skilled master to calculate whether his and my birth charts are compatible."

However, there was one thing Princess Changning didn't say—

If their birth charts don't match, she'll slap the powerful fortune teller she found until his face is raw. She'll stop whenever he says something that satisfies her.