The playboy county magistrate

Gu Pan'er continued to read the contents of the secret letter in a low voice, each word clear and distinct.

"Currently, the court is divided into two factions, clearly separated. The veteran civil officials, led by Grand Tutor Huo Linyuan, are staunchly committed to ancestral rules and oppose reform. They have directly accused you of 'disrupting ancestral laws, undermining the foundation of the nation, and misleading the people.' They have submitted seven impeachment memorials in succession, earnestly requesting Your Majesty to hold you accountable."

"The princes, led by Prince Jing, have not made any overt moves. However, they are secretly raising private armies and intercepting taxes. They are also spreading rumors in their respective fiefdoms, claiming that the new policies have emptied the treasury and shaken the foundation of the country. They are secretly observing the situation, waiting for the court to make a move so that they can seize the opportunity to force the emperor to abdicate."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunrou paused slightly with her fingertips and spoke softly.

"They have no concrete evidence, so they can only use 'ancestral rules' as a pretext to attack, is that right?"

"Exactly." Gu Pan'er nodded, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "They say they can't explain why the new policies are wrong, or why the policies benefit the people, so they use centuries-old traditions as a shield and the rules between the emperor and his subjects as shackles. They are trying to use the old system to suppress the new situation, to force His Majesty to compromise, and to force you to back down."

The carriage was completely silent for a moment.

The cart wheels rolled over the gravel on the official road, making a rhythmic, soft sound. Accompanied by the vast wilderness and desolate forests flashing past the window, the road ahead seemed even more mysterious and unpredictable.

Before even entering the post station, Tang Zheng had already spurred his horse back along the previous road, dismounted, and, with a slightly serious expression, bowed to report.

"My lord, there is something amiss both inside and outside the post station."

"The post station appears to be welcoming guests as usual, bustling with activity. In reality, it harbors a large number of unfamiliar spies, mostly from the factions of former officials in the court. They are all keeping watch on the main roads leading to the capital, seemingly waiting specifically for Your Excellency's return."

"In addition, extra imperial guards have been temporarily stationed at the city gates, and the checks are far more stringent than usual. Officials returning to the capital from outside are subject to particularly strict scrutiny, which is clearly at someone's behest and is deliberately targeting you, sir."

Li Xuanzhi finally raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing.

"This is already like this before we even enter the capital. I'm afraid this trip back to the capital might not be as safe as the last one. Tell everyone to be careful and cautious, lest they fall into a trap and capsize in a ditch."

A moment later, Li Xuanzhi's carriages and horses came to a neat stop at the main gate of the post station.

The gatekeeper bowed respectfully, but his eyes quickly scanned the motorcade and the number of people accompanying them.

His gaze lingered briefly on Liu Yunrou and Gu Pan'er, a deliberate scrutiny in his eyes, far from the usual demeanor of a servant.

Li Xuanzhi noticed this subtle anomaly and whispered an order to the shadow guards beside him, instructing them to be on high alert. No one was to leave the group without permission or contact the innkeepers privately. Only then did he take the lead and enter the inn.

Upon entering the inn, a cacophony of noise immediately envelops you.

The hall was filled with officials and merchants taking a break, chatting and laughing, clinking glasses. It appeared lively and peaceful, but in reality, every step was fraught with hidden agendas and deception.

Countless gazes, seemingly both present and absent, were cast upon us from all directions. Some were feigned greetings, some were secretly observing, and some were subtly scrutinizing; each gaze carried a hint of probing and calculation.

The intentions of the old ministers' faction are now crystal clear.

They dared not openly use force to intercept imperial officials on the official road, so they chose to do so in places like post stations where public and private affairs were mixed.

Using rules as a knife and intricate schemes as a net, they laid layers of traps, not seeking a fatal blow, but only to tarnish the reputation of Li Xuanzhi and his entourage, to seize upon their weaknesses, and to force Li Xuanzhi to be suspected before even entering the capital.

The postmaster hurried forward, a fake smile plastered on his face, respectful yet distant, and impeccably courteous.

"Lord Li has come from afar twice, and you must be tired from your journey. I have prepared two superior rooms and several ordinary guest rooms for you and your entourage to rest."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xuanzhi's eyes turned slightly cold.

According to the system of official post stations in the Dayong Dynasty, when the emperor personally dispatched important officials of the court to return to the capital for rest, they could enjoy the main courtyard alone.

It has a separate hall and secluded side rooms, with accompanying officials and attendants placed in side courtyards.

According to his official rank, he did not have the privilege of having a courtyard to himself. However, he was on a special mission issued by the emperor for the new policies, and with the imperial edict and token in hand, he had the power to act first and report later. He could arrange things according to the regulations for imperial envoys.

However, the postmaster only provided two superior rooms and a few ordinary guest rooms, deliberately splitting up the group's accommodations.

Once residences are dispersed, nighttime defenses will become less effective. Spies can take advantage of this, and rumors can easily spread.

They can even deliberately create trouble to frame someone or frame them.

Before Li Xuanzhi could speak, Wang Bo took the lead in refuting the argument according to the rules.

"The post station has established procedures for receiving important officials who have been sent to other posts or returned to the capital. Lord Li has been in charge of a region, quelled the rebellion in the prefecture, and made meritorious contributions in implementing new policies. According to the rules, he should reside in a separate main courtyard, with his entourage living together, and they should be under the same defense. Why is his residence being split up today as an exception? Is the post station manager unaware of the regulations, or is he deliberately violating them?"

The postmaster's smile froze, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed perfunctorily.

"This old man is joking. Recently, there has been a large influx of officials, and the post stations are in short supply. There are no spare courtyards available, so I have no choice but to do this. I hope you will understand."

"No vacancies?" Tang Zheng, who had left the place at some point, had returned. Hearing the postmaster's words, his tone was even colder than Wang Bo's.

"The entire main courtyard on the west side is locked and empty, with no trace of carriages or horses, and no sign of human habitation inside. What is there to be alarmed about? Who instructed the postmaster to deliberately leave the main courtyard empty and divide our residences?"

The postmaster's face turned pale and then red, and he was speechless for a moment, unable to refute the argument.

He was originally a former official under Grand Tutor Huo Linyuan, and this time he was ordered to deliberately make things difficult, attempting to create a loophole by dismantling his residence. Unexpectedly, he was seen through so quickly, leaving him no room to maneuver.

Li Xuanzhi remained calm, not wanting to get entangled in trivial matters with the postmaster, and said indifferently:

"Open the main courtyard on the west side, everyone must enter, and the courtyard must be sealed off. No one is allowed to enter or leave at will, and outsiders are not allowed to approach without permission."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable official authority.

The postmaster dared not openly disobey the order, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree, but his scheming in his heart did not stop.

The group entered the main courtyard, which was secluded and surrounded by high walls.

It should have been peaceful and undisturbed, but as soon as Liu Yunrou stepped into the room, her nose twitched slightly, and she instantly sensed something was wrong.

The room was bright and clean, with elegant furnishings.

It seemed flawless, yet a faint, almost odorless fragrance lingered in the air.

This incense is not the calming sandalwood or mosquito-repelling mugwort commonly used in post stations. Ordinary people would hardly notice it and would only feel slightly tired and dizzy.

However, Liu Yunrou had learned needlework and incense making in her boudoir since childhood, so she had naturally come into contact with some kinds of incense.

"Sir, please don't go in yet."

Liu Yunrou paused lightly and lowered her voice.

"This incense is called Soft Dust Incense. Although it is not poisonous, it can subtly disturb the mind and impair clarity. If it burns for an hour, it will make people feel mentally fatigued and slow to react. If one sleeps soundly at night, one will surely feel dizzy and lethargic the next morning."

"Besides that," Liu Yunrou added, her fingertips tracing the wooden cracks in the windowsill, feeling the fine remnants of incense ash. "The incense burner inside the room has a hidden compartment, and the incense ash was pre-buried. It releases fragrance slowly during the day, and its medicinal power is strongest at night. The other party calculated our check-in time and rest time precisely."