The best county magistrate

Just after the hour of Hai, Ningguo Mansion had been surrounded by the imperial guards, and the masters of Ying Mansion had set up ambushes in the surrounding areas.

Everyone looked straight ahead with solemnity in their eyes, waiting for the order from Crown Prince Park In-jae, and then they would break in.

However, the gate of Ningguo Mansion finally chose to open slowly in the middle of the night.

Li Guodong supported Ningguo Duke Li Zishan and walked out slowly. There was frost on Li Zishan's face, but he did not look panicked.

"Your servants, Li Zishan and Li Guodong, pay their respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Park In Jae waved his hands, looking confident of victory, "Old Lord Li, Lord Li, I'm sure you all know what happened."

"Will you follow me obediently, or will you resist?"

"You!" Li Guodong spat out a word angrily and was pulled back by Li Zishan.

"Your Highness, what happened? I don't know much about it, but does Your Majesty know that Your Highness has mobilized the Imperial Guards?"

Park In Jae didn't care about his question. "My father has already given an order that from the moment the Great Yan envoys enter Huajing City, I will be in charge of the imperial guards for a month to ensure Huajing's safety."

"Unfortunately, the Great Yan delegation had only been in the city for one day when the second young master of Ningguo Mansion, Li Gongming, led people to assassinate the Yan Dynasty ambassador Yang Xuanchen in the middle of the night. His crime..."

"How dare you!" Li Zishan knocked his crutch, making a "dong dong dong" sound.

"Gongming is just a child. What skills and abilities does he have to assassinate the ambassador of Yan Dynasty?"

"Your Highness, please do not speak nonsense, and do not put the blame on Ningguo Mansion."

"Everyone in Ningguo Mansion has sworn to be loyal to His Majesty until death, and the family has been hereditary for five generations..."

Before Li Zishan finished speaking, he heard Park In Jae shout, "Enough! It's late at night, I don't have time to discuss stories with the old Duke!"

"The Ningguo Mansion's good hands and Li Gongming have been captured by the Ying Mansion. The charges of treason, treason, and assassination are serious crimes."

"Even the old Duke and Lord Li are not exempt. Let me ask you one last question. Do you want to tie yourself up or let me do it myself?"

The cold and ruthless tone shocked everyone in Ningguo Mansion. Li Zishan's face flushed and he pointed his cane at Park In Jae with an extremely distorted expression.

However, he never said another word.

Park In-jae seemed to be not very patient today. After waiting for a while and seeing no statement from Li Zishan and Li Guodong, he waved his hand.

"Someone come and take him down!"

As Ningguo Duke Li Zishan and Li family head Li Guodong were invited to the Dali Temple, the news in front of Ningguo Mansion spread like wildfire in Huajing City.

After the news spread, the entire Huajing City fell into whispers.

As a big family, Ningguo Mansion is now charged with treason and treason, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the entire pro-war faction.

Deep inside the Ningguo Mansion, some servants and retainers loyal to the Li family began to quietly pack their bags, preparing to flee this family that was about to be caught in a storm.

At this time, the Wuguo Mansion in the west of the city also received the news that the prince went to the Ningguo Mansion to arrest someone.

On the surface, the Wu government did not make any move regarding this matter.

However, in a courtyard deep in the mansion, Gu Li's heart could not calm down for a long time.

At this moment, she was kneeling on the ground with her head down, not saying a word. All she could think about was Zhao Xue's figure and the scene of Yang Xuanchen hugging her for the last time.

"Ali! Did you listen to what Dad said?"

The almost roaring voice finally brought Gu Li back to reality.

"My daughter understands. She will not go anywhere these days and will stay in the mansion..."

Gu Sanshun stroked his chest, calmed down, and said in a gentle tone: "Ali, Dad has spoiled you since you were a child. You said you like to practice martial arts, so Dad let you practice martial arts."

"You said you like reading, so Dad asked Mr. Tuoba to teach you."

"You said you didn't want to marry the Sixth Prince. Even if Dad tried his best, he couldn't get His Majesty to issue the imperial decree."

"But can you please think about your family and the Wu family? Our lives are not easy."

Gu Sanshi pulled his elder brother aside and said a few words of advice, "Brother, A Li is the most outstanding child in our family, so please stop talking."

"And you! How dare you say that? You are the one who dotes on her and pampers him the most!" Gu Sanshun now turned his spearhead directly to Gu Sanshi.

"Dad, Second Uncle, I understand what you say, and I know what to do." Gu Li raised his head and two lines of tears dripped down his cheeks to the ground.

Gu Sanshun only took one look at his daughter's tearful face, and the soft spot in his heart was touched. He spoke in a gentle tone.

"Get up, don't kneel."

After saying that, he waved his hand, walked out the door and disappeared into the night.

"Ali, tell your uncle, do you really like that boy named Zhao Xue?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Li nodded first, then shook his head. His mind was in a mess, and he couldn't make any sense after asking several times.

"Uncle is going to tell you something practical. Please think about it after you listen to it."

Gu Sanshi helped Gu Li sit on a stool and poured her a cup of tea. "Ali, you are already 25 years old this year, and Zhao Xue should be only 17 or 18 years old at most."

"You two are too far apart in age. Have you considered whether Zhao Xue's family would agree?"

"And have you ever thought about what Zijinzhai is?"

Having said that, Gu Li looked at his second uncle with a puzzled look.

"It is said that most of the shares of Zijinzhai belong to the Great Yan royal family. The Great Yan royal family's surname is Zhao, and Zhao Xue's surname is also Zhao. Have you thought about the key?"

"Second uncle, what you mean is that Young Master Zhao is a member of the royal family?" Gu Li asked.

Gu Sanshi nodded without comment and continued.

"Let's not worry about whether he is from the royal family or not, but considering his age and the fact that he can be in charge of the affairs of Zijinzhai, I believe his family must have great influence in Dayan."

"The marriage of a man from a large family is not something he can decide. You must be well aware of this."

"Since there is a huge age gap between the two of you, and your family cannot approve of your relationship, why do you have to do this?"

Gu Li has also thought about these issues, but when it comes to love, is this important?

But now Gu Sanshi's words hit her heart like a heavy hammer. Every word was fact, and every word revealed the gap between reality and ideal.

Her heart suddenly felt as if it was surrounded by ice, so cold that she could hardly breathe.

"Uncle, I understand what you mean," Gu Li's voice trembled slightly as she tried to calm herself.

"But matters of the heart cannot be measured by reason."

Gu Sanshi sighed, and his eyes were full of helplessness and heartache when he looked at Gu Li.

He knew that his niece had always been a person with strong opinions, and once she made a decision, she would not change it easily.

"Ali, you are a smart child and should know what is the best choice for yourself." Gu Sanshi said softly, with a hint of hoarseness in his voice.

"The distance between you and him is not just about age, it's about two different worlds."

Gu Li's tears flowed uncontrollably again. She bit her lips, trying hard not to cry out loud.

Her heart was full of struggles. On the one hand, she had deep feelings for Zhao Xue, and on the other hand, she had family expectations and social reality.

"Second Uncle, I...I need some time." Gu Li's voice was low, her heart was in chaos and she couldn't find the direction.

Gu Sanshi stood up, walked to Gu Li and patted her shoulder gently.

"Ali, Second Uncle won't force you, but you have to remember that your father and I will always stand by you."

Gu Li nodded. She felt a little warm. At least in front of her family, she was not alone.

But Zhao Xue's figure lingered in her mind, and that persistent emotion was like a thorn, deeply piercing her heart.

She stood up, walked to the window, looked at the stars in the night sky, and looked towards the direction of the State Guesthouse, and silently made a wish in her heart.

"If fate really cannot be changed, I only hope that we can meet in another world, where there will be no more constraints of identity or ties of family."

She turned around silently and took off her silk clothes piece by piece.

Gu Li looked at his body in the mirror bathed in moonlight and smiled. It seemed that even the moonlight had lost its color at this moment.

After a moment, a black shadow flashed out of the house and disappeared into the night in just a few breaths.