Royal Gold Magistrate

Inside Yangxin Hall.

Two rows of memorials were piled on Emperor Jing’s desk.

Guo Tianyang stood to the side as usual, promptly replacing the tea with hot water when it cooled.

Emperor Jing read through the memorials for a long time, going through three cups of tea before setting down the brush and stretching his body.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he began rummaging through the pile of memorials.

He flipped through them one by one but didn’t find the one he wanted. His brows began to furrow slightly.

Then he rubbed his temples and muttered, “How is it not here… Where did it go… It shouldn’t be…”

Seeing this, Guo Tianyang hurriedly approached Emperor Jing and said eagerly, “Your Majesty, what are you looking for? This servant can help you find it.”

Emperor Jing waved his hand. “It’s nothing… By the way, how are things going recently with Fang Zheng and Yan Guoan? Any progress?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, everything is going well on Lord Yan’s side.”

“According to the Eastern Depot’s report, Dengjin District under Lord Yan’s management can be said to be well-organized, with clean and tidy streets and orderly conduct.”

“Moreover, I heard he gathered many scholars to compose poetry and discuss the Dao in the pavilions along the streets. The commoners passing by have benefited greatly.”

“The Eastern Depot inquired with the petty officials, who said this is called ‘subtle influence.’ Given enough time, the commoners will naturally become educated.”

“In just a few days, the commoners have even reached the level of ‘restraining oneself and returning to propriety’! The merchants who originally shouted loudly on the streets now speak in a refined and gentle manner, no longer making a ruckus.”

“Many graduates of the county and provincial exams in the district have praised Lord Yan’s governing achievements!”

“In short, it’s excellent! The commoners are all cheering with joy!”

“Oh?” Emperor Jing laughed and picked up his teacup, taking a sip. “This minister naturally has no doubts about Lord Yan’s abilities. It’s only natural for him to do well. But I didn’t expect him to do so well in just a few days!”

“Alas… It’s just a pity that the crown prince doesn’t get along with him and won’t listen to his teachings. Otherwise, with his vast knowledge, he would be more than sufficient to instruct the crown prince.”

“Although Fang Zheng is doing quite well, his temperament is a bit too impulsive and not steady enough. I often feel uneasy about him.”

Guo Tianyang neither agreed nor disagreed, but also said nothing.

In any case, he had learned not to inquire or say a word about anything related to Fang Zheng! If he can’t provoke him, can’t he at least avoid him?

If he said the wrong thing, he would be scolded by the Emperor again.

He couldn’t scold back, but he also couldn’t flatter better than Fang Zheng… so be it. Why was I, Guo Tianyang, born in the same era as Fang Zheng?!

“What about Fang Zheng’s side?” Emperor Jing asked.

Guo Tianyang began to stammer. The situation with Fang Zheng was really hard to explain, quite tricky…

“Hm? Why aren’t you speaking?”

“Ah… yes. Reporting to Your Majesty, the situation in Banshan District is a bit unique… There aren’t any other changes, but I heard the sanitation is very good.”

“However… according to the Eastern Depot’s report, it’s said that… people who spit or urinate on the street are being arrested by the petty officials.”

“The commoners have quite a few complaints about this…”

Emperor Jing laughed heartily. “This Fang Zheng, I knew it! He’s even more excessive in Banshan District than in Taoyuan County.”

“I think he might have a bit of mysophobia. Remember when we went to Taoyuan County, and you were fined a few copper coins?”

“But arresting people just for spitting on the street is indeed a bit too much.”

Guo Tianyang smiled awkwardly.

“Yes… Lord Fang does have a way with sanitation.”

“Also, the walls in Banshan District have been decorated with slogans telling the commoners to pay attention to hygiene and not to urinate anywhere…”

“Lord Fang even came up with a ‘toilet lottery’…”

“What is this…?” Emperor Jing looked at Guo Tianyang in puzzlement. He seemed to have heard this term some time ago, but he didn’t take it to heart. Now that Guo Tianyang mentioned it again, he suddenly remembered.

But what the hell was a “toilet lottery”? It was too bizarre. How could the words “toilet” and “lottery” be linked together?

Guo Tianyang explained, “It’s to encourage the commoners to use the public toilets.”

“As long as they go to the public toilets, they can participate in a lottery with a top prize of five taels of silver.”

“However… this matter has also caused the commoners in Banshan District to complain, saying the government is deceiving people! Luring people to the latrines and then not giving them money!”

Emperor Jing’s expression began to turn unnatural.

What kind of nonsense was this? If they asked you to go to the latrine, what loss did you suffer?

They had so many complaints about a free lottery opportunity?

“I heard that after a few rounds, the commoners in Banshan District who didn’t win the lottery were all clamoring that they would never again… defecate in Banshan District. They wouldn’t come even if you paid them!”

“……….”

Emperor Jing suddenly felt the tea in his hand lost its fragrance and even became a bit disgusting. He slowly put down the teacup.

“Preposterous! Fang Zheng is really going too far. Don’t tell me he hasn’t done anything else besides this?”

Emperor Jing found it a bit hard to believe and even thought there was a problem with the Eastern Depot’s information.

He had seen Taoyuan County for himself. There was no reason for Fang Zheng to be completely inactive.

“Nothing else…”

Guo Tianyang’s expression was also a bit ugly.

Fang Zheng was so disappointing! What could he do? It made it seem like he was deliberately badmouthing Fang Zheng in front of His Majesty!

Emperor Jing’s face darkened. “Then what about the crown prince? What is he doing?”

“The crown prince… Fang Zheng set up a team of several thousand people for him called the ‘sanitation team’ and let the crown prince manage it. They’re specifically responsible for the district’s sanitation. They’ve even taken over the sanitation management of the surrounding districts and are doing it in an orderly manner!”

Hearing this, Emperor Jing’s expression eased a bit.

He didn’t care much about the crown prince managing a sanitation team. After all, he had interacted with soldiers in the army before.

Managing thousands of people was no simple matter. It wasn’t as easy as it appeared on the surface. It would be great for the crown prince to get some practice.

He was very satisfied with Fang Zheng in this regard.

“The crown prince goes out on the streets every day to inspect the work and never disturbs the people, so he has a good reputation in the district.”

Emperor Jing smiled again and praised, “Good! Say what you will, but Fang Zheng does have a way with teaching people.”

“However… if he keeps focusing on sanitation like this, it’s a bit improper.”

“Your Majesty, should we issue a decree to urge Fang Zheng to actively adjust? If this continues, I’m afraid he’ll be far inferior to Lord Yan.”

Emperor Jing picked up his tea again and took a sip, saying indifferently, “No need. True gold fears no fire. If he has real ability, what difference does it make whether I say it or not?”

“There are still more than two months. Let’s see how they both perform.”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Fang Zheng has sent an urgent memorial.” As they were speaking, a young eunuch entered the hall carrying a memorial.

Emperor Jing’s spirit was instantly revived. “Bring it up!”

Guo Tianyang hurriedly went down to present the memorial, feeling a bit strange in his heart.

His Majesty’s reaction seemed a bit unusual. He was just rummaging through a pile of memorials. Could it be that he was looking for Fang Zheng’s memorial?

Emperor Jing took the memorial, opened it, and began reading.

Guo Tianyang glanced at it curiously, then his eyes suddenly widened.

The characters on the memorial were scrawled in a particularly large size, easily visible at a glance.

It read, “My dearest beloved Your Majesty, have you eaten? I haven’t written a memorial to you for two days. Last night, the temperature dropped sharply. Please remember to add more…”

Emperor Jing quickly scanned it, then closed the memorial and tossed it aside.

He let out a long sigh.

After not reading this for two days, he had felt like something was missing.

Now, he finally felt at ease…