Royal Gold Magistrate

As the first fart bubbled to the surface, Fang Zheng’s mouth curved into a grin.

This low-brow trick had now come full circle.

Li Yuanzhao covered his mouth, trying not to laugh out loud.

All the Hanlin scholars glared angrily at the person who had farted!

Fang Zheng is watching, and you can’t even hold in a fart? How embarrassing! Where’s your dignity?

The culprit lowered his head in shame.

His heart was filled with regret for coming here.

Fang Zheng, suppressing his “joy,” quickly went to call Emperor Jing.

“Your Majesty, the show I prepared is about to begin. Would Your Majesty like to come out and watch?”

Emperor Jing cheerfully climbed out of the carriage: “Oh? I’ve been looking forward to this. Alright, let’s see how your handiwork will make these people change their minds!”

“Your Majesty, please wait outside for a moment. It hasn’t started yet, but I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!”

Emperor Jing smiled and stood on the carriage, looking down at everyone.

Before long, a second bubble gurgled up from the bottom of the water…

“Uh…” Emperor Jing was speechless.

But he couldn’t say anything. It was a natural bodily function, after all. It’s normal not to be able to hold it in.

But bubbles coming up in the water… with so many people around, this was certainly a first.

Every time a bubble appeared, another person regretted coming here.

Not only were they suffering, but they were also utterly humiliated!

However, the embarrassment was soon alleviated as bubbles began to appear on the water’s surface one after another.

Some people started to make small movements secretly, trying to plug themselves up…

But it was all in vain! The increasingly dense bubbles on the water’s surface told the whole story.

Yang Yingcai’s old face turned bright red. He wished he could plunge into the dirty water and drown himself.

At this moment… he was the one who regretted it the most.

His reputation was ruined! How would his descendants judge him…

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng with a strange expression and said in a low voice: “Is this the show you wanted me to see? Did you put something in the Prosperity Potatoes? This is absurd!”

Fang Zheng also wore a “wronged” expression and explained: “Of course not! How could I do something so childish! How could this be called a show?”

“Perhaps… they’ve been soaking in the water… maybe they ate something dirty from the water. I’m innocent!”

Emperor Jing relaxed.

Indeed, this was too ridiculous. Fang Zheng couldn’t possibly do such a thing; it was completely unreasonable.

“Sigh, this is disgraceful. I don’t want to watch anymore. Call me when your so-called show begins.” With that, Emperor Jing went back into the carriage.

Fang Zheng sighed and shook his head at the crowd: “How pathetic! Can’t even hold in a fart! What kind of books have you been reading!”

Gu Tian, red-faced, said: “Did you put something in our food?”

“What are you shouting about! I ate it too! What kind of drug specifically makes people fart? Do you have a brain?” Fang Zheng retorted without mercy.

At the same time, he was calculating the time in his mind.

By his reckoning, the people he had arranged should have arrived…

“A bunch of people who can’t even hold in a fart, yet you keep talking about the world and morality. Shameless!”

“I think you lot are even worse than Yan Guoan! If Dengjin District were left in your hands, who knows what would become of it!”

You bastard! How could I be worse than that useless Yan Guoan?

The Hanlin scholars below gritted their teeth, glaring hatefully at Yan Guoan’s head on the Yimen Gate.

Fang Zheng ignored the low curses from below and looked into the distance.

He could faintly see a group of people appearing in the distance. Given the situation on the street, it was unlikely to be ordinary citizens gathering together. It must be his people!

………………..

At this time, Ding Quan was leading a group of citizens to Dengjin District.

These people all had ashen faces, miserable expressions, and walked like zombies.

As they approached the Yimen Gate, Ding Quan instructed: “Don’t worry, everyone. Righteous Fang will help you find your lost family members. Whether alive or dead, he will definitely give you an answer!”

“Now, those people kneeling in front are the officials who usually manage your district. Righteous Fang is punishing them right now.”

“So I brought you here to let you vent your grievances! Seek revenge! As long as you don’t kill anyone, you can do whatever you want.”

“Look, the one standing on the carriage is Righteous Fang!”

“Don’t be afraid! Righteous Fang will uphold justice for you!! These corrupt officials won’t have a good end!”

Hearing this, a surge of hatred suddenly appeared in the previously lifeless eyes of the citizens.

They said in unison: “Thank you, Righteous Fang!”

“Good, hold onto what I gave you! Go quickly! I’ll go back to report now!” With that, Ding Quan disappeared in a flash.

Then a group of citizens, wielding shoulder poles, rolling pins, stools, and other items, approached the Hanlin scholars menacingly.

At this point, Emperor Jing had been called out again by Fang Zheng and was watching this scene in a daze.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw a woman at the front raise her shoulder pole and bring it down on Yang Yingcai in the first row.

She wailed in despair: “I’ll kill you, you corrupt official! Give me back my son’s life!!”

Yang Yingcai was dumbfounded, but he had no time to be confused.

The moment he raised his head, he saw a black shadow flash by, and a shoulder pole struck him in the face.

Yang Yingcai howled repeatedly, crying out in terror: “Who are you! Who are you! Someone come and seize this vicious woman!!”

Fang Zheng had already given instructions beforehand; no one came to help him.

Yang Yingcai, quick-witted, tried to snatch the woman’s shoulder pole, but he had suffered too much these past two days and was too weak to grab it.

He ended up in a stalemate with the woman.

Seeing the stalemate, the woman quickly threw away the shoulder pole and lunged at Yang Yingcai, knocking him into the water.

The woman was like a madwoman, screaming and crying, constantly pinching Yang Yingcai.

“Give me back my son! Corrupt official! Evil official, give me back my son…”

Similar scenes were unfolding behind Yang Yingcai. The originally meek citizens had become incredibly vicious, driven by hatred.

Who could have imagined that their loved ones would die in the water just because of a rainstorm?

The pain of losing parents, wives, children, and siblings constantly stimulated the nerves of these common folk.

Now, with Righteous Fang backing them, they could finally vent their anger.

Yang Yingcai was pinched black and blue all over. He wanted to fight back, but seeing the deep, inconsolable despair and desolation in the woman’s eyes, he suddenly became cowardly.

He couldn’t muster an ounce of strength in his hands.

The woman cried loudly, using both hands and mouth, pinching and biting…

Emperor Jing’s mouth fell open, wanting to say something.

Fang Zheng spoke first: “Your Majesty, these are the citizens affected by the recent flood disaster. Most of them have lost family members or have missing relatives… I brought them here.”

Emperor Jing sighed: “Ah… Are these all the disaster victims from Dengjin District?”

“Yes… though some are from nearby areas as well.”

“This… You brought them here, but how will you resolve this afterward?”

Fang Zheng said with a heavy expression: “In response to Your Majesty, I’ve already sent people to help them search for their relatives, but… if they haven’t returned home by now, they’re probably dead.”

“So I want to give them some compensation. I’ve already donated the only 580 taels I had on me to them. This way, even if their family’s laborers are gone, they can still get by in the coming days.”

Emperor Jing was moved and patted Fang Zheng’s shoulder.

“Good… very good! Minister Fang, I haven’t misjudged you!”