Royal Gold Magistrate

Fang Zheng left, thoroughly confused.

Liu Xun, that old scoundrel, watched him with a lewd smile, leaving Fang Zheng utterly baffled.

What secret did he share with the Crown Prince?

Apart from subtly hinting to the Crown Prince about the forged edict before leaving, what other secret could there be?

However, Fang Zheng didn’t dare to ask further, only lowering his head and chuckling nervously.

Upon returning home, it wasn’t long before Wei Shan came to visit.

As soon as Wei Shan saw Fang Zheng, he put on a fawning expression: “Lord Fang, Prefect Liu knows you enjoy fine food, so he sent me to deliver some delicacies to you.”

Fang Zheng nodded in agreement, and Wei Shan immediately called out to the door: “Come in! Bring everything inside!”

As soon as he finished speaking, two men staggered in, carrying a large red wooden chest, panting heavily.

The chest was placed directly in the hall.

After setting it down, Wei Shan pulled out a red envelope from his bosom: “This is the menu, please take a look, my lord.”

Fang Zheng took the red envelope and carefully examined its contents. The chest contained many valuable items, with gold and silver as a base, along with pearls, jewelry, and precious porcelain.

The total value was around ten thousand taels.

When did I become worth ten thousand taels? Fang Zheng thought disdainfully.

Without the grain shortage, when grain prices were stable, about one tael of silver could buy seven or eight shi of grain. Now, the market price had increased by about twenty-five times!

Considering that the grain from the four directions’ aid and civilian requisitions had no cost, they must have made an enormous profit. Offering only this much as a bribe to him, Fang Zheng, showed they didn’t take him seriously at all!

Closing the red envelope, Fang Zheng expressionlessly handed it back to Wei Shan.

“Take it back. This small amount isn’t even enough to fill the gaps in my teeth.”

“Uh…” Wei Shan was stunned.

The situation was somewhat unexpected! Ten thousand taels weren’t enough to win him over?

But thinking about it, it made sense. Who knew how much this lord spent on a single meal?

He continued with an embarrassed smile, “Lord Fang, why don’t you take a look first? If it’s not enough… I’ll go back and talk to Prefect Liu.”

Fang Zheng replied with a helpless expression, “Very well! Since it’s Prefect Liu’s kind gesture, it wouldn’t be right for me to send it back just like that.”

“Also, Wei Shan, we’re all on the same side now, no need to be so secretive. Open the chest.”

“Yes!” Wei Shan happily opened the chest and began to introduce its contents enthusiastically.

“Look, Lord Fang, the gold, silver, and pearls need no explanation, but there are many priceless treasures here that far exceed the prices on the menu.”

“Prefect Liu’s sincerity towards you is truly overwhelming!”

“Dragon-patterned jade twin cups, pure black crystal silver hairpin, agate green stone pendant, fertility jade Guanyin… these treasures are worth at least several hundred taels each!”

“Among them, the most precious, priceless treasure isn’t even written on the note. Prefect Liu wanted to give you a surprise!”

As he spoke, Wei Shan took out a large blue gemstone from inside.

He said mysteriously: “This item is called the Ocean’s Heart! It’s incredibly precious, rumored to be a treasure of the Crown Prince… Oh! Pardon me for showing off! You must know the value of this treasure, being so close to the Crown Prince!”

“This piece alone is worth thousands of taels! Prefect Liu has always treasured it, so you can see his sincerity in giving it to you.”

“………..”

Fang Zheng didn’t want to speak, realizing the scam had come back to bite him.

This blue glass had indeed been auctioned for several thousand taels at Banshan Square, but he had privately sold five or six more, never expecting them to circulate to Jianjiang.

Fang Zheng took a deep breath and smiled: “Indeed! This is truly a treasured possession of the Crown Prince, its value immeasurable.”

“But it’s not appropriate for me to keep it, and since it’s Prefect Liu’s beloved item, please take it back and exchange it for gold and silver.”

“As for the rest of the jewelry and gems, there’s no need to send them. I only fancy those common yellow and white objects!”

Wei Shan lowered his head and pursed his lips, then looked up with a smile: “Certainly, I’ll go back and inform Prefect Liu right away.”

“Mm, off you go then.”

Seeing Wei Shan leave the residence, Fang Zheng called for his two maids.

Hong Yao and Lu Liu came running into the hall, first secretly glancing at the jewelry, then coyly addressing Fang Zheng: “What are your orders, Master?”

“Come on! Carry this chest of items to my bedroom!”

“Ah, this…” The two girls exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and said softly: “We can’t lift it… Why not call Zhou Dahai?”

“What!” Fang Zheng raised his voice, “How could Dahai do such rough work? Are you two little wenches asking for a beating? Hurry up and move it, no more nonsense!”

With that, he returned to his bedroom.

In the bedroom, Zhou Dahai was tied up in a strange position and thrown on the bed.

The fellow was quite burly, and Fang Zheng feared he might resist if things got out of hand, and he wouldn’t be able to overpower him.

So he kept him tied up every day, occasionally loosening the ropes for a while, and throwing him in the woodshed at night.

Zhou Dahai was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically.

Sometimes he thought… maybe, maybe he should just give in!

He really couldn’t endure this torment anymore, but the thought of actually going through with it terrified him.

Who knew what other tricks this pervert had up his sleeve!

Seeing Fang Zheng enter the room, Zhou Dahai pleaded: “Master, please untie me, I really can’t take it anymore!”

Fang Zheng poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and glanced at him sideways.

“Little Hai, I’m not done playing yet. What, have you come around?”

Zhou Dahai mumbled: “I… I need to relieve myself, I can’t hold it anymore! I’m afraid I’ll soil your bed, please untie me quickly!”

“Need to relieve yourself? Do it on the bed.”

Zhou Dahai shed tears of despair… It was too dirty, he even liked to play with excrement….

“This bed, I don’t want it anymore!”

Fang Zheng sat quietly, waiting for Hong Yao and Lu Liu to bring in the chest.

Two young girls in their early teens, lifting such a heavy chest, would probably need to use all their strength.

After half an hour, Fang Zheng finally heard the sound of something heavy scraping against the ground.

Hong Yao and Lu Liu shouted: “One! Two! Three! Ah!!”

With a “screech,” the chest moved forward a bit.

Then another “one, two, three.” Fang Zheng found it amusing and walked out of the room to see the two maids drenched in sweat. He frowned and said, “How useless! It takes you this long to bring a chest?”

“Who told you to push it? Lift it up! You’ll ruin such a fine chest by dragging it!”

Hong Yao and Lu Liu bit their lips and lowered their heads, silently cursing Fang Zheng.

Then they looked up, panting, and said: “Yes! We’ll lift it right away!”

The two girls took a deep breath, bent down to lift the chest, and Fang Zheng went back inside to drink tea.

The chest had reached the doorway, but the girls were stumped by the threshold.

After much struggling, they finally managed to bring the chest into the room.

With lifeless eyes, the two said to Fang Zheng: “Master, it’s done!”

“Mm! Good.” Fang Zheng walked to the edge of the bed and gave Zhou Dahai a hard push, shoving him off.

At this moment, his hands and feet were tied together in a circular shape, and with Fang Zheng’s forceful push, he immediately fell to the ground, bouncing twice before rolling into a corner.

Fang Zheng lay down on the bed: “I’ve been waiting for you two for ages. Come up here and give your master a back rub and shoulder massage.”

“………Yes.” Hong Yao and Lu Liu felt utterly miserable, their bodies aching all over, but they could only obey Fang Zheng’s orders.

Zhou Dahai in the corner was in an even worse state. The impact from falling to the ground had struck his bladder, and the small dam had already burst, leaving his lower body soaked.

He lay motionless, his face pressed against the corner of the wall…..