Royal Gold Magistrate

“Your Highness, go back to the Eastern Palace first. I’ll go see His Majesty!”

Li Yuanzhao nodded in agreement. Fang Zheng took off running.

Today could be considered full of pleasant surprises. Taking the opportunity of solving the princess’s illness, he hurriedly went to request a long vacation from the emperor to return to Taoyuan County.

He wasn’t at ease leaving those things in the Eastern Palace.

The talents researching agriculture in Taoyuan County were all personally guided by him. Although he didn’t understand the technology, he understood the general direction.

The farmers in this era were basically all illiterate, but the people in Taoyuan County were different.

Anyone who could enter an important post had to be literate. Many crops required keeping records for selection and breeding.

They could be said to have advanced cultivation experience. The palace only obtained a measly three sweet potatoes. They absolutely couldn’t make any more mistakes!

……………….

Following the eunuch’s directions, he learned that Emperor Jing had already moved to Yangxin Hall. He rushed to Yangxin Hall.

Emperor Jing seemed a bit surprised to see Fang Zheng. “Why are you here? Did something happen with the crown prince?”

Fang Zheng hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty! Your subject has a way to cure the princess’s illness!”

“What!? Speak quickly!” Emperor Jing threw down the memorial in his hand and stood up excitedly.

Fang Zheng said at his leisure, “Speaking of the princess’s illness, it’s both difficult and simple.”

“It’s actually a pollen allergy!”

“What is a pollen allergy?” Emperor Jing had obviously never heard this term before.

“It means that with this illness, as long as she comes into contact with pollen, she’ll fall ill! Coughing, rashes… they’re all related to this.”

“Your subject discovered a flower in the princess’s rear garden called Coral Glow. This flower blooms all year round. The princess’s illness is related to it!”

Emperor Jing furrowed his brows, discovering a blind spot!

“How could you enter the princess’s rear garden!?”

“Err……… The crown prince accompanied your subject.”

“Good! Continue speaking!”

Fang Zheng wiped away cold sweat. He nearly let it slip. “To resolve this illness, we just need to keep the princess away from those flowers. Please have Your Majesty arrange new living quarters for the princess, or have all the flowers in the rear garden dug up!”

“This way, after observing for a period of time, we’ll see the results!”

“How certain are you about what you said? You should know that Doctor Hu hasn’t been able to cure the princess’s illness for ten years!”

Fang Zheng said seriously, “Your Majesty, the princess’s condition has been so severe for ten years until now, yet the cause still can’t be determined. This already says a lot about the problem.”

“Your subject boldly has ninety percent confidence!”

“I even dare to stake the head of my dearest Brother Guo!”

Guo Tianyang stood on the side. The fat on his face involuntarily twitched a few times as he fiercely glared at Fang Zheng with his eyes.

Damn you Fang Zheng… When will you fucking stop!!!

Emperor Jing gradually showed a delighted expression. Then he said loudly, “Good! Very good! Lord Fang, if you can truly solve the princess’s illness, I will greatly reward you!”

Fang Zheng inwardly laughed.

A great reward? What’s the rush, the big things are yet to come!

Seeing Emperor Jing in a good mood, Fang Zheng continued, “Your subject has a request for Your Majesty.”

“Speak freely!” Now Emperor Jing was looking more and more favorably upon Fang Zheng.

He was talented! He spoke pleasingly and now helped resolve a worry weighing on his mind.

“Your subject… wants to return to Taoyuan County for a period of time. It won’t be too long.”

“But Your Majesty can rest assured. Firstly, the crown prince is in excellent condition now, diligent and earnest, compassionate, lively and ambitious, sincere and passionate…”

“Secondly, Your Majesty handed the tea business over to your subject. Your subject must return to Taoyuan County to personally control this project from the source in order to do it well!”

“Please give your directive, Your Majesty.”

Hearing this, Emperor Jing paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at Fang Zheng.

After careful consideration, he felt it was fine for him to leave for a while and said, “Forget it. The princess’s serious illness is not yet cured and the crown prince is in no state of mind to study. You may go.”

“Remember, leave early and return early.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

……………………

After obtaining Emperor Jing’s approval, Fang Zheng returned to the Eastern Palace once more.

Seeing Li Yuanzhao studying the sweet potatoes with great energy, he smiled. “Has Your Highness discovered anything?”

Li Yuanzhao shook his head. “This thing doesn’t seem to have anything special about it. Can it really yield over a thousand catties per mu?”

Thinking that no one in the State of Jing had probably seen this thing before, Fang Zheng couldn’t help sighing.

If sweet potatoes had appeared earlier, perhaps Taoyuan County wouldn’t have had so many people die.

He himself also wouldn’t have been so miserable, a dignified county magistrate, reduced to begging in other places….

“Your Highness, don’t underestimate it. This thing can definitely yield a thousand catties per mu, just throw it in the ground and it’ll grow!”

“If it can be successfully planted, the common people under heaven will be blessed! Not only can the tubers be eaten, the vines and leaves can also be eaten. It’s fab!”

Li Yuanzhao heard this and grinned. “Then what do you plan to do, Old Fang?”

“I won’t come tomorrow. I’ll pack up and return to Taoyuan County. I’ll take these sweet potatoes to Taoyuan County to cultivate them well before bringing them back. Before then, Your Highness, don’t make it public. It’s better to talk after the matter succeeds. Otherwise, it will only invite ridicule.”

Fang Zheng’s personality was like this. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never fight a battle he wasn’t sure of winning.

What he wanted was steadiness!

As soon as he heard Fang Zheng was returning to Taoyuan County, Li Yuanzhao got anxious. “No way! Old Fang, I’ll go too.”

Fang Zheng sighed. “You can’t go. I already told His Majesty about the princess’s matter. It’s best if Your Highness stays here to watch over the princess.”

“On the other hand, we’ve caused such a big commotion recently. There will definitely be criticism in court. I treated over fifty death row prisoners. Although they were death row prisoners, can this matter be brushed off just like that?”

“Also, that old thing Doctor Hu will definitely impeach me. His Majesty doesn’t even know about these things yet.”

“Your Highness, stay here and watch the court’s reaction for me. I’m isolated and helpless now. If Your Highness wants me dead, then come with me!”

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao said dejectedly, “Then you go… You’re my brother. Since you put it like that, what else can I do?”

“Hmm!? No! Since these sweet potatoes are so easy to grow, why bother going to Taoyuan County!? We can plant them in the Eastern Palace too!”

The crown prince wasn’t bad. After spending a long time with Fang Zheng, he was getting harder and harder to fool.

Fang Zheng couldn’t help lamenting in his heart.

“Actually… there’s one more thing. It’s for the penicillin.”

“Old Fang! You’re still researching poison!?” Li Yuanzhao said in surprise. “I think you’d better not research it. Stay in the Eastern Palace and I’ll accompany you in planting crops.”

Fang Zheng looked at him helplessly. Fuck! What do you mean poison? It’s precisely because you think this way that I have to continue researching!

Otherwise, when future generations see the historical records, won’t they be misled?

Penicillin’s reputation will be tarnished. Won’t I, Fang Zheng, become a sinner in history!?

I must make it work!

“Your Highness, say no more. I’ll definitely go back. When I return, I’ll bring Your Highness some Taoyuan County local specialties.”

“Deal!”