Royal Gold Magistrate

The next day, Fang Zheng once again woke up late.

Anyway, no one knew he had returned to the capital. Going early would just be asking for trouble. He delayed as long as he could.

Only at noon did he slowly get out of bed. After getting dressed and having lunch, he grabbed a package and leisurely rode a carriage into the palace.

Arriving at the Eastern Palace, he immediately saw the bored Li Yuanzhao and the attending Liu Jin.

Hearing the eunuch’s announcement, both looked over at Fang Zheng in pleasant surprise.

Especially Liu Jin, whose eyes were shining.

The savior had finally arrived… Who knows if there would be any luck this time.

Li Yuanzhao grinned and went up to greet him. “Old Fang, you’re finally back. This prince has been bored to death these past few days! Worse than death itself. Quickly, let this prince see what local specialties you brought.”

Fang Zheng shook his head with a smile and went straight to sit at the table. “Your Highness, don’t be impatient! I brought you many good things!”

Saying that, he took out a small cloth bag from his package and untied it.

“Beef jerky!”

“Oh?” Li Yuanzhao looked at the beef jerky in surprise and asked hesitantly, “Beef…? Isn’t it forbidden to eat beef… Did your county slaughter cows?”

“Does Wu Sheng know?”

“He knows.”

“That guy moved to Taoyuan County and didn’t change his ways. He actually had an affair with a cow in the county. The cow couldn’t bear the humiliation and committed suicide. Then it was made into jerky. There’s a cattle slaughter permit!” As he spoke, Fang Zheng took out a cattle slaughter permit from the package.

Although cows were often slaughtered in the county, they all had permits. Fang Zheng was very thorough in this regard and would print a batch of cattle slaughter permits in bulk every month.

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao burst out laughing, feeling much better.

Liu Jin, that clumsy and inarticulate guy, only knew how to flatter and agree. Old Fang’s nonsense was much more pleasant to hear.

Then Li Yuanzhao said with great interest, “Tell me, what new things are there in Taoyuan County?”

“There’s quite a bit! The county’s latest stage play ‘Ancient Tomb Mystery in the Quadrangle Courtyard’ is extremely exciting. When there’s time, I’ll take Your Highness to see it. Also…”

The two chatted on and off. Liu Jin, who was standing to the side, kept staring at Fang Zheng with shining eyes.

Fang Zheng had long noticed him out of the corner of his eye. Being stared at by Liu Jin made him feel uncomfortable. After a long time, he couldn’t stand it anymore and looked straight back at him without courtesy.

Liu Jin was still staring.

Fang Zheng was puzzled in his heart. After thinking for a moment, he remembered. Could it be that Liu Jin still wanted him to help with that “regeneration” business concerning his family jewels?

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng laughed in spite of himself. He took out a magnifying glass from the package.

Seeing it, Li Yuanzhao asked curiously, “Old Fang, what’s this?”

Fang Zheng held up the magnifying glass and said proudly, “This divine tool is called the Regeneration Mirror, a grain magnifier that can achieve the effect of ‘seeing plums quenches thirst, painting cakes satisfies hunger’!”

“Liu Jin! This one is for you. Use it wherever you’re lacking!”

Hearing this, Liu Jin was overjoyed! He snatched the magnifying glass and ran off drooling.

Li Yuanzhao stroked his chin, puzzled. “Seeing plums quenches thirst, painting cakes satisfies hunger? Isn’t that useless!?”

Fang Zheng smiled slightly and took out another one, holding it over the cup in front of Li Yuanzhao’s eyes.

The cup suddenly enlarged! Li Yuanzhao was stunned, then said in pleasant surprise, “This is a great thing!”

Fang Zheng handed over the magnifying glass. Li Yuanzhao started shining it all over the place. Wherever it shone, he would make sounds of admiration.

“Good thing! It’s really a good thing! Imperial Father has often complained in recent years that he can’t see things clearly. Wouldn’t it be much easier to read memorials with this mirror?”

Fang Zheng couldn’t help feeling a bit touched. He really didn’t expect the crown prince’s first thought to be to let His Majesty use it. His filial piety was truly commendable.

“It’s perfect for treating his old eyes! This prince has suffered quite a few unreasonable beatings lately because of that!”

“…”

“Come, come, let me teach Your Highness a new trick with this magnifying glass.” Fang Zheng quickly changed the subject. If they kept talking, he feared the crown prince’s filial piety would reach new heights.

Fang Zheng took Li Yuanzhao’s magnifying glass and went outdoors, finding a spot with good sunlight.

Aligning the focal point and putting it down, smoke soon rose from the grass.

Li Yuanzhao once again exclaimed in amazement, then asked in puzzlement, “What’s the principle behind this!?”

“It’s just concentrating the sunlight in one place. When the heat rises, it ignites. This is called solar energy!”

Li Yuanzhao nodded in confusion but soon stopped thinking about it. The two began lying on the grass looking for ants.

Before long, Liu Jin came running back with a crying face, as if in mourning, holding up the magnifying glass and sobbing, “Lord Fang… this is useless!”

“How is it useless! Did it get bigger after you used it?”

Liu Jin rubbed his eyes, aggrieved. “It got bigger, it just looked bigger, but the family jewels are still broken!”

Fang Zheng sighed, got up and patted his shoulder, comforting him, “That’s just how it is! Anyway, you can’t use them in the palace. Looking big and being big are the same.”

“Little Jin, don’t be discouraged. Life is like this. Where is there anything perfect in all things?”

“Besides, when you’re old, memories are all sweet. Castrated people live longer lives. You can have several more years of sweetness than others! And if you miss your ‘brother’ down there, you can still shine the magnifying glass on it.”

“You know what they say, you never know what’s around the corner…”

“Liar!”

Before Fang Zheng could finish, Liu Jin ran away crying with the magnifying glass…

Li Yuanzhao, having played to his heart’s content, stood up and looked at Fang Zheng, chuckling. “Old Fang, you really are too much.”

Fang Zheng gave an embarrassed laugh. “This subject was just concerned about him. Alright, let’s not talk about other things. Let’s discuss serious matters. Have there been any criticisms of this subject in court these past few days?”

Li Yuanzhao’s expression also became serious. “After you left, things have been very strange. There’s been no reaction at all. No one has even mentioned you.”

“I suspect those people are up to something!”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng lowered his head in thought. No one had impeached him in such a long time. It was indeed abnormal.

Moreover, there were people in Taoyuan County investigating him. Maybe those old fogeys who disliked him were holding back a big move.

But none of that mattered anymore. Once the sweet potatoes emerged, whatever those people said would be meaningless!

“Old Fang? Old Fang? Say something!” Seeing Fang Zheng not responding for a long time, Li Yuanzhao got a bit anxious. It seemed Old Fang was out of ideas?

Fang Zheng abruptly changed the subject with a smile. “It’s fine! Don’t mind them. Let’s do what we should do.”

“How is the princess’s condition now?”

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao looked Fang Zheng up and down vigilantly. “What do you want to do?”

“What else? This subject treated the princess’s illness. I should at least know the result, right?”

Fang Zheng felt helpless in his heart. Damn, I just asked and you’re watching me so closely. Not long ago you still wanted to set me up with her, but now you’ve changed your tune?

“Hmm! The illness is cured! That old fogey Doctor Hu is indeed a quack! Oh right, after Miaohan got better, she said she wanted to thank you in person. Let’s go now, there’s no need to wait. I’ll accompany you! But don’t try any funny business!”

“…”