Royal Gold Magistrate

Li Yuanzhao cried out again, “What? Guo Tianyang? Even eunuchs use this kind of thing? I never would have thought!”

Seeing the princess still lowering her head, Fang Zheng gave an embarrassed laugh. “Of course this thing is for women to use, but how could I actively find women to use it? Naturally, I have to let my Brother Guo try it out first. The principle is more or less the same… more or less…”

Li Yuanzhao suddenly felt a bit nauseous thinking about this thing being placed together with the beef jerky from earlier.

That damned Old Fang, what’s the point of playing with this thing if there’s no need? It’s truly bizarre!

Li Miaohan originally had a rather good impression of Fang Zheng, but upon seeing the sanitary napkins, she had already determined in her heart that Fang Zheng was an improper person, a certified scoundrel.

What decent man would carry a woman’s menstrual belt on his person? Such an embarrassing thing, even a woman would hide it well. Yet now it was brazenly placed on the table.

Her favorable impression of Fang Zheng also dropped to freezing point, but for the sake of the occasion, she could only lower her head and not speak.

“Tsk tsk tsk, Old Fang oh Old Fang, this prince truly didn’t expect… You have the face of a man but the heart of a beast, heh heh!”

Fang Zheng also laughed coldly. Anyway, the cat was already out of the bag.

I, Fang Zheng, took you for a brother, but you actually dismantled my stage in front of a beauty. Truly feeding sincerity to the dogs, damn!

Then he said loudly, “What does Your Highness understand!? This thing has great use!”

“Could it be that I, Fang Zheng, as an upstanding man, don’t know that carrying this thing around is embarrassing? But why do I do this? Isn’t it for the sake of letting women everywhere be able to use it?”

“Does Your Highness know how much women suffer when their period comes? They don’t even dare to leave the house and have to endure others’ strange looks.”

“Most importantly, if the menstrual belt is used improperly or contaminated, how many women will fall ill or lose their lives because of it?”

“I, Fang Zheng, am at least a local official responsible for the people’s wellbeing. How can I sit by and do nothing when I see this situation! Since there is this thing, the mission of saving women everywhere falls on my shoulders!”

“I am seeking for the welfare of women!”

The surrounding palace maids all raised their heads and curiously looked at Fang Zheng. Li Miaohan also lifted her head, her expression a bit surprised.

Fang Zheng observed for a moment and felt a bit more at ease. It seemed he hadn’t completely lost face…

Li Yuanzhao was unmoved and said with a cold laugh, “Old Fang! Still putting on an act in front of this prince. Watch me tear off your mask!”

“Look at you speaking so sanctimoniously. Don’t think I don’t know, Taoyuan County has brothels, and they’re even government-run!”

“Don’t tell me… those brothels weren’t opened by you!”

The group of women’s gazes towards Fang Zheng started to become peculiar again.

Fang Zheng was both angry and amused. Good, good! Truly my good brother! Not giving me any face at all!

Then his face turned red and the veins on his forehead bulged out as he argued, “Food and sex are human nature, among people’s greatest desires!… Just like with flood control, blocking is not as good as channeling. Could it be that I’m wrong?”

He continued with a bunch of difficult to understand words, like “the lack of cultural industry”, “the limitations of historical development” and such, causing people to look down on him even more.

Li Yuanzhao scoffed, “Old Fang, no matter what you say today, it’s useless.”

“Still talking about seeking for the welfare of women. The welfare has all been sought in the brothels? See who will believe you!”

Fang Zheng pulled a long face and rolled up his sleeves.

Alright, in the few days since we last met, you Li Yuanzhao have grown quite bold, eh? Then let me teach you a lesson!

“Does Your Highness know what kind of women enter the brothels?”

“Let me tell you. Some are mortgaged in, some are female slaves purchased by the brothels, and some enter willingly!”

“Let me ask you again, do you know what kind of lives they lead?”

“You don’t know. You only care about yourself! Those prostitutes, during the day they force smiles while accompanying guests, barely earning some money. When they reach old age or fall ill, they’re abandoned by the brothels like worn shoes, ultimately ending up in a miserable state.”

“But my Taoyuan County is not like this! The women in the brothels all enter willingly. Before the brothels, underground brothels already existed in Taoyuan County. The origins and living conditions of those prostitutes were no different from the outside world!”

“Even if my abilities were greater, it would be impossible to eliminate the flesh trade in Taoyuan County. This is human nature. Going against human nature has no good end!”

“And after the county government established official brothels? These underground brothels were mostly eliminated in a short time!”

“First, the official ones are reliable and the common people trust them. There definitely won’t be any danger to people. Second, the prices are clearly marked, so there’s no fear of being scammed! Third, the government can use this to collect taxes from the brothels. You should know that taxes couldn’t be collected from those underground brothels. Moreover, the origins of the women in the brothels are reliable. They all enter willingly. There’s no situation of forced buying and selling!”

“Every prostitute in the brothel is given free regular check-ups at the medical hall using the taxes they pay to ensure their health. If one day they no longer want to do this job, they can leave at any time! Others absolutely don’t dare to force them!”

“After these prostitutes leave the industry, the county government will also provide guidance to help them start new lives.”

“In this way, everyone’s interests are guaranteed! I call this making the path of criminals impassable. Only by exposing evil under the sun can it have nowhere to hide!”

“Doesn’t this count as me seeking for the welfare of women? Don’t you think I’m right, Your Highness?”

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao began to stammer for a time. He felt there were some issues but couldn’t find where. He could only say in a low voice with a red face, “For now, let’s just say you’re right…”

Seeing him concede, Fang Zheng laughed and continued, “Holding to the principle of benefiting women everywhere, Taoyuan County specially developed these sanitary napkins.”

“This thing can be disposed of after one use. It’s hygienic and reliable. It can let women everywhere avoid the threat of many illnesses.”

“How have I become a man with the heart of a beast! I, Fang Zheng, am staking my shamelessness to promote this thing everywhere!”

After this speech, the eyes of the surrounding palace maids and the princess all shone brightly as they looked at Fang Zheng.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng was satisfied… He had regained his face!

With the situation reversed, he hurriedly seized the opportunity. Fang Zheng turned his head to look at Li Miaohan.

At this time, although Li Miaohan was still full of shyness, she had already begun to dare to look directly at Fang Zheng.

“Princess, since we’ve already spoken frankly today, this subject has an impolite request. I hope to borrow the princess’s hand to let the women in the palace use this thing first. I don’t know if that’s possible?”

Hearing this, Li Miaohan said shyly, “Lord Fang’s heart for the country and people is admirable. This palace should naturally do its utmost!”

Then she said softly, “Just now, this palace misunderstood Lord Fang. I’m really sorry…”

Fang Zheng said sternly, “The princess need not worry. I, Fang Zheng, have encountered too many open and hidden arrows and obscenities in my life. I’m already used to them. Although I’m often tired, every time I think of how many suffering women there are in the world, I gain endless motivation in my heart!”

In Li Miaohan’s eyes, Fang Zheng had now transformed into a little sun, continuously releasing light.

She couldn’t help murmuring, “Lord Fang is so noble…”

“This item will be supplied by me to the palace. Princess, you can rest assured. If it’s not enough, just ask me for more!”

“This palace will definitely assist you with all our strength to help you achieve your dream!” Li Miaohan also had a determined face at this time, subconsciously grasping the sanitary napkins on the table in her hand…

“Oh right, for the palace ladies it’s ten coins each, for the palace maids it’s three coins each. Your Highness, be sure not to forget.”

“…”