Royal Gold Magistrate

Seeing the favorable situation, Fang Zheng unhesitatingly pulled out the telescope he had been keeping behind his back.

Holding it up with both hands, he proclaimed loudly, “Your Majesty, on this joyous occasion, your humble servant has one more auspicious item to present!”

Emperor Jing looked at the brass tube Fang Zheng was holding, his curiosity piqued. “Oh? Lord Fang, you have another treasure to offer Us? This is truly a pleasant surprise. Come, let me see it!”

“In response to Your Majesty! This item is called the Thousand-Mile Landscape Mirror! When viewing through this mirror, one can see for a thousand miles, with all that is seen being the emperor’s domain!”

“This Thousand-Mile Landscape Mirror was made with the love, patience, and filial piety of the people of Taoyuan County, along with ten thousand taels of silver, specially crafted for Your Majesty.”

“It symbolizes that our great Jing Dynasty’s reign shall remain steadfast and enduring for ten thousand years~”

After Fang Zheng finished speaking, the court officials’ expressions changed, some beginning to clutch their chests in pain.

Indeed… A treacherous petty person is still a treacherous petty person. Even after achieving some accomplishments, a dog still can’t change its shit-eating ways!

Zheng Qiao gritted his teeth and nudged Li Yansong beside him.

“Lord Li… Look at him! Look at him!”

Li Yansong stammered, unable to speak, his face flushed red as he stared at Fang Zheng. Only after a long while did he manage to squeeze out a sentence through clenched teeth.

“Damn him…”

Damn that Fang Zheng, it’s like he’s deliberately here to slap me in the face. Every time I finish praising him, he immediately puts on the face of a petty person. Could it be he’s purposely trying to disgust me?

Emperor Jing took the telescope with a face full of delight, continuously remarking how good it was.

Fang Zheng inched up to Emperor Jing with a fawning expression. “Your Majesty, hold this item vertically! Put the smaller end to your eye.”

Emperor Jing raised the telescope and looked towards the palace gates, instantly amazed by what he saw.

He then turned it left twice, right twice, constantly making sounds of admiration.

The court officials’ hearts were all in their throats. Judging from the emperor’s reaction, could it be… This item really could see a thousand miles away as Fang Zheng claimed?

Of course, the telescope couldn’t see that far, but ancient people always had a habit of exaggerating. An army of a hundred thousand would boldly be called a million valiant soldiers.

Fang Zheng naturally had to carry forward this glorious tradition. Anyway, boasting didn’t cost money.

After a long while, Emperor Jing finished surveying the distant scenery and lowered the telescope, praising, “Excellent! This item is truly extraordinarily mystical, actually able to clearly see several hundred zhang away with one glance. If used on the battlefield, anticipating the enemy’s movements would be a given!”

“Lord Fang… This is another great merit. Tell me, how should I reward you?”

Fang Zheng humbly said, “This is all the result of the people of Taoyuan County’s efforts to express gratitude to Your Majesty. It merely cost some extra silver. How would your servant dare ask for any reward!”

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng and smiled. This fellow, between the lines he was still asking Us for silver. Forget it, just give him silver then!

Thus he said, “We have already felt the filial devotion of all Taoyuan County. Bestow upon Taoyuan County… One hundred taels of gold! You can collect it.”

Fang Zheng lowered his head, the corner of his mouth curling in disdain.

Emperor Jing laughed awkwardly. In his excitement just now, he had nearly said “tax exemption”.

But thinking of Taoyuan County’s annual output… Forget about tax exemption! Giving you some money will do.

Even so, being able to swindle a hundred taels of gold with a broken telescope was enough to satisfy Fang Zheng, who hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Emperor Jing continued, “Lord Fang, are there… Any more of these items?”

“Yes! The initial manufacturing cost of this item was enormous! But most of it was spent on research and development. As long as mass production is established, it can be produced in large quantities!”

“If Your Majesty requires it, your servant will order Taoyuan County to accelerate production and supply the army!”

Emperor Jing nodded. “Good, I will have someone discuss the details with you later.”

Having just promoted sanitary pads in the palace, now he landed a contract with the military. Being a salesman in the palace was truly blissful.

In his elation, Fang Zheng suddenly noticed Li Yuanzhao winking at him.

Fang Zheng understood. The crown prince had taken a liking to the telescope.

………….

Sure enough, as soon as the court session ended, Li Yuanzhao eagerly approached Fang Zheng.

He complained, “Old Fang, you’re not being considerate! Having such a good item, you actually didn’t let me see it first!”

Fang Zheng glanced at him. “What’s the rush? There’s plenty if you want one. Now that Yan Guoan is gone, besides that group of Hanlin scholars, no one can control us. I’ll take you out of the palace! Let’s return to the Eastern Palace first.”

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao was overjoyed.

After the two returned to the Eastern Palace, Fang Zheng immediately asked Li Yuanzhao with a serious expression, “While I was away, where exactly did you spend the money I gave you before?”

Li Yuanzhao chuckled. “Nothing much, it’s pretty much as I said earlier. While you were gone, I went to investigate the prices and discovered how severe the embezzlement in the palace was.”

“Later, I also had Liu Jin investigate the commoners’ circumstances and found that many were starving. So I had him give all the silver away.”

“Anyway, I don’t want to keep working on the tiger and leopard garden. It’s not interesting.”

“Old Fang, what do you think of my actions?” Li Yuanzhao asked, looking very pleased with himself, waiting to be praised.

Fang Zheng curled his lip. “Not great.”

Li Yuanzhao anxiously pulled out a booklet from his bosom and opened it in front of Fang Zheng. It had names written on it, each name stamped with a red handprint.

“Look! This is the commoners’ pledge. The people who received the silver are all grateful to me. Old Fang, you have poor judgment!”

Fang Zheng was rendered speechless. Aren’t you just buying goodwill with money…

“If Your Highness does these things for the sake of gratitude, it’s better not to do them. The common folk might not thank you in private, and might even mock you for being a sucker…”

“That’s right, I am a superhero. That term describes it well!”

“…………….”

Li Yuanzhao then said indignantly, “How am I a sucker? I sincerely did good deeds, and the people sincerely thanked me! Old Fang, your mind is too dark!”

Fang Zheng felt a bit helpless, not in the mood to explain further. Some things couldn’t be clarified all at once.

But based on Fang Zheng’s years of experience slogging through the mud, directly throwing money around like this mostly wouldn’t gain anything and would even lead to ridicule behind one’s back. Make no mistake…

As Fang Zheng was silently pondering, Li Yuanzhao suddenly asked coyly, “Old Fang, I’m out of money. When can we start making money from our sanitary pads?”

Fang Zheng mulled over Li Yuanzhao’s words, feeling that no matter how he heard it, it sounded a bit off. He replied absentmindedly, “Soon, we’ll make money in a few years. Big money!”

Li Yuanzhao muttered dejectedly, “That won’t do. I still need to accumulate virtue and do good deeds. I need to make quick money. I can’t wait years!”

“This…” Fang Zheng couldn’t help but cover his forehead. Could one really get addicted to giving away money?

But at the thought of making money, Fang Zheng’s interest was also piqued. Now that the crown prince could freely leave the palace, he had ample time freed up and could act as he pleased in the capital!

Moreover, making money under the crown prince’s banner, wouldn’t that be blissful?

Fang Zheng’s eyes lit up as he asked, “Are there any upcoming festivals?”