Royal Gold Magistrate

Fang Zheng entered the room where the heads of the Sun and Wang families were being held.

As soon as he walked in, Sun Jiacheng and Wang Qixun looked at him with terror in their eyes.

Fang Zheng stepped forward, removed the gags from their mouths, and untied the ropes.

Then he stood up with a friendly expression and said, “Please rise, gentlemen.”

Sun Jiacheng took a couple of deep breaths and said softly, “Thank you, Lord Fang.”

Fang Zheng walked to the table, poured tea for both of them, and brought it over. The two men accepted the tea, repeatedly expressing their gratitude.

“You are free now, gentlemen.”

Both men’s eyes lit up with surprise: “Really?”

“Of course it’s true. This official always acts with integrity and speaks plainly.”

Fang Zheng changed his tone: “However… there are conditions if you want to leave.”

The two men tensed up again upon hearing this.

“What conditions?”

Fang Zheng gave a cold laugh: “Heh, it’s not difficult. I’ve investigated, and you were merely helping Liu Xun dispose of stolen goods. It was purely a business relationship.”

“This official can overlook this matter! You can keep the money you earned, just hand over the grain you exchanged from the granary.”

“But from now on, you must be at my beck and call. You will unconditionally cooperate with anything this official asks you to do. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being unpleasant.”

If you ask us to die, should we just die?

If you want all our assets, how is that any different from killing us?

Sun Jiacheng hesitated: “My lord, this…”

“What’s the matter? You could do business with Liu Xun, but not with me, Fang Zheng?”

Saying this, Fang Zheng walked towards the two and patted their shoulders.

“Don’t worry, this official never likes to force people. If you cooperate honestly with me, not only will your wealth remain intact, you might even make a big profit. How about that?”

Given the circumstances, with their capital crime of embezzlement discovered and confessions signed, their lives were in someone else’s hands. It seemed there was no other choice…

Sun and Wang exchanged a glance, then nodded simultaneously: “We are willing to serve you, my lord!”

“Very good, you may leave now.”

The two men felt as if they’d been granted amnesty and immediately headed for the door.

Just as they reached the doorway, Fang Zheng’s voice rang out: “Don’t think about running away. I still have evidence of your crimes. If I were to report it to His Majesty… well, you know the consequences.”

“Thank you for saving our lives, my lord!”

“Hehe, off you go.”

…………..

The next day, in the prefectural office.

Fang Zheng sat imposingly in Liu Xun’s seat, facing a group of minor officials.

Everyone was trembling with fear.

These people had been tormented on the boat for a while and hadn’t fully recovered after just one night’s rest.

Fang Zheng’s swift and decisive methods were still fresh in their memories, and many didn’t even dare to look at him directly.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng smiled slightly: “There’s no need to be nervous, everyone.”

“I’ve called you here today just to briefly explain a few things.”

“Liu Xun and his deputy will be beheaded. This is already decided.”

“So I want to tell you all, from today until the court assigns a new prefect, all matters in Jianjiang, big or small, will be decided by me! Do you all understand?”

“Understood…” about a dozen officials responded quietly, shrinking their heads.

“Louder, I can’t hear you! How dare you be imperial officials with such small voices?”

“Under! Stood!” everyone shouted at the top of their lungs.

Fang Zheng smiled with satisfaction: “Very good.”

He held up a book in his hand: “This contains all the evidence of your corruption. It hasn’t been reported to the higher-ups yet, and I have no interest in going through it.”

“You have three days to return all the embezzled silver to the prefecture treasury. I will have someone verify it.”

“Within seven days, send yamen runners to retrieve the dirty money from the grain stations in each county!”

“If the amount doesn’t match what’s recorded in this book, or if I feel it’s not enough, then your fate will no longer be in my hands…”

“Do you understand?”

“Under! Stood!”

Fang Zheng walked down from his seat and circled the group. As he approached each person, they bowed their heads deeply.

“From now on, when I tell you to go east, you cannot go west.”

“If you cooperate fully, everyone will be fine and can enjoy the benefits.”

“You don’t need to be too nervous.”

“I’m actually quite easygoing. But, if you step into my trap, I’m telling you, I can be very difficult to deal with!”

“Don’t think I’m just a nice guy. If you anger me…”

Fang Zheng suddenly drew the imperial sword, his face contorted: “Then there will be bloodshed!”

Everyone shuddered and shouted in unison: “Under! Stood!”

Seeing that his intimidation had worked, Fang Zheng waved the scabbard around a few times before sheathing the sword.

“Now, everyone return to your positions and perform your duties!”

“Yes!”

Just as everyone was about to disperse, they heard someone shouting from afar outside.

“Imperial edict! Imperial edict! Jianjiang Prefect Liu Xun, come receive the edict!”

Fang Zheng’s ears perked up, and he stood up hurriedly: “Quick! Quickly invite them in!”

Immediately, some yamen runners ran out.

Everyone present suddenly felt their hair stand on end, looking at Fang Zheng in fear.

We’ve only been arrested for a few days, and you’ve already summoned an imperial edict? Didn’t you say you’d let us live?

Soon, a thin figure ran in, looking malnourished and disheveled, not at all like someone delivering an imperial edict.

Upon entering the room, he immediately shrieked again: “Imperial edict! Jianjiang Prefect, receive the edict!”

Fang Zheng took one look at him and exclaimed in delight: “Oh my, my dear Jin Jin, why are you here?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Liu Jin immediately stopped shouting and looked at Fang Zheng.

His eyes also filled with joy: “Lord Fang!”

Fang Zheng walked down from his seat to greet Liu Jin. Liu Jin was already extremely tired, and seeing a familiar face filled him with such happiness that he unconsciously opened his arms.

But before he could react, Fang Zheng snatched the imperial edict from his hand.

He unrolled it and read it carefully.

“This… this is… It doesn’t concern you all. Everyone, withdraw!”

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately felt relieved and dispersed in an instant.

Only Liu Jin and Fang Zheng remained in the office.

Fang Zheng held the edict and asked: “Was this edict issued by His Majesty?”

“Yes… yes!”

“Tell the truth!”

Liu Jin trembled at Fang Zheng’s stern tone and said softly, feeling wronged: “It’s from the Crown Prince…”

Fang Zheng clutched the edict, his heart pounding with excitement.

Indeed, after hinting to him before… given the Crown Prince’s personality, he had indeed done it.

Now, he could only do his best to handle things perfectly on his end. Otherwise, this mess would cause no small trouble for Li Yuanzhao.

Liu Jin looked pitifully at Fang Zheng: “Where is Liu Xun, Lord Liu?”

“Hmm, I’m about to have him beheaded.”

Hearing this, Liu Jin’s eyes immediately widened. He knelt down, hugging Fang Zheng’s leg, and let out a chicken-like cry: “My Lord Fang! You can’t kill him! You can’t!”

“How can you cause trouble wherever you go? If you die, what will happen to me?”

Liu Jin was now exhausted to the extreme, his heart bleeding. The Crown Prince was no longer the same Crown Prince!

Before, I could still amuse him with tigers and leopards, but now you’ve made his appetite grow bigger and bigger. He’s insatiable, and I can no longer satisfy him.

You’ve barely left, and he’s already having me deliver fake imperial edicts. If you die, how am I supposed to go on living?!

“…………”