Royal Gold Magistrate

After Guo Tianyang finished reading the second page, the assembled ministers fell silent.

For a moment, various thoughts filled their minds, with emotions of shock, fear, and disbelief surging forth.

They never imagined someone could write a letter so disgustingly.

They never imagined Jianjiang had deteriorated to this extent.

They never imagined Fang Zheng’s methods were so ruthless. In comparison, just publishing a report to criticize them seemed gentle?

They never imagined……

In short, the great hall was now filled with an eerie atmosphere.

Everyone seemed to see an indescribable thing.

A ghost, a ghost with a lewd smile seemed to be wandering in the great hall.

It had clearly rolled far away, yet it could still come up with various tricks, giving everyone a headache.

Guo Tianyang turned to the third page and was about to continue reading when Emperor Jing spoke: “Alright, stop reading there.”

“Ministers, what are your thoughts?”

“And should I continue to issue edicts to stabilize grain prices and stop major construction?”

Li Yansong immediately knelt down: “Your Majesty! If what Fang Zheng says is true, then continuing to implement price stabilization policies would be unwise!”

“Furthermore, this subject suggests bestowing upon Fang Zheng the position of Regional Governor, allowing him to act at his discretion!”

“We concur!” Zhang Dongxiang and Zheng Qiao knelt down in succession.

A small portion hesitated whether to agree, but after a short while, they also knelt down and shouted in agreement.

Those in Jianjiang Prefecture with higher ranks than Fang Zheng had all been beheaded by him.

The so-called Prefect was now in name only, with Fang Zheng being the only one actually in charge.

If they were to send someone new temporarily, who knows how much time would be wasted for them to adapt to the situation.

You think you’re so great, Fang Zheng? Fine, you handle it then. Let’s see who can clean up such a mess!

Yang Yingcai knelt on the ground, his heart turned to ashes.

Just moments ago, he was lecturing the Emperor about reason, and now he had been slapped in the face!

And Minister Li, are you not even trying to hide it anymore?

Promoting talent regardless of relations! Surely you understand this principle!

Regional Governor? That’s a temporary position! How long has Fang Zheng been gone? He’ll be back in a few months!

I see you really don’t want to live peaceful days!

But at this moment, he had nothing to say, and could only kneel on the ground with a bitter expression.

A sharp voice came from behind him: “Your Majesty! This subject believes that bestowing the position of Regional Governor upon Lord Fang is most timely!”

“Lord Fang has swept away the chaos, and the people of Jianjiang all submit to him. With Lord Fang’s ability, he will surely be able to solve Jianjiang’s grain disaster!”

Yang Fengfan said with a serious face.

The Hanlin scholars were all kneeling, only he was standing.

Everyone looked at this sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked little man with hatred, secretly cursing him as a traitor!

If you flatter the Emperor, at most people will say you have no backbone, but you can still play along.

But you’re flattering Fang Zheng, and he’s not even here. Are you even human anymore?!

Yang Fengfan unhesitatingly glared back.

As long as following Fang Zheng leads to wealth and glory, I don’t want to be human!

Emperor Jing looked at the reactions of those in the hall, gave a cold laugh, and said slowly: “Draft an edict, bestowing upon Fang Zheng the position of Acting Regional Governor of Jianjiang, ordering him to return to his original post in the capital on the day the grain disaster is resolved!”

“As for the rest of you, kneel here and think for me! Was it I who was wrong, or was it you? Don’t leave until you’ve figured it out!”

With that, he flung his sleeve and left.

The corner of Guo Tianyang’s mouth twitched.

Oh! It seems the Crown Prince’s blunder has inadvertently earned His Majesty some face… Hopefully, His Majesty won’t be too angry later.

Seeing Emperor Jing walk away, Guo Tianyang, holding the letter, hurriedly followed.

The two arrived at the imperial study, and Emperor Jing sat down.

His eyes coldly fixed on Guo Tianyang.

Guo Tianyang didn’t dare to look directly at him, standing uneasily before the Emperor.

“Bring the letter here.”

Guo Tianyang obediently placed the letter on the table.

Emperor Jing picked it up and began to read it again with a serious expression.

Suddenly, he angrily said: “Outrageous! Full of flattering words! Disgusting!”

With that, he folded the letter and casually stuffed it into a nearby book.

Then he looked at Guo Tianyang and said calmly: “Eunuch Guo, how many years have you followed me?”

“In response to Your Majesty, it has been forty-two years.”

Emperor Jing sighed: “Yes, over forty years, you’ve grown old too.”

Then his gaze turned sharp: “Today in court, you could still make such a stupid mistake. I entrusted the Eastern Depot to you, what achievements have you made?”

Guo Tianyang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He immediately knelt down and said with a trembling voice: “This servant deserves ten thousand deaths! Please punish me, Your Majesty!”

With that, he began to kowtow repeatedly.

Emperor Jing’s face was full of impatience. He shouted angrily: “Get up! Get up for me!”

“Every time something goes wrong, all you do is say you deserve to die and kowtow! Can’t you do anything else!”

“Such a huge case of corruption in Jianjiang, and it was Fang Zheng, an Assistant Prefect who’s only been in office for a few days, who investigated it thoroughly!”

“And you? What have you been doing! I might as well hand the Eastern Depot over to Fang Zheng to manage!”

Guo Tianyang looked at Emperor Jing in despair.

Have you finally said what’s in your heart?

I’ve long seen through it, you just want Fang Zheng to enter the palace.

But why him!

Just because he’s better at flattery than me? I’ve followed you for over forty years!!

“Your Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to give this old servant one more chance!”

Guo Tianyang knelt down again, his words dripping with anguish.

Emperor Jing looked at Guo Tianyang’s trembling form and sighed again, closing his eyes and rubbing his brow.

“Just this once, don’t let it happen again.”

Guo Tianyang was overjoyed at these words!

Indeed! I haven’t fallen out of favor! His Majesty is becoming more sentimental!

“Thank you, Your Majesty! This old servant thanks Your Majesty!!!”

“Get up, stop kneeling.”

Emperor Jing picked up the third page of the letter, read it carefully, and said: “Not bad, not bad, Minister Fang truly has real ability.”

“There are nearly a hundred people on this list involved in the corruption, but he only executed the ringleaders, truly saving me a lot of trouble.”

Emperor Jing held the letter, pondered for a while, then suddenly said: “Bring out the memorials from the three prefectures requesting silver from the court!”

Guo Tianyang immediately nodded and went to fetch them. Soon, he returned with a stack of memorials and placed them before Emperor Jing’s desk.

Emperor Jing began to flip through them one by one.

After quite some effort, a smile appeared on Emperor Jing’s face.

Seeing this, Guo Tianyang hurriedly asked: “Does Your Majesty have some good news?”

Emperor Jing smiled slightly: “Minister Fang is indeed a great talent.”

“These memorials requesting funds from the three prefectures, originally those places were very urgent, sending one every day.”

“But looking at the timeline, since Fang Zheng took down Liu Xun, they haven’t asked the court for silver again.”

“It seems that Fang Zheng has ways to get silver from other places, so he hasn’t asked the court for money.”

Emperor Jing couldn’t help but sigh: “Minister Fang truly makes everything effortless and satisfying for me.”

Then he glanced at Guo Tianyang: “Hmph!”

Guo Tianyang’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Emperor Jing lowered his head and continued looking at the third page of the letter, muttering:

“And there’s someone behind Liu Xun, this person is very mysterious.”

Emperor Jing raised his head and said coldly: “This person might be right under my nose. Heh, interesting. It seems someone thinks my blade isn’t quick enough.”

“Order people to investigate! They must investigate thoroughly and clearly. Also, from today on, the eunuchs guarding various regions, apart from military and political affairs, must also report on public opinion!”

After arranging this, Emperor Jing continued to look at the letter and found there were words on the back.

Looking at the content, he couldn’t help but smile.

“I didn’t expect that Minister Fang had already categorized and settled the disaster victims. Indeed, he handles affairs well.”

“Hmm~ But what does ‘flexible employment’ mean? Eunuch Guo, do you know?”

Guo Tianyang was so nervous his throat went dry. He thought about Fang Zheng’s style of handling affairs.

He stammered: “This servant thinks… it probably refers to some idle people.”

“Shut up! It’s useless to ask you. Does Fang Zheng have a grudge against you!?”

“Hmph! Utterly useless!”

Guo Tianyang: “………”