Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Inside the Imperial Garden.

Emperor Jing strolled ahead, with Guo Tianyang attending by his side.

Fang Zheng and Xu Wenshu followed half a step behind him.

Fang Zheng was also holding the deer by a rope.

"The two ministers sought me out just to gift me a deer?" Emperor Jing said, "There are already several deer in my garden; it's nothing rare."

Fang Zheng cleared his throat and said, "Your Majesty, yesterday was my birthday, and someone gifted me this deer. However, Miao Han told me that this deer is imperial tribute."

"I thought to myself, since it's imperial tribute, it's not appropriate for it to be sent to me. After much consideration, I thought it best to send it to Your Majesty."

"Ah," Emperor Jing stopped and nodded a couple of times, "I already heard about it from Eunuch Guo yesterday."

As he spoke, he said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "You don't think I would be angry over something so trivial, do you?"

That damned eunuch, he really did go to inform him!

Fang Zheng glanced sideways at Guo Tianyang.

Guo Tianyang was expressionless, pretending nothing had happened.

There was no helping it; it was his duty. No matter how good his personal relationship with Fang Zheng was, there were some things he had to report to His Majesty.

He couldn't let any unfavorable signals slip by.

He wasn't flustered!

Fang Zheng said, "Your Majesty's heart encompasses the universe. I naturally wouldn't think Your Majesty would be angry over such a small matter. Moreover, I'm not here today specifically to deliver the deer; there's actually another matter related to this deer."

"Oh?" Emperor Jing raised an eyebrow, "Tell me about it."

Fang Zheng nodded, "Yesterday was my birthday, and I held a banquet, but I didn't send out invitations. So, anyone could come. There were over a hundred guests present, most of whom were officials, big and small, from the capital."

"Coincidentally, someone sent this deer, and I had an idea. I wanted to test the many guests."

"So, I pointed at the deer and called it a horse in public, wanting to see how many sycophantic people there were."

The corners of Emperor Jing's mouth slowly curved into a smile.

Calling a deer a horse? Interesting.

"Hmm, why did you suddenly think of this during your birthday? Continue."

Fang Zheng said, "At the time, I was inspired. I am the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is His Majesty's eyes and ears, the knife in his hand. Supervising the officials and rectifying the discipline of the officialdom is the Embroidered Uniform Guard's duty."

"Having been an official for so many years, I have long integrated my duty into my instinct. Therefore, inspiration struck, and I wanted to test it when the officials gathered."

"When I called the deer a horse, I thought people would strongly refute it, but the reality greatly exceeded my expectations. As soon as the words left my mouth, no one dared to object."

Emperor Jing frowned.

No one dared to object... the situation sounded quite bad.

"Fortunately, later, several dozen young people stood up and angrily left the banquet. Some even dared to loudly accuse me of engaging in partisan activities, insisting that a deer is a deer!"

"These people are truly models for the scholars of our Great Jing, unafraid of powerful figures and upright."

Emperor Jing's brow relaxed.

Guo Tianyang's face showed a trace of fear, and he suddenly felt that something was not right...

Fang Zheng changed the subject, "As for the remaining majority, they revealed their ugly side during the banquet, constantly uttering flattering words. Without any bottom line! Without any sense of shame!"

"I have always hated evil like an enemy in my life, and I dislike flatterers the most. What they said made my face flush red, and I felt ashamed. They disgusted me!"

Xu Wenshu also felt particularly disgusted, even wanting to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Yesterday at the banquet, your Lord Fang's mouth almost stretched to the back of his ears, afraid that people's praise was not energetic enough, and you even had to add a few sentences yourself.

Moreover, in terms of flattery... your Lord Fang seems to have no rivals in Great Jing to this day...

However, Fang Zheng's trick really made him admire him to the point of prostration.

Xu Wenshu quietly sized up Fang Zheng, who was still talking eloquently.

His thoughts were meticulous, and he was as cunning as a fox. Now that he was in a high position, he still didn't dare to relax for a moment.

Such an eccentric style of behavior, unseen in ancient times.

If he continues to maintain this style, I am afraid that no one will be able to shake his position in the slightest until the day he dies.

Fortunately... he is a good person, and everything he does is for the country and the family.

Compared to the two... I am really old and completely out of touch with the times.

Fang Zheng sighed, "After acting out this scene yesterday, I gained many insights."

"Being practical and realistic, these simple four words are easy to say, but how many people can actually do it?"

"Not believing only in the mind, not believing only in superiors, but only believing in reality. How many officials in the court can accomplish this? I am afraid very few."

"The more this is the case, the more I feel my shortcomings in my work and am ashamed of His Majesty's kindness in promoting me."

"Yesterday at the banquet, I have already had Lord Xu help me record a list of the villains and gentlemen present. The gentlemen can be re-used as appropriate, and the villains should be carefully supervised. Please, Your Majesty, review it."

Xu Wenshu stepped forward and took out a list that had been prepared long ago from his sleeve.

Emperor Jing eagerly took the list and carefully browsed it.

Crap!

Guo Tianyang's scalp went numb, and his eyes darted around.

It's over!

This kid not only explained things perfectly but also gave an extra round of super-strong flattery.

What should he do if he seeks revenge later? He made a bad move this time!

Thinking of this, Guo Tianyang quickly reached into his sleeve and fumbled around a couple of times.

After Emperor Jing finished reading the list, he stopped in place and murmured, "Calling a deer a horse... what a 'calling a deer a horse'!"

The internet is prevalent in later generations, unofficial history is eye-catching, and with many illiterate people, the original meaning is distorted, and this behavior constitutes a 'calling a deer a horse' to 'calling a deer a horse'.

Small Chinese Language Class: The original meaning of 'Calling a Deer a Horse'

After Emperor Jing finished speaking, he was overjoyed: "Zheng, you have done very well! If everyone in the court had your mindset, then what difficulty would there be in my Great Jing's ten thousand years of reign?"

Fang Zheng pursed his lips and said with shame, "Your Majesty... actually, I lied about something just now."

"What did you lie about?" Emperor Jing asked quickly.

Fang Zheng hesitated, "I just said that I wasn't worried that Your Majesty would be concerned about the deer being imperial tribute, but actually, I was worried."

"So, I acted out this scene, first, to screen out villains and gentlemen, and second, to dispel Your Majesty's doubts."

"I am now in a position of great power and involved in many important institutions, and every step I take is afraid of being criticized. But I am not afraid of being demoted, nor am I afraid of being deprived of my title. I am only afraid of hurting the affection between me and my father."

Although Fang is thick-skinned and likes to lie, he really treats Emperor Jing as a relative.

It's just that his speeches always like to have a bit of speaking skills....

Xu Wenshu's eyes widened, staring at Fang Zheng in disbelief.

Is flattering him one round not enough insurance?

You're talking about affection with the emperor! That's really hell!

Fang Zheng said deeply, "I... have been unable to see my biological parents since I was young, and now that I have started a family with Miao Han, this emotion can only be placed on Your Majesty."

"I deeply know that the affection between people is more like a fragile treasure. The treachery of the human heart often leads to the destruction of affection, so it must be carefully maintained to be stable. Therefore, for affection, I always hope to be fully alert and do my best to protect it."

Is he trying to kill me directly? Is it over yet!!

Guo Tianyang's face quickly turned ashen.

The Emperor Jing on the side had already fallen into great shock.

The supreme ruler, the emperor of the battlefield.

No one has ever revealed their heart to him like this, not even the Crown Prince has spoken so directly.

Without a doubt, for a prosperous emperor, emotion is the greatest luxury.

Fratricidal strife and the trajectory of power struggles permeated his youth.

Only after Li Yuanzhao was born could he truly experience pure affection that was not mixed with anything else.

And Fang Zheng truly made him feel it.

To have such a virtuous son-in-law is enough to comfort his life.

The corners of Emperor Jing's eyes gradually became a little moist, and his big hand slowly rested on Fang Zheng's shoulder.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Fang Zheng blurt out.

"Life is precious, power is even more valuable, but for the sake of affection, both can be abandoned!"

Instant kill!

Guo Tianyang's old face completely collapsed, and his eyes lost their luster....