Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Wu Wang's Residence.

Prince Wu sat upright in his seat, ceaselessly playing with a fan in his hand, while Luo Ningxin stood attentively by his side.

At this moment, Prince Wu was entirely different from his outward appearance. He not only shed the laziness that people saw in him but also bore a seventy percent resemblance to Emperor Jing.

He possessed the same imposing presence, but his eyes revealed an unconcealable coldness.

A person knelt before him, bowing his head and saying, "Reporting to Your Highness, Fang Zheng Yi has indeed cultivated sweet potatoes in Taoyuan County, yielding 1,733 catties per mu."

Prince Wu paused his hand movements and chuckled softly, "Heh, only a little over two thousand catties, less than I expected..."

"Rise, Zhang Shi. What is the reaction from my imperial brother's side?"

Zhang Shi stood up and respectfully said, "His Majesty was overjoyed and immediately bestowed upon Fang Zheng Yi the title of County Earl, along with gold, silver, and land upon his return to the capital. It seems... His Majesty intends to heavily rely on him in the future."

"But Your Highness... now that Fang Zheng Yi has cultivated sweet potatoes, and I've heard this crop grows extremely fast, with harvests in one to two months, will the famine in Jianjiang not..."

"What's the panic! Fang Zheng Yi is deceiving you all. How could it be so fast... This year, the famine will not be significantly alleviated no matter what. Immediately arrange for people to go to the south and notify our people to seize the grain in their hands."

"Yes! But Your Highness, what about Fang Zheng Yi's side..."

Prince Wu's voice became stern: "Fang Zheng Yi is someone I value. No matter what grievances you have with him, do not touch him, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Zhang Shi immediately broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.

"Then... then I shall take my leave first..."

"Mm, go."

Zhang Shi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hastily departed.

Luo Ningxin spoke, "Your Highness, how could Fang Zheng Yi possess sweet potatoes?"

Prince Wu shook his head: "I don't know... There are no airtight walls in the world. If I can obtain this item, why can't Fang Zheng Yi?"

"Alas, it is all fate. I deeply admire him, but I didn't expect him to be drawn into this game... turning into a nuisance."

Luo Ningxin hesitated: "Your Highness, I observe that Fang Zheng Yi, besides possessing some poetic talent, doesn't seem to have anything particularly special about him. Why does Your Highness admire this person so much?"

Prince Wu sipped his tea and casually picked up a gold-inlaid jade item from the table.

"This item... is called a Thousand-Li Mirror, a small trinket I devised a few years ago. Not long ago, Fang Zheng Yi also presented a similar item to my imperial brother, called the Thousand-Li Rivers and Mountains Mirror."

"I've seen it, and Fang Zheng Yi's is even better than mine...."

"The Thousand-Li Mirror I created is made of the finest crystal, worth a thousand gold pieces, while Fang Zheng Yi's is crudely made, obviously from some worthless materials, including the lenses inside."

"It should be the same material as your so-called diamonds.... What I value is his ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary."

Luo Ningxin covered her diamond necklace in surprise: "But... he said this was a treasure of the Crown Prince, and it looks exceptionally precious."

"Foolish! Recently, these diamond jewelry items have been highly sought after in the market. A two-hundred tael ring is being speculated to three hundred taels, but the news of this item being sold is becoming more and more prevalent in the market. There must be some trickery behind it by Fang Zheng Yi."

"In recent years, every time the steward goes to Taoyuan County to purchase goods, he leaves not a single coin on his person in Taoyuan County. Fang Zheng Yi is probably the type to squeeze some profit even from the Black and White Impermanence if he met them in the afterlife."

"How could such a person offer the Emperor a so-called Thousand-Li Rivers and Mountains Mirror worth ten thousand taels?"

"Therefore... I conclude that this item must be man-made, not worth a penny! Let alone a so-called treasure of the Crown Prince."

Luo Ningxin was filled with disappointment upon hearing this.

This diamond necklace and ring are her favorite accessories. Every time she sees them sparkle, her mood improves. She even takes them off every day to constantly wipe and maintain them, fearing they might be bumped or scratched. Who knew they were worthless... Fang Zheng Yi, despicable!

"Ningxin, Fang Zheng Yi has returned to the capital. I'll leave him to you. You must befriend him; you don't need to worry about anything else!"

Luo Ningxin asked doubtfully: "But Your Highness... since you admire him so much, why not directly have him come to see you? If this person is greedy for money, wouldn't it be good to just give him wealth?"

Prince Wu's originally cold expression suddenly became thoughtful: "Greedy for money... It's not certain that he truly likes money that much... Moreover, he might not care about ordinary small favors..."

"Years ago, the steward was kidnapped to Taoyuan County and accidentally met Fang Zheng Yi. But the longer I understand him, the more curious I become about him, and I even... want to make him my confidant."

"I wanted to see him in the first two years, but there was no opportunity... Later, I gave up on that idea."

"Our actions are bound not to be to his liking. After we achieve great things, I will then recruit Fang Zheng Yi."

"Now, his influence on us is so great that we can no longer ignore him... So it is more appropriate for you to go."

"You may leave."

After Prince Wu finished speaking, Luo Ningxin bowed and turned to leave.

.............................

Two days later, Banshan Ward, Fang Residence.

Fang Zheng Yi was writing at his desk, feeling a headache looking at the pile of messages at hand.

The sanitation team's wages are too high! Now that the words have been spoken, it's a done deal. It's a bit tricky to deduct wages!

Five qian per person per month, which will result in a considerable loss after a month.

At this time, Fang Zheng Yi regretted it immensely. He shouldn't have been so glib about five qian silver... A three-day tour of a brothel would have been enough.

If this continues, I'll lose everything. When have I, Fang Zheng Yi, ever done a losing business? I have to give them more work!

While scratching his head, Zhang Biao rushed in with great enthusiasm.

"Young Master, you have a letter!"

Fang Zheng Yi took the letter, opened it, and started reading.

After reading it, he threw the letter away: "Burn it. I thought it was sent from Taoyuan County."

Zhang Biao curiously asked: "Young Master, what does it say?"

Fang Zheng Yi began writing and drawing again, calculating the great cause of deducting wages and adding work, while constantly saying, "That courtesan from Cangxiang Pavilion said she admires my literary talent and invites me to visit."

"Young Master, then go for a visit. What's so scary about women? It doesn't cost money."

"That's right, it doesn't cost money!" Fang Zheng Yi's eyes lit up.

"However, that woman is from Prince Wu's side. I've been targeted by Prince Wu, and there must be some unspeakable secret. If there's anything he wants to say, why can't he say it directly? Why does he have to be so secretive?"

"Hehe, you big fool, riddle-makers deserve to die!"

Zhang Biao chuckled: "Young Master, he wouldn't have taken a fancy to you, would he.... Be careful, I feel it's very strange!"

Fang Zheng Yi raised his head and glared: "Good! Then you go for me! Eating and drinking doesn't cost money, and I'll save some!"

Zhang Biao laughed awkwardly: "Then why don't we just go directly to Prince Wu's Residence and ask him to clarify? Why make it so troublesome?"

"Not going! Looking for trouble!"