Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Now that the imperial examination results have been posted, Zhang Dongxiang should be back in the capital.

However, Fang Zheng hadn't seen Zhang Dongxiang at the morning court yesterday.

Presumably, he's resting at home, as the position of chief examiner is incredibly taxing.

It requires reading countless essays over several days.

An ordinary person truly wouldn't have the ability to do it.

However, the next day at the early morning court, Zhang Dongxiang appeared as usual.

It's just that his behavior was somewhat unusual!

Upon entering the main hall, he kept giving Fang Zheng meaningful glances!

These past few days have been truly grueling; having regained a clear view of the world, it's hard to be satisfied with his current blurry vision.

Especially after seeing Guo Tianyang already wearing glasses, Zhang Dongxiang's old face grew long.

This old man hasn't even used them yet, and a eunuch is using them first?!

Having taken so much advantage of me, are we even still relatives?

Fang Zheng naturally understood his behavior, and after the court session ended, amidst the astonished gazes of the other officials, the two of them walked towards a secluded spot near the entrance of the hall and began to whisper.

Under a pillar outside the hall, Zhang Dongxiang asked impatiently, "Where's the thing?"

"Third Uncle, what's the rush! Good food is worth waiting for. The goods I brought you this time are definitely better than last time! In a moment, you..."

"Stop dawdling! Hurry!"

Fang Zheng helplessly shook his head and took out a wooden box from his sleeve, opening it to reveal the exquisite glasses inside.

A pair of silver-rimmed glasses with clear lenses, just like the previous trial lens.

However, there was an added thoughtful design: a silver chain was specially attached to the earpieces for easy hanging around the neck.

Zhang Dongxiang was overjoyed, picked up the glasses, and put them on.

The silver chain naturally hung around his neck!

"Hmm! Hmm! Good! This is it! After wearing them for just one day, I'm not used to being without them!"

"Right?"

"Yes! What were you about to say?" Seeing the old man's happy face, Fang Zheng smiled and said, "When you return to the cabinet later, if anyone asks, remember to say you bought them for three hundred taels."

Zhang Dongxiang frowned: "Wasn't it two hundred and fifty taels?!"

"Did the last one have this chain?"

"......."

"Besides, two hundred and fifty taels is the family price! I'm giving one to Lord Li and Lord Zheng each, so don't blab it around!"

"This afternoon! The Crown Prince and I will be setting up a stall at the entrance of the cabinet, taking pre-orders! First come, first served!"

"Got it! You con man, what a disgrace!" Zhang Dongxiang frowned, grumbled, and walked away.

Upon reaching the entrance of the cabinet office, Zhang Dongxiang tidied up his official robes, took off the glasses, and hung them on his chest.

A serene smile graced his face as he slowly stepped into the office.

Even old people can't avoid the desire to show off.

He wanted to flaunt such a treasure as glasses properly in front of everyone.

By this time, he was already late, and many people in the office were engrossed in reading newspapers.

Few people noticed his entrance.

Seeing this, Zhang Dongxiang cleared his throat lightly.

"Ahem!"

The people reading the newspapers slowly put them down and looked at Zhang Dongxiang.

Zhang Dongxiang, as if nothing had happened, picked up the glasses from his chest and carefully put them on his head.

At that moment, everyone was stunned!

Li Yansong exclaimed in surprise: "Why are you using a eunuch's thing?!"

"? ? ?"

Three black lines drooped from Zhang Dongxiang's forehead.

A eunuch's thing? Does this thing have to be specifically for eunuchs? If eunuchs can eat, can't I eat too?

"Lord Li... what do you mean by that? How did it become something for eunuchs?"

Li Yansong looked conflicted: "What exactly is this thing? It seems only Eunuch Guo in the palace is using this."

"Isn't this exclusively for eunuchs?"

For some time, everyone had been guessing what that strange-looking thing on Guo Tianyang's face was for.

Finally, they unanimously concluded:

Perhaps the eunuch has some psychological issues and created a special ornament to show off.

The reason for this misunderstanding was that no one dared to talk to a eunuch, after all, not everyone is Fang Zheng. Secondly, seeing the Emperor's attitude as tacit approval, everyone assumed that this thing was exclusively for eunuchs.

Now that Lord Zhang is also wearing it, it means this thing has other uses!

Zhang Dongxiang snorted and flicked his sleeves.

"This thing is called glasses! It's a treasure for nourishing life, and wearing it can clear the liver and brighten the eyes!"

At this, everyone was stunned again.

What? Simply wearing it can clear the liver and brighten the eyes, and it's a treasure for nourishing life?

Talking about this, everyone suddenly became energetic!

On weekdays, the topics of conversation, apart from court affairs, are nourishing life and strengthening the body.

Now that life is going well, naturally, one must pursue a higher quality of life!

Old men can't resist hearing about nourishing life!

Several people immediately put down their newspapers and quickly walked up to Zhang Dongxiang to examine him.

Zhang Dongxiang was initially smug, but soon became uneasy under the gazes of everyone pointing and staring.

He took off the chain and glasses hanging around his neck and said helplessly, "Look!"

Li Yansong took the glasses and began to fiddle with them in his hands, while Zhang Dongxiang hurriedly reached out to support them from below.

He kept saying, "Be careful... be careful... don't break them..."

Li Yansong looked disdainful: "You're so stingy at your age! Let this old man try!" With that, he put the glasses on his head.

The moment he put them on, he was immediately stunned, his eyes wide!

"Brightened! It really does clear the liver and brighten the eyes! The effect is so immediate!"

As soon as these words came out, the surrounding crowd suddenly became excited! It turned out to be a real treasure, not something to fool people!

Zhang Dongxiang said smugly: "How is it? How is it?"

Li Yansong nodded repeatedly: "Good! Good!"

Zheng Qiao on the side was drooling with envy, and several times he reached out his hand, softly calling out, "Lord Li, Lord Li, let me try too!"

His eyes have been a problem for a long time, and he can't see things clearly!

When he was young, he was reluctant to use a lot of oil for lighting to save money, and now his eyesight is getting worse and worse. How could he not be tempted by such a treasure?

After looking around, Li Yansong reluctantly took off the glasses and placed them in Zheng Qiao's hand.

Zheng Qiao impatiently put them on, but immediately took them off, disappointed: "No! The effect is indeed remarkable, but I actually feel very nauseous. It seems I have no fate with this treasure..."

Zhang Dongxiang didn't want to let anyone else try them at this moment, so he quickly snatched the glasses back and put them back on his head, looking like an expert: "Hey! You don't understand, this thing needs to be customized! Just like taking medicine, everyone has a different prescription. This one doesn't suit you, it's not that the glasses are no good!"

"You should get a new pair!"

Everyone stared eagerly at Zhang Dongxiang, and Zheng Qiao regained hope.

"Then... where can I buy them?"

Zhang Dongxiang waved his hand: "Let's not talk about where you can buy them, let's first talk about the price, everyone should act according to their means!"

"How much money?" Everyone looked nervous.

Such a magical thing must not be cheap, probably dozens of taels of silver!

Those two crystal lenses are extraordinary!

"Three hundred taels!!" Zhang Dongxiang held up three fingers.

"Three hundred taels for such a light little thing! That's too expensive, Lord Zhang, where did you buy this from? You've probably been cheated! I'm going to find the unscrupulous merchant to argue!" Someone said indignantly.

"Fang Zheng sells them! He said he'll be setting up a stall at the entrance of the office this afternoon to fit glasses for everyone and take pre-orders!"

Li Yansong and Zheng Qiao shook their heads repeatedly.

"No! No! Won't we be treated like fat sheep to be slaughtered?"

Zhang Dongxiang quickly tugged at their sleeves and whispered: "Fang Zheng said he'll give you two a pair for free!"

Instantly, the two old men were delighted!

Li Yansong stroked his beard, smiled slightly, and said loudly: "However... upon careful consideration, the effect of this thing is indeed miraculous! Three hundred taels to get back a pair of good eyes is worth the price!"

Zheng Qiao echoed: "Yes! It's still very affordable!"