Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The Crown Prince had experience in overseeing the country, the last time being...well, the last time.

However, his experience was clearly not sufficient. With Emperor Jing absent, he was either feigning illness or actually ill, amusing himself as he pleased.

As for the criticisms and advice from below, he paid them no heed!

This time, however, things were different. Li Yuanzhao had moved beyond low-level interests and began to focus on serious matters.

Moreover, Emperor Jing was closely monitoring him from the sidelines...

Since it concerned Fang Zheng Yi, Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but take it seriously.

In the main hall, Li Yuanzhao sat to the lower left of the dragon throne, his posture upright, his expression solemn, displaying a rare seriousness.

In a hidden corner on the left side, Emperor Jing was leisurely listening with his eyes closed.

After two injections of penicillin, he had long recovered from his illness, and after several days of recuperation, his mental state had returned to its best.

This was Emperor Jing's first court session after several days of absence, and with the Crown Prince presiding, it was naturally of great significance.

He had already arranged for people to inform the officials beforehand. The ministers greeted each other as usual and entered the hall to pay their respects.

However, their words carried a subtle and indescribable meaning.

Initially, the ministers presented their reports on various matters from across the country, as usual.

Li Yuanzhao responded in a rote manner, and the atmosphere could be considered harmonious.

However, halfway through the proceedings, a discordant voice emerged: "This minister, Fan Er from the Ministry of Personnel, has a memorial to present."

"Granted."

"This minister impeaches Fang Zheng Yi of the Court of State Ceremonials for colluding with the Northern Rong and accepting sixty thousand taels of silver from their national preceptor. The memorial was submitted to the palace yesterday. I wonder if Your Highness has read it?"

As soon as this topic was raised, many officials' expressions changed immediately.

Here it comes?

Li Yuanzhao perked up, calmed himself, and said blandly, "I haven't seen it. Explain in detail."

"Yes, Your Highness," Fan Er said unhurriedly. "Previously, when the Northern Rong sent envoys to our Great Jing, they left behind a cart of goods at the Court of Diplomatic Receptions before their departure. This cart contained all the records of Paba's visit to our country, including notes of his secret talks with Fang Zheng Yi."

Li Yuanzhao frowned and asked, "Where are these notes?"

"The Northern Rong people have already discovered the missing goods and retrieved them after returning. However, Chen Hong, the Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Receptions, can testify. He personally witnessed the notes."

Chen Hong, the Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Receptions, stood up tremulously, somewhat at a loss.

In his heart, he couldn't help but curse! What the hell is wrong with these people today? Fang Zheng Yi is out investigating a case for His Majesty, his whereabouts unknown. Why are they kicking him when he's down? Are they sick!

However, Zhang Shi's gaze was fixed on him. He had accepted one hundred thousand taels from Zhang Shi, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet!

Anyway, I'll just tell the truth! It has nothing to do with me!

"Reporting... Your Highness, this is indeed the case. This minister personally witnessed the notes left behind by Paba, which recorded Fang Zheng Yi's private collusion with him, promising to help him purchase ironware."

Li Yuanzhao slammed the armrest and scolded, "Ridiculous! Can notes left behind by the Northern Rong be used as evidence? How do you know that the Northern Rong are not trying to sow discord?"

"This..." Chen Hong hesitated for a moment and continued, "What Your Highness said is indeed reasonable, but the location where the goods were left behind was indeed somewhat remote, and the edict left behind by the Northern Rong Khan was also among them. This minister thinks... National Preceptor Paba would not deliberately commit such a disrespectful act, would he?"

"Between countries, what morality is there to speak of? In this prince's view, this matter is completely fabricated out of thin air!" Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but get a little agitated. Damn it, Lao Fang is risking his life outside, and you bunch of scumbags are causing trouble behind his back!

"You're just making accusations based on hearsay! There's no real evidence! Don't mention this matter again. When Lao Fang returns to the capital, this prince will personally ask him!"

Emperor Jing kept his eyes closed, his expression calm, but a hint of blue veins appeared on his forehead....

"Your Highness, be careful with your words! Your Highness is the Crown Prince, how can you call a subject... Lao... Fang!"

Li Yuanzhao narrowed his eyes and saw that the person who had stepped forward was Wei Ming, a clerk from the Ministry of Rites. He couldn't help but sneer, "Heh heh, this prince likes to call him that, so what? Since Lao Fang entered the palace, no one from the Ministry of Rites has taught him anything. You're the ones who are derelict in your duties! Now you're lecturing this prince?"

"Ah... this?" Wei Ming was dumbfounded.

Is there such a thing? I don't know! No wonder Fang Zheng Yi is like that, like a hooligan who ran out of a village, without any proper manners.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at his superior. All the people from the Ministry of Rites closed their eyes and shook their heads.

"Ahem... Your Highness, these are two different matters. While this matter is indeed a fault of the Ministry of Rites, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fan Er said sternly, "Your Highness! Fang Zheng Yi's collusion with foreign enemies is already confirmed evidence, how can it be called an accusation based on hearsay? Even if it were an accusation based on hearsay, there's nothing wrong with that!"

"We officials of the Censorate and Supervising Secretariat can make accusations based on hearsay, and we are in charge of investigation! The discipline of the court depends on this! The duty of the Censorate is especially important for its integrity! Fang Zheng Yi's actions are contrary to the laws of the country, may Your Highness investigate clearly!"

Li Yuanzhao stared at him, feeling somewhat angry: "Then how do you want this prince to investigate clearly?"

"Confiscate Fang Zheng Yi's home!"

"Preposterous!" Li Yuanzhao was furious: "Based solely on so-called accusations based on hearsay and a trumped-up charge, you want to confiscate the home of an important official of the court?"

Immediately, someone else stood up and said: "Your Highness, Fang Zheng Yi doesn't just have this one charge. The Ministry of Revenue confiscated Prince Wu's residence and found dozens of account books in the residence. Among them, Prince Wu had financial dealings with Fang Zheng Yi, and the amount was shocking!"

"What do you mean? Are you trying to say that Lao Fang also rebelled?" Li Yuanzhao's fierce gaze shifted over.

"Your Highness, please calm down. This minister does not mean that, but Fang Zheng Yi's actions have undoubtedly made him an accomplice to the rebels. May Your Highness order people to confiscate his home."

"This minister seconds the motion!" "We second the motion!"

One after another, voices of agreement suddenly came from below. More than a dozen people knelt on the ground one after another, and Li Yuanzhao's face turned pale.

The situation came too suddenly, as if it had been planned.

He didn't expect these people to launch an attack together, and a sense of oppression was faintly transmitted upwards.

The others who had not seconded the motion also lowered their heads, standing in place and remaining silent.

Guo Tianyang stood coldly aside, watching the kneeling officials one by one, silently memorizing or recalling the relationships behind them.

The ministers of the Grand Secretariat also remained silent.

Li Yuanzhao just watched, with no one helping him. At this moment, he seemed to have truly become a solitary person!

The pressure was slowly building up... building up... Fang Zheng Yi's wretched smiling face suddenly popped out!

With a 'pop', his nervousness inexplicably disappeared in an instant, and a kind of understanding surged into his heart.

So this is how it feels to sit in Father Emperor's position. I wonder how Father Emperor would solve it. Should he make them kneel all the time?

If Lao Fang encountered such a thing, what would he do? He would probably start cursing directly.

Hiss... a pool should be built outside the main hall. Whoever wants to kneel can kneel in the pool! Then, ridicule them from the side.

Thinking about it, Li Yuanzhao began to wander off, and the voices in his ears began to become unreal...

Emperor Jing tilted his head, looking at his calm and composed appearance, and a satisfied smile couldn't help but appear on the corner of his mouth.

Very good, this kind of situation is all too common. The Crown Prince has indeed matured a lot and already possesses the qualities of an excellent superior who is not surprised by favor or disgrace.

"This minister knows that His Highness the Crown Prince has a close relationship with Fang Zheng Yi, but such important national matters must not be swayed by personal feelings!"

"Now that His Majesty is bedridden, we hope that Your Highness will bravely take on the heavy responsibility and make decisive decisions!"

"Why is Your Highness laughing! ! ! ?"

Seeing that the situation had begun to become intense, Emperor Jing sighed softly and slowly stood up......