Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Li Yuanzhao returned to his senses, and the ministers kneeling below all wore expressions of anger.

They were chattering away enthusiastically, but it seemed the太子 (tàizǐ, Crown Prince) hadn't heard a word!

He doesn't look like a ruler! He doesn't look like a ruler!

This move was ruthless; feigning deafness and dumbness, huh? Even His Majesty hadn't done this before; he'd just end the court session directly!

The太子 is so young, yet his thoughts are so deep, and his skin is so thick?

It's all that bastard Fang Zheng Yi's fault for leading him astray!

Fine!

Li Yuanzhao felt a little embarrassed; he had spaced out quite badly just now, and truly hadn't heard a single word.

Readjusting his mindset, he said calmly, "Understood."

"What does Your Highness understand?" The ministers looked displeased.

You've been talking for so long, and all you say is 'understood'?

"Does this Palace have to tell you exactly what I'm thinking? The matters discussed today, rewrite your memorials and present them!"

Spacing out was clearly the best way to relieve pressure; Li Yuanzhao had regained his rhythm.

After all, he wasn't the main character today; he was still waiting for his Imperial Father to take the stage.

Saying anything was useless; he just had to put on a show.

Zhang Shi hadn't originally planned to step forward; since arrangements had been made below, there was no reason for him to take the lead.

But seeing that the太子 was impervious to reason, he felt a little anxious.

Zhang Shi stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, the matters discussed by the officials just now are of great importance."

"The Ministry of Revenue recently discovered that Fang Zheng Yi had been secretly communicating with rebels, and the sums involved were enormous."

"Furthermore, on the day I saw off the Northern Rong envoy, I saw the notes left behind by the Paba Guru with Chen Hong. At the time, the envoy left behind many items, and such crude methods don't seem like a forgery."

"Oh, really? Why didn't朕 (zhèn, I, used by the emperor) know about this before?"

...

...

...

Silence!

Extreme silence!

A familiar and majestic figure walked out from the side, step by step, confidently approaching the dragon throne.

Then, he slowly sat down.

The ministers stared blankly as Emperor Jing's figure reappeared on the dragon throne; some immediately covered their mouths, their eyes wide with shock.

Some had red eyes, seemingly on the verge of tears.

And some... felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave!

The Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet were also shocked! Especially Li Yansong, who had personally gone to the Imperial Study to inquire, and Emperor Jing had agreed to let him visit.

The Emperor he had seen at the time was clearly weak and on the verge of death. The room was also filled with a strange smell. How long had it been, and he had become vigorous again?

During this time, he couldn't eat or sleep, fearing that something might really happen to the Emperor.

If the backbone of the country had problems, the country would be in chaos, which no one wanted to see.

"This old minister! Congratulates Your Majesty on your recovery!!"

Li Yansong slowly knelt down, secretly wiping the corner of his eye with his sleeve, and the other old ministers followed suit.

One... after another, finally everyone knelt down, shouting in unison, "Your ministers congratulate Your Majesty on your recovery!"

"朕 is late. Alright, rise, there's no need for formalities." Emperor Jing said calmly, smiling slightly, "You people are good at one thing; news of朕's affairs spreads faster than anything!"

"Now that朕's health is no longer a problem, you ministers need not worry!"

"Your... Your Majesty, what illness did you suffer from?" Zhang Shi was extremely nervous, and a strong sense of unease began to churn in his heart.

Emperor Jing didn't look at him, but faced the ministers: "Some things,朕 don't want to say, but you may not know."

"Since朕 am fine, let's just explain the situation to everyone, so you don't spread rumors in private."

"The fourth son did rebel, and may have fled overseas. The injuries on朕's body were also inflicted by him! The illness朕 suffered from was a carbuncle!"

Carbuncle? Isn't that a terminal illness!

The ministers were in an uproar, and couldn't help but start whispering.

Emperor Jing smiled slightly: "But朕 am fortunate, thanks to Fang Qing for saving朕's life! Although he is not in the capital, the penicillin produced in Peach Blossom County is a miraculous medicine for treating carbuncles!"

"With this miraculous medicine, the soldiers and people of my Great Jing will no longer be troubled by this disease, saving countless lives. This is an unprecedented achievement!"

"Fang Zheng Yi's previous contribution of offering the Prosperous Age Potato was already a great contribution to the court, and now he has offered a miraculous medicine.朕 find it difficult to give him a proper reward. What do you say?"

Zhang Shi quickly winked at the people around him.

Immediately, an official said: "Your Majesty! Lord Fang's actions are indeed a great contribution to the court, but his collusion with King Wu of the Northern Rong is also true. Why not wait until a conclusion is reached before rewarding or punishing him?"

Emperor Jing glanced at him and said calmly, "Guo Banban, bring up the memorials."

Guo Tianyang nodded and immediately brought over a stack of memorials.

Emperor Jing took the top two: "Take these two down and circulate them!"

The ministers began to circulate the memorials, and Emperor Jing slowly said, "You say that Fang Zheng Yi is colluding with enemy countries and internal rebels, but every penny he earns is presented to朕 in its entirety."

"I ask you ministers, is there anyone who can do what Fang Qing has done?"

The memorials began to be circulated at an extremely fast pace, and everyone showed shock on their faces after reading them.

Today's evidence of impeaching Fang Zheng Yi instantly became waste paper!

That dog thing! He actually acts so cautiously... He tells His Majesty everything?

Chen Hong's face was also pale.

I'm innocent! Although His Majesty has no expression, judging from today's situation, I'm afraid it won't end well... What to do? What to do?!

"Chen Hong,朕 ask you, the envoy has already left the capital, why did you fail to report the news of Fang Zheng Yi's collusion with the Northern Rong Guru? Even朕's ministers received the news earlier than朕?"

"And you, Zhang Shi, speak."

The two of them stiffened at the same time. Even though they had been in the court for many years, they were now irrefutable!

Yes! This matter happened long ago, and only now are you speaking of it, clearly trying to deal with Fang Zheng Yi while朕 was absent.

Emperor Jing looked at them playfully: "You wouldn't be trying to say that this matter is of great importance, and you wanted to wait until you had investigated it thoroughly before reporting it to朕, would you?"

Zhang Shi's forehead was dripping with cold sweat, and he couldn't speak.

"I... I..." Chen Hong was like a fish out of water, his mouth moving but unable to speak.

There was no way to explain it! He had originally wanted to report it, but that dog thing Zhang Shi!

He couldn't say that he had accepted bribes!

Emperor Jing glanced at the two of them, patted the memorials on the imperial desk, and said, "These memorials are the ones impeaching Fang Zheng Yi yesterday, and朕 have noted down each person who submitted them!"

At this point, the conversation turned, and Emperor Jing suddenly became stern: "Who gave you the courage!? To openly slander a meritorious minister of my Great Jing!!"

"Fan Er! Is this what you call the Surveillance Officials' reporting of hearsay!?"

Fan Er was trembling and didn't dare to speak, and the others who had submitted memorials were the same.

Li Yuanzhao looked at Emperor Jing with admiration.

Effortless! Effortless! Why didn't I feel anything when I saw my Imperial Father attending court before? I've seen it today!

Everyone below was like a quail; no one dared to speak now.

"A meritorious person is wandering outside, and is still being plotted against! If朕 don't punish them today, I'm afraid it will make the people of the world feel disheartened!" Emperor Jing suddenly shouted: "Guards! Drag those who impeached Fang Zheng Yi yesterday out of the hall and give them five strokes of the court staff as a minor punishment!"

"Hit them hard..."