Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The surrounding shouts continued, but Fang Zheng, seeing that they showed no sign of stopping, stretched out his right hand and pressed down in a gesture.

The clamor of the nearby crowd gradually subsided, and soon the shouting within the Chu family's residence had completely disappeared.

However, the streets were still filled with incessant yells, which echoed from afar, though it was unclear what they were so excited about.

Fang Zheng shielded his eyes with his hand, looking out, and wondered to himself.

After a moment, he turned back to Feng Heng and smiled, "Lord Feng, do you still intend to interrogate me today?"

Feng Heng met Fang Zheng's gaze, then lowered his head, trembling, and said guiltily, "This official... this official wouldn't dare."

Eunuch Wei sensed something was amiss and quickly approached Fang Zheng, glaring menacingly at Feng Heng, "Uncle Fang, has he been making things difficult for you?"

"Heh heh, not really, but that fellow beside him wasn't very polite to me."

Lord Lu was already in a daze, as if he were living a nightmare filled with terror.

Hearing Fang Zheng subtly pointing him out, he fell to his knees with a thud.

He cried out, "Lord Fang!! This student's eyes failed to recognize Mount Tai, and I failed to teach my son properly! Please, Lord Fang, punish me!! I will go back and discipline this rebellious son properly!"

As he knelt, the villagers and guards who had come with him also knelt, begging for mercy.

"Come here," Fang Zheng said with a smile, beckoning to Lord Lu.

Lord Lu walked over tremulously, his face plastered with obsequiousness, "Lord Fang... have you forgiven me?"

As he approached, Fang Zheng gently tugged at his beard and said softly, "Not so impressive anymore, eh?"

"No... no, not impressive anymore."

"Good, very good. Little Wei, slap his face for me."

Eunuch Wei grinned, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward.

Our Uncle Fang personally instructed me, so I must slap him properly. Today, this old fellow will enjoy it to the fullest!

Slap his face?

As soon as these words were uttered, bloody images flashed through Lord Lu's mind. Seeing Eunuch Wei approaching step by step,

Lord Lu gritted his teeth and said urgently, "I wouldn't trouble Lord Fang to do it!"

With that, he got up and rushed towards a pillar!

With a loud bang, he crashed headfirst into it, his face covered in blood, and several teeth fell out as he lost consciousness.

The surrounding people watched this bizarre scene with twitching faces. Too many things had happened in such a short time, their brains were overloaded, and they couldn't accept it...

Fang Zheng looked at Chu Youyi and smiled faintly.

Chu Youyi was also taken aback.

Is he... helping me vent my anger?

Eunuch Wei was stunned, still standing there.

Is that how you slap someone? No wonder he dared to provoke my Uncle Fang; he's clearly a bit touched in the head.

"Uncle Fang, should I continue slapping him? See if there are any other problems, and I'll take care of them for you."

"Hmm, well said. Brother Guo found a good son," Fang Zheng said with admiration.

Wei Xiaohong immediately beamed.

"From today onwards, I will not allow, I absolutely will not allow such impressive figures to appear in Yuding City! Do you understand? Lord Feng," Fang Zheng said casually.

Feng Heng said in a trembling voice, "Understood, Lord Fang, this official will take care of it immediately... Lord Fang, I'm actually not familiar with him..."

Ignoring his explanation, Fang Zheng's gaze swept over the Chu family members.

Wherever his gaze landed, people lowered their heads. Chu Deyun had just groggily woken up from his unconsciousness and happened to meet Fang Zheng's calm gaze, which immediately made him faint again.

Only Chu Youyi looked directly at him, her eyes filled with curiosity and doubt.

After looking around, Fang Zheng said, "Little Wei, lead the way, tell everyone else to disperse, and let's return to the yamen!"

With that, he flung his cloak and strode away.

In the crowd of onlookers, some clever fellow shouted, "Respectfully sending off the Chairman!"

With this shout, others followed suit, shouting, "Respectfully sending off the Gang Leader!" "Respectfully sending off..."

The snow-white cloak fluttered up and down, Fang Zheng's back looked extremely dashing, and his expression was dignified and solemn.

Eunuch Wei looked at his back, took a quick breath, and hurried to catch up, walking beside Fang Zheng.

Before they had left the gate, Eunuch Wei was puzzled and asked in a low voice, "Uncle Fang, what did you say? Something about the three-year term being up... I didn't understand."

Fang Zheng's old face flushed red, "I didn't say anything, you misheard."

"Ah."

.......

Inside the yamen, Fang Zheng was already sitting in the main seat, with Feng Heng and a group of people from Taoyuan County sitting below him.

Eunuch Wei served tea and nervously took out a painting from his arms, spreading it on the table in front of Fang Zheng: "Uncle Fang, this was brought by our godfather from Taoyuan County. Can I keep it for my collection?"

Fang Zheng looked at the painting on the table, his expression hardening.

"Of course, but what I like most is that picture of you eating with the Twelve Elders. Little Wei, you can leave now. I have something to discuss with Lord Feng alone. Settle down all those brothers outside, and the money will come from Lord Feng."

Gang Leader Fang and his Twelve Elders dining at a dilapidated temple, a picture later imitated by foreigners.

"Thank you, Uncle Fang, you're busy." Eunuch Wei happily put away the painting and left the public office with light steps.

Inside the public office, there were no outsiders at this moment.

No one spoke first, and the atmosphere in the room seemed a little oppressive. Feng Heng felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

After a moment, Fang Zheng asked, "Lord Feng, I am now the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In the major case of the Prince of Wu's rebellion, do you think I am qualified to handle it?"

"Worthy! Worthy! No one in the world is more qualified than Lord Fang," Feng Heng said quickly, his heart trembling.

"Then are you waiting for me to interrogate you, or are you going to confess yourself?"

Feng Heng felt his scalp tingle, and his whole body was electrified. He sat in his seat, his face filled with entanglement.

Finally, with a fierce determination, he picked up his official robe and stepped down from his seat, facing Fang Zheng with his eyes closed in pain.

He took a few deep breaths before opening his eyes and looking up.

"This official... has nothing to do with the Prince of Wu's rebellion! Please, Lord Fang, investigate thoroughly!"

"Speak."

Fang Zheng gave Xie Xian a look, and Xie Xian immediately picked up a writing brush, dipped it in ink, and prepared to write.

Feng Heng's brain was spinning rapidly as he fabricated a story: "There is a wealthy household named Zhou in the city, specializing in shipbuilding. After the Prince of Wu's rebellion, they attempted to exterminate the Zhou family. After this official sent people to investigate the extermination case, I heard that the Prince of Wu went overseas before the rebellion. Connecting the two, this official sent people to investigate in detail and discovered that the Zhou family was secretly working for the Prince of Wu. Later, after checking the household registration, it was found that four members of the Zhou family had survived. This official then sent people to arrest these four people, bringing them to justice. That's basically it."

"If you acted justly and sat upright, then what are you afraid of, and why are you trembling?" Fang Zheng looked at Feng Heng playfully.

"This official offended Lord Fang... I am terrified, hence the trembling."

Fang Zheng clapped and laughed, "Good, well said. Lord Feng is reasonable and well-founded. I don't think there are any problems. Let him sign the confession."

Xie Xian got up and placed the written confession in front of Feng Heng.

So easy to talk to?

Feng Heng was confused and looked at the confession uneasily. It would have been better if he hadn't looked, because as soon as he looked, his eyes bulged!

It was densely filled with accusations of his collusion with the Prince of Wu, almost all of which were fabricated!

However, the logic was still very coherent.

Feng Heng snatched the confession and roared, "Lord Fang, you are slandering me!!"