Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The court assembly arrived as scheduled.

As Fang Zheng Yi arrived outside the Meridian Gate, an unusual scene unfolded.

In the past, he was always the one being ignored. Everyone would gather in small groups to chat, but no one wanted to hang out with Fang Zheng Yi.

Admittedly, he had made some "minor" achievements, which everyone had seen.

Everyone acknowledged that he was a capable man!

However, someone like Fang Zheng Yi, who was obsequious and acted improperly, was truly an oddity among oddities in the officialdom.

Everyone valued their reputation to some extent. Whether they were civil or military officials, they tried to avoid associating with such people.

Even if his relative was a key member of the Grand Secretariat, so what? After all, everyone was a proper scholar, a disciple of the sages, and they still had some integrity.

But now, things were different!

In the past, this scoundrel only had a mouth. He could spout nonsense about anything, but if I couldn't afford to offend him, couldn't I just avoid him?

But now, His Majesty had given him a knife! What if he brandished it and accidentally cut someone?

Everyone was well aware that he was an expert at using rumors to bring people down. But wouldn't Fang Zheng Yi also be able to use rumors? If he learned that trick, he could use rumors to cut people down!

Therefore, the stinky dog poop of the past suddenly became a sweet delicacy!

Some people stepped forward to congratulate Fang Zheng Yi.

"Congratulations, Lord Fang, on returning to the capital. After so long, Lord Fang's heroic bearing is even more impressive than before."

"Congratulations, Lord Fang, on your promotion!"

Now that he was promoted, and to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Fang Zheng Yi originally wanted to maintain a cold and serious demeanor to fit his historical image.

However, seeing a group of people who used to look down on him now coming up to greet and flatter him, the corners of his mouth gradually widened.

"I didn't expect that everyone thought so highly of me! Had I known this earlier, I shouldn't have left the capital," Fang Zheng Yi said with a face full of surprise.

The crowd secretly despised him in their hearts but still maintained their smiles and echoed his words.

As Fang Zheng Yi cupped his hands in return, he looked around, trying to see who the key monitoring targets were. Suddenly, he caught sight of Zhang Shi standing in the distance.

Zhang Shi at this moment was very different from before. He was already somewhat thin, but now he had lost even more weight.

If he took off his official robes, he would be no different from a famine victim.

The lively scene that used to surround him was gone, and instead, a blank space had appeared around him, as if he had contracted a plague.

The officials' senses were extremely sharp. Those with strong connections already knew seven or eight parts of the inside story, and those who were not very good at personnel matters also saw the clues.

Although Zhang Shi was still in court, it was clear that His Majesty had already become truly angry with him. Punishment... was only a matter of time, so naturally, they had to keep their distance from such a person.

At this moment, he was staring coldly at Fang Zheng Yi.

Fang Zheng Yi didn't take it to heart and withdrew his gaze, saying, "Thank you, everyone! Thank you, everyone. I will definitely visit your residences when I have time! The time has come, we should go."

Reminded by him, the officials came back to their senses and began to enter in order.

Inside the hall, the emperor and his ministers took their places.

Emperor Jing sat upright, and seeing Fang Zheng Yi arrive, he smiled and said, "Fang Qing, you've recovered so quickly?"

He had originally given him two days off, and he had skipped out on the Emperor for one of them. Hearing Emperor Jing teasing him, Fang Zheng Yi said with some embarrassment, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I did contract a serious illness on the road, but I managed to pull through entirely by constantly thinking of Your Majesty in my heart. Although I have not yet fully recovered, seeing Your Majesty's true face at this moment has actually invigorated me, and I feel much better!"

I'm now considered a senior executive in the company! Is it too much to take an extra day off?

The ministers silently breathed a sigh of relief.

It's still you, after all. You haven't changed a bit. Shameless words come right out of your mouth.

Emperor Jing looked at him and smiled without saying a word, "Do you gentlemen have anything to report?"

Fang Zheng Yi immediately stepped forward, took out the carefully written memorial from his sleeve, and said loudly, "I, Fang Zheng Yi, have a memorial to present. I impeach Zhang Shi, Minister of Revenue, for colluding with rebels in private."

The ministers' hearts all trembled, and they secretly thought, 'Here it comes.'

However, Zhang Shi showed no fear, and didn't even bother to refute, but just stood there with a dazed look in his eyes.

Guo Tianyang stepped forward with small steps, took the memorial, and sent it to the imperial desk.

Emperor Jing pretended to read it for a while.

The memorial that Fang Zheng Yi had submitted earlier had already mentioned it, but this one was just a bit more detailed.

After Emperor Jing finished reading, he gave Guo Tianyang a look, and Guo Tianyang stepped forward, picked up the memorial, and immediately began to read it aloud.

Fang Zheng Yi did not exaggerate, but simply stated the facts. He wrote down exactly what Prince Wu had said.

The ministers listened silently, and combined with what had happened before, expressions of understanding appeared on their faces.

When Guo Tianyang had completely finished reading, Emperor Jing looked at Zhang Shi calmly and said, "Zhang Shi, do you have anything to say?"

Zhang Shi still wanted to struggle: "I am wronged... I am loyal to the country, loyal to Your Majesty, and have never had any intention of rebelling. Your Majesty, please see clearly!"

"Do not avoid the important points. I ask you, is everything stated in the memorial true?"

Zhang Shi's whole body shook, his face full of desolation, as if his three souls and seven spirits had been drawn out. He stammered, "I... have nothing to say."

What else could he say? His house had already been surrounded by heavily armed soldiers, both overtly and covertly. The reason why the Emperor hadn't taken action must be because he lacked solid evidence.

Now that Fang Zheng Yi had returned, and clearly knew about his affairs with Prince Wu, His Majesty had become suspicious and had already made it clear that he wanted to deal with him. Would it be useful to defend himself?

Emperor Jing said faintly, "Very well, take him to the Northern Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and interrogate him thoroughly within two days. Fang Qing, the North Garrison has already set up a special prison for imperial edicts, so he is entrusted to you."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Fang Zheng Yi bowed slightly.

Afterward, the distraught Zhang Shi was taken away under the gaze of the ministers, without causing the slightest ripple in the scene.

The ministers couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

He did have contact with Prince Wu, but after all, he was the most senior veteran in the court... Falling into Fang Zheng Yi's hands, would there be a single good piece of flesh left on his body before he died?

Thinking of Fang Zheng Yi's unforgiving character, everyone silently wrote the word 'miserable' in their hearts...

When everyone came back to their senses, Emperor Jing said, "Fang Qing personally risked danger and made great contributions to the court. However, since you have already been granted the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I will bestow upon you a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, and grant you an iron certificate!"

"An iron... iron certificate? May I ask Your Majesty, is it a death-exemption iron certificate?" Fang Zheng Yi asked hesitantly.

Emperor Jing smiled and said, "Of course it is a death-exemption iron certificate, what else could it be? What, are you not satisfied?"

"Uh... no, I'm too happy, I lost my composure for a moment..."

Fang Zheng Yi lowered his head, his eyes darting around, and there was some panic in his eyes.

He didn't expect Emperor Jing to suddenly come up with such a move. Money aside, why did he have to give him a death-exemption iron certificate?

Could a living person hold that thing? That's a death note with his name written on it!

Too unlucky! No, when I get back, I have to thoroughly investigate the death rate of meritorious officials in Da Jing who have received iron certificates....

"Do you gentlemen have anything else to report?"

Hearing Emperor Jing's voice, Fang Zheng Yi calmed his mind and raised his head again: "I have something to report!"