Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Zhang Laoliu knelt on the ground, weeping and wailing, and as he heard the voices around him growing louder, he cried even harder.

Then, suddenly hearing the cheers of the people, he quickly raised his head.

He saw Fang Zheng Yi already seated behind the official desk. Zhang Laoliu's face lit up with joy, and he quickly lowered his head, continuing to weep and wail, saying:

"Your Honor! I have been wronged! I, a humble commoner, want to sue the county... the county yamen..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fang Zheng Yi's nose was almost crooked with anger.

Sue the county yamen? You really think you're something!

I haven't disciplined you unruly commoners for a few days, and now you dare to shit on this young master's head?

He slammed the gavel forcefully: "Silence! Who dares to accuse this official in court!"

The onlookers burst into laughter.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The gavel was struck several times in succession.

"Silence! Silence! Anyone who makes noise again will be dragged in and given ten strokes of the rod!"

The entire place fell silent, and some of the children watching were silenced by their parents covering their mouths.

Emperor Jing frowned as he watched this farcical scene, his heart filled with disappointment.

Is this the magistrate of Taoyuan County? He looks like a corrupt official! He can't stand properly, he can't sit properly!

And he looks like he hasn't woken up yet. How can such a person have such high prestige!

Guo Tianyang leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Your Majesty, look at this person, he is simply tyrannical and unreasonable."

"Shut up! Keep watching!"

Zhang Laoliu knelt on the spot, stammering: "I am Zhang Laoliu, I am not accusing you, I want to accuse Lu Fa, the constable of the county yamen!"

Fang Zheng Yi's old face flushed red: "Alright, alright! Don't take such a big breath next time you speak."

"Speak! What do you accuse Lu Fa of?"

"Reporting to you, sir, I opened a restaurant in the north of the city. Lu Fa has repeatedly eaten without paying, and he even smashed two jars of my good wine. The mediator has looked for him several times, but he still won't pay!"

"He owes a total of seventeen taels and two qian of silver! He has not paid to this day, and I had no choice but to trouble you, sir."

Fang Zheng Yi's expression softened. Such a trivial matter was nothing as long as it didn't involve a murder case.

The person standing next to Zhang Laoliu was Lu Fa, whom Fang Zheng Yi of course recognized.

So he said sternly: "Lu Fa! Is it true that you owe money and have not paid it back?!"

Seeing Fang Zheng Yi angry, Lu Fa knew that hiding it was useless, so he knelt down on the ground with a thud and cried: "Your Honor! I really have no money, and I smashed Zhang Laoliu's wine because I was drunk and in a bad mood that day."

"It's not that I'm deliberately avoiding him, I still owe the gambling den ten taels of silver."

Fang Zheng Yi was truly enraged upon hearing this, and he sneered: "What a Lu Fa, you should be called Ru Fa! This official has repeatedly ordered that people from the government are not allowed to enter gambling dens, and are not allowed to harass the people, but you haven't listened to a single word."

"Guards! Give him twenty strokes of the rod first!"

Before the guards on both sides could step forward, Lu Fa gritted his teeth, then grabbed his clothes and bit them in his mouth, obediently lying on the ground.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! ......."

After twenty strokes of the rod, Lu Fa's buttocks were already a bloody mess.

He weakly said: "Your Honor, I know I was wrong."

Emperor Jing looked at this scene in surprise.

The magistrate's prestige was clearly extremely high! The defendant did not have the slightest intention of resisting.

Moreover, the laws were clear and strict, and this was the first time he had seen a case judged like this!

Guo Tianyang was also puzzled by what he saw. It was rare to see his own children and grandchildren as obedient as this, and this magistrate really had some ability. He had to learn from him!

Seeing that the punishment was over, Fang Zheng Yi said calmly: "Considering that this is your first offense, your salary for this month will be halved, and you will sweep the streets for three months before coming back!"

"If you commit another offense, you will be expelled from Taoyuan County!"

Lu Fa's pale lips revealed a smile: "Thank you, Your Honor, for your leniency."

"Guards! Send him to the medical center!"

Seeing his miserable state, Zhang Laoliu felt a little scared.

Although they had fallen out, Taoyuan County was only so big, and they could be considered half-neighbors.

It shouldn't be like this! He was beaten so badly, but the key was that he hadn't gotten his money back!

So he hesitated and said: "Your Honor... my money....."

Fang Zheng Yi spread his hands, feigning helplessness: "You saw it, he has no money."

"Ah?" Zhang Laoliu was dumbfounded.

He had offended someone, and he hadn't gotten his money back. This was a big loss!

Zhang Laoliu's heart was broken, and he began to put on an appearance as if his own father had died.

Fang Zheng Yi narrowed his eyes and sighed: "However, this official cannot let good people suffer."

"In that case, what is the name of your restaurant? Tonight, I will go to your restaurant and punish myself with three cups of wine, that's it, court adjourned!"

"It's called Laoliu Restaurant!" Zhang Laoliu was overjoyed, and kowtowed three times: "Thank you, Your Honor! Thank you, Your Honor!"

After speaking, he ran out of the hall as if he were flying.

"Wei~~ Wu~~"

Before leaving, Fang Zheng Yi glanced at Emperor Jing and the other outside the hall.

Although there were many people in Taoyuan County, he had basically become familiar with their faces over the years.

The previous merchants had already established fixed channels and personnel, and there were basically no new people coming to Taoyuan County, so these two people were undoubtedly new merchants from other places.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Emperor Jing and Guo Tianyang stood in place, completely dumbfounded.

Is that it? What's the situation? They didn't understand! There was no rhyme or reason to the way this case was judged, were the people of Taoyuan County all abnormal!

Guo Tianyang pondered for a long time without a clue, and wondered: "Your Majesty, why do I feel that there is something strange about this place!"

"Why don't we be frank and ask that magistrate directly?"

Emperor Jing lowered his head and thought: "Don't rush, let's take another look. Didn't he say he was going to Laoliu Restaurant for a drink tonight? Let's go too!"

.....

The two left the yamen and wandered around the streets for a long time.

Seeing many things, Emperor Jing was afraid of missing anything, so he ordered Guo Tianyang to take out paper and pen and record them along the way.

Unknowingly, the time had already reached You Shi (5-7 PM).

The two of them happened to walk to the north of the city and began to inquire about Laoliu Restaurant.

After being pointed out by passers-by, they found it without much effort.

It was not yet time for customers, but there were already many people in front of Laoliu Restaurant, and there were clearly more than other shops.

Emperor Jing looked up and was speechless.

A huge red banner was hanging on the second floor of the restaurant.

[Welcome County Magistrate to Our Restaurant to Taste Our New Dish: Angelica Stewed Chicken!]

"I see, this magistrate is helping Zhang Laoliu attract business."

As smart as Emperor Jing was, he quickly reacted.

But Guo Tianyang began to whisper in his ear again: "Your Majesty, this person's behavior is improper, how can officials and merchants collude together!"

Emperor Jing also felt that it was inappropriate.

It was really improper and violated etiquette for the government to be involved with private merchants.

"Let's go, let's go in and take a look first."

At this moment, Fang Zheng Yi had not yet arrived.

The two went directly to the second floor, found a seat near the stairs, ordered two servings of wine and dishes, and sat down quietly.

Not long after, a noisy sound came from downstairs.

Fang Zheng Yi, surrounded by Zhang Biao, Xiao Tao, and others, walked leisurely up to the second floor, and at a glance, he spotted Emperor Jing sitting at the entrance of the stairs.

Then he walked past the two of them and sat down at the central table.

Zhang Laoliu said eagerly: "County Magistrate, the wine and dishes have been prepared for you, would you like them now?"

.......