Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Emperor Jing's gaze remained fixed on the painting, unwilling to move even a fraction.

Beside him, Yang Yingcai's face was already covered in sweat.

As an elder statesman of the court, he naturally understood the current situation very well.

Based solely on this painting, many people had already wholeheartedly sided with Fang Zheng Yi.

The girls' school concerned abandoned infants, and the baby girl in the painting had captivated everyone's hearts. If he were to object now, he would likely be seen as lacking tact.

However, he couldn't allow Fang Zheng Yi to proceed so smoothly based on just one painting.

The hall remained silent for a long time. Finally, Yang Yingcai spoke, "Your Majesty, the baby girl in this painting is truly regrettable. From this painting, it can be seen that abandoning infants is indeed a desperate measure. However, as ministers of the court, we must consider more than just individual cases."

"If a decision of great importance is disrupted because of a single painting, it would be unwise. In my humble opinion, the court, in its compassion for the people, should find the parents of this abandoned infant and provide substantial assistance to alleviate their plight."

Emperor Jing sighed, "What Minister Yang says is reasonable. The family of the abandoned infant in the painting..."

"The family of the abandoned infant in the painting is likely impossible to find. Since the parents abandoned their daughter in the wilderness, they do not wish for anyone to know about this matter. On the other hand, they didn't directly kill her, suggesting they held onto a sliver of hope. The matter is already over, and I believe we should not send people to search for her parents again," Fang Zheng Yi interjected hastily.

"Even if the court is willing to help, there are thousands upon thousands of other families. Could the court possibly favor one over the others?"

Emperor Jing nodded slightly, regretting, "Let's drop the matter. Hang this painting in the Imperial Study!"

Fang Zheng Yi was overjoyed and pressed his advantage, "Everyone has a deep understanding of the plight of abandoned infants."

"To alleviate the current situation, in my opinion, establishing a girls' school is the best way to realize the value of women and reduce the abandonment of infants."

"Absolutely not! Commandant Fang, I don't deny the tragic situation of abandoned infants. However, the court's decisions should only consider the overall picture. You cannot use a single painting to mislead us. While a girls' school might alleviate the abandonment of infants, what if it leads to other problems among the people? You must not downplay the seriousness of the matter."

Yang Yingcai retorted urgently, but the fiery tone in his words had diminished considerably.

After all, the impact of that painting on him had been quite significant.

Fang Zheng Yi nodded, "Your Majesty, I cannot agree with what Lord Yang has said. Even the yamen, when judging cases, emphasize leniency in doubtful cases, even acquitting in doubtful cases. An obvious benefit versus a potential harm that may not even occur—how should these two be weighed? I don't think there should be too much hesitation."

"Of course, I anticipated that some people would oppose my establishment of a girls' school based on those outdated customs, so I have a second item to present to the court."

"Present it!" Emperor Jing said.

Fang Zheng Yi acknowledged with a 'Yes.' Soon, guards carried a massive wooden chest to the hall.

When the wooden chest was opened, it revealed letters filling it to the brim.

Everyone leaned forward to look into the chest. The letters were filled with writing, and the corners were marked with red fingerprints.

Fang Zheng Yi casually took out a stack and raised it high, "The letters in this chest are the opinions of the people of the capital regarding the establishment of a girls' school, which I ordered people to collect from among the populace."

"Each person who left a fingerprint had the pros and cons explained to them by a reporter. They were also promised that for every girl the East Suburb University admits, it will support ten abandoned infants!"

"During the visitation process, the newspaper reporters encountered many families who had abandoned infants. Some of the content here is from those people who, in recalling their past actions, regretted what they had done—words stained with tears!"

Emperor Jing picked up one of the letters and read it carefully.

This page was mass-produced, meticulously describing the girls' school and the issue of abandoned infants. At the end was a red fingerprint and a crooked name.

It seemed that the common people were illiterate, so the reporter wrote it in advance and had them imitate it.

Emperor Jing leaned over and picked up another one. This stack of letters was different from the others, not in a fixed content format.

It described the memories of the people who abandoned their infants. The content had no names, times, or locations... only endless regret and longing.

Because it was narrated by the common people, the reporter described it truthfully and simply.

But it was precisely these simple words, coupled with the occasional smudges that had spread between the words, that moved Emperor Jing.

Fang Zheng Yi craned his neck to look at the letter Emperor Jing was holding and licked his lips.

The things were all real; it was just that he had sprinkled water on the ink stains...

The other ministers each took a letter from the box to read. After reading, they once again fell into silence.

No one would suspect Fang Zheng Yi of forgery. It was impossible to fake such a large box of things.

You could find out just by asking around.

At this moment, even Yang Yingcai felt as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

He kept saying that the girls' school would affect the folk customs, but now this box of things precisely represented the will of the people.

Could he say that Fang Zheng Yi deliberately sent people to guide the people to leave their fingerprints? If he said that, His Majesty would probably be furious.

Slow down, think of a countermeasure...

While everyone was still immersed in the content, Fang Zheng Yi approached Yang Yingcai and said, "Lord Yang, I admire the first person who ate a shiitake mushroom because that might have been a poisonous mushroom."

"Some things are the same. Once they are done, they will be a career that benefits future generations!"

"Now that the greatest enemy of the Great Jing in the north has been pacified, looking at the four seas, the greatest opponent of our Great Jing is ourselves."

"The people of the world are all subjects of Your Majesty, but women face such tragedies and such injustice, yet they are delayed and unresolved due to some unfounded excuses, without any action. What responsibility is this?"

Fang Mingwei slightly raised his voice: "The court and the people are a whole. The misfortune of the people is the misfortune of the court."

"Facing those dead baby girls, for whom does the mourning music sound? It is for you, and also for me... Lord Yang, am I right?"

Yang Yingcai's cold sweat dripped down, and he remained silent.

Emperor Jing put down the letter in his hand and looked up at Fang Zheng Yi, saying with satisfaction: "To be concerned about the people when in a high position and to be concerned about one's ruler when far away from the court is indeed not just empty talk."

Fang Zheng Yi said modestly, "My life's principle is to worry about the world's worries before others and to enjoy the world's joys after others."

Good fellow, another sentence popped out? Emperor Jing's eyes lit up!

Hiss~~!

The ministers also put down the letters in their hands in surprise, and their shocked gazes focused on Fang Zheng Yi.

To be concerned about the people when in a high position, and to be concerned about one's ruler when far away from the court, to worry about the world's worries before others, and to enjoy the world's joys after others... Did he say such words?

At this moment, Fang Zheng Yi slightly raised his chin, as if he were possessed by holy light in everyone's eyes.

Opening a girls' school and saving abandoned infants is indeed a thankless task.

Moreover, it does not conflict with the interests of others in any way.

An official... a consort commandant with only an official title, how much effort and determination would it take to think about doing such a difficult thing?

Is this a whim of nonsense?

Obviously not. A painting and a box of ten thousand people's letters are enough to show that he has put in a lot of effort.

Faced with such a noble person, regardless of Fang Zheng Yi's character or political views, everyone has admiration in their hearts.

Li Yansong stroked his beard, his eyes flickering, and finally sighed: "After all, young people have drive... I'm old."

"To be concerned about the people when in a high position..." Someone seemed to be lost in thought, murmuring in a low voice.

Li Yuanzhao's breathing was rapid, and his excitement was beyond words.

Lao Fang plays so well! He actually did so much work in secret.

Fang Zheng Yi opened his mouth at the right time: "I think everyone has a scale in their hearts, and now there is already a result."

"State affairs are heavy, and this matter cannot delay everyone's discussion of other issues. I suggest a show of hands to vote! Those who support Lord Yang, raise your hands! Those who support me don't need to move."

.... No one raised their hand.

Yang Yingcai didn't even raise his own hand. A trace of grief and indignation flashed in his eyes, and he silently retreated to the side.

Lost, completely defeated. But why do those who support me have to raise their hands! Those who support you don't need to move?

Emperor Jing looked left and right, the corners of his mouth gradually rising, and pointed to Fang Zheng Yi and said: "This is my son-in-law!"

"With such a mind, how many people in the world can compare to my virtuous son-in-law! ? Tell me, who else! ! "

Listening to Emperor Jing's laughter gradually becoming rampant, the ministers all bowed and said: "We congratulate Your Majesty."

"Hahaha, alright, alright! Since this matter has been concluded, then there is no need to discuss it again from now on!"

.....