Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Li Yuanzhao, with a solemn face, slowly walked to Yan Guoan's side.

He said in a deep voice, "Master Yan, do you have to be so critical of Lao Fang?"

Yan Guoan immediately retorted angrily, "Your Highness, be careful with your words! Fang Zheng is a court official, how can you call him Lao Fang?"

"Alright! Then I'll call him Master Fang."

".............."

Emperor Jing's eyes followed Li Yuanzhao. He didn't expect the Crown Prince to be so uncharacteristic today, even taking the initiative to speak up for Fang Zheng.

Li Yuanzhao's gaze also met Emperor Jing's.

"Father, Master Yan's words are somewhat biased. During the time Master Fang has been teaching me, my studies have never been neglected."

"If you don't believe me, I can recite it for you."

After speaking, Li Yuanzhao began to recite on his own.

"What Heaven imparts to man is called human nature; to follow our nature is called the Way; cultivation of the Way is called instruction. The Way may not be left for an instant...."

"The Way of the superior man is extensive, and yet recondite. In their simple lessons are lessons for the wise, and when you proceed to what is most profound...."

"..........".

After reciting more than twenty passages in a row, Li Yuanzhao finally stopped. Everyone listened, their hearts filled with shock.

Has the Crown Prince really changed his nature and can now concentrate on reciting books? And he recited so many in one breath without stopping!

Li Yuanzhao glanced at Fang Zheng triumphantly, The thirty articles I owed you, I recited them as I said I would, how about that?

Awesome! Fang Zheng grinned, secretly giving him a thumbs up.

As Emperor Jing listened, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "If it's just reciting by rote, you won't pass the test. Let me ask you, 'The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this. In a position of wealth and honor, he does what is proper to a position of wealth and honor; in a position of poverty and meanness, what is the explanation?'"

Li Yuanzhao answered without the slightest hesitation: "This sentence means that a superior man is content with his current position and does what he should do, without having extravagant desires."

Emperor Jing's eyes lit up, and he continued to ask several questions, which Li Yuanzhao answered one by one.

..................

Finally, after asking all the questions, Emperor Jing was overjoyed: "Did Fang Zheng teach you all of this?"

"That's right! Master Fang taught me everything!"

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng, his eyes full of gratification: "Fang Qing, you have done very well, far exceeding my expectations!"

Fang Zheng almost laughed out loud, quickly putting on a serious face: "Not at all, not at all, this is all my duty!"

Damn, the Crown Prince is a divine assist, I'll give him extra chicken legs when we get back!

Surprise also appeared in the eyes of the officials. The Crown Prince has undergone such a huge transformation today, which is really gratifying.

There is only one prince in the current dynasty, which is already a headache for everyone.

Unexpectedly, following Fang Zheng has actually changed his nature? Could it be that two stink bugs together can actually produce something fragrant? Is this the legendary extreme reversal of fortune?!

Li Yuanzhao raised his hand and continued, "Father, don't worry! I haven't finished speaking yet. The so-called reading and writing are all trivial matters, just small things, not worth mentioning."

The officials: "........."

Fang Zheng's face fell.

I mean, was it really necessary to add that sentence?

"Just now, Master Yan said that I and Master Fang beat Imperial Physician Hu. I'm afraid Father's explanation won't satisfy Master Yan."

"Then I'll be bold and say why we beat Imperial Physician Hu!"

"I won't say much about Imperial Physician Hu being a quack doctor. Just a few days ago, Imperial Physician Hu gave the princess a so-called overseas rare ginseng for nourishment. Father, do you know how much that ginseng cost?"

"You definitely can't imagine, a full two thousand taels!! But later, after inquiring with the purchasing department, I learned that the real price of this item is only two taels!"

"A thousand times the price difference! I beat him because he's a senile quack doctor."

Fang Zheng was full of praise. The Crown Prince can now make up lies without blinking an eye, he really is the Dragon's son!

Li Yuanzhao said with a serious face: "After learning about this matter, I felt that there were many shady deals in the palace's purchasing! Perhaps it's not just the Imperial Hospital, but even the Imperial Kitchen may have such exaggerated reporting."

"So I sent Liu Jin out of the palace secretly to investigate market prices."

"It's okay if I didn't investigate, but the investigation really opened my eyes!"

"Ordinary cabbage, eggs, rice, and other ingredients in the folk are at most a few coins per catty, while in the palace, the price is often several times to dozens of times higher!"

"Take eggs as an example. An egg in the palace actually costs a whopping ten taels, while an egg in the folk is at most five coins."

"Also, I once asked the Imperial Kitchen to make a pancake, and the cost actually required dozens of taels, while outside the palace, it only costs a few coins. May I ask where the price difference went?"

"Then someone here must say that the food in the palace is different from the food outside the palace. The things in the palace must be carefully selected and far surpass those in the folk."

"Is that really the case? I used my own money to purchase various ingredients in the folk, and after buying them back and comparing them with those in the palace, I found that there was no difference at all! The things made are just as unpalatable!"

"I once inquired with the Department of Internal Affairs and learned that the palace's annual expenditure on food and drink was as high as 80,000 taels last year. Calculated in this way, the actual expenditure in the palace only needs less than 8,000 taels."

"There is a difference of more than 72,000 taels in between. May I ask who got such a huge amount of silver!? I'm afraid that everyone in every link is taking bribes!"

"In addition, during the time I sent Liu Jin out of the palace, I also asked him to inquire about the living conditions of the people. How many people are struggling for a bowl of porridge and a meal? Seeing this situation, I sent all my silver out, but it was still a drop in the bucket."

"If the palace can purchase honestly and live frugally, the people would not have to live so hard! Please, Father, be aware of this!"

After these words, everyone was stunned, including Fang Zheng, who stood there blankly.

Li Yuanzhao's performance was really unexpected. I originally thought that he had squandered all the silver and taken it out to play, but I didn't expect him to give it to the people!

Although the method is a bit rough, it is really touching.

Fang Zheng felt the joy of an old father for the first time......

Emperor Jing's tiger eyes were filled with tears, his hands trembled slightly as he reached out to Li Yuanzhao, wanting to touch his face, but he still landed on his shoulder, and said in a trembling voice: "These... were all done by you alone?"

"Yes, during the few days that Master Fang was away, I wanted to find something to do myself."

Emperor Jing turned his back, secretly wiping the corners of his eyes, and turned back again with a smile in his eyes: "Good!! Good ah!"

"Look at all of you! This is my son! This is my son ah!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is wise."

The officials knelt down, and many people were overjoyed. Li Yansong and a group of Grand Secretaries couldn't help but shed tears.

The Crown Prince has really grown up! This is the word of a certain country, the appearance of a wise ruler!!

Zheng Qiao wiped away his tears, tugged at Li Yansong next to him, and whispered: "Lord Li, could it be that the Crown Prince was really taught by Fang Zheng?"

Li Yansong was excited: "There's no mistake... Besides Fang Zheng, who else is there in the Zhan Shi Fu, I didn't expect it, this old man has misjudged, great loyalty looks like treachery... great loyalty looks like treachery, good! This Fang Zheng is not bad!"

Zhang Dongxiang frowned, but he had to admit it, nodding secretly.

Emperor Jing was overjoyed and couldn't help but patted Li Yuanzhao's shoulder heavily twice.

Li Yuanzhao grimaced in pain.

"Yuanzhao, you have done very well, Guo Tianyang! Give you a month to investigate thoroughly! I want to know everything about the palace's food, clothing, housing, and transportation!"

"Fang Zheng, you have done very well! This is a great achievement, reward you with a Qilin robe!"

"Yan Guoan! Do you have anything else to say?" Emperor Jing stared closely at Yan Guoan.

At this time, Yan Guoan was trembling with fear. He had taught the Crown Prince for so many years, but Fang Zheng intercepted him. Now that everyone is watching, what else is there to say....

So he bowed down, trembling and said: "I, your minister, am ashamed and have nothing to say."

"Good! Since that's the case, I will relieve you of your position in the Zhan Shi Fu. From today onwards, there will only be one Zhan Shi in the Zhan Shi Fu, Fang Zheng! Do you have any objections?"

The officials bowed again: "Our Emperor is wise!"

Yan Guoan knelt on the ground like this, his heart as dead ashes, full of regret...

Seeing this, Fang Zheng struck while the iron was hot: "Your Majesty! Since the Crown Prince has this love for the people, please allow the Crown Prince to leave the palace at will, so as to inspect the folk."

"As the saying goes, how can one sweep the world without sweeping a house, it is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books, today the Crown Prince has seen results, now is the time to go further!"

"I will accompany you at any time! Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

Li Yuanzhao's eyes lit up and he gave a thumbs up.

Old Fang, you're awesome!

Emperor Jing was overjoyed when he heard this: "It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books, good! Well said! I allow it!"

.......................