Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The officials pondered, involuntarily beginning to complete the poem.

Afterward, they all felt that their own additions were quite good!

Once the last two lines are filled in, wouldn't this work become mine? Makes sense!

Even Emperor Jing was the same.

No one felt like they were adding a dog's tail to a sable coat... After all, human nature is like that...

Fang Zheng looked at the officials nodding slightly, and nodded in satisfaction.

In his smugness, he saw Li Yuanzhao grinning and giving him a thumbs up. Fang Zheng returned a big smile.

It felt a bit like they were conspiring together.

The officials had been nodding and pondering for quite some time, and when they looked at Fang Zheng again, their expressions had changed.

They didn't expect this kid to actually have something... He wasn't completely talking nonsense...

Emperor Jing was beaming, seemingly very satisfied with his "work."

"Fang Qing is right, this incompleteness does indeed have a beauty to it, but...朕 still hopes to see you create a complete masterpiece in the future!"

Fang Zheng urgently searched his mind, and the first thing that popped up was 'Goose, goose, goose...' and then there was nothing else.

He could only laugh awkwardly twice: "臣, will try... will try..."

Then, Emperor Jing tapped the imperial desk twice: "Alright, gentlemen, let's end the small talk here. If there's anything to report, speak up!"

As soon as Emperor Jing finished speaking, Zhang Shi, who had been silent in the crowd, immediately stepped forward.

He said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, 臣 has a memorial to present. 臣 wants to impeach Fang Zheng, for publicly gathering a crowd to beat commoners, which is a disgrace to the court's dignity!"

"Fang Zheng, as the Junior Preceptor, is acting so vilely, which will inevitably affect the太子. Please, Your Majesty, severely punish him!"

Everyone present was not surprised, because besides the popularity of the "Yu Lin Ling" poem, the other matter was that Fang Zheng had beaten Zhang Shi's son.

It was just that no one had expected that Zhang Shi would choose this moment to step forward and impeach Fang Zheng, and even do it himself. Now, His Majesty clearly has a very favorable attitude towards Fang Zheng... It's really unwise!

Zhang Shi only received the news more than a day later, and was immediately furious. He rushed into the house and gave Zhang Chang another beating.

Being bullied by others is not scary! But Zhang Shi couldn't accept that his own son was bullied and didn't even dare to speak up!

After receiving another beating, Zhang Chang stammered and admitted that he had been beaten.

Zhang Shi's beating on him was pain in his heart. His own son's cowardice was also beyond his imagination...

So even if the timing to impeach Fang Zheng was wrong, he had to stand up!

Emperor Jing knowingly asked: "Fang Zheng beat someone? Who is this person? When and where? Is there any evidence?"

"Your Majesty, 臣 is ashamed to say that the person Fang Zheng beat is... my unworthy son, Zhang Chang. The time was two days ago, on a painted boat on Quzuo Lake."

"At that time, my unworthy son was attending a poetry gathering, and the scholars there can all testify!"

After speaking, Zhang Shi glared at Fang Zheng hatefully.

Fang Zheng, on the other hand, looked indifferent and shrugged.

Emperor Jing turned to Fang Zheng and said: "Fang Zheng! Is this true?"

Fang Zheng stepped forward: "臣 did indeed attend a poetry gathering two days ago, but 臣 did not beat Zhang 大人's son. It was just a minor quarrel."

"Zhang 大人.... You're trying to frame me!"

Zhang Shi was exasperated when he heard this: "Me, frame you!? Are you worthy!?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Zheng turned his head and complained: "Your Majesty! 臣 wants to impeach the Minister of Revenue, Zhang Shi, for publicly insulting a court official!"

"Fang Zheng! You are shameless!" Zhang Shi didn't expect Fang Zheng to play completely out of line, not following any rules, and his anger grew even greater.

"呐! Everyone heard it! He called me shameless, with witnesses and evidence gathered! Zhang Shi! What else do you have to say?"

Seeing his behavior, the crowd couldn't help but stifle their laughter.

The young man doesn't play by the rules!

Emperor Jing immediately scolded: "Fang Zheng! Stop making a fuss!"

"Zhang Shi! 朕 asks you, are there any witnesses?"

Zhang Shi had obviously prepared well before coming: "Your Majesty! My unworthy son and the witness are both outside the palace and can be summoned by Your Majesty at any time!"

"Good! Bring them up!"

The officials were again surprised. How could Zhang Shi, the dignified Minister of Revenue, be so angry... This is a court meeting, how can it become a trial scene! Doing so is exceeding the limits... And it's just a mere brawl.

His Majesty actually tacitly approved of it... It seems there will be a show to watch today!

Soon, Zhang Chang and a scholar-like person were brought to the court together.

The two of them bowed tremblingly, obviously seeing such a scene for the first time.

Emperor Jing didn't recognize Zhang Chang, and directly said to the two of them: "Witness! What is your identity? Did Fang Zheng fight with anyone the day before yesterday?"

The scholar said in a trembling voice: "草民 was invited to participate in the poetry gathering... Just the day before yesterday, 草民 personally saw Fang 大人 beat 公子 Zhang. There were three people at the time, and 公子 Zhang was pinned under the table... The three of them were jumping on the table...."

"Fang Zheng, is this true?"

Fang Zheng replied calmly: "Your Majesty, these are all lies. 臣 did not have any physical conflict with Zhang 大人's son that day. Presumably, this brother must have imagined it after drinking too much."

"If it were three against one, why bother with the trouble of pinning him under the table? Moreover, this kind of fighting method is too childish. 臣, disdains to use it!"

"That night, 公子 Zhang's seat was not far from 臣. I clearly saw 公子 Zhang playing 'Jenga' with someone. After drinking too much, the two of us had some quarrels, that's all!"

Emperor Jing asked in confusion: "What is 'Jenga'?"

When Zhang Chang heard the three words 'Jenga', his whole body trembled uncontrollably. Zhang Shi only thought that his son was afraid of such a big scene, and secretly gave him another kick in the butt from behind.

"This 'Jenga' is a game, played by two people. It's when two people drink wine, stacking one cup on top of another, competing to see who stacks the wine cups higher."

Emperor Jing looked towards Zhang Chang, and seeing his trembling appearance, he frowned again.

Zhang Shi is a 正二品 official, how could he have such an unbearable son? He couldn't help but raise his voice slightly: "Zhang Chang! Repeat what happened that day from beginning to end! If Fang Zheng really bullied you, 朕 will send someone to investigate and give you justice!"

At this time, Zhang Chang was terrified, being dragged to the palace by his own father.

Now he was being roasted on the fire, with his own father on one side and his own face on the other. Which one should he protect?!

If he didn't admit to being beaten, wouldn't his father's face be completely lost?

If he admitted it, then he wouldn't be able to live as a person! If I can't live as a person, my father will still lose face!

After weighing it, Zhang Chang hardened his heart: "Your Majesty, 臣 did indeed... play... 'Jen...ga'. Fang Zheng didn't hit me."

After saying this, Zhang Chang withered as if his bones had been pulled out.

Zhang Shi widened his eyes, stretched out a hand, and pointed at Zhang Chang tremblingly. He simply couldn't believe his ears.

Clearly, the news had spread everywhere... This rebellious son still didn't dare to admit it!

No... No, that's not right!

Suddenly, Zhang Shi's red eyes looked fiercely at Fang Zheng.

It must be that he had seized his son's weakness, otherwise there would be no other explanation....

Fang Zheng was still calm and unconcerned, but his eyes were casually looking at the scholar who was shaking like a sieve.

And Li Yuanzhao, who was sitting in the hall, was grinning from ear to ear.

Emperor Jing sized up everyone's expressions and said: "Zhang Qing, since the aggrieved party himself has denied the matter, do you have anything else to say?"

"臣... has nothing to say, please punish 朕..." At this moment, Zhang Shi seemed to be ten years older, and his heart was breaking.

Rebellious son! Why couldn't you say anything at home, and still have to cover it up......

"Good! Falsely accusing a minister without cause..."

"Your Majesty, 臣 has something to say!" Fang Zheng interrupted Emperor Jing.

"Fang Qing, please speak."

"Since 臣 is the aggrieved party in this matter, 臣 thinks this matter should be dropped, after all, it's just a small matter, 臣 doesn't mind."

"Oh? Is that really true?" Emperor Jing cast a surprised look, this wasn't Fang Zheng's style, wasn't he usually vengeful?

The officials in the court, even Zhang Shi, felt very surprised... How could this Fang Zheng suddenly change his nature?

Fang Zheng said sincerely: "臣 is being sincere, anyway, 臣 has been unwelcome since entering the capital, 臣 is used to it... used to it...."

Upon hearing this, many people felt a trace of guilt in their hearts.

They didn't expect this Fang Zheng to still be a person.....

The scholar looked at Fang Zheng tremblingly, with a sense of gratitude in his eyes.

Emperor Jing sighed: "Good, Fang Qing can have such a broad mind.... Then 朕 will fulfill you, and send these two out of the palace without further punishment!"

"This matter is over, no need to discuss it further!"