Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Fang Zheng sat at the table, his eyes fixed on the three guards in front of him.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of people inexplicably arrived and surrounded the inn, leaving no space for even water to leak through.

Now, he was not even allowed to leave his room, nor was he allowed to meet with anyone else.

Even going out for convenience was being closely watched.

They didn't answer when he spoke, probably because they couldn't understand him.

Judging by the situation, these people were likely sent by Ali Bai.

But what exactly went wrong? This rebellious disciple had people trap him here.

Fang Zheng couldn't figure it out, even after thinking about it all night.

Did Ali Bai want to kill him? That was impossible. First of all, there was no motive. It couldn't be because he said a couple of things yesterday that Ali Bai didn't like, he wasn't a madman.

Besides, he had personally witnessed the dust explosion and would definitely not think that the Jin Kingdom had any chance of victory. Following his advice was the best option.

But why was he making such a fuss now?!

Looking at the three soldiers in front of him, Fang Zheng was completely annoyed and stood up, loudly saying, "I'm hungry! Get me something to eat, I want grilled lamb chops."

The three soldiers remained silent as before.

Fang Zheng became anxious and went straight to the door.

Three gleaming steel blades appeared before his neck.

Fang Zheng gasped, looked at the Jin soldiers expressionlessly, and then silently sat back on the bed.

At this moment, one of the Jin soldiers began speaking to the other two in a string of gibberish, then turned and left.

About an hour later, Ali Bai appeared in the room.

Fang Zheng sat on the bed and looked up at him: "Disciple, you're finally willing to see your teacher. What's going on here? You should give me an explanation, right?"

Ali Bai smiled and said, "I'm really sorry, teacher. I was busy giving speeches to the people on the streets today, so I only had time to come now. I should have come earlier."

"You all go out!"

At Ali Bai's command, the Jin soldiers walked out of the room. He continued, "Teacher, I really didn't mean anything by this. After I went back yesterday, I thought about it. I realized that I've been busy with the people's affairs recently and haven't had much time to ask for your guidance. That's why I sent people to notify you to stay at the inn, so I could find you when I had time to talk, in case I couldn't find you. Who knew these stupid servants..."

"Don't pretend with your teacher, I can see everything clearly." Fang Zheng interrupted him, sneering, "Even the dumbest servants should be able to tell good words from bad. You want to talk to me? I think you just want to lock me up!"

As Fang Zheng spoke, anger rose in his heart. He slammed the table: "Do you also want to find a dark place to detain me for a few days?"

Ali Bai stepped forward, poured a cup of tea, and respectfully presented it to Fang Zheng, saying, "Teacher, what are you talking about? It's really a misunderstanding. What's my attitude towards you? Don't you know? I really just wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."

Fang Zheng took the tea and said blandly, "Then speak."

Ali Bai nodded and said softly, "Teacher, I thought about it carefully yesterday. I owe my success today entirely to you. Your knowledge is as deep as the sea, inexhaustible. But when I think about you returning to the Jing Kingdom, I feel empty inside. So, could you please stay and assist me?"

"Teacher, don't worry. As I said before, I will treat you with the respect of an imperial teacher. Even Phagpa's position is far inferior to yours! Anything I can give, I will grant."

Fang Zheng looked at him in surprise: "Just for this?"

"Of course, in my heart, you alone are worth more than a thousand troops!"

Fang Zheng's expression softened slightly, and he shook his head: "No, I was born a Jing Kingdom person and will die a Jing Kingdom ghost. My family and children are all in the Great Jing, how can I work in the Jin Kingdom?"

"Furthermore, the Fang family has a family motto that future generations should be patriotic and fear the country. The Jin Kingdom is not a stage for me to display my talents."

"Besides, you are my personal disciple. If you want to learn from me, we can correspond by letter. Why do you have to keep me here? Moreover, my father doesn't want me to!"

Father?

The word popped out, and Ali Bai was momentarily dazed before he reacted.

He was talking about Emperor Li Che of the Jing Kingdom!

Calling him father so smoothly... I thought he was talking about his real father.

Ali Bai's expression was calm, and he lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Fang Zheng was not in a hurry and drank his tea.

This kid definitely has a problem! But for now, it seems that both the delegation and he are safe.

After a while, Ali Bai raised his head and asked, "Teacher, can the emperor's eyes be rubbed with sand?"

What a stupid question?

Fang Zheng curled his lips and said, "Of course not, why do you ask?"

Ali Bai didn't answer, but instead asked, "Teacher, do you think I really have no chance?"

"How many times do you want to ask me? I am definitely going back to the Great Jing. Even if I don't want to go back, your eldest brother will drag me back." Fang Zheng said helplessly, "Whether I stay here or not doesn't matter at all. You already have absolute power in Pantuo City."

"Even if the war ends, I will personally help you speak to His Majesty, so that he will know you are of one mind with the Great Jing, and your throne will be absolutely secure."

"I won't let anyone down, especially not my own disciple."

"Alas... very well then." Ali Bai's expression showed some regret.

"Since teacher is leaving, then allow your disciple to do some things for you, to repay your kindness."

"Oh? How do you want to repay me?" Fang Zheng became interested.

Ali Bai's expression was strange, and he leaned close to Fang Zheng's ear and whispered, "How about, this throne... let teacher take it first."

"What did you say?"

Fang Zheng's mind buzzed, and he stiffly turned his neck.

He was met with Ali Bai's smiling face, and he slowly heard him say: "I said, let teacher be the emperor first, and disciple will take it later, which can be regarded as thanking teacher for your teachings all along."

"Moreover, I think it is better to act sooner rather than later, let's do it in the next few days. Disciple will first find someone to help you customize a dragon robe that conforms to the rites of the Great Jing, and a jade seal, so as not to be lacking in etiquette."

"In addition, since we are becoming emperor, then we must do it formally, solemnly, and lively. How about holding it under the witness of the delegation?"

Me, become emperor, wearing the Great Jing's dragon robe? And in front of the delegation?

Fang Zheng's face was unusually ugly: "What madness are you spouting? Are you trying to kill me?"

"No, no, no, teacher, how can you think of your disciple like that?" Ali Bai waved his hands repeatedly, feigning innocence.

"This is the method I came up with after much difficulty to repay teacher. What's wrong with being the emperor of the Jin Kingdom before the war ends?"

"Of course, my Jin Kingdom ministers will definitely have objections, but teacher, don't worry, I will bear the burden, you will not have any accidents."

"How many people in this world can sit on the throne? Don't you want to?"

Fang Zheng slowly shook his head, looked directly at Ali Bai, and said, word by word: "I don't want to!"

"And why do you think I will cooperate with you? If you have the ability, you can kill me, I would rather die quickly."

"Oh dear, teacher! Why are you saying such things again? How could you die?" Ali Bai pretended to be angry, "Since I have already arranged it for you, then you should accept it."

"After all, you don't want people to know that you have taken the Qian Kingdom's princess as a concubine, do you?"

......