Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The ministers glanced sideways, many unable to see the front from behind the giant board, filled with curiosity, some itching to move.

Li Yuanzhao strained his neck, trying hard to see forward.

Emperor Jing had been watching Fang Zheng Yi and Yang Yingcai debate with a calm demeanor.

However, seeing the unusual expression on Fang Zheng Yi's face, he also became serious.

"What is this? Reveal it as soon as possible."

Fang Zheng Yi slowly said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this object is a painting. The scene depicted in this painting is something that truly happened."

"I found the top ten painters to jointly create it, spending a great deal of effort and resources, just to restore the scene as witnessed by the eyewitnesses at the time."

Yang Yingcai said impatiently, "Prefect Fang, how can a mere painting have too much to do with the girls' school and abandoned infants..."

"Everyone, please look!"

Before Yang Yingcai could finish, Fang Zheng Yi ripped off the white cloth covering the giant board, and the picture was suddenly revealed before their eyes.

A tragic scene was abruptly presented before everyone.

Emperor Jing and Li Yuanzhao simultaneously stared blankly, their bodies jolted, stunned on the spot.

The ministers felt choked, speechless with grief.

Those behind the painting board were panicked, seeing His Majesty's expression change drastically, but unaware of what the painting contained.

Yang Yingcai was already trembling, extending a finger towards the painting board, breathing heavily as he murmured, "This... this..."

What kind of painting was this?

A skinny, emaciated baby girl was lying on the wasteland, curled into a small ball, with a basket in front of her, the swaddling clothes scattered inside.

Not far away, a large, grotesque eagle was squatting, greedily staring at the frail, dying life on the ground, waiting for the "delicious meal" that was about to arrive.

《The Starving Sudan》

The tragedy of the picture, the intensity of the impact, gave people an unprecedented sense of shock.

Fang Zheng Yi silently observed everyone's reaction.

This painting was modeled after the famous photographic work of his previous life, The Starving Sudan.

The original photographic composition of the work was not particularly outstanding, but the content of the picture was shocking.

The fierce bird and the weak, emaciated child formed a strong contrast, giving people a great visual and ideological impact.

In his previous life, once this work was released, it quickly spread around the world, arousing a fierce response from all over the world.

Fang Zheng Yi's painting was even more terrifying. The original was a black child, but it was changed to a yellow-skinned person, with small wounds on their body. A red string was tied to the wrist, and a small rattle was tightly clutched in the hand, indicating the parents' love for the baby.

The vulture was enlarged in proportion, making the strong contrast even more obvious.

Coupled with the carefully painted colors, although the accuracy was far less than a photograph, it also allowed this painting to reach an almost epoch-making realm.

Originally, it was planned to be published in the newspaper, but on the day the painting was completed, two painters burst into tears on the spot, distraught.

Therefore, Fang Zheng Yi stopped the plan to reproduce the original image and print it on the newspaper.

This thing obviously had a very strong impact on the ancients. If it were printed on the newspaper, it might cause unpredictable consequences in the capital.

But now it appeared on this occasion, it was just right... Judging from everyone's reaction, it should be successful.

Although everyone present was a person who had seen great storms, they were still inevitably touched by the extremely tragic case.

Moreover, this painting style and this form were unprecedented at the moment.

Seeing that everyone was still immersed in shock, Fang Zheng Yi thought to himself.

Worthy of being me, Fang Zheng Yi, the ancestor of photography!

Emperor Jing tremblingly got up, walked down the steps step by step to the painting, and stretched out his hand to touch it.

However, when his palm landed on the baby, he slowly retracted it.

He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his emotions, and said hesitantly, "Is the content of this painting real?"

"I dare not utter half a false word!" Fang Zheng Yi said firmly.

"Is this baby still alive?" Emperor Jing was shocked.

"This painting is a scene discovered by our newspaper reporter during a field trip in the suburbs of Beijing not long ago. At that time, they wanted to step in to save her, but unfortunately, the vicious eagle thought we were going to steal its food and pounced on us, taking the baby away. I think..." Fang Zheng Yi said, clenching his fist in hatred and lowering his head.

"The newspaper reporter was greatly shocked and described it to me upon returning. Afterwards, he fell ill in bed and has not yet recovered. Based on his description, I found a painter and recreated the scene at that time."

"This is also why I am so determined to publicize the news of abandoned babies, and why I am so determined to open a girls' school."

Fang Zheng Yi undoubtedly lied, but he dared to gamble that Emperor Jing would not personally send someone to investigate.

Even if they investigated, it didn't matter, because a group of people in the newspaper had really fallen ill.

The most seriously ill was the management trainee reporter Wei Zhiyong, the quarterly 'roll king' of the newspaper, who was still lying in bed. It was said that he had worked overtime for three consecutive days without sleep, and finally collapsed in the office.

Because people in the newspaper often fell asleep halfway through their work, everyone thought he was asleep too, so no one paid attention. As a result, it was discovered that he had wet himself while sleeping before he was sent to the clinic, and he still hasn't recovered.

The others heard that there would be layoffs and watched the 'roll king' work overtime like crazy, so they also started to 'roll' themselves.

Coupled with the theme of abandoned babies, which was full of depression and negative energy, multiple factors accumulated, causing a large number of reporters to fall ill.

Xie Xian thoughtfully prepared time off for the sick reporters.

However, Fang Zheng Yi's conscience was awakened, and he finally decided to give all the reporters a raise of one or two taels of silver, along with injury and sickness subsidies, and gift condolences to compensate them.

The key focus object, management trainee reporter Wei Zhiyong, was really planned into the management trainee list because of this....

Subsequently, the entire column of reporters also arranged a brothel team building and escorted spring outings to alleviate psychological stress.

......

Emperor Jing stared at the painting intently, swallowing saliva.

Then he raised his head, his face gloomy, and said, "Come here! Let me personally take a look and see! What kind of shocking event has occurred under the feet of the Son of Heaven!"

The ministers who had been curious for a long time immediately flocked over and surrounded the painting.

At this sight, they all fell silent.

Everyone's eyes were filled with sorrow and pity. The content of the painting was as if they were on the scene.

A tragic scene was bloodily placed before their eyes.

They wanted to save her, within reach but yet out of reach.

Suddenly, a discordant voice came...

"What kind of bird is this?"

Fang Zheng Yi licked his lips.

Vultures are animals that live in high-altitude areas.

They can't be seen in Beijing at all. This thing doesn't live in crowded places, so basically no one has seen it.

Originally, he wanted to change the vulture to an eagle, but the image of the eagle seemed too heroic, affecting the atmosphere of the entire picture.

In the end, he decided to keep it as it was.

However, he had expected someone to ask, and Fang Zheng Yi had already prepared his explanation.

"This is a balding eagle."

"Eagles... can also bald?!" The person who asked was obviously shocked and muttered to himself.

This murmur attracted angry glares from the surrounding people.

Everyone was feeling sad, why did you bring up balding, why did you ask this useless question? How annoying!

It can be bald if it wants to be! The painting is so realistic, there is no difference from what you see with your own eyes, how can it be fabricated?

.......