Royal Gold Magistrate - Chapter 68

All the officials pondered, unconsciously starting to fill in the rest of the poem.

Then they all felt their own additions were quite excellent!

After adding those last two lines, wouldn’t this work now be theirs? It made sense!

Even Emperor Jing felt the same.

Not a single person felt they were doing a shoddy job continuing someone else’s work… after all, human nature was like this…

Fang Zheng looked at the officials nodding and shaking their heads, nodding in satisfaction himself.

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

It gave quite the impression of partners in crime.

The officials had about finished nodding, shaking their heads and pondering. When they looked at Fang Zheng again, their gazes had changed.

Unexpectedly, this kid really had some skill… it wasn’t all complete nonsense…

Emperor Jing was all smiles, seeming quite pleased with his own “work”.

“Fang Zheng makes a good point. This incompleteness does have its own beauty. However… I still hope to see you produce a complete masterpiece in the future!”

Fang Zheng hurriedly searched his mind. The first thing that popped up was the nursery rhyme “Goose, goose, goose”… and that was it.

He could only give an embarrassed laugh. “Your subject will… will do his best…”

Just as Emperor Jing finished speaking, he lightly tapped the imperial desk. “Alright, beloved officials, enough with the idle chatter. If there are matters to report, speak!”

The moment Emperor Jing’s words fell, Zhang Shi, who had been silently standing in the crowd, immediately stepped forward.

In a heavy voice, he said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has a memorial to present. Your subject impeaches Fang Zheng for publicly gathering a mob to assault commoners, disgracing the dignity of the imperial court!”

“Fang Zheng, as the Junior Grand Tutor, engages in such despicable acts, inevitably influencing the crown prince. Please, Your Majesty, you must severely punish him!”

No one present was surprised, because besides that poem “Rain-soaked Bell” becoming popular, the other big news was Fang Zheng beating up Zhang Shi’s son.

It’s just that no one expected Zhang Shi to choose this timing to step out and impeach Fang Zheng, and even doing it personally when His Majesty clearly had a very favorable attitude towards Fang Zheng… it was truly unwise!

Zhang Shi had only gotten the news after more than a day, instantly exploding with rage and charging into the room to give Zhang Chang another beating.

Getting bullied wasn’t scary! But his own son getting bullied and not even daring to speak up, Zhang Shi couldn’t accept it!

Zhang Chang endured another round of a severe beating before haltingly admitting he was hit.

Zhang Shi’s strikes landed on Zhang Chang’s body but the pain was in his own heart. For his own son to be so cowardly was beyond his imagination…

So even if the timing to impeach Fang Zheng now wasn’t right, he had no choice but to step forward!

Emperor Jing asked knowingly, “Fang Zheng assaulted someone? Who was this person? When, where, and is there evidence?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s truly shameful. The one Fang Zheng beat was… my unfilial son Zhang Chang. It happened two days ago on a pleasure boat on Quzuo Lake.”

“At that time, my unfilial son was attending a poetry gathering. All the scholars present can testify!”

After speaking, Zhang Shi looked at Fang Zheng with a hate-filled gaze.

Fang Zheng just appeared completely nonchalant, shrugging his shoulders.

Emperor Jing turned to Fang Zheng. “Fang Zheng! Is this true?”

Fang Zheng stepped forward. “Your subject did indeed attend a poetry gathering two days ago, but did not beat Minister Zhang’s son, merely had some verbal disagreements.”

“Minister Zhang… you’re trying to frame me!”

Hearing this, Zhang Shi raged, “Frame you!? You’re worthy of that!?”

The moment his voice fell, Fang Zheng immediately tattled, “Your Majesty! Your subject impeaches Minister of Revenue Zhang Shi for publicly insulting an imperial official!”

“Fang Zheng! You have no shame!” Zhang Shi never imagined Fang Zheng would completely ignore the rules and play so dirty, instantly getting even more furious.

“Hey! Everyone heard that! He cursed me for having no shame. The evidence from people and objects is conclusive! Zhang Shi! What else do you have to say?”

Hearing this, people in the crowd couldn’t help restraining laughter.

This youngster has no dignity!

Emperor Jing immediately rebuked, “Fang Zheng! Don’t act up!”

“Zhang Shi! I ask you, are there witnesses?”

Zhang Shi had obviously made ample preparations before coming. “Reporting to Your Majesty! My unfilial son and the witnesses are all present. They are waiting outside the palace and can be summoned at Your Majesty’s order at any time!”

“Good! Bring them in!”

The officials were once again surprised. Zhang Shi, a dignified Minister of Revenue, was actually so enraged… How could a morning court session turn into a trial? Doing this overstepped propriety… and it was just a mere brawl.

His Majesty actually permitted it… Seems there will be a good show today!

Soon, Zhang Chang and a scholar-looking man were brought into the court together.

The two trembled as they knelt down, clearly experiencing this kind of scene for the first time.

Emperor Jing didn’t recognize Zhang Chang and directly asked the two, “Witness! What is your identity? Did Fang Zheng get into a fight with someone the day before yesterday?”

The scholar said in a quavering voice, “This commoner was invited to attend a poetry gathering… Just the day before yesterday, this commoner personally witnessed Lord Fang beating Young Master Zhang. There were a total of three people at the time. Young Master Zhang was pressed under the table by them… The three were jumping on the table…”

“Fang Zheng, is this true?”

Fang Zheng calmly replied, “Your Majesty, these are all lies. Your subject absolutely did not have any physical altercation with Young Master Zhang that day. This gentleman must have imagined it while drunk.”

“If it was three against one, what need would there be for something as troublesome as pressing him under a table? Furthermore, this childish method of fighting is beneath your subject’s dignity to use!”

“That night, Young Master Zhang’s seat wasn’t far from your subject’s. I clearly saw Young Master Zhang playing a stacking game with someone. After getting drunk, the two of us merely had some verbal disagreements, that is all!”

Emperor Jing asked in puzzlement, “What is a stacking game?”

Hearing the words “stacking game”, Zhang Chang trembled uncontrollably. Zhang Shi merely thought his son was scared after experiencing such a grand occasion and discreetly gave him another kick in the rear.

“This stacking game is a type of drinking game played by two people. The two drink wine and for each cup, stack the cup. They compete to see who can stack their wine cups higher.” Fang Zheng made up a game on the spot.

Emperor Jing looked towards Zhang Chang, seeing him tremble in fear. His brows furrowed again.

Zhang Shi was a high-ranking second-rank official, but his son was unexpectedly so pathetic. He couldn’t help raising his volume. “Zhang Chang! Recount everything that happened that day one more time! If Fang Zheng truly bullied you, I will have someone investigate and give you justice!”

At this time, Zhang Chang’s heart and guts had turned to ice, forcibly dragged to the palace by his own father.

Now it was like he was being roasted over a fire. On one side was his own father, on the other was his own face. Which one should he protect?!

If he didn’t admit to being beaten, wouldn’t his father lose all face?

If he admitted it, he himself wouldn’t be able to show his face anymore! If I can’t show my face, my father still loses face!

After weighing the options, Zhang Chang made up his mind. “Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject was indeed… playing… the stacking game that day. Fang Zheng didn’t hit me.”

After saying this, Zhang Chang seemed to deflate as if his bones had been pulled out.

Zhang Shi’s eyes bulged, one hand trembling as he pointed at Zhang Chang. He simply couldn’t believe his ears.

The rumors had already spread everywhere… but this unfilial son didn’t even dare admit it!

No… not right!

Suddenly, Zhang Shi’s bloodshot eyes fiercely turned to Fang Zheng.

He must have something on my son, otherwise there’s no other explanation…

Fang Zheng remained calm and unperturbed, eyes lazily glancing at the scholar trembling like a sieve.

Meanwhile, Li Yuanzhao sitting in his seat had a grin nearly splitting his face.

Emperor Jing surveyed everyone’s expressions. “Minister Zhang, since even the victim himself denies it happened, do you have anything else to say?”

“Your subject… your subject can explain no further. I am willing to accept any punishment from Your Majesty…” In this instant, Zhang Shi seemed to age ten years, his heart shattered.

Unfilial son ah! Whatever you have to say, can’t you say it at home? Why hide and evade…

“Good! Slandering an official for no reason…”

“Your Majesty, your subject has something to say!” Fang Zheng interrupted Emperor Jing.

“Speak, Fang Zheng.”

“Since your subject is the real victim in this matter, I think we can just let it go. After all, it’s a small thing. Your subject doesn’t mind.”

“Oh? Do you truly mean that?” Emperor Jing looked at him in surprise. This wasn’t Fang Zheng’s style ah, aren’t you usually one to remember every grievance?

The officials in the court, even Zhang Shi felt it was quite unexpected… How did this Fang Zheng suddenly have a change of heart?

Fang Zheng said sincerely, “Your subject is being completely genuine. Ever since entering the capital, your subject has been disliked by people anyway, so I’ve grown accustomed to it…”

At these words, quite a few people actually felt a hint of guilt.

Turns out this Fang Zheng was still human after all…

The scholar looked at Fang Zheng, trembling, eyes filling with gratitude.

Emperor Jing sighed, “Very good, Fang Zheng has such magnanimity… Then I will grant your wish and send these two out of the palace without further punishment!”

“This matter is concluded, no need to bring it up again!”