Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

A man, appearing to be a scholar, in his late twenties or perhaps around thirty, appeared in the study.

He stood ramrod straight, his face somewhat gaunt, but his eyes were full of spirit.

“Student Li Zhi pays his respects to Marquis Jianye,” Li Zhi said, cupping his fist in greeting.

Fang Zheng Yi was eating his late-night snack, not even bothering to look up as he said, “You call yourself a magistrate, so why aren't you wearing your official robes, and why are you coming to see me at night? The gatekeeper has already told you to leave, yet you continue to pester outside the gate. This is hardly the behavior of a gentleman.”

Li Zhi stood tall, his expression calm as he said, “To be honest, student is truly acting out of desperation, which is why I have come here.”

“Actually, Marquis Jianye has met student before. I wonder if Your Lordship remembers?”

“Hmm?” Fang Zheng Yi carefully scrutinized him from head to toe, “When did we meet?”

“At Your Lordship's birthday banquet, you pointed at a deer and called it a horse. Student scolded you then.”

Fang Zheng Yi suddenly recalled, his eyes gleaming.

There was indeed such a person back then! He even led a group of people away.

Such a courageous person was truly rare.

“So it's you!” Fang Zheng Yi said, in high spirits, with a half-smile. “What, have you come specifically to apologize to me?”

Li Zhi nodded, “Indeed, student wishes to apologize. Student later learned that those who called the deer a horse that day all received some punishment, and student then thought that this might have been a scheme set up by Marquis Jianye. Originally, student found it strange that Your Lordship shouldn't be the type to form cliques for personal gain and distort the truth, but if it was a scheme to identify officials, then it would make much more sense.”

This kid's flattery skills are not bad!

Fang Zheng Yi was secretly pleased. “Not bad, not bad! You are a promising student. I accept your apology. Your demeanor back then left a deep impression on me. The court is in need of talents like you. Should I write a letter of recommendation for you?”

Li Zhi slowly shook his head: “Thank you for Your Lordship's kindness, student does not need it.”

“Hmm?” Fang Zheng Yi's interest grew even more. “Then what do you want? You can't just be here to apologize, can you?”

Li Zhi said: “Student would like to tell Your Lordship about my experiences. I wonder if Your Lordship is interested.”

“Tell away! Don't stand on ceremony.”

“Yes.” Li Zhi took a deep breath, “Student is thirty-three years old this year. My family has traditionally been scholars, and I grew up in comfortable circumstances. However, my father was often troubled by me. I was naturally mischievous and free-spirited, unconventional, and did not believe in sages or deities, nor did I understand the teachings of the Five Classics. It wasn't until my family's fortunes declined at the age of twenty-six that I was forced to take the imperial examination and become a scholar, thereby gaining an official position.”

“Uh....” Fang Zheng Yi's expression gradually turned strange.

What a child prodigy! Unwilling to study, unconventional, and forced to take the exam to become an official because his family had no money.

He says it like it's a game! Seriously!

Li Zhi was already lost in memories, continuing, “When student first entered the officialdom, I witnessed the darkness of the bureaucracy. Although a small local county cannot compare to the capital, it is even darker than the capital. Officials seeking personal gain and harming the common people are commonplace. When officials break the law, they protect each other. Once the storm passes, they continue as usual. I was unable to contend with these forces and was often plotted against.”

“Later, news from the capital continuously reached the county, and student became very interested. I began to intentionally collect newspapers from the capital. Over time, I discovered that unimaginable changes had taken place in the capital, far away in the distance. At the same time, I became increasingly unable to tolerate the behavior of the officials in the county, so I decided to abandon my official position and go to the capital to see for myself.”

“On the road to the capital, student heard and saw more and more about the actions of Marquis Jianye, raising the status of merchants, establishing girls' schools... All of this filled student with deep admiration. Although I had not met Your Lordship, in student's heart, it felt as if I had known Your Lordship for many years.”

As he spoke, Li Zhi sighed deeply, “But the first thing student heard upon arriving in the capital was about Your Lordship's birthday banquet, so student brazenly sneaked in. I didn't expect to misunderstand Your Lordship, and I was ashamed afterward.”

As he spoke with great emotion, Fang Zheng Yi became increasingly impatient.

This guy was giving him the feeling of trying to get close.

I am a modern soul, how could you feel like you've known me for years? Who gave you the courage to say such a thing?

This kid must be trying to curry favor and flatter me in a roundabout way. His level isn't low either.

Fang Zheng Yi tapped on the desk, casually saying, “And then?”

Li Zhi directly ignored his expression and continued on his own, “Then student began wandering around the capital and Taoyuan County, learning about the market conditions. Until today, student has almost spent all of my travel expenses and has no choice but to return home.”

“Someone! Give him twenty taels of silver and send him off!”

“Wait!” Li Zhi hurriedly stopped him, “Student is not here to ask for money, but to discuss important matters with Your Lordship.”

Fang Zheng Yi waved his hand to dismiss the servant who had already entered, and looked at the watch: “I'll give you ten more minutes.”

Li Zhi did not hesitate, speaking extremely quickly: “Since childhood, student has been rebellious and has never understood why the world must have male superiority over females, or why the common people must be divided into scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, with nine different ranks. In student's eyes, everyone should be equal.”

“Why should the words of sages be above everyone else? Seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is the common desire of everyone, and eating and clothing are human nature. There are too many dogmas and too many restrictions in this world. The Four Books and Five Classics are nothing more than invisible prisons.”

“Student originally thought that there would be no more changes in this world, but that was until I learned about Your Lordship. Your Lordship's actions have already changed the overall situation of the present world. Women can also pursue education, merchants do not have to be inferior to others, and corrupt officials do not dare to bully the people. Although the Great Jing is vast, this trend has not completely covered all four borders of the Great Jing.”

“But one day, the future can be reached.”

The corner of Fang Zheng Yi's eye kept twitching. This kid's words were too shocking.

Although the economy is developing rapidly now and the people's minds are much more open, no one dares to shout out such words so blatantly.

Even he doesn't dare to shout it out, he can only hint and do things in a roundabout way.

Perhaps this guy really isn't trying to get close, he really has advanced ideas and a soul that transcends the times.

“Before this, student had always thought this way.” Li Zhi said, “But later, after student's in-depth understanding and research, I discovered that there is a major hidden danger in this.”

“Too many matters are concentrated on Your Lordship alone. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is being constrained by Your Lordship, Dongjiao University is being controlled by Your Lordship, and the officialdom is also being mediated by Your Lordship. But if one day there is no Your Lordship, wouldn't these things revert back to their original state?”

“What exactly do you want to say?”

“What student wants to say is that everything cannot be tied to one person, otherwise one day it will all be destroyed.”

“Are you courting death!” Fang Zheng Yi roared angrily, slamming the table, causing the dishes and bowls on the table to overturn.

Soup and water spilled everywhere.

This kid is no longer unconventional, he is simply courting death.

Li Zhi can say whatever he wants about him, he doesn't care, but what does he mean by saying that everything cannot be tied to one person? This is directly firing at the Emperor!

It's okay to have enlightened thinking, but don't be so ahead of your time!

Li Zhi remained silent, staring at Fang Zheng Yi, waiting for a response.

Fang Zheng Yi coldly said: “I can pretend you weren't here. Leave, don't court death here.”

.....