Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

“After that, I ascended the throne.”

“After ascending the throne, I did two things.”

Speaking of this, Emperor Jing actually seemed a bit pleased: “The first was to execute all the alchemists in the palace, and the second was to summon the vassal kings to the capital.”

Fang Zheng couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Reducing the power of the vassal states... He had inquired about this matter in Taoyuan County and was impressed at the time, as there were only a few emperors in history who could successfully do such a thing.

At that time, he guessed that Emperor Jing must have had military power firmly in his grasp, and the vassal kings were already powerless to resist, which is why he was able to successfully weaken them.

However, he didn't know about the execution of the alchemists.

So, he asked: “Since the elixirs seem to have some effect, why did Your Majesty still execute the alchemists?”

Emperor Jing held the teacup in his hand, seeming lost in thought: “I have always loved to drink, especially strong liquor.”

“Afterward, I thought that the effects after taking the elixir were somewhat similar to the effects after drinking alcohol.”

“But everyone knows that drinking alcohol is harmful to the body, so why should I believe that the elixir must be good?”

Emperor Jing shook his head and put down the teacup.

He sighed: “I have seen the absurd behavior of the late emperor in his later years, so I have been reflecting on myself.”

“What I am most proud of is not conquering the Qian Kingdom, but that I can suppress my own desires.”

“Throughout history, countless emperors have sought immortality, but I have never heard of anyone succeeding.”

“I am not so arrogant as to think that this opportunity will fall upon me.”

“Moreover, I am not in the mood to pursue immortality. After all... I only have this one son.”

Fang Zheng was a little dumbfounded after hearing this.

The emperor's thinking... is a bit peculiar! How is it so different from my own understanding?

Good heavens, his logical thinking is quite rigorous; he could directly go to work at the Taoyuan County Research Institute.

However, Emperor Jing was being sincere in saying these words to him, indicating that he didn't see him as an outsider.

But in the end, it was all for the sake of the crown prince.

It's rare to encounter an emperor with such rich emotions.

However, the reappearance of the name Prince Wu did cause a sense of inexplicable vigilance in Fang Zheng's heart.

Currently, he still didn't have the slightest understanding of Prince Wu, and he didn't know how the spies he sent out were doing.

“I am a little tired; I will go back and rest for a while.”

Fang Zheng immediately said: “Your subject has prepared a residence for Your Majesty! Follow me!”

Soon, the three of them made their way to the Wind and Flowers Club.

Emperor Jing looked up at the Wind and Flowers Club's signboard and asked in confusion: “What is a club?”

“A meeting! A place for meetings! Your Majesty, rest assured, there is accommodation inside; everything has been arranged!”

“Your subject has also sent people to guard outside.”

The place had been rearranged; everyone from the Wind and Flowers Club except for the maids had been given a holiday.

After all, it was the emperor arranging accommodation for the emperor; there was no place more suitable than this.

Moreover, taking the big boss to a club, there's nothing wrong with that!

Fang Zheng even thought about arranging a situational drama for Emperor Jing.

After thinking about it, he gave up on the idea; what if things went wrong? His head was important!

Upon entering the club, Emperor Jing glanced around with a bland reaction.

Even Guo Tianyang was the same.

Fang Zheng felt a little puzzled; it shouldn't be like this. Shouldn't they be reacting to the stunning decor he personally designed?

However, he quickly realized that these two were in the palace all year round; they were true upper class, and their aesthetics were online!

This style of decoration, neither Chinese nor Western, could only fool ordinary people.

In the eyes of the emperor and his personal grand eunuch, it was obviously not enough...

Although the decoration wasn't high-end, Emperor Jing wasn't a pretentious person. He followed Fang Zheng into the arranged room.

Guo Tianyang went out to return to the imperial carriage to get some things that the Emperor would use, but Fang Zheng grabbed his sleeve.

“Brother Guo, wait a moment!”

Guo Tianyang asked with a puzzled face: “What's wrong? This old one still needs to fetch some things that His Majesty needs to use.”

Fang Zheng leaned close to Guo Tianyang and said in a low voice: “Brother Guo, do you know Prince Wu?”

Guo Tianyang frowned: “Hiss! You brat really doesn't know how to die; inquire less about the royal family's affairs!”

“Hey, Brother Guo, Brother Guo, don't go.”

Saying that, Fang Zheng took out a silver note and stuffed it into Guo Tianyang's sleeve.

He said with a smile: “Prince Wu has been cooperating with me to sell wine; I'll go to visit him when I return to the capital, so I can be prepared! Just tell me a little bit about him!”

Guo Tianyang said with a helpless face: “Alright! What do you want to ask?”

“Just tell me anything. Does this Prince Wu like elixirs? I'll get some and send him two!”

Is it appropriate for you to say such things so blatantly?

Guo Tianyang said with a conflicted face: “Alas... Prince Wu is just a leisurely prince; there's nothing special about him.”

“He's not interested in elixirs or anything like that, but... Prince Wu is a bit like you in some ways!”

Fang Zheng's eyes lit up: “Oh? What do you mean by that?”

Guo Tianyang tried hard to recall, and then said: “It seems that he has liked to study some strange and ingenious things since he was a child, a bit like those things in your Taoyuan County, but not as exquisite.”

Fang Zheng smiled upon hearing this: “Oh! Interesting. Then Prince Wu should be very popular in the palace; how come no one has mentioned him?”

Guo Tianyang opened his mouth wide and looked at Fang Zheng in disbelief.

You... do you think you are very popular?

Guo Tianyang smiled bitterly, perhaps his face was too thin....

“Brother Guo, please continue.”

Guo Tianyang slowly shook his head: “No, Prince Wu is not only unpopular, but he has also been disliked by the late emperor since he was a child. The late emperor believed that Prince Wu indulged in play, and all of Prince Wu's creations were destroyed by the late emperor.”

“Later, Prince Wu went to his fiefdom. It is said that when the late emperor fell ill, he brought in many alchemists to refine pills for the late emperor, and their relationship eased a lot.....”

Guo Tianyang was saying with relish, and suddenly realized that he had said a little too much.

He said nervously: “You must not let others know that I told you this!”

Fang Zheng rolled his eyes: “Brother Guo, there's no need, right? It's not a secret.”

“It's indeed not a secret, but after all, it's His Majesty's family affair, so talk less about it!”

“Got it, Brother Guo, you can go and be busy.”

After dismissing Guo Tianyang, Fang Zheng walked back to his room and began to space out.

He still didn't have too many clues about Prince Wu, but this person always gave him an unusually mysterious feeling.

But poisoning his own father didn't sound very smart.

Fang Zheng thought for a while but couldn't come up with anything.

He turned around and went out to find Li Yuanzhao.

After asking around, he learned that Li Yuanzhao had actually run to the pleasure boat to hide.

Fang Zheng pushed the door open and saw Li Yuanzhao kneeling on the ground, holding a saw in his hand, not knowing what he was sawing.

But the table next to him had already been sawed in half.

Fang Zheng asked with a puzzled face, walked to him, and patted him on the shoulder: “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

“Ah!” Li Yuanzhao shuddered and quickly turned around.

Seeing that it was only Fang Zheng, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lao Fang, why are you here? Where's Father Emperor?”

“His Majesty has gone to rest.”

Looking at the mess on the ground, in addition to the sawdust, there were also pieces of small wooden boards.

Fang Zheng asked curiously: “This is.......”

“Lao Fang, don't let anyone come into the room, help me keep watch outside.”

“I'm making protective gear!”