Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Noon arrived.

Zhang Dongxiang rushed back with a worried look. It seemed he had also noticed the trickery in the examination hall seating and felt a sense of frustration.

Seeing Fang Zhengyi still slumped in his seat, motionless, he immediately roared, "Why are you still here? Why haven't you gone to supervise the examination?"

The Gongyuan was truly boring. Helping the Six Ministries find reporters didn't take half a day, and the remaining time was basically spent idling.

With the weather being hot, Fang Zhengyi felt drowsy and was taking a nap on the desk.

Fang Zhengyi raised his head, forced his eyelids open, looked at Zhang Dongxiang, and mumbled, "Didn't you tell me to stay here until the exam is over? I'm waiting for the exam to end...."

"Where are the stamps?!" Zhang Dongxiang was exasperated.

You were told to stay, so you just stay? You don't take your position seriously at all!

Fang Zhengyi propped himself up, revealing a small box on the desk.

He opened the box, revealing neat rows of small seals.

Seeing this, Zhang Dongxiang felt relieved and reached out to take it.

Just as his hand reached out, he saw Fang Zhengyi holding the box and handing it to him first.

Zhang Dongxiang felt something was wrong as soon as he took it. He pulled a piece of paper from under the box and asked suspiciously, "What is this?"

"This is today's newspaper. I asked someone to buy it. Since I'm bored anyway, you can sit down and read it slowly..." Fang Zhengyi stretched lazily and poured him a cup of cool tea.

Zhang Dongxiang didn't think much of it and unfolded the newspaper to read it carefully.

If he hadn't read it, it wouldn't have mattered, but the moment he read it, his blood pressure immediately soared to the top of his head!

The entire newspaper was filled with reports on matters related to the imperial examination, including an introduction to the examination and interviews with candidates from previous years.

Of course, the focus was on highlighting the candidates' inability to move freely and conveniently within nine days, making it easier to be in jail than here!

There were even glaring comments calling these candidates "writing articles in a cesspool!"

Countless failed candidates complained about the inhumane treatment in the examination hall, claiming that their talent could not be displayed simply because of physical reasons, otherwise, they would definitely have a place on the list!

This was simply an insult to the imperial examination, an insult to the sages, and an insult to the books of the sages!

After a long while, Zhang Dongxiang tremblingly put down the newspaper.

Trouble! It's just a normal exam... How could it have turned into this!

This old man should be supervising the exam for the last time in his life. How could something go wrong here....

Fang Zhengyi... It must be Fang Zhengyi, that rascal! Wherever this bastard goes, he stirs up trouble.

Ever since he entered the court, there hasn't been a moment of peace! Now he's even causing trouble for me!

Having identified the mastermind, Zhang Dongxiang's eyes were now filled with red blood as he looked at Fang Zhengyi.

He asked in a hoarse voice, "The Banshan Newspaper! Did you ask the reporter to write this?!"

Fang Zhengyi hurriedly waved his hand: "No! No, this... Before entering the Gongyuan, I discussed with the Crown Prince about having the Banshan Newspaper publish a special issue on the imperial examination..."

"The Crown Prince... The Crown Prince..." Zhang Dongxiang murmured, "Has this newspaper been distributed to the public?"

"Yes! Today's newspapers were all drafted yesterday. New printing houses have been built in the east, west, north, and south of the capital. As soon as the manuscript is delivered, typesetting begins and mass production begins. By this time, they should all be sold out!"

Hearing this, Zhang Dongxiang slumped back in his chair, lost in thought.

Fang Zhengyi also remained silent.

Originally, he didn't want to show him this thing, for fear of overstimulating the old man.

If reasoning could solve the problem, everything would be easier.

But if reasoning was useless, then he could only use public opinion to exert pressure.

The matter was neither big nor small.

Everyone tacitly adhered to this unspoken rule, and no one cared, just like a small tumor growing on a person's body.

Although it is usually not taken seriously, someone will scream in pain if it is touched in the examination hall.

He just wanted to be happy and help the newspaper reporters solve a problem, but now it's getting more and more troublesome.

This heavy blow... should have an effect.

Seeing that Zhang Dongxiang hadn't spoken for a long time, Fang Zhengyi took the initiative and said, "What's wrong, Third Uncle? Do you want me to distribute the stamps to the examiners now?"

"Distribute... No! Don't distribute!" Zhang Dongxiang shuddered and reacted.

Now there must be a lot of discussion outside, and countless scholars are expressing their dissatisfaction.

But these are all easy to say, after all, those people didn't participate in the imperial examination, and their emotions have long passed. Even if there is temporary outrage, it doesn't matter much.

However, this year's candidates are different!

The candidates who have just failed can't stand the stimulation at all. The newspapers from the capital will spread to the world, and countless failed candidates will feel resentment because of this, which will be troublesome, and may even cause civil unrest!

Originally, he was very happy to be able to supervise the exam, after all, at this age, it was probably the last time he would supervise the exam.

I didn't expect such a big problem to occur!

History is written with an iron brush! If there is a real accident, not to mention that it will be detrimental to the court, I am afraid that I will leave a bad name for thousands of generations!

"Fang Zhengyi! You have harmed me! How dare the Banshan Newspaper report anything! Can this be said?"

"You are using public resources for private gain!" Zhang Dongxiang said angrily.

Fang Zhengyi was immediately unhappy: "What are you talking about? Our newspaper reports everything, big and small, about people's livelihoods!"

"The imperial examination concerns the people of the world, how can it not be reported?!"

Zhang Dongxiang's forehead showed bulging veins: "Don't you have a brain! Look at what's written above!"

"Countless failed candidates have expressed their dissatisfaction with this matter, plus this year's candidates, if they cause trouble, the consequences are not something you and I can bear!"

"How will you deal with it then! Tell me!"

Fang Zhengyi "suddenly realized", his eyes suddenly straightened, and he said in a daze: "Ah!"

"I didn't expect... I really didn't expect it to be so deep inside."

"A bunch of troublemakers... Some people are just taking this opportunity to slander the court! Third Uncle, what should we do?!"

Zhang Dongxiang felt extremely annoyed, but seeing him like this, he couldn't say much.

This guy Fang Zhengyi always reports good news and not bad news at the court meeting. There is no reason to use the newspaper to cause trouble.

This situation should be an accident...

"What to do? What can I do! Now that the newspapers have been sent out, can they be taken back from the people one by one?"

"The Gongyuan in the capital is easy to solve. At worst, we can appease this group of candidates without using the stamps, but what about the other Gongyuan? It takes time for the news from the capital to spread to the local areas."

Fang Zhengyi pondered for a moment and said calmly: "Don't be afraid! This matter may not be as difficult as you think!"

"The price of paper in the world and the popularization of sweet potato planting will lead to more and more scholars sooner or later!"

"These kinds of discussions will happen sooner or later. If we find out early, we can prevent problems before they occur, which may be a good thing."

"Third Uncle, you are the chief examiner. Don't you still have the right to report directly to His Majesty in the examination hall? I think you should quickly draft a memorial and present it to His Majesty now."

"Immediately stop using the stamps, and promptly change the seats of candidates who have been treated unfairly in the examination hall."

"Also, the latrines in this Gongyuan should be repaired as soon as the exam is over, and they should be farther away from the candidates. We can't just make do with it and pretend nothing happened!"

"In this way, while the imperial examination has not yet ended and the public opinion has not yet spread, the imperial decree will be sent to the people first. At that time, wouldn't the scholars of the world be grateful? The court is watching them!"

"Wouldn't you, old man, be a great benefactor to the scholars of the world?!"