Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Seeing the situation was excellent, Fang Zheng, without the slightest hesitation, pulled out the telescope that had been hanging behind him.

Presenting it with both hands, he loudly proclaimed, “Your Majesty, on this joyous occasion, your subject has another auspicious treasure to offer!”

The Jing Emperor looked at the long brass tube that Fang Zheng was holding up and asked curiously, “Oh? Fang Qing actually has a treasure to present to Us, truly a pleasant surprise. Tell Us about it!”

“Reporting to Your Majesty! This item is called the Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Mirror! Through this mirror, one can see a thousand li away, and all that is seen is Your Majesty's land!”

“This Thousand Li Rivers and Mountains Mirror was made with the love, patience, and filial piety of the people of Taoyuan County, along with ten thousand taels of silver, specifically crafted for Your Majesty.”

“Symbolizing the eternal stability and longevity of our Great Jing!”

As soon as Fang Zheng finished speaking, the faces of the officials changed, and some began clutching their chests in pain.

Indeed... a treacherous villain is still a treacherous villain. Even if he achieves some success, a dog cannot stop eating dung!

Zheng Qiao gritted his teeth and nudged Li Yansong beside him.

“Lord Li... look at him! Look at him!”

Li Yansong was speechless, his face flushed as he looked at Fang Zheng. After a long while, he squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth.

“Damn it....”

That damned Fang Zheng seems to be deliberately slapping his face. Every time he praises him, he immediately puts on the face of a villain. Could it be that he's deliberately trying to disgust this old man?

The Jing Emperor took the telescope with a delighted expression, constantly saying, “Good, good.”

Fang Zheng approached the Jing Emperor with a flattering smile: “Your Majesty, this object should be viewed vertically! The smaller end should be placed against the eye.”

The Jing Emperor picked up the telescope and looked outside the palace gate, immediately shocked.

Then he turned it left twice, right twice, and kept making sounds of admiration.

The hearts of the officials were also on edge. Seeing His Majesty's reaction, could it be... that this object really could see a thousand li away as Fang Zheng had said?

Of course, the telescope couldn't see that far. However, the ancients always had a habit of exaggeration. They dared to call tens of thousands of soldiers a million-strong army.

Fang Zheng, of course, wanted to carry forward this glorious tradition. Anyway, bragging doesn't cost money.

After a long while, the Jing Emperor looked at the distant scenery and praised, “Good! This object is truly miraculous, able to clearly see hundreds of zhang away at a glance. If used on the battlefield, anticipating the enemy's moves would be easy!”

“Fang Qing... this is another great achievement. Tell Us, how should We reward you?”

Fang Zheng said modestly, “This is all due to the efforts of the people of Taoyuan County to thank Your Majesty. It's just that they spent a little more silver. How dare your subject ask for any reward!”

The Jing Emperor looked at Fang Zheng and smiled. This kid was hinting at wanting silver from Us. Fine, then give him silver!

So he said, “We have felt the filial piety of the people of Taoyuan County. Grant Taoyuan County exemption from... one hundred taels of gold! Let it be collected by you.”

Fang Zheng lowered his head, curling his lips in disdain.

The Jing Emperor smiled awkwardly. He had almost said 'tax exemption' in his excitement.

But when he thought about the annual output of Taoyuan County... tax exemption was out of the question! Giving you some money will do.

Even so, Fang Zheng was content to have bluffed one hundred taels of gold with a broken telescope and quickly thanked him.

The Jing Emperor continued, “Fang Qing, I wonder... are there more of these objects?”

“Yes! The initial manufacturing of this object is very expensive! But most of it is spent on research and development. As long as the production process is streamlined, it can be mass-produced!”

“If Your Majesty needs it, your subject will order Taoyuan County to step up production and supply the military!”

The Jing Emperor nodded: “Good, We will have someone contact you later.”

He had just promoted sanitary napkins in the palace, and today he received an order from the military. Working in sales in the palace was really wonderful.

In his joy, he suddenly saw Li Yuanzhao winking at him.

Fang Zheng understood. The prince had taken a fancy to the telescope.

............

As expected, as soon as the court meeting ended, Li Yuanzhao couldn't wait to approach Fang Zheng.

Indignantly, he said, “Lao Fang, you're not being fair! You didn't show this palace such a good thing first!”

Fang Zheng glanced at him: “What's the hurry? If you want it, there are plenty. Now that Yan Guoan is gone, no one can control us except for those Hanlin scholars. I'll take you out of the palace! Let's go back to the East Palace first.”

Li Yuanzhao was overjoyed when he heard this.

After the two returned to the East Palace, Fang Zheng immediately asked Li Yuanzhao with a serious face: “During the time I wasn't here, where exactly did you spend the money I gave you before?”

Li Yuanzhao smiled sheepishly: “It's nothing much, just about the same as what I said just now. When you weren't here, I went to investigate prices and found that corruption in the palace was so serious.”

“Later, I also conveniently asked Liu Jin to investigate the situation of the people and found that many people didn't have enough to eat, so I asked him to send all the silver out.”

“Anyway, this palace doesn't want to rebuild the Tiger and Leopard Garden anymore. It's meaningless.”

“Lao Fang, what do you think of what this palace did!” Li Yuanzhao looked smug, waiting to be praised.

Fang Zheng curled his lips: “Not good.”

Li Yuanzhao became anxious, took out a booklet from his arms, opened it and brought it to Fang Zheng's face. It was written with names, and each name had a red fingerprint pressed on it.

“Look! This is a petition from the people. The people are all grateful to this palace for getting the silver. Lao Fang, you have no vision!”

Fang Zheng was speechless. Aren't you just buying merit with money...?

“If Your Highness is doing these things for the sake of gratitude, then don't do them. Not only will the people not thank you in private, but they may also laugh at you for being a fool. That's how superheroes turn black...”

“Superhero? Although this word is quite vulgar, it's somewhat fitting when used on this palace!”

“................”

Then Li Yuanzhao said indignantly: “How did this palace become a fool! This palace sincerely does good deeds, and the people sincerely thank this palace! Lao Fang, you're too dark-hearted!”

Fang Zheng was a little helpless and didn't bother to explain further. Some things couldn't be explained in a short time.

However, directly handing out money is mostly useless and will only be laughed at behind your back. According to Fang Zheng's many years of experience rolling in the mud, it can't be wrong...

While Fang Zheng was silent, Li Yuanzhao suddenly twisted and said: “Lao Fang, this palace is out of money. When can we make money from our sanitary napkins?”

Fang Zheng savored Li Yuanzhao's words, feeling that no matter how he listened, they were a little awkward, and said casually: “Soon, we will be able to make money in a few years, make big money!”

Li Yuanzhao said hesitantly when he heard this: “That won't work. This palace still wants to accumulate virtue and do good deeds. I want to make quick money. I can't wait a few years!”

“This....” Fang Zheng couldn't help but cover his forehead. Can giving money be addictive?

But when he thought about making money, Fang Zheng's interest also came. Now that the prince could leave the palace at will, he had plenty of time to unleash his abilities and could act arbitrarily in the capital!

Besides, wouldn't it be wonderful to make money under the banner of the prince?

Fang Zheng's eyes lit up and he asked: “Are there any festivals recently?”

............