Royal Gold Magistrate

The next day in the afternoon.

Bai Yi rubbed her sleepy eyes and knocked on Fang Zheng’s door.

At this time, Fang Zheng was still fast asleep. Seeing this, Bai Yi carefully walked up, squatted down and began observing Fang Zheng.

Even having experienced countless things since birth, this was the first time she had seen such a peculiar person.

Fang Zheng’s mouth was slightly open, drool hanging at the corner of his lips. Even in his sleep, he had a carefree look.

With handsome features, he clearly had the appearance of a dashing young gentleman, yet everything he did was inconceivable, like a hooligan.

Even the people he kept by his side were strange.

Just as Bai Yi was about to take a closer look, Fang Zheng suddenly rolled over and swung his arm in a wide arc.

His fist struck her pretty face dead center!

Bai Yi fell to the ground, covering her right cheek, eyes wide open, brimming with tears, heart full of resentment.

Bastard! Why… why do you always hurt me…

Bai Yi resentfully crawled up clutching the bedside and gave Fang Zheng a couple of hard shoves, loudly saying, “Young Master! Wake up!! It’s time for the morning court session!!”

After waiting a bit, there was no response.

Bai Yi helplessly shouted a few more times, “Wake up! Young Master!”

Still no response. Fang Zheng was sleeping soundly, completely oblivious.

Suddenly, a glint of cunning flashed in Bai Yi’s eyes. She covered his mouth with one hand, and with the other, disgustedly plugged Fang Zheng’s nostrils.

A moment later… Fang Zheng was suffocated awake. He sat up, eyes red, and said, “What are you doing!?”

Seeing him suffer, Bai Yi secretly delighted in her heart. She lowered her head and meekly said, “Young Master, it’s time for the morning court session… It’s already late afternoon. The court starts in the early evening. After having breakfast, you should wait at the Meridian Gate. If it gets any later, I’m afraid there won’t be enough time.”

Fang Zheng took a deep breath, feeling irritated in his heart.

That’s right, court starts at 5 o’clock… He had gone to bed around 10 pm, only slept for less than 7 hours. Isn’t this deadly!

Rubbing his eyes, he impatiently said, “Got it. Where’s Xiao Tao?”

“Xiao Tao was out and about in the city all day yesterday. She’s not awake yet… So she had me come wake you…”

Fang Zheng thought for a bit.

Indeed, yesterday he had sent Xiao Tao to search the city for Li Long all day. The person wasn’t found and he himself was exhausted.

Letting her sleep a bit more was fine.

So he got up, waved his hand and said, “I know. Dress me!”

“Huh?” Bai Yi raised her pretty face, stupefied. She didn’t know how!

She had never dressed a man in all her life.

“What huh! Dress me!” Fang Zheng stood there with his eyes closed, looking impatient.

Bai Yi mumbled, “I don’t know how…”

What a useless maid!

Fang Zheng opened his eyes, hands on his hips, and eloquently said, “Then I don’t know either!”

He himself hadn’t personally dressed in three to four years, his life skills had long regressed to grandma’s house.

Without Xiao Tao, he was already half disabled. Now he found another half-disabled person to serve him.

How was he supposed to live like this!

Bai Yi inwardly criticized him endlessly, helplessly saying, “Then I’ll go call Xiao Tao…”

“No need! Let her sleep. You dress me. Learn properly. You can’t even dress someone, how can I take you out!”

Bai Yi pouted. Aren’t you the same!

A grown man who can’t even dress himself!

In the end, Bai Yi still clumsily dressed Fang Zheng in his official robes.

At the moment she tied the last strap, Bai Yi wiped the sweat from her forehead and let out a long breath, feeling a sense of victorious joy in her heart.

Fang Zheng looked in the mirror and pursed his lips, “It’ll do.”

Nm!

Bai Yi remained expressionless, not saying a word.

“Eh, what happened to your face? It’s swollen.”

“Stiff neck!”

“Hey, that’s new!”

“…………”

After fussing for a while, there wasn’t much time left after finishing breakfast.

Fang Zheng hurriedly got on the horse carriage and turned to Bai Yi, “No need to come pick me up. I’ll return by myself when my shift ends. Get all the household items we need today. If there’s anything you don’t understand, learn more from Xiao Tao.”

With that, he climbed into the carriage.

Once inside, Fang Zheng found a corner and curled up, pondering that he should still make it in time. Those people couldn’t start the court session at the earliest time… A bunch of old men couldn’t handle it physically either.

While thinking, he slowly fell asleep again.

………………………….

The court bell had rung.

The Emperor felt particularly refreshed today.

Yesterday, hearing Guo Tianyang’s report that Xiao Tao had spent an entire day searching for him in the capital, the Emperor laughed until he couldn’t stop.

It had a bit of a unique flavor. At this moment, he was slightly excited, anticipating Fang Zheng’s reaction upon seeing him.

The officials took their positions. The Emperor scanned the scene below but actually didn’t see Fang Zheng!

He suddenly frowned, “Where is Fang Zheng!? It’s been three days since the decree was received. Why hasn’t he arrived?”

Li Yansong looked left and right. Seeing no new faces, he also said, “Your Majesty, perhaps the journey was long and he was delayed on the road.”

The Emperor’s face showed anger, “Taoyuan County is at most a two-day round trip from here. Someone come! Fang Zheng…”

Before he could finish, a man holding up his pants and lowering his head rushed into the main hall!

Unexpectedly, he stepped on his pants and slid to his knees in the center of the hall.

In an instant, the hall fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone’s gaze focused on Fang Zheng in unison.

Fang Zheng lowered his head, cold sweat slowly flowing down his forehead.

Damn coachman had delivered him all the way to the Meridian Gate but didn’t bother to wake him up!

By the time he woke up, the Meridian Gate was already empty! The guards at the entrance stopped him from entering. Fortunately, he had brought the imperial decree, so he was let through!

On the way, the clothes Bai Yi had put on him kept slipping down.

In the end, with no other choice, he could only hold up his pants and run around the palace, inquiring all the way until he reached the main hall…

Fang Zheng lowered his head, glancing left and right. The officials on both sides were all silently staring at him in their court attire.

No mistake… Looks like this is where the court session is held… Damn Ministry of Rites didn’t even send someone to receive him!

How would he know the palace etiquette and where to attend the court session!

The Emperor looked at this ridiculous scene, three black lines slowly drooping down his forehead…

Anger instantly surged in his heart. Well done, Fang Zheng!

I confidently declared to the hundred officials that you were a talent, but as soon as you entered the palace, you made me lose so much face!

Guo Tianyang and Li Yuanzhao both gritted their teeth tightly, afraid they would burst out laughing.

For a long time, no one spoke.

The Emperor clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging, suppressing his anger as he began, “The one who came…”

“Your subject! Fang Zheng pays respect to Your Majesty! Your Majesty’s divine civility and sagely martial prowess, civil achievements and military virtues, benefiting all living things, unifying the world, truly the fortune of our Great Jing, the blessing of all people! Long live the Emperor, long live, long long live!”

“Today, your subject beholds your heavenly majesty, awed by your dragon aura, yet my heart is also filled with inexpressible joy. Losing propriety before the hall, I beg Your Majesty to punish me! Punish this guilty official, I will gladly accept it as sweet!!”