Royal Gold Magistrate

After holding it in for a while, Fang Zheng still couldn’t recall what the last two lines were.

Helplessly, he drew two horizontal lines at the very end.

He forcefully slapped the table and said, “Put it up!”

The servant girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the poem on the paper, clearly drawn in by the artistic conception within. But when she saw the end, a trace of confusion flashed through her eyes.

How strange that it was missing two lines at the end. What a shame.

After posting it on the wall, she hurriedly made another copy and rushed to deliver it to the second floor.

The many scholars below sized up this “Rain-soaked Bell” poem on the wall and couldn’t help exclaiming in praise.

“Truly a masterpiece of natural inspiration. The wording and phrasing in this poem is seamless, the scenery depicted plainly and naturally. The imagery is simply vivid and lifelike.”

“Reading it is like experiencing the scene personally, leaving one dazed and mesmerized, unable to control oneself. The pinnacle of literature. It should be the best entry today! Looks like the champion can only be Lord Fang…”

“The rises and falls, the emotions and scenes both conveyed. Even sung aloud, it would be stirring and moving. Flawless! Absolutely flawless! We should invite Miss Luo to chant this poem!”

“It’s just… why is it missing two lines?”

“Indeed! Why is it missing two lines? That makes it imperfect!”

Ning Hongyuan’s face also paled a bit. The development had exceeded his expectations. He never thought Fang Zheng would actually have some substance!

On top of Zhang Chang’s constant muttering by his ear, Ning Hongyuan started to feel a bit irritated.

His eyes stared fixedly at the poem on the wall. After pondering for a long time, his eyes suddenly lit up. He whispered to Zhang Chang, “Young Master, I find this poem quite suspicious.”

“The emotions in this poem are sincere and sorrowful. How could someone like Fang Zheng write this? Moreover, why is it missing the last two lines? I suspect… he copied it!”

Hearing this, Zhang Chang froze for a moment, then turned to look at the wall. He slowly nodded. “Indeed! Indeed! It must be so!”

Having figured it out, Ning Hongyuan confidently stepped forward. “Lord Fang, this poem of yours is truly one in a million. I admire it. It’s just… why is it missing the last two lines? And what do those two horizontal lines at the bottom mean?”

Everyone was curious about this question.

Fang Zheng had long prepared his excuse. He said pretentiously, “When composing this poem, inspiration gushed forth like a spring, exceptionally smooth. So I was certain this poem could win first place. But today I only wanted to be a spectator. The remaining two lines can be completed by you all!”

“If there is a worthy entry, I will admit defeat… and of course recommend that person’s talent to the crown prince…”

“As for the lines below… that’s called a cloze test, for everyone’s convenience in writing. The victor can write the last two lines on those horizontal lines!”

The crowd had a sudden realization. Their impression of Fang Zheng improved quite a bit.

Someone cupped his hands from afar. “Lord Fang is magnanimous!”

“Originally, I had greatly misunderstood Lord Fang. Only today do I realize I was being close-minded and deaf. I’m truly ashamed!”

Fang Zheng waved his hand generously. “No matter! No matter! We scholars should swim against the current and forge ahead.”

“Everyone present is a pillar of Great Jing’s future. This official is also encouraging you all!”

Zhang Chang’s face was ashen. He never expected Fang Zheng to be so glib-tongued… flipping the script again. In a panic, he blurted out, “Then why doesn’t Lord Fang share with everyone the story behind this poem? It would be good for us to ponder and learn!”

Fang Zheng’s expression gradually darkened.

Again… trying for a third time, are we…

“Then… what if this official is unwilling to share?”

A smile emerged on the corner of Ning Hongyuan’s mouth. “Lord Fang jests. If it’s a poem you wrote, what’s there that can’t be shared? Unless it wasn’t written by you.”

“If you don’t share the origins of this poem, wouldn’t everyone just be making wild guesses? That would be… very difficult.”

A tense atmosphere filled the air between the five men.

After a moment of silence, Fang Zheng suddenly laughed. “Difficult? Fuck it then, just forget it!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Biao suddenly leapt up. His arms displaying monstrous strength, he flipped the heavy round rosewood table and slammed it towards Ning Hongyuan and Zhang Chang.

The two had been together for years. Zhang Biao was like Fang Zheng’s right-hand man. Their tacit understanding went without saying.

Before the two could react, they were solidly pinned under the tabletop.

The instant the tabletop fell, Zhang Biao and Fang Zheng jumped onto it together.

Li Yuanzhao hesitated for a moment, then also jumped on.

The three men gleefully jumped up and down on the tabletop while the two underneath cursed non-stop.

Everyone around them was dumbfounded, not understanding why things suddenly flipped.

But hearing the miserable cries from under the table, a chill surged in everyone’s hearts.

They all shrank back against the walls in tacit understanding, not daring to make a sound. The entire hall was filled with only the cursing of Zhang Chang and Ning Hongyuan.

“Ah! Fang Zheng! Ah! You, ah! Have the gall! I, ah! Am the son of the Minister of Revenue! Quick! Let me go! Ah!”

“Fang Zheng! I will, ah! Have my father impeach you! Ah! You’re finished! Ah! Ah! Ah!”

“Help! Help! Help! Help! Me! Me!”

Hearing that the two still wouldn’t yield, Fang Zheng’s anger surged even higher!

He said to his left and right, “Let’s see who can jump higher!”

“Alright!”

The three men jumped even more vigorously, each trying to outdo the other in jumping high!

Li Yuanzhao was so excited he couldn’t contain himself, his face flushed red. He thought to himself, when he ascends the throne in the future, he would definitely grant Old Fang the position of Minister of Justice!

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, “The boat has docked!”

The crowd surged out like a swarm of bees, afraid that the three lunatics would involve them next.

In no time at all, the cabin was empty.

The three were still absorbed in their high jump competition. The cursing under the table had already turned into pleading, and finally into feeble groans.

Having vented enough, Fang Zheng was the first to jump off the tabletop.

“Alright! Let’s stop here. We might cause a death if we keep going!”

Hearing this, the other two also jumped down. Then Zhang Biao flung the tabletop away, revealing the two men underneath barely clinging to life, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.

The corner of Fang Zheng’s mouth couldn’t help twitching a couple times.

How the fuck did they get crushed like this! Seems like they went overboard…

He turned to look at Zhang Biao and remembered, this guy was fully equipped and had a body full of silver, like a human steamroller. Fortunately they stopped early… If they had jumped a bit longer, these two might have really died here.

Then Fang Zheng squatted down and roughly grabbed Zhang Chang’s hair, snarling, “I gave you a chance but you couldn’t make use of it! I gave you a chance but you couldn’t make use of it!”

At this point, Zhang Chang had no thought of resisting. He begged in terror, “I was wrong! Lord Fang, I was wrong! Spare my life!”

When mercy should be shown, show mercy. Seeing that he yielded, Fang Zheng had no desire to keep going. Yanking his hair, he flung him to the ground.

He turned to look at the unconscious Ning Hongyuan beside Zhang Chang. Grinning, he stomped on his face.

Zhang Chang was nothing. Lackeys were more detestable!

Who knew, when this foot firmly stepped down, Ning Hongyuan actually let out a miserable cry as he covered his nose. “It hurts!”

Li Yuanzhao immediately pointed at him and shouted, “He’s faking unconsciousness!”