“Master, the merchant group has already made the arrangements for you, but there aren’t enough sweet potatoes as you requested. Our time was too short and we only managed to plant less than three mu of sweet potatoes. We already dug up one batch, and the best plot of land was left for His Majesty,” Ao Chen reported.

“So there definitely won’t be enough sweet potatoes to supply the merchant ships as you wanted… Should we have them take the remaining ones from the county as well?”

“As for the road construction, I’m afraid it can’t be completed within half a year. The difficulty has exceeded expectations… It will likely take longer.”

Fang Zheng pondered for a while.

The delay in road construction was within expectations. According to Fang Zheng’s habit, for a task that would normally take a year to complete, he would directly request it to be finished in half a year. Then no matter how much it was delayed afterwards, it could mostly be accomplished within a year. So this matter wasn’t too surprising.

The news of the sweet potatoes’ appearance should spread to Hengjiang Prefecture within twenty days. Based on the speed of information dissemination in ancient times, it should be common knowledge in Hengjiang Prefecture within two months.

By then, grain prices should see a strong downward pressure. When they react, the new batch of sweet potatoes should be ready for harvest.

A slight delay shouldn’t be a big problem.

“It’s fine. Have them go to the market first to get a feel for things. Keep the county’s sweet potatoes to continue planting. The Imperial Farm will also cultivate them on a large scale. I’ll ask His Majesty for some when the time comes. Once the new batch of sweet potatoes is grown, make other arrangements.”

“Also, those hundred people you selected…”

What followed was a secret discussion between the two, covering topics like pressing three sheets into one, inserting anti-counterfeiting threads in between, and using special inks.

When Fang Zheng came out feeling quite satisfied, he discovered Li Yuanzhao was still sticking his butt out, studying the microscope.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng was amused. He didn’t expect the crown prince to have quite the scientific spirit.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Li Yuanzhao raised his head and urged Fang Zheng, “Old Fang, come, come, come, I’ll show you something fun!”

He pulled him over to the microscope.

Fang Zheng was bewildered. He lowered his head to take a look and his face instantly fell.

I only left for a few minutes and you’re already pulling stunts?!

Under the microscope, a dense mass of tadpoles were swimming about happily.

Li Yuanzhao had a mysterious look. “Guess what this is?”

“Uh…”

Fang Zheng took a deep breath and forced out a smile. “Oh my, how incredible! I see this creature is exceptionally lively, seeming to emit a golden glow! And there’s a faint aura of the vast ocean, clearly a divine being!! Your Highness, where did you get this from?”

Li Yuanzhao was overjoyed. “That’s my Old Fang! You’ve got a keen eye!”

“To tell you the truth, these are my dragon sons and grandsons!” He raised his head proudly.

Fang Zheng: “…………”

“Ah! It’s strange indeed. I thought it would be a little person, but unexpectedly it turned out to be a group of tadpoles, and in such large numbers. It really gave me a fright!”

“With my true dragon bloodline, who would’ve thought dragons look like tadpoles when they’re young… Just, why are there so many of them? Wouldn’t that woman burst from having so many children? Also, since I’m a dragon, why did I grow into a human body? Do you know why, Old Fang?”

Fang Zheng stared at the ceiling, not wanting to pay him any attention.

Li Yuanzhao lowered his head in contemplation. “I wonder what Imperial Father’s looks like!”

With that said, he reached out to grab Fang Zheng’s belt.

Fang Zheng was startled and quickly jumped away, shouting, “What are you doing?!”

“Let me see yours.”

“Please have some self-respect, Your Highness!!!”

…

Two days later, Fang Zheng set off back to the capital with the crown prince and princess.

On the way back, Li Yuanzhao was still happily clutching that microscope. Fang Zheng found it dirty and didn’t want it anymore, so he directly gifted it to him.

This thing had great use. It was good to bring it back to the capital. In case he got in trouble someday, he could still use the microscope to mitigate the disaster.

The next day, during the imperial court session, Fang Zheng listened with a dark face as the eunuch read out the imperial decree.

He thought there would be some great rewards, but it turned out to be just the title of County Earl, ten qing of permanent farmland, plus a hundred taels of gold.

He counted on his fingers for a while and still felt he got the short end of the stick this time.

However, the young officials looked at Fang Zheng with envy in their eyes.

Although His Majesty didn’t promote his official rank, it was obviously because Fang Zheng had entered the court too recently. After all, there were unspoken rules everywhere.

You’ve only been here less than a year and have already been promoted three ranks, yet you still want to keep climbing?

Give it a couple more years and you might even replace Minister Li!

Fang Zheng naturally understood this principle, but still sneered at it. He had been making big promises for several years. Could he, Fang Zheng, still be satisfied with others’ promises?

The future all depended on a single word from the emperor. If one day his mood wasn’t good and he said he forgot, then it would be forgotten.

After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

No one could say for certain what the future held!

Finally, he endured until the end of the court session. Many officials came up to congratulate Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng also returned the greetings one by one. This time could be considered refreshing his reputation in front of the hundred officials. Not bad, not too much of a loss!

Walking outside the palace hall, Fang Zheng was still pondering the renovation of Banshan District in his mind.

A shady-looking man approached and bowed to Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng turned his head to look. He felt somewhat familiar but just couldn’t recall. He asked hesitantly, “And you are?”

“This lowly official is Yang Fengfan, Hanlin Academy Editor, paying respects to Lord Fang!”

Yang Fengfan raised his head. Fang Zheng suddenly realized—this was the troublemaker he saw on the first day he entered the palace.

So he replied indifferently, “What is the matter? Speak.”

Yang Fengfan smiled fawningly and flattered, “What matter could there be? This lowly official came specifically to congratulate Lord Fang. Lord Fang’s favor with the Emperor grows daily. Truly a joyous occasion…”

Hmph, a bootlicker! The kind of person I despise the most!

“Heh-ptooey!” Fang Zheng spat a mouthful of saliva onto Yang Fengfan’s boots.

Yang Fengfan was dumbfounded. He looked at his boots, then at Fang Zheng.

For a moment, his complexion turned from red to white. He said in humiliation and anger, “Lord Fang! This lowly official merely came to congratulate Lord Fang! Why humiliate me so?”

“What? What? You have an opinion?” Fang Zheng put on an irritating expression.

He was already in a bad mood to begin with. Seeing a bootlicker made him even more annoyed!

Scholars look down on each other, you know?

Yang Fengfan was utterly baffled. He had never seen someone so unruly.

They say don’t hit a smiling man. You’re going too far! I thought you had great prospects and wanted to cozy up to you, but you spit on me instead?

Yang Fengfan said through gritted teeth, “Lord Fang, aren’t you afraid that humiliating this lowly official like this will invite public criticism?”

Fang Zheng laughed. “Criticism? Do you even know who I am?”

With that said, he pointed at Li Yansong who hadn’t walked far and said, “Do you know what he is to me?”

Yang Fengfan looked in the direction he was pointing and blinked hard.

That person… isn’t that Minister Li?

Could it be that not only does he have a connection to Guo Tianyang, but also to Minister Li?

Yang Fengfan sized up Fang Zheng suspiciously. Could he be trying to fool me? How could the mature and steady Minister Li associate with someone like Fang Zheng?

Seeing this, Fang Zheng smiled faintly, cupped his hands into a horn shape, and shouted loudly in Li Yansong’s direction, “Brother-in-law!”

This shout was extremely loud, causing many people to turn their heads and look at Fang Zheng.

Naturally, Li Yansong also heard it. He shuddered, his eyes widening! Without looking back, he sped up and left the scene.

Yang Fengfan also stared, his heart shaken to the core.

This was a real connection! Even a relative. Minister Li’s reaction clearly showed he was afraid of being recognized!

Unfathomable… Fang Zheng was truly unfathomable. Who would have thought his background was so deep and powerful? Absolutely cannot offend him!

Fang Zheng had a smug look. “You see now?”

“As long as you understand. In the future, don’t make a fuss in the palace. If someone hears, it doesn’t look good, got it?”

With that said, he rubbed his three fingers together.

Yang Fengfan immediately understood. He looked around, then took out a banknote from his sleeve.

Fang Zheng naturally took the banknote and wiped it with his finger, snorting disdainfully.

Pauper!

However, as a habitual offender, upon receiving the money, he still couldn’t help but show a brilliant smile. He patted Yang Fengfan’s shoulder.

“Little Yang ah, I see you’re a man with a bright future. When you have time, come to my place for a meal together. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going first!”

“Ah! Lord Fang, please go ahead.”

Standing outside the palace hall, Yang Fengfan watched Fang Zheng’s retreating figure, a profound smile appearing on his face.

I have a promising future ahead!