At the court session.

As expected, yesterday’s extra edition was placed on Emperor Jing’s desk.

After presenting the newspaper, Zhang Shi gave Fang Zheng a sinister look, then lowered his head without a word.

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng with an ashen face, even though he had already read the newspaper.

Seeing Fang Zheng’s dazed expression, he suddenly burst into anger: “Fang Zheng! Is this your doing?!”

With that, he violently threw the newspaper to the ground.

Fang Zheng jolted, becoming more alert.

He had stayed up late last night writing chicken soup for the soul as a backup article, barely sleeping.

Seeing Emperor Jing’s rage, he quickly jumped out and said loudly, “I have sinned! Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Jing scrutinized Fang Zheng, his anger not yet subsided: “You’ve got some nerve! Tell me where you went wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have angered Your Majesty, causing your anger to harm your royal health! I’d rather bash my head against a pillar and die!”

Emperor Jing glared: “Fine! Then do it!”

Fang Zheng: “…………”

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng sideways: “Well? Why aren’t you doing it? Afraid of dying?”

Damn, why isn’t this following the script?

Fang Zheng steeled himself: “I dare to! But death can be as light as a feather or as heavy as Mount Tai. This guilty subject still wants to keep his useful body to serve Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing sneered, “Smooth talker!”

“You’ve openly slandered my ministers, damaging the court’s credibility, all to build up your own reputation, Fang Zheng. My dear ministers, tell me, how should I punish Fang Zheng!”

Yang Yingcai immediately stepped forward: “Your Majesty, Fang Zheng has spread rumors and caused trouble, shaking the foundations of the state. He should be executed!”

Li Yuanzhao panicked upon hearing this and quickly looked at Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng hurriedly returned a glance.

He had warned Li Yuanzhao the night before not to interject no matter what happened in court.

This group of old fools wanted to get rid of him, but Emperor Jing wouldn’t kill him for such a minor offense.

This move was like trying to fix a window by tearing down the whole roof.

Zhang Shi quickly stepped out: “I agree! Furthermore, I suggest that the right to publish the daily newspaper be returned to the palace and subject to palace review. This way, such problems won’t occur again.”

Many officials followed suit.

Yang Fengfan looked at Fang Zheng worriedly.

This patron couldn’t fall… He had just managed to attach himself to Fang Zheng. If he fell, there would be no way for Yang Fengfan to survive.

“Your Majesty! I have something to say,” Fang Zheng immediately prepared to refute.

“No talking. Shut up!” Emperor Jing interrupted immediately.

Better not let that vile mouth of yours speak. The more you say, the worse it gets!

“Prime Minister Li, what do you think?”

Emperor Jing looked at Li Yansong, wanting to laugh but not daring to. By all accounts, his relationship with Fang Zheng should be quite good, but this time, apart from Zhang Shi, he had been the most badly set up.

Now many people were privately spreading rumors that he was Fang Zheng’s uncle-in-law.

This Fang Zheng really showed no mercy when he acted…

Li Yansong stepped out with a stern face, looking at Fang Zheng with eyes full of helplessness.

Just execute him… Execution would be good.

Such a monster shouldn’t appear in court!

“Your Majesty, I believe Fang Zheng’s crime doesn’t warrant death. After all, he was trying to provide disaster relief.”

“Since he’s so eager to serve the public good, I suggest demoting Fang Zheng to Assistant Prefect of Jianjiang and let him go there for disaster relief.”

Zheng Qiao and others stepped out and said, “We agree with this proposal.”

This matter had been discussed in the office yesterday.

Fang Zheng, this troublemaker, definitely needed to be demoted! The question was just how far His Majesty would go.

If the punishment was light and he stayed in the capital, with the Crown Prince by his side, there would inevitably be more trouble.

If this forced donation happened a few more times, everyone would really lose it. Better to send him far away quickly.

Fang Zheng stared blankly at Li Yansong.

I called you uncle-in-law for nothing… You’ve been lying in wait to ambush me!

If I go to the south, won’t that be like entering a new hell-level map?

Zhang Shi glanced coolly at Li Yansong.

He hadn’t expected Li Yansong to still protect Fang Zheng after being so badly set up. Could it be… they were really relatives?

Emperor Jing smiled.

He had been thinking of demoting Fang Zheng, but hadn’t thought of sending him to the disaster area.

Since this troublemaker couldn’t be killed, it was better to send him away. If he wanted to cause trouble, let him do it in the disaster area. He might even come up with some new ideas!

At worst, he could be recalled after a while.

“This is excellent. Prime Minister Li is wise and steady. Fang Zheng will be demoted to Assistant Prefect of Jianjiang. I give you one month to report to Jianjiang, without fail!”

A Hanlin scholar suddenly stepped out and said, “Your Majesty! This punishment is too light!”

“Fang Zheng has caused chaos in the court and has already had a terrible influence among the people! How can such a person serve the people?”

“I suggest he should be demoted to a commoner!”

Fang Zheng’s eyes lit up.

That works too! Being a commoner is fine, it would mean a more peaceful time for a while…

“Moreover, I’ve heard rumors among the people that Prime Minister Li… Prime Minister Li is Fang Zheng’s uncle-in-law! I wonder if Prime Minister Li is showing favoritism towards Fang Zheng!”

Li Yansong’s old face immediately turned bright red.

Pointing at himself, he stared wide-eyed at the Hanlin scholar who had just spoken.

Beside him, Zheng Qiao and Zhang Dongxiang looked uneasy, lowering their heads and trying to shrink back.

“I am not his uncle-in-law!!! How dare you slander me?”

Fang Zheng said discontentedly, “Is it necessary to use such an ugly word as ‘slander’ about being my uncle-in-law? What’s wrong with me, Fang Zheng?”

“Shut up!” Emperor Jing and Li Yansong shouted in unison.

Fang Zheng immediately shrank back.

That minor Hanlin scholar was quite brave and continued, “Prime Minister Li, everyone has seen the content in the newspaper.”

“It said you personally went to the newspaper office, shed tears in the editorial department… and would keep only 1,500 dan of grain at home, donating the rest.”

“If you weren’t family, would you support him so strongly?”

Fang Zheng looked disdainfully at the Hanlin scholar.

These so-called pure officials were really useless. They didn’t discuss important matters at all, only knowing how to attack privacy from all angles with no other abilities.

Li Yansong stammered, unable to speak clearly, feeling that even if his whole body were a mouth, he couldn’t explain clearly.

Beside him, Zheng Qiao and Zhang Dongxiang retreated even further, afraid of being dragged into this.

“I… I… I have no relationship with him at all! How can rumors among the people be true!”

“There’s no smoke without fire, Prime Minister Li!”

“You…….”

The Hanlin official spoke more and more proudly, unable to help raising his head. The people around him looked at him with admiration.

Awesome, brother, you dare to confront like this? You’ve got backbone!

“Enough! Nonsense! Fang Zheng, you tell me! Is Prime Minister Li really your relative?”

Emperor Jing naturally didn’t believe it, but after hearing it so much, he actually began to have a hint of doubt.

Li Yansong opened his mouth wide and looked at Emperor Jing, his heart twisting in pain, his eyes full of despair.

Why are you asking him? My reputation in my old age is ruined…

“Well…” Fang Zheng’s eyes began to dart around, and he stammered, “This… Prime Minister Li has no family relationship with me, but he looks like my deceased uncle-in-law!”

“Prime Minister Li!! Prime Minister Li!! What’s wrong with you!”

“Prime Minister Li has had a fit of anger! Quickly call the Imperial Physician!!”