Seeing this scene, the surrounding civilians’ eyes filled with excitement.

The grain collector’s cheek immediately swelled up. He covered his right cheek in disbelief, pointing at Fang Zheng with one hand: “My lord, you—”

Slap!

Before he could finish, another hard slap landed on his left cheek.

This blow made his nose bleed.

The grain collector trembled, still not comprehending what had happened.

Then he felt a hand reaching into his bosom, rummaging vigorously!

Fang Zheng muttered, “Damn it, hand over all the money! You think this pittance is enough to fool me?”

The surrounding civilians and the group of minor officials present were completely dumbfounded.

Seeing Fang Zheng’s behavior, the grain collector burst into tears.

This wasn’t an official, this was clearly a bandit.

He had come to work happily only to be robbed by his superior, with no way to reason it out.

However, he had already given up struggling, allowing Fang Zheng’s hands to roam all over his body.

Soon, every coin on his person was stripped away by Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng held the money up to the grain collector’s eyes and said ominously, “This is the ill-gotten gains you’ve pocketed. You’re finished. Daring to embezzle Lord Liu’s grain during a famine, it’s not just prison for you. Prepare to lose your head!”

The grain collector felt on the verge of collapse. He cried out, “Lord Fang, you’ve misunderstood! We’re all working for Lord Liu. I really haven’t embezzled his grain.”

“Then where did the grain go! I’m in charge of grain affairs, and the missing grain isn’t recorded in the books!”

“It was… it was sent to the Four Directions, Tongda, and Guanglai rice shops! Lord Liu should have told you!”

As soon as the grain collector finished speaking, a slap landed squarely on his face.

Fang Zheng snarled, “Damn it! Why didn’t you say so earlier! Now everyone knows there’s a problem with the official hu. How are we supposed to fix this!”

The grain collector stood there pitifully, his face covered in red marks from the slaps, and all his money stolen.

“Useless thing! Do I have to clean up your mess for you!”

Fang Zheng looked at the grain collector with an expression of utter disappointment, then walked over to the civilians and announced loudly, “Alright! Alright! This hu is broken! Take your grain back for now, and we’ll collect it all together next time!”

“Everyone leave, go on!”

Many civilians’ faces lit up with joy. Although they would still have to pay next time, the mentality of “one more day delayed is one day gained” was enough to make them happy.

The woman who had been kneeling on the ground crawled over to the official hu and began scooping the grain back into her sack.

But no matter how she packed it, the grain was no longer fifty catties. When she lifted it, it felt half as light.

The woman looked at Fang Zheng in despair, without saying a word.

Fang Zheng looked at her calmly and said, “Why aren’t you leaving? What are you staring at this official for?”

The woman opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn’t dare speak for a moment.

Seeing Fang Zheng still quietly watching her, she managed to say, “It’s… less.”

“Less?” Fang Zheng stepped forward, opened the sack, and quickly tossed in the silver he was holding, then closed the sack.

With disgust, he said, “It’s not less! Get out of here, don’t cause trouble!”

Seeing that the only person who could have helped her behave this way, the woman looked at Fang Zheng, tears streaming down her face again. She clutched her chest, took a couple of breaths, and reluctantly left, carrying her child and dragging the sack.

Seeing everyone had left, Fang Zheng turned to Little Li with a regretful expression, “Aiya, it’s all this official’s fault for causing trouble. If I had known, I shouldn’t have come out on this trip!”

“Let’s go! We need to apologize to Lord Liu!”

By now, Fang Zheng’s image had rapidly transformed from a wastrel good-for-nothing to a roadside bandit.

Little Li’s breath caught, and he said awkwardly, “Heh… hehe, alright, I’ll accompany you back, my lord.”

After playing this game for a few days, Fang Zheng felt the time was almost right.

If he let Liu Xun continue like this, good citizens would become refugees, and solving the problem would become even more troublesome.

Back at the yamen, Fang Zheng went directly to find Liu Xun.

He said, “Lord Liu, if it’s convenient, this official has an important matter to discuss.”

Liu Xun, not knowing what to expect, nodded and led Fang Zheng to a small room.

Looking at Fang Zheng, he smiled and said, “Oh? It’s rare for Lord Fang to have important business to discuss with me. Please, speak.”

Fang Zheng poured himself a cup of tea and said, “This official went to the outskirts today to observe the grain collection and caused some trouble. I hope my lord will forgive me.”

“Trouble? What kind of trouble!” Liu Xun immediately became alert.

At this moment, anything related to grain was a major issue!

“This official saw that the official hu used by the grain collector had some tricks, so I stepped in to stop it.”

“As a result, the grain collector told me it was on your orders, and that the collected grain was sent to the Four Directions, Tongda, and Guanglai rice shops…”

Seeing Fang Zheng’s nonchalant manner, Liu Xun felt uncertain how to react.

For a moment, the scene fell into silence.

After a long while, Liu Xun probed, “So what does Lord Fang think about this?”

Fang Zheng smiled slightly, “Jianjiang is like a fire pit for this official. If it weren’t for Lord Liu, this official truly wouldn’t know how to survive.”

“As for other matters, this official has no interest in inquiring. This official lives only for enjoyment.”

“However, this official bears the heavy responsibility entrusted by the Crown Prince and His Majesty. The grain affairs cannot go wrong.”

“After all, this official doesn’t want to miss out on the meat and still end up smelling bad.”

“So I specifically came to inform my lord about this. I have no other intention. As long as there are no problems with the granary records, this official will have no issues.”

“Tomorrow, this official plans to inspect the granary, just to ease my constant worry.”

Liu Xun stared at Fang Zheng, his mind already racing through countermeasures.

After spending this time with him, Liu Xun believed he had figured Fang Zheng out.

This man was just a greedy, insatiable fellow who loved men and enjoyed luxuries, a shallow individual.

Not to mention all those elaborate dishes.

Zhou Dahai had been tormented in his mansion these past few days.

Every day he was tied up with hemp rope in various positions, his body covered in welts.

Who knows what the Crown Prince looked like by his side…

As he thought about it, Liu Xun got sidetracked…

Seeing Fang Zheng staring at him, Liu Xun chuckled softly, “You make a good point. If I were in your position, I would think the same way.”

“Lord Fang… are you craving mutton?”

Fang Zheng smiled and nodded.

I’ve been wanting to eat this mutton for a long time!

“That’s no problem! This official will certainly arrange it for you.”

“Now that we’ve been frank with each other, there’s something this official has been wanting to ask you. Lord Fang, do you want to return to the capital?” Liu Xun’s expression became mysterious.

Fang Zheng replied without hesitation, “Yes! Of course I do! I can’t wait!”

“Good! Then tomorrow, if Lord Fang wishes to inspect the granary, this official will accompany you. We’ll find a way to help Lord Fang return to the capital then!”

Liu Xun’s face took on an ambiguous expression as he lowered his voice, “Moreover… regarding the secret between Lord Fang and the Crown Prince, this official’s lips are absolutely sealed!”

Hehe, little Fang, you didn’t expect this, did you?

This official knows you inside and out now!

Fang Zheng: “???”