Royal Gold Magistrate

“Your Majesty, this old servant just received word that the batch of tea has completely sold out!”

Guo Tianyang stood beside Emperor Jing, his face beaming with delight!

“How did it sell out in just three days! Didn’t I tell you to limit the supply released!”

Emperor Jing was somewhat enraged. It sold too quickly before he even had a chance to go to Taoyuan County to restock. His own inventory was now depleted.

He had originally planned to sell it more slowly. After going to Taoyuan, he would first send Guo Tianyang back to replenish the goods.

But now doing it this way created a gap period.

“How much money did it make?”

Hearing the displeasure in Emperor Jing’s tone, Guo Tianyang still gave a slight smile:

“This old servant deserves death. The sales were simply too explosive to hold back. The scalpers we arranged kept raising the prices, and demand still exceeded supply! Many aristocratic clans fought to buy dozens of catties at a time!”

“In these three days, a total of over 13,200 taels of silver were earned. After deducting the cost of the shop, staffing, and procurement expenses, the net profit was 10,500 taels!”

“!! 10,500 taels! 10,500 taels… The palace treasury is replenished… I must buy 2000 more catties… and go to Taoyuan immediately.”

Emperor Jing’s eyes flashed red. He abruptly stood up and paced back and forth, muttering under his breath.

Guo Tianyang smiled as he watched Emperor Jing. He had completed this task splendidly! Even if it sold out early, His Majesty could not find any faults.

A moment later, Emperor Jing regained his composure and sat back down.

Then he suddenly spoke in a cold voice, “Hah, are my court officials so wealthy… to buy tea costing dozens or hundreds of taels per catty by the dozens? ”

“When the money runs out, they come asking me for more! Taking from the national treasury! Over 3000 commoners died in the Jianjiang flood, yet not one official donated money. Instead, my good ministers still have the heart to relax and sip tea.”

“Well then…very good!”

Guo Tianyang stood silently to the side, waiting for Emperor Jing’s mood to settle before speaking again.

“Your Majesty, there is one other matter. The inspector from Hengjiang Prefecture has rushed to the capital overnight and is currently awaiting your summons. Shall I call for him?”

“Good! Not here, go to the Imperial Study!”

“By the way, how is the Crown Prince faring now?”

Guo Tianyang felt a headache coming on and anxiously replied, “He’s still…hanging in the Imperial Garden…”

“What! It’s been three days! Still hanging! How is he doing!?”

Emperor Jing was suddenly struck with panic. It was still the month of February, when the weather was still frigid! His subordinates had actually neglected to take the Crown Prince down, leaving him strung up in the Imperial Garden for three days!

Guo Tianyang’s throat tightened. He should have reminded the Emperor about this originally, but he had forgotten in his excitement over the tea sales.

“Your Majesty, people have been tending to the Crown Prince in the garden these past few days. Whenever he got hungry, he was let down to eat, then strung back up. At night, someone also gave him extra clothes.”

“The Crown Prince’s condition is fine!”

Hearing this explanation, Emperor Jing immediately felt relieved and let out a long breath.

It was good to discipline that unfilial son, but thinking about it again, he felt some guilt.

“Bring the Crown Prince to the Imperial Study as well. I want to see him.”

“Yes!”

…

Three days! Three days is enough time to change a person.

Crown Prince Li Yuanzhao was like this. The first day he thought of begging for mercy, but it was futile. Then he tried to bribe the guards, but they remained unmoved.

The second day, he pondered escaping at an opportune moment, but was captured twice.

By the third day, he had completely given up struggling. He started learning to appreciate the garden, but still grumbled incessantly under his breath.

Guo Tianyang rushed to the Imperial Garden and hastily ordered someone to let the Crown Prince down.

Li Yuanzhao obediently let himself be handled. Guo Tianyang’s heart ached to see it.

“Ah! Crown Prince! Are you alright? This old servant arrived too late!”

Li Yuanzhao snorted coldly, “Hah! The Dog Emperor sent you?”

Hearing this, Guo Tianyang nearly exploded. He pounced on Li Yuanzhao like a mad dog, covering his mouth.

“Crown Prince! You mustn’t speak nonsense! Mustn’t speak nonsense!”

“His Majesty is watching over you. Didn’t you avoid freezing or starving these past days? His Majesty still cares for you!”

Li Yuanzhao’s grievances erupted like a flood, immediately roaring at Guo Tianyang:

“Three days! I was hung up for three whole days! Do you know how I made it through?!”

“He doesn’t care about anything! He only cares about himself!”

Guo Tianyang hurriedly consoled him, “Your Highness! Your Highness, His Majesty has been thinking of you constantly! Right now he’s waiting for you in the Imperial Study. Quick, follow this old servant.”

“Hah, very well. I shall go see him then!”

Guo Tianyang’s head swelled. Being hung for three days had made the Crown Prince a bit mentally unstable!

But there was no choice. Best to let His Majesty resolve his own family matters!

The two quickly arrived at the Imperial Study. Li Yuanzhao shoved the doors open in a huff.

Staring at Emperor Jing, he shouted, “Fatuous…”

“Yuanzhao, are you alright?” Emperor Jing’s concerned voice interrupted Li Yuanzhao. He walked over from his desk and patted his son’s shoulder.

“Is the Crown Prince’s body unwell? I neglected you these past days. Truly, I shouldn’t have!”

“But you should learn your lesson now. In the future, you must listen more to those court officials and your tutors, understand?”

“This country will ultimately be yours in the future. You must not be so unruly. Your absurd behavior will only bring harm to the common people!”

“I hope you can understand this.”

“…….”

After a round of earnest guidance, Li Yuanzhao’s eyes suddenly reddened. The furious words he had planned to say got stuck in his throat.

How long had it been since Imperial Father spoke to him like this? He began to vaguely recall riding on his father’s shoulders as a child.

The more he thought, the harder it became to voice his anger. In the end, he could only stammer out three words:

“I understand.”

Emperor Jing smiled with gratification. It seemed the Crown Prince was not completely unfeeling after all. He patted his son’s shoulder again.

Then he said coldly, “Just now, were you planning to call me a fatuous ruler? Go, kneel in the corner. Don’t you dare leave until I allow it!”

“???”

Li Yuanzhao was dumbfounded. But by now, his momentum had completely deflated. He no longer dared rebel in his heart.

Obediently, he walked to the corner and knelt down, putting on an aggrieved expression.

“Your Majesty, the inspector from Hengjiang Prefecture has arrived! Shall I have him enter now?” Guo Tianyang stepped forward at an opportune moment.

“Summon him!”

“Summon Wu Sheng, the inspector of Hengjiang Prefecture!”

A middle-aged man wearing official robes walked in, looking utterly exhausted.

Two days of ceaseless travel nearly made Wu Sheng die on the road. Plus, the Emperor’s sudden summons made him anxious the whole way, adding to his fatigue.

Seeing the Emperor, Wu Sheng slowly prostrated himself on the ground.

“This official, Wu Sheng, kowtows before Your Majesty!”

The Emperor sat imposingly, full of majesty, and spoke:

“You are Wu Sheng!?”

“You rushed here from afar and must be tired. I also don’t want to waste time.”

“Let me ask you, do you know of Taoyuan County!?”

Kowtowing on the ground, Wu Sheng’s pupils suddenly dilated. His whole body shook!