Royal Gold Magistrate

Sure enough, not heeding good advice had led to disaster.

But what’s done was done. There was no point in covering Chilie’s face now.

At least Chilie couldn’t understand what others were saying. If he knew what people were saying, who knows what bloodshed he might cause, stirring up trouble.

Paba was filled with regret.

He sighed softly and looked ahead, then froze in surprise.

Before him stretched smooth stone-paved roads, while behind was dirt path.

The boundary was crystal clear!

Both roads were bustling with people, though many went out of their way to avoid their group.

Still, the prosperity of the street was evident.

By now, Chilie and Lu Fa had dismounted and walked over to Fang Zheng and Paba.

Chilie was also curiously examining their surroundings.

Paba spoke admiringly: “As expected of a district managed by your Crown Prince, truly remarkable!”

“Such renovations must have been quite costly. How much silver did the court provide?”

“Not a single coin!”

“What?!” Paba was shocked.

He had seen other districts on his way here. Though he found them decent, none were as impressive as Banshan District.

Such an amazing transformation, overseen by the Crown Prince himself. How could the Emperor not give his son any funding?

Impossible!

Paba’s expression grew serious: “I heard your Crown Prince isn’t even twenty yet. Could he really be this talented? Lord Fang, you’re not joking, are you?”

Fang Zheng shrugged: “Master, you know me. I don’t lie. The court and His Majesty absolutely did not give the Crown Prince a single coin. Ask anyone you like!”

In some sense, Li Yuanzhao had indeed contributed greatly.

About half the credit should go to him, and bringing Paba here would help demonstrate Great Jing’s power.

It should lower their psychological bottom line in future negotiations with the court.

Since a political marriage was off the table, this was just a convenient bonus.

Getting appointed as mere Vice Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Receptions… he’d fulfilled his duty well enough.

“Hmm! Speaking of Banshan District’s transformation… it only took half a year, or maybe less than half a year, I can’t quite remember,” Fang Zheng added casually.

Paba looked like he’d been struck by lightning.

The successive blows had left him mentally reeling.

He had no doubts about the Jing Emperor’s civil and martial prowess, but he hadn’t expected his son to be so outstanding as well.

What would become of Northern Rong in ten years… or a hundred?

If they went to war now, would they have any chance of victory?

Could this all be an elaborate facade, with Fang Zheng deliberately trying to deceive him?

As various thoughts flooded Paba’s mind, Fang Zheng noticed him spacing out and patted him.

“Master, are you alright?”

“Oh, it’s nothing… let’s walk around, walk around!”

Paba steadied himself, forcefully suppressing his shock as he walked into the district.

Fang Zheng caught up to him in a few quick strides and began introducing the buildings on either side.

The more Paba saw, the more astounded he became.

The citizens here were full of vigor, and many shops along the street were clearly newly built.

Such large-scale renovations, plus the citizens’ casual familiarity with it all. This couldn’t possibly be staged just to fool him.

There’d be no point in doing that anyway.

Chilie remained unfazed. After initial surprise, he seemed to have lost interest in the street scene.

They soon came upon a tea house, and Fang Zheng led Paba’s group straight inside.

As they walked, he said: “Master! Great Jing’s tea is absolutely unmatched!”

“You must have had some at the Court of Diplomatic Receptions, but that’s not truly top-tier tea!”

“Here they have the world’s finest tea, Celestial Immortal Tea. Today I’ll let you experience it!”

Without waiting for a response, he pulled Paba into the tea house.

The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up seeing Fang Zheng arrive, then quickly lowered his head, pretending nothing had happened.

Fang Zheng knocked on the counter: “Shopkeeper! Do you have any Celestial Immortal Tea right now? Bring it out and let me see. However much you have, I’ll take it all!”

The shopkeeper glanced at Chilie, fear flashing in his eyes, before hurriedly turning to look for the tea.

Taking advantage of this moment, Fang Zheng said to Paba: “Master! This Celestial Immortal Tea is incredibly rare! It normally sells for five hundred taels per catty! Extremely precious! We’ll have to try our luck today.”

Paba inwardly gasped.

Five hundred taels per catty! So extravagant. Had Great Jing’s prices really reached such levels?

The tea at the Court of Diplomatic Receptions was indeed good, with a pure and elegant flavor, but how much better could it possibly get?

“Many thanks, Lord Fang.”

Shortly after, the shopkeeper brought out an exquisite small porcelain jar and placed it on the counter.

He smiled apologetically at Fang Zheng: “I’m terribly sorry, honored guests!”

“Our Celestial Immortal Tea is sold out. Please come back tomorrow!”

“However… since you’re already here, we can’t let our guests leave empty-handed!”

“This jar contains our shop’s treasure, Celestial Immortal Tea.”

“We can’t sell it… but you can all take a smell! This way you won’t be fooled by counterfeits in the market!”

Fang Zheng’s face darkened with anger: “Smell? Are you mocking me? This lord needs it for honored guests! Name your price for this tea. I’ll take it!”

The shopkeeper shook his head vigorously, clutching the tea jar to his chest as he quickly backed up two steps, saying anxiously: “Impossible! Impossible, no matter the price! My lord, please understand my position. Countless people come every day wanting to buy Celestial Immortal Tea.”

“But our humble shop can only get a tiny amount each month. If those who come asking daily can’t even get a smell of it, my little shop would be destroyed!”

Fang Zheng looked at Paba, thoroughly embarrassed: “Master… you see, this… this is terribly awkward.”

Paba shook his head.

An honest man with thin face. Understandable.

“No matter. Since this tea is so precious that even money can’t buy it, being able to smell it is good enough.”

With that, he stepped forward, and the shopkeeper quickly handed over the jar.

Paba took the jar and began sniffing carefully.

While his head was lowered, the shopkeeper secretly glanced at Fang Zheng.

Seeing him give a signal, the shopkeeper immediately began: “This tea’s production is extremely limited! It comes from Great Jing’s highest southern peak, Celestial Mountain.”

“Only about ten tea trees remain in existence, and they’re all imperial tribute items!”

“This tea gets better with age. Those who have it in private hands won’t easily part with it. They either drink it themselves or keep it as a collection. There’s less and less available in the market!”

“So, forget about tomorrow. Even if you come back next month, it’ll be very hard to buy any!”

The shopkeeper kept chattering, disrupting Paba’s train of thought.

Paba held the tea jar and took a sniff. The aroma seemed unremarkable, even inferior to the tea at the Court of Diplomatic Receptions, but hearing the shopkeeper describe it so mysteriously, he couldn’t help but raise the jar for another careful smell…