Royal Gold Magistrate

Fang Zheng and his group were ready to set out.

He was about to hurry to the capital to await an audience with the Emperor.

Originally, he only planned to take Xiao Tao and Zhang Biao with him to the capital. But after Bai Yi’s persistent pestering, he ultimately decided to bring her along too.

Early in the morning, the people of Taoyuan County had risen from bed in the middle of the night and were already waiting at the city gate at the crack of dawn.

In particular, the officials from the yamen had come even earlier. They were the earliest batch in Taoyuan County to follow by Fang Zheng’s side.

Having interacted for a long time, their feelings ran deep. Naturally, it was even harder for them to part in their hearts.

At this moment, the sky had not yet brightened, and the weather was dark and gloomy with howling winds.

Although the weather had turned warm, at this time, the cold wind blowing on one’s face still felt like being pricked by fine needles, making it uncomfortable.

However, no one uttered a word of complaint. They just silently held up lanterns and waited for the county magistrate to leave the city.

Zhang Laoliu from Laoliu Restaurant and the yamen guard Lu Fa had also come.

Standing in the crowd, they saw each other but didn’t say much, only solemnly nodding to one another.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “The horse carriage is coming!”

The crowd all turned to look.

Fang Zheng’s horse carriage was slowly driving towards the city gate.

Seeing the crowd gathered there, the coachman slowed down even more.

Inside the carriage, Fang Zheng was engrossed in reading a novel when the carriage suddenly shook slightly.

While reading, he asked, “Why did the carriage stop?”

Xiao Tao pulled open the curtain and exclaimed in surprise, “Young Master, look!”

Fang Zheng glanced over and saw through the carriage window an endless sea of people outside. He couldn’t help but sigh.

“Let’s get off.”

Fang Zheng was the first to climb out of the carriage and stand on top of it.

Seeing Fang Zheng come out, the crowd all stepped forward and began bowing or waving in greeting.

Bai Yi followed behind him. Seeing this spectacular scene, she was secretly shocked. Fang Zheng actually had such deep popular support! No wonder the Emperor valued him so highly!

After paying his respects, Zhang Laoliu hesitated on the spot for a bit. But without much delay, he stomped his foot and squeezed to the front near Fang Zheng.

He took out a wine jug from his bosom and choked up, “My lord, this is wine I warmed up early in the morning. The weather is still cold, so drink some on the road…”

Fang Zheng nodded and accepted the wine jug.

This seemed to ignite everyone’s enthusiasm. Each person started taking out various items and passing them up to the horse carriage. Xiao Tao, Bai Yi and the others were also constantly receiving things.

Very quickly, all sorts of items piled up and filled the horse carriage.

Fang Zheng hurriedly said, “Ke Shao! Maintain order!”

“This official appreciates everyone’s kindness! Don’t give any more! Don’t give any more!”

Although Fang Zheng shouted, the people in the back still squeezed forward regardless, and some people even started throwing things onto the horse carriage in their urgency.

In an instant, eggs and vegetable leaves were flying all over the sky.

Fang Zheng’s face darkened. He quickly had the yamen personnel transfer the items off the carriage one by one.

It took nearly half an hour before things finally settled down.

Fang Zheng looked behind him and found many common folk rushing over. The crowd was growing larger and larger. He sighed again, “Let’s not take the carriage. We’ll walk a bit.”

The group jumped off the horse carriage and began slowly walking towards the city gate.

At this moment, the crowd was abnormally quiet, just accompanying Fang Zheng as he walked.

Fang Zheng walked in the middle, with dotting lantern lights along both sides of the street.

The short path seemed to be infinitely extended. Countless people lined the streets.

Fang Zheng tried his best to see each person’s face clearly. These were the common people who had shared hardships with him, the merchants, minor officials, and citizens who had built up Taoyuan County brick by brick alongside him.

Leaving this time, he feared it would be difficult to stay in Taoyuan County from now on. His past efforts suddenly felt a bit futile to him.

This place had long become his home in this life. Was he going to start struggling and forging ahead again?

The crowd had reached the city gate. There was still a large empty space beside Fang Zheng. The common people dared not take a step further, afraid of blocking Fang Zheng’s path.

After exiting the city gate, someone softly said, “My lord, take care on your journey… Come back soon…”

“My lord, be cautious on the road.”

“My lord, may your noble title last for generations!”

One after another, they tried their best to restrain their abundant emotions, gradually blending into a chorus.

Fang Zheng didn’t dare look back. But as the voices grew louder and louder, he finally couldn’t help but stop and turn around.

Seeing the unending lantern lights stretching into the city, his scalding hot tears finally streamed down his face. But in the next second, he quickly raised his sleeve and wiped them dry.

Then he loudly said to the people before him, “You bunch of unruly folk! Making your lord walk in the cold, blowing wind into my eyes and making them hurt!”

Zhang Laoliu, Lu Fa and others standing closest felt a stabbing pain in their hearts upon seeing this. They couldn’t help but also cover their faces and start weeping.

When Fang Zheng was developing Taoyuan County, he personally tilled fields, cooked porridge to distribute grain, carried dirt to build the city wall, and cared for sick commoners… No matter how bitter or difficult, he always had a smiling face.

And now… they actually saw their lord moved to tears.

It’s just that they would rather see Fang Zheng acting carefree and unrestrained than see him sad.

Zhang Laoliu cried inconsolably. Lu Fa looked at this old man who had once caused him to be beaten and felt great sorrow in his heart. He couldn’t help patting his shoulder and softly saying, “Our lord will still return. Don’t cry.”

Zhang Laoliu wiped his tears and sniffled, choking out, “Return to what? Yesterday we all heard our lord is going to the capital to be Junior Tutor.”

“Do you know what that is? We all inquired about it. That’s the Emperor’s teacher! We’re all clear in our hearts. How can a small place like Taoyuan County… keep our lord here forever?”

“Our lord is someone who will leap from a fish to a dragon, someone meant to become a general or prime minister in the future! We bunch of commoners absolutely mustn’t block our lord’s path…”

Hearing this, Lu Fa dejectedly lowered his hand, his gaze turning somewhat melancholic as he looked towards Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng felt that if he stayed any longer, he feared he would lose his composure again. So he waved his hand, wanting the crowd to quickly disperse.

But upon opening his mouth, he found he had lost his voice. His throat felt a bit tight and he couldn’t speak.

He could only take the lead and climb into the horse carriage.

Xiao Tao and the others, who had been accompanying him at his side, were also deeply moved. Seeing Fang Zheng board the carriage, they hurriedly followed and got on.

Seeing everyone was present, the coachman began swinging his horsewhip. The carriage wheels turned and gradually drove off in the direction of the capital.

Fang Zheng lay in the carriage, opening up a book and covering his face with it as if he had fallen asleep.

Xiao Tao and Zhang Biao just sat to the side, silently wiping away tears without uttering a word.

Only Bai Yi felt extremely shocked, her heart momentarily at a loss.

She secretly lifted the cloth curtain of the carriage window and blankly gazed at the farewell crowd growing more and more distant.

The swarming sea of people still crowded at the city gate, unable to disperse for a long time.