Late Night Conversation Between Emperor and Minister

Emperor Jing gathered his thoughts for a moment, dismissed everyone, and sighed lightly, "With just the two of us here, I'll speak directly."

"I've heard there are many rumors about the Crown Prince in Banshan District."

"Some say the Crown Prince interferes too much in people's lives, causing much discontent. Do you know about this?"

Fang Zheng answered honestly, "I know, but only a little. I generally don't like to interfere too much in what His Highness does."

"Whether right or wrong, His Highness needs to experience things himself to learn. If he just follows me around listening to theories, it would be meaningless."

"As the saying goes, teaching by example is best. Your Majesty probably saw my practical abilities and assigned me to teach the Crown Prince."

"Otherwise, there are many officials in court smarter than me, who understand strategy better than me. Why would it fall to me to teach the Crown Prince?"

Emperor Jing glanced at Fang Zheng with surprise.

I didn't expect you to be so self-aware!

"Indeed, you're right. I think the same way. The Crown Prince lacks experience and isn't good at studying."

"So I had to resort to this inferior strategy and choose you."

"........"

The Imperial Study fell silent.

Fang Zheng's face drooped like a donkey's.

What do you mean by "inferior strategy"? Am I that bad?

Emperor Jing also felt extremely awkward, realizing his mistake. He took a sip of tea to cover his embarrassment before saying, "I actually admire you very much!"

"Ah."

"......"

"Don't be sarcastic in front of me!" Emperor Jing slammed the table, and Fang Zheng straightened up.

Then Emperor Jing grabbed a memorial from the table and tossed it to Fang Zheng.

"Take a look! See what the Crown Prince has done in Banshan District!"

Fang Zheng opened the memorial and carefully read it twice.

It largely matched the information he'd received from Zhang Laoliu.

Only the situation seemed to have escalated.

Closing the memorial, Fang Zheng calmly said, "I've read it."

Emperor Jing frowned slightly, "Banshan District is nominally under the Crown Prince's management, but I know you're the real contributor behind the scenes."

"Now that you've handed it over to him alone, he's created such a mess as soon as he took charge. How will this end?"

"Every single thing recorded here is absurd!"

"Dividing one kitchen into three sections, each with a different function, and using different cutting boards for different foods... utterly ridiculous!"

"Even the Imperial Kitchen isn't this complicated! Is he suggesting using a single cutting board would kill someone?!"

"What exactly is he trying to do? Before this gets out of hand, end it quickly. If people find out, the imperial family's face will be lost!"

Having such an unfortunate son.

Running around the capital making trouble, doing incomprehensible things.

Emperor Jing was extremely frustrated by this, but fortunately it hadn't gone on long, so there was still time to stop it.

Although Emperor Jing completely disagreed with Li Yuanzhao's approach, Fang Zheng had high hopes for him.

To his knowledge, the chaotic practices in Banshan District weren't entirely Li Yuanzhao's ideas.

They were mostly the doings of those beneath him, though they followed Li Yuanzhao's intentions, so no one questioned them.

Fang Zheng found these practices quite surprising, somewhat resembling modern management.

But they were clearly inappropriate for this era.

The common people were too fragile and unprepared, unable to withstand such disruption.

Complaints were understandable.

But Fang Zheng had no intention of interfering, first to maintain his enthusiasm, and second to let him learn a lesson.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, I believe His Highness's initiatives have many merits. It would be inappropriate to interfere. Why not let him continue?"

"His Highness is young and spirited. Verbal education alone won't convince him. He won't learn without hitting a few setbacks."

Emperor Jing's brows knotted together, "So you suggest letting him do as he pleases, disrupting the common people?!"

"Your Majesty's words are too harsh! I dare say, His Highness is the heir apparent. Making mistakes now is better than making them later."

"If I intervene every time he makes a mistake, I fear future problems will be even greater!"

Hearing this, Emperor Jing slumped back, "You have a point....."

"I'm just worried. Yuanzhao's performance is inconsistent... I only have this one son, and Great Jing only has this one Crown Prince."

"If I had other princes, this rebellious child wouldn't be so defiant!"

Fang Zheng licked his lips.

Well! Is Your Majesty thinking of having more children?

So many daughters but only one son, the probability is.....

Emperor Jing leaned back in his chair, his face showing reminiscence, before he suddenly laughed, "Enough, why am I telling you this?"

"You have your methods. Whatever happens, you must watch over him!"

"Make him a good emperor, so I can rest easy."

Fang Zheng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is still young! The Crown Prince's excellence is all due to Your Majesty's teaching! I've only done a little bit of work!"

That rebellious child isn't like me at all!

Emperor Jing glared, "Stop flattering! Just teach him properly."

"Do you know how many officials were teaching the Crown Prince before?! Do you know how much pressure I'm under for letting you teach the Crown Prince alone?!"

"Look! Those are all memorials criticizing you!"

Emperor Jing pointed toward the corner.

Fang Zheng quickly looked over. There really was a small stack of memorials on the ground.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but gasp.

I hadn't expected this! Everyone acts so proper in public, but so many people criticize me behind my back!

But why does His Majesty keep this stack in the Imperial Study? Isn't it in the way?

While pondering, he noticed another stack in another corner and curiously asked, "Your Majesty! There's another stack there, is that also...?"

Emperor Jing's face reddened, "That one doesn't concern you!"

"Oh."

Emperor Jing didn't speak, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

The reason he kept the memorials criticizing Fang Zheng in the corner was that they contained much information about Li Yuanzhao's activities.

Along with various analyses and criticisms. He would often take them out to compare and reference.

The other stack, naturally, contained Fang Zheng's flattering memorials... Although new ones arrived daily, he liked to review them when tired. It had become a habit... There were few people who could flatter like him.

Emperor Jing often thought that if that rebellious son had even a fraction of Fang Zheng's way with words, he would die content!

After a moment of silence, Emperor Jing continued, "At my age, I have few regrets left."

"My only concern is the Crown Prince."

"How many events have occurred in just this past year? The Jianjiang floods, the Water God Sect causing trouble, the grain shortage, the Northern Rong..."

"With his temperament still so erratic, how can I feel comfortable handing over the empire to him?"

"Minister Fang, tell me honestly. I won't blame you."

"What do you think of Yuanzhao? Will he... be a good emperor?"

Water God Sect? Hearing this, Fang Zheng's heart skipped a beat!

Is this cult so influential? Don't I still have some followers in my county?

I need to ask Guo Tianyang about this later, to avoid having a landmine nearby that I'm unaware of!

After thinking for a while, he calmly said, "The Crown Prince is naturally excellent in my eyes."

"But having been confined to the palace, Your Majesty has protected him too well. Although the Crown Prince has a compassionate heart, such compassion is worthless in my eyes at this time!"

Emperor Jing gave him a strange look.

You don't need to be that honest.....

"His Highness is like a greenhouse... a potted plant in the Imperial Study, untested by wind and rain. Though well-intentioned, he cannot do good! In plain words, he talks without understanding the effort!"