Exam Results

Emperor Jing smiled and looked at Li Yuanzhao. "Very well! I'll keep these glasses. You may go now."

Li Yuanzhao looked dumbfounded.

That's it? You take the things and dismiss me?

You could at least say a few kind words, give some praise!

Otherwise, wasn't my visit pointless?

"Imperial Father... so... shall I leave?" Li Yuanzhao asked hesitantly.

Seeing his reluctant expression, Emperor Jing couldn't help but smile.

He didn't need to guess. His son was waiting for praise.

Such a grown man, still acting like a child.

Emperor Jing smiled. "The Crown Prince has shown filial piety."

"I've also heard about how you've been handling the Sanitation Team in Banshan District. You've done well, and I'm very pleased."

"I award you one thousand taels of copper. Eunuch Guo, make the arrangements."

Guo Tianyang bowed in acknowledgment, inwardly delighted at having gained a treasure for free.

Li Yuanzhao looked somewhat disappointed, opened his mouth, and stammered. "Copper?"

"What else?"

"...Your son takes his leave!"

After Li Yuanzhao left, Emperor Jing continued wearing the glasses, observing various objects.

He kept making sounds of appreciation.

"Fang Zheng always creates new and interesting things. I never expected he could even treat eye ailments!"

Guo Tianyang was still enjoying the acupressure stimulation.

He couldn't help but agree. "Yes, Your Majesty, these glasses are truly amazing. As for Fang Zheng...."

Emperor Jing waved his hand. "No rush. That young man wants to use me for advertising. He has no good intentions!"

"When I have time, I'll speak with him privately."

"How is Miaohan lately?"

Guo Tianyang thought for a moment, then sighed. "The Princess is not well. She still has no appetite."

"Fang Zheng hasn't visited the Mingluan Palace for a long time...."

Hearing this, Emperor Jing's face darkened. "That scoundrel! If anything happens to Miaohan, I'll hold him accountable!"

"Go tell the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some tonics for Miaohan. Make sure she eats them all!"

...

Several days passed, and Fang Zheng attended court as usual.

He didn't see the Emperor wearing glasses at court, but Guo Tianyang wore them every day.

Sometimes when meeting him in the palace, Fang Zheng would see Guo Tianyang lift his clothes to breathe on the lenses, carefully wiping them.

He treasured them like precious jewels.

Although the Emperor hadn't publicly worn the glasses, Guo Tianyang's daily use was enough to arouse others' curiosity.

Fang Zheng wasn't in a hurry. Zhang Dongxiang was still busy with the provincial examination process and hadn't returned to the palace.

He'd let news about the glasses spread slowly within the palace. When Zhang Dongxiang returned, it would be the perfect time for hunger marketing. That would complete the plan!

Strangely though, the Emperor's attitude toward him had changed significantly lately.

He always looked at Fang Zheng with dissatisfaction, occasionally asking questions that seemed to have no right answers....

Fang Zheng pondered this for a long time.

Had something gone wrong in his approach?

But that couldn't be! He'd continued submitting thoughtful memorials regularly and even sent the Emperor local delicacies and snacks from time to time, which were always accepted.

Hadn't this approach always worked well before?

Could it be... that the Emperor saw through his plan to use him for advertising the glasses? But that shouldn't be the case!

They'd always had this tacit understanding, and when it came to making money, His Majesty was quite enthusiastic!

His future father-in-law having such unpredictable moods wasn't a good sign!

After thinking for several days without reaching any conclusion, Fang Zheng could only attribute it to the Emperor being busy with state affairs!

Now his main concern was the newspaper's reporters.

After the exams, he had specifically asked around. About four or five reporters believed they could pass.

These were all elites of the newspaper!

Among them was Shen Yi, whom Fang Zheng admired most.

This young man was most efficient and knew how to play along!

But according to previous background checks, Shen Yi had been a child prodigy, ranking first in the county examinations. His chances of passing were high!

Once he became a Juren, if he left the newspaper, it would be a significant loss!

Although the newspaper was doing well, it couldn't overcome traditional views. Juren wouldn't consider it, and students feared wasting time that could be spent studying for exams. Finding suitable reporters was extremely difficult.

He needed to prepare for the worst and find a way to fill the gap!

On the day the results were announced, Fang Zheng led many reporters to check the list. He even gave the newspaper staff a half-day holiday for the occasion.

Although many hadn't taken the exam, it didn't mean they wouldn't want to in the future.

Everyone wanted to join in the excitement.

So Fang Zheng was completely generous this time and gave the newspaper a half-day holiday.

When they arrived at the examination hall, it was already crowded.

Some people were even beating drums and gongs to add to the atmosphere.

The reporters who had taken the exam saw this scene and grew nervous, pushing through the crowd to get in.

Fang Zheng followed them on his tall horse, laughing as he watched the scene.

Everyone was smiling now, but many would be crying soon!

With this thought, he called out to the reporters around him. "Everyone, keep your 'weapons' ready. Later, go interview the failed candidates. This will be our front-page headline tomorrow!"

"Choose a few outstanding examples, the more tragic the better! The standard is to make readers cry!"

The accompanying reporters looked reluctant and stuttered. "Sir... shouldn't we interview the successful candidates?"

"Poking at the wounds of those who failed... isn't that inappropriate!"

Fang Zheng laughed. "What's inappropriate about it!"

"Those most tragic candidates, who fail their whole lives! Being in the newspaper might even improve their lives."

"Besides, every year, don't more people fail than pass? If you only report on the successful ones, doesn't that make others feel bad?"

"Write more about unfortunate people and unfortunate events, and other failed candidates won't feel so depressed! They'll have the energy to try again next year!"

"Our newspaper should bring happiness to the masses!"

"Sacrificing one person's happiness for thousands of families, and it's not even a sacrifice. This is a win-win!"

Win-win!

And not just a win-win. It's good for newspaper sales too! Common people love to see others' misfortunes!

The accompanying reporters looked at him with admiration!

As expected of Master Fang, so forward-thinking! They still had much to learn.

"The results are out! The results are out!" As they chatted, announcements of the results echoed throughout the venue!

Seeing someone posting the list, Fang Zheng's heart inexplicably tightened.

Although he hadn't taken the imperial examination, he somehow felt like he was checking his college entrance exam results.

The psychological shadow of the education system had followed him for two lifetimes!

When the list was completely posted, Fang Zheng's eyes widened in shock!

First place... the champion... Shen Yi?

The reporters around him burst into cheers, surrounding Shen Yi.

Onlookers cast envious glances, and some joined in the celebration.

Amid the jubilation, Fang Zheng felt too pained to breathe!

Damn! This made no sense! Shen Yi had always kept a low profile. He did excellent work as a reporter, but where did he find time to study?!

It's over! He definitely couldn't be kept! Even if he wanted to stay at the newspaper, it wouldn't be right to let him. That would be harming him!

He had unlimited prospects! For an ordinary Juren, the reporter position might still be competitive.

But for the champion... forget it!

He never expected Shen Yi to have such ability! A key talent lost from the newspaper!

Sitting on his horse, Fang Zheng wore a mask of pain and began beating his chest....

Shen Yi stood frozen in place, not reacting even as everyone cheered around him.

When he finally came to his senses, he realized he had indeed won first place.

But his long experience as a reporter had taught him to remain calm in all situations.

Looking at the colleagues celebrating for him, recalling every detail of his journey as a reporter, Shen Yi smiled knowingly.

If not for this experience, he might never have had the chance to become the champion.

Although being both a reporter and a student was indeed tiring, the rewards were exceptionally rich.

Without practical experience, integrating knowledge and action, visiting common people, along with the wealth of political news from the Crown Prince and Master Fang, he probably wouldn't have written such brilliant policy essays.

With this thought, Shen Yi turned to look at Fang Zheng, his expression calm, and bowed deeply!

Fang Zheng composed himself, forced a smile, and nodded back at him.

Damn! Continue checking the list!