Still Quite Affordable

Since the imperial examination results had been posted, Zhang Dongxiang should have returned to court.

But Fang Zheng hadn't seen Zhang Dongxiang at court yesterday.

He was probably resting at home, as the chief examiner's role was extremely draining.

Over several days, he had to read countless essays.

Ordinary people simply wouldn't have such capability.

But at the next morning's court session, Zhang Dongxiang appeared as usual.

However, his behavior was somewhat unusual!

As soon as he entered the hall, he kept glancing at Fang Zheng!

These days had been truly exhausting. Having experienced the clear world again, it was hard to be satisfied with the current blurry vision.

Especially seeing that Guo Tianyang was already wearing glasses, Zhang Dongxiang's old face grew very long.

I haven't got mine yet, but a eunuch is already using them?!

He's taken so many advantages from me, was our relationship for nothing?

Seeing his behavior, Fang Zheng naturally understood. After court ended, to the surprise of the other officials, the two men walked to a hidden spot at the hall entrance and began whispering together.

Under the pillar outside the hall, Zhang Dongxiang asked impatiently, "Where are the things?"

"Third Uncle, why are you so anxious! Good meals are worth waiting for. What I've brought you this time is definitely better than before! Later you..."

"Stop dawdling! Hurry up!"

Fang Zheng shook his head helplessly, took a wooden box from his sleeve, and opened it to reveal exquisite glasses inside.

A pair of silver-framed glasses, with clear lenses identical to the previous testing glasses.

But there was an additional thoughtful design: both arms of the glasses had a silver chain attached, convenient for hanging around the neck.

Zhang Dongxiang was overjoyed, took the glasses, and immediately put them on.

The chain naturally hung around his neck!

"Good! Good! This is it! After wearing them for just one day, I already can't adapt without them!"

"See?"

"Yes! What were you going to say just now?" Seeing the old man so happy, Fang Zheng also smiled. "Later when you return to the Cabinet, if anyone asks, remember to say you bought them for three hundred taels."

Zhang Dongxiang frowned. "Wasn't it two hundred and fifty?!"

"Did it have this chain before?"

"......."

"Besides, two hundred fifty was the family price! I'm giving Minister Li and Minister Zheng one pair each, don't spread it around!"

"This afternoon! The Crown Prince and I will set up a stall outside the Cabinet door. Pre-orders only! First come, first served!"

"I know! You profiteer, what a disgrace!" Zhang Dongxiang frowned and walked away grumbling.

When he reached the Cabinet's chamber door, Zhang Dongxiang adjusted his official robes, took off his glasses, and hung them on his chest.

With a serene smile on his face, he slowly entered the chamber.

As people age, they can't avoid developing a desire to show off.

A treasure like these glasses, he wanted to display them properly to everyone.

By now he had arrived relatively late, and many people in the chamber were carefully reading newspapers.

Few noticed his entrance.

Seeing this, Zhang Dongxiang coughed twice.

"Ahem, ahem!"

Those reading the papers slowly lowered them and looked toward Zhang Dongxiang.

Zhang Dongxiang acted casual, took the glasses from his chest, and carefully put them on.

At this moment, everyone was shocked!

Li Yansong exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you using a eunuch's things!"

"???"

Three black lines dropped down from Zhang Dongxiang's forehead.

A eunuch's things? Were these things specifically for eunuchs? If eunuchs eat food, am I not allowed to eat food too?

"Minister Li... what do you mean? How did this become something only eunuchs use?"

Li Yansong looked confused. "What are these things anyway? It seems only Eunuch Guo in the palace uses them."

"Aren't these specifically for eunuchs?"

During this time, everyone had been wondering why Guo Tianyang had such strange objects hanging on his face and what they were for.

They had eventually reached a consensus.

Perhaps the eunuch had psychological issues and created special decorations to express himself.

This misunderstanding arose for two reasons. First, no one dared to initiate conversation with a eunuch, unless they were Fang Zheng. Second, seeing the Emperor's tacit approval, they assumed these things were exclusively for eunuchs.

Now that Minister Zhang was wearing them, it meant these things had other uses!

Zhang Dongxiang snorted, swinging his sleeves.

"These are called eyeglasses! They are treasures for health maintenance. Wearing them clears the liver and brightens the eyes!"

With this, everyone was surprised again.

What? Just wearing them clears the liver and brightens the eyes, and they're health treasures?

With this topic, everyone became alert!

Daily conversation topics, besides court politics, were mostly about health and wellness.

Since their lives were comfortable, they naturally pursued higher quality!

Old men simply couldn't resist health supplements!

Several people immediately put down their newspapers and hurried to Zhang Dongxiang to examine the glasses.

Zhang Dongxiang, initially proud, soon became uncomfortable under everyone's pointing and staring.

He took off the neck chain and glasses, saying helplessly, "Here, look."

Li Yansong took the glasses and began fiddling with them. Zhang Dongxiang quickly reached out to support them from below.

He kept saying, "Careful... careful... don't break them..."

Li Yansong looked disdainful. "At your age, you're still so stingy! Let me try!" With that, he put the glasses on his head.

As soon as he did, he was completely stunned, his eyes wide open!

"They brighten the eyes! They really do clear the liver and brighten the eyes! The effect is so immediate!"

With these words, the watching crowd suddenly became excited! So they were truly good treasures, not deceptive items!

Zhang Dongxiang said proudly, "Well? Well?"

Li Yansong nodded repeatedly. "Good! Good!"

Nearby, Zheng Qiao was nearly drooling with desire. He reached out several times, softly calling, "Minister Li, Minister Li, let me try too!"

His eyes also had chronic problems, he couldn't see clearly!

When young, he had saved on oil and didn't dare light lamps brightly. Now his eyesight was getting worse and worse. How could he not be tempted by such treasures?

After looking around, Li Yansong reluctantly took off the glasses and handed them to Zheng Qiao.

Zheng Qiao eagerly put them on, but immediately took them off, saying disappointedly, "No good! The effect is indeed remarkable, but I actually feel quite sick. It seems I have no affinity with these treasures..."

By now, Zhang Dongxiang didn't want to let others try anymore. He quickly took back the glasses and put them on again, saying knowingly, "Ah! You don't understand. These things need to be customized! Just like taking medicine, different prescriptions for different people. Mine doesn't suit you, it's not that the glasses don't work!"

"You just need to get a new pair that suits you!"

Everyone looked eagerly at Zhang Dongxiang, and Zheng Qiao regained hope.

"So... where can we buy them?"

Zhang Dongxiang waved his hand. "Before discussing where to buy them, let's talk about the price first. Everyone should consider if they can afford it!"

"How much?" Everyone looked tense.

Such amazing things couldn't be cheap, probably several dozens of taels of silver!

Those two crystal lenses alone were extraordinary!

"Three hundred taels!!" Zhang Dongxiang held up three fingers.

"Three hundred taels for such a light little thing! That's too expensive. Minister Zhang, where did you buy these? Were you swindled? I'll go reason with that profiteer!" Someone said indignantly.

"Fang Zheng is selling them! He said he'll set up a stall outside the Cabinet chambers this afternoon for everyone to get fitted glasses. You can pre-order them then!"

Li Yansong and Zheng Qiao shook their heads repeatedly.

"We won't go! We won't go! Why be slaughtered like fat sheep?"

Zhang Dongxiang quickly pulled their sleeves, whispering, "Fang Zheng said he'll give you both a free pair!"

At this, the two old men were instantly delighted!

Li Yansong stroked his beard, smiled slightly, and said loudly, "However... after careful consideration, this item's effect is indeed extraordinary! Three hundred taels for a pair of good eyes seems quite worth it!"

Zheng Qiao quickly agreed, "Right! It's still quite affordable!"