The Incorruptible Judge 09

Fang Huatian's lips trembled as he struggled to speak.

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "The crime I've committed warrants the execution of my entire clan, Father. Surely you don’t intend to report me?"

It took Fang Huatian a long moment to recover. "The regional governors won’t stand idly by. You... you’ve acted too rashly..."

Fang Zhiyi waved his hand dismissively. "They must stand idly by. Before coming to the capital, I arranged for my men to take control of the five prefectures surrounding Qingping." He adjusted his collar. "And I owe that to you. Qingping County’s forces are now formidable, and the officials there fear your name. Even without my presence, they’d throw open their gates to welcome my men."

Fang Huatian stared at his son in alarm.

"Having a well-connected father is truly convenient—saves so much trouble," Fang Zhiyi mused, glancing at the sky. "Come now, Grand Chancellor. It’s time for court."

The emperor had been assassinated, and given his notorious promiscuity, he left behind numerous heirs. Under Fang Huatian’s guidance, one was chosen to inherit the throne.

Fang Huatian was uneasy, but as Fang Zhiyi had predicted, not only did the regional governors remain passive, even the border armies stayed silent. Only then did Fang Huatian realize how much his son had accomplished under his banner. He had to admit—this son surpassed him in both skill and ruthlessness.

After the new era name was decreed, Fang Huatian pleaded old age and prepared to resign as Grand Chancellor.

The ministers fervently protested, only for Fang Huatian to immediately nominate his son as successor.

Naturally, objections arose. Fang Zhiyi had achievements, yes, but how could he leap straight to Grand Chancellor? With the young emperor on the throne, everyone knew the power the position held.

Some promptly brought up Fang Zhiyi’s failure to protect the late emperor, stirring undercurrents in the court.

But they didn’t realize that for Fang Zhiyi, political maneuvering was child’s play.

He opted for the simplest solution: anyone who opposed him would be found dead in their home by morning.

Every official in that court, civil or military, had skeletons in their closets. Execute first, investigate later—no wrongful convictions.

Within a mere month, the capital fell under Fang Zhiyi’s control. His trusted men from Qingping County gradually filled key positions, and the courtiers learned the hard way: oppose him, and you’d meet a swift end.

Thus, dissent faded, and Fang Zhiyi assumed the role of Grand Chancellor.

Policies rolled out one after another. First, regional officials were sent to Qingping to "study." Then came the systematic replacement of local administrators—not through remote dismissals, but by summoning them to the capital under the pretext of meeting the new emperor, only to detain and interrogate them.

As corrupt elements were purged, Shen Xun drafted proclamations extolling the virtues of the nine-year-old emperor, spreading his reputation among the people.

Qingping’s former garrison was disbanded and merged into the border armies. Leveraging Fang Huatian’s connections, Fang Zhiyi’s men soon took command, implementing his military reforms.

To address banditry, Fang Zhiyi adopted a straightforward approach: offer amnesty. Most bandits turned to crime due to injustice or poverty—redress their grievances, provide land and funds, and only execute the irredeemable.

The Great Qi Dynasty was revitalized, its new policies propelling society forward.

Fang Zhiyi had no interest in being a power-hungry regent. At age twelve, the young emperor was handed full control of governance—a move that left those whispering about usurpation utterly baffled.

"Honestly, who’d want to be emperor? Ugh. Late to bed, early to rise."

"Careful with your words, Grand Chancellor Fang," Xuan Yuan chided. He’d become Fang Zhiyi’s shadow, per the latter’s request. The man was too capable to let roam free, yet Fang Zhiyi couldn’t bring himself to kill him.

"Enough chatter. Any leads?"

Xuan Yuan sighed. "None. Song Yunfan has truly vanished."

Little Hei chuckled. "Heaven’s Way fears you. It’s hiding both Songs now."

Fang Zhiyi cursed, but the following year, a candidate named Song Rentou topped the national exams in science and entered court.

History repeated itself. Summoned to the imperial harem for "consultations," the clever young emperor—eager to delegate like his chancellor—unwittingly set the stage for Song Rentou to fall for a late emperor’s widow.

This was unacceptable. Over time, the emperor realized: I hired you to work, not to become my stepfather!

Influenced by Fang Zhiyi’s methods, he ordered Song Rentou’s execution—only for the man to escape against all odds.

Song Rentou fled the capital, vowing to reunite with his love by raising a rebel army. Yet after scouring Great Qi, he found no bandit strongholds left to join.

Former mountain hideouts had become tourist attractions, frequented by poets and scholars.

Ex-bandits, their grievances resolved or livelihoods secured, had no interest in risking their necks.

Song Rentou’s hopes crumbled.

He turned homeward, where his father and sworn brother—wealthy merchants—could fund a mercenary force. But before arriving, he learned soldiers had surrounded his family’s estate.

With the "Song plot" advancing, Heaven’s Way abandoned Song Yunfan. Fang Zhiyi, guided by Xuan Yuan’s divinations, captured both under the pretext of "eradicating remnants of the Panlong Bandits."

The law sentenced them to death. Song Yunfan, guilty of colluding with bandits, murder, and rebellion, was handed to an incorruptible judge handpicked by Fang Zhiyi. Among the prisoners was Sun Biao, a long-detained general who’d endured daily beatings. Upon hearing his execution was finally set, he wept with relief.

Song Yunfan met his end outside the capital, enduring three days of lingchi (slow slicing) before dying—prompting Fang Zhiyi to abolish the punishment afterward. Song Yunfan entered history as Great Qi’s last lingchi victim, his crimes immortalized in records.

Song Rentou, upon hearing the news, fled north beyond the border. Though denied rebellion, Heaven’s Way granted him other adventures—yet he never returned to Great Qi.

One day, Xuan Yuan vanished, leaving Fang Zhiyi a single note:

Your path ahead is fraught, Master Fang. This humble Daoist can aid no further, but prays you hold fast to your original intent. Only thus may you find your destiny.

"That old Taoist priest..." Fang Zhiyi clicked his tongue. "What do you think he knows?"

Little Hei replied, "In a world like this, someone like him shouldn’t even exist—he’s already beyond the constraints of the Heavenly Dao. It’s no surprise if he’s figured something out. Come on, let me show you something fun."