The emperor learned that Zhang Fang had personally risked his life to save him, keeping his own life intact. Had someone else been in charge, the emperor might have sought a way to eliminate them afterward. However, because it was Zhang Fang, the emperor’s trust in him deepened. If his previous trust towards Zhang Fang was an eight out of ten, it had now reached a complete ten. At that moment, the only person he truly trusted was Zhang Fang. Even though the second prince was quite useless, the emperor felt the need to be cautious. He directly took back control of the Imperial Guard and handed it over to Zhang Fang.
In this way, Zhang Fang alone held command over both the palace’s Qian Niu Wei and the Jin Wu Wei in the capital! Moreover, he handled all the political affairs on behalf of the emperor! He could truly be called the most powerful minister!
During the emperor’s recovery, the second prince requested a review of the case of the Liu family. Zhang Fang approved it with a red brush and arranged for the relevant departments to thoroughly investigate the wrongful accusation from years past.
While the emperor rested, he was unaware of these developments until the Liu family was exonerated. When Zhang Fang reported this success to the emperor, the emperor suddenly realized that Zhang Fang had been assisting the second prince the whole time!
“You! What a great gentleman of the world! I grant you military power and let you govern the court, yet you betray me like this!” The emperor, whose health was already fragile, was so enraged by Zhang Fang’s actions that he coughed up blood and fainted.
Zhang Fang brought the second prince into the palace to care for the emperor and drafted an imperial edict for the succession, sealing it with the jade seal. The edict, in the emperor’s tone, stated that due to his poor health, and seeing how filial and understanding the second prince was, he wished to pass the throne to him and retire to Xingqing Palace.
When the second prince received the edict, he made a bow that was out of place and solemnly thanked Zhang Fang, “Thank you, Sir Zhang, for your help.”
Zhang Fang nodded slightly and, after the second prince’s coronation, intended to hand over all power to the new ruler before withdraw and return home.
“Are you really leaving, Sir Zhang?” The new ruler panicked. His rise to power depended on Zhang Fang’s assistance, and now that Zhang Fang wanted to withdraw, the new ruler felt helpless.
Zhang Fang knelt before the new ruler and said sincerely, “I can only pave the way for Your Majesty. The road ahead, I hope Your Majesty prioritizes the people and takes care of your health. May the green hills remain, and your intentions remain unchanged. I must take my leave.”
Tears streamed down the new ruler’s face as he crouched down and embraced Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang’s departure could not be hindered. Not wanting to make things difficult for him, the new ruler personally escorted Zhang Fang out of the capital.
Last year, when Zhang Fang arrived in the capital, the entire city welcomed him with great enthusiasm, with loud cheers ringing out.
Today, as Zhang Fang left the capital, the emperor personally saw him off, while the entire city knelt, tearfully bidding him farewell in silence.
As Zhang Fang passed through Jiangzhou, he recalled that he still needed to deal with the minor character Lin Zheng and immediately wrote a letter back to the capital. Subsequently, the court would send someone to investigate Lin Zheng.
Upon returning to Dou County, even though Zhang Fang wished to be low-key and avoid attracting attention, his demeanor was still recognizable to the villagers.
The news reached the village, and old Zhang led the entire village to the city to welcome Zhang Fang home.
“Father, I’m back. I wonder if there are enough fat chickens at home.” Zhang Fang said with a smile as he embraced old Zhang.
Old Zhang, with red eyes, hugged Zhang Fang tightly, filled with both joy and tears.
Knowing that Zhang Fang wanted to eat chicken, the Zhang brothers rushed home to kill a chicken first.
That evening, the whole family joyfully enjoyed a reunion dinner. Zhang Fang told them, “I won’t leave anymore; I will stay in the village to teach. Father, Mother, is that alright?”
Old Zhang and Old Mrs. Zhang laughed happily, nodding in satisfaction, “Great! This is the best!”
Wealth and fame could never compare to having one’s beloved son by their side!
That night, Zhang Fang quietly left this world.
The original character, Zhang Fang, regained control of his body but could not find joy. This was all because that person had made him a hero admired by thousands, turning him into a legend.
Even the original character, Zhang Fang, admired that person deeply. He was willing to offer his body to such a person. But Zhang Fang still departed. When he left, the original character, Zhang Fang, felt great sorrow.
The great deeds had already been accomplished by Zhang Fang. From now on, the original character Zhang Fang only needed to be an ordinary teacher.
In the dark, he got up and lit a candle. The original character Zhang Fang rummaged through his bag and found the notes left by that person. This was the final volume of “The Mortal’s Journey to Immortality.” It was the ending he left for all readers.
The original character Zhang Fang stepped outside, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, and slowly knelt down.
No matter where Zhang Fang came from, the original character believed this was a deity descending!
“What a great fortune it is to receive the deity’s favor; I, Zhang Fang, will surely dedicate myself to teaching every student sincerely. I will not fail the deity!”
The new ruler spent three years stabilizing the court. After the abdication of the former emperor, he felt empty inside, sitting on the throne amidst cold solitude.
Thus, the new ruler could not resist the temptation to come to Dou County, hoping to chat with Zhang Fang.
The young man in his twenties, with handsome features, was gently teaching students. Yet the new ruler felt that he lacked the past ethereal quality.
When the young man inside noticed the presence outside, he was astonished, hurriedly telling his students a few words before coming out of the classroom. The original character Zhang Fang respectfully saluted the new ruler.
The new ruler stopped him and took him aside to speak.
“It has been a long time, Sir Zhang, you’ve changed so much,” the new ruler expressed, his gaze filled with complex emotions as he scrutinized him.
The original character Zhang Fang looked anxious, gripping the ruler nervously with both hands.
The new ruler silently observed him. Suddenly, a thought emerged—this was not Sir Zhang!
Three years ago, after Zhang Fang returned to Dou County, he published the final volume of the plot and announced his retirement from writing to the world. Although many readers were reluctant, none disturbed him in Dou County. Everyone knew it was hard for Zhang Fang and didn’t want to pressure him.
The new ruler had written to him multiple times but never received a response.
The original character Zhang Fang looked anxious and fumbled, unsure of what to say, ultimately falling silent.
This demeanor deepened the new ruler’s disappointment. Gazing at him with a solemn expression, he asked in a low voice, “Has Sir Zhang left?”
The original character Zhang Fang looked up suddenly, his expression shocked as he stared at the new ruler.
In an instant, the new ruler’s heart felt chilled.