The First Lackey Under The Empress

The sharp blade was suddenly thrown, creating a piercing whistle as it cut through the air.

The two sides facing off in front of the courtyard gate changed color simultaneously, retreating almost at the same time just as they were about to engage in close combat.

It was like a knife splitting a great river, forcing the water to stop flowing.

"Bang!"

The saber, infused with Zhao Du'an's internal energy, slammed heavily into the bluestone ground, embedding itself more than halfway, the dissipated force causing the surrounding ground to crack.

This was something he couldn't have done before—a testament to the transformation's effect on his martial arts.

"Ah—"

The group trying to break through the gate cried out in low voices, the leader's expression changing drastically.

He seemed to have not expected Zhao Du'an to arrive, and with such decisive action.

"Sir…"

Shen Juan and the other Pear Blossom Hall Embroidered Uniform Guards were also stunned.

But then they thought of their Jinyiwei's style and weren't surprised.

"Hiss—"

In an instant, Zhao Du'an had ridden his horse to the front.

While still on horseback, he yanked hard on the reins, causing the sturdy black horse to rear up on its hind legs.

"What happened?" Zhao Du'an asked expressionlessly, his gaze sweeping across the scene.

He noticed that although the group surrounding them seemed aggressive, they didn't have the bearing of men from the Imperial Guards.

The leader was actually a middle-aged civil official in a green robe, with a dignified appearance and an imposing aura.

Seeing their backbone arrive, Shen Juan and the others felt reassured, and immediately cupped their fists and reported:

"Reporting, sir, this subordinate and his team were investigating a case here, arresting a rebel and seizing several boxes of赃款赃物.

We were waiting for the yamen to send a cart to pick them up when this group from the Great 理寺 arrived, claiming they wanted to take the rebel and all the items. This subordinate refused, and they tried to seize them by force."

Snatching people? Snatching goods?

People from the Great 理寺?

Zhao Du'an caught the keywords and turned to look at the other group.

He saw that the dignified middle-aged civil official at the head didn't even raise his eyelids, cupping his hands and saying:

"This official is He Zheng, an assistant minister from the Great 理寺. Is that Zhao Jisi from the Imperial Prison? Please dismount and speak."

Assistant Minister of the Great 理寺… a fifth-rank official, outranking Zhao Du'an, and just enough to challenge his authority to arrest people.

"So it's Assistant Minister He." Zhao Du'an changed his previous arrogance, suddenly smiled, dismounted, tossed the reins to the other Jinyiwei who had arrived behind him, and said casually:

"I wonder what you gentlemen mean by this?"

Assistant Minister He took a deep breath and said lightly:

"Zhao Jisi should know that the case of the rebel your department arrested has been transferred to our Great 理寺 for investigation according to the Emperor's decree. The suspect, Tie Chi Guan, confessed that the clues point to accomplices in this courtyard. This official has come to arrest them and bring them to justice…"

The implication:

That traitor, Tie Chi Guan, sold the same information twice, first to Ma Yan and then to the Great 理寺.

So both sides, following the same clues, ran into each other.

Zhao Du'an said "Oh" and pretended to be puzzled:

"And then?"

Assistant Minister He said expressionlessly:

"Since this case has been handed over to our Great 理寺 for trial, we won't bother the brothers from the Imperial Prison. Please, Zhao Jisi, hand over the person to this official."

Who the hell is brothers with you… Shen Juan and the others cursed inwardly.

Zhao Du'an naturally understood, but he just smiled:

"Everything should be done in order. I was the first to arrest the person, and the things are mine. Your department comes and wants to take them away. That's not in accordance with the rules, is it?"

Assistant Minister He frowned:

"Is Zhao Jisi trying to defy the Emperor's orders? Since this case belongs to us, it should be transferred. What talk is there of first come, first served?"

Heh… don't try to put a big hat on me… Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes and calmly pointed out the loophole:

"What a big hat, Assistant Minister He. My Imperial Prison often takes prisoners from the capital's yamen, and even the Ministry of Justice, but we always submit an official letter first, and only after both sides have signed and stamped it do we act amicably. But I've never heard of transferring prisoners by force."

At first listen, the other side's words seemed reasonable.

But Zhao Du'an keenly sensed something was wrong.

In officialdom, unless they are political enemies, most people are harmonious and won't needlessly offend others.

Assistant Minister He was one step late, and the reasonable approach would have been to let Shen Juan escort the prisoner away first.

Then he would go back to open the documents and deliver them to Ma Yan.

Go through the process, and then bring the person up…

Of course, it could also be explained as the other party being anxious to take credit, worried that the things would fall into the hands of the Imperial Prison and be skimmed off.

It could barely explain the other party's behavior of snatching, but Zhao Du'an instinctively sensed something was wrong.

Did the other party not know that Shen Juan was from Pear Blossom Hall?

Did he not know his own bad reputation?

Why was he so stubborn, insisting on going against him?

Was it worth it?

Something was fishy!

"Zhao Jisi!"

Opposite him, the upright and awe-inspiring green-robed Assistant Minister lowered his face and said:

"You are a smart man, there's no need to play dumb. Since this case belongs to my Great 理寺, then why go around in circles and make things difficult? Tell your people to get out of the way."

Zhao Du'an didn't say anything, as if he was weighing something.

After a moment, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, as if he smiled subtly, and he turned to look at Shen Juan, who was standing in front of the courtyard gate, and suddenly his face darkened:

"Shen Juan, I'm very disappointed in you."

Shen Juan was stunned. This Pear Blossom Hall lay-flat second-generation heir didn't expect his boss to turn the gun on him.

Not only him, but the other Jinyiwei present were also stunned, realizing that their lord seemed to be giving in.

Yes, the other party was a solid fifth-rank official, and officials of higher rank could crush people to death. Moreover, the other party did have reason on his side.

Even if they really snatched the person back, the other party could still go through the process and take him away.

In this way, it was their fault for not retreating, leading to drawing their swords and almost triggering a conflict.

But this was different from their impression of their lord. Shouldn't the leader of Pear Blossom Hall be someone who thought he was second only to the heavens, someone who dared to slam the table and draw his sword to kill anyone?

Why was he backing down this time?

Could it be that what some people in the yamen were whispering in private was true?

That their boss was just a "dog relying on his master's power", "bullying the weak and fearing the strong", only daring to confront Li Lang because Mo Zhaorong was backing him, and only daring to arrest those fifty-eight officials because they were of low rank?

Having lost the support of his backer, was he cowering in the face of someone with a higher rank than himself?

This seemed to be the most reasonable guess, but…

"Sir, we…" Shen Lang still wanted to argue, feeling extremely aggrieved and frustrated.

However, Zhao Du'an sternly rebuked, "You still won't admit your mistake?!"

Shen Juan was rendered speechless.

The two groups of Embroidered Uniform Guards present also remained silent, but the resentment and disappointment in their eyes could not be concealed.

In stark contrast were the members of the Court of Judicial Review.

They had long heard of Zhao Du'an's overbearing arrogance, and they had indeed panicked earlier, feeling timid.

The reputation of a person is like the shadow of a tree; they feared that the man surnamed Zhao would lose his temper and that they would be implicated.

But at this moment, seeing him subdued by their Vice Minister with just a few words, turning around to reprimand his own subordinates, the tension in their hearts dissipated.

One by one, smiles appeared on their faces as they leisurely and easily watched the show, thinking that rumors couldn't be entirely true.

"Haha," Vice Minister He even laughed.

Flicking his green robe sleeves, he clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with disdain, and said with a smile:

"Hey, Chief Investigator Zhao doesn't need to be so harsh. It's fine to bring the ignorant ones back and reprimand them a little. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, doesn't everyone?"

Rubbing salt into the wound as if it cost nothing.

As he spoke, Vice Minister He raised his head, signaling the accompanying officers to sheathe their swords, preparing to enter the door, lock up the person, and seize the spoils of victory.

Shen Juan was also extremely aggrieved, lowering his head and squeezing out words with resentment:

"This subordinate… admits his mistake… shouldn't have…"

However, in the next second, the smiles on the faces of the middle-aged official and the group behind him suddenly disappeared.

They only heard Zhao Du'an say with a straight face:

"Your mistake lies in being a member of the Pear Blossom Hall, yet acting like a coward?"

Shen Juan was stunned.

Zhao Du'an sternly rebuked:

"What are you holding in your hand? Is it scrap metal? Or is the saber of the yamen made of wood? When someone dares to snatch our things, you pretend to hold your sabers, but why don't you know to slash at them?

You only know how to retreat and block the door. You softies have made me lose all face!"

A group of Embroidered Uniform Guards were also stunned, raising their heads in astonishment, looking at their superior.

Doubting that they had misheard.

So… their superior was not yielding to the other party, nor was he admitting defeat.

What he was scolding was not them confronting the people of the Court of Judicial Review with their sabers drawn, but scolding them for being too soft, too worried, and too cowardly…

"Sir, I…"

Shen Juan's face turned red and white, filled with extreme shame.

Zhao Du'an coldly scolded:

"Before I took office, a group of people told me that there were many troublemakers in the Pear Blossom Hall, rebellious and disobedient. I think that's just nonsense. Where's the rebelliousness? Where are the troublemakers? On the contrary, they're all very obedient!

If I hadn't rushed over today, would the criminals and spoils of war seized by our Pear Blossom Hall have been handed over to others?"

"Sir, we…" The several Embroidered Uniform Guards guarding the gate were also ashamed.

Ashamed of their cowardly behavior.

Even more ashamed of their previous misunderstanding of Zhao Du'an.

A surge of passion and warmth suddenly welled up in their hearts.

In their original hall, every time they went out of line, they were reprimanded by the Chief Investigator and dissuaded by their colleagues. They never thought they would encounter a superior who was tolerant and supported them.

Although they were being scolded at this moment, none of these people felt resentment. Instead, their eyes were bright, and a surge of impulsiveness arose: "If the lord treats me as a national scholar, I will repay him as a national scholar."

It seemed that the harsher Zhao Du'an scolded, the more excited, enthusiastic, and passionate they became.

"Sir, we know we were wrong! Please punish us!"

Shen Juan said loudly, his face flushed, his body standing straight.

Zhao Du'an snorted and said:

"Since you know your mistakes, why don't you correct them? Do I need to tell you what to do?"

Shen Juan suddenly turned around, looked at the group of Court of Judicial Review officers who were already dumbfounded, and grinned:

"Thieves must be beaten. You want to snatch our things? Bah, you're not worthy! I've been tolerating you for a long time!"

As he spoke, he charged forward with his saber.

The several Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him also roared and pounced on the other party like hungry tigers.

Beating the group of Court of Judicial Review officers, who were caught off guard and had already sheathed their weapons, causing them to flee with their heads in their hands, wailing incessantly.

"You… you dare…"

Vice Minister He's chest heaved with anger, pointing at Zhao Du'an, his expression incredulous.

Shen Juan and the others still had a sense of propriety, leaving this chief official to Zhao Du'an, not touching him.

"What does Vice Minister He want to say?" Zhao Du'an approached him step by step with a smile.

He Zheng was just a civil official, without the strength to truss a chicken, and was immediately frightened into retreating.

But the green official robe on his body gave him some confidence, and he said sternly:

"You are defying the imperial decree and obstructing the Three Judicial Offices from handling the case. Even Ma Yan cannot protect you!"

Zhao Du'an looked innocent:

"It seems that Lord He has not understood one thing. Why do you say that the rebellious party in this courtyard is related to the case of Iron Ruler Pass? Is there any evidence?

Our Pear Blossom Hall came to arrest them based on clues obtained several months ago, which was originally within the scope of the Imperial Prison's authority to arrest rebellious parties.

It has nothing to do with the Iron Ruler Pass case, so why should it be handed over to your department?

Your yamen is a place for judging cases, and Vice Minister He must be a reasonable person."

The middle-aged civil official was choked by his sophistry and was unable to refute for a moment.

Zhao Du'an had already walked in front of him.

Raising his hand, he gently patted the face of the green-robed civil official, making a soft "slap" sound.

Not hard, but the meaning of contempt was very strong:

"If you don't bring enough manpower, don't learn from others and come out to show off your power."

He Zheng's face was livid, and he suddenly said:

"The Grand Princess Chang said it right, you are indeed a scoundrel. Today, I have learned my lesson. Let's wait and see."

As he spoke, he didn't turn his head back and led a group of officers who had been beaten and were crying for their parents, fleeing as if escaping.

Zhao Du'an stood in place, silent for a long time, his brows furrowed into a "川" shape, and he murmured:

"Princess Yunyang… Sure enough, is it you again…"

…

Misspelled words will be corrected later.