The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Such a thing exists?” Inside the private room, the two friends both changed color, realizing the problem was thorny.

Back then, when Feng Ju falsely accused Li Yanfu, anyone with eyes could see something was amiss.

With a little more investigation, it wasn't hard to guess that Zhao Du'an was pulling strings behind the scenes, playing a role.

However, the officials instinctively believed this was another minor game between the Empress and the Chancellor, and everyone saw through it without speaking of it.

It was not surprising that Marquis Xiajiang knew about it.

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But no one expected that something already settled, a thing of the past, would be brought up again.

“Why is this? Could it be that Zhao Du'an offended Marquis Xiajiang?”

The slightly chubby scholar wondered:

“I haven’t heard that the two have ever interacted.”

The middle-aged man wearing a futou hat said in a deep voice:

“Have you two forgotten about Princess Yunyang? Coincidentally, before I came over at noon, I heard from a friend that this morning on Zhuque Street, Zhao Du'an's carriage was forced to stop by the Grand Princess's palanquin, and Marquis Xiajiang seemed to be there as well.

At first, I thought it was a rumor, but now that I think about it, I'm afraid it's true.”

The slightly chubby scholar was taken aback:

“Brother Changfeng, are you saying that Marquis Xiajiang is acting to please Princess Yunyang, and that's why he's dealing with Zhao Du'an?

Yes, Marquis Xiajiang has always considered himself an aristocrat, with his nose in the air. He is ruthless, and it is said that he has done a lot of dirty work, so this is really something he could do.”

The middle-aged man in the futou hat analyzed:

“Zhao Du'an has recently made many contributions and is favored by the Sage, so it is not easy for Marquis Xiajiang to deal with him.

The matter of accusing the Chancellor is an opportunity. As long as he forces Brother Bochang to bite back and overturn the case, making it public that Zhao Du'an plotted the false accusation, the 'Li Party' will definitely help, since the two sides already have a feud…

In this way, the evidence of guilt will be confirmed, and even His Majesty will find it difficult to openly favor him.”

Feng Ju's face was extremely ugly, and he didn't say a word.

Obviously, he had also figured this out.

The slightly chubby scholar said:

“But, once the case is overturned, not to mention whether that Marquis Xiajiang will abide by the agreement and release your daughter perfectly. Brother Bochang will simultaneously offend both the Sage and the Chancellor, not to mention Zhao Du'an, who is said to hold grudges… In this way, how can there be a way out?”

A dead end!

All three were intelligent people, and after a simple analysis, they judged the situation to be terrible.

If Feng Ju didn't comply, his own daughter would be gone.

If he complied, he would be completely reduced to a pawn, and the outcome would not be good either.

This is the helplessness of small people, who don't even have the chance to survive in the cracks.

Feng Ju, with red eyes, said in a low voice:

“My mind is a mess right now, and I don't know what to do. That's why I urgently sought a meeting with you two brothers, to help me think of a way…”

The two friends looked embarrassed. The three were close friends, but like Feng Ju, they were also of low status, with no power or influence, and no powerful clans behind them.

How could they possibly confront a hereditary Marquis?

Even if they wanted to find connections, give gifts, and beg for mercy, they couldn't find a way!

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

The slightly chubby scholar thought for a while and said:

“Since you have already joined the Imperial Party, why not seek the Sage's protection?”

Feng Ju smiled wryly and shook his head:

“With our status, how can we speak to His Majesty? Moreover, I have no evidence of the kidnapping, I only know that my daughter is missing, and Marquis Xiajiang only sent a servant to deliver a message. How can I prove it?”

He had another sentence he didn't say:

Involving a hereditary Marquis, a Grand Princess… Would the Imperial Party members he knew offend the two of them for his sake?

I'm afraid the message wouldn't even reach the palace and would be discarded along the way.

The slightly chubby scholar was filled with righteous indignation:

“In my opinion, why not go directly to the government office, to the Dali Temple to report the crime! A sixth-rank official is also an official of the court, can a noble without official position be allowed to threaten him at will? Where is the dignity of the court?”

The middle-aged man in the futou hat smiled wryly:

“Brother Zigu, don't speak in anger. How dare the government office accept it? As for the Dali Temple, don't forget that the Minister of the Dali Temple is also very close to the Chancellor. In my opinion, if we have to find someone, there is one person who might work.”

“Who?” The two looked over at the same time.

“Zhao Du'an!”

The middle-aged man in the futou hat spat out this name and looked at Feng Ju:

“Brother Bochang, don't forget that in this case, you and he are grasshoppers on the same rope. If you overturn the case, he will also suffer. And in the final analysis, this matter was caused by him, so he should solve it.”

Feng Ju's eyes suddenly lit up!

Yes, if Zhao Du'an was willing to help, with his connections, as long as he passed a word to His Majesty, his predicament would be resolved.

Just now, he was overwhelmed by anxiety, and his mind was confused, and he didn't even think of it.

Beside him, the slightly chubby scholar shook his head:

“But will that Zhao help? It is said that this man is black-hearted and ruthless, not a kind person.

Even if you beg him, if he learns of this matter, he can make other preparations, or even turn against you, throw Brother Bochang into the imperial prison, or tie him up and send him to Marquis Xiajiang to try to repair relations…

What can't that traitor do? On the contrary, saving people is both laborious and unrewarding, and he has to worry about Brother Bochang defecting to Marquis Xiajiang, jumping back and forth…”

Feng Ju's eyes suddenly dimmed.

Yes, with Zhao Du'an's character, would he reach out to save him?

Or would he turn ruthless and kill him directly to avoid the risk of overturning the case?

It's really hard to say.

It can only be said… that while Zhao Du'an enjoyed the benefits of the “villain persona,” he inevitably bore the negative buff of not being trusted.

In the private room, the two friends each held their own opinions, but both made sense.

Feng Ju's face changed uncertainly, and finally, he gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and slammed it on the table, saying:

“I'll go ask Zhao Du'an!”

Feng Ju, who was anxious about his beloved daughter, could not afford to delay any longer:

“Compared to Marquis Xiajiang's credibility, I would rather gamble on Zhao's compassion!”

The two friends were silent when they saw this, and the slightly chubby scholar no longer spoke.

The middle-aged man in the futou hat reminded him:

“If you go, remember not to threaten him, saying something similar to, you are on the same boat, and if you are unlucky, he will also suffer.

Don't ask him to seek out His Majesty either, just explain clearly and ask him to take action.

By the way, it's best to meet in private, or send a letter. Marquis Xiajiang must have sent people to secretly watch your every move, so be careful.”

Feng Ju got up and nodded heavily:

“I understand.”

With his mind, he shouldn't have needed someone to remind him.

But now that he was emotionally charged and his reason was declining, he needed the advice of two friends.

… …

… …

Afternoon, Pear Blossom Hall.

Zhao Du'an did not take a nap, but instead looked up the “Marquis Xiajiang”'s information from the yamen.

Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Compared to the Grand Princess, who has no real power and only knows how to manipulate men, he felt that this Marquis was a greater threat.

“Tsk tsk, he's really not simple.”

Zhao Du'an finished reading the information and couldn't help but sigh, understanding why this guy was so arrogant.

According to internal archives, Marquis Xiajiang stepped into the Martial Dao Divine Chapter Realm ten years ago.

Although it was suspected that he had asked a strong person to infuse energy to assist in breaking through, belonging to the “watered-down martial artist” in the Empress's mouth.

But the realm is there, the foundation is well laid, and he is not short of powerful martial arts.

“No wonder he dared to stop me in the street, he has the confidence.” Zhao Du'an shook his head slightly.

In addition, the files also recorded that Marquis Xiajiang was suspected of controlling the gang industry in the capital.

He is the behind-the-scenes boss of the capital's largest gang, the “Red Flower Society.”

Where there is light, there is darkness.

Zhao Du'an read history in his previous life and was curious as to why gangs were repeatedly banned. The historically famous “Cao Gang” and “Salt Gang”… Not to mention the huge interests involved.

The local gangs in various places are as numerous as hairs.

Later, I realized that it was because the feudal dynasty had a weak control over the grassroots level, and the tentacles of imperial power could not penetrate deep into the streets and alleys.

However, the operation of society does require the “governance” of the lower levels to maintain a certain order.

In the countryside, clan forces control the area, while cities with large populations give gangs space to survive.

Although it is somewhat counterintuitive, the existence of gangs is driven by human nature and interests, but conversely, the people also need a gang to establish order.

Even bad order is better than chaos.

When the light appears in a vacuum, the king of darkness will emerge in response.

“He has aristocratic status and subordinates… He pretends to be high and mighty in front of me, not eating the food of mortals, but in secret he is also a schemer.”

Zhao Du'an slandered.

He silently pondered whether he could start with the Red Flower Society to trick Marquis Xiajiang.

Being beaten passively is not his style.

Anyone who has been in a gang fight knows that if you squat down, hug your head, and pray that the attacking enemies will lose interest and leave, you will only be bullied to death.

The correct method is either to call for reinforcements, or to catch the leader of the other side and fight back, and if you knock the leader down, the other younger brothers will retreat.

Princess Yunyang has a special status and is not easy to touch for the time being.

But a hereditary Marquis without real power, it shouldn't be a big problem to mess with him, right?

“It's a bit difficult. Feudal nobles accepting gang offerings and providing protection seems difficult to make a big issue of. It belongs to a certain degree of unspoken rules… Unspoken rules, unless there is a big problem, cannot be broken…”

“Should I create a big problem?”

The black water in Zhao Du'an's belly tried to brew, but he had no clue.

Suddenly, the confidential secretary Qian Kerou walked into the hall:

“My lord, a yamen runner from our hall has delivered a letter, saying that it was entrusted to him by Feng Ju, the chief of the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department, and that he has something very important to say to you.”

Feng Ju?

Zhao Du'an was stunned, recalling the somewhat refined scholar-style chief whom he had falsely intimidated on the awning boat at the beginning of his transmigration.

It is said that he was rewarded by the Empress, and he will surely rise steadily in the future, so he no longer paid attention to him.

What is he looking for me for?

Why didn't he come to the door in person?

He even went around in circles, asking a yamen runner to deliver the letter.

Zhao Du'an had a good impression of Feng Ju. Although he was deceived,

But the reason why he was able to turn the tables and survive the Zhuang Xiaocheng case was that Lao Feng's accusation played a crucial role.

Zhao Du'an is a person who values old feelings. Zhu Kui betrayed him, but he still gave him a decent end.

If Lao Feng encounters difficulties, Zhao Du'an doesn't mind helping.

He immediately took the wax-sealed letter, tore it open, and read it.

After a moment.

His face changed slightly, first surprised, then a slight chill ran up his back.

“Overturning the case… good method… If he really succeeds, even if I don't have a big problem, I will lose a layer of skin.”

Immediately, Zhao Du'an pondered, tapping the envelope lightly with his finger.

Realizing that the breakthrough he needed to counterattack Marquis Xiajiang seemed to be close at hand.

“Kidnapping the family members of court officials, even a Marquis can't withstand that, right?”

… …

Misspelled words will be corrected later.

Thanks to the insightful 500 coin reward ~