The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the main hall, Zhao Du'an held the letter, deep in thought.

Unlike Feng Ju and the others, who were worried and fearful, doubting whether he would offer assistance.

The moment Zhao Du'an saw the letter, he decided to lend a hand.

The question was, how to do it?

Directly "muster troops", using Feng Ju as a witness, to arrest Xia Jianghou?

This option was the most straightforward and satisfying, but its feasibility was too low.

In the dramas and novels of his previous life, institutions similar to the "East Depot", "West Depot", and "Embroidered Uniform Guard" often acted arbitrarily, arresting people without restraint under the guise of "imperial permission, execute first, report later."

However, after Zhao Du'an reviewed historical materials, he realized that there was artistic embellishment.

Could the Zhao Yamen bypass the Three Judicial Divisions and directly arrest people? Yes.

But the prerequisite was "the Emperor's order", which meant that if the Empress issued an edict to Ma Yan now, ordering him to arrest someone or investigate a major case.

Then the power of the Zhao Yamen officials would immediately expand, displaying the demeanor of a violent machine.

Illegal abuse, wanton killing, fabricating charges, labeling, engaging in implication... all conceivable dirty tricks would be used to the extreme.

It was equivalent to putting on a limited-time "berserk" buff.

But if there was no Emperor's order, in the normal process of investigating a case, if you wanted to arrest someone, you had to follow a set of procedures in accordance with ancestral rules:

The chief official must first issue a "driving warrant", similar to an arrest warrant, and then submit the driving warrant to the Censorate of the Ministry of Justice for "approval".

If the Censor rejected it, it could not be executed.

It was even more troublesome to handle cases and arrest people in other places, and a seal from the Directorate of Ceremonial was also required.

Multiple yamen had to approve at the same time, and there were verification checkpoints when passing through the city gates.

These measures were all to restrict this violent machine and prevent it from getting out of control.

The Da Yu Dynasty had six hundred years of history, and there was a mature model for how to restrict the Zhao Yamen.

After the Empress ascended the throne, in order to deal with the complex situation, she relaxed the Zhao Yamen to a certain extent.

Therefore, when Zhao Du'an arrested fifty-eight officials last time, he only needed to issue his own "arrest warrant", but he could not touch those above the fifth rank.

Marquises also belonged to the upper echelons among the nobility, and their arrest required Ma Yan's approval.

Moreover, with Xia Jianghou's "Divine Chapter" realm martial power, it was not prudent to arrest him rashly, and at least the cooperation of other halls was needed.

...

"With Senior Brother Yi's character, he would not allow me to arrest a hereditary marquis based solely on Feng Ju's one-sided statement without any actual evidence." Zhao Du'an had a clear judgment on this.

Feng Ju's letter made it clear.

Xia Jianghou only sent a servant to convey this meaning intentionally or unintentionally.

But the whole process was not written on paper, and there were no third parties listening.

This kind of thing was all "understood implicitly" and could not leave evidence.

Just like when Zhao Du'an and Feng Ju conspired on the awning boat, both sides were riddlers in that conversation.

So, Feng Ju said Xia Jianghou kidnapped someone?

How to prove it?

"Without evidence, there is no way to get Ma Yan, who always acts according to the rules and never shows favoritism, to intervene."

Zhao Du'an shook his head:

"Then directly enter the palace and report to the Empress? Ask Zhenbao for help?"

Zhao Du'an was confident that as long as he went to speak, the Empress would definitely order the matter to be resolved.

Not only could he help Feng Ju escape his predicament, but the Empress would definitely take action to punish and beat Xia Jianghou, and even Princess Yunyang.

Prohibit the two from causing him trouble again.

"It seems to be the simplest and most effective solution, but there are two drawbacks!"

First, finding the Empress to solve the problem may delay time. Xu Zhenguan cannot personally leave the palace to manage this kind of thing, and will definitely delegate it to others.

It is also possible to get caught up in a tug-of-war with that "aunt".

But what Feng Ju's daughter was kidnapped, what is most lacking is time!

Not to mention that the more delay, the more danger she is in. The people under Xia Jianghou's command may not abide by the rules.

Just talking about women in this era, they value their reputation most.

If she is missing for more than one night, even if she is rescued in the end, how will people around her view her?

Zhao Du'an thought to himself that he was not a "good person".

But he couldn't do something that would involve an innocent woman because of his affairs and ruin her reputation.

This does not even consider the possibility of Xia Jianghou silencing her in order to cover up his crimes in extreme cases—

Even if there is only a slight possibility, it is a major event for the Feng family.

"Moreover, if I report to the Empress at this time, considering that the incident is not serious and the other party has not had time to harm me.

And also considering the relationship with the 'aunt', and the reaction of the noble group, the final punishment may not be too severe!"

This was also what Zhao Du'an was unwilling to accept.

"There is no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days? If you don't hurt the enemy and scare them in one breath, even if the other party fears the Empress and temporarily ceases fire. But maybe one day they will jump out and secretly trip me up."

Zhao Du'an thought over and over.

He still felt that the best solution was to do it himself.

First find a way to rescue the person.

Then detain the pawns who were ordered to kidnap, pry open their mouths, so that there is decent evidence.

Only by establishing the crime of "Xia Jianghou kidnapping the family members of court officials" can the initiative be seized after subsequent operations.

"But how to save people? Find the kidnappers?"

Zhao Du'an frowned.

The capital was so big, and since Xia Jianghou dared to do such taboo things, his methods must be very secretive.

It was by no means easy to rescue people before the other party reacted.

While Zhao Du'an was thinking, he suddenly felt that there seemed to be something else in the envelope.

He poured it out and was stunned.

There were two pieces of paper inside.

One detailed the time and place of Feng Lianlian's disappearance, the clothes she was wearing, and related descriptions such as her appearance and age.

The other was simply a portrait.

The painter's skills were exquisite, and the demeanor of the young woman on the paper was lifelike.

"Old Feng thought it through quite thoroughly..."

While Zhao Du'an was surprised, he suddenly had an idea:

"With the portrait and name, I wonder if the magic weapon can work."

He reached into his arms and took out a silver small mirror the size of half a palm, turning the words "Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror" on the back over.

Silently in his mind, he outlined Feng Lianlian's appearance and recited her name.

Gradually, ripples appeared on the mirror surface.

It was blurry for a while, and finally, when Zhao Du'an was about to give up, a scene slowly appeared.

It was a dark room similar to a wood shed.

A woman whose clothes and appearance were very similar to the portrait was tied to the ground with hemp rope.

"It really works..."

Zhao Du'an's heart moved, and he tried to use his mind to pull the picture in the mirror outwards and away.

He vaguely saw that it was a residential house.

There seemed to be several guards in the courtyard, and a half-width "door god" image was hung at the gate of the courtyard, and a red flower was painted on the door panel.

"Buzz—" The picture in the mirror shattered, as if the magic power was exhausted.

Zhao Du'an immediately took paper and pen, transcribed the landmarks near the house he saw on the paper, and called Qian Kerou:

"Can you tell where this is?"

The little secretary eagerly watched his mysterious operation, her heart full of curiosity.

At this moment, she stretched her neck and looked at it, and said:

"It seems to be in the eastern direction of the city, I saw the Drum Tower... Oh, this is the mark of the Red Flower Society, it should be one of its halls."

The Red Flower Society… the number one underground gang in the capital… backed by Xia Jianghou… Zhao Du'an's eyes lit up as he thought of the information he had.

Everything matched up.

"Very good," he said without hesitation, picking up his pen and writing another letter, handing it to her:

"Have that yamen runner deliver this to Feng Ju. Remember to be discreet and careful not to be noticed."

"Yes," Qian Kerou nodded obediently.

Zhao Du'an then handed her the painting he had copied, superimposed with Feng Lianlian's portrait:

"Make several copies of the previous painting, gather Hou Renmeng and the others, bring our men, and immediately go and investigate!

Find this place before dark today!

How many branches can the Red Flower Society have in the capital? Even if you use the dumbest method, search them one by one, you must find it!

Control the people inside and bring them back safely."

The female Jinyi, in her early twenties, with a rather upright appearance and clear, foolish eyes, was stunned for a moment, and said:

"But, with such a vague range, I'm afraid it won't be enough with the manpower of our branch."

The key is that there isn't enough time. There are only two hours left until dark.

Zhao Du'an said coldly:

"Then send the portrait to the other branches and say that I need to borrow their men. If they don't give them, I will personally go to their door to talk."

"Uh…"

Qian Kerou was stunned. Seeing the coldness in Zhao Du'an's eyes, she couldn't help but shiver despite the hot weather:

"Yes! This subordinate will go and do it immediately!"

She hurried out, wondering in her heart:

Which unlucky ghost has provoked our little Yama again?

… …

… …

Inside a private room in a teahouse in the capital.

A slightly chubby scholar paced back and forth in the room, never stopping.

Next to the tea table, the middle-aged man wearing a futou also looked depressed:

"Brother Ziggu, don't walk around, you're making my eyes dizzy."

The slightly chubby scholar sighed:

"Changfeng, you said Old Feng has been gone for quite a while, why hasn't he returned yet? I'm afraid he's been detained by that Zhao fellow? Why don't you and I go and take a look?"

The middle-aged man in the futou shook his head and said:

"If he is really detained, his family servants left outside will report it. If we two go rashly, it will be troublesome if Xia Jianghou's spies become alert."

"Alas."

The slightly chubby scholar was about to speak when suddenly the door of the private room was pulled open.

The two were suddenly startled, but saw Feng Ju walking in, lost and dejected.

"How is it? Did you see that Zhao fellow? What did he say?" The two hurriedly got up and asked.

Feng Ju hesitated to speak, and handed the two a piece of paper clenched in his palm.

On that letter, only three words were written:

"Understood."

Understood? What does that mean?

The slightly chubby scholar: "He didn't say anything else? He only replied with these three words?"

Feng Ju nodded, sat down dejectedly, his face full of disappointment.

The ambiguous reply, whether it was helping or not, made him feel unsure.

The middle-aged man in the futou pondered for a moment and said:

"Since he didn't arrest you, it means that at least he doesn't intend to silence you. Presumably, he must have some action. There's no use thinking too much. Since you have already asked him, you have also cut off the path to agreeing to Xia Jianghou. You can only wait patiently, and perhaps there will be a turning point."

Feng Ju nodded in silence. For the present plan, he only had the word "wait" to choose.

The two good friends looked at each other and sighed silently.

They no longer had confidence in whether Zhao Du'an would save people.

… …

Water Lily Hall.

"What? Borrowing people from us? To help that Zhao Du'an with errands?"

Haitang, who had a high ponytail, looked heroic and valiant, and had a bag full of flying knives hanging around her waist, was stunned for a moment.

The subordinate in front of her nodded:

"This is the portrait that the other party handed over. You were not here just now. The other party seemed to be in a hurry, left a message and left, as if they were going to visit each branch."

All the branches, he, Zhao, wants to borrow people… Haitang raised her eyebrows.

She thought to herself that although in the past two days, many people in the yamen had privately given him the nickname "Little Yama."

They vaguely regarded him as the most unprovocable existence under the Supervisor.

But it doesn't mean that he, Zhao, really has the right to order them.

Everyone is at the same level, who commands whom?

"Did the other party say anything else?" Haitang asked.

The subordinate hesitated and said: "Zhao Jisi said that if you don't help, he will come to you personally to talk later."

What an attitude!

Haitang was so angry that her willow eyebrows stood on end, her chest heaved, and she looked unhappy.

"Master, then we are…" The subordinate asked weakly.

Haitang scolded:

"Lend! Lend it to him! Just treat it as if this old lady is afraid of him this time, okay!"

The subordinate silently retreated, listening to the sound of Haitang smashing things in the hall, and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

If possible, the Jinyi of Water Lily Hall also didn't want to provoke that "Little Yama."

It's just borrowing people to help, there's no need to fall out.

… …

Peony Hall.

"Borrowing people?"

Zhang Han, with a poker face and fair skin, stared at the female rookie below the hall and asked in confusion.

Qian Kerou was alone facing this number one person under the Supervisor, and she was still a little daunted, but thinking that she represented the face of Pear Blossom Hall, she straightened her back and said with a straight face:

"Yes. My lord said, if you…"

"Okay." Zhang Han put away the scroll, got up and walked to the door, summoned more than ten captains, and began to deploy troops.

"… …" Qian Kerou was stunned, not expecting it to be so smooth.

Even Zhang Han is so afraid of her own Little Yama?

"Anything else?" Zhang Han finished arranging the manpower, turned his head and looked at her in confusion.

"No…" Qian Kerou turned to leave, Zhang Han suddenly remembered something and called out to her:

"By the way, go back and tell Zhao Du'an that the gate of my courtyard was broken by Hou Renmeng, and your Pear Blossom Hall is responsible for paying for the repair."

"… … Oh."

So, on this afternoon, a strange scene appeared in the Zhao Yamen.

Qian Kerou walked around the eight halls.

After that, the nine halls successively sent out piles of people, each clutching a hastily printed map, and rushed to various directions of the capital.

Target:

All the branches of the Red Flower Society scattered in the capital that were similar to the portrait.

For a time, countless Jinyi were dispatched, and the sound of horses' hooves was like thunder, startling the people along the way to look sideways.

They wondered which big official in the court was going to fall?

That caused such a big commotion?

And what everyone didn't expect was.

Zhao Du'an issued an order, and all the gangs and branches of the entire Red Flower Society were raided by a group of wolf-like government officials at the same time on this afternoon near dusk.

… …

East of the city.

Inside a secluded private house with tightly closed courtyard doors.

About five or six gang members were sitting around a square table in the courtyard, eating meat and drinking wine.

Under the sunlight, the red flower mark painted on the courtyard door and the blurred portrait of the door god reflected a blood-like light.

The leader, a burly man with a red flower embroidered on his lapel, took a sip of wine from his bowl, looked towards the tightly closed firewood door, and sneered:

"That little bitch has a lot of energy, she's still struggling after being tied up for so long."

… …

Misspelled words will be corrected later