The First Lackey Under The Empress

Naïve—

Hearing Zhao Du'an's lighthearted words, the Jinyi present cast "sympathetic" glances at the Qingpao civil official who had fallen into the flowerbed.

In the end, He Zheng couldn't understand why Zhao Du'an wouldn't take the more "clever and safe" route, instead choosing the simplest and most brutal one.

Just like his emphasis on "rules," the outcome of the world has always depended on fists.

"Let's go. Since he says the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is personally 'interrogating' our Marquis, then this official has no choice but to go and demand his release in person."

This book is first published on 𝕥 𝕨 𝕜 𝕒 𝕟 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞 on the entire network.

Zhao Du'an walked forward with his hands behind his back.

Behind him, Hou Renmeng and Shen Juan each led a team, clearing the way left and right, and anyone who dared to obstruct them fell.

"It's bad, the Zhao guy is barging in, go and report…"

A scene of chaos.

… …

… …

In the rear office of the Court of Judicial Review, the lamps had just been lit in the room.

At this moment, Xia Jianghou, with a distinguished bearing and meticulously groomed beard, bowed slightly.

He personally picked up the teapot he had prepared, and the light green and yellowish tea soup poured into the square tea bowl, stirring up a vortex:

"Please try it, my lord. This Marquis's treasured 'Spring God Tea' is listed in the Jiangnan tea merchants' 'Classic of Tea' as a supreme grade on par with royal tribute.

Its taste is different from tribute tea, even more refreshing and delicious. This Marquis was fortunate enough to obtain some."

Across the table from him, seated in a square mahogany chair.

Was a crimson-robed civil official, nearly sixty years old, with a square face, wearing a black gauze hat, and deep lines etched between his eyebrows.

He was the highest-ranking official here, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a third-rank official.

Although slightly inferior to Li Yanfu and Yuan Li.

His position in the court was no less than that of the disgraced Pei Kai, and perhaps even surpassed it.

After all, although both were third-rank officials, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was one of the "Nine Ministers."

Although ranked at the bottom of the Nine Ministers with the Commissioner of the Office of Transmission, they were ultimately different.

Historically, whenever there was a major case, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would preside over the trial, and even the Minister of Justice would take a backseat.

He was an absolute power figure in the court.

"Hehe, Marquis, I'm afraid this good tea won't be easy to drink."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review smiled meaningfully, but still picked up the tea bowl with one hand and smelled it in front of his nose:

"Hmm—it is indeed a good thing."

The "not good" here naturally did not mean that the tea was not good, but the price behind it.

Xia Jianghou laughed heartily, as if he didn't understand, and said cheerfully:

"If you like it, my lord, this Marquis will order my servants to send all the tea from my mansion tomorrow. Good tea should fall into the hands of someone who understands tea to be its proper home. It would be a waste if it stayed with this Marquis."

His words were all flattery to the other party, belittling himself…

So, it wasn't that he really looked down on ministers other than nobles because of his status, but mainly because of the weight of the person in front of him.

"Hehe," the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review didn't say anything, but slowly closed his eyes and savored a sip.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyelids, but didn't continue the topic, just put the teacup back on the table and said:

"I'm old, and I don't dare to drink too much after dark, I can't sleep. Tell me, what's going on, who did you offend, that you rushed to this official to seek refuge?"

Xia Jianghou said with a smile:

"My lord is wise, it's not a big deal…"

Then, in a few words, he told how he learned from Princess Yunyang that she had been wronged, and how he had promised to help her vent her anger.

And how he was caught by Zhao Du'an and told about it.

"This Marquis only ordered his subordinates to find an opportunity to teach that Zhao guy a lesson, but I didn't expect that the subordinates were so bold that they took it upon themselves to kidnap the family members of that Feng Ju, wanting to set a trap…"

Xia Jianghou looked aggrieved, as if he had been implicated by his subordinates:

"As a result, when the incident happened, that Zhao guy thought it was my arrangement, and came over murderously. Helpless, this Marquis had no choice but to come to the Court of Judicial Review to turn himself in."

What a "turn himself in”…

What a "blatant lie”…

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review glanced at him calmly with his slightly turbid eyes, with an attitude of "seeing through but not saying through":

"Marquis, you are indeed good at managing your subordinates, and your subordinates are attentive and devoted."

Xia Jianghou also looked a little embarrassed and said:

"It's also my fault. I didn't stop it in time after I found out. The main reason is that Zhao Du'an falsely accused and implicated the Prime Minister, as everyone knows.

As the saying goes, justice will prevail. If the Prime Minister can be cleared of his name in the world, so as to correct the clarity of the laws of our Great Yu… a little out of line is not a bad intention after all."

After a pause, he observed his expression and added:

"Especially with your lord and the Prime Minister's friendship…"

"Marquis, be careful."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review suddenly interrupted and said lightly:

"All the civil and military officials in the court know that our Court of Judicial Review does not participate in party strife. If I have to say who I am loyal to, it is only His Majesty."

"Yes, yes, I misspoke for a moment, haha." Xia Jianghou apologized.

But he cursed hypocrisy in his heart.

Although the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was not openly a member of the "Li Party," he had a deep friendship with Li Yanfu.

Secretly, all cases involving the Li Party would be biased to some extent.

This was no longer a secret.

The exchange of benefits between the two sides had been going on countless times.

This seemingly righteous old fellow was an insatiable "glutton," very greedy.

A considerable part of the huge amount of money that Xia Jianghou had plundered from the Red Flower Society had been sent into the mouth of this glutton.

Only then did he dare to be unscrupulous and order people to kidnap Feng Ju's family members.

Because he had done similar things more than once.

Even if he made a mistake, it would be covered up by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

This time, the reason why he chose to deal with Zhao Du'an in the way of "reversing the case" was partly to please Princess Yunyang.

More importantly, he actually wanted to take the opportunity to give the gift of "reversing the case" to the "glutton" in front of him.

Or to be precise, to give it to Li Yanfu.

So as to sell a favor.

This was also the reason why he had said to Princess Yunyang when they were drinking that if the reversal of the case was successful, he would not have to be involved.

This was originally a gift for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

As a result, there was a mistake, but this old thing had an attitude of not wanting to care about him… how realistic.

"My lord," Xia Jianghou took a deep breath and said seriously:

"Although this Marquis is not afraid of a mere Commissioner of the Security Bureau, this person is sinister and ruthless. His coming to arrest me with great fanfare may have the tacit approval of Ma Yan behind him. If this Marquis falls into Ma Yan's hands, I'm afraid…"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review suddenly darkened his face:

"Are you trying to threaten this official?"

"My lord, you misunderstood!" Xia Jianghou swore to the heavens:

"This Marquis and my lord are innocent and have a gentleman's friendship."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review looked at him for a while and suddenly said:

“I've heard,” the official said, “that the Marquis's residence has a Qinghua chilong-patterned gall bladder vase from the previous dynasty. I've always wanted to borrow it for a few days.”

“...Tomorrow, I'll have a servant send it to your residence, my lord.”

“A vase without flowers is unsightly.”

“...It so happens that my Marquis's residence has a peach tree with jade petals and golden stamens. I'll send it along for your enjoyment.”

“Heh heh, then what about the Spring God Tea?”

You're going too far!

Marquis Xia Jiang suppressed his anger and said:

“Naturally, you won't be deprived of your share, my lord.”

At that moment, he even regretted coming here for refuge. It would have been more worthwhile to fight that Zhao fellow head-on.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, with his square face and deeply furrowed brow, then smiled and said:

“Since that's the case, Marquis, stay here for a while. A mere Censorate wouldn't dare come to my Court of Judicial Review to seize someone.”

Marquis Xia Jiang smiled and said, “In that case, I thank you…”

Before he could finish the sentence, the two of them suddenly heard a noisy commotion from outside.

A moment later, a green-robed official rushed in from the front, shouting:

“My lord, it's bad! Zhao Du'an has broken in!”

What?!

At that moment, Marquis Xia Jiang stood up abruptly, initially shocked, surprised that this person was so arrogant and overbearing.

Coming to demand someone was one thing, but to dare force his way in with force?

Immediately, a hint of joy appeared between his brows.

Suddenly, he felt that the antiques and jade, and even a few pounds of 'Spring God Tea' that he had promised, were worth more than their value.

He turned his head to look at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, only to see that this third-rank official's face was gloomy.

Understandable.

After all, he had just spoken and was immediately slapped in the face. He had suffered an offense that someone of his position shouldn't have.

“Where is this thief?”

The scarlet-robed civil official stood up and asked.

However, in the next second, the half-closed courtyard door of the rear office was kicked open by a huge force!

Two rows of brocade-clad constables, as black as a flood, poured in.

They instantly completed the encirclement of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Marquis Xia Jiang.

Then, Zhao Du'an, dressed in a black official robe embroidered with silver thread, tall and handsome, slowly stepped into the courtyard and smiled:

“Yo, it's quite lively. I seemed to hear someone calling me just now. It must be Lord Chief Justice.”

His gaze also swept past Marquis Xia Jiang and landed on the towering figure in the scarlet official robe.

Chief Justice was another name for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

“You are Zhao Du'an.”

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review's face was gloomy, and his turbid eyes also looked down at him.

A big shot of the imperial court who had been in a high position for a long time, every move he made exuded authority without anger.

Although surrounded, he didn't show any weakness at all.

He was completely the master of this place, with a calm and composed demeanor.

At the same time.

Outside the rear office courtyard door, a large group of officials belonging to the Court of Judicial Review also poured in.

There were more of them, and they simply formed a large circle, surrounding everyone in Pear Blossom Hall.

It was just that there was a specialization in skills after all.

Although there were many people, their momentum was suppressed by a group of thorns from Pear Blossom Hall.

“Heh heh, I didn't expect my reputation to be quite big. Even the Chief Justice knows about me.” Zhao Du'an smiled.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review didn't have the leisure to waste words with him and said coldly:

“This official doesn't know when the Censorate had the authority to break into the Three Laws Division.”

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

“Lord Chief Justice, don't misunderstand. We're here only to arrest a criminal.”

Then, he slowly and unhurriedly narrated the words he had said to He Zheng again.

“But He Temple Vice insisted on saying that the Court of Judicial Review had taken the person away for interrogation first. I didn't quite believe it, so I had to come in and see for myself.”

Zhao Du'an sighed softly:

“Now it seems that He Temple Vice was indeed lying through his teeth, deceiving his superiors and subordinates. The Chief Justice is clearly drinking tea with the Marquis. How can you insist that it's detention and interrogation?

But Lord Chief Justice, don't be angry. This official has already taken the liberty of teaching him a lesson for you. As for Marquis Xia Jiang, you are suspected of being involved in a case. Please come with us.”

Shameless!

Brazen!

When they heard Zhao Du'an's words, the officials of the Court of Judicial Review simultaneously had this thought in their minds.

He had clearly beaten someone, but he insisted that it was He Zheng's fault. As expected of the White Horse Envoy Zhao, who had a notorious reputation in the rumors.

Even the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, with his cultivation skills, almost laughed out of anger.

He didn't try to reason with Zhao Du'an or argue about right and wrong.

Instead, he directly said, “With your status, you have no right to arrest a hereditary Marquis.”

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows: “Old Zheng.”

Behind him, Zheng Lao Jiu stepped forward, shook out a 'license' stamped with Ma Yan's big seal, and illuminated it with a lamp to ensure that everyone could see the bright red seal ink.

“Is that enough?” Zhao Du'an asked with a smile.

This dog thief is indeed prepared… Did Ma Yan really allow him?

… Marquis Xia Jiang was shocked and felt a sense of relief, accompanied by doubt.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review's expression remained unchanged, and his gaze was as calm as ever:

“Not enough. The case of Marquis Xia Jiang has already come under the jurisdiction of my Court of Judicial Review. Today, not to mention you, even if Ma Yan comes, he can forget about taking him away from my territory.”

After a pause, this scarlet-robed official, one of the Nine Ministers of the imperial court with great power, raised the corner of his mouth:

“Zhao Du'an, a Censorate Officer of the Censorate, has violated the law. This official will borrow the Marquis's martial arts to capture him, I said.”

Marquis Xia Jiang's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Since the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was bearing the brunt, he would not refuse. Immediately, his Qi Sea rumbled, and rolling Qi energy circulated through his meridians.

The pressure unique to a Divine Chapter martial artist permeated the night wind.

Stepping forward and raising his fist, he approached Zhao Du'an directly.

“Be careful, my lord—”

The Pear Blossom Hall constables changed color.

However, Zhao Du'an's expression was calm, and the smile on the corner of his mouth seemed lazy.

He ignored Marquis Xia Jiang, who was approaching with his fists clenched, and the countless pairs of eyes watching the excitement around him, and only stared at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review:

“You said that even if Ma Yan comes, he can forget about it?”

He sighed softly, raised his head helplessly, and shouted at the night sky:

“Master… Director, you heard that, right? My official position is too low, it's useless. It's your turn to show up!”

In the next second, a gust of wind suddenly rose.

A slender and upright figure, as cold as a snow mountain, appeared silently in front of Zhao Du'an.

His gaze was indifferent, scanning the audience, and there was silence.

The Director of the Censorate, Ma Yan, has arrived!

…

Misspelled words will be corrected later.