The First Lackey Under The Empress

Before Ma Yan appeared, the scene was still noisy, accompanied by bursts of exclamations.

But when Ma Yan appeared, it suddenly became silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Within the official circles of the capital, descriptions of this "King Yama" were never good, and even the Great 理寺, a member of the "Three Laws Division," held him in awe.

A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.

If Zhao Douan's reputation was merely bad, then Ma Yan inspired fear.

"哗——"

After a brief silence, the constables of Pear Blossom Hall were the first to speak.

Hou Renmeng, Shen Juan, and others' expressions changed from tense to relaxed in an instant.

Accompanied by the rising and falling sounds of saluting and the title "Director", they finally understood why Zhao Douan was so confident.

In contrast, the Great 理寺's side felt a tremor in their hearts.

Xia Jianghou, who had already thrown a punch, suddenly stopped, his momentum abruptly halted, forcibly stopping the outpouring of energy. How could he dare to throw a punch at Ma Yan?

His heart was shaken violently.

He originally thought that Zhao Douan had at most obtained Ma Yan's tacit consent.

But he never expected that this expert in charge of the Imperial Edict Office, the female emperor's personal blade, had been lurking in the shadows, unnoticed by anyone.

This far exceeded his worst expectations.

The Great 理寺卿, who was giving orders, also twitched his eyelids. Although he maintained a calm expression on his face, his heart was actually turbulent.

With his status, he wouldn't necessarily fear this "King Yama," but having seen too many ministers fall from grace in the past two years, it would be false to say he had no fear at all.

Huff... Fortunately, I was prepared, otherwise, I would have really been in a bind... Zhao Douan exhaled silently, feeling good to have someone backing him up.

Previously, in the General Overseer's Hall, he was worried that Xia Jianghou would resist arrest with force.

Ma Yan suggested that they might as well imitate the arrangement of deceiving people that day, with Zhao Douan in the open and him in the dark.

The so-called "old tricks are always effective," Zhao Douan readily agreed, and it actually came in handy.

"Director, they won't release the person," Zhao Douan filed a complaint first.

Ma Yan glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, ignored him, and looked at the Judge of the Court of Judicial Review in scarlet robes, with a square face and deep "川"-shaped wrinkles on his forehead, and said:

"Is the Great 理寺 going to protect him?"

No nonsense or wrangling, directly to the core.

The Great 理寺卿 asked back with a blank expression:

"Is the Imperial Edict Office going to violate the law and snatch people from the Three Laws Division?"

"So, the Judge of the Court of Judicial Review is indeed going to protect him," Ma Yan glanced around and said:

"This official wants to take him, can you protect him?"

Overbearing.

Everyone heard the subtext. If Ma Yan used force to snatch the person, then no one here could stop him.

The Great 理寺卿 said coldly: "Ma Yan, you want to..."

Rumble—

Answering him was the chief eunuch's quietly stepping down with his right leg.

"Peng."

The ground suddenly shook, and the bluestone bricks on the outermost periphery cracked. Thorns of earth successively sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain, forming a circle of low "fences" amidst exclamations.

Forcing the Great 理寺's officials back, isolating them outside, and also sealing off this courtyard.

Amazing skill... Is this martial arts or magic?

Zhao Douan's eyes lit up, thinking that his cheap senior brother wouldn't be deliberately showing off again.

Showing off in front of me—well, demonstrating, right?

"What are you going to do?" The Great 理寺卿 finally changed color.

Ma Yan didn't respond, but said to Zhao Douan:

"Tie him up, don't worry, he won't dare to resist."

Understood!

Zhao Douan rubbed his palms and approached Xia Jianghou with a smile.

At this moment, the arrogant and domineering Marquis was shocked to realize that, accompanied by Ma Yan's gaze enveloping him, his body's energy circulation was extremely slow.

Although he could still move, it was as if he were in mud, much slower than an ordinary person.

"Marquis, please give me your guidance," Zhao Douan smiled, and his body flashed, already near him, reaching out his hand, but it was a feint.

Causing Xia Jianghou to subconsciously block, his fist brushing past the corner of his clothes.

"Goodness, you dare to resist arrest..."

Zhao Douan shouted loudly, and his right palm, which had been charged up several times, lightly printed towards his chest.

"Bang."

The muffled sound of metal entering flesh. Xia Jianghou's forehead bulged with veins, his pupils narrowed, and he was struck by that majestic palm force, causing his internal organs to convulse and the energy in his meridians to be cut off.

His feet left the ground, flying backwards.

Zhao Douan rushed to his back, not drawing his saber, but using it as an iron rod, and smashed it fiercely towards his spine.

"Ah!!"

His body's energy locked by Ma Yan, making it difficult to use his cultivation, the Marquis let out a heart-wrenching scream, his body convulsing as if electrocuted.

He fell to the ground with a thud, bending over like a shrimp, his internal organs spasming, vomiting a large amount of filth, with a stench that forced people away.

Zhao Douan quickly retreated, avoiding getting soiled, and looked around innocently:

"You all saw it, he hit this official first."

No one answered, already shocked by this sudden scene.

I told you to tie him up, not beat him up...

But Zhao Douan knew the principle of striking while the iron is hot.

Although he couldn't go too far, it wouldn't be too much to inflict a serious injury and collect some interest, right?

This stick is for those who have been bullied by you... Zhao Douan looked down at Xia Jianghou.

Then he shook his head again, thinking:

Forget it, I can't be so hypocritical after all, I won't stand on the moral high ground, it's just to vent the anger in my heart.

Body and mind relaxed.

Afterwards, several constables from Pear Blossom Hall stepped forward and tied him up with iron chains.

Ma Yan waved his hand, and a group of people left in a mighty manner, the people of the Great 理寺 being forced back like a tide, with no one daring to block them.

Coming and going freely.

Only after watching this group of "Kings Yama" leave did someone cautiously look at the steps:

"Lord..."

The Great 理寺卿 was expressionless, his turbid eyes like a pool of stagnant water:

"Pass down the order, draft a memorial, impeaching Ma Yan for disregarding the law, overstepping his authority to detain people, condoning violence, and disrespecting meritorious nobles... Stamp it with the Great 理寺 seal, and accompany this official into the palace tomorrow for the morning court."

The officials were startled, secretly thinking that the morning court tomorrow would be lively.

On the periphery, in the crowd, one person turned his head and said:

"Evaluator Lu, let's go, you should leave work quickly, don't annoy the Lord."

Beside him, Lu Zhi, the official who had been ordered to be arrested and thrown into the Imperial Edict Prison by Zhao Douan not long ago,

And then, because his family was poor and had no money to bribe, he became the only one of the fifty-eight officials who was released, said with a gloomy face:

"Xia Jianghou is not a good person. Why is the Judge of the Court of Judicial Review protecting him?"

"Hush, keep your voice down, the Lord is angry, don't drag us down with you if you're looking for death."

Several colleagues around him were shocked and hurriedly dragged Lu Zhi away.

Sighing in their hearts: A troubled time.

“Zhao Du'an of the Imperial Secret Service led his men to storm the Court of Judicial Review at night, confronting the Minister of Justice. Ma Yan stepped forward to support him, forcibly detaining Xia Jianghou—according to eyewitnesses, the Marquis was covered in filth when arrested, utterly lacking any dignity.”

That evening.

This explosive news spread like wildfire, quickly circulating among officials, nobles, and literati in the capital.

The snatching occurred just as dusk was settling, followed by officials from various departments in the capital 'getting off work'.

According to custom, they gathered in small groups at restaurants, brothels, and taverns for socializing.

These were perfect venues for spreading gossip and discussions.

“Really? Zhao Du'an dared to storm the Three Judicial Offices relying on force? Is he really so lawless?”

“Would this be false? I saw it with my own eyes. The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review is formidable, right? But Zhao Jisi didn't even take him seriously.”

“That's right, I was there. That lantern was mine… I can vouch for it.”

“Hey, isn't anyone concerned about Xia Jianghou? How did a dignified Marquis offend that little Yama?”

“I heard it's related to the Grand Princess…”

“I think it's not that simple. Is the Director personally intervening just to support a subordinate? Is the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review the type to swallow his anger? There will be trouble at the morning court tomorrow.”

Imperial Secret Service, Headquarters.

Zhao Du'an dismissed his subordinates. On the way back, he could vaguely hear the whispers of people in the office.

One could imagine how it was being discussed outside.

“Heh, if it were the previous life, this heat could directly top the trending searches… No, what am I thinking? It wouldn't even be possible to create an entry, it would prompt that it cannot be displayed according to relevant laws and regulations…”

Zhao Du'an complained inwardly, stepping through the door.

He saw Ma Yan sitting upright, seemingly writing a memorial. Seeing him come in, he waited a while before putting down his pen and saying:

“The person has been arrested, is there anything else?”

Zhao Du'an grinned:

“I was fortunate to have Senior Brother present just now, otherwise my life would have been in danger. However, my life is not important, the key is wouldn't it be a disgrace to the reputation of our Imperial Secret Service…”

“Get to the point.” Ma Yan interrupted helplessly.

“Oh.” Zhao Du'an found a chair to sit on and said:

“What I want to ask is about the subsequent handling of the matter.”

“What do you want?” Ma Yan asked.

Zhao Du'an also became serious:

“My original plan was to arrest the person, then find charges to solidify the case. Then, whether reporting to His Majesty or facing whatever comes, we would at least have the initiative.”

After a pause, he frowned and said:

“But I didn't expect it to involve the Court of Judicial Review. Now I'm afraid more changes will occur.”

Ma Yan said unhappily:

“You also know this matter is troublesome? If you had reported to His Majesty in the beginning, would it have come to this?”

Zhao Du'an smiled awkwardly, then suddenly said:

“Wasn't I also following the Director's intention?”

Ma Yan said "Oh?" and looked at him with interest:

“What do you mean?”

Zhao Du'an tentatively said:

“The Director didn't originally plan to take action against Xia Jianghou, did he?”

He had been holding this question back for a long time.

Seeing his senior brother remain silent, he had no choice but to continue:

“Before, when I came to apply for the warrant, Senior Brother, you had already prepared it. Although I was surprised at the time, I thought that with your connections, and me making such a big commotion, it was not surprising to know in advance.

“But the more I think about it, the more I feel it's not simple.

Although Senior Brother, you are slandered in various ways by outsiders, but as far as I know, you have rarely abused your power during your two years in charge of the Imperial Secret Service.

This time, arresting a hereditary marquis, although there is a 'Meng Ye' confession, but ultimately… it's not quite enough.”

Ma Yan listened quietly, a faint smile suddenly appearing on the corner of his mouth:

“So, you don't understand why I agreed so readily.”

Zhao Du'an nodded frankly:

“Yes. Especially when I stormed the Court of Judicial Review, but you didn't stop me, letting me act recklessly, my doubts became even deeper.”

What kind of person is Ma Yan?

He can't be called selfless, but he is definitely cold and ruthless.

At least Zhao Du'an thinks that with his current relationship with Lao Ma, it hasn't reached the point where the other party would unconditionally disregard the rules for him.

But Ma Yan not only allowed him to bypass the rules to arrest a hereditary marquis.

He even supported him, not hesitating to slap a third-rank official in the face…

Zhao Du'an thinks this is not quite right.

So after thinking about it, he decided to ask clearly in person.

Sometimes, appropriately exposing one's ignorance in front of a superior is not a bad thing.

Especially when one's persona is a “smart person”, it will make the superior gain a sense of intellectual superiority.

This is a subtle form of flattery.

Ma Yan's smile widened as expected, and a rare smile appeared on his usually cold face:

“That's right, this official did plan to deal with Xia Jianghou.”

“Why?” Zhao Du'an was puzzled, this was too coincidental.

Ma Yan suddenly looked at him deeply, his tone complicated:

“This official only listens to His Majesty's words from beginning to end.”

Zhao Du'an was stunned.

Ma Yan only listens to the Empress's words.

Ma Yan suddenly decided to deal with Xia Jianghou.

So…

“Are you saying, this is His Majesty's arrangement?” Zhao Du'an was really surprised.

Ma Yan smiled, suddenly tossing the memorial he had just finished writing, impeaching Xia Jianghou, lightly and said:

“How could Her Majesty not know that you offended Princess Yunyang? And how could she not guess that her 'aunt' wouldn't be able to swallow this breath and would cause you trouble?”

“Her Majesty knows everything, so she ordered me to secretly watch over you, to shield you from the wind and rain.”

“So, even if you didn't do anything this time, I would have already prepared to arrest him.”

“You are very capable, and capable people often like to do things themselves, not wanting to rely on others, worried that the result will not be as good as their own wishes.”

“But you must also know that you are Her Majesty's person. Just as you would stand up for Shen Juan when he is bullied, Her Majesty will also stand up for you when you are bullied.”

Zhao Du'an was stunned, staring fixedly at the memorial on the table with the ink still wet.

In his ears was Ma Yan's voice:

“You don't have to worry about the aftermath of this matter. You've been busy all day, go back and rest. I will properly arrange the remaining wind and rain. There will be a clear answer at the morning court tomorrow.”

Morning court tomorrow… Zhao Du'an suddenly turned his head.

His gaze seemed to penetrate the walls, black tiles, the dim sky, and fall into the majestic and bright palace.

Landing on that white-clothed Empress with her black hair like a waterfall.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Xu Zhenguan, who was correcting memorials, suddenly frowned her beautiful nose and muttered:

“Who is thinking of me?”

…

Fixing typos after updating.