The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the awning boat.

After Feng Ju opened his mouth to inquire, Zhao Du'an did not respond immediately, but slowly picked up the teapot and poured a cup of Mao Feng tea for the other party, saying:

"You and I have never had any interaction, what else could I want from Chief Feng?"

Taiwan Novel Website →𝚝𝚠𝚔𝚊𝚗.𝚌𝚘𝚖

Feng Ju continued to play dumb, frowning and said:

"If the envoy has something to say, please speak frankly."

As an old fox in the officialdom, he would never admit to bribery, as the saying goes:

It can only be understood implicitly, not expressed in words.

The so-called "speculation" or "tacit understanding" are essentially means of shirking responsibility.

In his previous life, Zhao Du'an had watched the short video of "Da Ming Dynasty 1566" and had a deep memory of the scene of Jiajing playing the chime.

The ministers discussed state affairs, but Emperor Jiajing was nowhere to be seen, hiding behind the curtain. Whether the emperor agreed with the decision or not was not expressed in words, but in writing, only using the sound of striking the instrument to "imply".

In this way, if it was done well, it was the emperor's credit, if it was ruined... Heh, it wasn't朕 who asked you to do it, it was all the ministers messing around!

It's simply a model of shirking responsibility!

Feng Ju had been an official for many years, and the habit of playing dumb was deeply ingrained.

Zhao Du'an poured tea for himself again, put the teapot back, and smiled:

"On this Hun River, a lone boat, only you and I are here. The words spoken come from your mouth and enter my ears, so there is no need to be so vigilant."

Heh... are magic scrolls vegetarian? How many officials have been recorded in history for their words and deeds and then fallen from power?

Feng Ju slandered in his heart, unmoved.

"Alright, then I'll say it," Zhao Du'an sighed softly, helplessly:

"The chief asked Ning'an County's son to ask me to fish people out of the Ministry of Justice..."

"Envoy, be careful!" Feng Ju interrupted reflexively, with an upright posture:

"Although this official has some friendship with Ning'an County's son, I have never asked him for anything. Words cannot be spoken recklessly!"

Old Feng had been in the officialdom for many years, relying on the word "苟" [gǒu, meaning to苟且偷生, live a humble life].

Old fox... Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"But when you boarded the boat just now, when I said you wanted Wang Xian to ask me for help, the chief immediately recognized my identity."

Feng Ju's face changed slightly, realizing that he had been caught off guard just now and had revealed his secret.

It wasn't that he wasn't cautious, it was just that the enemy was too cunning!

Zhao Du'an smiled and comforted:

"Chief, don't be so nervous, I have no malice in inviting you today. Besides, I have already received the deposit, you and I are on the same boat, aren't we?"

Perhaps this sentence took effect, Feng Ju's expression softened slightly, but he was still frugal with words:

"What exactly does the envoy want to say?"

Zhao Du'an said:

"Chief is in the Ministry of Personnel, well-informed, you should have heard about my impeachment, right?"

Feng Ju's heart skipped a beat, thinking that his worry had come true. This Zhao, seeing that the situation was not right, didn't want to commit a crime at this juncture, so he came to him, wanting to deny the promise to fish people out?

But Wang Xian, that bastard, didn't say that everything was fine? Could it be that there was a temporary change?

"I have indeed heard about it." Feng Ju frantically imagined, his expression unchanged.

After a pause, he tentatively added:

"However, at this critical moment, the envoy still has the leisure and elegance to sit around the stove and boil tea. It seems that you are sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai [fishing platform, meaning a secure position]."

Crazy probing from Old Feng...

Zhao Du'an chuckled, without showing any worry:

"His Majesty treats me with great favor, how can those Confucian censors slander me with a few words?"

It doesn't seem fake... That's right, with such a good appearance, and also practicing martial arts, with enough strength, His Majesty is reluctant, which is reasonable... Feng Ju was not surprised, and smiled:

"In that case, congratulations to the envoy for surviving this calamity."

While speaking, he raised his glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.

This action also represents a change in attitude.

A bunch of old things who steer the helm according to the wind... Zhao Du'an smiled and took a sip of tea, then sighed:

"However, although that's the case, His Majesty can't openly favor me, and there must always be a step down, so that the voices of those who intend to attack me can be lowered."

Feng Ju hesitated:

"Could it be that this official can help? But my Department of Personnel Selection..."

He was puzzled, thinking that it wasn't his turn to find someone, and his authority was not related at all.

Zhao Du'an shook his head and said:

"Chief is being modest, this matter really needs to rely on Lord Feng."

Feng Ju's heart suddenly rose: "This official?"

Zhao Du'an gave an "En" sound, stared at him, and said seriously:

"I need to establish a big enough credit, I think reporting officials for bribery and interfering with justice is a good idea, what do you think?"

???

A string of question marks slowly floated above Feng Ju's head. At first, he was stunned and didn't react, or rather, he couldn't believe it.

After a while, seeing that Zhao Du'an's expression didn't seem like a joke, this old Jinshi [successful candidate in the imperial examination] jumped up as if his cat's tail had been stepped on, his voice sharp:

"Are you crazy?! You want to drag me down? Aren't you afraid of yourself..."

He stopped halfway, because he found that the other party was really not afraid.

It's just accepting a deposit, and he hasn't really done anything. The Empress opens one eye and closes one eye, and the guillotine won't reach the other party's head.

Having nothing to fear.

He is the person who sleeps next to the Empress, maybe even riding on top of her, but what kind of thing is he?!

He felt dizzy for a while, only feeling that the whole boat was shaking, realizing that he was about to be sold, and for a moment he felt lost, angry, fearful, regretful... all kinds of emotions surging.

However, Zhao Du'an's next sentence pulled him back from hell to the world:

"Lord Feng, don't be in a hurry to get angry, I only said to report officials, but I didn't say to report you."

What does it mean? Not me? Feng Ju was stunned.

He saw Zhao Du'an still looking calm, playing with the teacup, and said quietly:

"Lord Feng, do you think that with your official status, even if you are sold, you can block the mouths of the entire court?"

That's right... Feng Ju was suddenly awakened, and his sanity came back online.

A chief of the Department of Personnel Selection sounds intimidating, but in reality, it is nothing in the temple.

It's just attempted bribery to fish people out. Even if this credit is given to Zhao Du'an, compared with the crime of letting go of the rebel leader, it is really insignificant.

In other words, selling him, or even selling the small circle behind him together, may not be enough for Zhao Du'an to atone for his sins!

This is also the reason why the White Horse Division Supervisor said "it's meaningless" when he learned of Zhao Du'an's intention last night.

The old Supervisor knew very well that this credit was not enough to be seen.

Because this impeachment against Zhao Du'an is not just about letting go of rebels, nor is it just about his notorious reputation.

More importantly, when the Censorate ends, it may mean that this matter has become a local small battlefield for the game between imperial power and courtiers.

Faced with the struggle between such behemoths, the greatest value of Zhao Du'an, a small pawn, is to become an abandoned son.

How could Zhao Du'an not understand the danger of this situation?

How could he not understand that simply reporting a Feng Ju, plus the one in the Ministry of Justice prison, is not enough to make the Empress resist the pressure of the courtiers and come out to protect him?

Therefore, his real purpose was never to sell Feng Ju, but someone else.

"What does the envoy... mean by this?"

Inside the awning boat.

After Feng Ju figured out the key, he carefully sat down again, looking particularly timid.

After all, his life and wealth were in the hands of the person in front of him, and he couldn't help but be timid.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Feng Ju gritted his teeth and simply opened the skylight to speak frankly.

Zhao Du'an appreciated the other party's statement, it was simple to talk to smart people.

However, his next sentence completely changed the face of Feng Ju, who had just climbed back from hell to the world.

"Me?"

Zhao Du'an smiled softly and said gently:

"I want you to report the current Prime Minister, Li Yanfu."