The First Lackey Under The Empress

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As a 'chess piece' about to be abandoned, how can one carve out a path to survival from the situation?

Zhao Du'an never expected mercy or luck from the big figures. All he could rely on was to maximize the use of existing information and means to complete this comeback.

Yesterday, when he entered the palace, it coincided with the Empress discussing matters with the Chancellor, and afterwards, he learned of the subsequent changes to the 'converting farmland to mulberry fields' strategy.

From this, Zhao Du'an derived two key pieces of information:

First, the Empress and the party represented by Li Yanfu, composed of the 'Jiangnan gentry,' are engaged in a game.

The Li Party first promoted a 'pilot project' in the Huai River area. After messing it up, Li Yanfu, through a member of the Hanlin Academy, proposed the method of 'combining conversion with disaster relief.'

In reality, they are using state affairs to benefit the interest groups behind them.

Second, the Empress is well aware of this and has been suppressing the Li Party since her ascension to the throne.

Then the question becomes very clear: how to please the leader?

The experienced official Zhu Kui said it very clearly: think what the leader thinks, and be anxious about what the leader is anxious about.

Therefore, from the beginning, Zhao Du'an realized that the key to his 'atonement through meritorious service' was not the 'size' of the merit, but whether the Empress urgently needed this merit!

The price of a commodity is determined by the relationship between supply and demand... This is a concept that Zhao Du'an was very familiar with when he was studying.

Therefore, when he later saw the invitation from the Ning'an County Viscount in the Baima Prison, he noticed that the official imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice whom they wanted to rescue was from the 'Jiangnan gentry,' and he realized that this was an opportunity.

As long as this bribery case is linked to Li Yanfu.

Then, it would be an excuse sufficient to attack the Chancellor, thereby striking at the Li Party.

And the Empress should like this excuse very much.

Of course, this plan is not perfect, because the original owner lacked understanding of the court. Many of Zhao Du'an's judgments can only rely on speculation and the experience of his previous life.

But he doesn't have time to formulate a 'perfect' plan!

He can only take a gamble!

...

"Envoy... are you joking?"

Inside the awning boat, Feng Ju felt as if struck by a heavy blow, his face turned pale in an instant, and he felt as if countless steel needles were piercing his spine.

Him? To report the current Chancellor? Was he crazy?

Even in the most absurd dream, he wouldn't dare to imagine this scenario.

Zhao Du'an said calmly: "Is Master Feng afraid?"

Nonsense... Offending the Chancellor, you want me to die, who wouldn't be afraid? ... Feng Ju shook his head and said:

"It's not that this official is afraid, but this matter has nothing to do with the Chancellor. Who would believe it if I said it?"

Zhao Du'an asked in return:

"Is there no relationship? Are not Master Feng and that fellow graduate in the Ministry of Justice's prison both Jiangnan scholars?"

Feng Ju hurriedly cleared up the relationship:

"Jiangnan has a strong atmosphere of reading, and many officials in the court come from the South, but this official is not a member of the Chancellor's faction."

He was really wronged. The division of factions in the court is not based on region. How can we use a map cannon to define the components?

"But others may not necessarily think so," Zhao Du'an said as a matter of course:

"As fellow Jiangnan clan children and officials in the same dynasty, it is reasonable to seek help from the Chancellor when something goes wrong, right?"

He continued:

"But what is the status of the Chancellor? How could he dirty his hands for such a trivial matter? He wouldn't even bother to see you in person. At most, he would instruct his subordinates or point you in a direction. It's very reasonable, right?"

Zhao Du'an added:

"You received instructions, and through Wang Xian, you came to bribe me. I am the Emperor's man and have no relationship with the Chancellor on the surface. It's safest for me to handle things. This is very reasonable, right?"

Feng Ju was dumbfounded.

Three "very reasonable" directly fabricated a trumped-up script.

His face was ugly, and he said in a cold voice:

"Envoy, you are forcing me to implicate and falsely accuse the Chancellor... Isn't that going to put me to death?

If I don't obey you, you will expose my bribery. According to the law, this official will at most take off this official robe and return to my hometown to retire early.

But if I implicate the Chancellor... The Chancellor's golden body will at most be slightly stained with dust, and I'm afraid I will die without a burial place!"

He found it a little ridiculous.

Did this little white face under the Empress' skirt naively think that he could coerce himself by mastering the handle?

Is it difficult to choose between losing one's official position and losing one's life?

"Is that what Master Feng thinks?" Zhao Du'an pretended to be disappointed and said:

"I originally thought you were a smart person."

"What do you mean?" Feng Ju frowned.

Zhao Du'an said calmly:

"So, you think that I am trying to clear myself of guilt, so I inexplicably went to implicate Li Yanfu?"

"This..."

Feng Ju was speechless. This was indeed a bit illogical.

In his shock and anger just now, he had not thought deeply. There was no reason for Zhao Du'an to be an enemy of the Chancellor.

Even if the implication is successful, the Chancellor will at most be knocked on the head a little. He would also offend a big figure. Even if the Zhao family has the Empress' support and wants to find an excuse to exempt himself from guilt, there is no reason to point the finger at Li Yanfu.

Unless...

"Heh, Master Feng, don't forget," Zhao Du'an saw the change in his face and added the most crucial knife:

"Who is standing behind this official."

Boom!

A thunderclap sounded in Feng Ju's mind. At this moment, he suddenly realized.

Zhao Du'an is the Empress' dog. His implication of the Chancellor must represent the Empress' will behind it.

Yes!

Since the Empress ascended the throne, she has repeatedly weakened the Li Party. This is not a secret. Not long ago, there were rumors that the Li Party was confronting the imperial power...

In the morning, he also heard in the yamen that censors from the Li Party were forming a group to impeach Zhao Du'an...

Everything makes sense.

The Empress is repeatedly restrained by the Chancellor. This time, even her bed partner has been used to attack her... Thinking from her perspective, it is reasonable for the Empress to be angry.

The struggle in the court is a bloodless sword fight, and everything must follow the rules.

Even the emperor cannot act arbitrarily. If he wants to strike at the Chancellor, there must be a reason...

"Gulp!"

Feng Ju swallowed hard, his mouth was dry, and he realized that he had been caught in the vortex of the court struggle.

"Master, would you like to moisten your throat?" Zhao Du'an pushed over a cup of tea.

Feng Ju took a sip subconsciously, and then said with trepidation:

"Envoy... So, is this Her Majesty's intention?"

Zhao Du'an showed displeasure and said in a deep voice:

"Master, be careful! What does this matter have to do with Her Majesty? You can't talk nonsense!"

He returned the original words.

Feng Ju understood, he understood this. How could His Majesty leave herself open to criticism?

But Zhao Du'an's attitude was already an admission.

Zhao Du'an struck while the iron was hot:

"Therefore, Master Feng must think clearly about which side to stand on. If you are willing to share the worries of Her Majesty, Her Majesty will naturally not treat her own people badly, but if you are obsessed..."

"Heh," he chuckled lightly, meaningfully:

"Although the rain is wide, it does not moisten grass without roots."

He stood up gently and patted Feng Ju on the shoulder:

"You can think about how to choose."

After speaking, he walked to the outside of the awning boat. The drizzle was falling, and the misty willows on both sides of the Hun River were picturesque.

Behind him, Feng Ju sat blankly in the cabin. After a while, he gritted his teeth and made a decision.

He stood up, picked up the oil-paper umbrella in the cabin, held it over Zhao Du'an's head, and lowered his head like a servant, whispering:

"This official is willing to serve Her Majesty..."

"Hmm?"

"Oh, this matter has nothing to do with Her Majesty. This official is willing to serve Envoy with the strength of a dog or horse."

The corners of Zhao Du'an's mouth curled up slightly, and the tightly clenched fist hidden in his sleeve loosened.

The key "evidence" for the comeback has finally been obtained.

...

...

Not long after.

When Zhao Du'an returned to the shore and got into the carriage, he saw Feng Ju's carriage gradually moving away through the car curtain.

Zhu Kui, who was driving the car, wiped the rain off his face and said in a muffled voice:

"Sir, where are we going next?"

He was already a little unable to see through his master's operation.

But judging from Feng Ju's transformation from arrogance to respect, for some reason, Zhao Du'an, who originally had a shallow and纨绔 image, became more and more unfathomable.

"Next," Zhao Du'an put down the car window curtain, estimated the time he had left, and said:

"Go to the Ministry of Justice."

According to the original plan, he only needed to pretend to be powerful and turn Feng Ju into a 'tainted witness' to be considered a great success.

But since there is still time, why not take a breath and trick a few more people in.

Zhao Du'an still remembered that there was a 'love rival' Zhang Changshuo watching him covetously in the dark.

"Since you want to deal with me, there is no reason not to return the courtesy."

Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes and decided to give Zhang Changshuo an unforgettable lesson in his life.