The First Lackey Under The Empress

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Afternoon, in the quiet courtyard of the White Horse Bureau's rear office.

Zhao Du'an and Supervisor Sun Lianying were playing chess beside a stone table, with a jar of fragrant osmanthus wine on a table nearby.

The old Supervisor, draped in a loose robe, with graying temples and deep-set eyes, holding the white pieces, listened to Zhao Du'an's account, placed a piece, and said:

"So, Zhou Cheng sought out Wang Shan through Qin Qiu, intending to use that concubine to frame you, causing you to fall out of favor, and thus target you. And you chose to publicly snatch that Wang Shan back?"

Zhao Du'an, dressed in plain clothes, with a normal expression, drank half a bowl of osmanthus wine in his hand, and nodded:

"Actually, I was planning to arrest him anyway. After all, this person is the most crucial figure in the Xue Lin case thirteen years ago. To bring down Zhou Cheng, I need Wang Shan's confession. I was just going with the flow, taking action in advance."

Just now, Zhao Du'an brought wine and meat to visit the old Supervisor.

And during their game of chess, he told him everything he had done in the past two days.

Sun Lianying frowned and said:

"Wouldn't that be stirring up the grass and startling the snake?"

Zhao Du'an picked up a black piece and said:

"Originally, rashly arresting Wang Shan would indeed alert Zhou Cheng. But after my commotion today, it might not be so."

"Oh?"

Zhao Du'an's eyes revealed shrewdness:

"Today, when I went to arrest someone, I made hints in front of Zhou Cheng.

Making him think that the reason I came to arrest Wang Shan was because I was worried that Zhou Cheng would use Wang Shan to frame me due to Qin Qiu's disappearance, so I had to urgently arrest him as a passive response.

I even deliberately threatened him with force in front of him. All these actions will deepen his judgment of me…

And once he believes that I arrested Wang Shan to protect myself, he won't think that I'm investigating the Xue Lin case…

In this way, I can buy time for Haitang and Zhang Han.

Heh, I was still worried about how to delay Zhou Cheng's alertness as much as possible and gain more time to collect evidence.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Cheng was also secretly looking for my flaws, so I simply went with the flow and set up a trap."

Sun Lianying listened attentively, and the look in his eyes became a little strange:

"Why didn't I realize before that you, kid, are full of bad ideas?"

Zhao Du'an took it as a compliment and placed his piece with a bright smile.

Sun Lianying pondered for a moment, then said:

"So, are you really confident in overturning the case?

Wang Shan definitely won't confess voluntarily. Even if you use torture to force him to admit it, it won't mean much. Once the case of that year is reopened, as long as Zhou Cheng still has room to resist, Wang Shan will change his confession at any time."

Zhao Du'an said:

"Therefore, the two key pieces of evidence that Haitang and Zhang Han went out to get are important. Therefore, it is important to buy them as much time as possible."

Sun Lianying looked at him:

"What about this period of time? Zhou Cheng won't let it go. Although you snatched Wang Shan away, since the two have already met, it is likely that they have reached an agreement. Even if Wang Shan is in your hands, Zhou Cheng can still make a big fuss with his methods.

As long as he confirms that this matter can be used to make a fuss, he can complete the framing of you.

Wang Shan will inevitably also hope that Zhou Cheng will save him. Your arrest in this way may make the alliance between the two even stronger."

After a pause, the old Supervisor said with a strange expression:

"Although, Zhou Cheng's idea of using a concubine to make you fall out of favor was wrong from the root."

As a eunuch who served the Third Princess, Sun Lianying knew that Zhao Du'an was just a "fake" gigolo.

He also knew that the Empress "favored" Zhao Du'an entirely because of his ability to handle affairs, not his ability in bed.

"But Zhou Cheng doesn't know," Zhao Du'an said with a smile:

"No one in the world knows. They will subconsciously think that as long as they make me fall out of favor, they can easily crush me.

So they rack their brains to find evidence to destroy the 'relationship' between me and Her Majesty.

And the more aggressive I am in this regard, the more ruthless and urgent my means of snatching people are, the more Zhou Cheng will believe this."

This is a very simple trap, using information asymmetry and psychological warfare.

Zhao Du'an's actions of snatching people today will make Zhou Cheng firmly believe that his direction of setting up a trap with a concubine is correct, thus ignoring the dangers lurking in the dark.

If the "Xue Lin case" is a fatal knife that Zhao Du'an secretly stabbed at Zhou Cheng.

Then the "concubine case" is the coat that Zhao Du'an took the initiative to take on, attracting the enemy's attention, thereby covering up the knife in the dark.

The strategist enters the game himself.

Openly repair the plank road, secretly cross Chencang.

He could guess that Zhou Cheng must have already taken action at this moment, starting to arrange a storm against him.

And what Zhao Du'an needs to do is to pretend to be schemed against.

Buy time and wait for the return of his two colleagues.

Sun Lianying stroked the chess piece, repeatedly thinking about this plan, and said:

"As you said, Zhou Cheng is indeed likely to be deceived by you. But are you really not going to explain the matter of Wang's concubine?

Bearing the slander on your shoulders? Or pinning your hopes on Wang Shan clearing your name?

I want to remind you that Zhou Cheng will definitely not just slander your 'reputation' so simply. Once he takes action, it will definitely be a fatal blow."

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"Although, with my reputation, I don't care about a little slander. But I didn't do what I didn't do. I have always been chaste for Her Majesty."

After a pause, he reached into his arms, took out a scroll the size of a palm, and a memorial, and gently handed them over:

"Therefore, the reason why this humble servant came here today to say these things is to ask you, sir, to be a witness and secretly present these two things to Her Majesty.

Heh, I am being watched by too many eyes now. For the sake of the plan's completeness, it is best not to enter the palace."

I knew you kid came to me not just to drink… The old Supervisor curiously took it, but did not unfold it, but asked:

"What exactly do you want to do, kid?"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said: "Please ask Her Majesty to perform a play."

… …

… …

On the same day, news about the suspected conflict between Zhao Du'an, the newly popular figure in Hele Tower, and Court Minister Zhou Cheng spread like wildfire.

Unfortunately, very few people witnessed it this time, and they were all silenced by Zhou Cheng. The few versions that came out were vague.

Disappointing many onlookers.

They only knew that the former adopted son of Eunuch Wang was arrested by Zhao Du'an, and they speculated about the reason.

The next day.

Around noon, someone wearing white silk and mourning clothes arrived in front of the Dali Temple and rang the grievance drum.

The drum sounded loudly, and He Zheng, the Vice Minister of Dali Temple, personally received them.

The informant claimed to be the uncle and aunt of Wang's concubine, accusing Zhao Du'an of defiling and murdering their niece last year.

And there was a lot of evidence. Because it involved a murder case and court officials, Court Minister Zhou Cheng personally came forward to hear the case.

It is said that Lord Zhou was furious when he learned of Zhao Du'an's various evil deeds in the court, slammed the table, and promised that he would not let the villain escape the law and would give the dead woman an explanation.

He immediately filed the case and quickly investigated.

The Wang family and the people related to the banquet that day were all summoned.

Qin Qiu, who was imprisoned, was also taken out for a walk and then reasonably locked back up.

Afterwards, Zhou Cheng drafted an official document on the grounds that it involved a major case and submitted it to Supervisor Ma Yan of the Imperial Edict Office, requesting that Wang Shan be transferred to the Dali Temple.

Ma Yan tactfully refused using delaying tactics.

The third day.

The incident had another breakthrough.

In the early morning court, Zhou Cheng reported the case, accusing Zhao Du'an of defilement and murder, and requested that Zhao Du'an, the Chief of the Imperial Edict Office, be arrested and investigated to uphold the law.

He especially emphasized the various perverted methods that Zhao Du'an used on the beautiful concubine. It is said that when she was sent out from the Wang family, her whole body was covered in ravaged scars.

Several officials from the Li faction jumped out, delivering impassioned speeches, angrily scolding the thief Zhao, and demanding severe punishment.

Ma Yan questioned it on the grounds that it was one-sided and that the Dali Temple had a feud with Zhao Du'an.

The Empress finally ruled that Zhao Du'an should be temporarily detained in the Metropolitan Procuratorate's prison "Tai Prison".

The case of Wang's concubine's death was to be jointly tried by the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, referred to as the "Three Departments Joint Trial", and ordered that the truth must be found out.

When the court adjourned that day, Zhou Cheng looked delighted, and Ma Yan was expressionless.

Yuan Li and Li Yanfu were impassive, watching from the sidelines.

As soon as the news came out, the officials were in an uproar.

… …

Noon.

Pear Blossom Hall.

Zhao Du'an had moved a chair since early this morning and sat in the shade of the pear tree in the courtyard, staring blankly at the densely packed pears on the tree.

According to his estimate, they would be completely ripe in a few days.

At this time, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.

The Jinyi officials in Pear Blossom Hall rushed in. Qian Kerou looked flustered:

"Sir, something bad has happened! The people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate have arrived outside the yamen to arrest you and put you in jail!"

The usually lazy salted fish Shen Juan looked anxious:

"Sir, that old thief Zhou Cheng must be deliberately framing us and trying to retaliate against us. What should we do?"

Hou Renmeng's face was full of ferocity, and his impetuous eyebrows stood up:

"Who dares to arrest people in our Pear Blossom Hall… I…"

Old Zheng scolded angrily:

"It's already at this critical moment, are you trying to cause trouble for the Lord? This is an order from His Majesty, a joint trial by the Three Departments! Resisting the order is what Zhou Cheng wants to see!"

Qian Kerou said anxiously: "Sir, please say something."

In the shade of the pear tree, Zhao Du'an sat in the rattan chair with a book on his lap, but at this moment he was as calm as an outsider:

"My conscience is clear. His Majesty is temporarily deceived by villains, but he will come out after the investigation is clear."

Qian Kerou was anxious: "The Dali Temple is the presiding judge, how can…"

At this time, footsteps finally approached from outside.

A group of officials walked in led by an imperial censor.

It turned out to be an acquaintance, the young imperial censor who was responsible for leading the way when Zhao Du'an went to find Yuan Li that day.

He glanced at Zhao Du'an with a complicated expression and said officially:

"According to His Majesty's oral decree, Zhao Du'an, the Chief of the Imperial Edict Office, is now being escorted to Tai Prison to await trial. Chief Zhao, please."

Zhao Du'an reluctantly withdrew his gaze, got up, shook the book "Da Yu Law", and asked:

"Can I bring this?"

The imperial censor hesitated, took it over and checked it. Seeing that it was just an ordinary book, he nodded:

"Yes."

"Thank you," Zhao Du'an took off his saber, including the Golden Crow Flying Knife, put them into the storage magic weapon, and handed them to Qian Kerou for safekeeping:

"Don't cause trouble during the days I'm away. Be good and wait for me to come out. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, no one will stand up for you."

The large group of Jinyi in Pear Blossom Hall gathered in the hall at this moment, and they couldn't help but be moved when they heard this. Many people's eyes were slightly red.

A joint trial by the Three Departments, what a scene!

They had a premonition that this Chief of the Imperial Edict Office who tolerated them might not be able to come back.

… …

That evening, the news that Zhao Du'an had entered Tai Prison spread throughout the capital, causing an uproar in the city.