The First Lackey Under The Empress

Afternoon.

A piece of news that Zhao Dou'an had been arrested and brought to justice spread like wildfire in various government offices.

This attracted the attention of countless people, and compared to the cautious and prudent officials at all levels, the scholars and students who had close ties with the court engaged in heated discussions.

"Really? Isn't Zhao Dou'an very popular right now? How could he suddenly be imprisoned?"

"Hmph, who told him to offend Zhou Tingwei? If not for that, how could there have been an impeachment at this morning's court session?"

"But isn't he the male favorite of the Holy One? The Holy One has repeatedly favored him in the past, so why this time..."

"Heh, favored? Now that his affair with the Wang family's concubine has been exposed, do you think Her Majesty wouldn't care? How could that be? This is retribution."

"That's right, this thief is notorious and arrogant. As the saying goes, those who commit many injustices will destroy themselves. Now he is finally going to perish. Congratulations, the Great Yu Dynasty has one less treacherous and villainous official!"

"Still too young... Once he gained power, he became ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth..."

Some gloated, some rejoiced, and some offered condescending critiques...

People quickly accepted this outcome because it was very much in line with common sense.

Since ancient times, which emperor would tolerate his concubine stealing men behind his back?

Once discovered, they would be killed without mercy.

Xu Zhenguan, as the Empress, would be no exception.

Even if it was said that Zhao Dou'an had some skills and could be of use.

But if labeled with the word "betrayal," the Empress would not spare even the most useful minister.

Zhou Cheng's attack was not only to alienate the "relationship" between the two.

More profoundly, it was to make the Empress realize that Zhao Dou'an had deceived and betrayed her.

"Brother Lu, that Zhao fellow is completely finished this time."

Inside the Dali Temple duty room, an official sighed.

Lu Zhi, who had been arrested and released by Zhao Dou'an and had been stuck in the position of "Appraiser" for many years due to his personality, shook his head and said:

"This case is not right. The accuser was obviously driven by someone, and the process of Lord Tingwei handling the case does not comply with the regulations..."

"Shh!" The colleague next to him was startled and pleaded:

"That mouth of yours. Don't harm people. Besides, haven't you always criticized and opposed that Zhao Dou'an? Isn't it a good thing that he has fallen?"

Lu Zhi shook his head, stubbornly saying:

"One thing is one thing. Zhao Dou'an has a bad character. As a minister, although I am of low status, I should speak frankly and bring him to justice.

But this case... the existing evidence is not enough to convict him. How can we punish him with a muddled case just because we oppose him? I despise such behavior..."

The colleagues shook their heads and avoided him:

Serves you right for not being able to get promoted... Can't you see that this is Lord Tingwei taking revenge?

...

...

The Zhao Family.

As the sun set, the weather was good today. You Jinhua and her daughter were embroidering sachets in the bedroom.

In the end, she agreed with her daughter's proposal. The mother and daughter would each embroider a sachet for Zhao Dou'an.

As a gift for the Qiqiao Festival.

You Jinhua sat at the table, her plump and well-proportioned body in a dark green silk dress resembling a fat white carp.

At this moment, her head was lowered, and her fingers skillfully tied a knot, biting off the excess thread with her silver teeth, and looking at the dignified sachet embroidered with a blue cloud pattern, she nodded in satisfaction.

She then looked at her daughter: "How is yours?"

The slender and refined girl, whose eyebrows and eyes were vaguely eight points similar to her mother's when she was young, also finished the last stitch:

"It's done."

Zhao Pan held up the brightly colored sachet and handed it to her mother, somewhat dissatisfied:

"Mother, some of the stitches are not very good."

You Jinhua smiled:

"It doesn't matter. I'll fix it for you later. I don't think your elder brother will mind, after all, it's your good intention."

Zhao Pan gently said "En," vaguely looking forward to it.

After this long period of getting along, the mother and daughter finally confirmed that Zhao Dou'an had indeed become better.

You Jinhua was even more gratified that her daughter had gradually re-accepted her stepson. The Zhao family's darkest time had passed, and everything was getting better.

These days, she had a smile on her face every day.

At this moment, the old butler outside suddenly ran in in a hurry, shouting:

"Madam! Miss!"

The mother and daughter looked at each other, put down the sachets, and went out:

"What's the matter with such panic?"

The old butler cried out:

"It's not good! The young master has been thrown into prison, and it's said that he won't survive!"

Boom...

You Jinhua was struck by lightning, her mind went blank, she only felt dizzy, her legs weakened, and she fell straight to the ground.

Zhao Pan was stunned on the spot, the words "imprisonment" and "won't survive" echoing in her mind, as if she had lost her soul.

...

...

The Censorate, the back yamen hall.

Yuan Li welcomed a group of uninvited guests as the sun was about to set.

"Ma Yan? What are you doing here..."

Yuan Li walked out of the hall with his hands behind his back, looking at the group of Jinyi that surged in from outside.

Most of them were members of the Pear Blossom Hall, led by Qian Kerou and the other three.

The leader had a thin, cold face and a gloomy and violent temperament. It was none other than the Grand Eunuch Ma Yan.

"Lord Yuan, I apologize for coming uninvited." Ma Yan cupped his hands.

Although his expression remained the same, those familiar with him could keenly perceive that his expression was faintly mixed with anxiety and worry.

This was extremely rare for Ma Yan.

"Everyone, are you here for Zhao Dou'an?" Yuan Li invited Ma Yan into the hall to sit down.

Ma Yan placed his hands on his knees and sat upright:

"I know that his arrest was His Majesty's decree. As the chief official, I should avoid suspicion, but I couldn't resist the request of these youngsters from the Pear Blossom Hall to come to my door, so I had to make a trip."

"Oh, is that so." Yuan Li's expression was calm, and he did not expose him.

Ma Yan has always been strict and harsh in his governance, how could he be forced by a group of lower-level Jinyi?

It was nothing more than a pretext for him to come over.

Yuan Li said calmly:

"Since you know that this is the Holy Will, you should understand that this official will not open any doors of convenience because of your arrival."

Ma Yan smiled bitterly:

"I dare not embarrass Lord Yuan, and I dare not seek Lord Yuan's favoritism. I only ask Lord Yuan to be fair and treat everyone equally, and not to give convenience to the Dali Temple."

Yuan Li understood his meaning and said faintly:

"You can rest assured about this. Zhao Jisi will only be detained in the Tai Prison and will not be subjected to any torture."

Ma Yan nodded and thanked him with cupped hands: "With Lord Yuan's words, I can rest assured."

Yuan Li asked curiously: "I have always heard that you are cold-faced and selfless, how come you are running around for that kid today?"

Ma Yan's words for Zhao Dou'an at the early court session could be explained as maintaining his subordinates, which was something he should do.

But risking the Empress's displeasure and coming here at this critical moment had gone beyond the scope of superiors and subordinates.

Ma Yan was silent for a moment, then said:

"Lord Yuan knows that I came from the ranks of the Gong Feng. Although this kid has repeatedly broken the rules and caused me trouble, at the root of it... he once called me Senior Brother."

Yuan Li smiled faintly, poured tea, and saw the guest out.

Qian Kerou and the others from the Pear Blossom Hall reluctantly retreated after learning that Zhao Dou'an would not be forced to confess under torture.

Their strength was too humble. Bullying small officials was still possible, but in the face of such a major event, all they could do was this.

...

Tai Prison.

Yuan Li, wearing a dark blue gown with a Chinese collar, a handsome face, and eyes containing vicissitudes, walked through the dark dungeon.

There were no jailers following him.

When he walked to the outside of a separate cell, he looked inside with the help of the firelight, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He saw that in the prison cell, Zhao Dou'an had changed into a prison uniform, sat cross-legged on the ground, and was engrossed in reading a book with the help of the torchlight.

Not only was there no trace of panic or worry, but between his eyebrows, he seemed to be content.

"Still holding a book in a cage, rather than saying you are a military officer, I think you are more like a literati," Yuan Li praised.

"Lord Yuan!"

Zhao Dou'an then raised his head, smiled, and stood up to salute:

"There is too much noise and too many trivial matters outside, and there are too many things to worry about, but it is better to be here to calm down and read."

Yuan Li glanced at the book title:

"Book of Laws? You only read this book when you are in prison, do you think you can break the situation with this?"

If I said I was researching, would you believe that Zhou Cheng could be sentenced to a few years... Zhao Dou'an shook his head and said:

"I just happened to be reading this one."

This was true.

Recently, he had been cramming on the rules and regulations of governing the Great Yu Dynasty, studying the dynasty's political decrees, economy, military affairs, and other miscellaneous items, including legal articles.

He also compared them with the various dynasties of his previous life on Earth, intending to accelerate his understanding of the Great Yu Dynasty.

But he unexpectedly discovered many areas that could be improved.

Of course, Yuan Li did not know that the genuine military man from the Imperial Guards in front of him had the strategies of governing a five-thousand-year-old alien dynasty hidden in his chest.

Skipping this topic, he stared at him and said:

"Ma Yan came to me just now... saying that the thorns under your hand went to ask for orders, asking him to ask me to ensure that you would not be tortured in the Tai Prison.

It can be seen that they are very worried about you. The outside world is now spreading rumors that you have fallen out of favor and will not survive, and many people want you to die."

Zhao Dou'an did not speak, this was what he had expected.

Yuan Li paused slightly and suddenly said:

"But seeing that you are still in the mood to read, I know that they are afraid they will be disappointed."

Zhao Dou'an lowered his eyes:

"Lord Yuan thinks too highly of me, I am just pretending to be calm."

"Is that so?" Yuan Li smiled:

"The other day I told you that once Zhou Cheng makes a move, it will be a fatal blow. You must have learned it by now. You still have a chance to choose to ask me to take action. I can help you resolve all the current crises. The price remains the same. Once it is done, my Censorate will take more credit."

Zhao Dou'an respectfully said:

"Please forgive me for still refusing."

Yuan Li's smile deepened:

"So, in this situation, you still choose to play this game yourself? You must know that once the joint trial of the three divisions is held in two days, and Zhou Cheng has prepared the evidence completely, even I can't save you."

Zhao Dou'an raised his head and smiled:

"But Lord Yuan also believes that I can bring down Zhou Cheng, doesn't he? Otherwise, he wouldn't give me another chance to choose when I have already fallen out of favor and become a prisoner."

Yuan Li smiled and turned to leave, leaving a sentence:

"I look forward to how you will turn the tables. By the way, the people from Dali Temple have come to interrogate you."

As he walked, he seemed to be walking in the clouds.

Soon.

Sitting in the prison cell, Zhao Dou'an heard messy footsteps approaching.

Then, in the firelight, He Zheng's face, with bruises not yet faded, appeared arrogant and smug:

"Zhao Dou'an, how does it feel to be a prisoner?"