The First Lackey Under The Empress

“I thought the person coming would be Zhou Cheng.”

Zhao Du’an sat on the floor, his gaze passing through the bars of the prison cell, looking at the blue-robed civil official outside.

The brazier on the wall burned quietly, the light slanting on the face of this Vice Minister of the Court of Judicature, adding a touch of sinister layers to his features.

GOOGLE search TWKAN

He Zheng led two scribes from the Court of Judicature, followed by two prison guards from the Ministry of Justice.

“Heh, you think you deserve the Minister of Justice himself to interrogate you?”

He Zheng sneered, his two upturned mustaches twitching, his eyes filled with undisguised pleasure.

Being beaten black and blue by Zhao Du’an time and again was a humiliation he had never experienced in his life.

Now, the tables have turned, how could he not be happy and proud?

Standing in the corridor with his hands behind his back, overlooking the prisoner in front of him, He Zheng felt light all over, his mood never been so cheerful.

However, the next sentence coming from the prison cell made his good mood vanish.

“Huh, why is your face so swollen? I don't remember hitting your face last time.” Zhao Du’an suddenly said.

Then he shook his head, undisguised disdain:

“A jumping clown, the case hasn't been tried yet, and you think you can convict me? Or are you saying that you want me to confess with just your mouth?”

He Zheng took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to get angry, he sneered:

“You're about to die, and you don't even know it.

Heh, I came here today not expecting you to submit to the law, but just to help you recognize reality.

You should know that the decree to arrest you was issued by the Sage, and now countless people outside are hoping for your death, this is what the people want!

You still think you are the Emperor's favorite?

Lord Zhou asked me to bring you a message, he will be waiting for you in the joint trial of the three departments, to personally send you, this traitor, to the execution ground.”

“Are you done?”

Zhao Du’an closed his eyes:

“If you're done, get out quickly. Zhou Cheng is stupid, but you are even stupider than him.”

“You… Good! Very good! Let's see if you can still be so stubborn in court!” He Zheng flung his sleeves and left.

Today, he was ordered by Zhou Cheng to impose a set of punishments on Zhao Du’an under the guise of interrogation, but was rejected by Yuan Li.

Meeting was just a formality, as for the interrogation, it was never important.

“Hmph. I'll let you live a few more days.”

He Zheng's mood became pleasant again, full of anticipation for the joint trial in two days.

… …

In the next two days, public opinion continued to ferment.

As the Court of Judicature began to investigate, one piece of “evidence” after another was found.

And regarding the “Wang Family Concubine” case, more and more details became after-dinner topics for many people.

Zhao Du’an's situation deteriorated further, and with the disclosure of those evidences, many people who didn't know the truth also joined the chorus of condemning “Traitor Zhao”.

Everyone believed that Zhao Du’an was really finished.

And the only Empress who might be able to save him has remained silent from beginning to end.

Thus, on the evening of the third day.

The Great Yu Empress, who was in the Imperial Study, received the latest progress report on the case submitted by the Three Law Divisions.

“Your Majesty, these are the files sent by the Court of Judicature.”

Wearing a female official's robe, with a wingless black gauze hat, the neutrally dressed “Female Prime Minister” bowed and entered the door, presenting the documents to the Empress's desk.

Xu Zhenguan sat upright behind the bright yellow table, her fairy-like jade face as always, cold and otherworldly.

When she was in the Golden Luan Hall, she was a majestic Emperor, but in private, she always made people feel that she was like a celestial being, wanting to ascend to the heavens.

“Oh?”

Xu Zhenguan closed a memorial, placed the fine wolf hair brush with the jade dragon handle on the pen rack with her slender jade fingers, and casually opened the file.

After a while, she turned to the last page, which contained the sentence reporting that the trial would be held in court tomorrow.

“Understood.”

Xu Zhenguan said indifferently, and was about to bury her head in continuing to manage the government.

After a moment, she raised her head slightly suspiciously:

“Anything else?”

The female official Mo Chou's face changed, and finally she said:

“Your Majesty, there have been many discussions about Zhao Jisi in the city recently.”

Xu Zhenguan's eyes were puzzled: “So?”

Mo Chou hesitated, and gritted her teeth:

“This servant believes that the current public opinion is abnormal, and there are many traces of being guided by others. Zhou Cheng has a feud with Zhao Du’an, and this case is being tried by him, I'm afraid it's unfair.”

Unexpectedly, a look appeared on Xu Zhenguan's fair and crystal face. She slowly sat up straight and said with interest:

“You would actually speak for him?”

Mo Chou was hostile to Zhao Du’an.

This was no secret in the palace, she had spoken ill of Zhao Du’an several times.

This time, public opinion was raging, but Mo Chou, who should have been clapping her hands and cheering, remained silent.

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Mo Chou said with a straight face, seriously:

“This servant indeed dislikes him. But Mo Chou is first a female official who shares Your Majesty's worries, and then herself with personal preferences.

Public is public, private is private. When this servant said bad things about him in the past, it was also fulfilling her duty as a minister, to correct Your Majesty's vision.

If Zhou Cheng said that Zhao Du’an was of bad character, corrupt and accepting bribes, bullying the weak, using unscrupulous means… etc., this servant would believe it.

But only, saying that he defiled, abused and killed women, this servant does not believe.”

Xu Zhenguan asked strangely:

“Why? Didn't you investigate him and always say that he is a villain who flatters his superiors and oppresses his subordinates? Isn't it normal for him to do such a thing?”

Mo Chou shook her head and said:

“It is precisely because this servant has investigated him that she believes that this person is at least admirable in his loyalty to Your Majesty.”

The strange smile in Xu Zhenguan's eyes became more and more intense, and she nodded lightly:

“I know, step back.”

“Your Majesty…” Mo Chou wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back: “Yes.”

After taking two steps, the Empress's voice came from behind:

“By the way, Grand Tutor Dong will come to the palace tomorrow, remember not to forget.”

… …

Tai Prison cell.

A beam of light shone in through the high “品”-shaped vent at the top of the wall, a straight beam.

Dust floated in the beam of light.

Zhao Du’an sat cross-legged on the ground, letting the beam of light shine on his face.

Beside him, there were dozens of books on the ground, all of which were obtained from the prison guards—with Yuan Li's care, this convenience was still available.

If he remembered correctly, this was the fourth day he had officially been in here.

In the four days, except for someone disturbing him at the beginning, no one came later, so he was able to read quietly and efficiently.

However, this morning, he closed his books and focused on the direction of the city gate.

“It's already the seventh day. If everything goes well, Haitang and Zhang Han should already be on their way back to Beijing, or even very close to Beijing.”

Zhao Du’an thought.

The joint trial by the three departments was enough to make Zhou Cheng put all his energy on himself, and not pay attention to the investigation of Xue Lin.

But being trapped in prison, losing control of the outside world.

Even if everything was in his plan, the days of prison life still made it difficult for him to suppress the emotions of anxiety in his heart.

“However, Zhou Cheng should already be impatient, right?”

Zhao Du’an thought.

While his thoughts were flying, footsteps came from the corridor, and then the sound of the prison door being opened.

Several prison guards walked in, looking at his back sitting cross-legged, holding the shackles and fetters for warriors:

“Zhao Jisi, the joint trial of the three departments will be held today, please come with us.”

… …

Today's court for the joint trial was in the Yamen of the Court of Judicature.

When Zhao Du’an, wearing prison clothes and shackles, was escorted by the Censors of the Supervisory Council and the government officials, he found that many people had gathered outside the Court of Judicature.

Not ordinary people—this kind of major case would not allow the people to listen outside like in TV dramas, and gatherings would be driven away by the yamen runners.

Therefore, those gathered here were mainly people from the three law divisions, and some other officials who did not know which yamen they were from.

Among them, the most conspicuous group was a group of Jinyi guards led by Lihuatang.

“Sir!”

Mengxin's confidential secretary Qian Kerou's round face was full of haggardness.

The others were a little better, but obviously listless.

Seeing Zhao Du’an from afar, they shouted loudly, attracting the attention of many people.

Zhao Du’an smiled and nodded, and then stepped into the familiar high threshold of the Court of Judicature, and was sent to the largest court.

When he stepped in, he found that the hall was still empty.

The seats prepared for the chief and deputy judges of the three law divisions were empty.

In the entire court, there were only two rows of yamen servants from the Court of Judicature, standing on both sides with fire and water sticks.

At this moment, they all looked at him with complicated eyes.

“Am I the only one?”

Zhao Du’an suddenly smiled, looked around, and said to a yamen servant:

“This official hasn't been convicted yet, could it be that there isn't even a chair?”

You still want a chair?

The yamen servants glared at him coldly.

It was the young censor from the Supervisory Council who was responsible for escorting him in, who had also arrested him that day, who frowned slightly.

He stepped forward and picked up a chair from the corner and placed it behind Zhao Du’an.

“Thank you.”

Zhao Du’an sat down carelessly, nodded to the young censor, confirming that this person must be Yuan Li's confidant.

A group of yamen servants wanted to stop him, but with their status as yamen runners, they did not dare to offend a censor.

At this moment, as Zhao Du’an arrived, the yamen runner at the door said loudly:

“Ascend the court!”

“Dong dong dong…”

On both sides of the court, the yamen servants hammered the ground uniformly with fire and water sticks, and dull and rapid drum sounds came from the door.

Zhao Du’an raised his head and saw figures walking out from the left rear of the court.

The old enemy Minister of the Court of Judicature Zhou Cheng in scarlet robes, Yuan Li, the Censor-in-chief who came to supervise the trial on behalf of the Supervisory Council in blue shirts and black gauze hats.

And an official from the Ministry of Justice whom he didn't know, judging from the embroidery pattern on his chest, he should be the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

The heads of the three departments took their seats in turn, and on the “jury seats” on both sides, there were several more figures:

He Zheng, the young censor…

And, Zhao Yamen Supervisor Ma Yan, and Baimajian Supervisor Sun Lianying.

Zhao Du’an was stunned for a moment, not expecting them to come.

But after thinking about it, it was not surprising, after all, he held the positions of “Baimajian Envoy” and “Zhao Yamen Jisi” at the same time.

Then it was reasonable for the leaders of the two yamen to come and sit as jurors.

Well, it's a pity that Eunuch Hai couldn't come, otherwise, it would probably be a spectacle for the three men who had a close relationship with him to be together, accompanying him in the trial.

Turning his strange thoughts, Zhao Du’an's eyes met theirs.

Ma Yan frowned, full of worry, seemingly very worried about this trial.

And Sun Lianying's face was expressionless, making it impossible to guess.

In the solemn atmosphere, the drum sounds stopped.

“Open the court!”

Zhou Cheng slammed the gavel and shouted sharply.

… …

Ask for monthly tickets at the end of the month