The First Lackey Under The Empress

That day.

Two amusing events occurred in the Great Yu capital.

First, the female emperor's favorite, Zhao Du'an, quietly visited the Ministry of Justice, leaving after about two quarters of an hour.

It is said that he looked displeased upon leaving, with a green-robed official fawningly apologizing and sending him off.

Secondly, during the small morning court session today, several censor officials, led by Lu Liang of the Censorate, jointly submitted a memorial impeaching Zhao Du'an, the White Horse Bureau envoy.

They claimed he had no regard for the law, was notorious for his wickedness, and was suspected of colluding with the rebel leader.

They demanded that he be stripped of his official position and thrown into the imperial prison to uphold the law.

Empress Xu Zhenguan remained noncommittal, only saying that she would personally interrogate him later, and if the accusations were true, he should be punished.

For a time, rumors spread like wildfire, as anything involving the emperor's "family affairs" was bound to attract attention.

Especially since the protagonist of the event was a notorious gigolo, maximizing the topic's appeal.

In just half a day, the matter spawned numerous versions.

The Empress's ambiguous attitude, and the endorsement of many court officials, was interpreted by many seasoned officials as Zhao Du'an having fallen out of favor and likely to be overthrown soon.

For a time, countless people gloated.

It felt like the satisfying and delightful sensation of a villain in a play about to be brought to justice.

It was scratching the itch…

… …

Inside a duty room in the White Horse Bureau.

Zhang Changshuo confirmed again:

"So, the people from the Ministry of Justice didn't agree or refuse, only saying they would start arranging it?"

His confidant reported:

"Yes. Presumably, the Ministry of Justice has also heard the rumors, so they are delaying to see how things settle down before deciding what to do."

The implication was that if Zhao Du'an's favor remained, they would give him face, but if he fell… they would pretend nothing happened.

Zhang Changshuo sneered:

"A bunch of old foxes, so be it. Now that the Zhao thief has intervened, that's enough. He accepted a bribe and then interfered with the Ministry of Justice's judiciary… With Ning'an County's son as a 'witness', plus the surging momentum in the court, are we still afraid he won't die?"

The confidant asked, "What are your plans, sir?"

Zhang Changshuo put away the scroll on the table, pondered for a moment, and decided to play it safe.

The biggest taboo in officialdom was reporting matters over one's head. Zhao Du'an was arrogant and didn't give the Bureau Chief face, but he wouldn't do that.

Moreover, the Zhao dog had repeatedly offended the Bureau Chief, and the two sides had long had a feud, so he considered this a reciprocal gesture.

Thinking of this, he took the evidence directly to the rear office, found the old eunuch, and reported the matter.

"So, you are accusing Zhao Du'an of accepting bribes and interfering with the judiciary?" The old Bureau Chief's expression was strange.

"Yes," Zhang Changshuo said, acting like a righteous gentleman, bowing and saying:

"Your subordinate implores you to present this to His Majesty and remove this parasite!"

The old Bureau Chief, with graying temples and deep-set eyes, was silent for a moment, then said:

"This old servant just received word from the palace that tomorrow morning, His Majesty will summon Zhao Du'an, Grand Eunuch Ma, Censor Lu, and others to confront each other. Since you have this intention, take your evidence and enter the palace with him."

Zhang Changshuo was overjoyed and took his leave.

After he left, only the old eunuch remained sitting in the empty hall.

Looking at the rain-soaked banana trees in the courtyard, he sighed deeply.

In his opinion, after tomorrow, even if Zhao Du'an didn't die, he would probably end up in a miserable state.

"Friends in the officialdom may not help you, but enemies will definitely harm you… When a wall falls, everyone pushes it."

… …

Evening.

Zhao Du'an received the summons to enter the palace tomorrow. According to the clerk in the yamen, Envoy Zhao didn't show any emotion at all.

… …

That night.

The news that Zhao Du'an had fallen out of favor and was about to be overthrown spread like wildfire, from the circles of the imperial court to the common people.

Rumor had it that the main force behind the impeachment, Censor "Lu Liang", was an official from the Prime Minister's faction.

Representing the Prime Minister's intentions.

Rumors always spread in the form that best meets the expectations of the general public.

Too many people hated Zhao Du'an, so everyone in the capital only wanted to believe the version of the story that he was about to fall.

For a time, it was rampant, and the city was full of rumors.

But Zhao Du'an, who was at the center of the storm, simply hid in the inn, had a quiet sleep, and prepared to face tomorrow's "tribulation" in the best possible state.

… …

The next day, early morning.

When Zhao Du'an, dressed in official robes and incomparably handsome, walked out of the inn, he saw his lackey Zhu Kui waiting by the carriage.

"Sir…" Zhu Kui opened his mouth.

Zhao Du'an waved his hand and smiled:

"Thank you for sending me to the palace. What happens after that has nothing to do with you."

Zhu Kui perceived a different tone from his envoy than usual, and his expression was complicated.

At this moment, he had vaguely guessed that the Empress probably hadn't pardoned Zhao Du'an, and the words the other party had claimed before were probably mixed with a lot of falsehoods.

The running around and a series of operations these past two days were more like the struggles of a drowning man.

He might have been deceived… He thought he would be angry, gloating, or uneasy… but he wasn't.

What he had seen and heard while following Zhao Du'an these past two days had quietly brought about earth-shattering changes in this veteran official's impression of him.

Although it was a bit shameful, he actually felt a little "admiration" for Zhao Du'an!

It was somewhat absurd! Ridiculous!

As an old official who had struggled and climbed up step by step from the bottom, he should have been the one who hated and looked down on this kind of pretty boy who was all show and no substance the most.

In the past year, he had cursed Zhao Du'an countless times behind his servile facade.

On that afternoon the day before yesterday, he had also wondered whether he should take advantage of the fact that the Zhao ship hadn't sunk yet and defect to Zhang Changshuo.

He would actually admire him!

But this emotion was real and undeniable!

Zhu Kui was thinking, if he and Zhao Du'an switched identities, when faced with such a crisis, could he be as calm as the other party, pretending to be powerful to stabilize the people around him?

Could he calculate step by step, trying to turn the tables against the odds?

Could he still be calm in the face of the gloating of the entire capital?

He asked himself that he couldn't, so he admired him.

"Envoy…" Zhu Kui opened his mouth, and finally asked:

"Do you have a chance of winning?"

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, then laughed, patted him on the shoulder, stepped into the carriage, and left only one sentence:

"Let's go."

The carriage rumbled.

When they arrived outside the imperial city, they saw that there were already carriages waiting in front.

"Zhao Du'an, I thought you had run away and didn't dare to enter the palace."

Zhang Changshuo opened the curtain of the carriage and walked down.

He was also wearing official robes today, with powder on his face, his small mustache neatly trimmed, and a sachet hanging from his waist.

Zhao Du'an got out of the car, frowned and said:

"Why are you here?"

Zhang Changshuo smiled smugly and said:

"Why, are you the only one allowed to see His Majesty, and I'm not allowed to have an audience?"

Zhao Du'an had the mentality of watching a clown, his face calm:

"Then let's enter the palace together."

… … Zhang Changshuo's prepared words were choked back.

Zhao Du'an's reaction was much calmer than expected, but he had already found out that the Zhao dog was in grave danger today, so after a moment of stunned silence, he just flicked his sleeves and snorted:

"Pretentious!"

Carriages from the Imperial Prison and the Censorate were also parked outside the palace gate. The other two parties in the confrontation and impeachment seemed to have entered earlier.

After Zhao Du'an asked the palace gate guard to report, he waited patiently for two quarters of an hour. The guard returned:

"His Majesty allows the two envoys to enter."

Zhang Changshuo puffed out his chest and raised his head, secretly clenching the scroll in his sleeve—

Empress Xu Zhenguan's cultivation was heaven-defying, and she was a strong person who was not afraid of assassination, so there was no body search for ministers to have an audience.

Zhao Du'an took a deep breath, looked up at the deep palace behind the dark gate of the city gate, and pursed his lips.

Success or failure depends on this one move.

… …

Transition chapter, asking for votes on Monday!

Thanks to Li Shipu for the 500 reward!