The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the Buddhist hall, incense smoke swirled.

Zhao Du'an's heart, however, remained unsettled for a long time.

Consort Yuan? Li Yinglong? He found it very difficult to connect these two names.

He didn't know much about the old emperor's widows.

But thanks to his time as a member of the Imperial City Guard, he had, to some extent, learned about the situation of some of the concubines through hearsay.

Consort Yuan had entered the palace for nearly ten years, and she was the daughter of a canal transport official in the capital.

The old emperor was old but not senile, and although he was old, his desire to choose concubines had never stopped.

But Zhao Du'an really didn't expect what connection Li Yinglong and Yuan Ruo had.

"Was it before entering the palace, or after entering the palace? If it was after entering the palace, it would be exciting… No, it shouldn't be, it's extremely difficult for outside officials to enter the palace, and the Li family is not related to the imperial family, Li Yinglong has no chance to enter the palace to hook up and mess around… Moreover, she is the emperor's woman…"

"Then it was before entering the palace… Well, the age is right, hiss… I haven't heard of it, and concubines must be checked before entering the palace, Yuanfei should still be a virgin… If there are no accidents, the two of them still have a pure love…"

Zhao Du'an was lost in thought, feeling like he had eaten a big melon in the dog days.

He frowned and said, "Did Li Yinglong tell you this?"

He was a little suspicious, because with Li Yinglong's caution, he shouldn't just casually spread such explosive news.

Madam Lin shook her head and said:

"He only told me that I resemble his former lover, but I learned the name by accident."

Zhao Du'an pressed on: "Learned by accident?"

Madam Lin was silent for a long time before calmly saying:

"He called out this name when he forced himself on me."

Zhao Du'an: "…"

Now that Madam Lin had made a decision, she lost her previous weakness and timidity, and she didn't hide anything when she said this.

She just knelt before the Buddha, waiting for his instructions.

Zhao Du'an slowly paced in the hall, thinking about how to make a fuss about this matter.

After a while, he vaguely had a plan in his mind, and said:

"Very good. This clue is very valuable."

He wasn't worried that Madam Lin was lying.

Because this answer was very easy to verify. With his current status, it wouldn't be difficult to get a portrait of Consort Yuan, or even find a chance to see her in person.

"My lord, what do I need to do?" Madam Lin was eager for revenge and was particularly proactive. When she spoke, her eyes were filled with eager daggers.

Therefore, never underestimate a woman.

Especially a woman who has regained hope in despair.

"Like this…" Zhao Du'an pondered for a moment and asked:

"Can you find a way to come out again recently?"

Madam Lin hesitated for a moment and said:

"It's a little difficult, but if I pretend, I should be able to. I can say that I'm coming to Shenlong Temple to fulfill my vow. Li Yinglong's requests to me are not too difficult, and he will generally agree."

Zhao Du'an nodded and said:

"That's good, I need you to find a way to get as much information as possible about him and Yuan Ruo, but you can't let him realize that you are deliberately trying to get information.

If possible, it's best to get a utensil that Li Yinglong uses all year round, something that can represent him, more precisely, something that Yuan Ruo can recognize."

In the Jiangnan area, how could a geisha who was only one step away from entering the ranks of courtesans be a fool?

Hearing the implication, Madam Lin's eyes flickered, vaguely guessing what this Lord Zhao was thinking.

But she cleverly didn't point it out, just nodded:

"This servant knows. Does my lord have any other instructions?"

Zhao Du'an shook his head:

"It's enough for you to do these things well. This official will send someone to keep an eye on the Li family. You don't need to think too much when you come out. As long as you find a way to create a chance to be alone, someone will contact you."

Now that he is in charge of Lihua Hall, he does not lack confidants.

Madam Lin said that she had remembered it and said:

"This servant has been in the hall for a long time…"

"Well, go back, remember to be careful, don't let the Li family notice anything unusual, otherwise… this official will not have any loss, but your safety is uncertain." Zhao Du'an said lightly.

This time, trying to set up a plan at will, for him, the worst result is no result.

After all, he and the Li family have already fallen out, and Zhao Du'an is not worried that Li Yinglong knows that he is causing trouble.

But if this Sixth Madam fails, the end can be imagined.

"Please rest assured, my lord, it is this servant's own choice. I only hope that after it is done, my lord will not forget what you said today. This servant will be grateful and will never forget your great kindness." Madam Lin bowed gracefully.

"Go." Zhao Du'an strode forward and disappeared directly behind the curtains on both sides of the Buddhist hall.

Madam Lin looked at his disappearing back, then raised her eyes and looked at the huge, compassionate Medicine Buddha in the hall.

She thought to herself, could it be that her prayers had really come true?

Shaking her head, she quickly tidied up her appearance. When she pushed the door and walked out of the Buddhist hall, there was no trace of anything unusual on her face.

Below the steps.

The waiting maid and bodyguard looked over at the same time. Seeing the tears on her face, they were stunned, but neither of them was surprised.

It was no secret that the Sixth Madam was washing her face with tears.

"Let's go back to the mansion." Madam Lin said calmly, vaguely with the majesty and demeanor of a madam.

Acting… for her, a geisha who once made a name for herself in Jiangnan, was what she was best at.

… …

After the three of them left.

Inside the Buddhist hall, Zhao Du'an slowly walked out and stood still.

Not long after, Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou walked over from a distance:

"My lord, is everything settled?"

"Well, how are those monks?"

"Please rest assured, my lord, although our Zhao Yamen is not welcome by this group of monks, but behind us is His Majesty. Today, no one in Shenlong Temple will 'remember' that you have been here."

"Very good, let's go then."

"My lord, are we going back to the yamen? Or…"

Zhao Du'an took two steps, pondered slightly, and asked:

"Chen Zhengru and Xu Hanlin, that pair of teachers and disciples, have they been released?"

That day, the Empress ordered Ma Yan to execute the order and arrested the group of literati who took the lead in scolding Zhao Du'an and cleaned them up.

But in the final analysis, it was just scolding a few words, not a major crime.

The main purpose was to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, so after a group of people were cleaned up, they were released one after another, which was considered a profound lesson.

Qian Kerou said:

"Oh, those two Hanlin Academy literati, they were just released the day before yesterday, my lord, are you going to arrest them again? We can directly arrest that Xu Hanlin, but Chen Zhengru is a grand scholar after all, we still have to find Duke Du…"

"No need," Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes, as if thinking of something interesting, and the corners of his mouth raised:

"No need to be so troublesome, like this…"

He whispered his instructions, and the two looked at each other intently.

They both had the same thought:

My lord… is going to plot against people again!

… …

… …

Evening.

Inside Zuixian Tower in the capital, Xu Mingyuan was sitting in a private room, toasting with a group of literary friends who had also been released.

The day before yesterday, after paying the fine and suffering a light punishment, Xu Hanlin finally came out of the terrifying place of Zhao Prison and returned to the world.

He first returned home to reunite with his family.

Afterwards, he originally thought that with his connections and status, many scholars would come to "welcome and wash away the dust" for him.

As a result, Xu Mingyuan waited from day to dusk, but no one stepped into the Xu family's threshold, which used to be crowded with people.

"A bunch of rats!" Xu Mingyuan cursed.

He understood that the group of scholars who usually put on a hypocritical appearance and kept the teachings of the saints on their lips did not dare to contact him.

They were afraid of offending the Empress, offending the Grand Tutor, and even fearing that Zhao Du'an.

He couldn't help but sigh that the Grand Tutor's scolding that day was not wrong.

After sleeping in anger, he went to the Hanlin Academy the next day, but no one paid attention to him.

On the other hand, his teacher Chen Zhengru was treated much better than him.

After being released from prison, he was personally picked up by the Little Grand Secretary Li Yinglong, and I'm afraid he even met the Prime Minister.

Although Chen Zhengru's power in the Li faction is not great, his reputation is not small.

This time, Li Yanfu had to come forward to appease him for taking the blame for Li Yinglong.

Xu Mingyuan had no choice but to look for the group of literati who had also been released.

Learning that everyone was in a similar situation, a group of people huddled together to keep warm, and drank to relieve their sorrows for two consecutive days as if in retaliation.

They closed the door and cursed injustice and Zhao Thief.

"Brother Xu! To say that we people being treated as abandoned sons is fine, but you are deeply valued by the Prime Minister and are also a disciple of Grand Scholar Chen, how can you be neglected? Why don't you look for Little Grand Secretary?"

In a drunken stupor, a scholar said, burping up alcohol.

Xu Mingyuan's face was embarrassed and he didn't know how to answer.

Another person next to him said:

"This is wrong. During this period of time, the court has been turbulent and can be described as a melee.

Little Grand Secretary is the general of the central army and is busy with affairs. I think he can't spare the time, so he neglected the meritorious officials.

Otherwise, Brother Mingyuan's credit for suffering in prison this time should be rewarded, don't you think?"

A group of drunken scholars echoed.

But they didn't realize that Xu Mingyuan was sitting on pins and needles with a flushed face.

Meritorious official?

Heh, only those who have won the battle are called meritorious officials, what is he, a defeated general?

He didn't dare to say that he had privately visited the Li Mansion yesterday, but was turned away.

After all, after this incident, he had completely offended Dong Grand Tutor and the Xiuwen Hall faction, and was even disgusted by His Majesty. The only one he could rely on was Li Yinglong.

And all of this was thanks to "Zhao Du'an"!

Xu Mingyuan did not dare to be dissatisfied with the Little Grand Secretary and his teacher, so he could only vent his anger on Zhao Du'an.

If that Zhao had bowed his head and been attacked by him that day, how could he have ended up in this situation?

If that Zhao had not concealed his relationship with Dong Grand Tutor, how could he have been so stupid and ran into the muzzle of a gun?

"Zhao Thief ruined me!" Xu Mingyuan drank a bowl of wine and said boldly:

"Today's shame will be repaid a hundredfold to that Zhao Thief in the future!"

Everyone cheered and shared the same hatred.

… …

The song ended and the people dispersed.

Xu Mingyuan staggered out of Zuixian Tower and walked home.

At this moment, the sky was completely dark, the stars in the night sky were sparse, and dark clouds covered the moon.

When Xu Mingyuan passed a deserted street.

Suddenly, several men in black walked out of the dark shadows in front.

The leader, with dark skin, a rebellious face, and white teeth when he grinned:

"Are you Xu Mingyuan?"

Xu Mingyuan shuddered, half of his drunkenness dissipated, and he said vigilantly:

"I'm not, you've got the wrong person."

Hou Renmeng's smile became even brighter, and he kicked him over. With a bang, Xu Mingyuan painfully bent over like a shrimp, and vomited the wine and food in his stomach all over the ground.

"Hanlin Xu, come with us, my lord invites you."