The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Ah, young master, how did you get so wet?"

On the other side, Xu Mingyuan returned home, and the servant who opened the door was shocked.

"I drank too much and accidentally stepped into the water. It's nothing." Xu Mingyuan said calmly, stopping the servant from calling others. Then, he asked, "Did anyone come to the house today?"

The servant led him in while saying:

"A servant from Academician Chen's house came and left a message."

"Oh?" Xu Mingyuan raised his eyebrows, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "What did my teacher say?"

The servant said, "He urged you, young master, to focus on your studies and spend less time drinking and seeking pleasure with others."

"Nothing else?"

"...No."

Xu Mingyuan was silent for a moment, then smiled, but there was a hint of playfulness, a hint of sadness, and a hint of viciousness in his smile, none of which the servant could discern.

"Understood. I will pay my respects to my teacher tomorrow, and I won't go drinking either," Xu Mingyuan said.

Then, he returned to his room, washed himself, and changed into dry clothes.

Sitting alone at the table, staring at the face in the bronze mirror, a face that belonged to him but seemed like a clown, he whispered:

"You all forced me to do this."

Xu Mingyuan pulled out a piece of paper and spread it on the table.

He began to recall the scandalous affairs of the scholars in the Li faction that he knew.

Including today, all the "friends" who had cursed Zhao Du'an with him in the private room were recorded in detail.

Finally, he put strength into his wrist and wrote the three words "Chen Zhengru". The face in the bronze mirror looked somewhat ferocious.

"Since there is no turning back for me, you will help me one last time and be my initiation offering."

He planned to hand over all the evidence he had about his teacher and classmates to Zhao Du'an in exchange for promotion.

...

...

Nothing was said that night.

The next day, the sky was bright and clear. After the dog days of summer, the air was not so hot.

Zhao Du'an took a carriage in the morning, had Xiao Wang pull him along, first slowly went to buy groceries, and then dawdled until noon before arriving at the Baima Prison.

The back衙.

"Why are you here again, kid?"

The old Director of Prisons, wearing a loose official robe, with white hair at his temples and sunken eye sockets, frowned, looking disgusted.

Zhao Du'an laughed and said:

"Isn't it because I've been idle lately with nothing to do, so I'm looking for you to drink? After all, I'm still an envoy of our Baima Prison."

Sun Lianying said disdainfully:

"You're just looking for this old man to freeload some wine."

Zhao Du'an always only brought dishes and then drank his Osmanthus wine. Originally, he could slowly drink a jar of wine for a month by himself.

As a result, Zhao Du'an drank at least two jars every time he came.

"These are all imperial gifts..." The old Director of Prisons muttered reluctantly, but still turned to get it.

Zhao Du'an laughed and said:

"If I make a contribution next time, when I ask His Majesty for a reward, I won't ask for anything else, just wine. I'll make it up to you."

The old Director of Prisons came back with the wine jar and sat down habitually at the stone table in the courtyard. Zhao Du'an had already laid out the delicacies he had brought from the restaurant, and grumbled:

"Making a contribution? I see that you've been living a very leisurely life these days, and you don't seem to have any intention of making a contribution. What's wrong? Weren't you eager before? Are you not in a hurry now?"

Zhao Du'an personally filled his cup and pointed to the sky with a smile:

"Now that the immortals are fighting in the court, isn't it better for me to avoid the limelight?"

The old Director of Prisons snorted softly:

"It's good that you know. The New Policies are related to you. If you get involved and are pushed to the forefront, even the immortals can't save you."

Zhao Du'an nodded in agreement, and while eating, he inquired about the current situation in the court.

Sun Lianying shook his head and said:

"It's not optimistic. After all, His Majesty has only been on the throne for a short time. In your New Policies, the opening of the market is better, at least it's a soft knife. People outside haven't been able to grasp the essence yet, but it's basically done.

However, the Performance Evaluation Law and the Equalization of Land Tax are full of difficulties...

You ah, this time you've touched too many interests. Many officials in the court have local powerful clans behind them, and some are gentry and officials... How many are like Han Zhou, from a broken and poor family?

The larger the powerful clan, the more they resist. Although His Majesty has gained the support of some people, using the power of the 'Imperial Faction' to contend with the civil and military officials of the court is ultimately beyond their capabilities.

In this old man's opinion, if His Majesty insists on ordering it, it can definitely be implemented. The ministers will not openly disobey, but whether it can be 'implemented' and how much it can be 'implemented' is hard to say."

Although he had been in the palace for many years, the old Director of Prisons, whose wisdom was far underestimated, sighed:

"No matter how good the method is, it needs people to use it. No matter how strong His Majesty's authority is, once it leaves this capital, it still needs to rely on the large and small officials to do things... As the saying goes, the current official is not as good as the current manager.

In the final analysis, if those officials who come from powerful clans and hold important positions don't nod their heads, even if it is implemented, it will be perfunctory and full of mistakes. His Majesty must not have had a good time these days."

Zhao Du'an listened in silence.

He was not surprised by the current situation.

As Sun Lianying said, this game is not easy to play.

In the history he was familiar with, every reform was full of internal resistance.

Even if it was a centralized emperor with great power, no one dared to disobey, but once it touched the interests of the ministers, it mostly ended in failure.

What about the Empress?

"Eh, why are you so taciturn this time, kid? That's not right, you wouldn't be looking for this old man for something, would you?" The old Director of Prisons narrowed his eyes, sensing something.

Zhao Du'an said with a smile:

"This humble servant doesn't have anything important, just inquiring about some things. Well, you must be very familiar with the affairs of the palace... That Consort Yuan, are you familiar with her background?"

Consort Yuan?

The old Director of Prisons woke up halfway from his wine, sat up slightly, and stared at him:

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

From the smile on Zhao Du'an's face, Sun Lianying read a familiar taste.

Every time, when the other party wanted to scheme against someone and came to him for help, it was like this.

"Who are you trying to deal with again?"

The Chief Eunuch asked in a deep voice, his cloudy eyes appearing very sharp:

“It even involves the inner palace?”

In the past, no matter how Zhao Du'an stirred things up, it was always outside the palace.

But this time, it actually involves the Imperial Concubine… the nature of the matter is vastly different.

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, then uttered a name: “Li Yinglong.”

The Chief Eunuch's pupils contracted, and the remaining half of his wine-induced stupor also faded:

“Are you crazy?! Does His Majesty know about this?”

Halfway through his words, the old eunuch, a confidant of the Empress, shook his head and said:

“No! His Majesty would never allow you to deal with him, especially at this time. Are you acting on your own initiative? Because he offended you? Wait… Could it be that you have already grasped some of his weaknesses? Related to the Yuan Consort?”

The more the old eunuch spoke, the more solemn his expression became, filled with awe and surprise:

“What connection do Yuan Consort and Li Yinglong have?”

This was information that even he was unaware of.

Zhao Du'an's hands were covered in grease. He slowly tore open a roasted duck with his hands, handed half to the Chief Eunuch, then tore off a piece of meat and ate it himself, his demeanor calm and unhurried:

“Is Your Excellency sure you want to hear this?”

The Chief Eunuch was silent.

Then, he slowly leaned back into his chair, squinting his eyes.

After a moment, he said:

“In any case, don't think about bringing down Li Yinglong at this time. Even if you really manage to get evidence sufficient to send him to the Imperial Prison, you can't use it.”

As he spoke, perhaps fearing that he wouldn't listen, he earnestly advised:

“It's not about asking you to be tolerant, but rather that a small impatience will ruin great plans.

Behind Li Yinglong is Li Yanfu, the entire Li faction. And His Majesty is currently promoting the New Policies. This is definitely not the time to start a war with the Li faction.

If you take action against Li Yinglong, it would be tantamount to forcing a life-or-death struggle between the monarch and his ministers. At that time, there will inevitably be a turmoil that shakes the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures of the Great Yu. The court cannot withstand such upheaval! The New Policies can't withstand it even more!

Do you think His Majesty doesn't want to move against him? It's not that he can't, but he has to consider the cost! He has to consider the timing! When to move, and when not to move!”

Zhao Du'an calmly ate the roasted duck, even taking the time to pour a cup of wine for the Chief Eunuch, who was becoming hoarse from speaking, before smiling and saying:

“You're right.”

Sun Lianying was stunned for a moment. Seeing his calm attitude, he suddenly calmed down:

“You're not planning to bring down Li Yinglong right now?”

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

“Do you think I'm an impulsive person?”

Of course not… Although Zhao Du'an's outward impression was always one of arrogance, daring to offend anyone, Sun Lianying knew very well that this was all a facade.

This young man in front of him, despite his young age, possessed the instincts and composure of an old fox in the court.

Every seemingly reckless act was carefully weighed for its advantages and disadvantages, even using himself as a link in the entire game.

A natural chess player—this was Yuan Li's assessment of him.

“What exactly do you want to do?”

Sun Lianying was actually unable to understand.

Although he didn't want to admit it, with his half-lifetime of experience in the officialdom, he couldn't guess this young man's true intentions.

Zhao Du'an picked up a handkerchief and slowly wiped his hands, saying:

“It's not certain yet. Some ideas are only in my mind, existing only as hypotheses, and still need to be verified step by step.

Whether it will succeed, or what the probability of success is, I cannot judge.

But in any case, you only need to know that I am completely loyal to His Majesty, and everything I do is to share the burden of the monarch.”

Sun Lianying fell silent again. After a long while, he said:

“This old one can trust you, right?”

Zhao Du'an revealed his snow-white teeth, smiling and saying:

“Of course.”

“Good.” Sun Lianying seemed to have made a decision. He squinted his eyes and said:

“This old one won't ask what schemes you're hiding. This old one doesn't know much about the Yuan Consort's situation, mostly just superficial things that you from the Imperial Prison can also find out.

If there's anything else, it's that she has been melancholy and unhappy since entering the palace, and has never competed for favor with other concubines. Other concubines all think about giving birth to a dragon child, but the Yuan Consort rarely pleases the late Emperor.”

Zhao Du'an said:

“Will the Yuan Consort be leaving the palace recently?”

Sun Lianying looked at him:

“When the late Emperor was still alive, concubines rarely had the opportunity to leave the palace. But things are different now. After His Majesty ascended the throne, the concubines of the harem are all harmonious, and His Majesty is much more lenient towards them.

The concubines can often get the opportunity to return home to visit their families, which is arranged by the Directorate of Ceremonial in the palace.”

After the Empress ascended the throne, the three thousand beauties of the harem suddenly lost their object of “competing for favor.”

A group of female creatures were harmonious and united, leaving only boredom and loneliness.

The Empress, perhaps being a woman herself, was very open-minded about the concubines leaving the palace.

Zhao Du'an asked again:

“So, will the Yuan Consort be leaving the palace recently?”

Sun Lianying was silent for a moment, then said:

“When do you need her to leave the palace?”

Zhao Du'an: “It's not certain yet, but if everything goes smoothly, it will probably be within this month.”

Sun Lianying: “This old one has been in the palace for many years. Although I've come to the White Horse Guard now, I can still have a say in such small matters.”

Zhao Du'an: “Will it alarm some people?”

Sun Lianying: “Success comes from secrecy. If you need it, even Mo Zhaorong, who is in charge of the Six Bureaus, won't notice anything unusual.”

This old man's control over the harem is so terrifying?

He's been out of the palace for two years, and he still has the confidence to say that as long as he intervenes, even Mo Chou won't be able to detect anything…

Zhao Du'an took a deep breath, feeling that his “old leader” was becoming more and more unfathomable:

“In that case, this humble servant will offer Your Excellency a cup.”

The Chief Eunuch smiled and scolded:

“Stop using my flowers to offer to Buddha. Don't forget to ask His Majesty for wine for this old one for this meritorious service.”

“It's a deal.”

“A promise worth a thousand gold.”