The First Lackey Under The Empress

Wang Heng!

The moment the spy uttered this name, everyone, including the Empress, felt a surge of shock.

It's him?!

How could it be him?

Xue Shence's expression changed drastically. He turned his head and stared intently at the Deputy of the Privy Council sitting next to him, trying to discern the truth from his face.

The Minister of War abruptly stood up, the old minister's eyes wide with astonishment, losing his composure on the spot.

Ma Yan and Shi Meng, along with a group of third-rank military officials, were even more stunned, the sound of gasps filling their ears.

Knowing the Privy Council's affairs!

What kind of important figure was that? Even the previously overthrown Pei Kai and Zhou Cheng could not compare to Wang Heng.

For no other reason than the two words 'military power'!

Lord Wang, you…

Someone exclaimed, disbelief in their voice:

Could it be that this villain is slandering, or a wild god is causing trouble…

Too many people in the military still dared not believe, and were unwilling to believe, this answer.

The Empress's face showed no emotion whatsoever, only staring fixedly at Wang Heng.

In her heart, she even hoped that the interrogation was wrong, hoping that Wang Heng would deny it.

However…

Faced with countless shocked and uncertain gazes, Lord Wang only sighed.

Instantly, everyone felt as if they had been struck hard by a heavy hammer, a sense of suffocation.

Zhao Du'an's pupils also narrowed sharply, and he couldn't help but look at Gongshu Tianyuan, wanting to ask:

Is this thing reliable after all…

But Gongshu Tianyuan looked confident, indicating that the fox he raised was definitely fine.

I'll ask you again,

Zhao Du'an locked onto the spy and said in a deep voice

Do you have evidence?

The spy leader said:

I have secret letters exchanged with him, but most have already been destroyed, and handwriting analysis is impossible, but the important figure behind me holds his weakness.

He was completely bewitched by the 'Fox Immortal', as if he had lost his mind, becoming a machine that answered every question.

Zhao Du'an took a deep breath and said:

Besides him, who else is there?

The spy leader then recited five or six more names, but these were not important figures, just some mid- to low-level military officers.

They were scattered among the tens of thousands of Imperial Guards. Zhao Du'an was somewhat familiar with some of the names, but most were unfamiliar and not from the Divine Machine Camp.

How many people do you have in the capital? What are you doing now?

I only know that this team I'm in charge of is here tonight to steal firearm blueprints, divided into three teams… We haven't been in the capital for long, we're replacing the previous batch of dead spies, so we haven't had time to make a contribution.

How do you contact the person behind you?

There are people specifically responsible for transmitting messages, who will come to contact us. I don't know the other party's identity…

The hall was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping, leaving only Zhao Du'an asking and the spy answering.

Who are the people behind the scenes?

The spy opened his mouth and said:

Wang…

That's enough.

At this moment, a clear and cold voice suddenly sounded, interrupting the interrogation.

Accompanying it was a mysterious power that permeated the air.

The 'Fox Immortal' lying on the bamboo tube suddenly screamed, trembling with fear, its white fur standing on end, and with a 'bang' it turned into a puff of white smoke and re-entered the bamboo tube.

Losing the power of the 'Fox Immortal', the spy leader bled from all seven orifices and fell straight to the ground, still breathing, but his soul was obviously incomplete, becoming a living dead.

Zhao Du'an's heart stirred, and he turned back to see the Empress's frost-covered face on the main seat.

That's right… Her Majesty didn't want the name of 'Prince Jing' to appear on this occasion… A mere spy only possessed valuable information to this extent…

The interrogation was over.

However, the interrogation had only just begun.

In an almost deathly silent atmosphere, the Great Yu Empress, wearing a dragon robe and a golden crown, looked indifferently at Lord Wang and said:

Wang Heng, We want to hear an explanation.

There was no expected cry of injustice, denial, struggle, or begging for mercy…

This military official, who was in charge of most of the Privy Council's affairs and could almost stand in the front row, looked unusually calm.

Sitting in his seat, his back was still straight, and there was even a hint of relief in his eyes.

Wang Heng shook his head and said calmly:

This subject has nothing to say.

Nothing to say!

He actually admitted it!

At this moment, even Zhao Du'an was surprised, not to mention the other military officials.

Xu Zhenguan was silent for a moment, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

When he opened his eyes again, he only asked one question:

Why?

Wang Heng's face, already showing some signs of aging, slowly revealed a self-deprecating smile:

Why does Your Majesty insist that this subject give an answer? There's nothing new under the sun, it's just a matter of choosing sides, betting on who to place your hopes on.

He picked up the wine pot on the table and poured himself a cup.

In the quiet hall, the clear sound of the wine forming a pillar and colliding with the cup could be heard clearly.

Xu Zhenguan said:

Where are We inferior to others?

Wang Heng paused, spilling some wine outside the cup. He put down the wine pot and solemnly shook his head:

Your Majesty is not inferior to others in any way.

Xu Zhenguan didn't speak, but the meaning in his eyes was clear:

Since We are not inferior to others, why did you bet on someone else?

Wang Heng understood this meaning, so the self-deprecating color on his face became even more bitter:

Unfortunately, Your Majesty was one step late.

He raised his head, looking at the faint starry sky outside the hall, and said:

At the beginning of Your Majesty's accession to the throne, in the first year, although you stabilized the court with strong methods, at that time Your Majesty was not familiar with political affairs, your title was inappropriate, and you were also a royal daughter… This subject only saw the bloody Jade Dragon Sword, but could not see the future.

At that time, the other party found this subject. At that time, the court was like a capsizing boat, and this subject naturally chose a good tree to perch on.

In the second year, Your Majesty miraculously stabilized the court, and your political affairs became more and more proficient, initially showing the aura of an emperor.

Up to now, in the third year, Your Majesty has been working hard to govern, strategizing and borrowing strength to fight, and the throne has become more and more stable. Now, with the new policy issued, who would dare to say that Your Majesty is inferior to others? But…

He mocked himself:

This subject has already wet his shoes and there is no turning back… If I had known today, why would I have…

Speaking of this, he shook his head and picked up the wine in his cup.

He raised his head and drank it all in one gulp!

Subsequently, under the gaze of everyone present, Supervisor Wang stood up, somewhat tremulously.

He raised both hands, removed his official hat, and gently placed it on the table.

Stepping out of his seat, he suddenly looked at Zhao Du'an, his expression complex, and said:

“You are truly remarkable. I have been watching your actions over the past six months. A promising young man, truly promising.

Perhaps you won't believe it, but from the day His Majesty sent you to the Divine Machine Camp, I had a premonition of this day. It's just… I didn't expect it to come so quickly.”

Zhao Du'an remained silent.

Supervisor Wang then looked at Ma Yan to the side, stretched out his hands, and chuckled:

“Director Ma, please escort me to the Imperial Prison. According to the laws of Great Yu, an official of my rank, even if I wanted to tear off my official robes, would have to go through a whole set of documents, using the imperial seal.

So, I am still Supervisor. Among the people present, only you can arrest me. Vice Director Zhao is not qualified yet.”

Ma Yan was expressionless and looked at the Empress.

Xu Zhenguan closed her eyes: “Take him away.”

“As you command!”

Ma Yan bowed, then glanced at Wang Heng and made a 'please' gesture.

Although Wang Heng was a military officer, he was not known for his martial prowess. Ma Yan alone was enough to suppress him completely, so there was no fear of tricks.

Wang Heng nodded, raised his head, and strode out of the banquet hall, with Ma Yan following closely behind.

After the two left, Xu Zhenguan continued:

“Xue Shence, deal with the names that the secret agent just revealed. If even one escapes…”

Xue Shence took a deep breath: “If even one escapes, I will accept military law!”

“Mm.” Xu Zhenguan nodded.

Xue Shence took heavy steps, wrapped in the autumn wind, and walked outwards.

The candlelight on both sides flickered violently as he walked.

Xu Zhenguan spoke again, this time standing up and walking out step by step.

When she reached the door, she said listlessly:

“Let's call it a night.”

And nothing more.

The Empress walked straight away, with the eunuchs waiting in the courtyard following with lanterns.

One by one, the military generals silently flowed out.

No one spoke. In the blink of an eye, the originally crowded banquet hall became empty.

Haitang also left silently, riding her horse towards the city gates.

— She didn't forget that Zhang Han and the others were still painstakingly tracking the enemy.

… …

… …

“Is it over?”

Gongshu Tianyuan was still not satisfied, stroking the bamboo tube tied with hemp rope with a pained expression, slightly disappointed at the abrupt end of the show.

“Or what else?” Zhao Du'an sighed, wrapping his sleeves around himself, looking at the courtyard outside:

“This is already the most dignified ending.”

After a pause, he looked curiously at the bamboo tube:

“What's the origin of this fox you're raising? Is this thing so useful for interrogating prisoners?”

Gongshu Tianyuan looked at him in surprise:

“You don't know? That's right, you're a martial man… It's normal not to know.

Generally speaking, deities are roughly divided into two categories: righteous gods and evil gods… You must know this. There is also a category, either from a small place, such as a tribe believing in and nurturing them, forming very weak deities.

Or, they are the essence of heaven and earth that appear due to some kind of coincidence… Well, the latter is not common within the Great Yu, you have to go to very remote places, such as the Mubei Forest, the Thousand Islands of the East Sea… and so on, to find slightly more…

In short, these things that are similar to deities but are much weaker are called 'wild gods'. This one was bestowed by my master. Interrogation is just one of its abilities…”

“As for what you're thinking, using it to try cases… don't even think about it. Firstly, there are too few of them, and there are very few warlocks who can control them.

Secondly… hehe, this thing is unreliable for interrogation. For example, just now, if I wanted to, I could even control the fox spirit to make that secret agent say any lie… So you understand, warlocks are also people.”

The little fatty winked, looking like 'you know'.

Zhao Du'an suddenly understood, indicating that he had learned something, and then looked at him strangely:

“Did you tamper with what the secret agent just said?”

Gongshu Tianyuan smiled wryly:

“Would I dare to play tricks in front of His Majesty? Well… I just made a slight intervention. For example, every time he wanted to say the words 'Prince', I controlled the fox spirit to make him choke it back.”

“…Impressive.” Zhao Du'an silently gave him a thumbs up.

Compared to the innocent Jin Jian, Brother Gongshu's EQ is leading by a huge realm.

“Alright, I have to go. Find me if you need anything.”

Gongshu Tianyuan carried the large bamboo tube on his back, tied it tightly with hemp rope, and said goodbye.

Then he made a magic seal, and a illusory arm suddenly stretched down from the sky, scooped up the little fatty, and quickly flew away.

Zhao Du'an watched him leave, thinking:

It would be great if martial men could have such a cool way to travel.

… …

When Zhao Du'an walked out of the mansion gate, he was suddenly stopped by a eunuch waiting there:

“Lord Zhao, Her Majesty invites you to come over.”

“Hasn't Her Majesty left yet?” Zhao Du'an was taken aback.

Following the little eunuch, he walked down a street, and sure enough, he saw the Empress's carriage at a secluded street corner—today she was traveling light.

She only brought no more than ten attendants, and now there were only five left.

“Mo Zhaorong was ordered to return to the palace first to deal with the aftermath.” The eunuch explained in a low voice.

I understand… Wang Heng's downfall, how could it be silent?

Zhao Du'an respectfully walked to the side of the carriage: “Your Majesty, I have arrived.”

The carriage curtain was lifted, and under the moonlight, the Empress's alluring face was flickering:

“Come up, accompany me to a place.”

… …

ps: After careful consideration, the author has decided to listen to readers' suggestions and change the name of "Heavenly Realm" in the cultivation system of this book to "Heavenly Human Realm".

Most of the previous chapters have been modified, and there are still a few scattered remnants left, which do not affect reading.

In fact, I wanted to change it a long time ago. When I started writing the book, I don't know what I was thinking, and came up with such a strange name… It's much better this time.