The First Lackey Under The Empress

How to respond?

Inside a room with tightly closed doors and windows, around a heavy table adorned with celadon tea sets, a handful of local officials sat with solemn expressions.

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They exchanged glances, but none took the initiative to speak.

“High Commissioner Gao,” finally, the Surveillance Commissioner, a third-rank official, spoke first from his seat.

This old man, nearing sixty, although wielding the power of surveillance over the region, spoke slowly with a somewhat kind face:

“The matter of the Taicang silver mine has already alarmed the Emperor, who has further appointed an Imperial Envoy to investigate. This matter is no longer confined to our Linfeng Prefecture; it is a major affair of the Imperial Court, a major concern for the Emperor, and, moreover, a major matter concerning the New Deal of our Great Yu Dynasty, even affecting thousands of households…”

The old man delivered a round of bureaucratic platitudes before finally offering a practical suggestion at the end:

“In this official’s view, we should await the arrival of the Imperial Envoy, provide a truthful account, and cooperate to the best of our ability.”

Before the Commissioner could respond, the Prefect of Taicang, sitting opposite the old man, a lean and wiry figure not yet fifty, dressed in a scarlet fourth-rank official robe, seemed agitated.

His steely fingers tapped the table, drawing everyone’s attention, as he said in a deep voice:

“Logically, we should indeed cooperate with the Imperial Envoy from the capital. But… the current situation is clear to everyone present. This is not something that can be glossed over by simply ignoring it!”

Prefect Sun Xiaozhun’s voice rose three notches, his eyes gleaming ominously:

“Surveillance Commissioner Liu said to give an account, but how do we give an account? The Imperial Court issued an order for us to arrest the person before the Imperial Envoy arrived, fine, but where is the person? Gone!

Not only has the Magistrate of Taicang disappeared, but so has the Mining Superintendent we were ordered to protect!

Lord Liu, tell me, how do we explain this to the Imperial Envoy? Or are you all conspiring to cut off my head, the Prefect’s head, to present to the Emperor?”

“Lord Sun!”

Sitting at the head of the table, Gao Lian, the “Commissioner,” appointed by the Six Ministries and in control of the political power of Linfeng Prefecture, held a celadon teacup in his hand, his expression darkening upon hearing this:

“Be careful with your words! Do not be emotional…”

“I am not emotional!”

Sun Xiaozhun, the Prefect of Taicang, whose actions were decisive and efficient, and who had been transferred to Taicang just a year ago due to his outstanding achievements, waved his hand dismissively, his words contradicting his feelings, as he said irritably:

“Lord Gao, it’s easy for you to talk because the Taicang silver mine isn’t directly under your or Lord Liu’s management, so the fire hasn’t reached your heads, has it?

I must remind you all that the memorial clearly states that the Imperial Envoy coming is the ‘King Yama Zhao’ who has recently risen to prominence. Although I haven’t met him, you should all have heard of his methods.

Lord Liu, do you really think that a simple ‘truthful account’ will suffice?

Don’t forget that you are in charge of criminal and supervisory matters. If officials get into trouble, you can’t escape responsibility.

And High Commissioner Gao, aren’t you afraid that this Zhao will start a fire that engulfs us all?

I’ve heard that this Zhao D’An is at odds with the Grand Chancellor in the capital and even dismantled the Junior Grand Secretary’s sedan chair…”

This fourth-rank Prefect, lacking composure but undeniably capable, launched into a tirade.

Spittle flew everywhere.

He showed no fear or timidity towards his two superiors.

The third-rank Surveillance Commissioner and the second-rank Commissioner were rendered speechless for a moment.

In the room.

The other two officials were also sweating profusely, trying to smooth things over.

High Commissioner Gao Lian, who controlled the financial and personnel appointment powers of Linfeng Prefecture, had fair skin and a composed demeanor.

At this moment, sitting in the main seat, the half-white hair under his official hat was meticulously combed, each strand distinct.

After Prefect Sun finished pouring out his grievances, he glanced at Surveillance Commissioner Liu, whose expression was unsightly, sighed, and softened his voice.

He personally stood up and handed the celadon teacup in his hand to Sun Xiaozhun:

“Lord Sun, moisten your throat.”

“…Humph.” Prefect Sun reluctantly took it, but didn’t drink it, instead tossing it in front of him.

Gao Lian sighed:

“Lord Liu and I know that this is an undeserved disaster for you, and there is no reason to abandon our colleagues. Today, this official has gathered you all here to discuss this matter.”

He turned his head again, looking at the old Surveillance Commissioner, who had a kind face, with a hint of warning in his voice:

“Lord Liu, we are all officials serving in the same court, like passengers on the same boat. When the storm rises, whether you fall into the water first or later, no one can escape.

Lord Sun is right, the New Deal is gaining momentum in the court, and silver will undoubtedly be the top priority. At this moment, with this incident, His Majesty will inevitably kill the chicken to warn the monkey.

Moreover, the Performance Evaluation Law is gradually being implemented. Who knows how many people are watching to see who will be sacrificed first.

His Majesty did not send anyone else, but specifically sent this Zhao D’An to handle this matter, which is already very clear. Gentlemen!”

On his refined face, his gaze suddenly became sharp as a blade:

“This is no longer a matter of Taicang County or Prefecture; it is a guillotine hanging over the entire Linfeng officialdom!

We must stand together; otherwise, I don’t know how many officials will be implicated to satisfy Zhao D’An’s appetite.”

In the room, everyone was moved.

Prefect Sun was overjoyed to see that Gao Lian was actually speaking up for him. He straightened his posture and said respectfully:

“Lord Gao, what exactly do you want to do? Don’t beat around the bush; just say it.”

The old Surveillance Commissioner also pricked up his ears.

Everyone else looked over, waiting for what would follow.

The Commissioner, with a refined demeanor and distinct strands of half-white hair, smiled slightly, fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes:

“As the saying goes, a mighty dragon cannot suppress a local snake. As long as we all speak with one voice and limit the blame to the Magistrate of Taicang County, we can protect the Linfeng officialdom…”

“Furthermore, according to what this official knows, Zhao D’An has acted repeatedly in the capital. Although his methods are extraordinary, there are still traces to be found. For example, whenever he arrives in a place, he often likes to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and shake the mountain to shock the tiger, in order to establish his authority…”

“Gentlemen, you should prepare early to ensure that the Imperial Envoy can’t find any faults when he arrives… As for the specific response, we will have to wait until we meet him to make adjustments…”

Gao Lian instructed them one by one.

In his mind, however, the confidential letter that Li’s family retainer had rushed over from the Prime Minister’s residence yesterday appeared.

That was a confidential letter, which could also be called a “strategy in a bag.”

Prime Minister Li Yanfu was remotely stationed in the capital.

Between the lines, he had already determined the different responses to the various strategies that Zhao D’An might adopt.

… …

… …

The third day after the battle between Buddhism and Taoism.

The Jianghu people who had come from other places to the capital to watch the excitement left contentedly.

The capital, which had been noisy for a summer, gained a brief period of peace with the arrival of the slightly cold autumn wind.

But few people knew that Zhao, who had stolen the glory of both the Tianshi Mansion and the Shenlong Temple, was traveling lightly, following the crowd out.

On the official road.

The carriage swayed, not as stable as the streets in the city.

Inside the carriage.

Zhao D’An opened his eyes from meditation, exhaled deeply, and said with a helpless expression:

“Still no good.”

It had been several days since he obtained the “Six Chapters Scripture,” but he still hadn’t figured out the wonders of the “Second Picture.”

However, with the breathing exercises and meditation, the turbulent Qi within his Qi Sea, after advancing to the Divine Chapter Realm, became increasingly stable.

Whenever he cultivated, waves in his Qi Sea faintly emitted sounds of a tsunami, which was incomparable to the profound power of the Mortal Fetus Realm.

“Haste makes waste, take your time.”

Zhao D’An silently warned himself not to be impatient.

Outside the swaying curtain of the carriage, the voice of “Confidential Secretary” Qian Kerou came:

“Sir, we’ll be arriving at Taicang soon. I reckon there’s already a bunch of officials waiting at the city gate. There’s a tea stall ahead, should we stop or not?”

“Stop, this official is thirsty.”

Zhao D’An stretched lazily and smiled:

“As for those officials, let them wait. Would I let them be comfortable and enter the city with my throat parched?”

“Alright.”

On the official road, four carriages stopped at a small tea house set up by the roadside, dedicated to travelers resting.

Zhao D’An lifted the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, took a deep breath of the autumn air, and heard the snorting of horses from the carriage next door, as well as a woman’s voice:

“Why did Lord Zhao stop?”

Zhao D’An, with his hands on his hips and dressed in luxurious clothes, turned his head and glanced at the delicate and beautiful face of the Jiangnan woman peeking out of the carriage, and said with a sneer:

“If the Princess wants to leave, just leave. Why bother following me?”

Xu Junling, supported by her maid, Lǜ Shuǐ, stepped out of the carriage, wrinkling her nose, and smiled enchantingly:

“Lord Zhao has such a cruel heart.”

— —

End of Volume One