The First Lackey Under The Empress

“You little rascal…”

Bending over and sticking out her rear, Xu Junling's delicate body stiffened as she was about to get out of the carriage. A wave of shame and indignation surged into her heart, but she merely gritted her teeth, snorted coldly, and stepped out.

Knowing that this guy was deliberately being flirtatious, and that if she lost her composure, she would be playing into his hands, she simply decided to ignore him.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes as he watched the little tag-along princess disappear, his eyes clear and devoid of any lewd thoughts.

“At this time, Shen Juan's side should have settled down as well, right?”

He put his hand on his chest, hesitated slightly, and then withdrew it.

Although the princess was sharp-tongued, the inn she had prepared for him was still a top-tier room with the character “A” in its name.

Later that day, the people dispatched by the princess to gather information also sent back reports one after another:

The imperial envoy and his party were arranged to reside in the official post house within the prefectural city.

In the afternoon, all the local officials showed up to hold a banquet to welcome the imperial envoy and cleanse away the dust of their journey.

It was said that the imperial envoy spoke very little during the banquet, maintaining a high and aloof demeanor.

Most of the time, it was the middle-aged censor named “Chen Hong” who spoke.

After the banquet ended, the imperial envoy didn't even bother to see them off, not giving the provincial administration commissioner, Gao Lian, and the others any face.

This caused a great shock among the gentry and wealthy clans in the city, as well as the runners in the various government offices, who were also paying close attention and had sent people to inquire about the situation.

They clicked their tongues in amazement, secretly thinking that a good show was about to begin.

… …

Outside the official post house.

Censor Chen Hong personally saw a group of local officials out, but the atmosphere was hardly harmonious.

“Censor Chen, what exactly is the imperial envoy's attitude? Could you enlighten us? We would be endlessly grateful.”

With a refined demeanor, the provincial administration commissioner, who was clearly the top official of Linfeng Circuit, deliberately walked at the back.

When they arrived near the gate of the official post house, he deliberately waited for the other officials to walk out before staying behind himself and asking bitterly.

The autumn wind blew gently.

The old osmanthus tree, which had been planted in front of the official post house for many years, cast dappled shadows.

The green-robed censor and the red-robed provincial administration commissioner stood side by side, with no one else around.

“Commissioner Gao is joking. I wouldn't dare to enlighten you. Although I am the deputy envoy, this trip to Taicang is decided by Imperial Envoy Zhao, and I can only speculate at most.”

The middle-aged censor, who was missing two teeth and had drunk a lot of wine at the welcoming banquet, had a flushed face and repeatedly waved his hands.

“Pantai” is an honorific for the provincial administration commissioner; the surveillance commissioner is called “Nietai,” and the prefect is called “Futai.”

These “Three Tais” were the three giants of the civil officials in Taicang City.

But at this moment, Gao Lian, a second-rank official, still didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of this small censor.

Although Gao Lian had also drunk a lot, his eyes flickered at this moment, and he said:

“We have been living in the locality for a long time and do not know the temperament of this Imperial Envoy Zhao. Censor Chen, please speculate a little so that we can cooperate and complete the task assigned by the Sage as soon as possible.”

The middle-aged censor glanced at him and sighed:

“It's no wonder the imperial envoy is unhappy. How are you officials handling things?

The capital sent down an order a few days ago, instructing you to take action, but what was the result? Both the criminal and the witness have disappeared. If His Majesty finds out, I'm afraid he will want to remove the black hats from your heads.”

Gao Lian looked worried and said bitterly:

“It is indeed our negligence, but by the time we took action, the people were already gone.

Regarding this matter, I implore Censor Chen to report the truth to His Majesty, that it was not that we were not diligent, but that we were one step too late.”

The middle-aged censor neither agreed nor refused, but simply folded his sleeves and sighed:

“It's too early to say these things now. The top priority is to bring the people to justice. Besides, it doesn't count for anything if you tell me these things. How His Majesty views you will depend on how Imperial Envoy Zhao reports back.”

Gao Lian said solemnly: “We just can't figure out what the imperial envoy means…”

Censor Chen, who was serving as the imperial envoy's deputy, pondered for a moment, not looking at the provincial administration commissioner, but glancing at a falling osmanthus flower above his head.

The autumn osmanthus tree was filled with a rich fragrance.

With a gust of wind, petals fell one after another, evenly sprinkled on the shoulders of the two officials' robes.

The censor folded his hands in his sleeves and said softly:

“In my opinion, the imperial envoy's meaning is roughly twofold.

First, since the letter of accusation has been submitted to the Censorate and alarmed the Sage,

and we have come here with such fanfare, then whether this Taicang magistrate can be found or whether he has committed the crime of stealing the country's wealth… the imperial envoy cannot come for nothing.

We must find out something and arrest some officials who have committed crimes in order to give an account to the Sage. Does Commissioner Gao understand?”

Understand?

Of course, he understood…

How could Gao Lian, who came from a Jiangnan gentry family and rose all the way to become the provincial administration commissioner of Linfeng Circuit, be a fool?

As soon as he heard it, he understood what Chen Hong meant:

You officials of Linfeng should not think that you can play the “dead men tell no tales” trick just because the criminal has disappeared.

Lord Zhao has come all this way with great effort. If he doesn't find anything, how will he explain it to the Sage when he returns to the capital?

“The imperial envoy can rest assured about this. Since the Taicang magistrate has already absconded in fear of punishment, there is no need to investigate any further evidence. The imperial envoy only needs to report to the Sage and issue a nationwide wanted order to arrest the criminal.

As for us, as the chief local officials of Linfeng, we have committed the crime of dereliction of duty and should be punished. I, along with Surveillance Commissioner Liu and Prefect Sun, will personally plead guilty to His Majesty and will not implicate the imperial envoy,” Gao Lian said in a deep voice, giving his guarantee.

This had been agreed upon in advance.

The imperial envoy had arrived, and it would be too good to be true to think that they could avoid any responsibility.

Gao Lian and the others would bear the blame for dereliction of duty.

Although it would be painful, it would not be fatal and was an acceptable outcome.

In this way, the imperial envoy would not have to put in any effort and could easily complete the imperial mission by taking a tour and returning to the capital to report.

Gao Lian and the other local officials would then jointly bear the responsibility, and everyone would have an explanation.

Gao Lian said these words in the hope of reaching a tacit understanding with Zhao Du'an and adopting this win-win version.

At the cost of the Linfeng local officials bearing some responsibility, the case would be defined as the personal actions of the Taicang magistrate.

“Commissioner Gao, I must remind you that the imperial envoy hasn't even investigated yet. What do you mean by predetermining the case?”

Censor Chen glanced at him.

Gao Lian's eyelids twitched, but he maintained a natural demeanor and said:

“Censor, you misunderstand. This official only thinks that since the Taicang magistrate has already fled, it is equivalent to admitting his guilt and submitting to the law.”

Censor Chen said gloomily:

“It's no problem for the Taicang magistrate to admit his guilt, but whether he is the only one involved in embezzling the silver mine, or whether there are some accomplices, who are the accomplices, and who are not… that will depend on the performance of you gentlemen.”

Depend on our performance?

Gao Lian hesitated for a moment, thought of a possibility, and his expression became strange:

“There are only the two of us here. Censor, why not speak more plainly? Does the imperial envoy want…?”

Chen Hong looked as if he was saying, “Do you really think I'm drunk?”

He raised his hand and brushed the osmanthus flowers from his shoulder, answering irrelevantly:

“The imperial envoy is very dissatisfied with you. He is dissatisfied with the accommodation, dissatisfied with the food, and even more dissatisfied with your ineffective handling of affairs… You should all think about it carefully.”

After speaking, the green-robed censor with silver teeth turned around and returned to the official post house.

After taking two steps, he seemed to remember something and added:

“Of course, these words of mine are just my personal speculation about the imperial envoy's intentions and are by no means conveying any message on behalf of the imperial envoy. Commissioner Gao, please don't misunderstand.”

“…” Gao Lian was silent for a moment and cupped his hands slightly:

“Censor, walk slowly.”

… …

Inside the Taicang Prefectural Office, in the hall for discussing matters.

“What? Did that Chen Hong really say that?”

Sun, the black and thin Prefect, widened his eyes.

Staring at the top official of Linfeng, who was sitting at the head of the table, as steady as Mount Tai.

Gao Lian didn't say anything, just picked up his teacup to moisten his throat.

Liu, the elderly Surveillance Commissioner, who was over sixty years old and in his year of knowing fate, looked somewhat unhappy:

“The meaning in this Imperial Envoy Zhao's words, could it be… that he is dissatisfied with our reception?”

This was still a euphemism.

The three people present could not fail to hear the intention of Zhao Du'an's message through Chen Hong, which was clearly the word “bribery”!

The conversation under the osmanthus tree, translated, meant one thing:

You local officials want to push all the blame onto a county magistrate who has absconded in fear of punishment, and only bear the punishment for dereliction of duty?

That's fine, but what benefits will the imperial envoy get?

You can't just move your upper and lower lips and expect this imperial envoy to help you “make a big deal smaller.” You have to add money!

Openly demanding bribes… This was somewhat beyond everyone's expectations.

Although, in order not to give Zhao Du'an the opportunity to find fault and establish his authority, today's reception strictly complied with the imperial court's laws and regulations, and did not exceed the specifications… it was indeed a bit shabby.

But to ask for money so blatantly was really…

“Heh heh, he's treating us like fat sheep,”

Prefect Sun, who was in the officialdom, was really an oddball, with a reckless personality. He chuckled, spread his hands, and said:

“Does he really think that opening a silver mine means we have money? Anyway, those silver coins have never fallen into the hands of our prefectural office.

This year, the prefectural office is struggling to pay salaries. I can't take out anything to show respect to this imperial envoy. How about you two adults leak a little bit from between your fingers? To provide for the imperial envoy's food and drink?”

The old Surveillance Commissioner frowned:

“Lord Sun, don't say such nonsense. Where does my Surveillance Commission have any money?”

Gao Lian, who was sitting at the head of the table, helplessly interrupted:

“Alright, don't say angry words. In my opinion, this is probably another strategy of the imperial envoy.

As far as I know, this King Yama Zhao also arrested a group of Beijing officials when he first entered the Censorate, and spread the word to solicit bribes, but then turned around and detained the officials who offered bribes.

Moreover, how could the imperial envoy be a corrupt traitor? In my opinion, we should stand still and not act rashly. If the imperial envoy wants to investigate, then let him investigate.”

The secret letter sent by Chancellor Li Yanfu had mentioned this:

If the Zhao thief solicits bribes, do not fall for it.

Prefect Sun and Surveillance Commissioner Liu exchanged glances and nodded:

“Alright.”

Gao Lian thought for a while and then instructed worriedly:

“Lord Sun, you must send people to keep a close watch on the silver mine. At this juncture, no suspicious person can be neglected. By the way, who is currently in charge there?”

“The Taicang County Assistant,” Sun Xiaozhun said:

“Rest assured. I have repeatedly ordered it.”

As he spoke, Prefect Sun, with his fiery temper, couldn't help but curse again:

“Damn Wang Chusheng! He really is a beast. He embezzled and made money in secret, and when the incident came to light, he ran away, leaving a big black pot for me, the prefect who has only been in office for a year, to carry! Am I wronged?

And I still have to carefully serve this Imperial Envoy Zhao. A bunch of bastards!”

It was not known who he was scolding with this sentence.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Gao and Surveillance Commissioner Liu looked at their noses and their hearts, pretending not to hear.

The three of them were now grasshoppers on the same rope, forced to weather the storm together.

… …

At night, inside the inn.

Xu Junling changed into a looser dress that didn't accentuate her figure, and gracefully pushed open the door to the room next door.

“Lord Zhao, what are you writing?”

… …

ps: I found that the design of this plot is a bit complicated. There is a bit too much foreshadowing at the beginning, and writing it is not refreshing ah ah ah ah