The First Lackey Under The Empress

Was it enough?

The atmosphere at the crab feast froze for a moment, as astonished gazes focused on Wang Chusheng, who had been missing for days.

After a brief silence, the officials present could no longer maintain their composure, and a clamor erupted.

"Wang Chusheng! The magistrate of Taicang County!"

"The Imperial Envoy actually caught him? How come there was no news?"

"What exactly is going on? Wasn't it said that a wide search was conducted, but he was nowhere to be found, and it was suspected that he had already fled Linfeng?"

Within the seating area, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, Gao Lian, who had been calm and leading the charge, was stunned on the spot. In that instant, his pupils contracted to a tiny point, as if he had turned into a stone sculpture.

The exhausted Investigating Censor, Liu Ji, stood up, his face flushed with excitement:

"It's you… It really is you…"

Prefect Sun was stunned and abruptly turned his head, staring at Zhao Du'an's profile, his eyes filled with a mixture of shock, delight, doubt, apprehension, admiration, fear… and many other emotions:

"Lord Zhao, this is…"

This is your doing? The so-called true meaning of 'putting all your eggs in one basket?'

… Xu Junling was in a daze.

Although she didn't understand the truth, she already realized that Zhao Du'an truly hadn't cared about the so-called counterattack from the Linfeng officialdom.

Because he had already prepared everything.

"Quiet."

Zhao Du'an waited for a few breaths, giving everyone time to digest, then raised his hand and pressed down in the air.

Instantly, the noisy banquet quieted down.

He paced around the hall with a smile, his voice piercing into the ears of the local officials:

"I know that you must be puzzled and curious at this moment, wanting to know what exactly is going on. But in reality, the process isn't complicated. I believe many of you here know about my appearance at the Taicang County Yamen a few days ago.

Yes, outsiders may not be clear, but you must know.

It was simply that when I entered the city, I divided my forces into two groups, ordering people to impersonate the Imperial Envoy to attract attention on the surface, while I first went to Songjia Village to retrieve the numerous pieces of evidence that Chief Secretary Song had painstakingly investigated and stored there."

"Why go to such great lengths?"

"It's naturally because the mine silver corruption case is by no means something that a mere county magistrate could accomplish, it's naturally because the orders from the capital haven't been issued yet, two key figures have mysteriously disappeared, it's naturally because of your… strict defense and resistance against me!"

As Zhao Du'an said this, his finger swept across the seats.

Wherever it passed, the officials all shifted their gazes, not daring to meet his eyes, regardless of their rank.

"Ha!" Zhao Du'an sneered, his eyes filled with mockery:

"Facts have proven that this was the right thing to do. If not for this, perhaps even the last bit of evidence left by Chief Secretary Song wouldn't have fallen into my hands! However, relying on just these is still not enough.

The evidence that a mere Chief Secretary can obtain is ultimately unable to touch the core. Fortunately, I also have a third group of people. From the moment I stepped into Taicang City, it wasn't a division into two groups, but a division into three groups.

It was precisely because I attracted the attention of certain people on the surface that I was able to bring Wang Chusheng to justice."

A division into three groups!

Hearing this simple, uncomplicated, yet surprisingly effective answer, the officials present couldn't help but feel恍惚.

Prefect Sun and Investigating Censor Liu suddenly understood. They didn't know that Zhao Du'an had used a similar tactic when dealing with the Minister of the Court of Judicature back then.

However, that time it was only a division into two groups.

Three teams, the fake Imperial Envoy at the post station, was to provide cover for the real Imperial Envoy, and that day, Zhao Du'an took the initiative to expose his identity.

It was also to provide cover for the Shadow Guard team.

When Zhao Du'an took the initiative to reveal the "true and false Imperial Envoys", the local officials would subconsciously think that this was everything.

But they wouldn't have thought that there was another layer.

The so-called scheme never needs to be complicated. The more complicated it is, the greater the probability of problems occurring in the entire procedure, leading to failure.

Just like a false coup: it is carefully planned, step by step, and ultimately skillfully won.

A real coup: is to invite people to dinner, ambush a few confidants, and chop them down directly while they are unprepared.

As for the specific method of finding Wang Chusheng, which Zhao Du'an deliberately glossed over.

Prefect Sun and others had a vague guess that perhaps, like the disguise, it was also using some kind of extraordinary means.

It's not important anymore.

What's really important is…

Everyone came back to their senses, their eyes met each other, their hearts beating like drums. In the quiet hall, the sound of some people swallowing saliva suddenly rang out.

An atmosphere of tension and expectation gradually spread.

Since the key figure in the case, Wang Chusheng, had been captured.

Then…

Does it mean that the backer behind him will also surface?

Furthermore, combined with Zhao Du'an's previous words, today's "crab feast" was clearly premeditated.

Gathering the city's prominent officials and gentry in this Chrysanthemum Terrace, with the city's army pressing in, it had a bit of a meaning of 'closing the door to beat the dog'.

"Imperial… Imperial Envoy… You are Zhao Du…"

At this time, the magistrate of Taicang County, who had crawled out of the sack and was sitting paralyzed on the ground, having succumbed after the Shadow Guard's torture, finally opened his mouth tremblingly.

His bruised eyes were fixed on Zhao Du'an, his thoughts seemed sluggish.

Beside him, one hand of the frail scholar-like Shadow Guard quietly rested on Magistrate Wang's shoulder, and the latter immediately shivered:

"Addressing the Imperial Envoy by his given name, it seems you haven't recognized the situation yet."

"No… it's not…" Wang Chusheng's face turned pale, fear gripped his heart, and he suddenly kowtowed like pounding garlic: "Lord Zhao, this official… no, this humble one kowtows to the Imperial Envoy…"

"Don't scare people."

Zhao Du'an said lightly, first "warning" the Shadow Guard, then smiled amiably, looked down at the other party, and said quietly:

"I summoned you here for one thing only. You must identify which of the people here is your backer.

Confess and receive leniency. Whether it's the mastermind or an accomplice, whether it's executing the chief culprit or implicating three generations of his family, it all depends on your, Lord Wang, one thought."

"I'll talk!" Wang Chusheng was tied up like a worm, and now he sat up with difficulty, without the slightest hesitation.

In the past few days of interrogation, he had already revealed the truth and signed the confession. Today's arrival was nothing more than saying it again.

Immediately, Wang Chusheng raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces in the hall. Anyone who met his gaze would look away, for fear of being targeted.

In the end, his gaze stopped on someone, his eyes filled with resentment and the madness of dying together:

"Lord Gao, I'm sorry."

Many people present changed their expressions slightly.

But Wang Chusheng had already spat out the name: "Reporting to the Imperial Envoy, the one who instructed this humble official to commit this great mistake is him! The Provincial Administration Commissioner of Linfeng, Gao Lian!"

Dong!

In an instant, the eardrums of the guests in the Chrysanthemum Terrace seemed to be dizzied by the sound of a drum.

Countless gazes, filled with shock, focused on the red official robe, neatly pressed without a single wrinkle!

Focused on Gao Lian's face, which was well-groomed, refined, and steady!

"It's you?!" At this moment, Investigating Censor Liu and Prefect Sun turned their heads at the same time, looking at their colleague with unusually complex expressions.

Before people could react, Wang Chusheng's face was almost distorted, and he accused him in a broken jar-like manner:

"The entire Linfeng knows that although I am working in Taicang County, I used to work in Linfeng Prefecture for many years, doing dirty work for Gao Lian. The mine silver case is nothing more than one of them!

It was he who wanted me to embezzle silver in the name of wastage and send it to the Taoist temple he designated for donation to launder it, and then deposit it in the money house. After this incident, it was also he who wanted me to hide and avoid the limelight, saying that as long as the people sent by the capital couldn't catch me, he could minimize the matter!

Not only this, the Jianghu people who protect me were also sent by him, actually to monitor me, colluding with and raising Jianghu assassins to help him eliminate enemies are also this Lord Gao!

Just from what I know, he has no less than ten lives on his hands!

The corruption case of the Linfeng Weaving Bureau three years ago was also directed by him, and the silk merchant Li family in Linfeng was also killed by him after fabricating charges, just because the merchant was unwilling to work for him anymore, and he was afraid that things would be exposed…

Also, the female relatives of the Luo family who were ransacked were not suicides, but were raped by this beastly old thief… and also…"

At this moment, as a subordinate who had been working for Gao Lian for many years, Wang Chusheng spat out all the many crimes he had mastered in one breath.

Immediately, it caused an uproar in the hall.

Even Zhao Du'an was stunned. He didn't expect that Gao Lian, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of the Great Yu Nine Provinces, who had a good reputation, had so many evil deeds under his glamorous official robe that it was impossible to list them all.

"You… what evidence do you have? Are you just relying on your mouth?"

Finally, an official in the hall questioned, "Wang Chusheng! You said that it was Provincial Administration Commissioner Gao who instructed you, then why would he leave you alive?"

This news was too explosive, making it difficult for many officials present to accept.

"Evidence? Of course, I have it!"

Wang Chusheng's face, full of scars, was indifferent.

He quietly stared at Gao Lian, who was sitting upright on the hall like a clay sculpture, silent, and mocked:

"Lord Gao, you didn't expect that I would expose these things of yours, did you? Isn't this what you asked for?

That day, I noticed that the Song surname was investigating, so I had to ask you for instructions. As a result, waiting and waiting, I waited for you to come to see me in private. That day, you brought people over, but you actually wanted to silence me, right? But I'm used to seeing your dirty work, so how could I not have any backup plans?"

He shifted his gaze, looked at Zhao Du'an, with a trace of almost manic smile on the corner of his mouth:

"Lord Zhao, you said that I'm doing things for someone like him, how can I not be afraid of being abandoned?

So, over the years, I have also been secretly accumulating his evidence, like the Song surname, I am also afraid that I will be suddenly killed one day, so I prepared several copies of Gao Lian's criminal evidence and put them in the hands of extremely reliable relatives.

So, when Gao Lian came to me that day, I said to him that as long as I die, or disappear for a long time, then after a while, my relatives will directly submit his evidence to the Imperial Censorate in the capital…

We are grasshoppers on the same rope, unless he wants to die together, otherwise he must take action to protect me.

He didn't show any expression at the time, and only comforted me, saying that I was too worried, saying that he wouldn't harm me, but guess if I believe it?"

Zhao Du'an glanced at him, raised his eyes and looked at the two Shadow Guards, the armored woman nodded:

"Lord, those things he said have already been obtained."

Wang Chusheng seemed to understand that he could not escape death, and he seemed a little neurotic at this moment.

He sneered and stared at Gao Lian, who was expressionless in the hall, his eyes filled with provocation and hatred:

“Lord Gao, don't look at me like that. If you had treated me better, I wouldn't have sold you out. But you were unkind, so don't blame me for being unjust. Anyway, I'm going to die soon, and you, and those people behind you, don't even think about living! Let's all die together! Hahaha, let's all die together!”

Zhao Du'an frowned, uninterested in the grievances between the two. He said coldly:

“Wang Chusheng, what about the disappearance of Song Tiju? Do you know where he is?”

Wang Chusheng, after venting his emotions, was no longer afraid. Instead, he had a trace of compassion, almost like a monk after enlightenment:

“I don't know. All I know is that he disappeared before Gao Lian came to me. Gao Lian even asked me where he went. How would I know?

Perhaps Song Tiju also realized that his tip-off had been discovered, so he ran away in advance to protect himself, hiding somewhere, or maybe he was killed by that Gao fellow, who knows?”

Disappeared early?

Hidden away, far away?

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows. He was always curious about that "Song Tiju" he had never met.

But now is not the time to look for this person.

Zhao Du'an ended the interrogation, turned around, and said indifferently: “Gao Lian, what else do you have to say?”

Gao Lian, dressed in official robes, his black and white hair neatly parted, had no expression. It was as if he had just regained his senses. He shook his head and said:

“Just some slander.”

After saying this, he closed his eyes, as if knowing that any rebuttal at this moment would be pale and powerless.

“Some slander… what a ‘some slander’…”

Zhao Du'an seemed to be amused by the anger, but in an instant, his expression turned as cold as the harsh winter:

“Whether it is slander or not, we will wait until we escort you back to the capital for trial. His Majesty will make a clear judgment.”

The crime of a second-rank Provincial Administration Commissioner cannot be determined by an imperial envoy.

He must, and can only, be escorted back to the capital.

“Men! Strip Gao Lian of his official robes! Take him into custody immediately! Prevent anyone from contacting him! Tomorrow, return to the capital with me!”

Zhao Du'an said in a deep voice.

“Yes!” The brocade-clad guards of the Pear Blossom Hall, who had been acting as background, eagerly rubbed their hands together and swarmed forward, pressing Gao Lian's mortal body onto the table.

“I almost forgot to say,” Zhao Du'an said, as if he had just remembered something. He turned around, scanned the faces, and smiled:

“The soldiers outside the city are now arresting lower-level officials, and even some gentry and merchants, who are involved in the evidence left by Song Tiju and are related to this case… I believe they have all been captured by now.”

Zhao Du'an took out a list from his arms, looked at Sun Zhifu, the prefect, who had a complex expression, and smiled:

“The city cannot be without a master for a day. From now on, restore Sun Xiaozhun, the prefect, to all his official positions. Some people on this list are also guests at the Chrysanthemum Terrace today. These few lackeys will be imprisoned and interrogated by Prefect Sun first.”

Sun Xiaozhun got up, took the list with both hands, and said calmly:

“This official will certainly live up to his trust.”

Zhao Du'an patted him on the shoulder, and their eyes met, everything was understood without words.

At this moment, Sun Xiaozhun understood that the Emperor's favored minister had understood the implied meaning of his words that day.

Zhao Du'an smiled at the nervous and apprehensive local officials:

“In addition, this official came by imperial decree, only to punish the chief culprits. Now Gao Lian and Wang Chusheng have been arrested, and more than a dozen related suspects have been temporarily detained. Tomorrow, this official will return to the capital to report back. I hope that in the future, you will all take this as a warning, and work together with Prefect Sun to protect the territory and the people, and do not fail the Emperor's trust.”

After these meaningful words were spoken, a group of local officials breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

They understood the meaning in the imperial envoy's words, which was that they would only arrest this group of people and would not implicate anyone unrelated to the case.

At the same time, the four words "protect the territory and the people" were a request that the people petitioning below should stop making trouble.

With just these words, the iron plate that Gao Lian had worked so hard to condense instantly fell apart.

Since the imperial envoy indicated that he would no longer pursue the matter and would only punish the chief culprits, why should these officials go against Zhao Du'an?

A crisis was thus resolved.

“Eh, Lord Zhao, I… and me…” Seeing that Zhao Du'an was making a decision and was about to leave.

Liu Ancha Shi, the investigating commissioner, finally couldn't hold back. He got up and called out, squeezing a flattering smile on his old, good-natured face:

“Prefect Sun has been restored, so I…”

Zhao Du'an didn't turn his head, too lazy to pay attention to this old minister who didn't care about anything, only wanted to smooth things over, and coast until retirement: “Reflect at home for a month before we talk.”

Liu Ancha Shi opened his mouth, but didn't dare to bargain. He wiped his sweat, sighed, and said to Sun Zhifu:

“You said, Lord Gao, is really…”

Sun Xiaozhun glanced at him, drawing a clear line: “This official does not speak to people who have been suspended from duty.”

Liu Ji: … …

… …

… …

The crab feast was over.

However, the aftermath of this incident, which swept through the entire Taicang Prefecture and would shake the entire Linfeng, had yet to show its power.

The iron cavalry that crisscrossed the city returned one after another, arresting all those involved who did not have time to react.

The prefectural prison was temporarily overcrowded.

Zhao Du'an believed that Sun Xiaozhun could handle the next things well.

He returned to the post house and sat in his small courtyard to deal with the aftermath.

“My lord, this is your town artifact.”

The armored woman took out the Fengyue Baojian, which was covered with patterns, and offered it with both hands. Under the mask, a pair of eyes in the holes curiously looked at him.

Zhao Du'an sat on the stone bench, happily took it, and smiled: “Is there something on my face?”

The armored woman didn't understand humor and shook her head honestly:

“No. I just heard that you defeated the Tianhai Monk.”

Tsk, could it be that I already have fans in the Shadow Guard? The competition champion really increases popularity, ha. Speaking of which, I don't know how the situation of the Paris Olympics is before crossing… It's a pity that I only watched the opening ceremony before crossing…

Zhao Du'an complained in his heart and showed an idol-like smile: “It's just a fluke.”

“Yes. This subordinate knows.” The female Shadow Guard wearing a bronze mask nodded sincerely.

“…”

Zhao Du'an took a light breath, thinking that this fan was a bit too honest, and the overall emotional intelligence of the Shadow Guard needed to be improved.

“Cough cough…”

Beside him, a scholar who was as sickly as a sick seedling, with a weak body but exceptionally white hands, interrupted the awkward atmosphere and presented a thick file:

“My lord, this is the evidence that Wang Chusheng hid, accusing Gao Lian of crimes.”

Zhao Du'an's face became serious, he took it and flipped through it, and his face became visibly ugly.

Although Wang Chusheng had already described it once in the hall, he didn't feel it too much at that time just listening.

At this moment, personally flipping through the events recorded on those pages of paper, Zhao Du'an only felt that the thin paper had become extremely heavy.

Framing, wrongful killing, silencing, adultery, corruption, raising bandits…

“Gao Lian…”

In Zhao Du'an's mind, the upright face of the Provincial Administration Commissioner appeared. Who would have thought that he was a beast in clothes behind his back?

“Heh… everyone said that I am a traitorous minister, ruthless and cruel, and everyone should be killed, but compared to this… I am simply as clean as Hai Rui…”

Zhao Du'an ridiculed himself in his heart and closed the file.

Suddenly lost the interest in chatting with these two gold medal Shadow Guards, he waved his hand:

“Thank you for your hard work, I will ask for credit for you when I return to the capital.”

The armored woman's eyes lit up, she was satisfied, and there was also a smile on her face.

Her eyes reluctantly looked at the Fengyue Baojian on the table, thinking that this thing was easy to use, and it would be great if it could be rewarded to herself.

“Thank you, my lord, we will no longer disturb you.” The scholar, who saw his colleague's thoughts, hurriedly said goodbye and dragged his female colleague away.

He was extremely helpless in his heart: Would the famous "King Yama Zhao" be easy to get along with?

You still dare to ask for credit… If it weren't for her quick killing skills, how could she gain a foothold in the Shadow Guard?

Zhao Du'an had just put away the treasure mirror and the file.

When he saw a Luo skirt fluttering in, the noble lady Xu Junling walked in.

Behind her were the maid Lvshui, the old man in plain clothes Lu Qingfeng, and the guards such as the sword-wielding man and the sword-holding woman.

“Princess?” Zhao Du'an recovered from his inexplicable emotions and showed a smile.

Xu Junling's black and bright eyes stared at him and said:

“This princess is going to take a step first.”

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, then nodded:

“That's right, I should also return to the capital tomorrow. It's indeed time to say goodbye. Heh, I thought the princess would leave tomorrow, or enjoy a few days in the city.”

Xu Junling said bitterly:

“I'm not in the mood to enjoy it anymore. It's been a long time since I left the Li Royal Mansion, and it's time to go back. I didn't expect that this small silver mine would involve such a big thing.”

She suddenly said seriously: “Gao Lian is from the Jiangnan gentry family, and his wife's family is even a large southern family.”

Zhao Du'an said with a smile: “I know, so?”

Xu Junling said angrily:

“So, Gao Lian is also a member of the Li Party. Moreover, as a second-rank Provincial Administration Commissioner and a local power figure, he is more important to the Li Party than many Beijing officials to a certain extent.

This time you tie him back, Li Yanfu will not sit idly by. Even if he doesn't want to care, he must do something, otherwise, not to mention the people under Li Yanfu, the large Jiangnan families will not agree.

Just like what Wang Chusheng said, they are all grasshoppers on the same rope. Wang Chusheng can be used as a pawn, but Gao Lian is different.”

Zhao Du'an said indifferently:

“Is the princess reminding me? But I have also brought down more than one high-ranking official of the Li Party.”

Xu Junling sighed:

“You can do it once, you can do it twice, but you can't do it a third time. Today you retreat one city, tomorrow you retreat five cities… Forget it, I won't tell you. In short, think clearly for yourself whether you want to wade into muddy waters.”

After speaking, she turned around and was about to leave.

“Wait,” Zhao Du'an suddenly called out to her and handed her the Taicang Geography on the table:

“I don't have any gifts, take this book to relieve boredom on the road, just as a farewell gift.”

Xu Junling almost laughed out of anger, thinking that you are so stingy?

Taking your tattered book that you have turned over and over as a gift.

After hesitating again and again, she still took it and turned around to leave:

“Take care, if you come to Huaishui in the future, I will treat you to crab again.”