The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the Imperial Garden.

Xu Zhenguan listened to the report from the junior imperial guard. Even though she had expected it, hearing the answer confirmed still made her slightly distracted.

Hmm, roughly calculating, how many things has he done for me in just these few months?

Every single one, every matter, has been completed exceptionally well.

Originally, she had been somewhat apprehensive and worried about appointing Zhao Du'an as the Imperial Envoy this time.

The capital and outside the capital, although both within the Great Yu Dynasty, are two completely different worlds.

In the capital, under her own watchful eyes, the power Zhao Du'an could rely on, the resources he could utilize, and the methods he could employ were far superior to being a river-crossing dragon in a foreign land.

Even with the authority to mobilize garrison soldiers and the cooperation of the local Shadow Guards, his swift and triumphant return in the face of the complex local situation was still a surprising feat to her.

"Zhao Qing, you've worked hard," the Empress said softly, gazing at him intently for a moment.

"Sharing the burden for Your Majesty, what hardship is there for this subject?"

Zhao Du'an resumed his licking-dog posture, full of fervor.

Familiar posture, familiar taste.

Although similar words were spoken by hundreds of officials in the court.

But the same words, spoken by him, were particularly pleasing and agreeable to the ear.

The corners of Xu Zhenguan's lips curled up slightly, nodding with satisfaction, feeling comfortably licked.

She casually tossed the towel on the tray, picked up clear water and took a sip, waved her hand for the palace maid to take the tray away, and retreated out of the range of their conversation.

"Let's take a walk and tell me about your experiences on this trip, by the way," Xu Zhenguan said softly, her skirt swaying as she walked towards the depths of the garden.

Ah, this… You're not going to give me a sip? I coughed too! I don't mind sharing Your Majesty's saliva… I don't mind you being dirty… Zhao Du'an looked regretfully at the departing tray and turned to follow.

The desolate Imperial Garden, also mostly filled with chrysanthemums, was not as vibrant as those in Taicang.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, after this subject arrived in Taicang…" Zhao Du'an trailed half a step behind the Empress, narrating his experiences on this trip as they walked.

He recounted in detail how he used the "fake Imperial Envoy" to attract local officials, secretly investigated Song Family Village, and obtained evidence of crimes.

To interrogating Prefect Sun in the county yamen, obtaining the latter's pledge of allegiance, and later, dispatching Shadow Guards to find Wang Chusheng with a mirror, and finalizing the case at the crab feast.

He narrated everything without concealment.

Xu Zhenguan listened quietly, without interrupting in the middle, but when she heard the end, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed as expected:

"Gao Lian… It really was him…"

Zhao Du'an cautiously glanced at her: "Did Your Majesty already guess?"

Xu Zhenguan shook her head, then nodded, and said coldly:

"Daring to reach into the silver mine and only being exposed after so many years, I would not believe that it could be done by a mere county magistrate.

Wang Chusheng was originally promoted by Gao Lian, so there was suspicion, but it was never confirmed. This person really has such great audacity. Not only did he embezzle official silver, but he also committed numerous crimes! Where is he now?"

Zhao Du'an said truthfully:

"He has already been escorted to the Zhao Yamen for detention, awaiting orders. Because I was in a hurry to return to the capital, I only brought this person and Wang Chusheng back. The remaining accomplices are being watched by Sun Xiaozhun."

Xu Zhenguan nodded and sighed self-deprecatingly:

"The capital has finally become stable, and now it's the turn of the local officials to fall. Provincial Governor… Provincial Governor… How many are there in the Great Yu in total?"

She seemed calm on the outside, but Zhao Du'an keenly heard the Empress's disappointment and despondency in this self-deprecating remark.

Every important minister is a pillar supporting this dynasty. From the Empress's point of view, although there is indeed a saying of "a new emperor, a new court."

But at least for now, in the first few years before her ascension to the throne, when the dynasty was constantly plagued by internal troubles, she still mainly focused on co-opting and appointing the ministers left over from the old emperor's era.

Gao Lian was also one of them.

However, some contradictions are destined to be impossible to ignore.

Zhao Du'an believed that if this case did not involve the "Taicang Silver Mine" and the key to the advancement of the "New Policies."

Even if she knew Gao Lian had problems, the Empress might not have moved him.

Perhaps she would only send an ordinary censor to go through the motions and catch a few scapegoats.

But alas, Gao Lian stood in the way of the New Policies.

Or rather, at this moment, the court needed a high-ranking local official to serve as a warning to the officials of the world, demonstrating the determination of the upper echelons.

And sending him to go there personally represented a thorough investigation and an attitude that no matter how big the hole was, they would not hesitate.

"Forget it. Besides this, what else do you have to report?" Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath and exhaled, adjusting her emotions.

Having experienced so many things, she has also made great progress in emotional control.

"Oh, there are actually a few things," Zhao Du'an said seriously:

"The Song Commissioner who sent the letter of accusation is still missing. According to Wang Chusheng, he disappeared before they took action, and they suspect he is hiding, but I always feel something is wrong."

"Oh?" Xu Zhenguan asked strangely: "What's wrong?"

"It's hard to say," Zhao Du'an hesitated and pondered:

"I actually don't have any evidence, but I instinctively feel that it's not that simple. Just say the evidence he left behind. On the way back to the capital, I repeatedly compared it several times and always felt it was too… perfect."

"Perfect?"

"Yes, it's too perfect. Except for the lack of clear indications to Gao Lian and other superiors, the investigation of Wang Chusheng and related personnel is detailed and accurate. Almost no further investigation is needed. The people involved can be arrested and easily verified…

Your Majesty, I always feel that a mining commissioner can do these things without anyone knowing, it's really a bit too amazing…"

"…Continue."

"I can't say for sure either. The person is missing, and it's difficult to verify the guess.

In short, I have already instructed Sun Xiaozhun and the local Shadow Guards to continue the investigation on both the open and secret fronts. If he is really hiding, now that Gao Lian has been caught, that Song Commissioner should appear."

Xu Zhenguan pondered for a moment and nodded:

"This matter will be put on hold for now, and I will send more Shadow Guards to investigate."

Zhao Du'an nodded and said:

"The second thing is that on the way back to the capital, this subject was ambushed by the Fa Shen Sect…"

He told the story of the ambush, which started strong but ended weakly, and tentatively asked:

"Your Majesty, the thieves retreated strangely, seemingly driven away by a strong enemy. Do you know why?"

Hmm… Xu Zhenguan felt inexplicably guilty being stared at by him, and said with a straight face:

"How would I know? Perhaps there are also internal differences among the thieves."

Well, she wouldn't say that the Shadow Guards detected the movements of the Fa Shen Sect and that a strong expert was heading to Taicang, so she urgently sent Eunuch Hai there.

This would easily make this kid fearless in the future, and make herself, the emperor, seem to care about him very much…

"Is that so…" Zhao Du'an said suspiciously:

"I thought that Your Majesty sent a master to secretly protect me. It seems that I was overthinking it."

Empress: "…"

Zhao Du'an then said: "However, why did the Fa Shen Sect ambush us? This is even more important."

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him and said: "Do you suspect Prince Jing?"

Zhao Du'an didn't say anything, which was considered a default.

As far as he knew, the Fa Shen Sect had some connections with the Celestial Master's Mansion and was created by a rebel god officer from the previous generation.

But it couldn't be considered hostile to the court.

The easiest thing to think of when suddenly attacking a team would be Prince Jing's mansion.

After all, they had already formed a feud… Zhao Du'an had twice arrested Prince Jing's secret agents in the capital and dug out the inner ghost in the Privy Council. It was a combination of new and old hatred…

"I know, and I will also start an investigation. You don't need to worry," Xu Zhenguan said in the tone of a domineering female president.

Well, she plans to carefully inquire after the Sea Offering returns to the palace later.

Zhao Du'an said: "That's generally these two things. I have nothing else to report."

"Is that so?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly glanced at him: "Think again, is there anything you've missed?"

Ah?

Zhao Du'an shook his head blankly:

"This subject does not know what Your Majesty is asking. Please indicate?"

Xu Zhenguan looked down at him, her beautiful eyes turned around his face twice, and said jokingly:

"Regarding my sister, don't you want to explain?"

Oops… Could it be that the content of my boasting was known to Zhen Bao?

Zhao Du'an was shocked, but then he felt that the possibility was very low. Xu Junling would not dare to say such a thing.

His expression was frank and righteous:

"The Princess did follow the team for a while. This subject had already entrusted the Shadow Guards to report it at the beginning. Thinking that she was Your Majesty's sister after all, it was not good to refuse…"

"I'm not talking about this," Xu Zhenguan interrupted him and said casually:

"Junling seems to be very interested in you."

Zhao Du'an said righteously:

"Your Majesty, this subject did perceive that the Princess intended to alienate the relationship between this subject and Your Majesty. However, this subject's heart for Your Majesty can be seen by heaven and earth…"

Xu Zhenguan originally asked casually as a joke, but she didn't expect him to react like this. Her face was ashamed and annoyed, and the beauty pretended to be angry, with a special charm:

"What nonsense are you talking about again? Do you really think I won't punish you?"

Zhao Du'an lowered his eyebrows and eyes, as well-behaved as a little wolf dog, his face extremely aggrieved.

"…Alright, I know you are loyal. Junling is a girl with the most ghostly thoughts, and I will naturally distinguish right from wrong."

Seeing his drooping eyebrows and injured appearance, Xu Zhenguan's heart softened, and her tone became a little gentler:

"You have worked hard on this trip. Go home and rest first."

After a pause, she added: "However, I'm afraid there will be follow-ups next, and I will need your participation."

Zhao Du'an raised his head: "What does Your Majesty mean…"

"Convicting Gao Lian," Xu Zhenguan's expression became serious:

"How to convict a Provincial Governor cannot be decided by me alone. Tomorrow's early court will discuss the matter, and then it will be handed over to the Three Divisions for joint trial to find out the truth before the crime can be confirmed."

Zhao Du'an was not surprised.

The downfall of a high-ranking official naturally cannot be decided by what an imperial envoy says.

Corresponding evidence, witness testimonies… the whole case must be tried once in the capital for verification, in case the imperial envoy forges evidence and creates wrongful convictions.

However, the Empress's saying this now clearly has another meaning.

"Is Your Majesty saying that someone will obstruct?" Zhao Du'an asked.

Xu Zhenguan nodded and said something similar to Xu Junling:

"Gao Lian is a member of the 'Li Party'. Li Yanfu is afraid that he will not sit idly by this time. To convict Gao Lian, there must be many obstacles. Since you are the imperial envoy in this case, it is difficult to clear yourself. However, since you have returned to the capital, I will arrange for people to handle these matters, and it may not involve you…

In short, let's discuss it again after seeing the situation at tomorrow's court meeting."