The First Lackey Under The Empress

Zhao Du'an had encountered a psychological condition in his previous life called the "Scheherazade Syndrome," named after the female protagonist of "One Thousand and One Nights."

The emperor would summon a maiden into the palace each night and have her killed the next day.

Scheherazade, the daughter of the vizier, volunteered to enter the palace to stop the killings. Every night, she would tell the emperor a story and end it on a cliffhanger. Thus, the emperor had to spare her life to hear the continuation.

The next night, she continued telling herself the story, then ended it on another cliffhanger... She told stories for a thousand and one nights, eventually moving the emperor to give up the killings.

At this moment, Zhao Du'an was employing the same strategy.

Considering that every cultivator fantasized about becoming an immortal, and also excluding obvious allusions like 'Journey to the West' that were unsuitable, and that it needed to be a lengthy story... he ultimately chose this one.

Although he certainly couldn't remember the original text verbatim, he remembered the general plot.

Even if he forgot some parts, he could make up a section based on his extensive reading experience... In any case, it was enough to "cater to her preferences."

"...If you wish to know what happens next, listen to the next chapter's resolution."

After Zhao Du'an finished speaking a section, he opened his eyes and, as expected, saw the golden-armored, bridal-gowned female mage sitting on the eaves above, looking like she was enjoying a play.

Their eyes met.

Pei Niannu awoke from the story, staring at him with cold eyes, her voice fragmented: "Con... tin... ue..."

It really works!

Zhao Du'an was overjoyed and cupped his fist with a smile: "Senior, please allow this junior to tell you more later. I came here because I wanted to..."

Pei Niannu sneered, and the balance beam floating beside her suddenly shot out a streak of light.

"Pfft!"

Zhao Du'an's brow was pierced, his body stiffened, and he fell straight down. Just before being kicked out of the "Six Chapters Scripture," he heard the other party's voice:

"Next time... come again."

— —

"Huff..." Inside the Baima Prison courtyard, Zhao Du'an suddenly woke up, beads of sweat on his forehead, cursing in his heart:

"This isn't what we agreed on! So fierce? Even skipping the step of locking me in a small dark room? Oh, right, she probably knows she can't lock me in a small dark room..."

"What's wrong?" At this moment, the old Director finished his business and walked back, asking curiously.

"Nothing, just had a nightmare," Zhao Du'an said helplessly.

Well, considering this method worked, he decided to persevere and try again.

The reason the other party didn't take the bait might be that the section he told was too short, not enough to create sufficient attraction, like only reading a few chapters of a novel. Stopping there wouldn't cause too strong of a reaction.

But after reading hundreds of thousands of words, becoming immersed in it, then stopping would have a remarkable effect... Well, the premise is not being hammered to death by the angry senior...

Zhao Du'an silently summarized his experience.

"I won't say more, this official takes his leave."

He got up and hurried home, preparing to write more and save up enough drafts to complete the攻略 as soon as possible.

"...So impulsive."

Sun Lianying opened her mouth, helplessly shook her head with her hands behind her back, thinking that the osmanthus wine the kid owed her hadn't been fulfilled yet.

...

In the following days, the changes in the court were indeed exactly as Sun Lianying had predicted.

The Jiangnan gentry began to constantly lobby, and the joint trial by the three judicial offices gradually fell into a stalemate.

On the third day, a sudden revelation appeared, claiming that Wang Chusheng had long harbored resentment towards Gao Lian because of a certain matter, and that there were several suspicious points in the evidence he provided.

The meaning was clear: they believed that Wang Chusheng was fabricating evidence to frame the Provincial Administration Commissioner.

On the fourth day, new doubts arose about the case, this time concerning the accuser, "Investigating Judge Song."

Some people questioned how Investigating Judge Song was able to obtain so much evidence, and why he mysteriously disappeared. His motives for accusation became a mystery.

On the fifth day, rumors began to subtly question the "Imperial Envoy" Zhao Du'an.

Some people brought out evidence, saying that after Zhao Du'an arrived in Taicang Prefecture, he had solicited bribes from local officials such as Gao Lian, but to no avail.

Therefore, Zhao Du'an, failing to solicit bribes, was suspected of retaliation and using public office for private revenge...

As soon as the news came out, the capital was in an uproar.

Especially after several verifications, it was discovered that it was indeed the case. For a time, many people who had originally insisted on conviction began to waver.

They began to re-examine the "evidence" that Zhao Du'an had brought back.

Inside the Imperial Academy, the number of questioning students increased, while the voices criticizing Gao Lian gradually decreased.

In a strange atmosphere, and under the promotion of some people in the open and in the dark, public opinion actually completed a reversal within a few days.

Voices supporting and defending Gao Lian began to appear.

"How could this be? How can they reverse black and white like this?"

Inside the Pear Blossom Hall, the little secretary Qian Kerou slammed a copy of the capital's official newspaper on the table in anger, her round face flushed red.

Hou Renmeng, with his arms crossed, and Shen Juan, with dark circles under his eyes, also looked ugly.

"What's wrong? So angry?" Zhao Du'an smiled, picked up the official newspaper, and glanced at it, "Just this, and you can't stand it anymore?"

Qian Kerou's eyes were even a little red with anger:

"We released the news of soliciting bribes clearly to paralyze the other party, how could it be said by these people to be retaliation? With your current favor in front of His Majesty, Your Excellency, would you do such a thing for the sake of so-called filial piety? These people are simply... simply..."

"Unreasonable," Hou Renmeng said the word for her.

"That's right!"

Several Jinyi guards who had originally followed him to Taicang Prefecture were also indignant, feeling that they had been slandered.

Zhao Du'an's expression was very calm, he smiled and put down the official newspaper, and said:

"People's words are formidable, but I am not afraid. If a mere slander could hurt me, could this official still be alive now?"

Just a little bit of wind and frost...

Shen Juan couldn't help but say: "Your Excellency may not care about rumors, but I'm afraid that if the direction of public opinion changes, it will be difficult to convict Gao Lian. Wouldn't the Li faction have more excuses to try to overturn the verdict?"

Zhao Du'an said lightly:

"You must remember that the real battlefield of the game is never in these public opinions. Well, it's not to say it's not important, but to say that this is never decisive. If His Majesty wants him dead, and Li Yanfu only has these means, at most it will delay the time, but it still cannot change the outcome. Rest assured, go and get busy."

The Jinyi guards then dispersed.

Having said that, at noon, Zhao Du'an still went to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to understand the situation from Chen Hong.

In the reception hall.

"The situation is not good," the Censor Chen with silver-inlaid teeth had a bitter smile on his face. After not seeing him for a few days, this Deputy Imperial Envoy looked much more tired.

Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes in surprise and said:

"Because of those voices of support? Or the rumors circulating?"

Chen Hong shook his head and said softly:

"Lord Zhao may not know, but today, urgent documents from various regions have been sent to the capital, especially from Jiancheng Province, Huai River Province, and Linfeng Province. These are memorials from local officials pleading for Gao Lian's life."

"Well, in Linfeng Province, it's mainly some officials from Linfeng Prefecture who are submitting them. Taicang Prefecture is relatively quiet. Also, Surveillance Commissioner Liu Ji has requested to resign and retire to his hometown… The main point isn't this, but the local officials' pleas. Do you know what this means?"

Zhao Du'an's expression also turned solemn: "Such a thing has happened?"

He originally thought that the Southern aristocratic clans lobbying and arguing over evidence was the limit. He didn't expect local officials to jointly submit memorials… This significance is completely different.

The Empress could disregard the words of the officials in the capital, but she couldn't ignore the memorials from local officials.

The former are right under her nose, while the latter are beyond her reach.

Chen Hong sighed: "Moreover, today's joint trial didn't go smoothly. Gao Lian stubbornly insisted in court that he was being framed, and flaws were indeed found in the evidence provided by Wang Chusheng."

Zhao Du'an frowned: "Before we returned to the capital, we had already verified it once. Among the many cases Gao Lian committed, although not all were confirmed, some important ones had solid evidence."

Chen Hong said bitterly:

"That's true, but unfortunately, Wang Chusheng's words weren't entirely flawless. Some accusations lacked sufficient evidence, or the clues were destroyed, or he exaggerated, or he didn't know the full picture because he was working for Gao Lian…"

"In short, after the problems were pointed out, Li Yanfu's people seized on it, saying that since there were so many falsehoods, how could the other evidence be proven true? They demanded a re-verification."

"If the Southern aristocratic clans continue to operate like this, I'm afraid the evidence that's beneficial to us will become less and less."

"Moreover, Li Yanfu is currently deliberately guiding this matter towards the rebellious party, claiming that framing Gao Lian and forcing infighting in the court is a conspiracy of the rebellious party, and we must not let them succeed."

As he spoke, he shook his head, then perked up again and said:

"However, Lord Yuan also told us just now that we have two advantages at the moment. One is that His Majesty only gave us a ten-day deadline. As long as we get through it, Li Yanfu won't be able to turn the tables in the remaining few days, and the situation will still be in our control."

"Secondly, as long as Magistrate Wang Chusheng is still alive, Li Yanfu won't be able to reverse the truth."

Zhao Du'an nodded, feeling slightly relieved.

However, a cloud inexplicably hung over his heart, heavy and foreboding.

He always felt that things wouldn't go smoothly.

However, this matter wasn't within his authority, so he could only leave it to Chen Hong and the others to contend with.

… …

In the evening, at the Zhao residence.

Inside the bedroom, Zhao Du'an finished washing up and once again entered meditation.

He appeared outside the dilapidated temple.

In the past few days, he had focused all his attention on capturing Pei Niannu's heart, entering the "Six Chapters Scripture" on time every day to tell stories to the golden-armored woman.

As the story progressed and deepened, although he was always stabbed to death by the scale, he clearly felt that Pei Niannu's hostility and coldness were diminishing.

It was like constantly warming a piece of ice. Drop by drop, there would eventually be a change.

This time, when Zhao Du'an stood in the courtyard, finished telling a climactic part of the story, and left a hook for the continuation.

He opened his eyes, assuming a state of resigned acceptance of death, thinking: Come on, I'm ready.

However, the expected pain didn't arrive.

The female sorcerer in a wedding dress sitting on the roof was in a daze, seemingly still immersed in the cultivation story and unable to extricate herself.

Although her expression couldn't be seen due to the mask, and only half of her fair chin could be glimpsed, Zhao Du'an judged from the slight swaying of her two small legs:

"This woman is enjoying it…"

Sure enough, after a moment, because the plot that had been held back for several days was finally finished, and Pei Niannu, who was enjoying it, lowered her eyes, looked down at Zhao Du'an, and mercifully didn't stab him to death, but gently nodded and said:

"…Very… good…"

Although the cultivation world described in the story was quite different from reality, and seemed to be a set of cultivation methods conceived by ordinary mortals, Pei Niannu still enjoyed listening to it.

It was better than all the stories she had ever heard.

"Give… reward…"

Before Zhao Du'an could express his gratitude, he heard Pei Niannu utter two more words.

Then, she raised a finger and pointed it at the center of Zhao Du'an's brow.

A wisp of white flame suddenly drilled into Zhao Du'an's brow!

Along with a burning sensation, at this moment, Zhao Du'an only felt as if a torrent had exploded in his mind.

He wasn't unfamiliar with this. When Old Xu taught him martial arts, he had a similar experience, but it was far less crude and barbaric…

"This technique… is 'Spirit Flame'… It can burn the souls of others… without leaving traces on the body… It burns the heart, like a slow torture, especially cruel to men, harmful and useless… But for women, besides the pain, it has benefits."

A fragmented voice came from his mind.

"Reward… Next time, continue."

After Pei Niannu finished transmitting the technique, the scale beside her swept out like a flying sword.

Puff!

… …

Zhao Du'an suddenly sat up from the bed, staring blankly, and opened his palm. A white flame faintly appeared in his palm and then dissipated.

"A technique from the Divine Chapter realm… I, as a martial artist, can use a technique driven by a martial artist's aura…"

Zhao Du'an's eyes burst with joy. He had finally mastered his first technique from the Divine Chapter realm.

"Senior Pei is still very generous… I've found the correct way to open the "Six Chapters Scripture"…"

Zhao Du'an was about to try out his new skill when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the door, accompanied by a knock:

"Knock knock, Young Master, someone is looking for you outside. It's a censor claiming to be Chen Hong."

Censor Chen?

Why is he coming to my house late at night…

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, got up, put on his shoes, put on a coat, and walked out with a slightly tired body. He saw Chen Hong waiting at the door in the night, his face extremely ugly.

"Censor Chen, what happened?" Zhao Du'an's heart sank inexplicably.

Chen Hong looked at him, his lips moved, and he uttered a sentence: "Wang Chusheng is dead!"