The First Lackey Under The Empress

Just as Zhao Du'an was driving towards Baima Prison.

Inside the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study, Xu Zhenguan was listening to a report from a female official.

"So, the result of the case given by the Zhao Yamen is... a private escape?"

Wearing plain white robes, with her black hair like a waterfall, the aloof and dignified Empress, whose face was flawless, sat on a chair with a soft brocade cushion, her slender eyes fixed on the other person.

Her voice faintly carried a hint of anger.

Dressed as a female official, wearing a wingless black gauze hat, with a plum blossom design between her eyebrows, the "female prime minister" Mo Zhaorong bowed her head and replied:

"...Yes."

"Hmph." Xu Zhenguan threw the memorial presented by the Zhao Yamen onto the table:

"Ma Yan is becoming more and more careless. First, Zhuang Xiaocheng sneaked in, and now firearm craftsmen have gone missing. This vast capital city is like a sieve, and no one can stop anyone who wants to leave."

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Mo Chou advised:

"Grand Eunuch Ma has always been diligent in his work, but the matter was ultimately discovered too late."

Xu Zhenguan frowned, knowing in her heart that Mo Chou's words were not without reason.

Not long ago, news of the disappearance of firearm craftsmen from the Jing Camp was presented, which aroused Xu Zhenguan's attention, and she ordered Ma Yan to investigate.

Only after investigating did she learn that it had happened two months ago.

The reason why the news was delayed was that the missing craftsmen were originally scheduled to take a vacation.

Furthermore, the lower-level officials were afraid of taking responsibility, so they spent a lot of time investigating privately, wanting to solve it on their own, in order to cover up their dereliction of duty.

As a result, when the case was handed over to Ma Yan, the clues had long been lost, and the final answer given was:

Several craftsmen, suffering from exclusion and bullying by local bullies, could not bear it and secretly fled the capital with their families, whereabouts unknown.

It seemed reasonable, and there was an explanation, but Xu Zhenguan was not satisfied with this result.

"If one or two people escape, it can be explained like this, but the few who left happen to be all over the various stages of firearm manufacturing. If you say there's nothing fishy, how can I believe it?" Xu Zhenguan said.

Mo Chou was silent, unable to answer.

After a long while, Xu Zhenguan sighed softly, pinching her brow wearily, and said bitterly:

"Forget it, I shouldn't vent my anger on you. In the end, it's because I haven't supervised the Jing Camp enough and have been negligent."

Mo Chou looked ashamed and hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty is busy with everything, especially since the abolition of the Inner Cabinet, a huge amount of official duties is shared by fewer people. Even an iron man can't bear it. This servant is incompetent..."

Xu Zhenguan shook her head, stopping her from criticizing herself, and sighed:

"The power of the court officials is deeply rooted. The original Inner Cabinet was already corrupt. If it wasn't abolished when I ascended the throne, it would be even more difficult in the future."

Mo Chou said:

"On Grand Tutor Dong's side, the recruitment of scholars is still in preparation. When it's stable, Your Majesty can relax a little."

The Inner Cabinet would divide the emperor's power.

But having sole authority also has its drawbacks. Not only is the Empress exhausted, but she is also prone to negligence, unable to take care of everything, and mistakes occur.

Therefore, the Empress had long planned to form a completely obedient, direct line "New Inner Cabinet".

"Speaking of which, I haven't visited the Grand Tutor for many days," Xu Zhenguan said with emotion, and couldn't help but smile:

"The last time I went, I happened to catch the Grand Tutor scolding his grandson, which was quite interesting."

Mo Chou also laughed.

It is said that the Grand Tutor's grandson is a "bookworm". He is not stupid, but his personality is very different from that of the children of the powerful. He doesn't like to go out to hang out and play, and is very low-key.

As the Empress took the initiative to chat about leisure topics, the dull pressure in the Imperial Study was greatly reduced.

While the two women were chatting, they tacitly stopped mentioning the topic just now.

"By the way, how has that Zhao Du'an been these past few days? Has he caused any more trouble?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly asked.

Mentioning Zhao Du'an, Mo Chou's expression turned cold:

"I heard that after he received the reward that day, he went home and had a conflict with the nephew of Zhang Langzhong from the Ministry of War, and used his fists. He really hasn't changed his overbearing and evil ways."

"Oh? Did he win?" Xu Zhenguan's focus was a little strange.

"...He won," Mo Chou said, feeling annoyed and unwilling:

"It is said that he won very easily, and the Zhang family suppressed the matter again, so it didn't become widely known."

The Empress smiled, seemingly quite satisfied with the performance of her newly recruited lackey.

If he learned the Imperial Family's inheritance, but couldn't even beat a playboy in the capital, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Imperial Family?

Wouldn't that be embarrassing her?

Zhao Du'an won decisively, which was very much to her liking.

"..." Seeing the Empress's appearance, Mo Chou became even more dissatisfied with Zhao Du'an, feeling that Her Majesty had been deceived by a scumbag.

Just as she was about to say something bad, she saw the Empress wave her hand and put away her smile:

"Alright, let's stop joking. I still have to deal with government affairs. Go and tell Ma Yan that I am not satisfied with this result and want him to continue investigating. I gave the Zhao Yamen the power to supervise all officials. It's not for them to muddle through things."

Mo Chou's heart shuddered and she hurriedly said:

"Yes!"

Immediately, she withdrew from the Imperial Study. When she left, she saw Xu Zhenguan, who had been working hard all day, continuing to work at her desk reviewing memorials under the dim light of the night, and sighed softly in her heart.

In the past two years, Her Majesty has been working hard, and she has seen it all. Her diligence far exceeds that of the late Emperor.

But such an Empress, yet so many people in the world want to rebel against her.

...

...

Baima Prison.

When Zhao Du'an, after several days, stepped into the back office again and knocked on the door of the old Supervisor, the old eunuch named Sun Lianying showed a look of surprise in his eyes.

"What are you doing here again?"

His tone was still not very good, but it was obviously much gentler than last time.

Zhao Du'an put on a smiling face, stepped into the door familiarly, and without saying a word, his eyes drifted to an empty chair in the room.

"..." Sun Lianying was speechless, but finally shook his head and said:

"If you want to sit, move a chair yourself."

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for granting me a seat!" Zhao Du'an cupped his hands and smiled.

The old Supervisor, wearing a single coat, with graying temples and deep eye sockets, gave a "Heh" sound, and sat in his own chair without moving.

He slowly picked up his teacup, wiping the mist from the hot water with the lid.

It had a strong sense of the old cadres of a government unit tasting their insulated cups.

"Speak, what do you want to do here with me?"

Zhao Du'an sat down on the chair, and then looked sincere:

"Thanks to Your Excellency's help last time, I am here to express my gratitude."

The Empress did not mention to him how the old Supervisor commented on him.

But Zhao Du'an, who had been working as a secretary for many years, had a keen mind, and from the last conversation with the Empress, he could guess some of the story.

For example, the Empress asked him if he could think of a way to threaten Feng Ju to atone for his merits, whether the old Supervisor had given him guidance behind the scenes.

This revealed that she might have communicated with the old Supervisor about Zhao Du'an's affairs.

Moreover, the information the Empress received should not have been bad words.

Otherwise, she would not have thought that Zhao Du'an could receive his care and guidance.

These are all guesses, not necessarily true, but it does not prevent him from testing in the name of thanks.

"Hmph," Sun Lianying first took a sip of water, and then said slowly, and slightly mockingly:

"This old one is seeing for the first time someone coming to express their gratitude empty-handed."

Is this an admission? So, he did help me behind the scenes?.

At least he shouldn't have tricked me, maintaining objectivity and fairness... Zhao Du'an silently made a judgment.

As for the other party's unfriendly tone, he automatically ignored it.

Many times, the focus of observing words and expressions is not in the words, but in the actions.

Not directly kicking him out already explained the problem.

"How does Your Excellency know that I didn't bring a gift?" Zhao Du'an asked with a smile.

Nonsense, your hands are empty... Sun Lianying was about to mock him.

Suddenly in his mind, he remembered the scene of the other party's visit at night last time, his heart moved, and he sat up a little straighter:

"You wouldn't be..."

"That's right," Zhao Du'an smiled:

"I happened to learn of a clue to a major case, and I am preparing to report it to Your Excellency."

"A major case?"

Sun Lianying was a little suspicious, with distrust in his eyes:

"Young people should not boast casually, treating everything trivial as a major case, be careful of your tongue slipping."

Zhao Du'an's smile remained unchanged:

"This case seems small, but if it is involved, I am afraid it is not small."

"Involved? Who are you going to implicate again? Is it still Li Yanfu?" Sun Lianying despised him.

Obviously, he already knew about Zhao Du'an's little tricks last time.

Zhao Du'an shook his head and said calmly:

"This time it is not the Chancellor, it is Jiancheng Road, the Jing Prince's Mansion."

"Pfft!" The tea in the old Supervisor's mouth sprayed out.