The First Lackey Under The Empress

Jing Wang Manor!

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"Cough cough…" The old eunuch Sun Lianying almost choked and started coughing.

Zhao Du'an considerately stood up, took out a handkerchief, and handed it over:

"How can you be so careless, sir…"

Sun Lianying glared, seized his wrist, and stared at him with slightly cloudy eyes:

"Say that again, you little rascal."

"Jiancheng Road, Jing Wang Manor."

"Still trying to frame someone?"

"…This time, I'm afraid it's true."

Silence.

After a long while, Sun Lianying released his skinny hand, allowed Zhao Du'an to return to his seat, and said:

"Explain clearly!"

"Yes."

Zhao Du'an leisurely smoothed the wrinkled sleeves, and frankly recounted how he wanted to find trouble for Zhang Changji, which led him to Qinglian Abode, where he unexpectedly obtained the clue.

There was nothing to hide about this.

Sure enough, Sun Lianying didn't care about his intention to retaliate—this was the kind of thing Zhao Du'an would do.

After listening to everything, the old Si Jian's face was solemn:

"How sure are you?"

"Not at all," Zhao Du'an said indifferently:

"After all, it's just suspicion, but Xiaoya has no reason to deceive me. Although I have a feud with the Zhang brothers, I also know that some things can be used to make a fuss, frame, and slander, while others cannot."

Hmph, if you knew what's important, you wouldn't get into trouble… Sun Lianying muttered to himself.

However, Zhao Du'an's series of comeback operations a few days ago really made him look at him with new eyes.

If it were before, he might not have believed it, but now he already believed it seventy percent.

"Sir, after learning about the clue, I felt that the matter was of great importance, so I didn't dare to delay and immediately came to report it, asking you to make a decision on whether to report it to the Holy One," Zhao Du'an said.

You're just afraid of causing a big trouble and disaster, so you're looking for me to take the blame… Sun Lianying saw through it but didn't say it. He got up and paced slowly, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Only a prostitute's dream talk, without any evidence, is not suitable for reporting to the Holy One, but as you said, it should not be taken lightly…"

After a pause, he said:

"In this way, the case of the missing firearms craftsmen is being investigated by the Zhao Ya under the Emperor's order. As far as I know, the progress is minimal, and the Baima Jian has no right to investigate the case. If you hand over the clue to Ma Yan, it would be the most appropriate, and it would also be good to repair your relationship with him."

"What the sir said is very true," Zhao Du'an first flattered, then hesitated:

"But in this way, won't we get much credit?"

Sun Lianying criticized:

"Don't be too greedy. You must know that a person's heart is never satisfied, like a snake swallowing an elephant. In officialdom, the most important thing is not to make merit, but to maintain your position!

Giving the leadership to the Zhao Ya, no matter what the final result is, you will gain. It's just a matter of gaining more or less. But if you have to get involved, if something goes wrong, do you think you can escape the blame?"

The old eunuch's words were very straightforward, afraid that he would not understand.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said, "This humble one has also heard a saying that risks and rewards coexist."

Immediately, he bowed slightly: "Please, sir, grant my wish."

Sun Lianying was silent, just staring at him.

After a long time, he finally sighed and said coldly:

"If this case is bungled, the yamen will not take the blame for you. Similarly, if it is solved, the yamen will not share your credit."

The meaning was obvious:

If you insist on getting involved, I won't stop you, but you will bear the risk yourself.

Zhao Du'an solemnly said:

"If there is merit, the yamen will get a share. If there is blame, I will bear it alone."

Sun Lianying looked at him deeply again, this time, a trace of well-hidden appreciation flashed in his eyes.

He turned back to the table, picked up a pen, wrote a letter, and handed it to him:

"Send this to the Zhao Ya yourself."

Zhao Du'an took it and glanced at it. The content was very simple.

That is, Sun Lianying, in the name of "Si Jian of the Baima Jian," requested a joint investigation with the Zhao Ya, and Zhao Du'an was the representative of the Baima Jian.

With this official letter, it meant that he was no longer investigating privately, but openly and legitimately, and was sitting at the table to share the credit.

At the same time, the Zhao Ya could not squeeze Zhao Du'an out of the case, avoiding the embarrassment of sending out the clues without getting anything in return.

Sun Lianying put down his pen and said again:

"If this matter is true, it may involve cultivators. You and the little devils in the Zhao Ya are all martial artists with limited means. This official will ask the Tianshi Mansion to send a sorcerer to assist you. If there are no accidents, they will arrive tomorrow."

If it was really Jing Wang Manor secretly manipulating things, then to ensure safety, the contact line must involve martial artists or sorcerers.

Zhao Du'an had almost been killed by the powerful sorcerer of the Kuangfu Society not long ago, and he couldn't step into the same pit a second time.

The old Si Jian was finding him a "bodyguard."

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, pursed his lips, and said gratefully:

"Thank you, sir…"

"Get out of here. Don't come calling so late in the future, disturbing my sleep," Sun Lianying dismissed him.

…

…

Outside the back door of the Zhao Ya.

Zhu Kui, who had almost become a "full-time driver," saw Zhao Du'an return and said:

"Sir, where to next?"

Old Zhu, you're very aware of things. You didn't even mention going home… Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"To the Zhao Ya."

"Ah?" Zhu Kui suspected he had misheard.

"Stop talking nonsense, just go where I tell you to go," Zhao Du'an urged.

He pressed the official letter in his arms.

The process was smoother than expected. Introducing the Zhao Ya was what he had anticipated.

Or rather, it was his purpose.

He might not be able to investigate this case himself, and he wasn't without manpower under him.

But firstly, his name wasn't right, so many operations couldn't be used. Secondly, he really wasn't sure he could handle it, and he needed to find someone to share the risk and bear the consequences together.

In addition, a deeper consideration was a truth he had learned in his previous life:

Those who achieve great things must never eat alone.

Especially in officialdom, those who eat alone often die miserably.

"Selling Ma Yan a favor with a clue that may or may not be true and repairing my relationship with him is already a gain.

If I can really solve this case, although a share of the credit will be given out, which seems like a loss on the surface, in reality, the benefits I will receive are even greater."

Zhao Du'an had a very clear calculation in his mind.

When he stepped into the back yamen, he had expected that Sun Lianying would definitely let him contact the Zhao Ya.

"But I thought it would take some effort, but it went so smoothly, and I even got a Tianshi Mansion divine official as a bodyguard… Old Sun's character is okay…

Speaking of which, he's really good to me… How did the original owner lick up to him in the first place?"

The carriage rumbled, and Zhao Du'an was lost in thought. Unfortunately, this part of his memory was a bit blurry.

…

…

Zhao Ya.

"Supervisor, what did His Majesty say?"

In the room, a hundred-household officer couldn't help but ask.

Behind the desk.

Ma Yan, a burly "Grand Eunuch Supervisor" with a long, thin face, prominent brow bones, and a cold and irritable temperament, slowly put down the letter sent from the palace.

His face was a little unsightly:

"His Majesty is very dissatisfied with the investigation results of the missing firearms craftsmen and ordered another investigation."

The hundred-household officer said bitterly:

"But we have done our best in this case. All the clues have been cut off. Although it is strange, the brothers really can't find a way. The Jianghu is so big, finding a few people is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Ma Yan's face dimmed, and his messy eyebrows furrowed deeply, equally exhausted.

He knew that what his subordinates said was true, and the case was indeed tricky. The time limit given by His Majesty was also short. Out of desperation, he had reported it that way.

Now that the Empress ordered another investigation, her tone was stern, and he absolutely couldn't fool her. But the capital was so big, where should he start the investigation?

Just as he was worried and troubled, suddenly, a Jinyi rushed in:

"Reporting, Supervisor, Zhao Du'an is requesting an audience outside the door!"

"The Zhao guy?" Ma Yan was stunned. What was that pretty boy visiting for?

…

Tianshi Mansion.

It was another night, and the clock tower was brightly lit, a landmark building in the capital.

Unlike other places, as the Taoist sorcerers' headquarters, the Tianshi Mansion had a large number of divine officials practicing at night, so there were people there 24 hours a day.

"Baima Jian requesting a transfer? Asking a divine official to help investigate the case?"

A divine official on duty was a little surprised to receive the official letter sent by the Baima Jian's clerk.

"Aren't the Baima Jian a bunch of envoys who work for the emperor? When did they start managing investigations?" Another young divine official wondered.

"Who knows? Who's going to take a trip?"

"I'm not going. My homework is due the day after tomorrow, and I've only finished half of it."

"I can't do it. I have an appointment with my junior sister tomorrow to jointly participate in the Great Dao. How can I break the appointment?"

"Oh, I'll go. I have nothing to do recently, and it's good to go out for a walk and get some fresh air. It's also very boring to study cultivation all day long," a divine official said.

The next second, everyone stood up in surprise and looked at the door:

"Senior Sister Jin Jian!"

Outside the door, like a ghost, a mysterious, fair-skinned, and beautiful young female divine official quietly appeared, her scattered gaze focused, and her voice was illusory:

"Baima Jian?"