The First Lackey Under The Empress

The morning arrived.

As the east began to show a glimmer of dawn, Lu Zhi, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, left his home and headed towards the street near his residence where breakfast was sold.

Quite some time had passed since Zhao Du'an brought down Zhou Cheng.

In that case, Lu Zhi, who was recommended by Zhao Du'an and promoted by the Empress, had also risen several ranks in just a few months, from a Judge of the Court of Judicial Review to a dignified Vice Minister.

However, even though his status had undergone earth-shattering changes, Lu Zhi's life remained simple.

He still lived in the old house, still preferred to walk to the yamen, and even frequented small shops on the street for his meals.

"Mr. Lu, you're here? The usual?"

Inside the baozi shop, the owner greeted Lu Zhi with a smile.

Lu Zhi nodded, and perhaps because it was too cold, added:

"And warm up a small pot of wine."

With that, he sat down at a corner table, huddling his sleeves and listening to the surrounding people chatting—this was his channel for gathering public opinion.

This shop was frequented by hawkers and peddlers in the morning.

When something happened among the city's lower class, these people were always the most well-informed.

"Have you heard? Yesterday, the Duke of Cao returned to the capital from the north.

He brought a person into the city bound, saying he was going straight to the palace."

"Seems like a wanted criminal?"

"What? A wanted criminal doesn't warrant the Duke himself to arrest him, does he?

I heard that the Duke of Cao has a son in the army..."

This kind of shop was a grassroots establishment, a gathering place for all sorts of gossip.

People of any era love to hear about the scandals of important figures.

Things like "palace secrets" never cease.

Which concubine the emperor slept with, which concubine was having an affair—true or false—were the topics the common people enjoyed talking about the most.

The story of the Duke of Cao's son defiling a comrade's wife, being killed in retaliation, and then covering up the truth had the flavor of unofficial history.

Lu Zhi listened as he ate, frowning slightly, but not paying much attention, thinking it was just some rumors fabricated by people.

What surprised him was that in such a small shop, several customers were talking about this matter.

Lu Zhi shook his head.

After finishing breakfast, he placed a stack of copper coins on the corner of the table, then lifted the thick cloth curtain to block the wind and went to the Court of Judicial Review.

Early in the morning, the yamen had not yet "opened its doors."

Many officials in the Court of Judicial Review were also chatting about interesting stories in the officialdom, and they all mentioned the gossip they had heard about the Duke of Cao.

However, these people were much more cautious, mentioning it briefly in a "condemning" tone, roughly saying:

"Someone is spreading rumors to slander the Duke," and so on.

The main thing was being cowardly while also loving gossip.

Lu Zhi changed into his official robes and entered the duty room, scanning the officials.

Everyone collectively fell silent and busied themselves quietly.

They were afraid of being caught and criticized by this austere and incorruptible superior.

"Everyone, do your own job and don't gossip," Lu Zhi said casually, when suddenly someone outside the yamen began to beat the drum.

Before long, an old official rushed over from the courtyard with a written complaint in his hands:

"Lord Vice Minister, please take a look.

A military dependent is accusing... Oh dear, just take a look."

Lu Zhi picked up the complaint with suspicion, and after scanning through it, his expression suddenly became serious.

The person making the accusation claimed to be a relative of Lang Shiba from prison, accusing him of being wrongly accused in the past.

Could it be true?

Lu Zhi couldn't help but frown, knowing that the grievance drum at the yamen was not to be beaten lightly.

Once it was beaten, regardless of whether the accusation was right or wrong, a deterrent beating would be administered first, to prevent false accusations and trouble-making, and to increase the cost of making accusations.

If a false accusation was proven, it would be severely punished.

"Hold court, this official will personally interrogate!" Lu Zhi said.

… …

Across from the Court of Judicial Review, in a teahouse.

Chen Hong, the old censor who had once been on a mission to Taicang Prefecture with Zhao Du'an, ordered a pot of tea and a plate of melon seeds early in the morning, eating leisurely by himself.

"Crack, crack."

When Censor Chen cracked melon seeds, his two inlaid silver teeth were particularly conspicuous.

When the melon seed shells on the table piled up into a small mountain, Chen Hong heard the sound of the court adjourning from the Court of Judicial Review across the street.

"It's time."

Chen Hong sighed softly, clapped his hands, brushed off the crumbs, got up and walked out of the teahouse, and stepped into the Court of Judicial Review.

He claimed that he had heard people discussing the Duke of Cao in the streets, so he came to the Court of Judicial Review to find someone to inquire about it, and "accidentally" learned of the accusation just now.

Chen Hong was "shocked," "filled with righteous indignation," and immediately left, returning to the Censorate with a flushed face.

After writing an impeachment memorial, Censor Chen went straight to the palace amid strange glances from his colleagues, using the special privilege of a remonstrating official to impeach Duke Anguo, Cao Mao.

… …

Inside the Divine Machine Camp.

When the young Duke Tang Ping entered the barracks to report for duty, the other military officers showed surprised expressions.

Shi Meng, the commander who was burly but meticulous, was stunned for a moment, looked at Tang Ping in confusion, and said:

"Didn't I give you a few days off?

It's not easy for the Duke to return to the capital for a few days a year, why don't you stay at home with him and run over here?"

Tang Ping closed the door of the barracks, turned around and smiled at his comrades, and said:

"The other officers in the army haven't been given leave to go home to see their parents, why should I be special?"

Shi Meng shook his head with a wry smile, not surprised by the young Duke's personality.

He thought that if Master Zhao had three points of your dedication, that would be good.

As the Vice Commander, it was considered diligent to visit the military camp once a month.

Tang Ping sat in the barracks and quietly finished the morning meeting.

After many colleagues dispersed, Tang Ping got up and walked back to his barracks, and then summoned the group of young officers in the Divine Machine Camp, led by him.

"What happened?"

A group of young military officers were completely clueless and asked as soon as they entered the door.

Tang Ping asked everyone to sit down at the table, and then, with a heavy heart, told the truth about the "Blood Sabre of the North" killing people in Jubei City back then.

A group of high-spirited, sharp-edged officers felt empathy, their blood surging, and instantly empathized with Lang Shiba of that year.

When they learned that the Crown Prince had saved Lang Shiba, but now he had been captured by Cao Mao, thrown into prison, and was about to be beheaded, one officer clenched his fist and slammed the table, rising to his feet:

"This is outrageous!"

Another, more calm, frowned and asked: "Brother Tang, is this true?"

Tang Ping looked at him with righteous indignation:

"I heard about this from my father, what do you think?"

Everyone knew that Duke Tang and Duke Cao were at odds.

Everyone closed the door and spoke without restraint, immediately cursing.

Finally, someone said:

"Brother, what do you want us to do by telling us this?

Just tell us."

Tang Ping looked around at a group of younger brothers, serious and earnest:

"I don't know the Blood Sabre of the North, but I can't stand this kind of thing, I can't bear it.

I need you to spread the truth, at least let the three major armies of the capital know.

My second sister said that if enough soldiers jointly petition, His Majesty may be able to deal with it lightly."

"Leave it to us, the Blood Sabre of the North is a true man, it's too frustrating to die in the hands of this kind of person!"

The officers were either hot-blooded or guessed that this was what Duke Tang meant, and they all shared the same hatred and went to carry out the order.

That day, the news about Cao Mao's son attacking military dependents spread rapidly in the capital camp.

And soon spread to the imperial guards in the city, moving countless soldiers who had been bullied by their superiors, and a restless mood quietly fermented.

… …

… …

In the afternoon, at the Duke of Cao's mansion.

"Bang!"

Cao Mao, with frosty temples and deep nasolabial folds, slapped the table heavily, shaking the cups and dishes.

The hungry-tiger-like old man stared at the adopted son standing in the room to report:

"Say it again! ?"

Cao Kedi stood respectfully with his head slightly lowered, and said:

"Rumors about you framing the Blood Sabre of the North are spreading in the streets.

The censor of the Censorate heard the news and is said to have entered the palace to impeach you, but it should have been sent back by His Majesty.

It's just... In my opinion, the rumors among the people are fierce and getting worse.

If it continues, I'm afraid that more and more remonstrating officials will notice this matter, and then... His Majesty will not be able to ignore it."

Cao Mao remained silent, expressionless:

"Where did the news come from?"

"I don't know."

"If you don't know, go check!!" Cao Mao suddenly became furious, pointed at him and said:

"Go find the relationships you can use and check for me!

I want to know how the rumors suddenly came out!

Who is doing the trick!

And... You go and pass on my order, to the Jingzhao Prefecture Yamen, and other yamens, big and small, arrest those who spread rumors for me!

Suppress these voices!"

Cao Kedi responded and turned to leave, not daring to delay for half a second.

… …

At the same time, in the backyard of the Baima Prison.

Zhao Du'an, who was playing chess with the old Supervisor Sun Lianying, also received the latest news from his subordinates.

"How is it?" Sun Lianying said faintly without raising his head.

Zhao Du'an finished reading the paper in his hand, which recorded Cao Mao's actions, threw it casually into the brazier next to him, calmly picked up a chess piece, pressed it somewhere on the chessboard, and smiled:

"Just a display of incompetent rage."

Thanks to Jian Xin Kyoto for the 100-coin reward.