The First Lackey Under The Empress

Yuan Li!

Zhao Du'an was stunned when he clearly saw the face of the person sitting upright in the carriage.

Then he suddenly realized the true meaning of the words spoken by the Grand Secretary in the Imperial Garden earlier, when he said, "If you have time later, you and I can chat in detail."

A figure of the level of the Nine Ministers of the Three Dukes, whose stomping could shake the Great Yu, actually condescended to wait for him at the entrance of the Imperial City.

Zhao Du'an felt no honor in his heart, only vigilance.

"Lord Yuan… are you waiting for someone?" he asked tentatively, feigning surprise and bowing.

The man in the blue robe inside the carriage smiled:

"No need to guess, I am waiting for you.

The Imperial City is very large, and it's not easy for you to walk on two legs, so come up and talk."

He actually meant to give him a ride.

So, Zhou Cang's disappearance was because Yuan Li drove him away?

Zhao Du'an became more and more flustered.

With a look of being flattered on his face, he then showed a slightly embarrassed expression:

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Yuan, but… this official has a bad reputation.

If I ride with Lord Yuan, I'm afraid it won't be good if it spreads out."

"Who would spread it out?" Yuan Li asked with a smile.

A servant standing beside the carriage also smiled and said:

"If Envoy refuses again, wouldn't that be disrespecting my lord's face?"

You're putting a big hat on me that's frightening… Zhao Du'an's expression froze, and he didn't dare to refuse any longer.

He lifted the hem of his robe and carefully got into the carriage.

This was the first time Zhao Du'an had ridden in a four-horse carriage, and one word to describe it: big!

It was almost enough for several people to have car sex.

Inside the spacious carriage, a low table was placed in the center, with a three-legged incense burner on it.

There were hidden mechanisms in the dark compartment below, and soft cushions around the seats, enough for a small gathering of several people.

Zhao Du'an sat opposite Yuan Li uneasily.

After the curtain was lowered and the carriage drove towards the outside of the palace, he took the lead in breaking the deadlock:

"I wonder what instructions Lord Yuan has for this humble official?"

He wouldn't feel at ease until he understood!

Yuan Li's wide sleeves were piled up, and he put down the jade Ruyi in his hand and said:

"No need to be nervous, I'm just a little interested in you."

I'm not a woman, what interest could you have in me… Zhao Du'an complained, feeling ashamed:

"This official's reputation is terrible, compared to Lord Yuan, it's like the difference between clouds and mud…"

Yuan Li interrupted: "My vision for people has always been very accurate."

? Zhao Du'an slowly typed out a question mark.

He only heard the Grand Secretary before him leisurely say:

"Therefore, at a glance in the garden just now, I knew that you are definitely not as bad as the rumors outside say."

Heh, you're just bragging… If you had seen me ten days or half a month earlier, you would understand what it means to have a unified personality.

Zhao Du'an climbed up the pole:

"Lord Yuan, you are too kind.

This official has also admired Lord Yuan for a long time."

The man in the blue robe said "Oh" and said casually:

"Have you heard my story?"

No, but your face is full of stories… Zhao Du'an received the cue in his heart and showed respect on his face:

"Who in the world doesn't know you?"

He had indeed heard of Yuan Li's story.

It is said that he was originally a member of the Yuan clan in Xiping Road.

The Yuan clan of Xiping is a prominent family, and in every dynasty, there have been people serving as officials in the court.

Yuan Li showed talents far surpassing his peers when he was young, but he was naturally not fond of officialdom, only traveling and playing with friends, indulging himself, and was repeatedly lamented by the head of the family, who hated that iron cannot be made into steel.

If he followed the normal trajectory, he could have ended his life as a "rich and noble young master."

But the sky is unpredictable, the literary lineage of the Yuan clan in that generation was barren, and the officials who came out died one after another, so that there was no one left in the court, and the biggest pillar of the huge clan was only a county magistrate.

In three or five years, it was already declining and dying.

At this critical moment, Yuan Li changed his image as a prodigal son, entered Beijing that year, and passed the imperial examination for the first time, becoming the top scholar of the new department.

After that, in just a few years, he rose like a rocket with superb skills, not only revitalizing the Yuan clan of Xiping, but also successfully betting on himself, and became a top powerful minister.

His experience can be called legendary, a model for the protagonist of a refreshing novel.

This is also the reason why he is highly respected by many scholars:

This experience is too satisfying for scholars.

"Who in the world doesn't know you…"

Beside the low table, Yuan Li was stunned, savoring the words, and suddenly said:

"This sentence has a great spirit, but it is a scattered sentence.

If it can be pieced together into a complete poem, it may be a masterpiece."

A complete poem?

I have it… Zhao Du'an muttered.

It wasn't that he was deliberately showing off, it was just that many famous lines of poetry from his previous life had already penetrated into his spoken language, and he would blurt them out inadvertently.

He hesitated for a while, but didn't pick up the conversation.

If ancient people wrote poems without relevant experience, but wrote lines that they had not experienced, they would inevitably be questioned.

Although it can be attributed to "talent," it is ultimately too deliberate.

"This kid accidentally got this sentence, but he hasn't been able to complete it yet," Zhao Du'an said.

Yuan Li was not surprised.

Fools also have moments of inspiration, but true poetic talent never relies on these.

The carriage rumbled and drove out of the palace.

Driving on the wide streets of the capital, the carriage was stable, and after the two exchanged business compliments for a moment, Yuan Li finally asked.

How Zhao Du'an solved the case of the firearms craftsman.

And earlier, how he escaped from the case of letting Zhuang Xiaocheng go.

Zhao Du'an kept the Empress's teachings in mind and did not hide anything—even the highest secrets were known, so there was no need to hide any details.

The fact that the other party asked these questions made Zhao Du'an feel a little relieved.

Yuan Li's nature was that of a person who liked to talk and pursue interesting things.

He held a high position, but his nature was hard to change.

His heart of gossip was ignited, and he asked himself to satisfy his curiosity… Although it was a bit far-fetched, it was at least a reason.

After listening to Zhao Du'an's narration, Yuan Li also found his operations in the two cases quite interesting.

Yes, it was just interesting.

After all, with the level involved by Zhao Du'an, and these petty tricks, in front of this top powerful minister, it was really a small trick compared to a great one.

At this time, the carriage also arrived near the government office.

"That's how it went," Zhao Du'an said, his mouth dry.

Yuan Li was about to comment when suddenly, he heard a faint noise from outside.

The government office area was deserted, not a lively street.

"What happened outside?" The man in the blue robe frowned and asked outside.

Soon, a servant reported:

"My lord, Imperial Censor Lü Liang is escorting a female prisoner, parading her through the streets here, attracting many people to watch.

It seems that the female prisoner is a member of the Kuangfu Society, previously held in the government office prison, named 'Yun Xi.'"

Yun Xi!

In the carriage, Zhao Du'an was stunned, and the image of the brave girl tied to the cross in the prison cell appeared in his mind.

That Zhuang Xiaocheng abandoned her when he ran away, a female disciple who had been severely brainwashed.

She was also an important clue for him to track down "Zhuang Xiaocheng's" whereabouts.

After the last interrogation, she had been locked up in the government office.

Zhao Du'an had been busy dealing with the Zhang brothers these past few days and hadn't taken the time to interrogate her.

But now, she was taken away without his knowledge?!

Also… he was no stranger to the name "Lü Liang."

He was the main force who impeached him last time, and he had joined forces with Zhang Changshuo in front of the Empress, wanting to put him to death.

He belonged to the Imperial Censor under "Li Yanfu."

Zhao Du'an had thought that he would have nothing to do with the other party again, but he didn't expect to meet him here again.

I have ordered the government office not to allow Yun Xi to be interrogated by others.

Why was she taken away by Lü Liang?

I am still burdened with the KPI of arresting Zhuang Xiaocheng before the end of the year, and Yun Xi is a key clue… it cannot be lost…

Zhao Du'an's face suddenly darkened.

The man in the blue robe glanced at his expression, looked at the car curtain, and ordered expressionlessly:

"Call Lü Liang over."