The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Yes!”

The servant responded and left.

Inside the carriage, the two fell silent, and Zhao Du’an suddenly looked at the Censor-in-chief sitting opposite him, wondering if this was really a coincidence?

…

"Clang!"

Amidst the sound of heavy chains rattling, under the scorching sun, Yun Xi struggled to open her eyelids, finally seeing her current situation clearly.

On a long bluestone street.

A prison cart was creaking along, flanked by escorting officers, and on both sides of the street, curious people gathered, discussing animatedly.

Yun Xi stood in the prison cart, her head and hands restrained.

The black, heavy shackles grew increasingly hot under the blazing sun, burning her neck and wrists a fiery red, along with the chafed wounds, a shocking sight.

Due to her slightly shorter height, she had to stand on tiptoe, causing the already weakened girl's legs to tremble after being imprisoned for many days.

Beneath her messy black hair, her pale face was flushed red from the sun, her spirit listless, and the word "Prisoner" prominently bulging on her chest was soaked with sweat, staining two obvious marks.

“You dog officials…”

Yun Xi's slightly blurred vision locked onto the Censor-in-chief's signature blue robe at the very front of the prison cart, her eyes filled with despair.

Ever since being arrested last time, pulled out by Zhao Du’an for interrogation late at night, and forced to reveal information, Yun Xi had been expecting Zhao Du’an to come again.

Of course, not with any other thoughts.

It was just that what Zhao, the dog, had said last time when he left was too heart-wrenching.

"…Zhuang Xiaocheng isn't willing to tell you that there are reinforcements, it seems he doesn't believe you would voluntarily stay behind as a rear guard."

These past few days, locked in a dark, solitary cell.

Zhao Du’an’s heart-wrenching words frequently flashed through the girl's mind.

However, the girl's firm will would certainly not be easily destroyed by a single sentence, and Yun Xi quickly found a reasonable and just reason for her teacher.

And she hated herself for her poor performance that day, for not refuting Zhao, the dog, at the first moment when he tried to break her spirit, but instead being speechless.

She was too weak!

Yun Xi even repeatedly rehearsed, imagining that when the Zhao thief interrogated her again, she would definitely be righteous and awe-inspiring, refuting his fallacies until they were completely untenable.

But to her disappointment, no one had paid any attention to her since then.

There was no chili water, small whips, tiger benches, riding wooden donkeys as she had imagined… she didn't suffer any real torture at all.

Even the jailers who had originally coveted her body and looked at her lewdly became well-behaved after Zhao Du’an left that day.

Nor were there any scenes like the “Joint Trial by the Three Departments” or “Execution at the Vegetable Market” that she had imagined.

Yun Xi vaguely realized that she seemed to have been forgotten, as if she had lost her value and would be left in the dark prison until death.

This guess made her both fortunate and disappointed.

Fortunate that she didn't have to suffer cruel punishment… she wasn't a masochist, although she wasn't afraid, she would still be scared.

What was disappointing was… this was too different from the grand and heroic death scene she had imagined in her past years.

Besides that, it wasn't as if she hadn't imagined other possibilities.

For example:

Zhao, the thief, was lustful and deliberately hid her in the dark prison, waiting for the storm to pass before secretly transferring her to a private residence and imprisoning her.

Not giving her clothes to wear, only giving her food to eat… just like described in some disgusting novels.

But all fantasies were shattered today.

The Censor named “Lü Liang” put her in a prison cart, parading her through the streets.

Yun Xi didn't know what her fate would be, but she already sensed the approach of death.

“Heh, beheading? Or dismemberment?”

Yun Xi's eyes were filled with anger and determination, and along with the fear, a sense of heroism arose.

She tried her best to open her mouth, trying to shout loudly, to awaken the people who had been deceived by the “evil pseudo-emperor,” to ignite a flame with her young life and fresh blood.

But her mouth, stuffed with a gag, could only make “woo woo” sounds, and she couldn't even bite her tongue to commit suicide.

On both sides of the prison cart, the people's eyes were not filled with indignation and sympathy, but only curiosity and regret.

“What a good girl, why did she have to rebel?”

“Who knows, luckily she was caught by Censor Lü, Censor Lü is worthy of his name as a Blue Sky, not only is he not afraid of powerful officials and dares to speak frankly, but he also knows how to catch thieves.”

“Bah, the rebels are really hateful. Censor Lü is really amazing.”

The people of the capital commented.

Unlike Zhao Du’an’s notorious reputation among the people, Lü Liang had an excellent reputation, all thanks to his decades of people-friendly performances.

Censors mostly have no real power, relying on their silver tongues to make a name for themselves, and Lü Liang, as the vanguard of the “Li Party” these years, has slandered and discredited many political enemies.

This has instead made him famous as “Lü Iron Tongue” and “Lü Blue Sky.”

However, Zhuang Xiaocheng, one of the leaders of the Kuangfu Society, had once pointed out in a conversation with Yun Xi that this person was deceiving the world and stealing fame, and was actually of a twisted character.

Obviously, he had some related intelligence information.

Therefore, after hearing the discussions of the people on both sides, Yun Xi only felt a bone-chilling cold water pouring over her head, soaking her bone marrow thoroughly.

This was not the way she had imagined dying.

Sacrificing her own life to make a dog official famous…

Yun Xi struggled violently!

At this moment, she didn't know why, but she actually missed Zhao Du’an.

At least… that female emperor's lackey never hid the fact that he was a true villain… well, if that could be considered a merit.

Moreover, although she was extremely unwilling to admit it, Yun Xi knew that the reason why she hadn't been humiliated or tortured after being imprisoned was indeed because of Zhao Du’an’s face.

Comparing the two, the originally ugly and hateful Zhao thief suddenly became “kind and amiable.”

Unfortunately, she would never have the chance to see Zhao Du’an again.

…

“Hehe, sir, that female thief still wants to shout.”

In front, an officer walked to Lü Liang's side, flattering and mocking.

About forty or fifty years old, wearing a dark blue official robe, a black gauze hat, and sporting a goatee, Lü Liang held his head high, looking righteously awe-inspiring.

Enjoying the people's worship, he smiled:

“A rebel discard, keeping her in the hands of that Zhao is a pure waste, this official will teach him today how to properly use a rebel.”

Lü Liang was very proud.

Not only because of the praise of the ignorant people, but also because he had snatched Zhao Du’an’s person.

Ever since being reprimanded by the female emperor last time, he had formed a feud with Zhao Du’an, although the Chancellor had not punished him for his poor handling of the matter, the failure of the large-scale impeachment was undoubtedly a disgrace to him.

Therefore, after learning that Zhao Du’an had been assigned the task of “arresting Zhuang Xiaocheng” by the female emperor, and would still be punished if he failed to complete it, and that the female rebel held in the government office was an important clue in his hands.

Lü Liang had other thoughts.

Through family connections, he obtained an order from the Ministry of Justice to interrogate the prisoner.

There were three purposes, one was to intercept the case, perhaps to dig out valuable information from the female thief's mouth and use it to make merit.

The second was to please the Chancellor, reverse the loss of the last impeachment failure, and reduce his status in the “Li Party.”

The third was to vent his anger.

As for whether he would offend Zhao Du’an… he had already offended him to death during the impeachment anyway, and Lü Liang, whether himself or the forces behind him, was far from comparable to the Zhang brothers.

Offending a good-for-nothing who was already an enemy, and gaining fame and the Chancellor’s appreciation… this was almost not a multiple-choice question.

Of course.

If he knew at this moment that the Zhang brothers, who had offended Zhao Du’an last time, had already implicated their entire family and entered the imperial prison last night.

I wonder if he would still think this way.

Just when Lü Liang was complacent and Yun Xi's heart was gradually sinking to the bottom.

Suddenly, a servant in green clothes stopped him in the crowd:

“Censor Lü, my master wants to see you.”

“Who is it, daring to block the road…”

An escorting officer was about to show off, but saw the awe-inspiring Censor Lü instantly show a respectful look:

“Is Lord Yuan nearby?”

He immediately ordered the prison cart to stop, and followed the servant to the side of a luxurious four-horse carriage separated by book-named servants not far away.

Lü Liang bowed and saluted: “This humble official Lü Liang, greets Lord Yuan.”

Although the personnel of various departments in the court are intricate and complex, and within the same government office, the officials behind different officials may belong to different interest groups.

But this does not mean that Lü Liang has the guts to offend his immediate superior.

…

Inside the carriage.

Zhao Du’an, listening to the voice of the iron-mouthed Censor separated by a curtain, who was also the enemy who had tried his best to knock him down into the mud last time, humble to the point of being almost in the dust, had a slightly subtle expression.

Yuan Li had already calmly opened his mouth, asking about the situation, and Lü Liang did not dare, nor could he hide anything, only saying that it was an order from the Ministry of Justice, in accordance with the rules.

However, after listening, the man in green inside the carriage only asked lightly:

“Oh? How come this official doesn't know that when should the censors of my Metropolitan Procuratorate listen to the orders of the Ministry of Justice?”

Outside the carriage.

Although the sun was scorching, fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on Lü Liang's forehead, as if facing an abyss.

I admit that this chapter is a bit watery. I have things to do these days, and I really can't spare extra time to code words. When I get over this, I will write a big chapter to give back to everyone, thank you!