The First Lackey Under The Empress

A life-or-death question!

At this moment, even Zhao Du'an, sitting upright in the carriage, was curious to know how Lü Liang would answer.

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Although the other party had Li Yanfu backing him, facing the direct superior's questioning, any wrong response would lead to disastrous consequences.

After a brief silence.

The middle-aged censor with a goatee raised his head, righteously and fearlessly saying:

"Reporting to Lord Yuan, this humble official is a Blue-Clothed Censor, visiting the common people below and assisting the Emperor above, naturally possessing the authority and responsibility to monitor the improprieties of all officials…

Having investigated that Zhao Du'an, the envoy of the White Horse Bureau, is secretly harboring a rebel and is suspected of shielding this woman, which is highly suspicious, this humble official believes that it must not be ignored!

Furthermore, the yamen runners were coerced by Zhao Du'an, so this humble official boldly and unauthorizedly interrogated the female thief… The matter was urgent, and I have not yet reported to Lord Yuan, so this humble official is willing to accept punishment!"

After speaking, Lü Liang exaggeratedly bowed, his acting skills scoring full marks.

With these beautiful words, even if his actions were indeed inappropriate, Yuan Li would not delve deeply into the matter.

As expected of a speech official who rose through the ranks by using his tongue… Agile thinking, taking the moral high ground has almost become an instinct… Zhao Du'an sighed.

If one didn't know the truth, they would easily believe his rhetoric.

Unfortunately, the person he was facing was not the "deceived" Yuan Li, but Yuan Li, who had just listened to the detailed details of the case from Zhao Du'an a quarter of an hour ago.

"Is that so?" Yuan Li's tone was calm, without showing any joy or anger:

"But why did this official learn from His Majesty that the case of Zhuang Xiaocheng has been handed over to Zhao Du'an? Since this thief is his disciple, it should be under his investigation…

This official is curious, which official in the Ministry of Justice is so staunch, that they would rather defy the Emperor's appointment than forcibly demand a mere girl. Where is the document?"

Lü Liang was speechless!

This was originally just a tiger skin he had pulled, a personal act, where would there be any document from the Ministry of Justice?

He stood outside the carriage, still maintaining a bowing posture, his face slightly flushed under his raised hands.

Forcibly changing the topic, he suddenly said loudly:

"Lord Yuan, please listen! According to what this humble official knows, Zhao Du'an once interrogated this woman late at night, accompanied by frivolous actions, and even instructed the prison guards to take good care of this rebel… Such actions have far exceeded the scope of investigating the case!

This subordinate believes that it should be supervised!"

As his voice spread, in an instant, the surrounding onlookers were attracted.

Lord Yuan… Zhao Du'an… Frivolous… The keywords were really attention-grabbing.

Originally, the crowd in the distance was still curious about who Censor Lü was being questioned by, but at this moment, upon hearing the words "Lord Yuan", they immediately made guesses.

But compared to that, what they were more concerned about was the story of "Zhao Du'an being frivolous with a female thief".

The Empress's male favorite actually has a golden house… No, a black room to hide a beauty? Messing around in prison? And the other party is a rebel? … The amount of information was too much, and the values of the people in the capital were severely impacted.

Inside the prison car.

Her legs trembling, her black hair disheveled, Yun Xi, who was immersed in unwillingness, suddenly stiffened.

The delicate head protruding from the prison car turned inch by inch towards Lü Liang's direction, her whole person was stunned.

When she realized the ambiguous and complicated gazes cast at her by the onlookers, she almost blacked out, gasped for breath, her eyes spitting fire, and she struggled frantically, "Wu wu".

This dog official, not only wants to step on her to become famous, but also slanders her innocence out of thin air!

"Look, she's anxious, she's anxious, it must be true."

"Not necessarily, if the surname Zhao was like that, would the Sage still tolerate him?"

The surrounding people immediately divided into two factions, and launched a fierce debate on whether the notorious Zhao Dog was stealing food.

…

Inside the carriage.

Zhao Du'an listened to the sudden increase in the noise outside, his expression was strange.

He didn't care about some scandals, after all, he had already reported the details to Xu Zhenguan, what he cared about was:

Lü Liang is jumping so high, daring to coerce Yuan Li with public opinion?

Being so decisive, it must not be the first time.

But on second thought, as Li Yanfu's loyal dog planted inside the Censorate, perhaps this is Lü Liang's way of survival.

Since ancient times, in struggles, those who do not clearly take sides and are actively involved often do not have good endings.

"Lord Yuan, I…" Zhao Du'an opened his mouth softly, intending to explain.

But the first-rank official, sitting lazily and casually, just waved his hand, indicating that it was unnecessary.

Immediately, his gaze looked deeply towards the outside of the carriage, meaningfully saying:

"Are you sure? But what this official heard is not this version."

Lü Liang was stunned, both surprised that his immediate superior would completely disregard public opinion and get to the bottom of things.

And wondering why the dignified Grand Censor would know the details of such a small case so well?

In the final analysis, Zhao Du'an's position was still too low, if it didn't involve the Kuangfu Society, his actions would not have been passed to the desks of the big shots in the court.

Could it be that he's trying to trick me? It doesn't matter.

Because from the moment he announced it loudly, there was no turning back, Lü Liang was righteous and stern, and his voice was sonorous:

"This humble official is naturally certain, even if Zhao Du'an is here, I dare to confront him."

Isn't it… Last time you and I confronted each other, weren't you defeated miserably enough?

Here we go again?

Inside the carriage.

Zhao Du'an was expressionless, if the occasion wasn't right, he really wanted to get out of the car immediately to see how wonderful the other party's face would be.

But considering the notoriety of his reputation, he could only think about it after all.

However, in the next second, Yuan Li seemed to see through his thoughts, smiled slightly, and suddenly said:

"Since that's the case, very well."

Zhao Du'an: ? ?

Immediately, he saw the expensive long-handled jade ruyi in the hand of the great Blue-Clothed Censor gently extend, poking the curtain hanging on the side of the carriage.

Gently lifted it up.

…

Outside the carriage.

Lü Liang still maintained a bowing posture, hearing the words "very well", he was first at a loss, and then a strong unease arose.

An unbelievable, almost crazy idea sprouted in his heart, spreading rapidly.

But because it was too absurd, he was unwilling to believe it.

His body had already honestly raised, his eyes looking up, towards the car window that was lifted by the jade ruyi.

A fleeting glimpse.

At this moment, Lü Liang clearly saw two figures sitting opposite each other in the car, one was the current Grand Censor, a figure with a full reputation for integrity.

The other… wearing gorgeous clothes, with a handsome appearance, was now condescendingly overlooking him coldly.

"Zhao… Zhao Du'an?!!"

Lü Liang's body suddenly stiffened, as if struck by lightning, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Why, that notorious male favorite of the Empress, who even ordinary people despise and disdain, would appear in Yuan Li's car?

And in terms of posture, it seemed like they were talking on equal terms?

This exceeded his imagination.

Not only because of the gap in status between the two, but also because, judging by himself, Lü Liang was certain that Yuan Li, as the "leader of the Qingliu Party", should draw a clear line with people like Zhao Du'an.

Otherwise, wouldn't it tarnish his reputation?

…

In the distance.

Because the curtains were too small and the angle was tricky, the onlookers were blocked outside, so almost no one other than Lü Liang saw the scene inside the window.

But Yun Xi was an exception.

Trapped in the prison car, she was naturally located at the highest point in this crowd.

Moreover, being attracted by Lü Liang's framing, at this moment, she happened to see the fluttering curtains, and in the car window, that face that she had once hated so much, and not long ago, she missed a little… that hateful face.

"Zhao… Thief?!"

Yun Xi murmured, almost thinking that she had heatstroke and saw it wrong.

And Zhao Du'an, whose martial artist's inspiration was stimulated in the car, noticed Yun Xi's gaze, raised his eyes, and looked at her from afar across the crowd.

"We meet again, rebel girl."

She seemed to understand the Zhao thief's gaze.

But only for a moment, Zhao Du'an's gaze lowered, no longer looking at her, but calmly overlooking the iron-tongued censor outside, who was bowing to him.

"What did you say you wanted to confront me about?" Zhao Du'an seemed not to have heard clearly.

In a daze, Lü Liang only felt that the whole world was shaking.