The First Lackey Under The Empress

When the Pei family guards rushed over upon hearing the commotion, they only saw Zhao Du'an leaving with an umbrella. They looked at each other, unsure whether to stop him.

"Master, this…" the leading guard hesitated.

Pei Kai Zhi's expression was blank as he said:

"Send someone out to find Wu Lang and tell him I have something to ask him."

Although he already believed it in his heart, he still needed to verify it and, moreover, he had to ask clearly just how much leverage his youngest son had fallen into the hands of others.

He couldn't fall into the same trap a second time.

As for abandoning Lü Liang, although he felt it was a pity, he didn't hesitate too much.

It wasn't just because the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law was purely one of exploitation.

It was also because Lü Liang had become increasingly disobedient in the past two years, favoring the Prime Minister and distancing himself from his father-in-law, subtly hinting at seeking another patron, which the old Vice Minister had long been unhappy about.

However, Lü Liang had done many things for him, so whether to avoid making his subordinates feel disheartened or to prevent Lü Liang from turning against him,

the matter of "disposing of Lü" had to be handled carefully. Pei Kai Zhi's plan was as follows:

First, control his son-in-law and show it to Zhao Du'an to reassure him and stabilize this wolf cub.

Then, secretly send someone to appease his son-in-law, saying it was political enemies attacking him and that he was currently trying to rescue him.

After that, on the grounds that the court situation was unstable, temporarily demote Lü Liang to a local post, promising to bring him back once the storm had passed.

This was equivalent to a "protective demotion."

Such operations were common in the imperial court, and even if Lü Liang was dissatisfied, he would accept it.

This way, Lü Liang would not cause trouble in the capital.

Once he was demoted to a local post, without Zhao Du'an, Pei Kai Zhi would write a "family letter" and order the Pei family of Huai Shui to send martial artists to kill Lü Liang on his way to his new post, framing the Kuang Fu Society.

As for Zhao Du'an…

"A petty man who has gained his ambition." Pei Kai Zhi's face was gloomy. He had already decided that when the time was right, he would crush this thief to death.

How could the old Vice Minister let it go when someone dared to threaten him with his family?

… …

… …

After leaving Jinjiang Dam, the rain gradually subsided.

Zhao Du'an went to Bai Ma Prison alone to report for duty.

"Sir? This humble one thought you wouldn't be coming today."

Inside the duty room, the ugly and rough Zhu Kui was playing a leaf card game with several clerks.

The cards were being slammed down with a resounding "thwack, thwack."

He was greatly surprised to see Zhao Du'an arrive.

Only mediocre officials like to slack off; true treacherous officials are super diligent… Zhao Du'an complained inwardly, then called him over and whispered:

"There's an important matter that I need you to do…"

After listening, Zhu Kui looked surprised: "Sir, is this…"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. Can you do it?" Zhao Du'an crossed his legs.

The old clerk, who was half white and half black and knew all the dirty tricks, said that it was a basic operation, and grinned:

"I guarantee it will be done beautifully."

Then he walked out.

Zhao Du'an held a cup of hot tea, listening to the sound of rain hitting the plantain leaves in the courtyard, and suddenly said:

"Old Zhu, from now on, you don't have to deliberately pretend to be so fierce and ugly to please and flatter me. After all, I, the magistrate, am not a bad person."

Zhu Kui paused, remained silent for a moment, then smiled without turning his head:

"The whole capital knows that the magistrate is a gentleman."

"Haha, I like to hear that. Go ahead."

Zhu Kui, with his broadsword and sturdy back, crashed into the rain curtain.

His decisive and experienced demeanor didn't resemble an ordinary clerk at all.

… …

… …

Evening.

Although the sky above the capital was still covered with dense clouds, the rain had stopped, and a ray of reddish glow pierced through a tear in the clouds on the western horizon.

Lü Liang stepped out of the Capital Inspection Bureau and returned home by carriage.

His face was tired and his mood was low. His usual righteous demeanor was hidden by a sense of frustration.

He had not been happy these days.

Ever since Yuan Li punished him by making him stand on the hot street with his hands clasped until dark, this amusing story had quickly spread like wildfire in the officialdom.

First, he messed up the impeachment assigned by the "Li Party", offending the Empress, and then he was humiliated by the Grand Censor.

The "Iron-Tongued Censor" felt that the eyes of his colleagues around him were laughing at him.

"Zhao Du'an…"

Lü Liang muttered this name, and his resentment was evident.

He found that ever since he had confronted the Zhao thief, his luck had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

What he was even more unwilling to admit was the fear in his heart. Lü Liang had a premonition that the Zhao thief was hiding in the dark, waiting for an opportunity to bite him.

The carriage stopped in front of his house.

Lü Liang stepped into the gate, but the doorman who would usually come to greet him did not appear.

The mansion was also unusually quiet.

"Where is everyone?" Lü Liang shouted, "I'm back!"

At the same time, he stepped into the inner residence, and his throat seemed to be strangled, and his legs were as heavy as lead.

He saw that the maids and doormen in the house were all standing in a row under the eaves, with strict discipline.

In the courtyard.

A group of government officials holding knives stood there. The moment they saw him, they rushed forward:

"Censor Lü, we have an arrest warrant from the Ministry of Justice. Please come with us."

The leader took out a document and said coldly.

Lü Liang's head buzzed. He felt a primal fear, followed by a strong sense of confusion:

"You are from the Ministry of Justice? What crime have I committed?"

If someone wanted to harm him, those who came to arrest him should have been the Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Imperial Guard.

The government official from the Ministry of Justice shook his head and said:

"We are only acting on orders to arrest you. We do not know the details."

After a pause, he added:

"It is best for the Censor to come with us, otherwise, the place you will be going to later may not necessarily be the Ministry of Justice."

Lü Liang was stunned and immediately began to imagine:

Could it be that someone wanted to harm him?

His father-in-law learned the news and was worried that he would fall into the hands of the Imperial Guard or the local government, making the situation passive.

So he ordered the Ministry of Justice to snatch him away?

This was the most reasonable guess.

"Okay, I'll go with you now!"

The imaginative Lü Liang was extremely cooperative. No matter what happened, he would first enter his own territory's prison and then ask questions.

After the group left, the panicked servants looked at each other and whispered.

A maid named "Mo Hua" walked along the corridor, opened the door to the bedroom, and whispered:

"Madam, Lü Liang has been taken away."

Inside the room, in front of the window.

Pei Si Niang, wearing a long dress with a hundred flowers on the front and her hair styled in a married woman's bun, had beautiful eyes full of excitement and a smile on her lips, beaming with joy:

"Good riddance, good riddance."

She wasn't worried that Lü Liang's accident would affect her family.

Because the ones who came were government officials from the Ministry of Justice, it meant that Pei Kai Zhi was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Her father would definitely arrange everything properly, so she didn't need to worry.

"Madam, this was sent by someone from the Grand Master."

Mo Hua took out a contract from her sleeve.

Sent by my father?

Pei Si Niang curiously took it, and then froze.

It was actually a "divorce" contract in duplicate, with the official seal already affixed, Lü Liang's name signed, and even his fingerprints… How did he do it?

Inconceivable.

Pei Si Niang couldn't figure it out.

But she knew that as long as she signed her name, this nominal marriage would officially end.

The thing she had begged her father for in vain, Zhao Du'an had delivered to her in just one day.

"How… how did he convince my father?" Pei Si Niang bit her finger, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and then she fell into deep thought.

"Madam?" Mo Hua asked in confusion.

Pei Si Niang suddenly had watery eyes and asked:

"Tell me, what clothes should I wear to do that thing in prison?"

Mo Hua: ? ? ?

What tiger and wolf words.

… …

Ministry of Justice Prison.

"Clang!"

After Lü Liang was locked into a solitary cell, no one paid attention to him anymore.

The plot he had envisioned, where the head of the Ministry of Justice or even his old father-in-law would come to see him and explain the reason, did not happen.

Even the cell he was living in was not treated with preferential treatment, and not a single person came to deliver food!

"Outrageous!"

Lü Liang angrily slammed on the bars, trying to summon the officials of the Ministry of Justice, but he shouted until he was dizzy and no one responded.

Cold sweat broke out on Lü Liang's forehead, and he realized that something might have changed.

Finally, the sound of chains opening came from the end of the corridor, accompanied by messy footsteps.

Lü Liang's spirits lifted, and he climbed up from the cold ground, rushed to the bars, and shouted:

"Father-in-law, Father-in-law, is that you?"

"Hehe, how come the Vice Minister has the habit of recognizing people as his father-in-law after not seeing him for a few days?" A gloomy voice came.

In the light of the fire.

Zhao Du'an, wearing luxurious clothes, with sharp and handsome features, was revealed.

Looking at the restless and slightly embarrassed "Iron-Tongued Censor" inside the prison cell, the corner of his mouth hooked up:

"I don't have a daughter as plump and lovely as the Censor's wife."

Lü Liang was struck by lightning, his whole body trembled:

"Zhao! Du! An! ?"

Thanks to Red Eyes for the 1000 point coin character reward!