The First Lackey Under The Empress

Ma Yan froze, not only because of the address of "Senior Brother," but also because of Yuan Li's iconic carriage.

Zhao Du'an? Yuan Li?

Regardless of status or reputation, the two were completely opposite, and there was no reason for them to have any intersection.

"Yes," Zhao Du'an said with a smile as warm and gentle as a spring breeze, trying to get close.

"I didn't expect to run into Senior Brother here."

Ma Yan frowned.

"This Duke doesn't remember having a junior brother like you."

Zhao Du'an laughed heartily.

"You and I are both Imperial City Offerings, our guiding master is Eunuch Hai, and our teaching master is Emperor Taizu. Wouldn't it be natural to consider ourselves fellow disciples?"

Ma Yan was stunned for a moment, then looked at him strangely, not agreeing, but noncommittal.

"Did Sun Lianying tell you?"

Not many people knew about his status as an Offering, and the one with the surname Sun was one of them.

"Director Sun said that Director Ma is utterly loyal, and this junior brother greatly admires him," Zhao Du'an said with a look of admiration.

"…" Ma Yan felt inexplicably uncomfortable, like he was stuck with chewing gum, unable to shake it off or break free.

Others dared not get close to Ma Yan, after all, "Ma Yama" was infamous, but the notoriously shameless Zhao Du'an didn't care.

He only knew that in this world, having more connections meant more paths.

Although the Female Emperor had a big reputation, she was too far from the mortal world, and not as intimidating as Ma Yama.

As they spoke, the two walked side by side towards the Golden Luan Hall.

At this moment, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the morning mist drifted, and there were few figures on the palace gate square.

This was a square that could accommodate thousands of Imperial Guards in formation. In the past, during a political coup, more than ten thousand corpses were laid here, and blood stained the ground red. It took three days of rinsing with clear water to barely wash it clean.

In the distance, majestic palaces were scattered, and long white jade steps stretched down from the entrance of the Golden Luan Hall.

Looking up from below, one felt reverence.

Looking down from above, one felt as small as dust.

"Senior Brother is here at this time for Pei Kai Zhi, right?"

Zhao Du'an said, with his sleeves folded, standing on the square, trying to strike up a conversation.

Ma Yan was a man of few words, but he couldn't stand the annoying buzzing of the fly next to him, so he grunted "En," and then said with disgust.

"It would be better if you addressed me by my official title."

So stingy… Zhao Du'an curled his lips.

"I heard that the court meetings these days have been wonderful, but in the end, Lord Yuan is still the better one. Does Senior… does Director Ma know the inside story?"

Ma Yan's face was stern: "I don't know."

The extroverted Zhao Du'an was energetic and eager to show off.

"Isn't Director Ma curious as to why I am here?"

The introverted Ma Yan glanced at him and looked away.

"Not curious."

No, you can't have a good conversation like this… Zhao Du'an complained, can't you let people show off properly?

How disappointing!

He was about to fight again when he suddenly heard the bell of Meridian Gate. Ma Yan sternly whispered: "They're coming out."

Zhao Du'an looked in the direction of the sound, and saw that in the vast bell sound, there was a faint sharp announcement, the gate of the Golden Luan Hall opened wide, and the officials of the court poured out.

Court was adjourned.

Many ministers participated in today's court meeting, with hundreds of people, and a sea of scarlet official robes was extremely eye-catching.

There was also a patch of green in the red, which was exclusive to censors.

At this moment, they descended the white jade steps mightily, and the atmosphere was silent and quiet.

The courtiers were divided into two groups in the middle, one headed by Yuan Li, the azure-robed Grand Censor, chest out and head held high, his demeanor admirable.

The other group was the "Li Faction," which had more people, but the atmosphere was depressed and heavy.

The leader was an old man, wearing a dark red official robe and a black gauze hat, with temples like hedgehog skin and eyebrows like amethyst edges, his appearance fierce and extremely majestic.

Slightly messy stubble spread up along both cheeks, intersecting with the sideburns.

Zhao Du'an inexplicably associated him with Sima Yi in his later years, as portrayed by Wu Xiubo.

The Prime Minister of the Great Yu, Li Yanfu!

This was the second time Zhao Du'an had seen this "current Prime Minister." Last time, Li Yanfu passed by him without even turning his eyes.

That was the most silent contempt described by Mr. Lu Xun.

This time was still the same.

Zhao Du'an and Ma Yan were like stone bridge piers against the flow of people, allowing hundreds of officials to flow past them.

When Li Yanfu passed by the two, an invisible majesty made Zhao Du'an's breathing stagnant.

Those who wield great power can make martial artists feel pressure with their aura alone.

Yuan Li was lagging behind, and Lü Liang was not here.

Behind the many officials of the "Li Faction" was finally the late Pei Kai Zhi.

Zhao Du'an was shocked. In just a few days, the once high-ranking Minister of the Ministry of Justice looked ten years older. His whole spirit was drained, his hair was withered, and his face was haggard.

At this moment, his official robe had been stripped off, and he was only wearing a plain white inner garment. In the cold morning mist, his steps were staggering, his soul was lost, and he was trembling.

In a daze, he walked purely by instinct, not even looking at the road, and ran straight into Zhao Du'an.

It wasn't until he noticed the shadow blocking his way that Pei Kai Zhi raised his head, and his bloodshot old eyes suddenly lit up, filled with the ferocity of an old wolf in despair. He stopped, his fingers trembling.

"It's you!"

The radiant Zhao Du'an, in stark contrast to him, smiled and nodded.

"Minister Pei, we meet again."

Pei Kai Zhi saw his enemy and seemed to have regained his energy. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his face was gloomy and tyrannical.

"This old man has been hunting geese all his life, but in the end, he was pecked in the eye by a goose. I was actually deceived by a villain like you. Heh, but don't be complacent, thinking that by doing things for others, you are qualified to laugh at this old man? A mere pawn, are you worthy?"

It seemed that he still didn't know that all of this was Zhao Du'an's doing, and only thought that he had been schemed against by Yuan Li.

Zhao Du'an was just a tool to execute Yuan Li's plan.

I can't accept that… Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows, glanced at Yuan Li, and saw the azure-robed man nod with a smile.

He strode forward and walked up to Pei Kai Zhi.

He put his hand on the old man's shoulder, pulled him a little closer, and smiled gently.

"Minister, you are really old and muddle-headed. You have already lost the entire game, but you are still confused and can't find the real enemy."

Pei Kai Zhi's face changed slightly: "What do you mean?"

Zhao Du'an said with a smile:

"You think I'm a pawn executing Lord Yuan's orders? No. In fact, Lord Yuan doesn't even know that the whole thing about alienating Lü Liang was done by Zhao alone…

Heh, you thought you lost to Lord Yuan, so you felt honored even in defeat? No, you, ah, can't even beat a little pawn like me…

Heh heh, that day at the Jinjiang embankment, you pretended to be so profound, almost bluffing me, making me think you were so cunning…

If you don't have the ability, why are you, an old dog, pretending to be a big-tailed wolf."

He gently patted Pei Kai Zhi's shoulder and added the final blow in a low voice:

"Pei Zi, listen to Brother Zhao's advice, the temple is too deep, you can't handle it, go home and retire. Let me have the high position, generous salary, beautiful wife, and concubines. I'm not afraid of the depth, I'm young, I can handle it."

Pei Kai Zhi's old eyes widened, staring at him, his face turning green, his whole body trembling violently. His anger flared up, and he suddenly shouted:

"Zhao Thief! Even if I become a ghost in my next life, I will not let you go!!!"

Immediately, he spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted from anger!

On the steps, Yuan Li's expression was subtle.

Beside him, Ma Yan was stunned, relying on the hearing of a martial artist to hear all the conversations between the two.

In the distance, many officials who had already left suddenly turned their heads, looking in shock at this dramatic scene.

Li Yanfu also stopped, turning his head for the first time, his ancient well-like, cold and deep eyes reflecting someone's figure.

"Zhao… Du'an…"