The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 173 - 153. Recommend Talented People

"Repeat it again—it’s not that I didn’t hear it clearly; I just want to confirm it one more time."

Zhao Douan had gone through this process before; he remembered the last time, it was in this very pavilion that Yuan Li had occupied his current seat.

Back then, he could only stand aside, serving them tea and water.

But this time, he was the one sitting here.

"At your command," he replied calmly, repeating the words verbatim.

This time, the Empress confirmed it.

She pursed her lips, instinctively suppressing all external emotions due to the instinctive nature of an emperor.

But the array of surprises that sprang up in her heart couldn’t be faked.

"The eunuch who returned to the palace just now did not mention this matter."

She steadied her spirit, reached into the chess box, and retrieved the dropped chess piece, clenching it in her palm.

It seemed to provide her some sense of control.

Zhao Douan then said,

"The grandfather left early. In fact, if it weren’t for a fortunate coincidence, the evidence I was waiting for arrived just in time, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this today."

Xu Zhenguan said, "I need to know the cause and effect."

Zhao Douan had prepared thoroughly and had already discussed it once in the court.

He then narrated fluidly, starting with the descendants of the Xue family, leading up to an incident involving a person named ’Wang Shan,’ and how he inverted the investigation against Zhou Cheng, easily seizing the opportunity to topple Zhou Cheng in one fell swoop.

The story was lengthy, and the Empress listened intently.

When she listened to the story, her gleaming ears subtly leaned forward, her gaze unwavering.

She would occasionally interrupt to inquire about some details.

Even their alternating moves in the game were not delayed.

"The matter is roughly as follows,"

After a while, Zhao Douan finished his narrative:

"In this matter, my two colleagues have endured tremendous hardships, Mr. Yuan exerted considerable effort, without them, relying solely on myself, I would never have accomplished these feats."

He even didn’t forget to jointly claim the credit, a muscle memory honed from drafting documents in his past life.

So it was... it could still be like this... it was indeed possible...

A myriad of thoughts surged in Xu Zhenguan’s mind.

She was both amazed by Zhao Douan’s tactics and furious over Zhou Cheng’s past crimes.

Initially, when she tasked Zhao Douan to search for evidence, she hadn’t anticipated such a major old case being exposed.

It wasn’t just unexpected that Zhao Douan could tackle it from this angle, openly and covertly, deceiving Zhou Cheng into this trap.

After all, who could imagine that his voluntary imprisonment was a "trap within a trap"?

Let alone Zhou Cheng, even she who had foreknowledge of the situation thought the "Su Hongyu" case was just a trap set by Zhao Douan to fulfill his mission.

This trap was already ingenious enough to satisfy her.

But now, with everything unveiled, she realized what she thought was Zhao Douan’s third layer was actually his fifth...

The Su Hongyu case was merely a feint to cover up the real killer move…

One could only say, Zhou Cheng’s defeat was indeed deserved!

Moreover, she never imagined that the "nine ministers," tasked with judicial fairness, ministers entrusted by the late Emperor, would dare commit such an egregious deception!

Initially, if Xu Zhenguan started targeting Zhou Cheng completely out of political necessity, there was still a slight guilt towards this trusted minister.

But now, upon learning of Zhou Cheng’s past deeds, there was only anger.

"Such audacity! Such a deception!"

Xu Zhenguan could hardly conceal her rage. Her face turned frosty as she stood up, as if she was in the Golden Throne Hall:

"Such a wicked person, managing to live unscathed until now, causing officials like Xue Lin to be wrongly accused for ten years after their deaths!"

Seeing this, nearby Palace Attendants shuddered in fright, not understanding why the Emperor was enraged.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," Zhao Douan stood up, trying to soothe her:

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"The late Emperor was once deceived by Wang Zhen, thus this wrongful case occurred, and Your Majesty, having only recently ascended the throne, didn’t realize the true nature of people like Zhou Cheng, which is not surprising."

His words were still too tactful; in fact, the Old Emperor was utterly foolish and incompetent.

During his reign, relying on eunuchs, power was diluted by the leading cabinet members like Li Yanfu, and he allowed eight princes to overpower others.

After his death, it led to a brutal struggle between his two sons... even with his daughter on the throne, what was left behind was a mess...

Absolutely outrageous.

"Mr. Zhao, no need to elaborate further," the Empress shook her head, suppressing her anger, her voice tinged with a killing intent:

"This time, you’ve done very well. Zhou Cheng has already been captured, and by now, Mr. Yuan must be rushing to the palace.

The Xue Lin case has been reopened, and the implications will not be minor... Hmm, from what I see, from top to bottom, the Ministry of Justice is probably already rotten to the core, we should arrest them all for investigation!"

Zhao Douan thought for a moment, then suddenly said:

"I think not all officials in the Ministry of Justice are corrupt. For instance, there’s a Judge named Lu Zhi who seems quite decent."

Xu Zhenguan looked at him, surprised:

"That minor official who once submitted a memorial impeaching you? I remember the last time you arrested fifty-eight people, he was the only one who didn’t bribe you."

The implication being: Isn’t he your enemy?

Huh, you pay so much attention to me? Even knowing these details... Zhao Douan smiled and said:

"Promoting the virtuous without avoiding personal issues, if he is an upright official, he should not be implicated."

"Even if he is your enemy?"

"Heh, I still have that extent of magnanimity."

Xu Zhenguan said nothing, her beautiful eyes gazing at him anew, seemingly reassessing him:

"I understand. You stay in the palace for now. After I deal with these matters, I will... call you for a talk."

As she spoke, perhaps recalling the last time she kept Zhao Douan in the palace, and the scene at Tangquan Palace where they exchanged ideas.

When the Empress turned back, a fleeting blush seemed to sweep across her fair cheeks.

...

…

Just as Zhao Douan entered the palace, full of anticipation and waiting for the Empress to summon him once again,

the results of the Three Agencies’ review also spread like ripples through the Capital.

The Zhao family,

"Madam, Miss, we simply can’t enter the Ministry of Justice’s government office, let alone enter, just approaching gets us driven away. Didn’t the female government officer named Qian say that once the review was over, she would come to our house to deliver the news?"

Inside the inner courtyard, the old steward earnestly tried to stop the mistress of the house who wanted to go out.

Nearby, the rest of the Zhao family’s servants also gathered, their expressions mournful, the atmosphere oppressive.

In just a few days, You Jinhua had become much more haggard.

Her eyes were bloodshot, a testament to days of sleeplessness.

Next to her, supporting her, Zhao Pan’s delicate jaw also seemed thinner.

The young lady’s face too was gloomy, and in her teary, autumnal eyes, there was a profound concern as she also advised,

"Mother, the steward is right. If there is any progress, my elder brother’s subordinates will definitely come to report."

You Jinhua’s colorless lips murmured,

"But I really can’t stop worrying. If something truly has happened to your elder brother, what will we do..."

Tears welled up in the eyes of the beautiful woman, her expression sorrowful.

A few days ago, upon learning that Zhao Douan had been arrested, You Jinhua mustered all her courage and went to the Imperial Office Pear Blossom Hall.

But she learned only that Zhao Douan would not be tortured in prison.

As for whether he could be released, what the outcome would be, no one knew.

As rumors flared up, public opinion clearly turned increasingly unfavorable, You Jinhua spent her days at home in tears, and Zhao Pan was also downcast, the whole Zhao family uneasy.

"Mother, it won’t happen. Didn’t he come out unscathed last time? This time, he will surely turn misfortune into a blessing."

Zhao Pan spoke of the time during Zhuang Xiaocheng’s case, the young girl took out a sachet sewn by both mother and daughter from her bosom, managing a forced smile:

"It will be alright, the gifts we made for him haven’t even been..."

At that moment, the sound of horse hooves came from outside the house; the family quickly looked up, You Jinhua could not wait, pulling her daughter as she ran towards the door.

They saw Qian Kerou dismount, her round face smiling. Without waiting for the mother and daughter to ask, she joyfully announced,

"Mr. Zhao has been exonerated from the accusations, he was framed, and now he has been released without charges!"

You Jinhua’s eyes widened, "Really?"

Zhao Pan’s breath tightened, the young girl lighting up.

Qian Kerou smiled,

"Of course, not only that, but Mr. Zhao has also countersued the Minister of the Ministry of Justice who framed him. Everyone outside is talking about this now!"

The faces of the Zhao family’s servants looked at one another, instantly clearing away the gloom.

…

…

In East City, inside an alley with a large willow tree,,

today, the private school had only half a day of classes, and by noon, the children had dispersed.

"Miss, the carriage is ready. Let’s leave the city now."

Uncle Fu locked the door and said to Xue Xuan, who was sitting in the courtyard.

Today, she was not wearing a Confucian robe for women but a white dress, and in the bamboo baskets at her feet were the prepared offerings of incense and paper money.

The fragile young lady with a scholarly aura, hugging a jar of wine, returned from her distraction to reality.

She hummed an acknowledgment, and together with Uncle Fu, boarded the donkey cart and set off outside the city.

Today was the memorial day for Xue Lin.

It was also the memorial day for the souls of the orthodox year who were executed at the autumn execution ground thirteen years ago.

"Miss, this morning the old servant heard that today seems to be the day Zhao Douan is being judged."

Uncle Fu, while driving the donkey cart, suddenly said.

Xue Xuan, wearing mourning clothes and holding the wine jar, sat on the cart

—the carriages with compartments were expensive possessions, so she could only borrow a neighbor’s donkey-drawn cart to go to the cemetery outside the city.

After Zhao Douan’s visit that day, she had been truly nervous for a long while, but within a couple of days, she learned that Zhao Douan had been imprisoned.

It seemed that the main judge was again Zhou Cheng, who had framed and killed her father years ago.

To this day, Xue Xuan was still unclear about why Zhao Douan came to inquire about those matters, but she vaguely felt it was somehow secretly connected to his imprisonment.

Perhaps it was those filthy courtly strifes, she thought.

Maybe because it’s all reviewed by the Three Agencies, all presided over by Zhou Cheng… She inexplicably felt a sliver of sympathy for the devilish Zhao Douan, who had threatened her to speak using the lives of children.

Of course, it was only a sliver. Xue Xuan felt only disgust and fear toward Zhao Douan, a man of infamy and villainy.

"Everyone outside says that Zhao Douan won’t survive. This way, he won’t bother you again, Miss," Uncle Fu, waving his whip, gently tapped the little donkey.

Xue Xuan, holding the wine jar, said softly,

"Uncle Fu, do you think that the so-called crime of his, murdering a woman, is true or false?"

Uncle Fu, surprised, said, "Miss, do you think it’s not true? But everyone outside tells it so convincingly."

Xue Xuan shook her head, saying,

"I don’t know. Given that man’s bad reputation, doing such a thing wouldn’t be surprising, but... with Zhou Cheng as the judge, it’s hard to say."

Uncle Fu was silent, knowing she was thinking of the old miscarriage of justice, and sighed softly.

It was a topic he had strenuously avoided mentioning over the years, as it had been so many years ago.

A few days ago, when Zhao Douan came to inquire, a spark of hope had risen in his heart, thinking perhaps that old wrong could one day be righted.

But now… Master Zhao had his own troubles to save himself from… nevermind.

"Go!" Uncle Fu whipped.

Suddenly, on the street ahead, a group of government officers swarmed toward them, two of whom were very familiar.

They rushed directly in front of the little donkey cart, forcing the master and servant to stop, and then in the tense and fearful gazes of Xue Xuan and Uncle Fu,

Haitang stepped forward, passing by Zhang Han, smiling at them,

"We meet again—ah, Master Zhao asked me to, on his behalf, give you his regards."