The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 175 - 154, Zhao Douan: Your Majesty, I want to join... _2

"You see, some people stay in Hanlin Academy for a few years and then they go straight into Xiuwen Pavilion.

Weren’t you also at Hanlin Academy before? And now? You have been stuck in a minor judge position for nearly ten years. If you had been slicker earlier on, would things have come to this?"

Lu Zhi quietly ate and drank, then responded calmly,

"If I had been slick and flattering, today I would be implicated alongside Zhou Cheng and Hee Zheng."

His good friend at the table fell silent and then forced a bitter smile,

"What you say... is indeed true."

Today, the Ministry of Justice was in upheaval. After a joint trial by the Three Agencies, although not yet reported to His Majesty, Zhou Cheng and Hee Zheng’s faction were only temporarily "confined."

However, everyone knew that within an hour or two, the command of the Saint would come down, and that would be when the real storm hit.

Lu Zhi was lucky. Because his official position was low and he was not close to Zhou Cheng, he temporarily avoided being implicated.

His good friend sighed and said,

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"Who could have expected this to happen? That Zhao Douan is truly ruthless. Last time, when he had you arrested and then released you alone, it led to your further isolation and dislike by Zhou Cheng’s group.

But unexpectedly, that also allowed you to escape disaster, one could say fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. Still, you really need to change that temperament of yours."

Lu Zhi spoke displeased,

"I abide by the law with a clear conscience, never engaging in their corrupt practices or bribing those high officials. My current salary is enough to support my family. Even if I spend a lifetime like this, it’s fine by me."

His friend stared at him, "Are you really content to spend your life as a minor judge? Back in the day, we both had high aspirations..."

Lu Zhi remained silent.

His friend sighed once again and said no more.

When both had eaten and drunk their fill, they walked arm in arm out of the restaurant but were met by a mid-level official from the Ministry of Justice leading a squad of imperial guards. Upon seeing him, the official’s eyes lit up,

"Mr. Lu!"

Lu Zhi was stunned, watching this group approaching, not understanding what was happening.

And... the official called him "Mr." instead of "Judge" or "Old Lu"...

"Mr. Wang, what is this?" he frowned.

The superior, who usually disliked him, approached enthusiastically, grabbed his hand, and smiled,

"I’ve been looking for you, come quickly to receive the imperial command."

"Receive the command?" Lu Zhi was even more bewildered.

At this moment, an eunuch stepped forward from the rank of the imperial guard, laughing,

"Don’t panic, Mr. Lu, it’s not an edict. I am merely here to deliver an oral decree from His Majesty.

His Majesty says that as the Ministry of Justice is currently unstable and many officials cannot fulfill their roles, yet the government office is burdened with numerous tasks and cannot be left unmanned.

Hearing of Judge Lu’s impartial law enforcement, he specifically orders you to temporarily act as the head of the Ministry of Justice, until the case is resolved and further arrangements are made."

Lu Zhi felt as if he were dreaming, and his companion, now sober, looked astonished,

"Brother Lu..."

Lu Zhi’s eyes suddenly reddened, with tears beginning to fall.

After nearly a decade of refusing to partake in corruption and being held back for it, was he finally going to be promoted?

But how would His Majesty even know about a minor figure like himself?

He couldn’t understand.

...

...

Inside the Imperial Palace.

Unaware and indifferent to the external chaos, Zhao Douan.

After Xu Zhenguan left to be busy, he strolled through the Imperial Garden before being led for rest by a female attendant.

At noon, he had a meal from the Imperial Kitchen, and it lasted until dusk.

He heard that senior officials had entered the palace to hold a small court meeting about the subsequent handling of the Xue Lin case.

The meeting lasted until evening, after which it concluded.

He thought he would soon see the Empress, but his expectation was disappointed, and he dined alone again.

When it grew completely dark and he was almost feeling forgotten within the palace, he finally received a summons från the Empress.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Zhao is here," said the leading senior female attendant at the door of the royal study.

With a "please" from inside the room, Zhao Douan, after half a day, once again saw the long-awaited Empress.

The room was brightly lit.

Xu Zhenguan, as always, smiled at him from behind a desk and gestured to a seat in the room,

"Sit down, it will just be a bit longer.

At first, Zhao Douan was reluctant, but when the Empress commanded again, he reluctantly sat down.

Suddenly, he felt an anxious sensation as if waiting for a leader in a previous life... Despite his complaints, Zhao Douan’s gaze drifted around out of boredom.

On the study’s shelves were many valuable objects and the bonsai was a master’s work.

Yet after looking around, his eyes inevitably returned to the Empress.

Common folks, if they were to toil so much, would certainly not care about their appearances.

But as a Cultivator from the Heavenly Human Realm, Xu Zhenguan seemed to always maintain his composure and elegance, no matter the time or place.

Even under the dim light of fading lamps, although his profile reflected by candlelight appeared a bit weary, it only added to his charm.

His white robe hung loosely, barely revealing the shoes and socks underneath; he sniffed slightly, a faint scent of roses... Eh, did she spray the perfume she mixed herself?

"Alright."

After a long while, Xu Zhenguan finally put down his pen, closed the scroll, and lazily stretched his waist.

Then, he turned to the only man in the sleeping quarters, who was daydreaming, with a hint of apology in his eyes:

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long." Zhao Douan snapped back to reality, telling a blatant lie:

"Your Majesty manages countless affairs every day, compared to you, my burdens are much lighter."

Xu Zhenguan shook his head with a smile, too lazy to expose his lie, and suddenly stood up, moving gracefully:

"I’ve been busy all day, come take a walk with me."

...

The so-called stroll of an emperor naturally differed in grandeur.

Under the night sky, the palace was brightly lit.

Xu Zhenguan and Zhao Douan walked almost shoulder to shoulder, leaving the sleeping quarters for the spacious plaza capable of accommodating thousands for martial displays.

Behind them, a long line formed by palace servants, each carrying a lantern in one hand and various objects in the other, ready for any sudden needs of the Empress.

At the same time, they kept their distance just right—neither too close nor too far.

"This afternoon, I saw that various ministers entered the palace."

As the night wind blew against him, Zhao Douan seemed to be enveloped by the faint fragrance of a woman; after walking in silence for a while, he initiated conversation again.

Xu Zhenguan, looking much more relaxed after leaving the study, hummed softly with a smile upon hearing this:

"I know what you want to ask. Zhou Cheng and his associates have been formally arrested and thrown into the prison.

The case from the years past involving Xue Lin is being presided over by Princess Yuan; the evidence you provided has been very solid. Wang Shan has also confessed, revealing quite a few of Zhou Cheng’s crimes...

These are all leverage left from the days when Wang Zhen was in power—ah, a surprising boon indeed.

With all this evidence, whether Zhou Cheng admits his crime or not is no longer important. At this afternoon’s minor court meeting, he was sentenced to beheading, his family to be exiled, and his property confiscated.

Marquis Xiajiang, in prison, mentioned that he alone had given Zhou Cheng quite a lot of benefits over the years, amassing a shocking amount of money, so, the National Treasury is indeed going to see a substantial increase."

This verdict was so swift? No struggle at all... Zhao Douan was surprised.

But then he thought, with so many irrefutable pieces of evidence, it seemed truly unnecessary.

A minister from the nine ministers, who had recently tried to have him killed, fell from power in just a single day...

Even as the "instigator," he couldn’t help but sigh.

"Then congratulations, Your Majesty, on achieving your desires," Zhao Douan flattered:

"With Zhou Cheng down, the obstacles to arranging the new cabinet must have substantially decreased."

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him, surprised:

"Did Yuann Li tell you that?"

Zhao Douan decisively ratted out his ally:

"Mr. Yuan said, among those opposing the new cabinet, Zhou Cheng was particularly severe. I heard that Grandmaster Dong is handling the new cabinet?"

Xu Zhenguan’s beautiful eyes sparkled, scrutinizing the loyal man by her side, somewhat amused:

"Talking about one cabinet after another, you’re a military officer, why are you interested in this?"

Zhao Douan feigned embarrassment, chuckling awkwardly:

"Mr. Yuan said, the new cabinet prohibits ministers from entering, and will primarily consist of young scholars... Of course, I have no other intentions, just wishing to relieve Your Majesty of some burdens."

He was very eager to advance!

Although he had been both praised and subtly criticized by Grandmaster Dong that morning, Zhao Douan indeed had little interest in officialdom.

But that didn’t mean he had no thoughts about this "new cabinet."

First, the new cabinet implied greater power and could grant him a higher status, in exchange for more powerful protection from imperial authority.

How long would it take to become stronger through bitter cultivation?

To fend off the threat of a Great Cultivator?

A few years? Or perhaps a decade?

If he could secure a higher position, arranging for a Great Cultivator as a bodyguard would settle it all at once.

The wise rule over others through intellect, the laborers are ruled by others through strength... he had understood this principle very early on.

Secondly... if he could be part of the "new cabinet", wouldn’t he have a legitimate reason to be with the Empress every day?

Hoping to become a favorite of the leader, one cannot achieve that by running errands outside; visibility is key!

Under the night sky.

Xu Zhenguan listened, but merely smiled wryly, shaking her head, somewhat helplessly looking at him:

"You know, the cabinet will be assisted by young scholars—and you are indeed young, but what have you to do with scholars?"