The Empress's No.1 Lackey

The mole has been found...

When Zhao Douan announced this news in a calm tone, two women in the room plunged into a brief daze.

Xu Zhenguan looked at him with disbelief in her eyes, her usual languor gone, replaced by a slight straightening of her posture,

and inside her heart, countless waves suddenly surged.

"Explain clearly, explain in detail!" the Emperor of Great Yu said with a slightly hurried voice.

"Yes."

Zhao Douan had prepared a thorough brief beforehand and was accustomed to delivering such reports.

Without haste or delay, he described how he had thought through his strategy yesterday, devised a plan, and set up a "hypothetical target" to trick all the "suspects," including Ma Yan, into it,

and had successfully caught everyone in the net this morning by playing psychological warfare to expose the mole, recounting the events smoothly.

During the process, Xu Zhenguan did not interrupt; she just listened quietly, as did the female official beside her.

"... That's approximately how things went."

Zhao Douan concluded, quite pleased with his own performance.

The structure was clear, the expression complete, the language fluent—truly a top-notch report.

However, the Emperor of Great Yu did not immediately respond, just looked at him a bit abstractedly.

Her heart was far from as calm as her exterior might suggest.

Thinking back, how much time had passed?

It seemed he had been appointed barely seven days ago.

The last time, she had tasked Zhao Douan with catching the mole from atop the Emperor Tower, though she had not held much hope at that time.

Promoting him to the Imperial Decree Department was more about rewarding him,

and with Zhao Douan's abilities, he indeed needed a bigger stage.

As for whether he could identify the mole, or even if there was one in the Imperial Decree Department, it was still an uncertainty.

But after subsequent actions by Zhao Douan, which sparked discussions among the court, she had raised her expectations.

She began to feel that this member of the Little Forbidden Army might truly be capable.

Even so, when she made a bet with Yuann Li yesterday, she spoke of a timeframe of one month.

That was still an overestimation, considering Yuann Li's logical estimate of at least two months.

However, their bet had ended only a day after it was made.

No two months, not even one month—Zhao Douan had taken only seven days.

It was baffling.

But after listening in detail to his entire scheme, Xu Zhenguan felt that it was only natural for the mole to be exposed,

Strictly speaking, the whole scheme, when laid out, wasn't brilliant, even quite rough.

Including flaws pointed out by Haitang and others, many parts weren't perfectly executed.

But Zhao Douan had used his own "persona" to cover these flaws.

"Let me ask you, the commotion you've stirred up these days, was it also for…" Xu Zhenguan slightly opened her lips, sounding a bit uncertain.

Zhao Douan understood and nodded before she could finish,

"Your Majesty is wise. Over the past few days, this humble official has offended Princess Yunyang and numerous court officials excessively.

But only with such excessive actions could I cement the impression of me liking great achievements and grandeur, using power to manipulate, thus making today's arrest without raising suspicions."

Indeed…

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly, then suddenly turned her head, looking with a half-smile at the close female official:

"Mo Chou, did you hear that?"

Mo Chou was silent, unable to speak, feeling her face burning hot.

Especially thinking that not long ago, she had confidently spoken aloud beside the Empress, firmly believing that Zhao Douan could not possibly arrest any important figure...

The reversal came too quickly, like a tornado, bewildering her.

"Oh? Did Mo Zhaorong also mention me?"

Zhao Douan pretended to be naively innocent, but he was subtly provocative.

"This servant... this servant..."

Big ice block Mo Chou stuttered, unable to respond.

For the first time in front of the hateful scoundrel she despised, she lowered her head.

The Empress smiled but was not in the mood to tease the maid.

She looked back at Zhao Douan, her beautiful eyes full of praise and admiration, as if she had much to say.

But ultimately, she just sighed,

"I'm beginning to doubt my own judgment."

Zhao Douan was surprised: "Why would Your Majesty say so?"

The Empress sighed deeply:

"Otherwise, how could a jewel have been hidden in dust for more than a year?"

No, this really wasn't your fault; the previous one was indeed a true "pig"… Zhao Douan thought and then said,

"Your Majesty's eyes encompass the world, all living beings, and the millions of households. With such a far-reaching view, it's natural to overlook those close by."

The Empress paused, then laughed teasingly,

"Such eloquence."

Zhao Douan shamelessly responded,

"Flower and cleverness, both are good words. Your Majesty praises this servant's words, and I am humbled."

Pah... shameless... Mo Chou, lowering her head and drawing circles, spat in her mind.

Thinking:

It's not blameable that Her Majesty believed slander, it's just that this scoundrel speaks too pleasantly.

Xu Zhenguan put aside her playful thoughts and returned to the main topic, her expression turning serious:

"Imperial Decree Department, such a position yet betraying the court, and not just one but two, the persistence, power, and savagery of the rebel forces likely exceed our expectations."

"Mo Chou, immediately go to the Imperial Court of Supervision, Ministry of Justice, and the Three Legal Departments to convey my royal decree, ordering them to review this case thoroughly and root out more accomplices."

Since the individuals involved came from the Imperial Decree Department,

to avoid suspicion, further handling of this case must be transferred to the Three Legal Departments.

Mo Chou acknowledged.

The Empress thought for a moment, then added,

"Also, make a trip to the Imperial Decree Department and after Ma Yan handles the aftermath, have him come to see me."

This significant matter, even though Zhao Douan had reported once, Ma Yan would definitely need to report it a second time.

"Yes," answered Mo Chou, turning hastily to leave, unwilling to stay in this embarrassing situation even a second longer.

"Zhao Douan," the Empress called again.

"I am here," replied Zhao Douan, eager.

The Empress squinted, scrutinizing him for a moment, then said,

"Wait here in the palace, once it's verified that your report is accurate, I will reward you accordingly."

What reward… Zhao Douan remembered, last time on the Emperor Tower, the Empress had promised,

If the mole is caught, apart from being his duty as a "Master" and the merits for his record, the Empress would additionally give him a reward.

The Empress didn't say, but scanned his body from head to toe, seeming to make a certain decision, then said with ambiguous meaning:

"Have you heard about 'The Book of Changes' marrow cleansing?"

When Zhao Douan remained silent, she leisurely said,

"Tonight, I shall grant you an opportunity to be reborn."

...

While Zhao Douan awaited the special reward in the palace, looking forward to the night,

the ripple effects of this event also spread outward from the palace.

Imperial Court of Supervision.

In the afternoon, Yuann Li had taken a nap, and upon leisurely waking, he stepped out of the government office where he had been resting.

Crossing the courtyard, he saw the pavilions and rockeries, with a gentle breeze blowing.

The refined and elegant Imperial Censor, his eyes filled with the wisdom of age, leisurely walked in the small garden behind the office to clear his mind.

This was his habit, and everyone beneath him in the government office knew it.

Therefore, during this time, few would disturb him unless the matter was urgent.

However, today was different.

Yuann Li had barely walked a few steps when an Imperial Censor from outside the small garden hurried over,

"Sir, Mo Zhaorong has come from the palace, bearing a decree from Her Majesty; it seems important."

"Oh?" Yuann Li was slightly surprised.

Since Pei Kaizhi's downfall, the political struggles at court had stabilized, aside from that Zhao kid stirring up minor troubles in the past couple of days, there had been no other disturbances.

Why would Mo Chou come in person?

A short while later.

Yuann Li met with Mo Chou in the inner hall and smiled,

"Mo Zhaorong, you look a bit unwell today, what brings you here?"

Mo Chou gave a wry smile, "Mr. Yuan still unaware?"

The Imperial Court of Supervision was not an intelligence agency, and Yuann Li, spending his days at the government office, was unaware of the outside events.

Mo Chou sighed with a complex tone,

"It's the Imperial Decree Department... that Zhao Douan today devised a plan and tricked two traitors out…"

She succinctly described the incident.

Initially, the Imperial Censor was relaxed, but gradually he became serious, and then he was stunned.

Finally, after she finished speaking, Yuann Li looked at her with disbelief,

"Are you saying that Zhao Douan took just seven days to catch traitors hiding within the Imperial Decree Department?"

Mo Chou nodded difficultly,

"Although it has not yet been verified, since he has reported to the palace, it must be true."

Silence.

Inside the hall, the recently awakened Imperial Censor felt a bit distracted, doubting whether he had fully awakened.

He had estimated it would take two months, but Zhao Douan had done it in just seven days.

It felt like a dream.

...

"What? Both traitors have been captured?"

In the White Horse Hall, the slightly surprised elder Sun Lianying with graying temples and sunken eyes looked at the informant from Lihua Hall Jin Yi.

Qian Kerou responded with a reserved "Yes," not familiar with the man,

"My lord, uh, that is, Master Zhao, specifically ordered me to report this."

Sun Lianying sat in the bamboo chair in the backyard, digesting the news, and after a while, slowly nodded and asked,

"What about Ma Yanru?"

The novice Jin Yi looked confused and weakly said,

"Lord is currently suppressing the rebels in the Imperial Prison to prevent any mishaps."

"Good, I understand," Sun Lianying let out a breath and asked,

"Did that Zhao kid say anything else?"

Qian Kerou candidly replied,

"My lord mentioned that there's an official called Zhu Kui who might have been killed by the rebels, and now he's been taken to the Imperial Court. Please follow the rules of the White Horse Hall and properly console his family."

Sun Lianying, having some slight memory of that unsightly old official, nodded at hearing this,

"Go back, say that we are informed."

After Qian Kerou left, the old eunuch sat alone under the tree, suddenly seeing a leaf falling from the canopy above, landing on his knee.

"People die like leaves fall."

...

Heavenly Master Mansion.

The mysteriously aura'd Jin Jian, her being covered in starlight as if invisible, walked briskly.

Transforming into a streak of light, she arrived at the doorstep of a secluded house in the deepest part.

Pushing open the brown wooden door, she saw beneath the big banyan tree, the Old Heavenly Master unexpectedly not resting with closed eyes.

Instead, he had set up a low table and was sitting on the ground.

In his hand, he held an engraving knife, attentively carving characters on a rolled-out Jade Scroll.

"Ah, Master, you're amending the Heavenly Book."

The pale-skinned girl, her delicate features emotionless, gradually focused her gaze in surprise.

The tradition of amending the book was passed down through the generations of sect leaders at Heavenly Master Mansion.

It involved recording the sect's supreme teachings, the understanding of Heavenly Dao, and cultivation in written form.

Through thousands of years, the Heavenly Book had been modified by successive generations, with increasingly lesstext being altered or removed.

Even Zhang Yan Yi, who was reputed to be among the top three sect leaders in the history of Heavenly Master Mansion, had seldom revised the Heavenly Book.

What revelation could merit such a rare amendment by the Master?

"Yes," Zhang Yan Yi smiled and put down the engraving knife, picked up the Jade Scroll and blew on it, saying,

"Jin Jianer, take a look. How is this line?"

Jin Jianer approached with a lively step, read softly,

"The Dao generates one... Eh, Master, you're so shameless. How can you write your own name into the Heavenly Book?"

Jin Jian scrupulously pointed out,

"One generates... It means to derive, right? So, it refers to 'Yan Yi,' right?"

Zhang Yan Yi paused for a moment and then burst into hearty laughter, shaking his head,

"No, this line was incidentally heard from a young friend."

"Do I know him?" Jin Jian puzzled,

"How come I don't know, when did Master make a young friend?"

Zhang Yan Yi smiled and remained silent, thinking of the name "Zhao Douan" in his heart but decided not to reveal it.

However, at that very moment in his heart, as the name surfaced, he faintly felt a premonition from the depths of Heavenly Dao.

Zhang Yan Yi slightly furrowed his brow, calculated a bit, and was amazed to perceive a faint red aura of danger overlaid on the name "Zhao Douan."

"Could this lad... be facing a tribulation?"