The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Sharp blades were suddenly thrown, whistling through the air with friction.

Both parties confronting each other in front of the courtyard simultaneously changed color, the ones about to engage in close-quarters combat all nearly took a step back.

It was like cleaving a great river with a knife, even the water would cease to flow.

"Bang!"

The dagger, infused with the inner Qi of Zhao Douan, fiercely plunged into the green brick floor, embedding itself halfway, with the scattered force causing the surrounding ground to explode.

He never could have achieved such a feat before—this was a manifestation of his martial prowess' rebirth.

"Ah—"

The group trying to break through the doors let out a low cry, with the leader's face turning pale with alarm.

It seemed they hadn't expected Zhao Douan to arrive so swiftly or to draw his knife with such resolute decisiveness.

"Master..."

Shen Juan and a few Lihua Hall Jinyi officers were also taken aback.

But then, recalling their own Master Zhao's style, they quickly lost their surprise.

"Hssss."

In an instant, Zhao Douan charged forward on his horse, approaching rapidly.

The man on the horse pulled harshly on the reins, and the strong black horse reared up high.

"What has happened?" Zhao Douan asked with an impassive face, his gaze sweeping across the scene.

He noticed that although this group of people seemed imposing, none had the bearing of someone from the imperial guard.

The leader was strikingly a middle-aged civil official in a green robe, with an upright appearance and an imposing aura.

Seeing their backbone had arrived, Shen Juan and the others felt much reassured. They immediately clasped hands to report,

"Reporting to Master, we were investigating a case and captured a rebel, seizing several boxes of illicit money and goods.

We were awaiting transportation from the government office when these people from the Ministry of Justice arrived, claiming they wished to take the rebel and all the items. We refused, but they tried to take them by force."

Seizing a person? Stealing the goods?

People from the Ministry of Justice?

Zhao Douan picked out the key words and turned to look at the other group.

But the upright middle-aged civil official leading them, without even lifting his eyelids, clasped his hands and said,

"I am Master Hee, the deputy chief of the Ministry of Justice. Is this Master Zhao of the Imperial Court? I'd ask you to dismount and talk."

Deputy chief of the Ministry of Justice... a fifth-rank official, one rank above Zhao Douan, perfectly blocking his authority to arrest.

"So it's Master Hee." Zhao Douan's previously domineering demeanor changed as he suddenly smiled, dismounted, and tossed his reins to the other Jinyi officers who had hurried over. He casually said,

"What is the meaning of this?"

Master Hee took a deep breath and said calmly,

"Master Zhao ought to be aware that the case involving the rebel captured by your office has, by the Saint's decree, been transferred to my Ministry of Justice for investigation. The suspect from Iron Ruler Pass has provided a statement that points to a fellow rebel in this residence. I've come specifically to arrest and bring them back..."

Implied meaning:

The traitor from Iron Ruler Pass had sold the same information twice, informing Ma Yan and the Ministry of Justice in succession.

Thus, both parties, following the same lead, ended up colliding here.

Zhao Douan made an "oh" sound, feigning confusion,

"So?"

Master Hee's face was expressionless:

"Since the case has been handed over to the Ministry of Justice, there is no need for the Imperial Court officials, please hand over the person to me."

Who the hell is your brother... Shen Juan and the others cursed inwardly.

Zhao Douan, of course, understood the implication, but he just laughed:

"In everything, there's a matter of precedence. I caught the person first, and I seized the goods first. For your staff to arrive and try to take them away, that doesn't seem proper, does it?"

Master Hee frowned and said,

"Is Master Zhao intending to defy the Saint's commands? Since the case belongs to us, it should be handed over—what's this about precedence?"

Ha... Don't try pinning a big hat on me... Zhao Douan squinted his eyes, calmly pointing out the loophole:

"Master Hee, what a big hat you wear. My Imperial Court often takes prisoners from the City Government, even from the Ministry of Justice, but always after submitting an official document, waiting for both sides to sign and seal it. Then, we proceed amicably. However, I've never heard that transferring prisoners is done by force."

At first listen, the other party's words seemed reasonable.

But Zhao Douan keenly sensed something was amiss.

In the world of officials, unless dealing with political enemies, most interactions were amiable, with no one needlessly offending another.

Master Hee, arriving late, should have allowed the suspect to be taken away by Shen Juan.

Then, he should have turned back to issue an official document to Ma Yan.

Following procedures before raising the issue of transfer...

Of course, his urgency for credit could also explain his desire to seize the evidence, fearing that it would be skimmed by the Imperial Court officers.

It could barely explain their attempt to take it by force, but Zhao Douan instinctively felt something was off.

Wouldn't they know about Shen Juan from Lihua Hall?

That he had a notorious reputation?

To be so bullheaded, insisting on a hard stand against him?

Was it worth it?

There must be demons at work when things go against common sense!

"Master Zhao!"

Across from him, the dignified deputy chief in the green robe let his face darken and said,

"You're a smart man; there's no need to play dumb. Since the case has been given to my Ministry of Justice, why beat around the bush and make everyone go through unnecessary trouble? Step aside."

Zhao Douan didn't make a sound as if weighing something in his mind.

After a moment, the corners of his mouth slightly curved in an inscrutable smile, he turned to Shen Juan, standing steadfast in front of the courtyard, and suddenly said sternly,

"Shen Juan, I'm very disappointed in you."

Shen Juan was startled; this second-generation slacker from Lihua Hall hadn't anticipated his superior would turn the guns on him.

Not just him, the other Jinyi officers present were also taken aback, realizing their Master seemed to have capitulated.

Indeed, the other was a bona fide fifth-rank official. A higher rank could crush a lower, and moreover, they indeed had a point.

Even if they really fought to take the person back, the other party could just go through the proper channels and still manage to retrieve them.

So it seemed they were the wrong ones; their refusal to budge had led to drawing swords and nearly sparked a conflict.

But this was unlike the Master they knew; the leader of Lihua Hall should be the one who rules over all, second only to heaven, daring to slam tables and slash people at will, shouldn't he?

Why did he give in this time?

Could it be as some people secretly said in the government office?

Was their own Master just "a bully who cowers at real challenges," only daring to face off against Li Lang because he had Mo Zhaorong's backing, and only daring to arrest because those fifty-eight officials had low ranks?

Without support, are you cowards when faced with someone of higher rank?

It seemed to be the most reasonable guess, but...

"Sir, we..." Shen Juan still wanted to argue, feeling extremely aggrieved.

However, Zhao Douan rebuked loudly, "You still won't admit your mistake?!"

Shen Juan was at a loss for words.

The two groups of Jinyiwei present were also silent, but the dissatisfaction and disappointment in their eyes were unmistakable.

In stark contrast were the officials from the Ministry of Justice.

They had long heard of Zhao Douan's domineering and arrogance and indeed panicked, feeling cowardly.

Like the shadow of the famous tree, they feared that if the one surnamed Zhao burst into anger, they would be the ones to suffer.

But now, seeing him subdued by just a few words from their Master Hee and turning around to scold his own men, their tension vanished like smoke.

One by one, smiles appeared on their faces as they relaxed and enjoyed the scene, thinking that the rumors were not all true.

"Haha." Master Hee even laughed.

He shook the sleeves of his blue robe, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and said disdainfully with a smile,

"Eh, Master, there's no need to be so harsh. The men under you are ignorant, just take them back for scolding, everyone makes mistakes, right?"

His words were cold and free.

While speaking, Master Hee even looked up, signaling his accompanying government officers to sheathe their swords in preparation to enter and lock up the captives, seizing the fruits of victory.

Shen Juan was also extremely aggrieved, lowered his head, and forced out his words indignantly,

"This humble official... admits fault... should have not... with..."

However, the next second, the smile on the middle-aged official and his group's faces vanished.

Only to hear Zhao Douan say with a stern face,

"Where you're wrong is, as people of Lihua Hall, how are you all cowards?"

Shen Juan was stunned.

Zhao Douan rebuked sternly,

"What are you holding in your hands? Is it scrap iron? Or is it an official blade from the government office, made of wood? When someone dares to grab our things, you all just stand there holding swords, why didn't you think of striking?

All you know is how to retreat and block the door, you've lost face for all of us!"

A group of Jinyiwei was also stunned, slowly lifting their heads, looking towards their superior.

Wondering if they had heard wrong.

So... their superior wasn't yielding to the other side, nor was he being soft.

He was scolding them for being too soft, too cautious, and too cowardly...

"Sir, I..." Shen Juan's face turned from red to white with extreme shame.

Zhao Douan scolded coldly,

"Before I took office, a bunch of people told me that Lihua Hall was full of troublemakers, unruly and disobedient. I see it's all nonsense. Where's the unruliness? Where are the troublemakers? As it turns out, they are all very obedient!

If I hadn't come here today, would the criminals and stolen property captured by Lihua Hall have been handed over by you?"

"Sir, we..." The few Jinyiwei guarding the door were also overwhelmed with shame.

Ashamed for their earlier cowardice.

Even more ashamed for their previous misunderstanding of Zhao Douan.

A surge of passion and warmth suddenly rose in their hearts.

Every time they were out of line at their original hall entrance, they were scolded by the Master and dissuaded by colleagues, never thinking they would meet a superior who was tolerant and supportive.

Although they were being scolded at the moment, these people had no resentment; instead, their eyes shone with the impulse of "if you treat me as a National Scholar, I shall repay you as one."

It was as if the harsher Zhao Douan scolded, the more excited and passionate they became.

"Sir, we realize our mistake! Please, punish us!" Shen Juan said loudly with a red face, standing up straight.

Zhao Douan snorted and said,

"Since you know your mistake, why haven't you corrected it? What should you do, do I need to command you?"

Shen Juan suddenly turned around, looked at the opposing group of Ministry of Justice officers who already appeared stunned, and let out a sinister smile,

"Thieves must be fought; think you can steal our stuff? Bah, you're not worthy! I've tolerated you for a long time!"

With that, he charged with his sword drawn.

The few Jinyiwei following him also howled, rushing forward like hungry tigers, pouncing on their adversaries.

They beat the group of Ministry of Justice officers, who were taken by surprise and already had sheathed their weapons, into running around holding their heads, howling nonstop.

"You... you dare..."

Master Hee, seething with anger and his chest heaving, pointed at Zhao Douan, his expression one of disbelief.

Shen Juan and the others kept their distance, leaving this main official for Zhao Douan to deal with, without intervening.

"What would Master Hee like to say?" Zhao Douan approached him with a smile.

Hee Zheng was but a civil official with no strength to fight, retreating in fear on the spot.

Yet the blue official robe gave him some confidence as he said emphatically but fearfully,

"You're defying the imperial decree, obstructing the Three Legal Departments from handling a case; not even Ma Yan can protect you!"

Zhao Douan feigned innocence,

"Master Hee seems to have misunderstood something. On what basis do you say that the rebels in this courtyard are related to the Iron Ruler Pass case? Do you have any evidence?

It's Lihua Hall that came here to arrest the rebels based on clues obtained many months ago, which is within the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court to apprehend rebels.

It has nothing to do with the case at Iron Ruler Pass, so on what grounds should it be handed over to you?

Your office is the place for judgment, and Master Hee must be someone who reasons."

The middle-aged civil official choked on his casuistry, unable to retaliate for a moment.

Zhao Douan had already walked up to him.

Raising his hand, he lightly patted the blue-robed official's face, producing a soft "pat" sound.

Not hard, but full of disdain:

"If you did not bring enough manpower, then don't try to strut about like others."

Hee Zheng's face turned ashen, and suddenly he said,

"Princess Yunyang was right; you really are a scoundrel. I've learned my lesson today; we'll see about that."

So saying, he turned and led the group of government officers, who had been beaten and were wailing for their parents, to flee like escaping.

Zhao Douan stood on the spot, silent for a long time, his eyebrows furrowed into a "川," muttering,

"Princess Yunyang... indeed, it's you again..."