The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"Yes!"

The servant responded and left.

Inside the carriage, the two men fell silent. Zhao Douan suddenly looked at the Imperial Censor sitting opposite him, thinking, "Is this really a coincidence?"

...

"Clang!"

Amidst the clinking of heavy chains, Yun Xi, under the blazing sun, strained to open her eyes to see her current situation.

On the bluestone street,

A prison cart rumbled along, flanked by government officers, and on both sides of the street, curious onlookers gathered and whispered amongst themselves.

Yun Xi stood inside the prison cart, her head and hands shackled.

The pitch-black, heavy shackles grew scorching hot under the sun, burning her neck and wrists red, with abrasions that were shocking to the eye.

Being slightly shorter, she had to stand on tiptoes, causing the already frail girl's legs to tremble continually from the days of captivity.

Under her disheveled hair, her pale face turned red from the sun. She looked dispirited, and her chest bore the word "Prisoner," wet with sweat and visibly staining the fabric.

"Corrupt official..."

Yun Xi's slightly blurred vision fixated on the front of the prison cart, where the Imperial Censor's distinctive green robe could be seen, her eyes filled with despair.

Since her last arrest and being dragged out by Zhao Douan for a night-time interrogation where she was coerced into giving up information, Yun Xi had been hoping for Zhao Douan's return.

Not with any other intentions, of course.

It was just that Zhao Gou's words before he left last time were too heart-wrenching,

"Zhuang Xiaocheng didn't tell you about the reinforcements; it seems that he didn't trust that you would voluntarily stay behind to cover their retreat."

These past days, confined in a dark solitary cell,

This heart-wrenching phrase from Zhao Douan repeatedly haunted her mind.

However, her resolve was firm, naturally not destroyed by mere words. Yun Xi quickly found just and righteous reasons for her teacher,

And hated herself for her lapse during that cruel moment when she didn't retort immediately but fell silent instead.

She was too weak!

Yun Xi even rehearsed repeatedly in her mind, preparing to dismantle Zhao thief's fallacies righteously and utterly should he interrogate her again.

But to her disappointment, after that, no one bothered with her again.

There were no imagined chili water, small whips, tiger benches, or riding wooden donkeys... She didn't suffer any serious torture at all.

Even the prison guards, who earlier leered at her body, became disciplined after Zhao Douan left that day.

Nor did any "Three Agencies Tribunal" or "Cai Market beheading" like she had imagined occur.

Yun Xi vaguely realized she seemed to have been forgotten, as if worthless, left to die in the dark prison.

This speculation left her both relieved and disappointed.

Relieved because she didn't have to endure cruel torture... She wasn't a masochist, after all, and while not easily frightened, she could still feel fear.

Disappointed because... this was vastly different from the grand death she had envisioned over the years.

Besides, other possibilities hadn't been ruled out.

For example:

Zhao thief, driven by lust, intentionally hid her in a dark cell, waiting for the storm to pass before secretly transferring her to some private house, continuing to imprison her.

Not giving her clothes, only food... Just like those disgusting pulp fictions described.

But it all changed that day.

That Imperial Censor named "Lv Liang" had her put in the prison cart and paraded through the city.

Yun Xi didn't know what her fate would hold, but she already sensed death approaching.

"Ha, beheading, or perhaps death by a thousand cuts?"

Yun Xi's eyes displayed a fierce resolve mixed with fear, yet she radiated a bold spirit.

She tried hard to open her mouth to shout loudly, to awaken the people blinded by the "wicked Fake Emperor," using her young life, her bright red blood, to ignite a flame.

But with her mouth gagged, she could only make "mmm mmm" noises, unable to even bite her own tongue to commit suicide.

On both sides of the prison cart, the onlookers showed neither outrage nor sympathy, only curiosity and pity.

"What a good girl, why did she rebel?"

"Who knows? Fortunately, Imperial Censor Lv captured her. He truly lives up to his reputation for being just; he's not only unbowed by the powerful and dares to speak up but also skilled at catching rebels."

"Bah, rebels are really hateful. Imperial Censor Lv is truly remarkable."

The citizens of the Capital commented.

Unlike Zhao Douan's notorious reputation among the people, Lv Liang was highly esteemed, all thanks to his decades of performing like a man of the people.

Officials often have no actual power, but Lv Liang had made a name for himself through his relentless accusations, tarnishing many political rivals over the years as a foremost follower of the Li Party.

This was how he earned the nicknames "Iron Mouth Lv" and "Lv Qingtian."

However, Zhuang Xiaocheng, one of the leaders of the Kuangfu Society, had pointed out in a conversation with Yun Xi that this man was deceiving the world and twisting his nature.

He clearly had access to some relevant intelligence.

Therefore, upon hearing the discussions of the common people around her, Yun Xi felt as though a bone-chilling cold water had drenched her to the core.

This was not the death she had imagined.

Sacrificing her own life to bolster the reputation of a crooked official…

Yun Xi struggled fiercely!

At that moment, for some reason, she found herself missing Zhao Douan.

At least…that lapdog of the Empress never hid the fact that he was truly a villain…well, if that could be considered a virtue.

Moreover, though she was reluctant to admit it, Yun Xi knew that the reason she had not suffered humiliation and torture in prison was indeed because of Zhao Douan's influence.

Compared to before, the once detestable Zhao thief suddenly seemed "gentle and friendly."

Unfortunately, she would never have the chance to see Zhao Douan again.

…

"Hehe, my lord, that female thief still wants to shout something."

Ahead, a government officer approached Lv Liang and mocked sycophantically.

About fifty years old, dressed in an indigo official robe and a black gauze cap, sporting a goatee, Lv Liang stood proud and righteous.

Enjoying the adoration of the common people, he laughed,

"A rebel Abandoned Child, being in the hands of the Zhaos is simply a waste; today I will teach them how to correctly use a rebel."

Lv Liang was very pleased.

Not just because of the ignorant people's praise, but also because he had snatched a person from Zhao Douan.

Since being scolded by the Empress last time, he had been at odds with Zhao Douan. Although the Prime Minister had not punished him for his inefficiency, the grand failure of his impeachment was undoubtedly a humiliation for him.

Therefore, upon learning that Zhao Douan had been assigned by the Empress to arrest Zhuang Xiaocheng and would still be punished if he failed, and that the female rebel detained in the government office was an important clue in his hands.

Lv Liang had other ideas.

He had acquired an order from the Ministry of Justice to interrogate prisoners through his family connections.

His goals were threefold: first, to take over the case potentially extracting valuable information from the female thief to establish his merit.

Second, to ingratiate himself with the Prime Minister and to recover his demoted status within the "Li Party."

Third, to vent his resentment.

As for whether this would offend Zhao Douan… given that he had already offended him during the impeachment, and that Lv Liang, both personally and backed by powerful supports, was far superior to the Zhang brothers.

Offending an already enemy fool to gain fame and the appreciation of the Prime Minister… hardly seemed like a choice.

Of course.

Had he known that the Zhang brothers, who had previously incurred Zhao Douan's misfortune, had involved their entire family and had been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison just last night.

He might not have thought the same way.

Just as Lv Liang was basking in his arrogance, Yun Xi's heart in the prisoner cart began sinking deep into the abyss.

Suddenly, a servant in Green Robe blocked his way through the crowd:

"Imperial Censor Lv, my master wishes to see you."

"Who dares to block the way…"

A government officer escorting the prisoner was about to show off, but then he saw the awe-inspiring Imperial Censor Lu immediately showing a respectful demeanor:

"Is Mr. Yuan nearby?"

He immediately ordered the prisoner cart to stop, and followed the servant to the roadside not far away, beside a luxurious four-horse carriage, separated by the household servants.

Lv Liang bowed deeply: "I am Lv Liang, paying respects to Mr. Yuan."

Though the personnel in various government offices belong to complex and intertwined groups, within the same office, different officials might be backed by different interest groups.

But that did not mean Lv Liang dared to offend his direct superior.

…

Inside the carriage.

Zhao Douan listened to the voice of the Iron Mouth Imperial Censor, who had also been his ardent enemy trying to bring him down previously, now humbled to nearly dust, and his expression subtly changed.

Yuann Li had already calmly begun asking about the situation, Lv Liang dared not and could not hide, simply stating it was an order from the Ministry of Justice and it was in accordance with the rules.

However, the Big Qingyi inside the carriage only lightly asked,

"Oh? Since when does an Imperial Censor from the Imperial Court of Supervision have to follow orders from the Ministry of Justice?"

Outside the carriage.

Despite the scorching sun overhead, Lv Liang's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat, as if he stood on the brink of an abyss.