The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 165 - 145. Zhao Douan is imprisoned! The strategist enters the trap willingly.

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Afternoon, at the back yard of White Horse Hall, in a quiet little courtyard.

Zhao Douan and Supervisor Sun Lianying sat at a stone table playing chess, with a jug of fragrant osmanthus wine placed on a table beside them.

Wearing a loose robe, with graying temples and sunken eyes, the Old Director, who held the white pieces, listened to Zhao Douan’s account, then placed a piece and said,

"So, Zhou Cheng found Wang Shan through Qin Qiu, attempting to use that concubine to frame you, seeking to make you lose favor, thereby targeting you. And you chose to publicly snatch Wang Shan away?"

Zhao Douan, dressed in everyday clothes and appearing calm, drank half a bowl of osmanthus wine and nodded, saying,

"Actually, I initially planned to arrest him as well. After all, he was the key man in the Xue Lin case thirteen years ago. To bring down Zhou Cheng, I need Wang Shan’s testimony. I just went with the flow and acted ahead."

Just now, Zhao Douan brought wine and meat to visit the Old Director.

During their game, he recounted everything he had done in the past few days.

Sun Lianying furrowed her brows and said,

"Wouldn’t this alarm the snake?"

Zhao Douan picked up a black piece and said,

"Originally, arresting Wang Shan rashly would certainly alert Zhou Cheng. But after today’s commotion, it may no longer do so."

"Oh?"

Zhao Douan’s eyes gleamed with shrewdness:

"Today, when I went to arrest someone, I made an insinuation in front of Zhou Cheng.

Letting him think the reason I came to get Wang Shan was because, due to Qin Qiu’s disappearance, I worried Zhou Cheng would use Wang Shan to frame me, forcing me to act urgently and passively respond.

I even deliberately threatened with force in front of him, further deepening his perception...

Once he believes I arrested Wang Shan to protect myself, he won’t think I am investigating the Xue Lin case...

In this way, I can instead buy time for Haitang and Zhang Han.

Ha, I was initially worrying about how to possibly delay Zhou Cheng’s vigilance and gain more time for gathering evidence.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Cheng was also secretly seeking my flaws, so I went with the tide and set up this trap."

Sun Lianying listened carefully, her gaze toward him becoming somewhat peculiar:

"How come we never saw before, you brat, that you have such a devious mind?"

Zhao Douan took it as a compliment, smiling brightly as he placed another piece.

Sun Lianying pondered for a moment, then said,

"So, are you really confident you can overturn the case?

Wang Shan certainly won’t voluntarily confess. Even if you torture him to force a confession, it won’t be meaningful. Once the old case is reopened, as long as Zhou Cheng has some room to fight back, Wang Shan can change his testimony at any time."

Zhao Douan said,

"That’s why the two critical pieces of evidence Haitang and Zhang Han are fetching are important. Securing time for them as much as possible is important."

Sun Lianying glanced at him:

"And during this period? Zhou Cheng won’t let it go easily. Although you’ve taken Wang Shan, since they’ve already met, it’s likely they’ve reached an agreement. Even if Wang Shan is in your hands, with Zhou Cheng’s methods, we can still make a big deal out of it.

As long as it’s confirmed this matter can be capitalized on, slander against you can be achieved.

Wang Shan must also hope Zhou Cheng will get him out. By arresting him, you might instead solidify their alliance."

Pausing, the Old Director said with an odd expression:

"Though Zhou Cheng’s idea of using a concubine to make you lose favor was wrong from the start."

Being an eunuch who serves the Third Imperial Princess, Sun Lianying was aware that Zhao Douan was merely a "fake" gigolo.

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She also knew the Empress "favored" Zhao Douan entirely because of his competence, not his bed prowess.

"But Zhou Cheng doesn’t know," Zhao Douan said with a smile,

"The people in the world don’t know either. They will subconsciously think that as long as I lose favor, they can easily crush me.

That’s why they rack their brains to find evidence to damage the ’relationship’ between me and Your Majesty.

And the more aggressive I act, the harsher and more urgent my methods of snatching people, the more Zhou Cheng will believe this theory."

It was a very simple setup, employing an information gap, coupled with psychological warfare.

Zhao Douan’s actions today in capturing people would convince Zhou Cheng he was right to use a concubine to trap him, thereby ignoring the hidden dangers surfacing in the dark.

If the "Xue Lin Case" was the deadly blow Zhao Douan intended to strike Zhou Cheng with from the shadows,

then the "Concubine Case" was the cloak he actively used to attract enemy attention, thus shielding the hidden strike.

A strategist entering the fray.

"Secretly transporting while openly building."

He could guess that Zhou Cheng must have already taken action, starting to arrange a storm against him.

What Zhao Douan needed to do was to pretend to be trapped.

Buy time and wait for the return of his two colleagues.

Sun Lianying rubbed the chess piece, pondering the plan repeatedly, saying,

"As you said, it indeed seems likely Zhou Cheng might be deceived by you. But regarding the matter of the concubine of the Wang family, are you truly not going to explain?

Bear the calumny upon yourself? Or rely on Wang Shan to exonerate you?

I must remind you, Zhou Cheng is definitely not just seeking to tarnish your ’reputation’ lightly. Once he strikes, it will surely be a fatal blow."

Zhao Douan said with a smile,

"Despite my reputation, I do not care about a bit of slander. But what I haven’t done, I haven’t done. I’ve always kept my chastity for Your Majesty."

He paused, reaching into his bosom to take out a palm-sized scroll and a folded paper, gently handing them over:

"So, I came here today to ask you, Sir, to bear witness and discreetly present these two items to Your Majesty.

Ha, I’m under too much scrutiny now; for the integrity of the plan, I’d better not enter the palace."

I knew it wasn’t just for drinking... The Old Director curiously accepted it, but didn’t unroll it, instead inquiring,

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Zhao Douan smiled slightly, saying, "Ask Her Majesty to play a scene."

...

...

That day, a rumor about a possible conflict at the Hele Building between the new favorite Zhao Douan and Zhou Cheng from the Ministry of Justice spread like wildfire.

Unfortunately, few witnessed the scene, and those who did were silenced by Zhou Cheng, leaving the circulated versions vague.

Many onlookers hoping for drama were greatly disappointed.

It was only known that Wang Shan, formerly adopted son of Mr. Wang, was arrested by Zhao Douan, and people began to speculate on the reason.

The next day.

Around noon, someone, dressed in white mourning clothes, arrived at the gates of the Ministry of Justice, ringing the Innocence Drum.

Drum beats resonated, as Hee Zheng, the Ministry of Justice official, personally received the complainant.

The accuser claimed to be the uncle and aunt of a concubine from the Wang family, accusing Zhao Douan of defiling and killing their niece last year.

With considerable evidence and because it involved a murder and a court official, Zhou Cheng from the Ministry of Justice personally oversaw the examination.

It was said that during the trial, Mr. Zhou slammed the table in anger upon hearing of Zhao Douan’s crimes and promised no criminal would escape justice, vowing to provide an explanation for the deceased woman.

A case was immediately opened, and rapid investigations commenced.

The Wang family and the attendees at the banquet that day were all summoned.

Qin Qiu, who was jailed, was also paraded, reasonably returned to confinement.

Afterwards, Zhou Cheng drafted a letter, under the pretext of a major case, submitted it to Lord Ma Yan of the Imperial Court, requesting to transfer Wang Shan to the Ministry of Justice.

Ma Yan politely refused using delay tactics.

On the third day.

The event underwent another groundbreaking development.

During the morning court, Zhou Cheng reported on the case, accusing Zhao Douan of defilement and murder, requesting his arrest and investigation to uphold the law.

Especially highlighting the various perverse methods Zhao Douan allegedly subjected the concubine to, claiming that when she was sent from the Wang family, her body was covered with scars from abuse.

Several officials from the Li Party jumped out, arguing fervently, cursing the Zhao thief, demanding severe punishment.

Ma Yan questioned the credibility based on one side of the story and the hostility between the Ministry of Justice and Zhao Douan.

The Empress ultimately decreed to temporarily imprison Zhao Douan in the "Tai Prison" of the capital’s Imperial Court of Supervision.

The investigation into the death of the Wang family concubine was to be jointly conducted by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice, and Imperial Court of Supervision, known as the "Three Agencies Trial," with an order to uncover the truth.

After court was adjourned that day, Zhou Cheng’s face showed joy, Ma Yan remained expressionless.

Yuann Li and Li Yanfu concealed their emotions, staying out of the matter.

The news left all officials astir.

...

At noon.

In Lihua Hall.

Zhao Douan early that morning had brought a chair, sitting in the courtyard under the shade of the pear tree, gazing at the dense cluster of pears on the tree.

By his estimations, in a few days, they would be fully ripe.

Then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.

The Jinyi government officers of Lihua Hall rushed in, with Qian Kerou looking flustered:

"Sir, something’s wrong; people from the Imperial Court are outside the office, coming to arrest you for imprisonment!"

The usually lazy Shen Juan appeared anxious:

"Sir, it must be that old thief Zhou Cheng deliberately framing us for revenge, what should we do?"

Hou Renmeng’s face was filled with anger, his coarse eyebrows raised:

"Who dares to take people from Lihua Hall… I…"

Old Zheng rebuked angrily:

"At this critical moment, do you want to cause trouble for the Lord? It’s an imperial order; the Three Agencies Trial! Resisting is what Zhou Cheng hopes for!"

Qian Kerou pleaded anxiously, "Sir, say something, please."

Under the pear tree’s shade, Zhao Douan sat in a wicker chair, a book rested on his lap, yet remained calm as if an outsider:

"I have a clear conscience. Her Majesty is momentarily deceived by a villain, and once the truth is cleared, I will naturally be released."

Qian Kerou was desperate, "The Ministry of Justice is the main trial, how could…"

At that moment, footsteps finally approached.

A group of officers, led by an Imperial Censor, entered.

It was actually an acquaintance, the young Imperial Censor responsible for leading the way to Yuann Li when Zhao Douan sought him that day.

He glanced at Zhao Douan with a complicated expression, formally stating:

"By order of Your Majesty, you are now detained and to be taken to Tai Prison to await investigation. Supervisor Zhao, please proceed."

Zhao Douan reluctantly withdrew his gaze, stood up, shook the "Great Yu Law" book on his lap, and asked,

"Can I bring this?"

The Imperial Censor hesitated for a moment, checked it, and seeing it was just an ordinary book, nodded,

"You may."

"Thank you," Zhao Douan untied his sword, including the Golden Crow Flying Dagger, placed it into a storage Magic Artifact, and handed it to Qian Kerou to keep:

"While I’m not here these few days, don’t cause trouble, all of you mind yourselves, and wait for my return. Otherwise, if trouble arises, no one will stick up for you."

The large group of Jinyi of Lihua Hall gathered in the hall at this moment, inevitably moved, many with slightly reddened eyes.

A trial by the Three Agencies, what a scene!

They had a premonition that this endearing master might not be coming back.

...

That evening, the news of Zhao Douan’s imprisonment in Tai Prison spread throughout the capital, causing an uproar across the city.

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