The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 269 - 237, "Fabricated Charges" and the Era of Obsolete Firearms (Two in One)

With those words thrown out, the barracks fell silent.

A group of young military officers seemed not to have heard clearly or dared not believe.

Dismissed from their posts… expelled from the Capital Camp… all of them?

The crowd encircled Tang Ping, whose face froze as he said, "What did you say?"

"Didn’t hear clearly?" At the doorway, the armor-clad and sword-bearing leader of the Military Law Department glanced at him, seemingly not recognizing his identity, and repeated himself.

That’s right.

All dismissed from their posts, effective immediately, right now.

Boom.

Inside the room, the military officers felt as though thunder had struck them, stunned by the sudden calamity, and several immediately raised their voices in a challenge:

"On what grounds?"

The leader of the Military Law Department glanced at them and said,

"We are simply following orders, do not delay us, please."

His words seemed to bear the word "please," yet they were utterly devoid of feeling.

However, the officers hadn’t recovered yet, their minds fixated on that scene on the drill ground from the morning.

But... how could this be?

Not to mention their actions hadn’t violated any military laws; even were they accused of contempt toward their superiors, it couldn’t warrant a blanket dismissal.

Moreover.

Not just them, even the "Young Master" himself was not spared.

Who would dare over such a trivial matter to dismiss the future Duke’s official position?

"I want to see Commander Shi," Tang Ping declared, his expression grim. Without raising a fuss, he stepped forward and said.

However, the leader of the Military Law Department turned a deaf ear, not even glancing at him as if too tired to waste words, he waved his hand and ordered,

"Expel this group from the camp!"

"Yes!"

Behind him, a group of soldiers, long notorious for their ruthlessness, burst into the room.

"Wait!"

"We want to see the Commander!"

The group of young officers instinctively tried to resist but were sternly stopped by Tang Ping’s commanding tone:

"Do you want to defy the law? Listen to them!"

The Young Master, well versed in military law, knew that no matter the reason, if they raised a hand against the Military Law Department, even with his status, he couldn’t protect these people.

Only then did everyone become alert, clenching their teeth with reluctance as they were stripped of their official robes and had their waist cards taken away.

Not even allowed time to pack their belongings, they were escorted out of Divine Mechanism Camp on the spot by the soldiers of the Military Law Department.

Meanwhile, the commotion also attracted the attention of many in the camp, though they were clueless about the reasons.

Out of reverence for the Military Law Department, they merely looked on from a distance.

However, as the group of officers were being driven to the gate, Tang Ping’s martial artist’s instincts made him pause, turning back to follow the targeted gaze from behind.

He saw, at the doorway of the Commander’s barracks in the distance, three figures standing leisurely.

The leader was Zhao Douan, wearing a smile, followed by Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou.

At that moment, from afar, Tang Ping saw clearly as Zhao Douan waved at him, as if bidding farewell.

The smile at the corner of his mouth seemed mocking.

It was really him!

Tang Ping’s face turned an iron shade, a surge of blood rushing up his spine to his scalp, eyes bloodshot, and hands clenched in anger.

"What are you looking at!"

A hand forcefully shoved him, pushing him out the gate now that he had lost his official status.

Tang Ping ultimately said nothing and strode away with head high, leaving only the words,

"Let’s go!"

He had lost his position but remained the son of a Duke; it was time to go home and demand some answers!

At the doorway.

As the group disappeared, Zhao Douan lowered his hand, and the smile on his face faded.

"Sir, they surely won’t take this lying down... And with such a commotion, aren’t you worried what the other officers will think?" Qian Kerou couldn’t help but ask softly.

Hou Renmeng also looked over.

Even with his boldness, he was shocked by his lord’s audacity and couldn’t understand how it was possible.

"Little Rou," Zhao Douan said, gazing at the distant autumn sky, his voice gentle,

"How long have you been with me? When have I ever cared what these insignificant people think? Alright, I am going back for a little rest. If someone comes looking, stop them for me."

With that, he stretched and went straight back to his room.

Only the two subordinates were left looking at each other, thinking that there would probably be an uproar outside soon, yet their lord still had the mood to sleep.

...

...

Before long.

"What did you say?!" in the Commander of Divine Mechanism Camp’s chambers.

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As expected, Shi Meng learned of the significant event and his expression turned extremely grim:

"You’re saying the people from the Military Law Department bypassed everyone and stripped the Young Master and the others of their official robes, and drove them out? Who gave them the audacity?!"

The reporting officer, sweating bullets, presented an official letter stamped with the seals of the Ministry of War and the Empress:

"This was left behind by the people from the Military Law Department."

Shi Meng snatched it, scanning the document, his expression slowly turning to one of horror.

How could he not guess? Was this the Empress’s intent?

But... why?

Then thinking about those dismissed, exactly those whom Zhao Douan had demanded, the "list" of people who had not given him face...

This burly, dark-skinned warrior felt tiny beads of sweat drip slowly from his temples, finding it utterly incomprehensible.

Was it just because they hadn’t given face to the Zhao family, a dozen military officers were dismissed?

"Sir, the news has already spread, and it’s likely to cause trouble," the reporting officer reminded.

Gripping the letter, Shi Meng strode out of his chamber, resolute and determined, to seek Zhao Douan.

But as expected, he was stopped by the duo from Lihua Hall.

Shi Meng didn’t force his way through; he turned and rode his horse straight to the city—this involved the Empress, and it was no longer something he could handle alone.

...

In a short time, within the Privy Council.

Xue Shence listened to Shi Meng’s report, and the number one military officer of the Great Yu Dynasty openly handling military power was stunned for quite a few moments.

Then, staring at the official letter that had passed through no hands in the Privy Council and looking at the red seal.