The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 357 - 305, by order of the imperial envoy, apprehend the criminal immediately.

"What do you mean?"

Xu Junling froze for a moment, her lovely face gradually taking on a serious expression.

Well, this is difficult to explain to you, since it stems from an Earthly reference... Zhao Douan replied leisurely, his lips curled into a smile.

Apparently indifferent to the noisy clamor of the common folk pleading outside the tall grey walls of the posthouse.

He calmly said, "It was just a fragment of a poem I happened upon."

Could you be any more fake... Xu Junling's anger flared for no particular reason.

She took two steps forward to sit in front of him, her expression stern:

"Mr. Zhao, what are you really thinking? Or do you think the noises outside are negligible? I'm kindly reminding you as the Commandery Princess, the situation is becoming very unsuitable."

"Oh?"

Zhao Douan, dressed in loose regular clothes, sat leisurely in a bamboo-woven chair, like a carefree young master on a vacation.

He put down the 'Taicang Geographical Records' he was holding, crossed his hands, and asked with a smile:

"What guidance does the Commandery Princess have?"

Xu Junling, with a stern face, said:

"That day when you made the arrest, I told you that the suspension could not last forever.

Now, as I predicted, not to mention the rampant rumors and slander about you, public opinion has turned decidedly unfavorable.

How many already view you, the imperial envoy, as an enemy? Do you think these people pleading outside have come of their own accord?"

She answered her own question:

"Since ancient times, commoners have feared officials; unless someone was instigating them in the shadows, how could this be?"

I know... Zhao Douan 'Oh'ed lightly, making light of it:

"And then? Do you think it was arranged by Gao, Liu, and Sun? Inciting a crowd to pressure me, thinking this would be effective?"

Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Xu Junling let out a sigh:

"Mr. Zhao, I know you've established merits repeatedly in the capital and are quite capable, but you must realize that being an official in the capital is different from being an imperial envoy outside.

True, mere hundreds of civilians pose no threat with your control over the military and your own cultivation ensuring your safety.

But this is a dangerous signal. Once the pleading crowd enlarges and chaos ensues, by the time you return to the capital, Imperial City will be flooded with accusations!

Do you not understand? You think local officials can't counteract an imperial envoy?

Throughout the dynasties, what imperial envoys fear most isn't danger to their life but failure in their missions.

If you let the public opinion within the city spread wildly, even if you could clear the cases and capture the corrupt officials to bring back to the capital, the council could still accuse you of causing turmoil!

One incitement of civil unrest is enough to trouble you greatly!

Or do you actually believe, relying on your sister's favor, that you no longer fear impeachment?"

She spoke in rapid succession, her eyes full of frustration.

Zhao Douan listened with an odd expression and handed her an apricot, smiling:

"Commandery Princess, cool down. By the way, are you so concerned about the safety of this imperial envoy? I thought Prince Huaian would prefer for us to stir up trouble here."

This unexpected remark was somewhat condemning.

Xu Junling instantly became alert and instinctively retorted:

"The Commandery Princess is wholeheartedly loyal to the Imperial Sister. How can Mr. Zhao make such baseless accusations?"

It's not like, with your wavering loyalty like a wallflower, you need me to discredit you...

Zhao Douan criticized inwardly, speaking slowly:

"I see, it's the deep affection of sisters. I thought perhaps the Commandery Princess was deliberately provoking me, wanting me to deploy troops to suppress the disorderly.

Well, the citizens are merely making reasonable petitions, how could I rashly deploy soldiers?

I still possess the magnanimity not to blurt 'suppression'; it's too easy to give rebels an excuse."

"..."

Xu Junling hit a soft spot, huffed, turned aside with a cold expression:

"I was merely kindly cautioning. At any rate, local officials have already taken action. If you continue to delay, the consequences may be unpredictable.

Let me guess, the evidence left by Mr. Song is still insufficient, which is why you are buying time to dig deeper...

Unfortunately, they clearly aren't prepared to give you enough time... alas, just think about it; two key figures have disappeared, would the big tiger you aim to catch leave obvious clues?

Unless you can find Taicang County Magistrate Wang Chusheng...

Otherwise, since Gao Lian and the others have already started manipulating public opinion to counteract you, I fear their next move targeting you is imminent."

After dropping these words, Xu Junling, puffing with irritation, stood up and turned to leave.

"Make it count in one stroke."

Suddenly, Zhao Douan's voice came from behind:

"Commandery Princess, remember to join the crab feast this afternoon."

Yesterday, Zhao Douan had noted that Taicang Prefecture's golden chrysanthemums were exquisite and had heard of a local tradition in the city during autumn days to host a feast with autumn crabs.

As an imperial envoy, he wanted to take the opportunity to meet with the gentry and officials of the prefecture.

Thus, he ordered a crab feast to be set up, inviting the local gentry and officials to gather together, aiming to ease the tense atmosphere in the city and dispel rumors.

The feast venue was a gentry's residence within the city, known for its large cultivation of splendid autumn chrysanthemums, called "Chrysanthemum Platform."

"I know."

Xu Junling left without looking back.

Thinking to herself, the Commandery Princess wanted to see what tricks you were up to, definitely not just craving for some crabs.

...

...

At noon.

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The pleading crowd dispersed, and the skies above the city seemed to sense the coming storm, gathering thick clouds and a piercing autumn wind.

In the afternoon, Zhao Douan commanded two hundred cavalry to stay behind while he, accompanied by the Commandery Princess, Imperial Censor Chen Hong, and other members of the imperial envoy team, reached "Chrysanthemum Platform."

Inside Taicang Prefecture, almost all the influential gentry had arrived.

Outside, horse-drawn carriages filled and blocked the entire street.

Mr. Gao, Mr. Liu, and Mr. Sun, suspended from their positions, had already arrived earlier.

Inside the large residence adorned with splendid autumn chrysanthemums, artificial hills and streams, and pavilions and towers scattered throughout, numerous tables were set up.

Atop them were plates of tied crabs and jars of yellow wine.

Many guests had arrived, all dressed in splendid attire.

However, the atmosphere of this celebratory crab and chrysanthemum banquet was somewhat oppressive and serious.

"The imperial envoy has arrived!"

Following the shouts of the attendants, all the guests at the Chrysanthemum Platform stood up.

Today, Mr. Song, who called himself a disciple of "Mr. Zhengyang," also attended. Seeing Zhao Duan and his group arrive, he hurriedly paid his respects.

Zhao Duan smiled and nodded, signaling him to remain calm.

Passing through the guests on both sides, they reached the main banquet hall.

At the entrance, a group of officials were already lined up waiting.

"Mr. Zhao, Commandery Princess, Imperial Censor Chen... The banquet is prepared, and awaits you all."

Mr. Gao stood in the middle, speaking jovially.

This governor, elegant and dignified, was still dressed in his official robe, though he wasn't wearing his hat. His black and white hair was neatly groomed and secured with a dark wooden pin.

Beside him,

Mr. Liu the Inspector, looking significantly more fatigued and aged after a few days, and the gaunt Mr. Sun stood by his side.

After Mr. Gao had spoken, the other officials paid their respects.

Their uniform and disciplined reaction carried a distinctive bureaucratic air.

"Ha ha, thank you all for waiting. Please, take a seat, let's sit and talk."

Zhao Duan seemed to be in good spirits, with a cheerful smile as he took his place at the center of the room.

Yet as they walked past, one could clearly sense the almost unabashed hostile glances from the officials on both sides.

This gaze made Xu Junling, dressed in splendid and elegant attire, feel uncomfortable.

It was as if the banquet hall was a dragon's pond and tiger's den, with the officials ready to tear them to shreds.

The Commandery Princess intuitively sensed that these people were planning something.

She turned her head to look at Zhao Duan, but saw his handsome face relaxed and natural.

As if he were merely strolling in a tranquil courtyard, nothing more.

...

Inn.

With the imperial envoy's party attending the banquet, only Yuan Xingjun and a group of elite soldiers from Linfeng were left behind.

The horses were fed in a dedicated yard, while, aside from the soldiers on duty, the others were ordered to rest without removing their armor in two separate courtyards.

Ready to depart at any moment.

"General!"

The soldiers resting in the large courtyard of the inn suddenly saw Yuan Xingjun enter and quickly stood up, instinctively forming ranks:

"General, do you have any orders?"

Draped in black scale armor and carrying a straight military sword at his waist, the Deputy General of Linfeng, reserved and asking few questions, glanced coldly over his subordinates' faces and said:

"By command of the imperial envoy... split up... and set out immediately... to capture the criminal!"

Shortly afterward,

The clerks in the inn were astonished to see nearly two hundred cavalry break into smaller groups, with teams of five charging out of the inn like a torrent, heading in different directions towards the city.

"Clatter clatter clatter..."

The iron cavalry thundered like rolling thunder, shaking the dark clouds above the city walls as if they were about to bring a storm.

"Whinny..."

Yuan Xingjun rode on the most majestic of those extraordinary horses, pulling on the reins with his left hand and clutching the tall flagpole with his right, his presence imposing as he headed towards the city gates.

Among the shocked gazes of countless citizens, only the "Linfeng" banner fluttered in the autumn wind.

And in unnoticed dark corners.

On street corners and alleys, members of the Imperial City Shadow Guard, indistinguishable from common hawkers or laborers, quietly rose from various corners of the city.

Each dispersed, merging into the separate units of cavalry to lead the way.

"To achieve complete success in one stroke."

Yuan Xingjun, bearing the flag and galloping on his horse, looked towards the approaching city gate, mulling over this phrase spoken by Mr. Zhao, his eyes slightly shining.

...

...

Chrysanthemum Platform.

The crab banquet was officially underway.

The perfectly steamed crabs, accompanied by unique local dipping sauces and the locally brewed fragrant yellow wine, indeed offered a taste quite unlike that from the capital.

Zhao Duan and the city officials, local gentry, and wealthy families, were all in good spirits, unexpectedly creating a harmonious atmosphere.

In recent days, due to the demonization by public opinion, Yama Zhao had become a terrifying figure in the eyes of many gentry and lower-level officials.

However, meeting him in person revealed a discrepancy from the rumors.

This "Yama Zhao" turned out to be unexpectedly "approachable," nothing like the aloof and tyrannical figure portrayed in the rumors.

As the saying goes, seeing is believing, and Zhao Duan had significantly alleviated the innate fear of the serious gentry with just one appearance.

Seeing this, several significant figures in the Linfeng bureaucracy became somewhat restless.

"Mr. Zhao,"

Governor Gao picked up a silk cloth, wiped his hands clean, and with sharp, clear eyes, turned to the person seated in the main seat, seriously asking:

"May I be so bold as to inquire about the progress of the investigation these past few days?"

Zhao Duan looked up.

The banquet hall also instantly quieted down.

"Governor Gao, do you have any advice?"