The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 365 - 310, Empress: I heard you have gotten quite close to the Commandery Princess

Inside the Imperial Garden.

Xu Zhenguan turned her head to listen to the Little Forbidden Army's report. Despite having anticipated it, actually hearing the answer still caused her to become slightly distracted.

Hmm, roughly calculating, just in these past few months, how much had been accomplished for her own sake?

Each and every task was completed exceptionally well.

Initially, she had some trepidation about appointing Zhao Douan as an imperial envoy.

The Capital and the areas outside, while both under the rule of the Great Yu Dynasty, were starkly different worlds.

In the Capital, under her very own watch, the power Zhao Douan could rely on, the resources he could utilize, and the maneuvers he could employ all far exceeded what he could do as a mere "dragon crossing the river" in other areas.

Even though he had been granted authority to command the local soldiers and coordinate with the Shadow Guard, he faced complex local circumstances. That he could return victorious so swiftly was still a surprising matter.

"Mr. Zhao, you've worked hard," the Empress said softly as she gazed deeply at him for a moment.

"To share Your Majesty's worries, what hardship do I have?" Zhao Douan reverted to his obsequious demeanor, his voice full of fervor.

A familiar posture, a familiar tone.

Indeed, similar phrases would be spoken by many officials in the court.

But the same words, coming from him, sounded particularly pleasant to the ears.

Xu Zhenguan's lips curled up slightly in satisfaction, enjoying the fawning, and she nodded her head.

She carelessly tossed the towel on the tray, then picked up a cup of water to drink. She waved her hand to have the palace maid take away the dish and withdraw from the conversation between the two.

"Let's walk. You can tell me about your experiences on this journey."

Xu Zhenguan's lips parted lightly, her skirt swaying as she started to walk deeper into the garden.

Ah this... Aren't you going to offer me a drink? I coughed too... I don't mind sharing Your Majesty's saliva... I don't find you dirty... Zhao Douan watched regretfully as the tray was taken away, then turned his head to follow.

The solitary Imperial Garden was filled with chrysanthemums but lacked the brilliance of those in Taicang.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, after I arrived in Taicang..."

Zhao Douan followed the Empress by half a step as he walked and narrated the details of his journey.

He told the story in great detail, from posing as a "false imperial envoy" to attract the local officials' attention, to secretly investigating the Song family estate and obtaining evidence of their crimes.

Then to the county government, where he interrogated Governor Sun and obtained his pledge of loyalty, and later sent the Shadow Guard to locate Wang Chusheng and made a decisive move during the crab banquet.

He recounted the story without omitting any details.

Xu Zhenguan listened quietly without interrupting until the end when her beautiful brows knitted together as expected:

"Gao Lian... So it was indeed him..."

Zhao Douan carefully glanced at her: "Did Your Majesty guess all along?"

Xu Zhenguan shook her head and then nodded, her voice cold:

"Daring to meddle in the silver mine, and only being exposed after many years, I would never believe that this is something a mere County Magistrate could achieve.

That Wang Chusheng was originally promoted by Gao Lian made me suspect, but I never confirmed whether this man truly had this much audacity. Not only embezzling official silver but also committing heinous crimes! Where is he now?"

Zhao Douan truthfully reported:

"He has been taken to the Imperial Court for detention, awaiting punishment. Because I was in a hurry to return to the Capital, I only brought back him and Wang Chusheng. The rest of the accomplices are being watched by Sun Xiaozhun."

Xu Zhenguan nodded, sighing with self-mockery:

"Peace has just been restored in the Capital, and now it's the turn of a high-ranking official from the local areas to fall. Governor... governor... how many do we actually have in total in Great Yu?"

Although she appeared composed on the surface, Zhao Douan keenly heard a mixture of the Empress's disappointment and regret from her self-mockery.

Each senior official was a pillar supporting the dynasty. From the Empress's perspective, though there's a saying "An Emperor's officials change with his reign," at least for now, during the first few years of her enthronement and continual internal turmoil of the dynasty, she still mainly sought to win over and appoint ministers left over from the Old Emperor's era.

Gao Lian was one such minister.

However, some conflicts are destined not to be overlooked.

Zhao Douan believed that if this case hadn't involved the "Taicang Silver Mine" or the critical aspect of advancing "new policies," the Empress might not have taken action even knowing there was a problem with Gao Lian.

Perhaps she would have just sent an ordinary Imperial Censor to go through the motions, capturing a few scapegoats.

Alas, Gao Lian stood in the way of the new policies.

Or to say, at this moment, the court needed to make an example of a high-ranking local official to serve as a warning to all other officials and show the upper echelons' determination.

And sending him personally, this in itself represented a resolve to conduct a thorough investigation, no matter how big a deficit it uncovered.

"Enough. Besides this, is there anything else you need to report?"

Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath and then let it out, regaining her composure.

After so many incidents, her emotional control had significantly improved.

"Oh, there actually are a few things," Zhao Douan earnestly said:

"The Mr. Song who sent the report letter is still missing. According to Wang Chusheng, he disappeared before they took action, and it's suspected that he has gone into hiding. But something about it just doesn't feel right to me."

"Oh?" Xu Zhenguan curiously asked, "Where does it not feel right?"

"I can't put my finger on it," Zhao Douan hesitated, searching for the right words:

"I actually have no evidence, just an instinct that it's not as simple as him just having vanished. Even the evidence he left behind – I've reviewed it several times on my journey back to the Capital, and it feels too... perfect."

"Perfect?"

"Yes, just too perfect. Apart from not directly implicating Gao Lian and other higher-ups, the investigation and data on Wang Chusheng and related individuals are so detailed that hardly any further investigation is needed; simply capturing the suspects easily verifies the evidence...

Your Majesty, I just feel that for a mining supervisor to accomplish all this, unnoticed and unheard, is truly a bit too incredible..."

"Continue," she commanded.

"The situation is unclear, my lord. The person has disappeared, and conjecture is difficult to prove.

In any case, I have instructed Sun Xiaozhun and the local Shadow Guards to continue the investigation in both overt and covert manners. If they are indeed hiding him, now that Gao Lian has been apprehended, Mr. Song should appear as well," Zhao Douan said.

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Xu Zhenguan pondered for a moment and then nodded:

"Let's put that matter aside for now. I, too, will deploy more Shadow Guards to pursue the lead."

Zhao Douan nodded and said:

"The second item, my lord, is that I was ambushed by the Magic God Sect on my way back to the Capital..."

He recounted his half-finished ambush, and testing the waters, he asked:

"Your Majesty, the thief withdrew mysteriously as if driven off by a formidable enemy. Do you happen to know why?"

Hmm... Xu Zhenguan glared at him, feeling inexplicably guilty, and said sternly:

"How would I know? Perhaps there is also a division within the ranks of the thieves."

Yes, she certainly wasn't going to say that it was because the Shadow Guard had detected the movements of the Magic God Sect and that there was a strong person heading for Taicang, which caused her to urgently dispatch Eunuch Hai there.

That would make the young man overly confident in the future and seem as if she, the Emperor, cared about him too much...

"Is that so..." Zhao Douan said doubtfully:

"I thought that Your Majesty had dispatched a master to protect me in secret. It seems I was overthinking."

The Empress:"..."

Zhao Douan then said, "However, why did the Magic God Sect ambush me? That's even more crucial."

Xu Zhenguan gave him a glance and said, "Do you suspect Prince Jing?"

Zhao Douan remained silent, which was as good as an acknowledgment.

According to his knowledge, the Magic God Sect had some connections with the Heavenly Master Mansion as it was founded by a defected priest from the previous generation.

But their relationship with the court wasn't exactly antagonistic.

The most likely explanation for such a brazen attack on the group was Prince Jing Mansion.

After all, they already had an old grudge... Zhao Douan had arrested spies from Prince Jing Mansion in the Capital twice and uncovered a mole in the Privy Council. It was a mix of new hatreds and old grievances...

"I understand, and I will start an investigation. You don't need to worry about it," Xu Zhenguan declared with the tone of a domineering female CEO.

Hmm, she planned to wait until Mr. Hai returned to the palace and then ask him in detail.

Zhao Douan said, "Overall, those are the two matters. I have no other reports."

"Is that so?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly scrutinized him, "Think again, have you overlooked anything?"

Ah?

Zhao Douan shook his head, puzzled:

"I'm not sure what Your Majesty is referring to. May I ask for clarification?"

Xu Zhenguan looked down on him with her beautiful eyes circling his face twice, teasingly she said:

"What about my sister? Don't you have anything to explain?"

Oh no... did Zhenbao find out what I boasted about?

Zhao Douan was startled but then thought the likelihood was low, as Xu Junling would not dare to talk about such matters.

He spoke with an open and righteous demeanor:

"The Commandery Princess did follow the group for a while. I had reported this through the Shadow Guard, considering that she is after all Your Majesty's sister; it seemed inappropriate to refuse..."

"That is not what I am referring to," Xu Zhenguan interrupted him, speaking indifferently:

"It seems that Junling is quite interested in you."

Zhao Douan spoke seriously:

"Your Majesty, although I have indeed perceived the Commandery Princess attempting to drive a wedge between You and me, my loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as day and night..."

Originally, Xu Zhenguan was just teasing him with her question, but unexpectedly, his response showed embarrassment and a flushed face, and she looked coquettishly reproachful—a sight with its own charm:

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you truly believe I won't punish you?"

Zhao Douan looked up respectfully, as obedient as a small wolfhound, and wore a deeply aggrieved expression.

"Alright, I know you're loyal. As for Junling, that girl has many tricks up her sleeve, but I can naturally discern right from wrong."

Seeing his dejected expression, Xu Zhenguan's heart softened, and her tone also became gentler:

"You've had a hard time outside this trip. Go home and rest for now."

She paused, then added, "However, there might be further matters that require your involvement later on."

Zhao Douan lifted his head, "Your Majesty is referring to..."

"Sentencing Gao Lian," Xu Zhenguan's expression became solemn:

"The condemnation of a governor is not something I can decide alone. Tomorrow's morning court session will bring the matter up for discussion, and afterwards, it will be handed over to the Three Agencies for trial. We must clarify the charges before they can be affirmed."

Zhao Douan wasn't surprised.

The downfall of a high official naturally couldn't be determined by just one imperial envoy.

Corresponding evidence, witness testimonies... the entire case would have to be retried in the Capital, verified to prevent the envoy from fabricating evidence and causing miscarriages of justice.

However, the Empress mentioning this now clearly had another implication.

"Does Your Majesty mean that someone will obstruct?" Zhao Douan asked.

Xu Zhenguan nodded, and her words echoed those similar to Xu Junling's:

"Gao Lian is a member of the 'Li Party.' Li Yanfu would probably not sit idly by this time. To sentence Gao Lian, there will undoubtedly be numerous obstacles. Since you are the imperial envoy on this case, you cannot easily be absolved. However, now that you are back in the Capital, I will have someone handle these matters—it may not even involve you...

In any case, we will discuss further after tomorrow's court session."