The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 361 - 307, Return to Beijing (Two in One)_3

"Perhaps Mr. Song also realized that his betrayal had been detected, so in order to protect himself, he fled early and hid," or maybe he was killed by someone surnamed Gao, who knows?"

Did he disappear early?

Did he hide and escape far away?

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Zhao Douan raised his eyebrows; he was always curious about this Mr. Song whom he had never met.

But now was not the time to search for this man.

Zhao Douan finished the interrogation, turned back, and said coldly, "Mr. Gao, do you have anything else to say?"

Dressed in an official robe, with his black-and-white hair neatly distinguished, Mr. Gao, expressionless as though he had just come to his senses, shook his head and said:

"Just some slander."

After he said these words, he closed his eyes, seeming to know that any argument now was futile.

"Some slander... what an answer for slander..."

Zhao Douan seemed to be mocked into laughter but instantly, his expression turned as cold as midwinter:

"Whether it is slander will be decided when you are taken back to the capital for trial. The Saint will judge."

A crime charged against a governor of the Secondary Second Rank is not one an imperial envoy can adjudicate.

It was necessary, and the only option, to send him back to the capital.

"Somebody! Strip Mr. Gao of his official robe! Take him into custody immediately! Prevent anyone from contacting him! Tomorrow, he will return to the capital with me!"

Zhao Douan commanded firmly.

"Yes!" The Jinyi officers from Lihua Hall, acting like backgrounds yet eager for action, rushed forward and seized the frail Mr. Gao on the table.

"Almost forgot to say," Zhao Douan, as if he had just remembered something, turned around, scanned the faces before him, and smiled, saying:

"The soldiers outside in the city are now arresting those lower-level officials and even some gentry and merchants involved in the case linked to evidence left by Mr. Song. I believe they have all been apprehended by now."

Zhao Douan pulled a list from his pocket, looked towards Governor Sun, sitting with a complex expression, and smiled:

"The city cannot be without a leader for a day. From this moment, Governor Sun Xiaozhun is restored to his position; some of the people on this list are currently guests at Chrysanthemum Platform today, just small fry, and will be detained and questioned by Sun Futai first."

Sun Xiaozhun stood up, took the list with both hands, and calmly said:

"I will not fail the trust placed in me."

Zhao Douan patted his shoulder, and their eyes met, understanding each other without words.

At that moment, Sun Xiaozhun understood the implied intent of the words spoken by this favored minister of the Empress.

Zhao Douan then smiled at the nervous local officials:

"Additionally, I am here by imperial command to punish only the principal culprits. Now that Mr. Gao and Wang Chusheng have been arrested and about a dozen suspects temporarily in custody, I will return to the capital tomorrow to report back. I hope, henceforth, you will take this as a lesson and work together with Sun Futai to keep the territory safe and not disappoint the Saint."

This meaningful speech made the local officials simultaneously sigh in relief.

They understood from the imperial envoy's words that only a specific few would be arrested without implicating those unrelated to the case.

Also, the phrase "keep the territory safe" meant that the common people below should not create further disturbances.

With just this statement, the solid front that Mr. Gao had painstakingly built instantly crumbled.

Since the imperial envoy indicated that there would be no further investigations, just punishing the masterminds, why should these officials oppose Zhao Douan?

Thus, a crisis was resolved.

"Ah, Mr. Zhao, I... and I..." Seeing Zhao Douan making his decision and starting to leave,

Liu the Inspector finally couldn't hold back, stood up calling out, and squeezed out a sycophantic smile on his face:

"Since Governor Sun is restored, then what about me..."

Zhao Douan didn't turn around, uninterested in bothering with this official who didn't manage his duties and only wanted to keep the peace and coast until retirement, "Reflect at home for a month."

Liu the Inspector opened his mouth but dared not argue, wiped his sweat, and sighed long and short, saying to Governor Sun:

"You see, Mr. Gao is really..."

Sun Xiaozhun glanced at him and made a clear divide, "I don't converse with suspended officials."

Liu Ji:...

...

...

The crab banquet ended.

However, this event, which swept through the entirety of Taicang Prefecture and would quake the vast Linfeng, the repercussions were yet to show their impact.

The Iron Cavalry that stretched throughout the city returned, capturing all the implicated folks who hadn't had the chance to react.

The government office's prison was for a time overcrowded.

What followed, Zhao Douan believed Sun Xiaozhun could handle well.

He then returned to the posthouse, sitting in his own small courtyard, organizing the aftermath.

"My lord, this is your Suppressing Object, Magic Artifact."

The armored woman took out the flower-patterned Fengyue Treasure Mirror and presented it with both hands; her eyes, glimpsing through the mask's holes, curiously studied him.

Zhao Douan sat on a stone stool, gladly received it, and asked with a smile, "Is there something on my face?"

The armored woman, not understanding the humor, honestly shook her head:

"No. Just heard that you defeated Tian Hai."

Tsk, could it be that I already have fans among the Shadow Guards? Being a champion sure boosts popularity, huh. Speaking of which, I wonder how the Paris Olympics are going back before I crossed over... Pity I only watched the opening ceremony then ended up here...

Zhao Douan mused internally, flashing an idol-like smile, "It was just luck."

"Understood. Your subordinate understands." The bronze-faced female Shadow Guard nodded earnestly.

...

Zhao Douan took a sharp breath, thinking this fan was a bit too sincere; the emotional intelligence of the Shadow Guards needed improvement.

"Cough cough..."

Beside, a sickly scholar with a frail body but exceptionally pale hands broke the awkward atmosphere, presenting a thick file:

"My lord, this is the evidence Wang Chusheng hid, indicting Mr. Gao."

Zhao Douan's expression turned grave as he took it and started flipping through, his face visibly turning sour.