The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 381 - 322, the owner asked me to give you a message.

Imperial Court.

Zhao Douan parted with Mo Chou and, after a walk, arrived at the government office.

He did not head towards Lihua Hall but directly entered Governor Hall.

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Crossing the threshold, the layout of Governor Hall was in the shape of the Chinese character "品", with the office of Little Ma occupying the "main seat" at the farthest end.

The two openings on the left and right were the "office" for the officials.

In the middle was a courtyard, housing a large, square flower bed filled with white rocks.

"Master Zhao? What brings you here?"

At that moment, a group of officials in Imperial Court Jinyi looked at him in surprise from the office. Not only were they there, but also two masters who had hurried over to preside over the night shift.

Ma Yan was also in the room, hastily draped in an overcoat — he lived in the government office.

"Imperial Censor Chen came to my house to notify me about Wang Chusheng's matter. I couldn't rest easy, so I came to see what was happening," Zhao Douan stepped into the room and briefly explained, saying,

"Do you know who did it?"

Everyone shook their heads,

indicating that they too had gathered here after hearing the news.

The case fell under the jurisdiction of the Three Legal Departments and was unrelated to the Imperial Court, but Ma Yan feared the Empress might issue a sudden command tonight, mobilizing the Imperial Court Jinyi for some task.

That was why he was patiently waiting here, but evidently, everyone was just sitting idly.

Well then, it seems I'm behind on the news by several updates... Zhao Douan commented to himself, then seriously said,

"I've learned of some new developments."

Ma Yan immediately looked up, everyone's attention focused on him, "What developments?"

Nobody was indifferent to the direction the case was taking or the results of the political maneuvering at court.

Zhao Douan spoke solemnly, "On my way here, I accidentally encountered Mo Zhaorong. She shared some news with me — Gao Lian is dead."

He then briefly outlined their encounter.

Unsurprisingly, this explosive news changed everyone's expressions, making them feel as if the clear night sky outside was suddenly storming.

"Dead... dead..." Ma Yan, with his gaunt and stern face, was momentarily stunned, then stared at him, "You're saying Mo Zhaorong found out? She took people to the Imprisonment?"

Zhao Douan spread his hands helplessly, "That's what she told me."

This kind of thing couldn't be concealed; unsurprisingly, a look of realization crossed the faces of the officials, guessing the possibility that the Empress, angered, had ordered a direct retribution.

While they were miserably waiting for orders here, His Majesty had already sent people from the Imperial Palace to take care of it...

"It's going to be trouble." One of the masters swallowed hard, sensing an impending storm.

That might not necessarily be the case... After speaking with Mo Chou, Zhao Douan learned about the bigger picture and felt unusually calm,

believing that the worst would not happen.

"My lord... there has been an incident..." Just then, two officials in Jinyi hurried in.

One said with a grave expression, "Gao Lian is dead!"

Then, to their surprise, they found that everyone in the room seemed as if they already knew.

Ma Yan looked past him, directly at the second official, "What about you?"

The man reported, "The Prime Minister has left; from the look of his carriage, it seems he's headed towards the Imperial Palace!"

Thud!

The hearts of everyone sank once more. Ma Yan got up and paced back and forth in the room before deciding to stand down, addressing everyone, "Everyone go back and rest. It seems we won't be needed tonight."

Since Li Yanfu had entered the palace, it meant that even if there was an emergency, it would be handled by the imperial guard.

"We'll discuss the specifics after I return from the morning court session," Ma Yan cautiously said.

Zhao Douan remained silent. Thanks to the cover provided by Mo Chou and a stroke of luck, no one suspected that he was responsible for killing Gao Lian.

He had no interest in stepping forward voluntarily but merely yawned, contemplating the undercurrents that might be happening within the palace, and suddenly turned his head, looking into the pitch-black night.

He thought to himself,

"The Shen family must have received the news by now."

...

...

After entering the Capital, Shen Er from the Shen family stayed in a mansion arranged by his family.

Tonight, after he returned from the Prime Minister's Mansion, he went straight back to the mansion without sleeping but instead spread out rice paper to write, using the act to calm his nerves.

Despite his unyielding demeanor at the Prime Minister's Mansion, even showing his fangs in front of Li Yanfu, facing off against a seasoned politician did not mean his mind was really at ease.

Only he knew how his back was drenched with sweat when he left the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Fortunately, everything is proceeding according to the planned scheme," Shen Er wrote vigorously, his mind soaring with thoughts about the aftermath of this silencing.

According to his estimate, even if Li Yanfu became furious, being tightly bound to the "scholarly family" camp, he could only strive to fight back.

"Hehe, after all, the Empress is a woman, easily swayed by anger. She will surely vent her anger on Li Yanfu. By tomorrow's morning court at the latest, or perhaps even now, there might already be actions taken...

Li Yanfu will take the blame and can only try his utmost to save Gao Lian, clinging on to the remaining support of the scholarly family...

Brother-in-law, oh brother-in-law, if you can really come out, that'd be best; if not, do not blame me for being merciless. It's all for the lasting prosperity of our family; what harm is there in sacrificing one or two of us?"

Shen Er sighed in his heart and recalled how he had managed to counter Li Yanfu and even constrain the reigning Empress. He couldn't help but feel proud, his spirits lifted.

"Second Master, something terrible has happened!"

Suddenly, a family follower burst through the door in a panicked rush, not even knocking before exclaiming,

"Gao Lian is dead! It seems he was killed by someone in the palace!"

Then, he shared the news he had received.

Mr. Shen's expression changed several times as he took a deep breath to steady his mind. Although he had anticipated some action from the Empress, he had not expected her to be so resolute and ruthless.

"This leaves no room for negotiation," Mr. Shen said, his eyes flickering as he threw down his pen and commanded in a grave tone, "Rouse everyone and prepare the carriage. We need to leave the city!"

The murder of Gao Lian meant the stakes within the city had escalated beyond his expectations.

"Yes!"

Shortly after, the back door of the residence opened. Mr. Shen, carrying his personal belongings, climbed into the carriage, and the group, cloaked in the cover of night, headed towards the city gates.

The Capital was unlike other places; the guards at the gates were extremely strict at night, making it difficult for those without special status to leave.

Since Mr. Shen couldn't leave the city at night, his plan was to wait near the city gates.

It was late at night, and in no more than two hours, dawn would break, and the gates would open.

"Clatter, clatter..."

The carriage wheels turned on the street, and the horse hooves sounded unusually crisp in the silent atmosphere. Everyone spoke in hushed tones, and even the horses' mouths were bound to avoid alarming the patrolling soldiers and causing additional trouble.

Amidst the slight jolts, Mr. Shen, feeling nervous and anxious, calculated the speed of the carriage.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped abruptly, and the coachman, tugging at the reins nervously, reported,

"Mr. Shen! Someone is blocking the way!"

Mr. Shen felt a sinking feeling in his heart but tried to remain calm as he stepped down from the carriage.

The family guards also readied their weapons—either wrapped in cloth or hidden in their bundles.

Under the moonlight, the street was draped in a thin veil, empty of the anticipated torch-bearing, horse-riding imperial guards.

In the middle of the street ahead, stood a person of indistinguishable appearance wearing utterly ordinary clothes.

Motionless, this figure blocked the carriage's path.

"Who stands there?" Mr. Shen, accustomed to facing great perils, commanded authoritatively with a composed exterior.

The person did not respond but instead stepped forward under the moonlight, revealing a plain, unmemorable face.

As ordinary as a waiter in a tavern or a porter on the docks.

The person, unarmed and wearing cloth shoes, approached with a calm gaze and said, "Mr. Shen of Jiancheng Road from the Shen family? My master has sent me to deliver a message to you."

Mr. Shen frowned deeply, "Who is your master? Stand still, do not move."

However, in the next second, the figure swiftly moved, appearing right in front of Mr. Shen, under the fearful watch of several guards.

Almost face to face.

This servant-like martial artist gently patted Mr. Shen's shoulder and said,

"My master says, 'The Shen family's century-old foundation is hard-earned. Though starting a business is hard, maintaining it is harder. Future generations should not follow the wrong leader, lest they meet the fate of being exterminated.'"

Mr. Shen froze, too terrified to move, his brow dripping with sweat beneath his hat.

Just as he thought this mysterious martial artist would strike, the figure stepped back, widening the distance before vanishing into the night.

As if merely stopping the carriage to deliver a message.

"Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen, are you alright?"

At this moment, a servant nearby snapped out of his daze, and two guards, impressive in martial skills even within Jianghu, felt both shame and astonishment. Indeed, the Capital was a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, teeming with experts.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Mr. Shen stammered.

However, he did not realize that the two taps on his shoulder had silently shattered the life bridge within him.

He might feel fine for now, but in less than a month, he would fall ill, and within three months, the illness would become severe. Even if he tried to sustain his life with precious medicine, he would only have half a year to live.

In the darkness, he watched as Mr. Shen and his group continued towards the city gates in their carriage.

The plain-faced man, one of the Imperial Palace Tributors trained by Eunuch Hai, leaped up like an eagle, jumping from roof to roof across the Capital, each leap covering a remarkable distance.

When he returned to the Imperial Palace and knelt outside the side hall, he reported to the silhouette of the Empress reflected on the window paper,

"Your Majesty, the task is accomplished."

"Go," Xu Zhenguan said offhandedly.

In the room, once the Tributor had left, Xu Zhenguan smiled at Li Yanfu sitting across from him, "Prime Minister, are you sure you want to dismiss Li Yinglong from his duties?"

Li Yanfu silently glanced at the window paper, withdrew his gaze, and said with a bow,

"The Taicang Silver Mine falls under the Ministry of Industry, and my son, as the Minister of Public Works, should bear the responsibility."

Xu Zhenguan's smile deepened, "Prime Minister, you exaggerate. Well, would you mind repeating that at the early court later?"

Li Yanfu sighed in relief, realizing he had averted disaster, "I shall obey, Your Highness."

Yet, beneath this seemingly harmonious scene between sovereign and minister, the existing cracks inevitably widened a bit more.

...

On the same night,

As the Empress and Li Yanfu strategized and Zhao Douan waited for news,

Thousands of miles away, on Jiancheng Road, in Prince Jing Mansion.

"Prince, Zhuang Xiaocheng has sent another letter."

...

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