The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 42 - 39. Joint case handling
Prince Jing Mansion!
"Cough cough…" Sun Lianying, the old eunuch, almost choked, coughing violently.
Zhao Douan considerately stood up and handed over a handkerchief:
"Elder, how could you be so careless…"
Sun Lianying glared with wide eyes and grasped his wrist in passing, his somewhat murky eyes fixed on him:
"Say that again, young man."
"Jiancheng Road, Prince Jing Mansion."
"Still clinging to that?"
"…I’m afraid it’s real this time."
Silence.
After a considerable pause, Sun Lianying finally released his bony hand and let Zhao Douan sit back down, saying:
"Explain clearly!"
"Yes."
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Zhao Douan calmly smoothed his wrinkled sleeve and honestly recounted how he had sought to trouble Zhang Changji, which had led him back to Qinglian Small House and unexpectedly provided him a clue.
There was nothing to hide in such a matter.
Sure enough, Sun Lianying showed no concern for his retaliatory intentions—such was typical of Zhao Douan.
Once the whole story was heard, the Old Director’s expression grew solemn:
"How certain are you?"
"Not at all," Zhao Douan said indifferently:
"After all, it’s only a suspicion, but Little Ya had no reason to deceive. Though I bear enmity against the Zhang brothers, I also know there are matters suitable for framing and accusations, and others that are not."
Hmph, if you knew the importance, you wouldn’t have committed a fault... Sun Lianying thought privately.
However, Zhao Douan’s underdog turnaround maneuvers from a few days ago had indeed impressed him.
Previously he might not have believed, but now he was convinced to a good extent.
"Elder, upon learning of the clue, I thought the matter of great importance and didn’t dare delay, so I immediately came to report and ask for your guidance on whether to inform the Saint," Zhao Douan said.
You’re just afraid of stirring up trouble and causing a disaster, hence you’re finding me to shield you from the storm… Sun Lianying saw through this but didn’t point it out. He slowly got up and paced thoughtfully for a moment before saying:
"Only a courtesan’s dreamy babble, no solid evidence, inappropriate to be reported to the Saint, but as you said, it indeed cannot be taken lightly…"
He paused, then continued:
"Here’s what we’ll do. The case of the missing gunsmith has been entrusted to the Imperial Court by His Majesty, and as far as I know, little progress has been made, and White Horse Hall lacks investigation authority. It’s most prudent to hand the clue to Ma Yan, and this could also mend your relationship with him."
"You speak wisely, sir," Zhao Douan complimented, then hesitated:
"But in doing so, won’t we miss out on much of the credit?"
Sun Lianying chided:
"Don’t be too greedy. One must know that a heart never satisfied is like the infinite swallowing snake. In the court, what matters most is not making achievements, but maintaining them!
Giving the leading authority to the Imperial Court means that no matter the outcome, you stand to gain, merely varying from more to less. But if you insist on intervening and there’s trouble, do you think you can escape the blame?"
The old eunuch’s words were brutally frank, worried that he might misunderstand.
Zhao Douan smiled and said, "I’ve also heard a saying, ’Risk accompanies reward.’"
Then, he bowed slightly: "Please support me, elder."
Sun Lianying remained silent, just gazing at him.
After a long while, he finally sighed and said coldly:
"If you mess up this case, the government office won’t cover for you. Likewise, if you succeed, the government office won’t share the credit with you."
His meaning was clear:
If you insist on getting involved, I won’t stop you, but the risk is yours to bear.
Zhao Douan earnestly said:
"If there are merits, the government office won’t lack a share; if there are faults, I will bear them alone."
Sun Lianying looked deeply at him again, this time, a well-hidden flicker of admiration passing through his eyes.
He turned back to his desk, wrote a letter, and handed it to him:
"Deliver this to the Imperial Court yourself."
Zhao Douan scanned the letter quickly; the content was simple.
Namely, under the title "Director of White Horse Hall," Sun Lianying requested joint investigation with the Imperial Court, with Zhao Douan representing White Horse Hall.
By issuing this official document, he was no longer conducting a private investigation but openly joining the table to share the credit.
Simultaneously, the Imperial Court could not squeeze Zhao Douan out of the case, avoiding an awkward situation of handing over the clue and gaining nothing.
Sun Lianying put down the pen and added:
"If it’s true, this matter could involve individuals involved in cultivation. Both you and those young officials of the Imperial Court are martial artists with limited means; I will ask the Heavenly Master Mansion to send a magician to assist you, expected to arrive tomorrow."
If Prince Jing Mansion was indeed secretly maneuvering things, then to ensure safety, the connection would inevitably involve martial artists or magicians.
Not long ago, Zhao Douan was almost killed by a powerful magician from Kuangfu Society—he couldn’t fall into the same pit twice.
The Old Director was effectively finding him a "bodyguard."
Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned and, pursing his lips with gratitude, said:
"Many thanks, my lord…"
"Get lost, and do not come so late next time. You disturb people’s sleep." Sun Lianying hustled the visitor away.
Outside the back door of the Imperial Court.
Zhu Kui, who had almost become a "full-time coachman," saw Zhao Douan returning and asked:
"My lord, where to next?"
Very considerate of you, Zhu, not even proposing to go home… Zhao Douan smiled and said:
"To the Imperial Court."
"Ah?" Zhu Kui doubted he had heard correctly.
"Stop talking nonsense, just go if I tell you to," Zhao Douan urged.
He pressed his hand on the imperial missive in his chest.
The process had been more smooth than anticipated—enticing them into the Imperial Court had been part of his prediction.
Or rather, it was his purpose.
He could have investigated this case himself, and he wasn’t without capable subordinates.
But firstly, without rightful authority, actions would be constrained. Secondly, he really wasn’t confident about handling it alone and wanted someone to share the risk if things went south.
Beyond that, a deeper motivation sprang from a profound insight he had learned in his past life:
Those who achieve great things must not go it alone.
Especially in the bureaucracy, those who do often meet tragic ends.
"Using a clue of uncertain veracity to curry favor with Ma Yan and mend our relationship is already fortunate.
If we can genuinely solve this case, though sharing the credit might seem a loss, the benefits I gain are indeed greater."
Zhao Douan had a clear mental tally.
When he stepped into the back office, he had anticipated that Sun Lianying would surely direct him to contact the Imperial Court.
"But I thought it would take more persuasion; surprisingly, it went smoothly, and I even freeloaded a temple guard from the Heavenly Master Mansion as a bodyguard… Sun really has good character…
Come to think of it, he really took care of me… how did the original Zhao Douan manage to win him over?"
The carriage rattled, and Zhao Douan’s thoughts wandered, unfortunately, that part of his memory was a bit fuzzy.
Imperial Court.
"Lord, what did Your Majesty say?"
In the room, a hundred-household officer could not help but ask.
Behind the desk.
The "Lord Director Eunuch" Ma Yan, tall and lean with a prominent brow ridge and a temperament mixing severity with volatility, slowly put down the missive sent from the palace.
His expression looked troubling:
"Her Majesty is very dissatisfied with the investigation results regarding the disappearance of the firearms artisans, and has ordered a re-investigation."
The hundred-household officer said bitterly:
"But we have devoted our utmost efforts to this case; all leads have been severed. It’s bizarre, but our brothers genuinely can’t find any solutions. Jianghu is vast, searching for a few people is like looking for a needle in the ocean."
Ma Yan’s face darkened, his unkempt eyebrows deeply furrowed, equally strained.
He knew his subordinate spoke the truth, and indeed, the case was challenging with little time given by the Empress, hence the initial report.
Now with the Empress ordering a re-investigation, her tone stern, they absolutely could not shirk their duty, but where in the vast Capital could they start searching?
Just as he fretted and struggled with the issue, suddenly, a Jinyi rushed in:
"Reporting to the Lord Director, Zhao Douan outside requests an audience!"
"The Zhao surname?" Ma Yan was startled; what did that pretty face want with his visit?
Heavenly Master Mansion.
Another night, the bell tower brightly lit, a landmark building of the Capital.
Different from other places, as the central temple of the Daoist magicians, the Heavenly Master Mansion hosted a large number of priests practicing cultivation throughout the night—it was always manned.
"White Horse Hall borrowing? Requesting priest assistance in an investigation?"
A duty priest received a missive sent from White Horse Hall somewhat surprised.
"Isn’t White Horse Hall just a group serving the Emperor? Since when do they handle investigations?" another young priest wondered.
"Who knows, who will go there?"
"Not me, my coursework is due in two days, and I’ve only completed half."
"I can’t, I have an appointment with my junior sister to contemplate the Dao tomorrow; how can I break my promise?"
"Sigh, I’ll go. I’m free lately, and a walk to get fresh air would be good, contemplating cultivation all day is tedious," a priest said.
In the next moment, everyone rose in surprise, looking toward the door:
"Senior Sister Jin Jian!"
Outside, like a ghost, with a mysterious aura and fair complexion, the young female priest quietly appeared, her scattered gaze focusing, her voice ethereal:
"White Horse Hall?"
