The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 550 - 412. I would like to ask the Duke to present a pledge of allegiance.

Zhao Douan shifted his hips back, sitting back to his original position, as the lifted corner of the carriage curtain fell back down.

"Is this the Emperor's intention?" He locked his gaze firmly on the person across the small furnace in the carriage.

Yuann Li, holding the Jade Ruyi, lightly tapped the lever on the side of the furnace, instantly a stream of air surged in, and the flames inside the furnace brightened: "Indeed."

Zhao Douan took a deep breath, leaning slightly forward: "Why?"

The Big Qingyi calmly said, "This year-end, Zhao Shixiong, stationed on Yunfu Road, did not return."

On the surface, this remark seemed to lack context, but Zhao Douan, with a keen mind, immediately grasped the implied meaning:

"Is the Emperor uneasy about the generals commanding troops at the border?"

Yuann Li neither confirmed nor denied, merely saying:

"Today, the Emperor summoned me to the palace, saying she had a face-to-face discussion with Duke Cao, hoping he would recall his two sons serving in the army back to the Capital for grooming.

But Duke Cao did not agree. You might not know, this time Duke Cao returned to the Capital with an adopted son, but left his biological sons behind."

Hiss...

Zhao Douan's pupils narrowed, realizing this was a very dangerous signal.

When the Empress first ascended the throne, due to the turbulent political situation filled with adversaries and a lack of direct allies, she had to placate the senior officials from the Old Emperor's era for a significant amount of time.

But this was only temporary. With the shifting situation, those ministers wielding military power yet being "far from the Emperor's reach" must now declare their stance.

Returning to the Capital for the year-end was a test.

"Was it because Zhao Shixiong's evasive delay in returning made Zhenbao realize this matter could not be postponed further? Or did it also play into Cao Mao's recent unexpected arrest of Lang Shiba, subtly pressuring the throne, which made Zhenbao certain Cao Mao was unreliable?

Thus, requiring him to send more pledges of allegiance? To have his sons in the Capital as 'hostages'?"

"Come to think of it, although Cao Mao, unlike Zhao Shixiong, chose to come back, he didn't fully return... it makes sense, his arrest of Lang Shiba, confronting Zhenbao, was essentially dancing on the edge.

Relying on his deep-rooted position in Jubei City, and his title as 'Duke', even if he slightly crossed the line, the court would tolerate him. But evidently, Cao Mao himself wasn't entirely confident...

Fearing that his actions might lead to Zhenbao detaining him, he left other sons with the northern army, adding one more layer of safety for himself...

However, as the saying goes, an unsteady position is akin to having no position... is Cao Mao overconfident, thinking Zhenbao wouldn't dare act against him, or does he truly have ulterior motives?"

Zhao Douan's thoughts whirred rapidly.

He listened as Yuann Li continued:

"Besides, the Emperor's intention, based on the feedback from the Royal Family's Shadow Guard in the north, is also that Duke Cao no longer seems fit to command troops."

This statement was quite understated... so, it seems Cao Mao indeed had restless actions?

Hence forcing Zhenbao to resolutely decide to take action?

Zhao Douan pondered for a moment, then said, "What does the Emperor plan to do?"

Yuann Li softly said:

"To persuade Duke Cao to willingly step back, a pretext is needed. The Lang Shiba case is an excellent entry point. The Emperor believes this case can lead to uncovering some of Cao Mao's past shadowy deeds, providing the grounds for his removal."

Zhao Douan paused, then said, "And then? It's not difficult to convict Cao Mao, but to dethrone a Duke with real power... shouldn't be easy."

This is a general with military power!

Do you really think just convicting him will suffice?

Once action is taken against Cao Mao, how would those interest groups connected to this Duke sit idly by?

Or to put it even more bluntly, once Cao Mao is removed, how can imposing obedience among the Jubei City generals be ensured?

Will they genuinely heed the court's commands?

It's not that simple, is it?

How to handle the crisis potentially caused by toppling Cao Mao is the most critical issue.

"The Emperor naturally has long considered this, my lord, please take a look at this." Yuann Li took a folded document from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Douan.

The latter opened it by the firelight, his pupils slightly narrowing, and looked up in shock at Yuann Li:

"This..."

Yuann Li smiled slightly, saying, "This is highly confidential, my lord, do not speak of it to others."

Zhao Douan appeared slightly excited, closing the document, he said, "Did the Emperor personally direct Mr. Yuan to find me?"

Yuann Li shook his head, saying, "He did not. Hence, my lord may also choose to stay uninvolved."

Zhao Douan pursed his lips, after a moment he said, "What's Mr. Yuan's plan?"

Yuann Li smiled and said:

"If we can induce Cao Mao to voluntarily relinquish military power, it undoubtedly carries less risk than forcibly removing him. But to achieve this without breaking relationships, we must escalate the Lang Shiba case, let the world know of Cao Mao's deeds. In other words, we need a public outcry to present the Emperor with an opening to openly re-examine the case and reveal the truth to the world."

"Soon, insiders will voice grievances to the government office, and some upright Imperial Censors in our Imperial Court of Supervision will, in pursuit of reputation, successively impeach Cao Mao. But merely the censors' voice is not enough, we need the common people to speak out, forming a tide of public opinion.

Ideally, we'd also need endorsements from soldiers in the military.

Besides that, as a distinguished noble, if Cao Mao gets into trouble, those usually low-profile nobles in the Capital might take action, which is also something we need to find ways to dismantle."

Zhao Douan listened and said, "When will this happen?"

"The sooner, the better."

"Understood," Zhao Douan handed the confidential booklet back to him.

But Yuann Li merely used the Jade Ruyi to lift the lid of the furnace and tossed the booklet into the dim embers, the flames surged up, engulfing it.

Zhao Douan lifted the curtain and walked out, leaving a message behind:

"Mr. Yuan will handle the matters of the Imperial Court of Supervision, I'll take care of the rest."

Yuann Li paused, eyes following the latter: "All of it to you?"

Zhao Douan jumped off the carriage, turned back to smile at the Big Qingyi, revealing a set of white teeth in the dark:

"I have my helpers too, you know."

...

...

"Clop clop clop…"

Under the cover of night, a rider broke through the cold wind and stopped outside Lihua Hall on the street beyond the Imperial Court.

Zhao Douan dismounted and entered the government office, following the light in the duty room. He pushed open the door to find a group of Jinyi Captains working overtime, transcribing documents.

"Sir? Why are you back again?"

Qian Kerou lifted her head in surprise and asked blankly.

Zhao Douan calmly gestured for Shen Juan to step out, then led him into another empty room. Only there did he bend his head down and swiftly write a full sheet of paper, handing it to the latter:

"Last time, you dealt with that group from the Red Flower Society, right?"

With dark circles under his eyes, Shen Juan nodded: "Yes."

Zhao Douan nodded: "Very good, go and instruct the people of the Red Flower Society to handle the matters on this paper. Say it's my decision."

Shen Juan took the paper in confusion, glanced at it, and his expression suddenly changed:

"Sir, you are going to..."

Zhao Douan stared at him: "Ask fewer questions, just do it."

Shen Juan's eyes lit up, and he bowed with clasped fists: "I will obey."

After saying this, he first went out to change his clothes, and then he left Lihua Hall straight away, leading his horse into the night.

Being in charge of investigations at the Imperial Court, he was very familiar with the headquarters of the largest underground syndicate in the Capital.

In no time, he reached an affluent area.

Bang bang, he knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

The back door of the inconspicuous four-chambered mansion was opened a crack, and a mid-level gang member said in a steady voice, then stammered: "Shen… Master Shen?"

Shen Juan stepped straight into the mansion, said expressionlessly:

"Have your master come out to see me, immediately, right now."

Shortly.

In the main hall of the mansion, Shen Juan, sitting grandly, saw a bald middle-aged man rushing in from outside.

In the middle of winter, he was only wearing thin pajamas. As he walked, he was anxiously buttoning his outer robe, with his shoes barely on, obviously having just rushed there from a woman's bed upon hearing the news.

The current leader of the Red Flower Society rushed into the room, bowing servilely to the distinguished underground boss:

"Master Shen, how come you've come so suddenly?"

Shen Juan couldn't even be bothered to glance at him, and said: "My superior has some matters to entrust to you."

The leader of the Red Flower Society straightened his face: "What does Mr. Zhao have to instruct?"

Shen Juan pulled out a piece of paper: "Tomorrow, my superior wants this message spread throughout every corner of the Capital's streets and alleyways."

The leader of the Red Flower Society took a look, and in the chill of winter, beads of cold sweat instantly formed on his bald head as he gaped at the words "Duke Cao".

Shen Juan glanced at him: "What? Are you too scared to do it, or can't you manage it?"

As the underground emperor in the Capital, with tens of thousands of gang members under him, the leader of the Red Flower Society bowed deeply:

"To have the privilege of handling matters for Mr. Zhao, we will certainly do our utmost."

Offending a Duke was indeed troublesome, but compared to Yama Zhao, he knew where to align himself.

...

...

Duke Tang Mansion.

The night wind swept over the clean, spacious street, lightly swaying the two red lanterns hung under the mansion's lintel.

"Mr. Zhao?" The gatekeeper opened the door, looking in surprise at Zhao Douan's abrupt visit.

"I have come to visit the Duke, could you please announce my arrival?" Zhao Douan smiled.

The gatekeeper was momentarily stunned, then quickly welcomed him in and called for a house servant to announce his presence.

Before long, Zhao Douan was led into the study within the mansion.

Upon pushing open the door, he saw Duke Tang, dressed in loose and soft leisure wear, slowly putting down his calligraphy brush. He looked up at Zhao Douan with slight surprise and said with a smile:

"Lord, you have come swiftly, though you didn't send word in advance, so you missed dinner."

Zhao Douan apologized:

"I've taken the liberty to visit the Duke at night, indeed it seems sudden, I hope you can forgive me. There is an important matter I wish to discuss with the Duke."

Like a wealthy landlord, Duke Tang invited him to sit with a smile: "Oh, what important matter?"

Zhao Douan got straight to the point and said: "I want to ask the Duke to submit a token of pledge."

Duke Tang paused momentarily, slowly squinting his eyes.

...

In the courtyard of the Duke Mansion. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

The brother and sister who had gotten wind of the situation met outside the study, and in the biting cold wind, they huddled together with complex expressions, looking at the tightly closed door of the study, their reflections mirroring the two figures inside.

The Young Master Tang Ping smacked his lips:

"Second Sister, what do you think Mr. Zhao suddenly coming and staying so long in the study with Father is all about? It can't be a complaint, can it? Wasn't everything resolved this morning?"

Bold and straightforward, the dark-skinned female general Tang Zhao also crossed her arms, rolled her eyes, and said:

"You ask me, who am I supposed to ask?"

They waited for a long while, until suddenly the two silhouettes cast on the window paper stood up simultaneously.

Then, with a creak, the door of the study opened, and Duke Tang saw off Zhao Douan with a smile before he looked at the two inquisitive little ones, his eyes flashing:

"You're just in time, your father has something to tell you."

——

The next chapter updates at midnight, sitting too long makes my butt numb, I finished writing this chapter kneeling in front of the computer… This typing position is really tiring…