The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 557 - 415, Such a Cheap Duke (Asking for Monthly Tickets at the Beginning of the Month)_3

"Crash——"

Then, a petition several meters long, with white silk as the background, filled with inked names and interspersed with red handprints, was presented before everyone's eyes.

After a brief silence, the entire Golden Throne Hall erupted in astonishment.

Li Yanfu, who hadn't intervened, raised his eyelids and looked complexly at the Empress seated on the dragon throne, sighed lightly, closed his eyes again, and thought: A clever maneuver.

This spectacle, on the surface, appears to provide a pretext for rehearing the case, but its true purpose is to stop certain individuals from questioning the court's act of granting extrajudicial leniency to a criminal general.

After all, law cannot exist apart from human sentiment.

Only a military joint petition can ensure that the Empress's reputation remains unharmed, or even enhanced, while delivering a lethal political blow against Duke Cao.

In other words, this spectacle isn't aimed at the lords on the court but is intended for the military and civilians throughout the nation.

This move is not just about logically targeting Cao Mao, but also about seizing the opportunity to capture the soldiers' loyalty to the Empress.

"You... you..." Cao Mao looked as if struck by lightning. Although he had wielded great power in the North, was accustomed to domineering behavior, and often acted outrageously, it didn't mean he was foolish.

At this moment, how could he fail to realize this was essentially a trap?

Does the Empress want to use him to trade for the soldiers' view of her as a good ruler?

"Duke Cao," the Empress stood up from the dragon throne, her icy gaze directed at him, instantly cooling his anger:

"Now, not only the civilians, but even the military has petitioned. Although I trust you, for the sake of truth, this case shall immediately be handed over for the Three Agencies' interrogation. Would you agree?"

Cao Mao was silent for a moment, then smirked, showing a hint of self-mockery:

"I, agree!"

Xu Zhenguan nodded in satisfaction, overlooking the group of ministers:

"If that's the case, then today's Court Meeting will end here."

The nearby eunuch raised his neck and shouted:

"Dismissed!"

...

...

The Court Meeting ended amidst a strange atmosphere, with the officials leaving one after another, and Cao Mao walked at the forefront without looking back.

He wasted no time arguing with Yuann Li and others but hurriedly ran towards the outside of the Imperial City.

As soon as he exited through the gate of the Imperial City, he immediately lifted the curtain, got into the carriage, and in the surprised gaze of the driver, growled:

"Return to the Duke Mansion immediately! Right away! At once!"

The carriage swiftly traveled through the heavy snow, leaving two clear tracks outside the grand Imperial City.

Soon, the master and servants returned to the Duke Mansion, Cao Mao couldn't wait to get off the carriage and entered the mansion with a stern face.

"Lord? What's going on?" The steward inside the mansion was shocked upon seeing his expression.

"Summon kedid to see me!"

Duke Cao, with greying temples and deep frown lines, said expressionlessly.

After saying this, he swirled his sleeves and went straight to the inner hall, driving away the concubine who came to greet him.

Cao Mao entered the room, angrily took off his hat, threw it on the table, and left muddy marks on the expensive carpet with his snow-covered boots, indifferent to the mess.

"Foster father, you were looking for me?" Cao kedid cautiously asked upon pushing open the door.

Cao Mao's face was as still as water, staring deeply at this foster child, his gaze as penetrating as a wolf:

"I fear His Majesty might be serious this time. Go out immediately, take my identification plaque, and summon the noble clans in the city to the mansion."

He would counteract!

Even though he was in the Capital, and had no troops at his disposal, he could still mobilize those noble clans allied with him.

Negotiating within the court.

"What?" Cao kedid's face changed dramatically, showing fear, "What should we do?"

Cao Mao glanced at him with disapproval:

"Why panic? Hmph, if His Majesty had indeed resolved to act decisively, she would have already sent a government officer to arrest me, but she hasn't. She's only holding onto the pretext of overturning the case, which indicates the situation hasn't reached the worst possible stage.

His Majesty isn't insane; she wouldn't risk losing Jubei City by acting rashly against me. But I won't let them lead me by the nose either. Go immediately, no more talk."

Just as the words fell.

Suddenly, the father and son inside the room heard chaotic noise from outside, accompanied by shouts filled with shock and anger:

"What are you doing?"

"This is the Duke Mansion!"

The two exchanged a glance, feeling ominous.

...

Meanwhile.

Outside the main entrance of the Duke Mansion, a large group of government officers, wearing Jinyi and bearing knives at their waists, charged on horseback, not attempting to seal off the entire mansion, but rather swarming in to storm the gates.

Leading them was "door-breaking expert" Hou Renmeng, backed by nearly the entire Lihua Hall mobilized for the operation.

At the rear of the team, within a spacious street alley, was an unobtrusive carriage.

Zhao Douan had not hurriedly alighted but silently watched his men begin to break the doors and, as expected, clash with the Duke Mansion's guards.

"How much military power could a mere Duke Mansion have? As long as Duke Cao and that Cao kedid don't act, there's no need for so many people."

His assistant Qian Kerou, sitting only halfway on her seat due to her round hips, couldn't help but comment while watching the scene outside.

"What do you understand, this is psychological warfare."

Zhao Douan looked listless; he waited nearby for a long time, only bringing in his men to break the doors after Duke Cao returned from the Court Meeting:

"To capture it with minimal cost, this might be the best approach. Hm, where's the wine, let me have a sip."

His assistant obediently responded, took out the wine flask, uncorked it with a "pop," and handed it over to the indolent Zhao.

The wine was warm, slipping down his throat, tasting mediocre.

"Yellow wine is best hot; warm is much less, and cold is like horse urine." Zhao Douan offered his commentary with no lack of feeling.

Returning the wine flask to his female assistant, he stretched his arms, flexed his waist, and stepped down from the carriage: