After failing the imperial examination, he began to wield immense power after entering the palace!

Li Fan raised his head.

A middle-aged eunuch dressed in a blue official robe was seen standing outside the door.

This man's name was Zhao Fu. He was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Admiral, but in reality, he was Feng Bao's man.

"Steward Zhao, what is it?"

Zhao Fu strode in, carrying a thick file in both hands, and respectfully placed it on the table in front of Li Fan.

"Reporting to Admiral Gao, this was specially instructed by Commander Feng to be delivered by my subordinates."

"The Grand Coordinator said that since the Admiral wants to investigate the case, we can't let you work for nothing."

"This case is a long-standing cold case from the Eastern Depot, and no one has dared to touch it."

"The Grand Coordinator believes that with the Admiral's talent, he will surely be able to thoroughly investigate this case."

As he spoke, he paused deliberately, then added meaningfully:

"This is the first case Admiral Gao has taken on since taking office."

"The Grand Coordinator has high hopes for the Admiral."

Li Fan looked at his forced smile and remained silent.

He lowered his head and opened the case file.

On the first page, a few large characters catch the eye.

"The case of Zhou Wenyuan, a senior official in the Ministry of Justice, who forcibly married a woman and murdered her first wife."

Li Fan's expression changed instantly.

He turned the pages one by one, and the more he read, the more his brows furrowed.

Zhou Wenyuan.

A senior official in the Ministry of Justice.

A fifth-rank official appointed by the imperial court.

This person is one of Consort Xie's people.

This person joined Consort Xie's faction three years ago and has been working for her in the Ministry of Justice ever since. He is an important pawn that Consort Xie planted in the Ministry of Justice.

And this case...

Zhou Wenyuan forcibly took a woman as his own. In order to get this woman, he secretly sent people to beat the woman's husband to death and fake it as an accidental death.

Then, he used his power to coerce the woman's family into forcing her to remarry him.

The woman, unable to bear the humiliation, tried to file a complaint several times, but was stopped by Zhou Wenyuan's men each time.

The case file clearly states that the evidence is conclusive, with both witnesses and physical evidence present.

If an investigation is conducted, a conviction can be made.

The reason the Eastern Depot didn't arrest Zhou Wenyuan was simply because they were waiting for an opportunity.

Now, here's your chance!

Li Fan closed the case file, a cold smile curving his lips.

"What a fine Feng Bao!"

His voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

Zhao Fu stood to the side, smiling at him, pretending not to have heard anything.

"Admiral Gao, if you have no further instructions, I will take my leave."

After he finished speaking, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, turned around, and left.

His steps were light and quick, and his back view revealed an undisguised smugness.

The door closed.

The archive fell silent.

Zhang Miaozhen emerged from behind the bookshelf next to her, walked to Li Fan's side, and glanced down at the case file.

Her expression changed instantly.

"Zhou Wenyuan, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice?"

Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and her voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Isn't this person one of Consort Xie's men?"

Although she didn't know much about the factional struggles in the court, she had heard some of them while following Li Fan around these past few days.

"Admiral Gao, there's something wrong with this case."

"Feng Bao deliberately assigned this case to you; he's clearly setting a trap for you."

"If you investigate, you'll offend Consort Xie."

"If you don't investigate, Feng Bao has grounds to accuse you of dereliction of duty."

Chen Tie also came over, glanced at the case file, and his expression was equally unpleasant.

"Admiral, the case that Commander Feng has given you is a hot potato."

"If you don't accept, he has a way to ensure you never touch the Eastern Depot's files again."

"But if you accept it..."

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice:

"Then you'll offend the Empress."

Zhang Miaozhen gritted her teeth, a hint of anger flashing in her phoenix eyes.

"That treacherous eunuch is truly insidious!"

As soon as she said it, she suddenly realized it was inappropriate.

Li Fan was also a eunuch.

She paused for a moment, a blush of embarrassment rising to her face, and quickly lowered her head.

"Eunuch Gao, that's not what I meant. I meant Feng Bao..."

Li Fan waved his hand, a helpless smile appearing on his lips.

Anyway, he's not a real eunuch, so being scolded a few times is no problem for him.

"It's alright, I know you're cursing him, not me."

He glanced down at the case file and tapped the cover lightly with his fingers.

"Since Feng Bao has already made his move, then we'll accept it."

"You all wait here, I'm going to the palace."

"Heh, does he think he can control our family like this?"

"Then he really underestimates our family."

"This time, we're going to give him a good slap in the face, leaving him speechless and only making things easier for us."

After saying that, he grabbed the case file, turned around, and walked towards the door.

"Grandpa Gao, where are you going?"

Zhang Miaozhen took two steps after him.

"Enter the palace."

Li Fan didn't turn his head and walked quickly.

……

The back room of the Eastern Depot.

Zhao Fu pushed open Feng Bao's door and bowed to report:

"Master, after Gao Jin reviewed the case file, he hurriedly left the Eastern Depot alone."

"The person keeping watch came to report; judging by the direction, they were heading towards the palace."

Feng Bao is enjoying his tea.

Upon hearing this, his fingers paused slightly, and then a smile appeared on his lips.

"They've entered the palace?"

"Oh, so they realized they'd picked up a hot potato, so they went to Consort Xie for help, huh?"

Zhao Fu nodded: "It should be."

Feng Bao chuckled and shook his head.

"Still young."

"What good would it do to go directly to Consort Xie?"

"Who is Consort Xie? She's the woman who rose from a lowly concubine to the high rank of Consort in just three short years."

"Would she sacrifice such an important pawn planted in the Ministry of Justice for a mere eunuch?"

"dream."

He picked up his teacup and slowly blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface of the water.

"Now, Consort Xie will only think that Gao Jin can't even handle a single case and has to come to her crying."

"What use is someone like that?"

"He's nothing but a piece of trash."

Zhao Fu hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice:

"So, does the Chief Supervisor mean we should just leave him alone?"

Feng Bao took a sip of tea, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Never mind it."

"This person is finished."

"From the moment he stepped into the palace, he had already lost."

"A pawn that can't even protect itself can't cause any trouble."

……

Chengqian Palace (乾宫).

Consort Xie sat at the table, holding a pair of white jade chopsticks in her hand, picking up a slice of fish as thin as a cicada's wing and bringing it to her lips.

At this moment, she exuded a cool, refreshing fragrance, like a white peony just pulled out of icy water.

When she looked up and saw Li Fan standing at the palace gate, she was slightly taken aback, and then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"You've come at the perfect time; I haven't finished my meal yet."

"Frosty Autumn, go and get another set of bowls and chopsticks."

A hint of undisguised surprise flashed in Leng Shuangqiu's eyes.

She had been by the Empress's side for three years and had never seen the Empress invite any man to the table for a meal.

This honor is truly extraordinary!

"Yes."