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

Zhang Liang's face darkened.

He stepped down from the sedan chair, walked quickly to Li Fan, and recognized the man.

After all, he was present when Li Fan angrily berated Cao Mo in the Taiji Hall.

But this person isn't Consort Xie's man, he's one of our own. Why arrest Zhou Wenyuan?

"Admiral Gao, Zhou Wenyuan is one of my subordinates. He has worked diligently in the Ministry of Justice for many years."

"On what grounds are you arresting him? What crime has he committed?"

Without wasting any words, Li Fan handed over the case file directly.

Zhang Liang took the case file, glanced at it, and his expression changed drastically.

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

The evidence in this case file is clear and unambiguous, with both witnesses and physical evidence, leaving no room for rebuttal.

That bastard Zhou Wenyuan, how could he do such a thing?

But he glanced at Zhou Wenyuan, who was being held captive, then at Li Fan, and lowered his voice to say:

"Admiral Gao, may I speak with you in private?"

Li Fan nodded and followed him into the shadows by the roadside.

Zhang Liang looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before speaking:

"Admiral Gao, Zhou Wenyuan is the Empress's man."

"What do you mean by arresting him?"

His tone was unfriendly, with a hint of accusation.

Li Fan looked at him calmly.

"Minister Zhang, this matter is Her Majesty's will."

Zhang Liang was stunned, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Your Majesty...you want me to arrest Zhou Wenyuan?"

"yes."

Li Fan's voice was calm and firm, without the slightest hesitation.

"Minister Zhang, the Eastern Depot has obtained complete evidence of Zhou Wenyuan's crimes."

"With this case file in hand, Feng Bao can use it against the Empress at any time."

"Your Majesty means that rather than letting Zhou Wenyuan become a tool in Feng Bao's hands, it would be better to eliminate him proactively."

"Firstly, it eliminates potential threats. Secondly, it demonstrates Your Majesty's impartiality."

"This is a decision made after careful consideration by Her Majesty."

Zhang Liang fell silent.

He stared at Li Fan's face, which was as calm as a still pond, and his mind raced.

Who was Consort Xie?

She never does things without a reason.

Since she nodded, it means that this matter has indeed reached a point where it has to be done.

and……

He glanced down at the overwhelming evidence in the case file.

Zhou Wenyuan, that bastard, has indeed committed a capital offense.

The evidence is irrefutable, and there is no way to defend oneself.

If the Eastern Depot uses this evidence to report Zhou Wenyuan, he won't be able to escape either.

At that time, not only will Consort Xie be unable to protect Zhou Wenyuan, but she will also be accused of harboring a criminal.

Not worth the candle.

"Very well, I understand. Take him away."

"But there's one thing..."

He raised his head, looked directly into Li Fan's eyes, and spoke in a serious tone.

"Investigate and prosecute separately, but do not implicate innocent people."

"Wen Yuan is guilty, but his family is not."

Li Fan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his voice sincere:

"Minister Zhang, rest assured, our family will only investigate the guilty and will never implicate the innocent."

Zhang Liang looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and finally waved his hand.

"Go."

Then, he turned around and walked back to the sedan chair.

The moment the sedan curtain fell, a complex expression flashed across his face.

Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this move you made was truly ruthless.

They don't even spare their own people.

Zhou Wenyuan was completely stunned when he saw Zhang Liang leave.

"Minister Zhang! Minister Zhang! You can't abandon me!"

"I belong to the Empress! I am yours!"

"Minister Zhang!"

His voice grew increasingly mournful, tinged with sobs, like a pig being dragged into a slaughterhouse.

But the small sedan chair with its green curtains disappeared into the night without looking back.

Zhou Wenyuan's face turned completely pale.

His legs went weak, and he could barely stand.

It’s over.

It's completely over.

Even Zhang Liang wouldn't save him anymore.

He turned his head and looked at Li Fan's face, which was as calm as a stagnant pool, his lips trembling:

"Eunuch Gao, we are all Her Majesty's people... Why would you harm your own people..."

Li Fan did not answer.

He simply waved to the barbarians.

"take away."

Zhou Wenyuan was dragged into the night by two guards, staggering as they went.

His wails echoed down the long street for a very, very long time.

……

The back room of the Eastern Depot.

Zhao Fu stumbled and crawled into Feng Bao's room, his face deathly pale.

"Master...Master! Something terrible has happened!"

Feng Bao was resting with his eyes closed when he was startled by the shout and suddenly opened his eyes.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Gao...Gao Jin...he arrested Zhou Wenyuan!"

Feng Bao was stunned.

"What did you say?"

He thought he had misheard.

"Gao Jin arrested Zhou Wenyuan? Which Zhou Wenyuan?"

"It's Zhou Wenyuan, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice! He's one of Consort Xie's men!"

"He led dozens of guards, stormed into the Zhou residence, and arrested the man! He's currently being escorted to the Eastern Depot!"

At that moment, Feng Bao's expression completely changed.

He suddenly stood up, and the chair crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

"impossible!"

His voice was sharp, like a knife cutting through a sheet of iron.

"Zhou Wenyuan is Consort Xie's man! How dare Gao Jin touch him?"

Will Consort Xie allow it?

"This is impossible!"

Zhao Fu's face was contorted with pain, and his voice was trembling:

"My lord, I don't know what happened either, but the person has indeed been arrested."

"Furthermore, I've heard that Gao Jin encountered Zhang Liang, the Minister of Justice, at the entrance of the Zhou residence."

Zhang Liang did not stop them.

Feng Bao's expression changed.

Zhang Liang did not stop him?

That was Consort Xie's top confidante in the Ministry of Justice.

If even he didn't stop it...

That means that Consort Xie had given her approval.

Did Consort Xie voluntarily give up on Zhou Wenyuan?

He suddenly realized something.

The scheme he set for Li Fan not only failed to drive him to his doom, but was instead used against him.

Once Zhou Wenyuan falls, Li Fan's prestige within the Eastern Depot will skyrocket.

He dared to touch even Consort Xie's people, so who would dare to underestimate him?

The "dilemma" he had meticulously designed actually became a stepping stone for Li Fan to rise to power.

"Damn it..."

Feng Bao squeezed out two words through gritted teeth, his voice as hoarse as iron polished by sandpaper.

He grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it on the ground.

"Bang!"

The teacup shattered, shards of porcelain scattered everywhere, and tea spilled all over the floor.

Zhao Fu shrank back in fright, not daring to breathe.

Feng Bao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing.

No.

We can't let Li Fan get away with this.

Once Zhou Wenyuan is brought to the Eastern Depot for interrogation and conviction, Gao Jin's prestige within the Eastern Depot will be firmly established.

By then, he, the chief eunuch, would be nothing more than a figurehead.

It must be stopped.

"Walk!"

Feng Bao suddenly opened his eyes and strode towards the door.

"Master! Where are you going?"

Zhao Fu hurriedly followed.

Feng Bao didn't turn his head, his voice as cold as if it came from an ice cellar:

"Go to the front yard."

"We want to see how Gao Jin intends to interrogate Zhou Wenyuan."