The First Lackey Under The Empress

“This…” Vice-General Ma hesitated, explaining:

“Young Duke called them over tonight for an interrogation…”

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows, understanding the situation after a moment.

It turned out that after being greatly shocked by the firearms demonstration during the day, Young Duke, upon returning to the city, thought it over and invited the group of dismissed young military officers over in the evening.

In name, it was a small gathering, but in reality, he shared his observations from the day.

He also delved into the reasons why these people held such great animosity towards Zhao Du'an.

And where the rumors they had heard originated from.

As a result, just as he was getting somewhere with the interrogation, the Imperial Guards arrived.

“Da da da.”

At this moment, because the team stopped, a horse following behind bypassed the team, its hooves stepping on the bluestone bricks, making crisp sounds.

Tang Ping, the son of the Duke of Zhenguo, holding the reins, sat on the horse, came forward, and looked at Zhao Du'an with a complex expression:

“Inspector Zhao.”

This greeting lacked the arrogance and anger of the daytime, replaced by regret and frustration.

The usually heroic “Young Duke” now sat on the horse, looking like a defeated dog.

Zhao Du'an teased:

“Why is Young Duke also here?”

He turned his head to Vice-General Ma and put on a stern face:

“You only need to arrest the suspects, why did you even invite the son of the Duke of Zhenguo?”

The vice-general was about to explain, but Tang Ping interrupted him.

He suddenly dismounted, shaking his head and stubbornly saying:

“It has nothing to do with him, I insisted on coming, I won't be satisfied until I see the result.”

After a slight pause, Tang Ping, dejectedly leading his horse, said in a muffled voice, like a defeated dog, mocking himself:

“I have interrogated them clearly. Many of the rumors they told me about Inspector Zhao were unfounded and exaggerated. As a military officer in the camp, I failed to recognize people properly and should be punished.

I, Tang Ping, am not someone who can't take it. I was dissatisfied when you stripped off my official robe before, but now I see that the punishment was not unreasonable. According to the camp's military regulations, spreading rumors to confuse and undermine morale warrants the deprivation of merit and official rank.

Since we happened to meet tonight, I will take this opportunity to publicly apologize. After today, I will no longer trouble you about this matter.”

He finished speaking in one breath, with a straight face.

Tang Ping turned around, leading his horse, and was about to return to the team.

Obviously, this incident had taught this young duke, who had been smooth sailing for over twenty years, a deep lesson.

However, the face of the Duke's son still made his apology sound stiff.

As if he would shatter into pieces if he fell to the ground.

“Hold on!”

Zhao Du'an, still on his horse, suddenly spoke.

Tang Ping, who was no longer as high-spirited as before, paused and frowned, turning his head:

“Does Inspector Zhao have anything else?”

Zhao Du'an asked curiously:

“This official wants to ask, what are Young Duke's plans for the future?”

Tang Ping was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said:

“No plans for now. At worst, I'll leave the capital and join the border army after a while.”

Zhao Du'an said:

“Now that the Divine Machine Camp is upgrading its firearms, it is in need of talents. This official lacks manpower. If you are still willing to serve the country, report to the camp tomorrow.”

He then glanced at the military officers held by the Imperial Guards and said lightly:

“After the investigation, if any of them are cleared of suspicion and you think they are still usable, report them to Shi Meng as well and reinstate them.”

Tang Ping was stunned in place.

However, Zhao Du'an had already spurred his horse, da da da, and disappeared into the dark night of the capital.

…

…

Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

“Your Majesty, you are back.”

Mo Chou, waiting outside the bedroom, respectfully said:

“Grand Secretary Xue has sent a message…”

“Speak in the study,” Xu Zhenguan said faintly as she returned to the bedroom.

From the moment she stepped into the palace, the emotions stirred up in the Jizhao Nunnery were smoothed out by her.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Mo Chou reported the series of disposal orders following Wang Heng's downfall, as well as the news presented by Xue Shence that the relevant traitors had been arrested.

She also said:

“Some of the Heavenly Master's Mansion's priests were left alive and thrown into the Divine Machine Camp. They have now been transferred to the Imperial Prison. How to deal with them, please ask Your Majesty to decide.”

Xu Zhenguan leaned back on the dragon chair, staring blankly at the lampshade on the desk covered with bright yellow silk, lost in thought, and casually said:

“Interrogate them as usual.”

“Yes,” Mo Chou responded, then cautiously said:

“Your Majesty, how should the follow-up of this matter be announced to the court officials? Should we…”

“Attribute it to Kuangfu She,” Xu Zhenguan said somewhat tiredly, and then, as if she had made a decision, she said:

“At the same time, draft an official document and issue it to all the yamen, both above and below the court. Just say…”

She paused, and said softly:

“Just say that I know that there are people in the court who are secretly colluding with the rebels, and they have not yet been completely eliminated. Let tomorrow be the boundary.

Before tomorrow, all past actions, whether it is secretly colluding with rebels or relying on others, I will not pursue them.

After tomorrow, those who collude again will be my enemies and will be unforgivable.”

“Order the枢密院, apart from these moths exposed today, there is no need to involve anyone else.”

“Order诏衙, to destroy all the information previously investigated on ministers secretly colluding with rebels.”

Mo Zhaorong was stunned, as if she hadn't heard clearly, and said in disbelief:

“Your Majesty, are you going to grant a general amnesty?”

She then thought of Wang Heng's remarks at the banquet.

She guessed that it was because His Majesty was touched that she granted the courtiers a general amnesty.

She was momentarily shocked by this magnanimity and couldn't help but say:

“Your Majesty, if you do this, I'm afraid many people may not appreciate it, and may not believe it.”

Xu Zhenguan smiled and shook her head, and said:

“Whether they believe it or not, I only seek peace of mind. If I can make the next Wang Heng turn back from his wrong path, what is the difficulty in letting go of some people?”

Water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too observant has no followers…

She recalled Zhao Du'an's words in her heart, and all the depression in her chest was released.

Vaguely, it seemed that her state of mind was even clearer.

Mo Chou looked up, admiringly and admiringly at the female emperor, her mind swayed, and she said softly:

“Your Majesty has such a spirit, which is the blessing of all people.”

Xu Zhenguan smiled and scolded, waving her hand: “Go get busy, I'm tired too.”

Mo Chou hummed, then suddenly remembered something and said:

“Your Majesty, there is one more thing I want to tell you.”

“Oh?”

“A memorial has been sent from below, saying that the daughter of the Prince of Huai'an, Princess Xu Junling, is about to enter the capital.

It is said that she is here for the once-in-a-century 'Buddhist-Taoist battle'. Counting the days delayed on the road, it must not be far from her arrival in the capital.”

Xu Zhenguan was slightly surprised: “Junling is coming…”

Mo Chou worried:

“Your Majesty, although every Buddhist-Taoist battle will attract many people to the capital to watch, at a time when the new policy is being promulgated and the court is initially stable, the Prince of Huai'an sent this widely known princess here, I'm afraid it may not just be to watch the fun.”

The Prince of Huai'an, Xu An.

He is one of the “Eight Kings” commonly referred to in the market, and his palace is stationed in the Huai River, which is the rich Jiangnan region.

Although his strength is far inferior to the “Prince of Jing”, who is the head of the Eight Kings, he is not a simple person.

The Prince of Huai'an has a son and a daughter who are the most famous, namely the eldest son Xu Qian, and the daughter Xu Junling.

Among the two, this princess is the most famous.

The Huai River is rich, and the atmosphere of reading is strong. This Princess of Huai'an is extremely talented, proficient in everything from piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is very favored by the prince.

Although she is a woman, she is faintly the prince of Huai'an's trusted aide.

Even to a certain extent, she can represent her father.

Her noble status can be seen.

“It doesn't matter,” Xu Zhenguan thought for a while, smiled, and said softly:

“Is my capital of the Great Yu afraid of being seen down upon? Junling's last visit to the capital was several years ago. Now things are different, but I don't know how she has grown up.”

After a pause, she looked out the window and said with some regret:

“Unfortunately, my uncle is only willing to send a princess after all, and is not willing to let his eldest son enter the capital.”

Mo Chou also looked out the window, thinking:

Not only the Prince of Huai'an, but how dare the other princes easily send their heirs close to the capital?

However… As the Buddhist-Taoist battle approaches, I'm afraid that more than just the princess will come to the capital to watch this grand event.

Sha sha sha…

The autumn wind rises and falls, sweeping away the night.

…

Far away from the capital, on a certain official road.

Two carriages broke through the autumn wind.

The wheels rolled up two yellowish autumn leaves stained with mud in the rut of the dirt road, and the crisp sound of the bells revealed a bit of desolation.

The shaking car curtain was lowered.

Xu Junling retracted her gaze from a forest of Xiao Xiao falling leaves like rain in the distance beside the road.

Feeling the slightly rough cold wind compared to the Huai River, blowing across her sweet, delicate, and breakable face.

Her small hand tightened the gorgeous fabric on her collar, and she said softly:

“Endless autumn trees Xiao Xiao fall… This wind to the north is really different from Jiangnan.”

The maid Lvshui in the car smiled:

“The princess has written a poem again, but it's a pity that it's only a fragment.”

“Poetry and lyrics are inherently natural, and clever hands occasionally get them. If they are vulgar and inferior verses, they can be made casually, but good ones, even if there are only half a sentence, are not easy.” Xu Junling said with emotion:

“With just this sentence, it may not be possible to complete it in a lifetime.”

Lvshui smiled playfully:

“The princess is giving her maid a lesson again, just like the book-speaking husband at home.”

The princess, wrapped in a beautifully knitted dress, did not resemble the Prince of Huai'an, but was seven points similar to the Princess of Huai'an when she was young.

She looked sweet, especially her face was like a peeled egg, moist and smooth.

It was the skin raised by the climate of the Huai River, as if it could pinch out water.

Her temperament was dignified and elegant, and her demeanor was generous.

When joking with the maid, she just smiled without showing her teeth.

She pretended to be angry and pinched the rolled-up book in her hand to hit her.

She heard the old man in a plain robe driving the car outside the carriage smile:

“Miss came to Beijing a few years ago, it was in the spring, and she returned in the summer, so naturally she doesn't know this autumn wind, but Beijing is still good. If you go further north, it is really completely opposite to the south.”

Xu Junling did not dare to neglect the old man surnamed Lv, who was invited by her father to protect her safety, and said seriously:

“I grew up in the Huai River since I was a child, and rarely go far away. I am not as knowledgeable as Master Lv. If I can travel all over the north and south of the river in my lifetime, it will not be in vain.”

The old man driving the car said with a smile:

“The princess has a noble body and should only be raised by the lake. If you go to the bitter and cold land, I'm afraid it will be destroyed. Old man, I am a martial artist, but I need to be tempered by the world.”

Xu Junling asked curiously:

“I have seen in books that the Supreme Ancestor Emperor walked around in all directions in the past to hone his martial arts, opening the way for future generations. In the past, the Buddhist and Taoist disputes still had to be overshadowed by my Xu imperial family.”

Thank you 2024……1762 for the 500 coins, and 2020……3214 for the 200 coins reward~