The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Yes! Young Master!"

The elderly man in plain robes outside the hall was stunned for a moment, then prepared to leave.

However, the man with the saber beside him interjected:

"Why trouble Master Lü with such rough work as chopping bamboo? I'll go."

As he spoke, the straight blade at his waist was already unsheathed, and he strode outside.

The old scholar's expression changed upon hearing this. He cherished the ink bamboo almost as much as his own children and grandchildren. How could he bear to let this boorish man chop it down?

He immediately rose, intending to stop him.

"There's no need for the esteemed scholar to personally lead the way. Oh, right, the matter of those young lads in the village who bumped into this young master earlier hasn't been settled yet.

Speaking of which, I wonder which would be more satisfying to chop, these young men or the bamboo forest?"

Zhao Du'an said with a smile.

His words made killing seem as simple as eating and drinking.

It was the indifference of privileged offspring towards ordinary people, almost an innate trait.

Scholar Song's body swayed.

He didn't know if this mysterious young man would really dare to slaughter the village.

But he knew that anyone who could make Lü Qingfeng bow his head and willingly serve as a servant must be a very powerful figure.

And hearing his pure Mandarin, he might even be the son of some great noble in the capital.

Although he held a high position in Taicang County, Scholar Song, having seen the true world, knew that his mere "Scholar" title was nothing more than an ant in the eyes of the capital's powerful elite.

In other words,

even if the other party really killed Xiao Wu and the others, they could easily find a reason and get away with it.

And compared to human lives, chopping down ink bamboo was a trivial matter.

"This Young Master! Miss!"

The nearly fifty-year-old scholar's voice was almost pleading.

Instinctively, he sought help from Xu Junling, being a woman:

"This old man dares not deceive you two. If the young master wants anything, the village has it. You can take it all. It's just that Song Ti Ju really has nothing to do with my Song family..."

As he spoke, the dignified scholar was about to kneel down.

Xu Junling had been quietly watching the show since she came in.

Now, she was a little unsure of Zhao Du'an's intentions.

She couldn't help but look at him, hesitant to speak.

Then, she froze.

She saw Zhao Du'an's expression was extremely calm. In those eyes, there was an almost emotionless scrutiny, as if he was probing the old scholar's heart.

Just as the saber-wielding man was about to walk out of the courtyard, Zhao Du'an finally spoke:

"Come back."

Then, all the coldness on his face dissipated, turning into a spring breeze-like warmth, and he gently helped Scholar Song up.

"This... Young Master..."

The old scholar, who had returned from hell to the world, couldn't believe it.

Xu Junling smiled, a sincere smile appearing on her sweet face:

"Old sir, please sit down. He was just joking with you."

A joke?

The old scholar, returning from hell to earth, dared not believe it.

Zhao Du'an personally helped him sit down.

Afterward, no longer in his previous lazy posture, he sat upright and said with a smile:

"Let's get to know each other again. Mr. Lü, you know Scholar Song, so you should introduce me."

Lü Qingfeng stood outside the threshold, smiling as he heard this:

"The person sitting in front of you is Zhao Du'an, an imperial envoy sent by the Emperor to investigate the case in Taicang, a messenger from the White Horse Bureau in the capital, a Censor of the Pear Blossom Hall of the Imperial Prison, a fourth-rank Commander of the Divine Machine Camp, an external scholar of the Xiwen Pavilion, an offering to the Imperial Family, the winner of this year's Buddhist-Taoist competition, and a man relied upon by the current Emperor, Lord Zhao Du'an."

After rattling off this long list of titles, Scholar Song was already shocked and pale.

He looked at the noble young master in front of him in disbelief:

"You... You are Imperial Envoy Zhao?"

Although he lived in the countryside, because he was closely associated with the literati in the prefectural city, he was no stranger to Zhao Du'an, who had become famous in the past six months.

He knew that this person was a newly promoted powerful official beside the Empress, whose fame was soaring.

Moreover, he was ruthless, vengeful, and said to be the dreaded Yama Zhao.

Handsome appearance... unrestrained arrogance... the characteristics matched!

Zhao Du'an's tone was gentle:

"Is there a second Zhao Du'an in the world?"

"No... no..."

Scholar Song was a little incoherent:

"This old man heard that the imperial envoy entered the prefectural city yesterday, but I didn't expect..."

Zhao Du'an reached into his chest, took out a secret letter and the official document of the imperial envoy's appointment, and gently pressed them on the tea table:

"Song Ti Ju mentioned in his letter that he entrusted you with all the evidence of the corrupt officials' crimes.

This official only learned after arriving yesterday that Song Ti Ju and the Taicang County Magistrate Wang Chusheng had both mysteriously disappeared. Fearing that someone was plotting in the dark, I came here in disguise for a private visit. I just tested you a little earlier. I apologize for any offense."

A test?

You should have said so earlier... The shock on the old scholar's face had not yet subsided.

Tremblingly, he picked up the secret letter on the table, confirmed the handwriting of his relative, and believed it in his heart.

Zhao Du'an was also very helpless.

He didn't dare to let the "fake imperial envoy" come over, fearing that the movement would be too big, and the news would leak out in advance, causing changes.

And coming privately made it difficult to verify his identity.

Also, he couldn't be sure whether this Scholar Song was reliable.

This was directly related to the credibility of the evidence in his hand.

After Song Ti Ju's disappearance, the old scholar who possessed the evidence was bound to be uneasy and fearful.

If Scholar Song was loyal to the imperial court, even in the face of threats, he would not easily reveal the truth.

Because once the evidence fell into the hands of someone other than the imperial envoy, the entire Song family might face a deadly disaster.

Conversely, if Scholar Song had a problem, he would likely show a different reaction when faced with threats.

At this moment, after identifying the handwriting in the secret letter as correct, and with many characteristics matching,

Scholar Song no longer hesitated, got up and left his seat.

A moment later, he brought in a tightly wrapped box, the size of a jewelry box, and placed it on the tea table:

"Please see, Imperial Envoy, the things here are sealed with mud and have not been touched. This old man does not know the specific content either."

Zhao Du'an opened the well-sealed box and saw a thick stack of documents inside, stuffed to the brim.

"What did Song Ti Ju say?" Zhao Du'an asked.

The old scholar replied:

"He said that he had long sensed that the Taicang County Magistrate was not right and secretly made many arrangements, even having informants in the Mining Tax Supervising Office. He secretly investigated for a long time, originally intending to collect the evidence and present it to Sun Xiaozhun, the Taicang Prefect.

But the more he investigated, the more he felt that this matter was not simple. He even accidentally discovered that Wang Chusheng had many accomplices..."

He said that after investigating, he discovered something extraordinary and dared not report the matter to the local officials anymore.

Moreover, he said that he might have been targeted and dared not delay any longer, so he decided to secretly report the matter to the capital and report to the current Lord Yuan..."

As the old scholar spoke, his voice couldn't help but lower, solemn and uneasy:

"This old man didn't want to get involved in this matter, fearing that it would involve the family, but thinking of serving His Majesty..."

Zhao Du'an glanced at him:

"It wasn't that the secret letter first said to put the things here, and then Song Ti Ju came to find you after the secret letter was sent to the capital, right?

In this way, you can't refuse to help him even if you don't want to.

Because if you refuse, when the imperial envoy from the capital comes down and asks you to take the evidence, you say you don't have it... then it will really be a disaster."

The old scholar was speechless, silent, and actually acquiesced.

Xu Junling was greatly surprised, her beautiful eyes looking at a certain Zhao in surprise:

"How do you know this? Is it also written in the letter?"

"Oh, it's not written in the letter. I guessed it," Zhao Du'an picked up the topmost piece of paper from the evidence in the box and said casually:

"Because putting myself in his shoes, if I were Song Ti Ju, I would definitely do this."

Xu Junling: "..."

Scholar Song: "..."

At this time, Zhao Du'an had already unfolded the paper in his hand, excited in his heart.

Since Song Ti Ju said that he had already found out the accomplices behind Wang Chusheng, then these evidences must mention it.

As one line of handwriting after another came into view, Zhao Du'an's pupils suddenly contracted.

...

...

On the other side.

At the same time as Zhao Du'an and his party stormed into Song Family Village.

Near the Taicang Silver Mine, inside a supervisor's office.

The Taicang County Deputy Magistrate, who had been stationed here recently, was also awakened by the voice of the County Constable outside.

"What happened? Why are you so flustered?"

Inside the office room, the eighth-rank County Deputy Magistrate, who was thin, had a mustache, and a somewhat sly look, frowned.

As Wang Chusheng's deputy, the County Deputy Magistrate temporarily took over after the County Magistrate disappeared.

During this period, the County Deputy Magistrate, also surnamed Wang, was suffering.

He couldn't eat well, couldn't sleep well, and was often startled awake in his dreams, breaking out in a cold sweat.

The most common phrase he said was:

"What sin did I commit to come to Taicang as an official with Prefect Sun? After only a year, before I could even settle down, I got myself into this mess. I'm just an eighth-rank County Deputy Magistrate, but I'm taking on the duties of a seventh-rank official. Why is my life so miserable..."

At this moment, County Deputy Magistrate Wang, who had just caught some sleep, glared at the entering Constable with dark circles under his eyes.

The latter hurriedly said:

"County Deputy Magistrate, something bad has happened! Some miners saw suspicious strangers wandering near the mine just now. They said there were two carriages, a young couple, and several servants, pointing and making comments towards us near the silver mine..."

You tell me, at this juncture, which young master or young lady in the prefecture would be crazy enough to run around here?

It's not a good place to see the scenery... Prefect said that if we discover any suspicious people, we must report it to you."

County Deputy Magistrate Wang's drowsiness suddenly disappeared.

He stared at his subordinate and asked for more details:

"Which way did they go? How long ago was it?"

"They said they went towards Song Family Village, about less than an incense stick's time."

Song Family Village... The sly-eyed County Deputy Magistrate Wang pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice:

"Alright, you quickly go to the County Office and tell the Head Constable to take the constables to Song Family Village. If you find those people, find a reason to bring them back to the County Office first!"

The Constable was shocked: "Arrest them directly?"

"Nonsense! At this juncture, we can't afford any mistakes! The imperial envoy is in the prefecture, and he might come to inspect today. Absolutely nothing can happen! Bring them back first!"

"But those people look rich and noble..."

"Heh, no matter how noble they are, aren't they just young masters? Can they be bigger than Prefect or the imperial envoy?"

After a pause, County Deputy Magistrate Wang stroked his mustache, his small eyes revealing shrewdness:

"When you give the orders, be vague. At worst, if we offend someone, we can push the blame onto the lower-level constables, right? What does it have to do with you and me?"