The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 138 - 123, Courtroom reversal, Swordsman blocks the way

Golden Throne Hall burst into noise.

He admitted it!

Faced with Zhou Cheng’s tricky question, Ma Yan didn’t dodge or avoid, he directly admitted!

In the crowd, Imperial Censor Yuann Li in his blue robe calmly observed, his eyes slowly narrowing, glancing quietly toward the Empress.

Seemingly guessing something, a barely noticeable smile appeared on his lips.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister, acting as the "party leader," frowned, a sense of unease brewing within him.

Everyone should have realized that Zhou Cheng’s statement was setting the tone, discarding all other chaotic clues and focusing solely on the core issue.

From the moment Ma Yan nodded in admission, the Imperial Court’s side had fallen into a highly passive position.

"Lord admitted it?"

Zhou Cheng paused for a moment, the "river" shaped lines between his eyebrows deepening.

Ma Yan looked at him coldly, scoffing:

"Unlike Master Zhou, I have nothing to hide about the deeds I’ve done."

Zhou Cheng ignored the barb in his words and immediately turned, addressing the Empress:

"Your Majesty, you have heard it yourself, Ma Yan has admitted to these crimes. I humbly request, according to the Great Yu Law, that Ma Yan and his subordinates, led by Zhao Douan of Lihua Hall, be severely punished!"

As he concluded, the officials from the Ministry of Justice, all above the fifth rank, who had followed him to the hall, stepped forward together, chorusing:

"We beseech Your Majesty to enforce strict punishment, to uphold the clarity and severity of the law!"

Amongst the officials, a censor stepped forward, loudly concurring:

"The Imperial Court acts recklessly, with public grievances filling the streets, a deep-seated malaise..."

Another official jumped out, supporting the Ministry of Justice, attacking Ma Yan.

Among them were not just Zhou Cheng’s followers, but also some who simply kicked a man while he was down, the pleas unceasing.

"Snap!"

A eunuch beside the Golden Throne Hall raised his whip, striking it hard against the ground:

"Silence—"

It was then the ministers quieted down, Xu Zhenguan, seated high upon the throne, remained unchanged in demeanor, her gaze turning much colder, her cool voice echoing through the hall:

"Are you finished?"

No one responded.

Xu Zhenguan calmly said, "Since you are done, it’s now Ma Yan’s turn to speak to them."

What did she mean?

Zhou Cheng keenly sensed the strangeness of her words.

"Yes." Only then did Ma Yan speak unhurriedly, surveying the ministers:

"Master Zhou’s words are indeed true, but my Imperial Court has never violated the law."

Zhou Cheng was stunned, and many others also harbored doubts.

However, the next second, Ma Yan provided the clarification:

"According to Great Yu Law, if it’s a normal case, the Ministry of Justice can arrest criminals first, the Imperial Court cannot contest. But... there is one exception, which is when imperial power specifically orders an arrest!"

Zhou Cheng’s complexion slightly changed, already understanding the other’s implication.

Indeed, Ma Yan then took a stack of thick case files from his sleeve, pulling out the few at the top, showing them to the gentlemen:

"Already two days ago, Her Majesty had commanded the Imperial Court to investigate Marquis Xiajiang’s crimes, and, if necessary, arrest him. All related procedures have official approval, available for review. According to Great Yu Law, in cases specially authorized by imperial command, the Imperial Court can exceed their jurisdiction for arrests, and the Three Legal Departments cannot interfere.

Thus! Last night, when Zhao Douan held my mandate and arrested Marquis Xiajiang, it was by imperial command. Minister Hee Zheng of the Ministry of Justice, due to personal grudges, tried to obstruct and was repelled by Master Zhao, fully in line with the legality of the law!

Moreover! The imperial command to arrest preceded the Ministry of Justice’s detention. Moreover, when I saw it, Marquis Xiajiang was having tea with Master Zhou, adamantly protecting him during interrogation.

I too would like to ask, how much did Marquis Xiajiang offer you, Mr. Zhou, to make you willingly step forward?!"

With that, he threw the scrolls in his hand at Zhou Cheng.

"Rustle—"

Papers flew, scattering across the floor.

The hall fell into silence.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice stood dumbfounded, not expecting Ma Yan to throw out this answer.

Had Her Majesty already ordered the investigation on Marquis Xiajiang… was it not due to his issues with Zhao Douan?

This greatly exceeded their expectations.

As for the authenticity of the documents on the ground, whether they were real or the Empress had hastily fabricated them overnight to protect the Imperial Court, was any of it added post-incident?

Even if someone suspected, they would not be foolish to raise it on the spot.

The truth was not important.

What mattered was that Ma Yan had provided a legal rationale, making Zhou Cheng’s impeachment untenable.

"Your Majesty… about this…"

Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Cheng, his complexion paling from rosy to ashen, then gradually to a steely blue, turned to face the throne.

The Empress, expressionless, nodded:

"Mr. Zhou misunderstood."

Misunderstood… Zhou Cheng opened his mouth, attempting his last struggle:

"But when Zhao Douan entered, he never mentioned he was acting on imperial command…"

Ma Yan glanced at him, lightly said:

"Which of Her Majesty’s servants is not acting on imperial command?"

Implicitly, if Zhao Douan had done it, it certainly was legal.

You’re wrong to doubt his legality.

Zhou Cheng was left speechless.

Those who had just jumped out to support him also fell silent.

In the crowd, Yuann Li’s smile was undisguised as his gaze turned toward his old rival Li Yanfu, only to see the Prime Minister had already closed his eyes, apparently not intending to intervene.

This left Yuann Li somewhat regretful.

Ma Yan spoke again, shaking the remaining thick pile of files in his hand:

"Master Zhou is silent now, so now it’s my turn to ask, the Ministry of Justice claims to have investigated Marquis Xiajiang, may I ask what did they find?"

Zhou Cheng, with a stern face, responded: "Only suspicion, not yet confirmed."

Ma Yan nodded, "That means nothing then, no matter, I have it."

He pulled out a paper, reading:

"According to my Imperial Court’s investigation, Marquis Xiajiang had numerous financial transactions with the Capital gangs of the Red Flower Society, using them to set up four private gambling houses and two underground money lenders…"

"For debts, using the hands of the Red Flower Society, the indirect murder of thirty-nine people…"

"Last September, through the Red Flower Society, he indirectly controlled a human trafficking syndicate, trafficking fourteen young girls of good families into the Capital, suspected of using them for bribery, hiding three in a private residence, and abusing them to death in January this year, then threw their bodies into the river to destroy the evidence…"

"And the most recent one, he kidnapped Feng Lianlian, daughter of the Chief of the Ministry of Personnel, fortunately saved in time by Zhao Douan. All the above cases are with complete evidence, all verifiable."

Above the Golden Throne Hall, quiet ensued.

Behind Minister of the Ministry of Justice Zhou Cheng, a fine cold sweat quietly seeped out of his back.

He hadn’t expected that the Imperial Court had silently gathered so many criminal charges against Marquis Xiajiang.

Although the most lethal charges, such as his transactions, lacked evidence and had not surfaced,

just these existing charges alone were enough to send the hereditary marquis to the autumn execution ground.

But if Marquis Xiajiang were to be imprisoned, would he betray them all?

Zhou Cheng quickly reviewed his mind and confirmed that although he had reaped many benefits from the other party,

he had always been cautious and left no evidence behind.

Moreover, once Marquis Xiajiang was imprisoned, those who wanted him to keep silent probably outnumbered those who would save him by several folds.

"This man is so wicked and guilty, had it not been for Lord’s pointing out, I would have almost been deceived by him!"

Zhou Cheng turned his face as quickly as turning a page, indignantly said.

Those officials who had stepped forward were like waking from a dream.

They quickly turned their accusations towards Marquis Xiajiang, pleading the Empress to punish him severely.

The impeachment that was initially targeted at Zhao Douan and Ma Yan seemed to have been forgotten by everyone, turning into a trial of Marquis Xiajiang.

...

...

While the court trial was in full swing in the court hall.

Zhao Douan also left his residence, heading towards the Imperial Palace for quite some time.

After the sun rose, the sunlight was scorching, and he hid in the carriage to cool off.

Without a mobile phone, the bumpy carriage was really not suitable for reading...

Especially the stories of this era, which were either about scholars winning over beauties, ghosts, or princesses...

Zhao Douan felt that the authors of this era were too timid, not even daring to fantasize about the Empress, and he despised them.

He could only boringly watch the scenery outside the window.

However, at first, the streets outside seemed normal, but gradually, he became uneasy.

"Little Wang, haven’t we reached the Imperial Palace yet?" Zhao Douan suddenly asked.

The driver, Little Wang, also said strangely,

"Sir, something seems odd. I’ve traveled this road more than once, but somehow, this street feels unfamiliar."

As he spoke, he also controlled the carriage to slow down.

Zhao Douan stood up, subconsciously grasped his sword, and lifted the carriage curtain.

He saw that without knowing when, they had turned into a cold, deserted street.

Both sides housed rows of shops, all eerily empty, without a single pedestrian.

The shops were not closed either; they were wide open.

Including a noodle shop on the roadside, where the pot still had boiling noodles and wafting steam.

But eerily, there was not a single person in sight.

"Stop the carriage," Zhao Douan said in a deep voice.

The coachman also realized the danger, hurriedly pulled the reins tight, and, clutching the weapon at his waist, vigilantly looked around.

The master and servant got off the carriage, first looking back.

They saw the direction they came from stretched out long, seemingly endless.

Looking ahead, the scene was no different.

"Sir, what is happening..."

The young government officer named Wang turned pale,

"We wouldn’t have encountered a ghost hitting the wall, could we?"

Zhao Douan slapped him on the head, scolding,

"It’s broad daylight; whence come ghosts and goblins?"

He said with a grim face, "However, we have indeed run into trouble."

It was at this moment he recalled the warning from a "dismissed official" at the Heavenly Master Mansion:

The calamity of bloodlight looming over his head!

Zhao Douan initially thought this disaster would befall Marquis Xiajiang, but it had not happened yesterday.

Unexpectedly, it had arrived at this moment.

"Sir, are you saying someone..." Little Wang paused, stunned.

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But Zhao Douan cut him off, suddenly looking into the distance, his expression changing:

"What is that?"

Little Wang instinctively turned to look, and then felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and darkness before his eyes, fainting.

Zhao Douan retracted his Hand Blade, grabbing his fainting subordinate.

Having learned from Zhu Kui’s ordeal, he inevitably became more cautious with people around him.

Although he could not be sure if the turn into this bizarre street involved the coachman, he didn’t need to take the risk.

Moreover, facing an enemy threatening his life, an extra attendant wasn’t much use.

"I’m sorry, if it has nothing to do with you, I’ll take you out after I deal with the enemy."

Zhao Douan threw his subordinate into the carriage, then raised his hand to calm the restless horses.

With a "clang", he drew his sword and walked forward.

The quiet street, dense cluster of buildings.

A cloud quietly passed overhead, blocking the scorching sun, casting shadows.

Zhao Douan, sword in hand, walked several hundred steps, then abruptly stopped.

Ahead on the street was a tea stall, leaning against a wall built of gray bricks, beneath the tea stall’s awning were two simple tables.

At one table, perched on a stool, sat a person.

Draped in a gray cloak, wearing a hat, under the cloak was a white Swordsman’s robe.

He was bowing his head, quietly sipping tea, the table bearing only a teapot, a tea cup, and a long unsheathed sword lying across.

A... Swordsman?

Zhao Douan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, "Are you waiting for me?"

The Swordsman slowly raised his head, and beneath the hat, a laugh came from behind a dark blue ghostly mask:

"I have long respected your reputation, Zhao Douan."

Zhao Douan stared at the ghostly face, sighed softly, and thought to himself that Little Wang had guessed correctly.

In broad daylight, there truly were supernatural entities lurking.

...

Mistakes to be corrected later.