The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 147 - 130. Transmit the imperial edict! Upon his first arrival at the Prince Consort’s residence, Princess Yunyang of the royal family has a skill for taming her husband, Zhao Duan.

"Very well, what else did the Grandmaster say?" the Empress asked as she closed the list.

Ma Yan said nervously:

"Grandfather only said to submit it to Your Majesty for approval, oh, right, and to convey a message to Your Majesty."

"What message?"

Ma Yan hesitantly said:

"Please cherish the wise and avoid the vile.

Grandfather heard that Zhao Douan has been gaining Your Majesty’s favor recently, so he took the liberty of advising Your Majesty that Zhao Douan has a terrible reputation. While he may be somewhat capable, he is nothing more than a cruel official.

Your Majesty could employ him to handle affairs but must never rely on him heavily, let alone trust him. Otherwise, such a cruel official, once he forms cliques, will become a hidden danger for Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan paused, somewhat surprised:

"Does the Grandmaster also know about him?"

Ma Yan honestly said:

"Although grandfather no longer meddles in court affairs, he still has many students, and there have been denunciations against Zhao Douan in both the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College recently. Grandfather also heard about them, which is why..."

Xu Zhenguan gave a wry smile, not surprised any longer.

Grandmaster Dong, respected and revered, has studied the teachings of sages all his life and has always disliked those whose conduct is lacking.

Although Zhao Douan’s abilities are gradually becoming recognized, aside from a very few close people, the impression of him held by others remains extremely poor.

The main dark spot is limited to his despicable character.

The name "cruel official" is gradually spreading.

Grandmaster Dong, not knowing the truth and misled by rumors, is worried about the Empress’s reliance on a cruel official and thus gives this advice.

It is also a sign of his loyalty.

Xu Zhenguan smiled, wanting to explain a few words for Zhao Douan, but also knew that a few words would not make it clear.

Holding the list, he also thought of the conflict between the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the new cabinet, as well as the task Zhao Douan had just taken on, and an idea struck him:

Hmm... If he really can overthrow Zhou Cheng, it could serve as an opportunity to introduce him to the Grandmaster and resolve the misunderstanding.

He simply said, "I understand. I will weigh it carefully. Please rest assured, Grandmaster."

Ma Yan breathed a sigh of relief and took his leave.

After he left the Imperial study and even after he exited Yangxin Hall, he let out a long breath, feeling troubled in his heart.

He had somewhat detected the perfunctory nature of the Empress’s words.

"Alas, should I tell grandfather the truth? What is Your Majesty thinking, favoring a cruel official like that? Could it be that he’s really that good-looking?"

Ma Yan had a look of distress.

Unbeknownst to him, he had already met Zhao Douan and held him in high esteem.

...

...

Marquis Consort’s Mansion.

Princess Yunyang woke up very early today, but she stayed in bed until the sun had risen. Then, with the help of her maids, she got dressed and cleaned up.

By the time she arrived at the dining hall, her husband, Li Shuping, was already waiting for her.

It’s worth mentioning that she and her husband had been living separately for many years.

The Princess occupied the main room alone, while Li Shuping, as the Marquis Consort, could only reside in a side room.

"Yunyang, the cook just made fresh eight-treasure porridge, I’ve served it for you."

Li Shuping, his hair meticulously combed and a faint bruise at his temple, forced a smile and spoke proactively.

Dressed in a bright red gauze skirt and embroidered shoes, and although already a mother, Princess Yunyang’s skin was still as fair as milk. She glided across the floor with the grace of a lotus.

With the help of her maid, she lazily took her seat at the head of the table.

Below her ebony hair, her face devoid of a smile and betraying a hint of allure, gave a cursory glance to the eight-treasure porridge before her and said coldly:

"Not hungry, throw it away."

Li Shuping’s eager smile rigidified, and he slowly sat down, cautiously probing:

"Why are you off your appetite today?"

Having commanded her maids to dispose of the porridge, Princess Yunyang’s gaze, from start to finish, had not once landed on her nominal "husband."

She also seemed not to have heard him, pinching a white porcelain spoon and nibbling at an egg custard delicately.

The servants outside observed silently, unimpressed by the scene.

Though the place was named "Marquis Consort’s Mansion," in reality, the Marquis Consort’s status was only slightly above that of a servant.

Li Shuping’s face cycled through emotions. Clenching his teeth, he asked:

"I heard that yesterday Zhao Douan stormed into the Ministry of Justice and arrested Marquis Xiajiang... Could it be that you are worried about Marquis Xiajiang..."

Princess Yunyang paused her motions, finally turning to look at him, a trace of scorn crossing her lovely face:

"Jealous? Do you think I’m concerned about Marquis Xiajiang?"

Li Shuping was lost for words when his thoughts were so openly pinpointed.

Holding the spoon, she stirred her dish and said faintly:

"Yes, I approached Marquis Xiajiang to deal with Zhao Douan, and after sleeping with him, he agreed to stand up for me.

Are you not pleased? If you have the guts, go find that Mr. Zhao and win back the face you lost. Do you have the guts to do that? If you can manage it, I might also agree to sleep with you once.

You... can you?"

*Snap!*

Li Shuping’s face turned red, veins throbbing on his forehead, and the chopsticks he held were snapped in half by brute force.

The servants jumped at the sudden noise, but Princess Yunyang merely scoffed coldly:

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"What, you’ve grown bold now?"

Li Shuping, possibly because of being provoked over the past few days, unexpectedly mustered up courage. He took a deep breath and said:

"Yunyang, I am, after all, your husband..."

"Husband?" Princess Yunyang suddenly laughed, a self-mocking laughter. Her gaze was complex as she said:

"Don’t forget what you are. If not for... why would I have married a good-for-nothing like you?!"

The servants outside the hall silently moved away, pretending not to hear.

Princess Yunyang had been forced to marry Li Shuping, and this was no secret.

According to custom, when a princess married, at the very least, it would be to the progeny of some local nobility.

Perhaps matched with a newly risen noble who had made great achievements.

In most cases, it would still be a union with a powerful family.

However, Li Shuping was an exception.

When he became the son-in-law to royalty, his family had already fallen into decline, merely a small and unremarkable clan in the Capital.

He also hadn’t earned any notable achievements.

It was said that during the late Emperor’s reign, for reasons unknown, Princess Yunyang fell out with her imperial brother.

As a result, she was married off in a fit of rage by the Old Emperor, betrothed to Li Shuping.

Back then, Li Shuping was overjoyed, feeling as if a stroke of great fortune had come from the heavens.

But for Yunyang, she had no kindness toward him.

Later on, perhaps gradually giving up on herself, recognizing her fate, this once incomparably noble princess eventually developed the reputation of being "promiscuous" as it appeared to everyone.

"I... said the wrong thing."

Li Shuping hung his head, slowly exhaling. He had long grown accustomed to his cowardly role.

He didn’t have the courage to stand up to the Princess, either.

After all, everything he had now was brought to him by his wife.

Li Shuping tried to adjust his emotions, attempting to break the oppressive atmosphere. He took the initiative and said with a forced laugh:

"I heard that today, at the morning court, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Cheng, led a group of officials, furious and fuming to the court. That Zhao Douan and those lapdogs of the Imperial Court will now have it tough.

Hmph, the issue when he aggressively arrested fifty-eight officials was barely suppressed, and now he dares to launch an assault on the Three Legal Departments.

The entire court of civil and military officials will certainly not tolerate this. I think he truly is lawless, this Master, his time is up."

Princess Yunyang sipped her egg soup, but her face was not at ease.

She knew her niece all too well.

She knew that her niece, who appeared fairy-like, showing the image of a benevolent ruler, also had a cold, merciless side that could kill without batting an eye.

"Let’s hope it goes smoothly."

She thought, wondering if the angry Zhou Cheng would be able to bring down the Imperial Court.

As for Marquis Xiajiang... she couldn’t care less.

In fact, Marquis Xiajiang, at that moment being beaten in jail, did not know.

Princess Yunyang had had no expectations of him from the very beginning.

What she thought from the start was to divert the disaster eastward, to let Zhou Cheng, who was already at odds with the Imperial Court, take the fall.

That’s why.

Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Hee Zheng was in conflict with Shen Juan over seizing a person early in the morning.

That’s why.

When Marquis Xiajiang learned in the restaurant that Zhao Douan was coming to arrest him, Princess Yunyang timely threw a cold bucket of water on him.

She knew that Marquis Xiajiang had few he could rely on, with Zhou Cheng being almost the only one.

However, what surprised her was that Zhao Douan daringly had the guts to actually rush into the Three Legal Departments.

And Ma Yan even went so far as to cover for him...

In less than a day, the two government offices stood on opposite sides.

This rapid development made her uneasy, feeling she might have gone too far...

At this moment, a servant rushed in from outside, reporting urgently:

"Princess, something’s wrong."

Princess Yunyang narrowed her eyes and set down her soup spoon:

"Has the court been dismissed? Could it be that Zhou Cheng failed?"

The servant sent out to gather information about the early court nodded, recounting the news he had learned.

Upon hearing that the Imperial Court was unscathed, that the officials from the Ministry of Justice came out of the court with dirt on their faces, and that Marquis Xiajiang had been stripped of his title to be executed after autumn,

The Princess dressed in a red silk gown was expressionless.

The hands resting on her long white python-like legs instinctively tightened.

Marquis Xiajiang is going to die... son-in-law Li Shuping struggled to contain his smile.

He simply couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth!

And just then, another servant dashed in, panting heavily with an extremely worried expression:

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"Princess, terrible news."

Princess Yunyang was startled; she did not recall sending out a second person.

The servant continued:

"I was following the carriage, going to the eastern market to buy ice when, along the way, I saw that Zhao Douan, riding a horse, leading a bunch of eunuchs from the palace, heading toward our residence!"

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