The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 158 - 138, Reporting to Yuan Qingyi

"Wang Shan? Are you saying, the adopted son of Mr. Wang? When did he become involved with Zhao Douan?"

He Zheng was taken aback, recalling this person.

After the political upheaval at the Xuan Sect, Mr. Wang died amidst the chaos, and after the new emperor ascended the throne, there was a massive reshuffling at court.

With the fall of Wang Zhen, the forces he’d painstakingly woven scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree.

This adopted son, Wang Shan, having lost his support, took the initiative to resign, holding onto the "inheritance" business left by his adoptive father.

There was no longer such a person within the court of Great Yu, but among the powerful and wealthy, he thrived.

A subordinate reported:

"Ever since Zhao Douan rose to power last year, he was brought into the circle of elite young nobles in the Capital by Qin Qiu.

Once, he visited Wang Shan’s residence, and according to Qin Qiu, Wang Shan hosted a banquet with wine to entertain Zhao Douan, deliberately preparing a beautiful maiden to woo someone with the surname Zhao.

After the banquet, Wang Shan personally took Zhao Douan to see the beautiful maiden, and Qin Qiu, having no chance to enter, only knew that by the next morning, Zhao Douan came looking for him to leave Wang Mansion. When he left, his face was pale, and his steps unsteady.

However, afterwards, for reasons unknown, he seldom interacted with Wang Shan."

"Oh?" He Zheng’s eyes brightened, his fingers instinctively stroked his beard as he chuckled:

"That makes sense. What formation of ties? Wang Shan probably intended to blackmail Zhao Douan all along. With that said, it seems Zhao Douan slept with that beauty."

His tone could barely conceal his excitement.

With this, as long as he could get the evidence of Zhao Douan sleeping with the woman from Wang Shan, he would fulfill the task assigned by the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

"Sir, shall we go arrest Wang Shan at once?" the subordinate asked for instructions.

He Zheng, however, shook his head: "No, that’s not appropriate."

As a trusted subordinate of Zhou Cheng, he knew to some extent that Zhou Cheng had once worked under Mr. Wang along with Wang Shan and they’d had a good relationship.

Although times change, it would still be safest to report to Zhou Cheng first.

"Throw Qin Qiu into the Ministry of Justice’s prison and keep it under wraps."

The civil official in green robes was smug with success:

"And on the way back, see the Minister of the Ministry of Justice."

...

"Wang Shan?"

In East City, behind the private school of the Xue family.

Hearing the name, Zhang Han and Haitang didn’t react much, but Zhao Douan’s pupils suddenly contracted.

In his mind, long-buried memories were stirred, and jumbled images flipped through his mind like a poorly edited movie.

The name... so familiar... wait, ’I’ seem to have met him before, maybe even drunk with him? Such a vague memory, it seems to be shortly after ’I’ came into power...

Zhao Douan pressed his thumb to his brow, struggling to glean useful information from the scattered fragments of memory.

In a trance, he seemed to see ’himself’ walking arm-in-arm with Wang Shan, drunkenly leaving the banquet hall, walking down the corridor.

They finally stopped outside a bedroom, with Wang Shan smiling as he pushed open the door, and then... he forgot.

"What’s wrong with you?"

With a face like a melon seed and a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, the valiant Haitang looked at him suspiciously.

"It’s nothing, just think the name sounds familiar." Zhao Douan managed a strained smile, concealing his discomposure.

"It’s normal to find it familiar. Though this person has been out of the temple ranks for years, he still has some fame in the circle of dandies in the Capital," Zhang Han hinted.

So, was ’I’ mingling with him while acting the dandy in the Capital? Similar to friends like Qin Qiu? That’s rather embarrassing... Zhao Douan was slightly uncomfortable.

One could only marvel at how small the world really is.

Haitang asked a few more minor questions, to which Xue Xuan responded, but as she said, that was all she knew.

After sending Xue Xuan out to wait, and once the door was closed, "Rolled Wang" Zhang Han turned to his colleagues:

"What do you think? Is what she said true or false?"

Haitang replied:

"It may not be entirely true, but most likely the gist of it is. Besides, for such a complex case, she wouldn’t be able to fabricate it.

I think it’s a great breakthrough point. As long as we can get more evidence, this case will be enough to doom Zhou Cheng once and for all."

With that, they both turned to look at Zhao Douan, waiting for their "chief official" to speak.

Zhao Douan also agreed with the others’ opinions and slowly nodded:

"It indeed is a good breakthrough point."

Excitement filled Haitang, and she went into deductive mode:

"However, relying on Xue Xuan’s testimony alone is meaningless, and the related files have all been lost. It will be extremely difficult to reverse the case. Perhaps, we could start with Wang Shan."

Zhang Han disagreed, shaking his head:

"Wang Shan is key to this case, certainly our target. But considering the entire case, even if Wang Shan reveals the truth, Zhou Cheng can still claim he ruled justly and was deceived by false testimonies."

Haitang rubbed her pointed chin, her face falling:

"That makes sense. So, the only things that can really incriminate him are those missing files and physical evidence, or the officials who handled the case, which he has probably already eradicated."

Zhang Han shook his head and said:

"Not necessarily eradicated, consider this: the case at that time was no small matter, involving many people, and even implicated the Three Agencies and the Imperial Court.

Even with significant power, it would be nearly impossible for Zhou Cheng to make all the evidence and witnesses ’disappear’ without attracting attention from the higher-ups."

Revitalized, Haitang analyzed:

"That means, there must still be evidence somewhere, but the question is how to find it. Any remaining evidence, even if it still exists, is probably hidden within the Imperial Court of Supervision or Ministry of Justice, not easily accessible to us.

The officials involved in the case, now either promoted or demoted, are scattered throughout various government offices, making it even more difficult to approach them for questioning."

The female detective stood up and began pacing the hall.

Anxiety was apparent on the beautiful face:

"We do have the authority to investigate all officials, but if we want to order cooperation from every government office, including the Three Legal Departments, I’m afraid, even if Lord steps in, it might not be effective. Besides, wouldn’t that be too conspicuous and scare off the snake by hitting the grass?"

Zhang Han also frowned and remained silent.

A dead end!

Two detectives skilled at investigating cases had hit a brick wall.

They had seriously underestimated the difficulty of reopening a thirteen-year-old major case.

"Um, so you’re saying, as long as we have someone powerful enough to access archives freely between the government offices, can compel all the involved parties to speak, and is able to keep the upheaval under wraps, that would do the trick, right?"

In the tense atmosphere,

Zhao Douan, who was leisurely sipping tea with an unconcerned and unhurried air, suddenly asked.

It was only then that the two absorbed in discussing the case remembered him and turned their heads to look.

Haitang snorted irritably,

"From your tone, it sounds like you think this is easy; within the entire court, the number of people who can do what you’ve described doesn’t exceed the fingers of one hand, no, it’s even fewer than that! Wait, you’re not thinking of reporting this to Saint, are you?"

Zhang Han also considered this possibility and was about to dissuade him. They had only just found a lead; alarming the Empress with major movements was really inappropriate.

Moreover, every move of the Empress was watched by countless eyes; it would be difficult to cover up any disturbance.

Zhao Douan smiled, his body relaxed as he exhaled a breath tainted with the stem of poor quality tea leaves. Too lazy to explain, he stood up and said,

"Rest assured, there’s someone else I had in mind. It’s getting late, come with me."

The two of them, confused, could only follow. As they exited the back house, they caught a glimpse of Xue Xuan calmly waiting.

As they passed by each other, Zhao Douan stopped in front of her and suddenly flashed a radiant smile:

"We shall meet again."

Xue Xuan’s heart trembled; she didn’t dare meet the eyes of the notorious "Lord Zhao" and humbly lowered her head.

"Miss, they have left." After a while, Uncle Fu came over and whispered.

It was only then that Xue Xuan slowly raised her head, her eyes full of sorrow.

"Miss, could these people be investigating the past to overturn the verdict for the old master?" Uncle Fu suddenly asked.

Overturn the verdict? Xue Xuan shook her head with a bitter smile,

"Do you think a despicable person like Zhao Douan would confront a Third-Rank Official for the sake of already worthless souls?

Most likely, they’re investigating something else that happened to involve this old case. Even if they knew the truth, they would pretend not to.

Overturning the verdict... I once harbored such fantasies, but I’ve long since stopped dreaming such dreams."

Uncle Fu was at a loss for words; remembering Zhao Douan’s bad reputation, he shook his head with a sigh, picked up the flower basket from the ground, and went out to buy paper flowers and candles.

As he left the courtyard, the sounds of children reading aloud reverberated once again from the private school.

...

...

"Don’t tell us that your helper is Mr. Yuan."

Outside the building of one of the Three Legal Departments, formerly known as the Imperial Censorate, now renamed the Imperial Court of Supervision.

On the street, Haitang gripped the reins tightly, her face expressionless, looking towards the figure sprawling leisurely in the carriage—Mr. Zhao.

"And if it is?"

Zhao Douan yawned, slowly got out of the carriage with an air of entitlement:

"The case was judged during Lord Zhou’s tenure at the Imperial Court of Supervision, the related archives, as well as the testimonies and personnel involved, are mostly kept there. If the Imperial Court of Supervision is willing to help out, tightening the evidence from back then would likely be much easier than if we did it ourselves."

Haitang’s face was a picture of incredulity; she opened her mouth but was at a loss for words.

Even on Zhang Han’s stoic face, a strange expression emerged, and he could only manage to squeeze out,

"But that’s Mr. Yuan."

Yuann Li!

Leader of the clear stream faction, his influence covered half of the court, a powerful figure on par with the Prime Minister Li Yanfu.

Haitang frowned and said,

"Do you plan to invoke the name of Your Majesty to request Mr. Yuan’s help? I remind you, not everyone can be manipulated or threatened by you."

She paused, her tone softening, trying to advise:

"I’ve heard that you’ve worked for Mr. Yuan before, but..."

She wanted to say:

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

Considering our status, we’re not even qualified to seek an audience, the difference in rank between us is simply too vast; there’s a chasm between us.

Indeed, Zhao Douan’s private relationship with Yuann Li from the Pei Kaizhi case is still known to only a handful of people.

To nearly everyone, the only connection between Zhao Douan and Yuann Li was being on the same side during the "Execution of Pei" operation.

Nothing more.

As for "friendship"? What is that?

Haitang and Zhang Han dared not even imagine that the top ally Zhao Douan sought was the current Imperial Censor, a First-rank court official!

Even Little Wang, the coachman, though unclear about the specifics, felt uneasy looking at the grand gates of the Imperial Court of Supervision:

"Lord, Mr. Yuan might not agree to meet us..."

"…" Faced with successive discouragement from several people, Zhao Douan couldn’t help but feel amused and resigned:

"Mr. Yuan is not a deluge or a ferocious beast; why are you so hesitant? Fine, if you don’t want to go, then wait at the gate."

Saying so, he jumped down from the coach, patted his buttocks, and, leaving behind his unreliable ’pig teammates,’ walked straight to the middle of the two magnificent stone lions of the Imperial Court of Supervision, declared his identity, and immediately someone went inside to report.

Shortly after, an officer hurried out, said something, and Zhao Douan strode in through the grand gates of the Imperial Court of Supervision, disappearing from the three’s sight.