The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 351 - 299, the imperial envoy summons! A torrent of Iron Cavalry emerges from Taicang

A list!

Within the inner residence of the Song family estate.

Even though he was somewhat prepared, when Zhao Douan saw the names listed on the paper, his heart still skipped a beat!

At the very top of this box of evidence, on a sheet of white paper, was the list of suspects tied to the missing official from Taicang County Magistrate Song's investigation!

Next to each name was a clear notation of identity, along with an index marking.

That is, the page number in the stack of documents below that held the evidence against this individual.

This was evidently the list of culprits involved in the silver mine corruption case... and among the dozen or so people listed, the top three names were circled in ink:

Governor Gao Lian

Inspector Liu Ji

Taicang Prefect Sun Xiaozhun

Beside these three names, there was a line of text suggesting:

The backer behind Wang Chusheng was very likely among these three.

As for which one, or if there were several, according to what Inspector Song left behind, with his capabilities, he was not yet able to determine this.

The reason for pinning the suspects to these three was due to his findings that the Taicang County Magistrate seemed to have a certain "transfer of interest" relationship with all three.

"The worst has happened..."

Zhao Douan's pupils narrowed, and he sighed inwardly.

Before leaving the Capital, Zhao Douan had had a conversation with Yuann Li.

At that time, their consensus was that those who dared to tamper with the silver mine were no ordinary individuals.

Wang Chusheng had managed to hide his tracks for so long without being exposed, his backer if not in Taicang Prefecture, then surely within Linfeng Road.

It was precisely because of this suspicion that he had gone to great lengths to "secretly transport" the evidence.

Now, the list provided by Inspector Song confirmed his guess...

"So... the picture is fairly clear now," Zhao Douan mused. "Inspector Song, head of the Mining Tax Collection Department, suspected that the County Magistrate, who was also serving as the Mine Supervisor, Wang Chusheng, was embezzling silver from the mine under the guise of 'losses due to fire' and was secretly investigating, reaching higher and higher levels."

"Old Sir had said that Inspector Song once intended to present the evidence to the Prefect of Taicang, but then he stopped... was it because he suspected that Prefect Sun Xiaozhun was also involved in this corruption? And since the two main officials of Linfeng Road were also suspects... he could only secretly report back to the Capital..."

"He reported urgently because he realized that his investigation might have been detected...

So, after the secret letter was sent out, he was targeted by the real power behind the scenes, and his so-called 'disappearance' was most likely a silencing? Or a secret arrest..."

"The 'disappearance' of the County Magistrate Wang Chusheng was an attempt to cut off his tail and save his own skin..."

At this moment, numerous thoughts flashed through Zhao Douan's mind, his gaze flickered uncertainly.

Once again, he memorized the dozen or so names listed on the list.

The real value of this list, it turned out, was not so much the suspicions about Gao, Liu, and Sun, but rather the other names.

These individuals were all indirect associates of Wang Chusheng.

While Wang Chusheng had fled in an emergency, these others may not all have disappeared...

Yes, even if they had escaped in advance, with so many of them, even if the "big tiger" behind the scenes had the advantage of local terrain, it would be difficult to cover everything up in such a hurry.

As long as he followed these threads and conducted an investigation, he might be able to lock down the actual perpetrator.

"Mr. Zhao?"

Inside the hall, seeing him clutching the papers, his expression changing, Xu Junling called out softly, unable to hide her curiosity:

"What is on the paper?"

The Commandery Princess couldn't see the contents from her angle.

Zhao Douan quickly regained his composure, the smile returning to his lips, and teased:

"Do you really want to see? I've heard a saying, 'Curiosity killed the cat.' Some things, once seen, can never be unseen."

What a strange saying... Dressed discreetly in her robe, the distinguished and restrained Princess Huaian rolled her eyes and huffed:

"If you won't show me, then don't."

"Imperial Envoy... you see..." At this moment, the bearded scholar in his fifties on the other side spoke up cautiously.

Zhao Douan closed the box, and like a magician, slipped it into the silver scroll hidden in his sleeve, saying sternly:

"I'll take the items now and not impose any further. I hope Old Sir keeps this to himself. Once I've resolved the Taicang case in these next few days, I'll consider it a favor from the Song family."

"I dare not, dare not expect too much. To serve Your Majesty is a blessing for our Song family." The scholar stood up to show him out.

He only wanted to distance himself from this affair and stay as far away as possible from any so-called favor.

Xu Junling's attention, however, was caught by the phrase "these next few days," and she couldn't help but be surprised.

Zhao Douan seemed confident that he could clear up the case in a short time?

Really?

The three people in the hall stood up and were about to leave.

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But just a few steps out, Lv Qingfeng and the others looked toward the central courtyard beyond the dividing wall, hearing noises and shouts.

"What is this..." The scholar Song looked puzzled at the imperial envoy.

Zhao Douan also frowned.

The next second, they saw a group of people forcing their way through the central courtyard, reaching the back yard, as a house servant hurriedly shouted:

"Master! The county government's officers have come, saying they want to search for thieves..."

As the house servant called out, Zhao Douan saw a line of about twenty constables bearing arms, their menacing figures bursting in.

The one in the lead, dressed somewhat differently, was the arrest officer.

He had a grim expression as he entered, his gaze locked on Zhao Douan and the others.

His exaggerated posture gripping the hilt of his sword, he raised his chin in a scrutinizing look:

"We are public servants from the Taicang county government, responding to a civilian tip-off. You have been spotted acting suspiciously around the mine site, come with us back to the government office."

Everyone was stunned for a moment.

Zhao Douan and Xu Junling exchanged a glance, their expressions odd.

The scholar Song was also flustered and uncertain: "There must be a misunderstanding..."

"Scholar Song,"

The local arrest officer obviously recognized this gentleman, and his tone softened a few degrees.

But his words were not to be refused, as he bowed:

"Now that the imperial envoy has arrived in the prefecture city, the silver mine is under strict surveillance. I request Scholar Song to also accompany us to the government office. Once the Deputy Prefect returns, we will clarify the situation and then release you."

"..." Scholar Song was dazed for a moment, looking toward Zhao Douan with suspicion in his eyes.

He suddenly became a bit uncertain, was this really the work of an imperial envoy?

"This young master, please," the arrest officer said expressionlessly, making a "please" gesture.

The constables behind him closed in a fan formation, seemingly prepared to capture him at any moment.

Xu Junling's expression did not waver.

Lv Qingfeng draped his sleeves, lowered his gaze, and the man holding the knife gripped the handle with an imposing look, ready to block—

—These minor constables, he could overturn them in two breaths.

"Alright," Zhao Douan chuckled, signaling them to remain calm with a glance:

"I was just thinking of sitting down at the county government."

As he spoke, the folded yellowing paper in his sleeve slipped into the palm of his hand behind his back, and without anyone noticing when, that special communication "Suppressing Object" had already been written upon.

At this moment, following the guiding of energy, the two ink characters "Come quickly" on the brownish-yellow paper quickly dried and vanished.

"The evidence of the crime has been obtained; there's no need to conceal it from the public eye."

Soon, the party left the Song Mansion under the watch of the county government constables.

Leaving the faces of the Song family members anxious and unsightly.

"What should we do?"

In a panic, the wife and children of Mr. Song suddenly grabbed Coach Xie:

"May I trouble you, coach, to personally make a trip to inform Governor Sun that my father has been taken away."

The old scholar was a distinguished guest of Governor Sun Xiaozhun, so the panicked Song family instinctively sought his help.

"Yes!" Coach Xie took off without hesitation, and the young Little Wu saw an opportunity to redeem his faults:

"Master, let me go too!"

...

...

Inside the Prefecture, within the post house.

In the separate courtyard where the "imperial envoy" resided, the agents from Lihua Hall sat idly in pairs or trios, whiling away the time in the courtyard.

Round-faced martial artist Qian Kerou walked back from the front courtyard.

Upon entering the room, a glance revealed Hou Renmeng sitting on the bed, pinching a rag as he wiped his knife.

Shen Juan, disguised as an imperial envoy with a "mask," lay on the table taking a nap with no image to speak of.

"Sleep, sleep, sleep, that's all you do. What if someone comes in and sees this?"

Qian Kerou couldn't help but kick Shen Juan irritably.

Lihua Hall's notorious slacker, who was addicted to staying up late, Shen Juan yawned and got up, seemingly indifferent:

"With so many brothers outside, who can come in? Eh, what's going on outside?"

Qian Kerou folded her arms and leaned against the wall, saying:

"Imperial Censor Chen is discussing the case with that Governor Sun right now. It's making me dizzy just listening to it."

"Only discussing the case? Didn't Chen Hong convey yesterday that we wanted bribes? Don't these people have a clue?" Shen Juan was puzzled.

Hou Renmeng, who was absorbed in wiping his knife on the bed, let out a cold laugh and said darkly:

"Haven't you forgotten how our lord used to seek bribes in the government office and then seized the people right after?

I figure these people are also afraid of being trapped. Besides, we're here to investigate corruption; if they give us gifts, isn't that asking for death?

I suspect, my lord, that people have seen through our ploy long ago."

Qian Kerou scornfully said:

"You, who only knows how to fight and kill, think you can understand our lord's mind? You're on the first level; the lord's at least on the fifth..."

As Shen Juan watched the two quarrel helplessly, he intervened:

"Alright. How much longer do you think we need to pretend? Though Imperial Censor Chen is covering for us, and I'm playing the aloof, these officials aren't fools. I guess in two or three days at most, they're bound to become suspicious."

As the secretary, Qian Kerou, with a straight face and aware of her squad leader responsibilities, said:

"We just need to wait patiently for the next instructions. Our lord has a far-reaching plan and will arrange things accordingly; maybe there will be instructions soon..."

With that, suddenly, Shen Juan quickly raised his hand to signal silence, retrieving the folded brownish-yellow paper from his chest.

On the paper, a trace of fire light flickered into existence, slowly revealing the characters "Come quickly."

"Our lord is calling us over!"

Shen Juan got up, invigorated.

Qian Kerou's eyes shone:

"I will go gather the men! Tell General Yuann to move out!"

"Hahaha, I've been stifled to death! Finally, we can get moving!"

The uninhibited Hou Renmeng flicked the blade with a finger, sending a resonating tremble through it.

In a flash, he dashed out.

The words "Come quickly" were a signal decided upon in advance; once broadcasted, it meant the entire imperial envoy troop would set out.

With the positioning between two brownish-yellow "Suppressing Objects," within a certain range, one could roughly discern the direction.

...

At the post house's front courtyard.

Imperial Censor Chen Hong, who was conversing with Governor Sun and flashing his golden teeth, heard the commotion in the courtyard, and his eyes flickered. He rose leisurely, smiled and said:

"Sun Futai, the imperial envoy is on patrol, I must leave first."

Without further explanation, he took off running.

Governor Sun Xiaozhun, who today represented the high officials of the city and had come early to discuss the case, stood baffled.

Slim as wrought iron and possessing a tough demeanor, Lord Prefect Sun stood up, chasing out of the courtyard at a quick pace, his crimson official robe fluttering in the autumn wind.

To his shock, he discovered that over a hundred cavalrymen were swarming out from the side of the post house.

The leader was none other than Yuann Xingjun, who had carried the flag into the city the previous day wearing a black armored helmet.

"Rumble rumble rumble..."

The hooves thundered like thunder, awakening the entire Prefecture city after just one day.

Governor Sun Xiaozhun was stunned for a second, then his complexion drastically changed. He grabbed a nearby attendant and, with eyes reddened, said:

"Go quickly to inform Governor Gao, Liu Netai!"

After dropping this line, the distinguished Lord Prefect picked up his crimson official robe and hastened after the imperial envoy troop:

"Imperial envoy, wait for me…"