The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 656 - 448. The Shocking ’Sexual Bribery’ (5k)_2

Xu Zhenguan calmly said: "Between six and seven."

Well... it sounds likely... Zhao Douan breathed a sigh of relief, but then he thought, will the Eight Princes and the cultivation forces from all sides in Yu Country really stay within bounds and not cause destruction?

But thinking from Zhenbao’s perspective, there aren’t many choices.

People cannot fully choose their own lives; the higher you stand, the less control you have over yourself.

In the garden, the two stood quietly, momentarily speechless.

"Alright, enough of that," Xu Zhenguan smiled gently, "If it weren’t for you today, the Royal Family would have truly lost face. I’ve ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a feast, so stay for lunch in the palace."

It’s not food I want to eat... Zhao Douan thought weakly, just about to nod when he noticed out of the corner of his eye a little eunuch hurriedly running up the stone path, holding a horsetail whisk. Seeing the Emperor with him, he quickly came to a stop and shouted from a distance: "Your Majesty, Mr. Yuan requests an audience!"

Yuann Li is here? At this time? Zhao Douan was surprised.

Could it be that he knows about the Royal Family’s victory and came to congratulate them? Well... it’s possible for lower-ranking officials, but with the status of a "Pure Stream Party Leader," it shouldn’t be such flattery...

For Yuann Li to call it an "important matter," it must be significant... thoughts jumbled and uncertain, Zhao Douan cupped his hands and said: "Mr. Yuan surely has serious matters to discuss, Your Majesty, you should go meet him. I will wander on my own."

Xu Zhenguan, however, said blandly: "Come with me to see Mr. Yuan."

...

Imperial Study Room.

When Zhao Douan and the Empress returned together, barely seated for a moment, footsteps were heard from the corridor. Yuann Li, dressed in a cyan official robe differing from the scarlet robe as an Imperial Censor, stood at the door, respectfully saying: "Your servant, daring to disturb Your Majesty."

Behind him, the old acquaintance Imperial Censor Chen Hong was silent, bowing at ninety degrees.

"Come in, have a seat." The Empress sat behind a desk covered with bright yellow silk, smiling kindly. Palace Attendants immediately offered seats, while Zhao Douan stood by her side.

"Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace." Yuann Li took a seat, Chen Hong respectfully stood at the back, the Big Qingyi looked up to see Zhao Douan smiling at him, and couldn’t help but nod and said: "Before entering the palace, your servant learned that Junior Guardian Zhao defeated the Qingshan brute, quite commendable."

"Mr. Yuan is too kind." Zhao Douan smiled, "Such a minor victory, yet troubling Mr. Yuan to congratulate."

Xu Zhenguan smiled and got straight to the point: "Mr. Yuan rushed into the palace, not just to offer congratulations, surely?"

Yuann Li’s expression became slightly more serious as he said: "Your servant indeed has something to present to Your Majesty!"

He drew from his sleeve a document and presented it with both hands. Zhao Douan glanced at it, instinctively moved forward to take it, and presented it to Zhenbao.

Well, such actions became almost instinctive when one was a workhorse in a previous life.

You’re quite considerate... Xu Zhenguan glanced at him, gracefully opened the document, and after just two looks, her once clear face suddenly darkened, anger welled up, her brows rose like iron hooks, and then her eyes lifted, staring intently at Yuann Li: "Is this true?!"

Yuann Li was unsurprised by the Empress’s anger, loudly saying: "Indeed, it is true!"

"Bang!"

Xu Zhenguan slammed the document on the table, her good mood from the earlier victory completely gone!

Seeing Zhao Douan bewildered, she suppressed her urge to lash out and said to him: "You read it too."

What’s this all about, such a big reaction, she might even spill menstrual blood out of anger later... Zhao Douan muttered inwardly, picked up the document and read it, immediately his face darkened as well.

Rather than calling it a document, it was more of an impeachment memorial, the impeached person being the noble of the Capital, Marquis Lu’an.

Yes, a Marquis!

Regarding this Marquis, Zhao Douan wasn’t very familiar, but he had seen him a couple of times. This person was originally a descendant of nobility, due to a marriage alliance with the Royal Family, and was relatively close to them within the noble circle; he did not participate in the Xuan Sect Coup. Later, when the Empress ascended the throne, this Marquis Lu’an remained fairly compliant.

When the New Policy was announced last year, Marquis Lu’an began frequently maneuvering, attempting to settle into a new government office in the Capital, namely: a position within the "New Policy Department."

The Empress, after consideration, felt that although Marquis Lu’an’s capabilities were not outstanding, he was quite mediocre but still reliable.

Moreover, the New Policy Department also needed to offer some benefits to the nobles, so she approved his appointment, indeed nothing went wrong.

Early this year, due to the Yu Country reforming governance, a large batch of redundant officials were dismissed, requiring the appointment of new local officials to promote the New Policy. So, this Marquis Lu’an, in recent months responsible for this part of the work, unexpectedly got impeached suddenly.

The charge: accepting bribes and selling official positions!

In plain language, it meant that Marquis Lu’an used his position to receive benefits from local areas, turning the appointment and dismissal of new officials into a business.

Upon reading this, Zhao Douan was not too surprised, but upon seeing the regions involved in the selling of positions, he understood the true source of the Empress’s anger:

Jiancheng Road!

"I want to hear the details." Xu Zhenguan’s brows shot up like lightning, staring at Yuann Li.

Standing behind Yuann Li, Imperial Censor Chen Hong stepped out, bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, this impeachment was secretly reported by an Imperial Censor on Huai River, sent to me. Feeling the matter was significant, I verified it first, finding inconsistencies before presenting it to Mr. Yuan."

Chen Hong first explained the origin, then detailed the process:

"After the New Year, because of the delay in appointing local officials on Jiancheng Road, Your Majesty had sent Marquis Lu’an south to inspect the region. As Marquis Lu’an passed through Huai River, he was hosted by a local fifth-rank official, who invited the famous Qinhuai courtesan, Xichun, to accompany. Marquis Lu’an fell for the courtesan at first sight, quite fond of her, reportedly lingered in the area for a few days before continuing south to perform his duties."

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦