The Empress did not attend court today.
Instead, the confrontation would take place in a side hall.
As Zhao Douan and Zhang Changshuo followed the guiding Palace Attendant through the ancient architecture with its upswept eaves, they reached their destination and saw court servants standing with hands tied to the sides of the door.
The hall doors were open.
Inside stood two figures opposites each other, one on each side, just as starkly divided as two rivers at their confluence.
The person on the left wore a dark-colored flying fish robe, slender yet burly, with large hand knuckles slightly reddened perhaps from years of handling knives, the calluses thick.
His long face was stern, beardless, with his eyes currently closed in meditation.
The slightly protruding brow held two somewhat grizzled eyebrows, giving him an irritable temperament.
On the right was a stark contrast.
Around forty or fifty years old, dressed in an indigo official robe and a black gauze cap with a goatee, he stood proudly, radiating righteousness.
The typical posture of a principled official, his gaze was sharp.
"Ma Yan, Lv Liang!"
Zhao Douan immediately guessed their identities.
The original master had encountered Ma Yan, retaining some fear of this Head Eunuch of the Imperial Court.
Rumored to be from the Imperial Family's Imperial Guard, originally loyal to the late Emperor before following the Crown Prince during the "Xuan Sect coup," Ma Yan had fought to the death against the rebels.
His performance was outstanding.
After the Empress took the throne, she kept the Old Emperor and the Crown Prince's subordinates, reappointing Ma Yan to a significant role in the Imperial Court.
Similar to the role of a Jinyi Guard Commander.
Tasked with supervising officials and a key force in capturing the rebels, a sharp blade in the Empress's hands.
Nicknamed "White Eyebrow Yama," he was reputed to be capricious. The original master, respectful but distant, interacted little with him.
Zhao Douan couldn't help but remark internally, thinking the original master was too timid, even daring to overstep and claim others' achievements, he could only say he was hopelessly bold.
As for the Imperial Censor named "Lv Liang," he was a complete stranger.
All Zhao knew was that Lv represented the Prime Minister's faction and was a key player in impeaching him.
"Both lords please wait here; I'll notify Her Majesty now."
The leading Palace Attendant dropped these words and turned to leave.
At the same time,
The two inside the hall also turned their heads to look over.
"Lord Governor, you've arrived early; I'm ashamed to say I am slightly late,"
Zhao Douan spoke first, bowing towards "White Eyebrow Yama" with a face showing contrition:
"Regarding the issue with the rebels, I've admittedly offended before. I wanted to apologize in person, but given the turbulent circumstances these past few days, the opportunity has never arisen."
Draped in his flying fish robe, Ma Yan appeared cold as he eyed Zhao Douan's familiar demeanor, a hint of bemusement in his gaze.
He had envisioned scenes of today's meeting based on his previous impressions, expecting Zhao Douan to either rage or cower when confronting him.
Considering this impeachment originated from the Imperial Court accusing Zhao of overreaching his authority and letting rebels escape, Zhao had every reason to harbor animosity towards him.
Yet, the scene that unfolded was entirely unexpected:
No anger, no pleading, but rather a semblance of bureaucrats exchanging pleasantries during a fleeting encounter.
Was this truly the legendary charmer?
"My lord, you're too courteous. To serve in the same administration and experience conflicts is normal."
Ma Yan spoke evenly, pausing briefly to add:
"Today, as the Empress inquires, I will report truthfully."
This statement implied two things:
First, he wasn't targeting Zhao personally but speaking purely based on the situation, the main force behind the impeachment wasn't him.
Second, despite Zhao's politeness, he shouldn't expect any cover-up; Ma Yan would speak plainly to Her Majesty.
Zhao Douan earnestly responded, "Yes, that's most appropriate!"
While speaking, a hushed sigh of relief escaped him... In this inquiry, Ma Yan's attitude was crucial.
Unlike Lv Liang who represented the civil officials, the Imperial Court was a tool in the Empress's hand. If divided by allegiances, both he and Zhao stood with the Empress.
And there had been no past grievances.
Thus, the impeachment of him by the Imperial Court was merely a scapegoating attempt to demonstrate that the loss of the rebels was not their fault.
Perhaps there was also a slight irritation over being disrupted by Zhao and losing credit.
However, as Ma Yan proceeded with the investigation, he would inevitably learn of the "Divine Descent" of the Magician in the bamboo forest.
Though he didn't possess all the information and might not realize that Zhuang Xiaocheng was fishing,
He would probably be relieved—
If his men had been sent to make the arrest, they too might have failed.
In that scenario, the burden would fall on him.
From this perspective, any animosity toward Zhao would significantly diminish:
Who would resent a colleague who takes the fall for them?
Realizing this, Zhao understood his main adversary was the official representing the literary officials.
And the probing he had just performed essentially confirmed this.
"Cough," at this moment, standing on the other side of the side hall and feeling overlooked, Imperial Censor Lv Liang coldly spoke:
"I, too, will report the truth to Her Majesty, ensuring she is not deceived by the dishonest facade of a wicked man!"
Zhao thought bitterly, calling him a wicked man? Clearly, he's a lackey… no, a bootlicker… His perception of the original master was crystal clear...
However, Zhao's expression remained impassive as he stood next to Ma Yan.
Hands folded, gazing at the sky, a posture of palpable disregard.
"..." Lv Liang was furious, his goat-like beard trembling.
Such blatant disregard and discrimination were unbearable for him as a scholar.
Seeing this, Zhang Changshuo took the initiative to make small talk, which eased the Imperial Censor Lv's demeanor.
The two men stood opposite each other, both silent for a moment, waiting.
...
About fifteen minutes later, footsteps finally came from outside the hall, accompanied by the palace attendants bowing in unison:
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
The figure of Xu Zhenguan appeared once again before Zhao Douan.
Two days had passed, and the Empress remained unchanged, still in her usual pristine white attire, her black hair secured with a jade hairpin.
Her plain yet striking beauty captivated the soul, her eyes filled with authority that made one dare not look directly at her.
For a moment, it was almost unclear whether the person arriving was a ruler of a nation or an ethereal fairy.
"Humble servant, greets Your Majesty!"
Zhao Douan and the others bowed, while Xu Zhenguan, without shifting her gaze, walked past the crowd and sat upon the golden dragon throne at the high platform of the grand hall.
Only then did her cool voice sound, clear as a ringing spring:
"Rise."
"Yes."
As everyone rose, Xu Zhenguan's gaze swept over them, pausing slightly upon seeing Zhao Douan and Ma Yan standing together, seemingly surprised.
But she didn't dwell on it long and got straight to the point:
"Today, I have summoned you all here; the matter at hand needs no further explanation, Ma Yan, you speak first."
"Yes," Ma Yan stepped forward, this stern and severe eunuch, submissive as a cat before the Empress, bowed his head saying:
"This servant reports that White Horse Governor Zhao Douan has overstepped his authority, disrupted subordinate plans, and alarmed the rebel Zhuang Xiaocheng..."
He then elaborated the details of the incident.
Including how he rushed to apprehend the suspects upon receiving the news, and how he was delayed by the "daytime ban"...
Xu Zhenguan was already fully aware of the situation and was just following procedure. After he finished, she turned to the Imperial Censor:
"Lv Liang, speak."
The emotionally pent-up Imperial Censor Lv, suddenly invigorated as if wound up, exclaimed excitedly:
"To report to Your Majesty, this servant accuses Zhao Douan of colluding with rebels... and throughout the past year, committing numerous offenses in the Capital, indeed intending to tarnish Your Majesty's reputation... truly, his crimes are unforgivable!"
The official, true to his title of a loudmouth, expressed his fervent desire to communicate, spewing all the prepared charges at once.
In his depiction, Zhao Douan was essentially a major villain who deserved death, harboring evil intentions and plotting for a long time, a spy planted beside the Empress by the rebels...
A series of severe accusations flew out, all centered on one theme:
Such a malevolent evildoer, not executing him would be insufficient to pacify public outrage, not executing him would endanger the state!
Zhao Douan was so agitated he was filled with righteous indignation.
It felt to him that if Lv Liang's speech were made into a video and posted online, Zhao Douan would instantly be annihilated by netizens...
After he finished his verbal onslaught, Xu Zhenguan calmly looked toward Zhang Changshuo, asking lightly:
"And why are you here?"
Zhang Changshuo, who had been holding back for a long time, stepped forward with an expression of stern righteousness, first deepening his bow toward the Empress.
Catching a glimpse of her appearance and the silhouette beneath her white attire, a trace of greed flashed through his eyes before quickly disappearing, he loudly declared:
"This servant wishes to impeach Zhao Douan for accepting bribes, interfering with the Ministry of Justice, and exonerating a guilty official!"
The crowd was astonished.
Even the Empress frowned slightly and asked:
"What evidence do you have?"
This was a new charge she was unaware of.
Zhang Changshuo immediately took out a scroll from his sleeve, handed it to a female official on the side, and loudly said:
"This is the drawing of Zhao Douan secretly meeting with the son of Ning'an County yesterday, and he even went to the Ministry of Justice to discuss this matter. If Your Majesty orders someone to inquire at the Ministry of Justice, the truth will be clear!"
Xu Zhenguan's slender hand slid out from her sleeve, took the scroll, and unfolded it. Suddenly, a water-like image fluttered from the scroll accompanied by the voices within:
"In the Capital, rules must be followed; you took the money readily, but the person has yet to be saved..."
"Don't forget, I have evidence of your benefits as well..."
"My lord... is there a problem?"
"Rest assured, these few days I've been probing the rebels, no time for other matters; now that I have some time, I'll handle the matter you mentioned."
Then came the sound of splintering doors and screams.
"Ugh... you dare... you dare strike a noble?!"
"A crumbling county in a remote area dares to defy me?"
...
Silence filled the side hall.
Only the discussion between Zhao Douan and Wang Xian from that day was clear and audible in the scroll.
During this, the expressions on both Ma Yan and Lv Liang's faces changed to varying degrees.
The former showed surprise and disdain; the latter, excitement and agitation.
As for Zhang Changshuo, he was already looking toward his "rival" standing across with a face full of a victorious smile.
Finally, as the light from the scroll retracted,
The Emperor of Great Yu, Xu Zhenguan, calmly raised her head and tossed the scroll directly at Zhao Douan's feet, her expression unreadable:
"This, how do you explain it?"