Chapter 968: Chapter 968

That’s right, Your Majesty issued an appointment decree last night, and Yuann Li, that old schemer, got the news, guessing that the Imperial Court would take action against the Pure Stream Party, so he made preparations...

Zhao Douan was silent for a moment, realizing that it would be difficult to take Peng Wenliang away by force.

It’s not that the people of Lihua Hall couldn’t fight against the government office, but once the weapons met, the nature of the confrontation would change, making the situation very complicated and passive.

"Does Mr. Yuan want to openly protect Peng Wenliang?" Zhao Douan asked.

"As the Imperial Censor, I must inspect all government offices, and the Imperial Court is among them," Yuann Li calmly said:

"According to the laws of this dynasty, the ranks of an Imperial Censor official are half a level higher, so even if Ma Yan wants to arrest him, he must first obtain an imperial decree from the palace to conform to the law."

Zhao Douan shook his head and sighed, "Why does Mr. Yuan want to get involved in this mess?"

Once the procedures are followed, it means involving the Empress, which would directly ignite the entire Pure Stream Party’s backlash. By then, trying to arrest Peng Wenliang would be too troublesome, not to mention the tug-of-war in the court.

And once there’s room for maneuver, many things would change.

Yuann Li said silently:

"Peng Wenliang is my subordinate, and as his superior, I should naturally protect him."

He did not avoid it and said it directly!

At this moment, Zhao Douan suddenly recalled the private conversation with Li Yanfu, understanding that Yuann Li had no choice but to take a stance.

As the "Party Leader," he cannot sit idly by as his people get arrested; any court group has a complex web of interests, with too many implications behind it:

Interests, human relationships, reputation, full responsibility equivalence...

Just like the imperial exams, where current students count as pupils of the examiners, or like Wei Xianzong’s betrayal, which meant Yuann Li, who recommended him, also had to bear the blame.

Zhao Douan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "What if I exchange it for a favor?"

Yuann Li was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Zhao Douan said lightly:

"Mr. Yuan should understand that I now substitute for Junior Guardian Zhao’s position, naturally using Junior Guardian Zhao’s favor. Previously, during the defeat at Qingzhou, when Wei Xianzong was captured, Junior Guardian Zhao helped Mr. Yuan once."

At that time, Yuann Li should have faced severe censure from the court because of Wei Xianzong, which would have cost him greatly. But Zhao Douan used his military merits to take away Wei Xianzong, shielding Yuann Li from disaster once.

Yuann Li mused for a moment, then said: "You want to use that favor to take away Peng Wenliang? Can you represent him?"

This "him" naturally referred to Zhao Douan.

Yama Zhao, wearing a white mask, smiled: "Naturally, I can."

Yuann Li suddenly stared at him deeply, as if trying to penetrate the white mask that even magicians of the World could not see through.

The room was silent enough to hear a pin drop, with a heavy atmosphere outside; both sides were at a standoff, suppressing the tension to the point of stillness.

Time seemed to stretch, yet it felt like just a moment; under the gaze of many, the door was pushed open. Content orıginally comes from 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝

Zhao Douan walked out, casually waving his hand:

"Let Mr. Peng return to have tea."

Peng Wenliang was bewildered, then was seized by the rushing Jinyi of Lihua Hall; the arrest officer of the government office gazed inside the room, probing:

From inside came the unruffled voice of Yuann Li: "Step back."

In the silence, the Imperial Censors showed astonished expressions on their faces, thinking Mr. Yuan actually conceded in this confrontation with the new Master?

Peng Wenliang’s expression changed drastically, attempting to shout, "Yuan...ugh!"

Shen Juan punched him in the stomach, interrupting this Imperial Censor’s words, smiling as he said:

"Could everyone make way, please?"

The constables of the government office looked at each other, having no choice but to step aside, allowing Zhao Douan to walk away leisurely with his subordinates.

When everyone had completely withdrawn, the courtyard was belatedly filled with noisy clamor.

The Imperial Censor Chen Hong, who had dealt with Zhao Douan before, wore a solemn face, ordering everyone to disperse before directly entering the duty room, surprised to find Yuann Li sitting by the table, gazing at the yellowing branches outside the window in a daze.

"Do you think this new Master resembles someone?" Yuann Li suddenly murmured softly.

Chen Hong was taken aback, hesitantly saying:

"Does Mr. Yuan know this person? I was unaware... um, if I had to say, this person’s style does resemble Junior Guardian Zhao’s."

"Indeed," Yuann Li sighed and leisurely stood up, smiling:

"But the whole world knows Zhao Douan is now stationed at Taicang. He couldn’t be in the capital."

Chen Hong did not understand what Yuann Li implied, but Yuann Li had already walked out, saying:

"Another autumn has come, the mountain rain arrives again. Let’s go, I must protect myself this time."

The Imperial Court, Governor Hall.

"What? The people of Lihua Hall directly charged into the Imperial Court of Supervision? Took Peng Wenliang back?!" Haitang incredulously stared at Zhou Cang, who had come to report.

Zhang Han’s face was wooden, somewhat dazed as well, muttering:

"That’s the highest rank on our list... no, the key isn’t the rank. It’s that they went straight after the mainstay of the Pure Stream Party... Insane, insane, the key thing is he succeeded."

Ma Yan’s eyes were burning as he stared at Zhou Cang: "Yuann Li didn’t make an appearance?"

Households Commander Zhou shook his head, then nodded, explaining in the eager gazes of the three:

"Mr. Yuan did make a move, not just him, but a large number of government officers were also present... Logically, they shouldn’t have been able to take him back, but somehow, he spoke to Mr. Yuan in the room, and they brought him back swaggeringly."

Yuann Li couldn’t stop it either?

Where did this monster pop out from?

Even Zhao Douan in a showdown with Yuann Li, would have to back down a bit, or at least give some face, right?

Several people were simultaneously taken aback, feeling a slight sense of unreality.

The newly appointed Master, so fierce?

Haitang suddenly looked at Ma Yan, speculating: