Chapter 973: Chapter 973

Oh, that’s right, last time I tricked people into bribing, then detained them with bribery charges... Zhao Douan sighed, these people are hard to deceive.

What does it mean for one generation to plant a tree and another to enjoy its shade? This is exactly the principle...

"Then send someone to block outside, if anyone dares to force their way in, beat them." Zhao Douan waved his hand unhappily, shifting his position on the chair.

A group of officials stood outside all morning, unable to get in, and had to retreat.

However, in the afternoon, Zhao Douan was awakened by noisy cursing outside the courtyard wall.

"Who’s making such a racket outside?" Zhao Douan shouted irritably.

This time, it was Qian Kerou who jogged in, the little secretary with puffed cheeks, sulking, "Sir, it’s students from the Imperial College, along with some scholars, and also some family members of the prisoners didn’t leave. These scholars are cursing us. There’s also a large crowd of onlookers. The momentum is too strong, and the Lord has hidden away again, no one dares to forcibly disperse them."

Everyone knew that the entire court, the whole Capital, countless eyes were fixed on the small Lihua Hall.

Under political intrigue, even the Living Yamas of the Imperial Court were scared, daring not to show up, fearing being sacrificed to calm the storm once the dust settled.

"..." Zhao Douan sighed, "Forget it, ignore it, as per the old rules, beat anyone who dares to break in."

In normal times, he would have directly sent people out to violently disperse them.

But as the saying goes, people’s words are fearsome, Zhao Douan’s goal was to purge traitors, not to push the group of scholars towards the rebels.

To vent anger and fiercely beat a group of scholars was easy.

But it would at this moment tarnish the Empress’s reputation, which would be unfavorable for pacification.

Zhao Douan believed that he could endure some grievances for Zhenbao and temporarily ignore these shouting scholars.

"Let him be strong, the breeze brushes the mountain ridge, let him be fierce, the bright moon shines over the great river."

However, seeing that he ignored them, the cursing outside the courtyard wall grew louder and louder, and Zhao Douan couldn’t sleep, so he went out, wore a hat and mask, took a few confidants, slipped out from the back door of another hall, circled around the government office, and hid among the watching crowd to watch the commotion.

Outside the Lihua Hall, a large group of scholars were red-faced, cursing eloquently, with style and flair, frequently bursting out with brilliant phrases that drew applause from the crowd.

Zhao Douan, hiding in the crowd, clapped and praised, smacking his lips in amazement, "No wonder they’re scholars of saints and sages, such variety in insults, and so melodic. But are these people cursing me as a national traitor, or are they showcasing literary talent in public?"

Qian Kerou, following beside him, changed into a gauzy skirt, and said indignantly, "These scholars are really sharp; every one of them claims to eliminate traitors for the country, but in reality, don’t they know the entire court is watching here and are using this opportunity to make a name for themselves? Sir, the Pure Stream Party itself is very close to scholars, with many students and protégés among them, and how revered is Mr. Yuan in the hearts of scholars? Now that you are fighting against the Pure Stream Party, you have practically offended all the scholars in the city to death."

Zhao Douan muttered, "You make it sound as if they used to welcome me... Eh? Why are these people throwing bricks in?"

Just then a scholar, not satisfied with mere yelling, somehow picked up a brick, swung his arm, and threw it inside the courtyard wall.

Then, the crowd seemed to have an epiphany:

The government officer blocked the entrance, surely they couldn’t stop me from directly throwing things?

Soon, more and more people picked up bricks and threw them in, and some scholars even called out to their classmates, somehow hauling in a cart of bricks, and a group of students rolled up their sleeves to start throwing.

Qian Kerou and Hou Renmeng watched, their eyelids twitching.

Zhao Douan, on the other hand, clasped his hands behind his back, smilingly said, "Wait till later to clean up—just as the hanging flower door in the office is in disrepair, now there are bricks to repair the house."

By evening, the tired scholars finally dispersed, and after this commotion, nearly everyone in the Capital knew:

A new government officer had come to replace Yama Zhao in the Imperial Court. Perhaps fearing grudges, he wore a mask.

On his first day in office, he offended half of the court and confronted Yuan Qingyi, inciting hatred from countless students.

Compared with the farce-like public amusement, the atmosphere on the court was heavy and grim.

The ministers in court weren’t stupid; they understood that the White-faced Arresting Officer represented the will of the Empress.

Essentially, this was a game between the Empress and the Pure Stream Party, led by Yuann Li.

Does an internal traitor exist? Naturally, yes.

But who the traitors are? Whether Yuann Li has issues too? No one knows the answer.

And the reason why no real big figures had played out this day was because everyone was waiting.

Waiting for an answer.

Waiting for the testimonies of those arrested officials in the Imperial Prison, waiting for the Empress’s final attitude towards Yuann Li.

And few people knew that on this very night, a final statement of grand interrogation quietly made its way from the Imperial Prison into the deep palace.

That night, the lights were bright in the Imperial Study Room.

Time came to the third day.

Zhao Douan, as if nothing had happened, still reported in the morning, then set up a chair in the courtyard to bask in the sun. The source of thɪs content is 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥

Today’s courtyard walls were unusually quiet.

No officials came to demand people, and no scholars came to angrily curse a national traitor.

Zhao Douan lay in the chair, his fingers gently tapping on the armrest, sunlight filtered through the pear tree’s branches, casting light spots on the corner of his robe.

Finally, the day’s court meeting in the Imperial Palace, after a delay of a whole hour, finally ended.

Sitting inside the Lihua Hall, Zhao Douan also awaited the Empress’s final answer.

"Sir, the White Horse Bureau Director, Mr. Sun, has arrived," Qian Kerou ran over, whispering, "He came from the palace, Mr. Sun presided over this morning’s court."

Zhao Douan opened his eyes, sat up, got to his feet, and smiled: "Please."

Outside the courtyard, an old figure in eunuch’s Python Robe slowly approached, Old Director Sun Lianying resumed his attire as Chief Eunuch.

Followed by several palace eunuch attendants.

With Mo Chou not in the Capital, Sun Lianying, as one of the Empress’s most trusted subordinates, now represented the Empress.

"I respectfully welcome Mr. Sun," Zhao Douan cupped his hands and said.

Sun Lianying came forward, stood before him, his face full of wrinkles with wise eyes deeply gazing at him, said, "By the Empress’s decree, all innocent officials in the Imperial Prison are to be released."

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