Chapter 90 Behind Him Stands the Empress (Please Subscribe!)

"If I don't come in, are you going to beat him to death?"

The female official who was known as the female prime minister said coldly.

Hey, Big Ice Tuozi, do you think I'm that kind of vindictive, ignorant villain? You don't understand me... Zhao Duan was sad.

At this time, as Li Lang shouted the three words "Mo Zhaorong", the Jinyimen present suddenly woke up and understood the identity of the visitor.

They all bowed their heads and saluted, not daring to breathe.

Mo Chou lived in the palace and often went in and out of the residences of important people. Most people had only heard of her name but had never seen her.

Unexpectedly, the "first female official" beside the empress appeared here.

He also witnessed his new leader beating up the Saint's brother...

It’s going to be bad... Qian Kerou’s face changed, and she was worried about Zhao Duan, thinking that the new chief would not resign just after taking office, right?

There are many people who have similar ideas.

In this world, there is an information gap called "the emperor's golden hoe".

That is, lower-level officials will never be able to understand the complex interpersonal relationships among the upper levels throughout their entire lives.

Just based on the stereotype, I think that the emperor's younger brother, even if he has the same surname as the prince consort, should not be bullied by a concubine.

No matter how favored a concubine is, she dare not offend the relatives of the master's family. This is the strict hierarchy under the etiquette and legal system.

But there are also some people, like Old Man Zheng, who are experienced and can keenly sense when something is wrong.

Mo Zhaorong is very busy with official duties, so how could such a coincidence happen?

Even if you happen to come to see the Governor, you should be in the "Governor's Hall".

Why would you come to Lihua Hall?

The conversation with Mr. Xinjisi was also quite strange, but Mr. Jisi didn't seem surprised at all.

After a brief conversation, the two seemed to have an equal relationship.

As for the "royal relatives" who were kneeling on the ground and being tortured, they were ignored.

"Mo Zhaorong! I'm Li Lang!"

At this time, the neglected young man wailed again:

"Zhao has no respect for the law and resorted to lynching, breaking my leg!"

Tsk tsk, that's great, you finally figured out how to put a thief in my place. Why wasn't I so smart just now? Is your IQ online? Your reaction arc is quite long... I wonder if it's as long as your mother's legs...

Zhao Duan was amazed, but smiled without saying anything, too lazy to explain.

Mo Chou had an expressionless face. She glanced at Li Lang, who was crying and snotting, and a trace of disgust flashed across her eyes.

She hated all dandies equally.

This is true for Zhao Duan and also for the princess's offspring.

If she had to make a comparison, she would even "admire" Zhao Duan more. At least he was a man of skill and ability.

Unlike this one on the ground, it's pure garbage.

"Zhao Jisi, aren't you going to say something?" she asked.

"He disrespected and insulted his superiors. Is there a problem with me punishing my own subordinates?" Zhao Duan asked with a smile.

Li Lang was furious:

"See? He's so arrogant! Mo Zhaorong, quickly report this to the emperor. I want him dead! Confiscate his property! Send him into exile! And these officials, for not listening to me and watching this bastard commit treason without stopping him, I want them all imprisoned!"

The young man was incoherent and had a ferocious look on his face, and he still didn't realize the seriousness of the problem.

The people in brocade clothes inside and outside the hall all changed color.

When the city gate caught fire, everyone in the pond was affected and kept silent for a while.

The prickly Hou narrowed his eyes and gripped the hilt of the knife. The second generation lying flat beside him glanced at him:

What are you doing?

Qian Kerou was confused. The new female official had the least background among the few people. Although she had been annoyed by Li Lang's style of doing things in the past, she had always endured it.

But he didn't expect that the other party would throw everyone into prison just because of this. He was furious and shouted:

"It was you who said earlier that you wanted to intimidate the new commander, so you dragged everyone to the back to play cards... Hey, Old Zheng, why are you dragging me?"

Zhao Duan glanced at her and smiled.

That’s right, this is the courage a warrior should have.

So, this seemingly well-behaved newbie is actually a thorn in his side, only his edge is obscured by a group of old thorns.

He turned to Mo Chou, but saw that the female official with a very androgynous beauty had a face as cold as frost, and she looked at Li Lang with undisguised contempt.

It would be fine if he was just a playboy, but he has no brains and is hopeless.

Mo Zhaorong retracted his gaze and said calmly:

"Since this is Zhao Jisi's 'family affair', he should be punished. There is no problem with that."

Huh?

Li Lang's scolding stopped abruptly, as if he had heard it wrongly.

The other Jinyi were also stunned. This was completely different from the script they had imagined.

Then, an even more disconcerting scene unfolded. Mo Zhaorong's gaze slowly swept across everyone present, and he spoke in a dignified voice:

"Zhao Jisi is the chief officer appointed by His Majesty. You are under his command and are under his jurisdiction. You should obey his orders and do your utmost to help His Majesty."

After saying this incoherent sentence, she looked at Zhao Duan and said:

"Zhao Jisi, I won't bother you anymore. When you're done, come out and talk."

Zhao Duan smiled and said:

"Okay. But I have a request."

"……explain."

Zhao Duan kicked the confused Li Lang on the ground and said:

"According to the law, this man has disrespected his superiors and rebuked the court. He deserves severe punishment, but I've just arrived and can't fully recognize him. Could you please ask my colleagues from the Imperial Guard to take this man to the Imperial Prison and lock him up?"

Mo Zhaorong took a deep breath and said to those around him:

"Go ahead."

Several accompanying guards responded and stepped forward to drag Li Lang, who was like a dead dog, towards the imperial prison.

It was not until this moment that the young man came to his senses and widened his eyes in disbelief.

He kept shouting and cursing, but no one paid any attention.

Everyone present also realized that the sudden appearance of this "female prime minister" was not to rescue Li Lang, but... came specifically for Zhao Duan.

The words just now repeatedly mentioned Your Majesty, implying:

Today she is a human loudspeaker, conveying the Empress's meaning.

The empress personally sent a female official to establish the authority and support of her boss.

Thinking of this, the officials of Lihua Hall fell silent.

I realized that my leisurely days might be coming to an end.

…

…

Li Lang's shouting disappeared, and Mo Chou also left.

Zhao Duan waved his hand to disperse the lower-level police officers who were watching, and walked back to the top of the "conference table" with the blood-stained iron-bound wooden stick in his hand.

He put the stick back into the dusty weapon rack, sat down, folded his hands, and smiled:

"Anyone else want to leave?"

The remaining four investigating officers sat upright, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile:

"Very good. I don't like long speeches, so just say a few words. Don't interrupt."

"First, I came to the imperial court to do only three things: to make merit, to make merit, and to make merit.

So, tomorrow morning, I want to see all the necessary files and documents on my desk. Old Zheng, you're the senior one, in charge of the paperwork, so you're responsible for this."

"Secondly, I don't mistreat my own people, but the premise is that they are 'my own people'. If anyone disobeys, don't blame me for being ruthless.

I can pretend today's events never happened, but from now on, unless there are special circumstances, I want you all to be present at the daily roll call."

“Third, I’m very busy and won’t be sitting in the hall all day, and Lihua Hall has been slack for too long, so there needs to be someone in charge.

Qian Kerou? From now on, when I'm not around, you'll represent me, understand? Well, from now on, you'll be my 'confidential secretary'."

When Zhao Duan mentioned the word "secretary", his tone was filled with a certain evil taste.

In my previous life, I worked as a secretary for others, so it’s time for me to enjoy myself today.

The female official was bewildered. She raised her hand hesitantly and pointed at herself:

"Me? I can't do it. I'm new here."

"What's wrong with being a newbie? I'm a newbie too." Zhao Duan's face darkened. "Or do you want to disobey orders?"

Qian Kerou suddenly fell silent.

"Alright, please convey these words to the clerks below. I will come back tomorrow morning and hope to see a brand new hall."

Zhao Duan lifted his butt and walked out.

It's said to be just a few words, and it's really just two or three sentences.

After he left, only four people were left in the hall, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Old man Zheng, you're a very good judge of character. What kind of person is this gentleman of ours?"

Chen Juan yawned, rubbed his dark circles, and smiled playfully:

"Is he here to make some serious moves, or is he really here to get things done? Oh, if he were a madman like Mudantang Jisi, it would be unbearable and exhausting. It would be better to just muddle through."

Beside him, the man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, with a defiant look, folded his shoulders and grinned:

"I think it's quite interesting. Softies are boring. I'm bored as hell in Lihua Hall. I need to find something to do."

Old man Zheng held the large teapot, blew on it, and said quietly:

"Young people are always impatient. You should take your time and look carefully at people. But I think he's quite different from the rumors. He's domineering, but he has brains. He might not be here to gild his reputation."

Qian Kerou joined the discussion with a sad face:

"No, you guys should give me some advice."

The three of them smiled at each other and said in unison:

"Confidential Secretary, that's amazing."

Qian Kerou: ...

…

…

"Dugong! The person has arrived."

In the Governor's Hall, Zhou Cang had just returned and reported.

Ma Yan, a man in a black flying fish suit, with a stern face and messy gray eyebrows, said "yes" and sat down at the desk in his "office" and asked, "How is it?"

"It's not good. Those troublemakers are not cooperating."

Zhou Cang was worried and told everyone about playing cards.

Ma Yan was not surprised at all and snorted coldly:

"If we cooperate, it won't be Lihuatang anymore."

Zhou Cang asked doubtfully:

"Sir, given Mr. Zhao's personality, if I rashly go over there, I'm afraid something might happen. Are you really not going over there?"

He doesn't understand.

Logically speaking, since he is an official appointed by the empress, it is reasonable for Ma Yan to come forward in person.

But he just used the excuse of being busy to send him, which was somewhat inappropriate.

The chief eunuch said quietly:

"Why do you think His Majesty stuffed him into the Pear Blossom Hall? If he wanted to reward him, there are many better places to go. Or do you think His Majesty and Lord Yuan are unaware of the trouble Zhao Duan might have caused in the past?"

Zhou Cang was stunned for a moment: "The governor is saying..."

Ma Yan smiled with a cold and slender face and said meaningfully:

"Since ancient times, it has been difficult for an honest judge to settle family disputes. Your Majesty thinks I am too lenient, so he handed me a knife to cut out the rotten flesh."

Zhou Cang seemed to be lost in thought.

Ma Yan drank his tea quietly and sighed:

"I'm not trying to avoid him, but rather to delay the situation. When Zhao Duan and Li Lang's group clash and start a fight, I'll go and mediate."

Anyone who can sit on the throne of the governor of Zhaoya is certainly not a pure reckless man.

Only those who are close to him know that the eunuch known as the "King of Hell" is actually a rough but meticulous person with a delicate mind.

However, if he knew that the empress secretly sent Mo Chou to deliver the gift, he would probably handle the matter differently.

According to Ma Yan's idea, Zhao Duan is a smart man and most likely will not offend Li Lang. He will either pick on the weak to establish his authority or keep his troops in place for the time being.

But the conflict will break out sooner or later, and when that happens, it will be time for him to step forward, and if it starts, he will personally stand up for it.

It would really be a waste of your Majesty's good intentions.

However, he was too lazy to talk about these with Zhou Cang, and only said:

"Go keep an eye on what's going on at Lihua Hall. If there's any disturbance, report back."

Zhou Cang took the order and left, while Ma Yan sat down at his desk to deal with official documents.

After a while, Zhou Cang hurried back, his face anxious:

"Sir, something happened!"

So fast... Ma Yan frowned and said:

"Is there a fight going on at Lihua Hall? What's the current situation? Has the Zhao family suffered any losses?"

He was well aware of Li Lang's arrogance and domineering nature, and was afraid that Zhao Duan would be timid and humiliated by Li Lang.

If a court official loses face on his first day in office, it will be difficult to establish his authority again.

However, Zhou Cang's expression became strange after hearing this. He smiled bitterly and said:

"No... Sir, please take a look! Li Lang has been thrown into the imperial prison!"

Ma Yan's expression suddenly froze: "What... did you say?!"

Thanks to Yiqi Juecheng for the reward of 300 coins and Li Shipu for the reward of 200 coins for support!

(End of this chapter)