"This," how do you explain this?"
In the side hall, accompanied by the smack of the scroll hitting the surface, Zhao Douan clearly heard the Empress's interrogation.
The other three present also heard.
Imperial Censor Lv Liang's eyes burned brightly, joy on his brow.
Just now, despite his eloquent speech, most of the criticisms he leveled lacked force, the accusation of "colluding with rebels" most of all—it was far too clumsy.
As for Zhao Douan's past misdeeds, they too were not grave enough.
Now, unexpectedly, Zhang Changshuo had delivered divine aid.
With solid evidence, even the Empress would struggle to defend him.
Lord Ma Yan, meanwhile, silently shook his head. As the "King Yan," who supervised all officials, the Imperial Court had been observing Zhao Douan for some time.
But considering his "ambiguous relationship" with the Empress, Ma Yan usually turned a blind eye to him.
One wouldn't rise to the position of Lord without being clever.
Nor would they foolishly volunteer to inform on the leader's lover.
Zhao Douan's earlier conversational exchange had slightly improved Ma Yan's perception of him, but with the emergence of the evidence, his regard for Zhao plummeted.
"What folly... squandering a good appearance..."
"Selling power is one thing, but to let your political enemies obtain hard evidence is just too careless..."
He sentenced Zhao Douan to death in his heart.
If there was any space for Zhao's defense before, the backstabbing from his colleague put an end to his bureaucratic career.
"Zhao Douan, Her Majesty is speaking to you, why do you remain silent?"
Beside the scene, Zhang Changshuo, having taken care to groom himself for this very moment, glowed with satisfaction.
A winner's smile on his face.
The pent-up frustrations of the past year dissolved at this moment.
What could be more satisfying than personally consigning one's enemy to prison and ascending over their fallen body?
Watching Zhao Douan's silent, despairing gaze upon the torn scroll, Zhang Changshuo felt exceedingly pleased.
Were it not inappropriate, he would've recited a celebratory poem on the spot.
He even began to fantasize about Zhao Gou falling out of favor and plummeting to the mortal world in the Empress's wrath, while he, recognized as a literary talent of the Capital, would comfort the wounded heart of the Empress, usurp the position, and soar to greatness...
However, contrary to his imagination:
Facing the hard facts, Zhao Douan calmly withdrew his curious gaze.
Then, with a look that made Zhang uncomfortable, he said:
"Did you record this?"
Zhang, like a peacock spreading its feathers, boasted to the Empress:
"This servant had long noticed his suspicious behavior and secretly ordered someone to shadow him, and thus unexpectedly captured this scene."
Hah... your secret filming was an "accident"... Zhao Douan sneered. He bent down to pick up the "Magic Scroll" that was slightly bigger than a palm, curiously examining it.
Well, no man could resist the temptation of electronic products...
Seeing his casual demeanor, Lv Liang took the opportunity to challenge him, bellowing:
"Her Majesty asks you a question, why evade it? You only need to answer, is the incident recorded in this scroll true or false?"
"It's true," Zhao Douan said:
"Wang Xian indeed bribed me for help, and I did agree to assist him."
Lv Liang was shocked, wondering whether this scoundrel was audaciously bold or simply relying on the Empress's favor to be so unrestrained?
Shouldn't this be the time for tears and defense, insisting it was a villain's slander, or admitting a momentary foolishness, pleading for forgiveness?
Zhao Douan's arrogant attitude caused even the monitoring Imperial Censor to be momentarily stunned.
Ma Yan slightly frowned, sensing that something was amiss.
Then, he saw Zhao Douan face the Empress, bow first, and then say:
"Your Majesty, what Zhang Changshuo says is true, but... this servant is not guilty of taking bribes and misusing power, rather, it was a play deliberately acted out to lure out the person behind Wang Xian."
Hearing this answer, the Empress dressed in white sitting on the dragon throne, who had maintained an expressionless face since she entered the hall, showed a flicker of unexpected emotion for the first time:
"Yes," Zhao Douan had already rehearsed this moment countless times in his heart and promptly explained the causes and consequences of the incident.
How he had conceived the plan, how he stabilized the other party, how he unearthed the real "buyer" behind Wang Xian.
He spoke confidently, without a trace of panic.
"You say so, but how can you prove it?"
Zhang Changshuo couldn't contain himself any longer and loudly questioned:
"Who knows if you're not just making this up to clear your name?"
The Imperial Censor Lv Liang also sensed danger and echoed:
"Your Majesty, do not be deceived by this scoundrel!"
Zhao Douan remained composed, paying no attention to the two men, still facing the Empress calmly, he said:
"Your servant reported this matter to the Supervisor of the White Horse Office immediately after meeting with Wang Xian, he can bear witness."
Zhang Changshuo felt his heart sink!
He knew that since Zhao Douan spoke with such certainty, it must be true.
But... how could it be?
How could this arrogant, ignorant fool suddenly change his ways?
Right... to atone for his crimes by making meritorious deeds, could it be that he was prepared, at that time, to use this incident to offset the impeachment today?
That was the only reasonable explanation Zhang Changshuo could think of.
And with this, the "evidence" he presented with high hopes suddenly became useless, null and void.
Even his own actions seemed somewhat ludicrous.
At the same time, Lv Liang and Ma Yan also guessed this possibility and were surprised in their hearts.
But on second thought, they realized that even so, the situation hadn't really improved much.
Zhao Douan proved that he had not been bribed for political interference, and might have even presented a deed of merit, but what did it matter?
The level of wheeling and dealing Wang Xian was involved in would at most implicate sixth or seventh-rank officials, at most extending to a fifth-rank.
This minor merit, compared to the crimes Zhao Douan committed, was really not worth mentioning.
Thinking this over, Ma Yan gently shook his head:
Zhao Douan's self-rescue was indeed eye-catching, but it was only a futile struggle.
Lv Liang's lips curled up in a faint smile, thinking this precisely meant that the Empress had no intention of favoring him, which is why she made a fuss over this incident.
"Oh? There is such a matter."
No one noticed that in the eyes of the Empress of Great Yu, enthroned at the top, there was a slight hint of curiosity:
"Who is the briber, exactly?"
Zhao Douan produced a memorial written overnight from his sleeve:
"The details of this case are all recorded here; your Majesty, please read it yourself."
Which official, not even able to say his name? And making it mysterious by writing a memorial?
Lv Liang shook his head even more dismissively, thinking at most it would be a fifth-rank official in the Capital, and finding the whole endeavor laughable.
Could it really be connected to some unspeakable big shot?
Xu Zhenguan lightly commanded with her gentle voice: "Present it."
At her side, a Palace Attendant flicked a horsetail whisk, fetched the memorial, and handed it to her.
Xu Zhenguan did not immediately flip through it but first glanced at Zhao Douan, who stood with bowed head below, before curiously opening the memorial.
She wanted to know, just what waves could this little guard stir up.
What kind of surprise would it bring her.
However, the next second, when her gaze settled on a certain name in the memorial, that bit of laziness and casualness disappeared.
She paused for a second before starting to read each word from the beginning.
There was complete silence in the hall, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
It seemed like a long time had passed, yet it felt like just a moment.
When Xu Zhenguan closed the memorial, looking back at the handsome and upright little guard below, her gaze held an indefinable meaning.
"Truly... what a great 'surprise'."