The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Colluding with Zhuang Xiaocheng? Sending secret signals?

Before Zhao Douan uttered these words, Zhang Changji's muscles tensed, but they relaxed after he spoke.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

He seemed to hear something ludicrous, infuriated to the point of aggression, and pointed at Zhao Douan:

"You say I colluded with that rebel Zhuang Xiaocheng?"

Zhao Douan's face was a picture of sincerity:

"It's just a suspicion, you can explain it in the Imperial Prison."

Zhang Changji laughed in anger, his whole body trembling. He abruptly turned his head, staring at Zhou Cang, and said:

"Households Commander Zhou! I don't know what nonsensical things he has told you, but this matter is definitely not related to me!

I admit to having a longstanding grudge against him and had a new resentment added a few days ago. Zhao Douan wants to retaliate against me, so he recklessly framed me. Brothers of the Imperial Court, do not be deceived by this man!"

He thought he had seen through everything.

Zhao Douan was a person who held onto grievances intensely; not satisfied with just injuring him, he shamelessly and forcefully dragged him towards being labeled a rebel.

It was a pure frame-up.

Faced with Zhang Changji's accusation, Zhao Douan put on an "I'm framing you, and what can you do about it" face.

He was practically flaunting the word "intentionally" on his face.

Beside.

After a brief moment of stunned confusion, Zhou Cang turned his head to glance at Zhao Douan, abruptly recalling, right before he entered the door.

The latter's reminder, "Follow my command in all matters."

Like an epiphany, his face, expressionless, said:

"Whether it's a frame-up or the truth, it can only be known after the investigation."

He added:

"My lord is already aware of this situation. There's no use in talking to us about it."

Was it King Ma who sent you?

Zhang Changji froze, his eyes widening, the word "conspiracy" nearly bursting out.

He felt that Zhao Douan had bribed King Ma, in cahoots with each other, but he had no evidence.

"Alright, let's discuss this in the Imperial Prison," Zhao Douan said lazily:

"Are you going by yourself, or shall we tie you up and take you?"

Zhang Changji's face underwent severe changes, appearing to be hesitant. Moments later, he suddenly took a deep breath, suppressed his fury, and said:

"Lord Zhao, may I have a word with you alone?"

The moment "Lord" was spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Zhao Douan looked at him with a faintly surprised look, sneering:

"Do you want to lure me into a room and attack me?"

Zhang Changji raised his right hand, still wrapped in gauze like a rice dumpling, and said:

"Are you afraid, Lord?"

"Ha, such a crude attempt at reverse psychology," Zhao Douan looked down upon him but immediately said:

"But I do happen to be susceptible to that."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent:

"Households Commander Zhou, could you kindly ask the brothers to wait outside for a while?"

Zhou Cang smiled, "Lord, please proceed."

...

...

In the backyard, the inner hall.

As the maid served cold tea and fruits, she bowed and closed the door behind her.

In the room, only the two of them remained, seated according to host and guest.

Hm—sitting in the host's place was Zhao Douan.

"The weather is scorching hot, try some cold tea to cool off, Lord Zhao."

Zhang Changji took the opportunity to drape on a cloak, now adopting a more composed demeanor, ready to play the host.

It was clear that, although this military man had a fiery temper, he knew how to assess the situation and act accordingly.

"Ha-ha, forget it, I dare not try. Who knows if the tea is poisoned?"

Zhao Douan chuckled and then said:

"Now that it's just the two of us here, speak freely with whatever you have to say."

"Sure." Zhang Changji did not want to exchange pleasantries with him either, and seeing his approach, his expression turned cold and said:

"You should know that these lowly accusations are meaningless, utterly unfounded, based only on hear-say.

When my older brother and my uncle find out, they will certainly get me out, and even if it goes up to His Majesty, I'm not afraid."

Zhao Douan replied lazily:

"Whether it's meaningless or not, we'll only know after trying. Even if you go in today and get out tomorrow, the fact that it caused you some suffering, makes me happy."

Now the true intentions were clear.

Zhang Changji took a deep breath, staring at him, and said:

"We have a feud, that's true. But my brother has been confined and has backed down, and I was injured when I caused a scene at your house. Now, you have come to attack my home... How does it stand, are you not satisfied yet?"

The color drained from Zhao Douan's face as he replied:

"It seems you truly don't understand. Your brothers suffered from their own mistakes; it's their fault for offending people they shouldn't have, and they deserve the consequences. Do you think this settles it? Ridiculous!

If you really want to settle things, bring your wife over for me to tease, with you watching as the audience... If you can do that, we'd be even. How about it?"

"Zhao!" Zhang Changji's fury flared up:

"Don't push me too far!"

Zhao Douan stood up coldly:

"If this is your stance, then we have nothing to discuss."

And with that, he made as if to leave.

"Wait!"

Zhang Changji's hand resting on his knee bulged with veins. Ultimately, he still called him back.

Zhao Douan's lips curved into a smile, as he reprised his seat leisurely:

"Ready to talk properly now?"

Zhang Changji was silent for a moment, his tone gruff:

"State your real demands."

He had chosen to make a compromise, after all!

Not because he feared Zhao Douan, nor the punishment in the Imperial Prison.

In fact, he firmly believed that with the Zhang family's connections and power, even if he were thrown into the Imperial Prison, he wouldn't suffer much.

"King Ma", though cold-blooded, would have to give his uncle some face.

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If it were up to his temperament, he would have preferred to take a stroll through the Imperial Prison and then walk out full of swagger, even taking the opportunity to stir up controversy and counterattack against Zhao Douan, rather than bowing down to him.

But he had another worry, that is:

The case of missing artisans from the Capital Camp's firearms division.

He was very clear that the Imperial Court was investigating the case and if he were to be captured at this junction, it would be very troublesome.

Firstly, it would draw attention and suspicion; no one was watching him, but what if their framing tactics exposed some slip-ups?

Secondly, once he was captured, it was very likely to alarm the sensitive nerves of certain individuals he was in contact with.

At that time, who knew what kind of changes might happen.

Zhang Changji didn't dare to gamble.

He didn't need to risk himself and his entire family, exposing them to the threat of confiscation and execution, just to spite Zhao Douan.

At the same time, after he had confirmed that Zhao Douan was merely slandering him,

he realized that the best solution was to swallow his pride, for the time being.

To pay some price and reconcile with the Zhao surname.

As for today's humiliation, he could always get back at him later.

He was not clever, but he wasn't foolish either.

That's why he made the move to request a private conversation.

And upon hearing his words, Zhao Douan's face also filled with a radiant smile.

Heh, this idiot took the bait!

"So, you want to negotiate with me?"

Zhao Douan had the smile of a victor, almost as if he was about to cross his legs casually.

Zhang Changji's face was expressionless:

"Yes. Name your price, how can we reconcile?"

After a pause, he added, "And don't bring up anything about my wife!"

"Haha, rest assured, I'm not surnamed Cao; I have no interest in other men's wives."

Zhao Douan laughed and pondered for a moment before saying with contrived difficulty:

"I'm a bit short on cash recently, I wonder if Brother Zhang could lend me some silver taels. The last time you visited, didn't you say that I owed you money? Let's just make that a reality."

What Cao... Zhang Changji automatically ignored the first part of the sentence he didn't understand, disdain flashing in his eyes:

"Fine, name your price, how much."

Truly a greedy villain!

Zhao Douan leisurely raised a finger.

"One thousand taels?"

Zhang Changji frowned; although it pained him, he nodded:

"Fine, I'll have the accounting room get it for you right away."

"No, no, no," Zhao Douan leisurely said, "It's ten thousand silver taels."

Zhang Changji was stunned at that number and then couldn't hold back any longer, rising in a fury:

"Don't be too outrageous! Ten thousand taels, why don't you go rob the National Treasury! If I sold everything in this residence, I still wouldn't have ten thousand taels!"

In the Capital of Great Yu, a grand estate in a good location and of good size would also be priced at around five thousand taels.

Many commoners work themselves to death their whole lives and still couldn't afford even a thatched room in a house in the Capital.

Although the Zhang family had some wealth, it belonged to the entire family.

After Zhang Changji split from the family, as a low-ranking military officer in the Capital Camp, he had saved up no more than a thousand and some taels, and a significant portion of that was given by his father when they separated.

Of course, this did not include the dirty money he got for doing jobs for "people from the south."

"Why so agitated," Zhao Douan frowned, "Business is meant to be discussed. Let's talk; everything can be negotiated."

Zhang Changji calmed down a bit, his expression slightly easing: "No more than one thousand taels!"

"Eight thousand taels."

"... One thousand and five hundred taels!"

"Five thousand taels."

...

The two haggled fiercely for a long time.

In the end, it was ended with Zhao Douan standing up again, about to exit, that they reached the agreed price of "three thousand taels."

Although he guessed this wasn't Zhang Changji's limit, his goal was to solve the case and gain merit, just taking the money on the side.

There was no need to push people so hard that they might make a misstep over something small.

"You wait here," Zhang Changji's face was ashen, forcing himself to keep calm with the last bit of rationality:

"I'll go get the money."

"Go ahead." Zhao Douan smiled cheerily; with Zhou Cang and others outside, he wasn't worried about any tricks.

He thought to himself:

"With this, I can patch up the financial hole at home, and finally have money for a living allowance for You Jinhua and her daughter.

Yeah, looking at the hardships they've endured, not even able to afford clothes, it's really not easy. With this money, they can improve their lives."

Before long, Zhang Changji returned with a stack of silver notes totaling three thousand taels, his face very ugly: "Now, are we good?"

"We're good, we're good," Zhao Douan chuckled as he tucked the silver notes into his robe.

Zhang Changji said:

"Then please take Zhou Cang and his group and leave. I need to rest."

Zhao Douan was surprised:

"Aren't you coming with us?"

Zhang Changji was startled, "What? Where to?"

A bad premonition rose in his heart.

Zhao Douan stood up leisurely:

"As a suspect, you're coming with this official to the Imperial Prison. What else?"

Zhang Changji incredulously said: "Haven't we settled..."

"Settled what? Don't make unfounded accusations and try to frame others. What do I have to discuss with a suspect?" Zhao Douan said with displeasure.

Then, with a hint of sarcasm, he added:

"You don't seriously think I, a despicable person, would keep my word, do you? Naïve!"

He commanded loudly: "Guards!"

Clang!

Zhou Cang and the others guarding outside brandished their swords and burst through the door fiercely.

Zhao Douan stood with imposing righteousness: "Arrest the suspect and bring him in!"

...

Three thousand-character chapter, quantity added, but no additional updates

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