The bald middle-aged man pacing the room.
"Leader, the person has been sent away, as we expected, they want us to get it done within a day."
The leader of the Red Flower Society wore a sinister expression and sneered:
"Otherwise, people wouldn't say that we seem to shine but are actually nothing more than nightti chamber pots picked up by influential figures only when needed..."
Bai Zhishan hesitated and said: "Then we..."
The leader of the Red Flower Society, with a stern face, replied: "Do I need to tell you how to handle it?"
"Yes. And the spreading of the rumor..."
"Assign more people, keep the matter escalating. If Yama Zhao is not satisfied, neither of us will live to see next year. Think of Lord ng!"
Lord ng was the forr leader of the Red Flower Society, who offended Zhao Douan and died tragically in the Imperial Prison.
In a certain sense, Zhao Douan's deterrence to underground factions was much stronger than the Emperor within the Imperial Palace.
...
At the sa ti, similar scenes occurred in various corners of the Capital.
The network of relationships belonging to a Duke was sufficient to extend to all the governnt offices large and small in the Capital. However, compared to the orders of Cao Mao, no official dared to defy Zhao Douan's "greetings".
Even the "Li Party", which was opposed to Zhao Douan, maintained an attitude of detachnt, acting as if it did not concern them.
"It seems this Zhao Douan is more capable than I anticipated,"
Sowhere in the Capital, in a carriage, Duke Tang looked out the window at the two groups of people who had entered a certain governnt office one after the other, belonging respectively to Zhao Douan and Cao Mao, and sighed softly.
Inside the carriage, Tang Zhao was visibly troubled.
She excelled at combat, but truly did not understand these kinds of plots and intrigues.
Even now, she still did not know what Zhao Douan and her father discussed in the study last night.
"Alright, let's go." Duke Tang looked at his courageous but not very wise daughter, shook his head helplessly, "Don't be late."
Today, Duke Tang sent visiting cards to the older royal relatives and nobility within the city and would go to pay a visit.
This, for a general returning to the Capital from guarding the borders, was not unusual.
But only a few knew that Duke Tang's real purpose in this visit was to remove Cao Mao's supporters in this power struggle.
According to Zhao Douan's words from last night: "This is part of the plan."
...
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Within the streets and alleys of the Capital, the rumors about Cao Mao not only did not diminish but grew even more intense.
Speaking ill of a Duke was originally extrely risky, but when many people spoke of it, they beca emboldened.
Especially after a case involving Duke Cao erged within the Ministry of Justice, even those within officialdom had a reason to publicly discuss the matter.
And since that day when the Imperial Censor Chen Hong was refused entry to the palace, consecutively for two days, over ten Imperial Censors entered the palace to impeach, causing a greater commotion.
Duke Cao Mansion.
"Why are the rumors still spreading?! Two days! A full two days! The rumors outside are getting louder and louder, I can even hear them at ho, how have you all been handling this?! Huh? All mute? Speak!"
Cao Mao, with hair and beard bristling, roared angrily at several subordinates standing in a row inside, venting his fury.
The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, everyone remained silent like chilled cicadas.
Cao kedid stood with hands lowered, ashad, and said:
"Godfather, it's not that we aren't making an effort, but those people in the city are superficially courteous while not putting any real effort, perfunctorily dealing with us. After all, the Capital is not the Northern Territory, we..."
The others also began to complain incessantly.
After venting, Cao Mao leaned back, heavily throwing himself into the Taishi Chair, supporting his forehead:
"Enough, enough, as the ancient saying goes, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. After all, I've been away from the Capital for too long, yet in just a re year, a snake that bites has sprung up."
Cao kedid said in surprise: "Godfather, are you saying..."
"Zhao Douan," gritting his teeth, Cao Mao spat out this na:
"I was puzzled before as to why this person insisted on being in the Ministry of Justice and clashing with you, just because that Northern Blood Saber served as his guard for a ti? Simply laughable. Now it seems, he is after ."
Cao kedid frowned and asked: "Godfather, are you saying those governnt offices aren't making an effort because Zhao Douan has warned them?"
Cao Mao wanted to say sothing, but suddenly drove the others out of the room, and when only the two of them remained, he said with a grim expression:
"I have never had dealings with Zhao Douan, why would he, without any reason, go against us over such a trifling matter? I'm afraid this person is just a lackey carrying out orders."
Cao kedid cautiously suggested:
"Could it be Tang Daren? This person has always been at odds with Godfather..."
Cao Mao, however, shook his head, his gaze was profound as he said:
"It's the Emperor. The rumors among the people could be attributed to my political enemies, but the case from the Ministry of Justice ca too unexpectedly, the most key point is the officials from the Imperial Court of Supervision... heh, I'm afraid the Emperor is dissatisfied with us and wants to give a warning."
Cao kedid looked anxious and said:
"Godfather, if it truly is the Emperor's doing, what should we do..."
Cao Mao didn't glance at him with displeasure, and said unhappily:
"Why panic and disarray? I have many allied nobles within, and outside, the border army of Jubei City totals a hundred thousand. How many years has our Emperor been on the throne? It's just a warning at most."
Though the situation seed large, Cao Mao was only indignant, not panicked.
Because, in his view, the Empress absolutely had no confidence to overturn the table and make a serious move against him.
At this mont, suddenly the steward's voice ca from outside: "Lord Duke, soone from the palace is here!"
Father and son exchanged glances, each understanding the aning in the other's eyes: It's happening!
Before long.
A eunuch carrying a horsetail whisk entered smiling, paid his respects, and then spoke:
"In recent days, the public sentint in the city is tumultuous, all spreading rumors related to Lord Duke. The Emperor naturally does not believe them, but cannot ignore them due to the persistent impeachnt by the Imperial Censors of the Imperial Court of Supervision."
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