The four were taken aback and then realized:
"We were just discussing why an Arrest Officer had to be parachuted in, turns out, sir, you’re hiding your identity."
Imdiately, recalling their recent actions, they began to feel anxious again.
Hou Renng stamred, putting away the knife on the table:
"I’m a coward, I’m a coward."
Zhao Douan withdrew his gaze from him and looked at Qian Kerou:
"Pear, can I eat it?"
The little secretary’s cheeks flushed red, and she quickly offered the hidden pear with both hands, a bit tearful and with reddened eyes said:
"If sir wants to eat, I’ll go pick so right away."
Zheng Laojiu sighed and said:
"The first batch of ripe pears all rotted, and when we wanted to eat them, Little Rou stopped us, saying we should wait for sir to return triumphantly."
Zhao Douan felt a warmth in his heart, the people of the Lihua Hall were his first batch of loyal subordinates who had been with him through life and death on many assignnts.
Not having seen them for these past few months, he missed them a bit too. Smiling, he said:
"For the foreseeable future, I’ll be stationed in the Capital. This ti I was also appointed by His Majesty to return and oversee the matter of the Pure Stream Party traitor case."
The four were invigorated, sweeping away any lethargy, filled with fighting spirit.
Their faces lit up with sincere smiles. After being idle for so long, they finally had the opportunity to flex their muscles.
Zhao Douan wasted no ti with pleasantries, and asked:
"Little Rou, what’s the progress on this case? Tell the detailed intelligence."
"Yes!"
Qian Kerou wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, breaking into a smile, she quickly took out a stack of materials:
"Though we haven’t accomplished anything major recently, we have been keeping an eye on this case.
Last night, the Lord also sent over so information. This is the current list, compiled by the office, of officials within the Pure Stream Party suspected of colluding with the rebel lords.
The ones circled at the top have been caught, all insisting that Yuann Li instructed them..."
Zhao Douan opened the docunts, quickly scanning through page by page, with nas listed by official rank, from high to low.
There were a dozen or more.
And this was definitely not all, there must surely be those not yet exposed.
"Very good," Zhao Douan tossed aside the remaining papers, keeping only the first page, and pointed to the top na on the list with his finger, saying:
"Prepare, gather the people, and co with to make the arrest."
The four were dumbfounded, the very first day sir returned, he directly went to make an arrest? And skipping the small fry at that.
Going straight for the biggest catch?
Zheng Laojiu softly said:
"Sir, this Peng Wenliang is the fourth-rank Imperial Censor of the Imperial Court of Supervision... also one of the pillars of the Pure Stream Party, if we arrest him directly, is it..."
Zhao Douan raised a hand, put back on his mask, and stood up, saying:
"Just make the arrest, if the sky falls, I’ll bear it."
...
Outside the Governor Hall, by the stone table in the courtyard.
Exuding a heroic and vigorous spirit, the Daffodil Hall Arrest Officer Haitang, with a tear mole at the corner of her eye and a flying knife hanging from her waist, looked at Ma Yan:
"Lord, who exactly is this Deputy Arrest Officer?"
Beside her, the expressionless curly-haired Zhang Han also asked curiously:
"To be assigned here to take over Master Zhao’s role, it’s said he even wears a mask, how peculiar."
Ma Yan sat upright on the stone bench, eyes closed in waiting.
He was waiting to see what commotion the new Arrest Officer would create, ready at any mont to rush in to support in case Lihua Hall encountered any trouble.
Haitang and Zhang Han were there out of curiosity to witness the spectacle.
Upon hearing him, they opened their eyes, calmly saying:
"This person should be an imperial tributor from outside the palace, identity unknown. His Majesty hasn’t inford us either. It’s not surprising for him to hide his face, as within the royal family’s Shadow Guard based outside the capital, there are a few who perform under the guise, so if he’s a deputy, he wouldn’t stay permanently. It’s indeed necessary to conceal his identity for future operations."
After a pause, he continued,
"As for the purpose, His Majesty’s intent is clear, it’s to let this person handle the matter of the Pure Stream Party traitor. You simply need to cooperate."
"Dealing with the Pure Stream Party? Does this person have the capability?" Haitang expressed a bit of disbelief:
"That requires contending with Yuann Li. Do they think anyone can be Zhao Douan? Ha, I doubt this person can even control those tough guys of Lihua Hall, they’ll probably need to deploy people from us eventually."
She seed a bit schadenfreude.
Zhang Han said earnestly:
"If it’s to eradicate internal traitors, we should assist this person. Haitang, why don’t we head over to Lihua Hall, give a hand in maintaining order?"
Just as he finished speaking, suddenly, a commotion was heard from afar, with the sound of galloping hooves thundering past outside the courtyard.
The three were taken aback, then saw Zhou Cang from the Hundred Households hastily running over, loudly saying:
"Lord. That trusted Arrest Officer... He... he led a large group of Lihua Hall’s elite, the whole force has mobilized, not sure where they’re heading!"
What?
Haitang and Zhang Han were astonished, mobilized the entire Lihua Hall?
This individual managed to impress that group of tough guys in such a short ti, and even got them to cooperate in action?
Are there such personas hidden among the Shadow Guards?
Even overshadowing the legacy of Shadow Guard Luo Kedi who tried to assassinate Cao Mao after many years.
Ma Yan also suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flashing by, he said solemnly:
"Send soone to follow, I need to know their movents."
...
...
The governnt office of the Imperial Court of Supervision wasn’t far from the Imperial Court.
When Zhao Douan led the Four Gold Flowers, leading the entire force of Lihua Hall’s resources out, they arrived at the entrance of the imposing architectural complex of the office.
Imdiately attracting the attention of the gatekeepers.
As one of the "Three Agencies," the Imperial Court of Supervision held a very high status in the court, similar to the Imperial Court, each having the authority to oversee and hold officials accountable.
Even possessing an independent facility known as "Tai Prison."
Back when Zhao Douan clashed with the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, he was detained in the Tai Prison.
Moreover, with Yuann Li stationed there, the Imperial Court of Supervision was one of the few places in the Capital not particularly intimidated by the "Living Yamas" of the Imperial Court.
"What brings you all here?" a staff mber cautiously inquired.
Zhao Douan dismounted, leading a group of Jinyi guards, and with hands folded behind his back, said lightly:
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