The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Sir? Sir?"

In the Iron family's courtyard, seeing Zhao Du'an staring at the note, lost in thought for a long time, two Jisi members called out softly.

Zhao Du'an then came back to his senses.

Zheng Lao Jiu was keenly aware and said:

"Sir, have you remembered something? If this note is genuine, I'm afraid your movements have also been monitored by the rebel party."

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, then clenched the note in his palm and said:

"You stay here to 'protect the scene'. I need to verify some things."

After saying that, he stepped out of the courtyard, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the direction of the White Horse Prison.

The wind blew his disheveled hair, Zhao Du'an pursed his lips, is it you?

...

There are many roads leading out of the White Horse Prison.

One of them is through the side door, towards the nearest river.

You can take a boat across the river, following a narrow, prosperous area with buildings and shops on both sides of the river, take a detour, and then enter the Hun River to the dock.

Zhu Kui hurriedly arrived at the river bank, and a boatman waiting for customers immediately lowered his hat, pretending not to see him—ordinary people are most afraid of doing business with government officials, who often don't pay.

"Hey, boatman!"

Zhu Kui strode forward, picked up his saber, without drawing it, and slapped it against the other party's back, sternly saying:

"The government has important matters, borrow your small boat for a moment, you don't need to steer the boat, go ashore and wait, and when I return, you will be rewarded!"

The boatman had a bitter face, wanting to decline politely.

But Zhu Kui's tiger-like appearance, coupled with his face full of horizontal flesh, how dare he say half a word of refusal?

He nodded obsequiously, offering the dilapidated boat that could only accommodate three to five people.

Zhu Kui jumped onto the deck and skillfully picked up the boat pole.

The slender wooden stick poked at the bottom of the water and the shore, and the small boat under his feet nimbly, like an arrow leaving the string, sailed away from the river bank.

After going some distance, he shook open the bundle he was carrying, put on his own clothes to cover up his status as a clerk, and stuffed the knife into the bundle.

Then he put on the bamboo hat he took from the boatman's head, looking just like a burly boatman.

"Splash... splash..."

The small boat cut through the water, quickly entering the bustling river section.

Stone bridges were erected every so often in front, with shops lining both sides of the river and a constant stream of pedestrians.

Zhu Kui vigilantly steered the boat, keeping the speed slightly faster than normal.

The hawking of vendors in his ears, the startling wood of storytellers in teahouses, the cheers of acrobats on the overpass...

Zhu Kui silently steered the boat, safely passing through the busiest section of the river, and as he breathed a slight sigh of relief, he suddenly saw government officials from the yamen rushing past on one side of the bank.

Zhu Kui immediately turned sideways, fearing that he would be recognized by his former colleagues, and the boat also slowed down.

Finally, the group of government officials went far away, Zhu Kui breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to speed up, but he only felt the stern of the boat suddenly sink.

Then, a familiar and indifferent voice came over:

"Old Zhu, where are you going?"

Zhu Kui's body suddenly stiffened, the hand holding the boat pole trembled violently, and he forgot to pole the boat, only letting the small boat drift downstream.

He turned his neck inch by inch, only to see Zhao Du'an standing with his hands behind his back at the stern of the boat, calmly examining him, his eyes conveying an incomprehensible meaning.

"S... Sir..."

Zhu Kui's voice changed slightly, and after a few breaths, he belatedly squeezed out a flattering smile:

"How did you..."

"Finished the matter, went back to the yamen to rest, just glanced at the shore, looked at the familiar figure, didn't expect it to be you. Hey, at this hour, where is there a boatman who doesn't carry passengers and crosses the river in an empty boat?" Zhao Du'an said lightly.

Yes, where is there a boatman who doesn't carry passengers?

Zhu Kui smiled bitterly and said:

"This humble officer saw that it was almost noon, so I was thinking of going home."

Zhao Du'an said:

"This is not the direction to your home. It looks like you're leaving the city, in the direction of your hometown."

Zhu Kui was silent.

Zhao Du'an looked down at the old clerk dressed as a boatman, who was shrewd and capable, and said:

"Iron Ruler Pass is a rebel party, and was arrested this morning. Lihua Hall found a piece of information written last night from his desk.

It's about me. I thought about it, and very few people know about this, and you happen to be the most suspicious one."

Zhu Kui was silent.

The small boat drifted downstream, and the scenery on both sides of the river became more and more pleasant, with weeping willows reflected on the water surface, and the river surface as green as emerald soup.

Zhao Du'an sighed and said:

"Actually, I should have thought of it earlier. There are so many envoys in the White Horse Prison, why was I, such a 'good-for-nothing', able to recruit an old clerk as shrewd and capable as you?

Why, that day when I suddenly went to arrest Zhuang Xiaocheng, the people from Zhao Yamen didn't react, but Zhuang Xiaocheng still fled ahead of time?"

"I previously thought that the other party had a layout early on, so they were vigilant enough. But there is another possibility, that is, I also have an informant from the Kuangfu Society by my side."

"This also explains why Zhuang Xiaocheng and Yun Xi, one old and one young, were able to escape safely all the way to the bamboo forest in the southern suburbs, the Earth God Temple, under the pursuit of a whole team of imperial guards, because at that time, it was you who led the pursuit."

Zhu Kui was still silent.

Zhao Du'an ridiculed himself:

"Ridiculous, at that time I thought you were sensible and knew not to be greedy for merit, so you surrounded but didn't capture. But after that, I was knocked unconscious by the warlock and almost lost my life. The concern you showed at that time shouldn't have been completely fake, after all, if I died, you would also be difficult to absolve yourself of the blame.

You, like that Yun Xi, are pawns that Zhuang Xiaocheng casually abandoned, without the slightest bit of heartache, and without considering your life or death."

He suddenly felt a little disappointed:

"But Yun Xi is young and inexperienced, and was tricked by Zhuang Xiaocheng, thinking she was righteous, and her stupidity is understandable. But Old Zhu, you're not. With your experience, you should know this very well, why do you still have to work for them?"

Zhu Kui was still silent!

Zhao Du'an scolded: "Speak! Are you mute!?"

The old clerk with a weathered face finally opened his mouth and sighed:

"Since the Lord has already seen through everything, what can this humble officer say? Could it be that I should beg for mercy?"

Zhao Du'an said:

"When Ma Yan captured Iron Ruler Pass, he was willing to give him a chance to explain, but he didn't cherish it. I can also give you one."

Zhu Kui shook his head, as if resigned to his fate, and suddenly laughed softly:

"Actually, this humble officer had expected this day long ago, it's just a matter of coming a few days earlier or a few days later. In fact, in just over a month, I have already walked in front of the gates of hell three times."

"The Kuangfu Society's warlock almost killed you, that was once.

That was something I didn't expect, and it was also an accident. At that time, I thought, if you died, I wouldn't be able to escape the implication, thinking that if you didn't wake up, I would just run away. But you woke up."

"The Lord entered the palace and accepted the Holy One's questioning, that was the second time. That time I even prepared my funeral arrangements, but you actually turned the tables."

"Then, there's this time. The rebel party still lost, but I exhausted the luck of the rest of my life, and finally fell into the Lord's hands.

Actually, after seeing the Lord's methods during this period of time, I understood that you would see through it sooner or later. I should be content that this life has been extended for so long."

The small boat drifted downstream, and there were birds singing around, like mourning music.

Zhao Du'an said:

"What's the reason? What benefits did the rebel party promise? Don't you consider your family? Oh, that's right, your two children were sent away early, but your wife is still there."

Zhu Kui said:

"When I fled just now, I had already ordered someone to send a letter to my home. My old wife must be packing up her belongings and thinking of ways to leave the city at this moment. I originally thought that even if I was exposed, I would attract the pursuers and she could escape, but it seems that she can't escape either."

Why do you all follow the same script… Tie Chi Guan was like this, and you're the same. Are you playing a pure love game with me? A nameless fire rose in Zhao Du'an's heart, and he pressed again:

“What's the reason?”

Zhu Kui's ugly face finally squeezed out a helpless smile again:

“I have no choice, sir, I have no choice.”

Zhao Du'an raised an eyebrow:

“Are you being coerced? Because of your children back home?”

Zhu Kui nodded and then said:

“But what's the use of saying all this? I've been in the yamen for over twenty years and have seen too many criminals with their own compelling reasons, but few of them are truly innocent, so my heart has hardened long ago.

Today, it's finally my turn, and I can only say that karma comes around.”

After a pause, he dropped the boat pole and gave up resisting:

“Sir, take me back. Maybe this is a release.”

Zhao Du'an didn't move, but suddenly said:

“If you're arrested, your status as a rebel will be confirmed. Your children are far away and might escape, but they'll probably have to live in hiding under assumed names for the rest of their lives, constantly living in fear. They might not even be able to continue using the 'Zhu' surname.

Your wife will be in an even worse situation. She won't be able to escape the city at all, and becoming a slave would be a good outcome.”

After a pause, he said coldly:

“Of course, none of this concerns me. The most important thing is that if you're confirmed to be a rebel, it will also implicate my reputation.”

Zhu Kui was stunned, not understanding his meaning.

An absurd thought arose:

“Sir, are you willing to let me go?”

“I can't let you go.” Zhao Du'an ruthlessly shattered his illusion.

Besides, they had only known each other for a little over a month, and he couldn't possibly bear the serious crime of letting a rebel go for the sake of a mere subordinate with whom he only had work relations.

Moreover, the other party had betrayed him!

Even if he took ten thousand steps back, such a big case would inevitably attract scrutiny from all sides, making it impossible to conceal.

Zhu Kui wasn't too disappointed. With his experience, he had long given up on such illusions.

But then he heard Zhao Du'an say calmly:

“But… I can find you a little later.”

Zhu Kui was stunned: “Sir, what do you mean…”

Zhao Du'an didn't explain:

“With your brains, you should be able to understand. Remember, don't take chances and think about escaping. Even if you jump into the river, my throwing knives will arrive in an instant.”

After speaking, the small boat swayed slightly, and Zhao Du'an leaped ashore.

Only Zhu Kui was left standing on the boat in a daze, silent for a long time.

At this moment, the small boat drifting downstream was about to pass under a stone bridge.

Zhu Kui took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the boat, and reached out to draw his saber from his bundle.

The snow-bright blade was almost reflective.

This old clerk, who had been in the capital for decades, held the hilt in a strange posture, and then quietly stared at the boat, slowly sailing into the shade under the stone bridge, adjusting the angle of his grip.

As the boat was about to disappear, he finally turned his head, looking longingly at the direction of his hometown outside the city, and then a hint of determination appeared in his eyes, and he murmured:

“Thank you, sir.”

He swung the knife suddenly!

“Clang!”

The steel knife, at a strange angle, cleverly struck the bridge pier, rebounding and slashing towards himself.

“Pfft!”

A touch of red stained the stone bridge, and then was washed away by the river water.

…

On the shore.

Zhao Du'an stood quietly in the shade, watching the small boat slowly sail out from under the bridge.

On the boat, Zhu Kui had already fallen backward, blood gurgling from his neck, his eyes wide open, already dead.

The knife had fallen into the river. Even the most experienced coroner in the yamen, if not carefully examined, would assume, based on the cut, that it was homicide, not suicide.

On both banks.

The people discovered the corpse in the river, and continuous exclamations of shock erupted, a scene of chaos.

Zhao Du'an gently closed his eyes.

As long as Zhu Kui died first, then his identity as a rebel would be impossible to prove.

Suicide out of fear of punishment as a rebel is one explanation.

But being tricked for information by rebels, and then committing suicide out of fear of punishment, is another explanation.

The nature of the two is completely different.

Zhao Du'an, as the chief official in charge of the case, could completely use legal and flawless methods to explain Zhu Kui's death as something else.

Zhu Kui understood, and he went a step further, disguising himself as a victim of homicide.

This created even more room for explanation.

Even, as long as Zhao Du'an made an effort, he might be able to explain his death as “death in the line of duty.”

As long as Zhu Kui was not ultimately labeled as a “rebel,” then his wife and children would not be implicated, and after losing their value, the Kuangfu Society would not create unnecessary trouble.

Including Zhao Du'an himself, he could avoid a series of troubles caused by his subordinate being a rebel.

Zhu Kui used his life to achieve a better outcome for everyone.

A mere low-level clerk, not even an official, would not attract the attention of any bigwigs, who would investigate the cause of his death.

Everything seemed to be fine.

But…

“Why do I feel a little sad?”

Zhao Du'an didn't understand. Clearly, there was no affection between them, and the other party had even indirectly harmed him.

Was it a surge of saintly compassion?

Zhao Du'an didn't think so. It was more like a kind of empathy for those who share the same fate.

The world is like a cage. He and Zhu Kui were both trapped beasts in a cage. Without enough power, their fate could only be controlled by others.

“I still have to get to the poker table.” Zhao Du'an sighed.

He really wanted to take out his small notebook and add another stroke to the three words “Zhuang Xiaocheng.”

At this moment, the yamen runners from the distance heard the commotion and swarmed over, also greatly surprised upon seeing the corpse in the river.

Zhao Du'an composed himself, stepped forward, took out the Jisi waist tag, and shook it:

“This official was investigating the case here, but saw that a key person had died. Did you see where the murderer went?”

A group of yamen runners were trembling with fear, and hurriedly bowed and saluted, stammering:

“We have seen the Jisi Lord. We also just heard the commotion and came over, and we did not witness the murderer.”

Zhao Du'an said with a stern face:

“You, divide into a team to retrieve the corpse from the river and send it to the Pear Blossom Hall of the Zhao Yamen.

Another team, search along the river. Since the murder was committed on the boat, I'm afraid the murderer escaped by diving into the water.”

The yamen runners dared not disobey and immediately responded and acted.

…

Not long after, Zhao Du'an returned to the Tie family, only to see the people of Pear Blossom Hall gathered, looking forward to his return.

Seeing him return, Hou Ren quickly got up to greet him:

“Sir, the Supervisor came just now, and when he didn't find you, he returned to the yamen first, instructing us to tell you that the two Jisi of Stone Pomegranate Hall and Peach Blossom Hall have been arrested and will be escorted to the Zhao Prison. The Supervisor himself will be in charge of guarding them.”

They were caught? Zhao Du'an wasn't surprised.

“Sir, are we going back to the yamen next?” Qian K柔 asked:

“The suspicious things of the Tie family have been sealed up, and the people have also been arrested, ready to take them back and investigate them slowly.”

Zhao Du'an raised his head, looked at the sky, it was almost noon.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said:

“You guys go back. Just leave me a horse.”

The four were puzzled: “Sir, are you going to…”

Zhao Du'an exhaled and raised his eyebrows:

“Since the Supervisor said he would be in charge and not leave, and the other Jisi have been arrested or grounded, then the task of reporting the case to His Majesty in the palace can only be reluctantly shouldered by this official.”