The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Your Majesty, the shadow guards and secret agents are scattered throughout the Jianghu, relaying messages to the capital. Delays are inevitable along the way. I fear Gao Li has already infiltrated the city,” Mo Chou said with a solemn expression.

Xu Zhenguan flicked her slender jade finger, tossing the secret report onto the table, and gently nodded, saying:

“Do you think they will cause trouble soon?”

The First Female Official gave an “En” sound, and pondered:

“With the new helmsman taking office, some action is inevitable. This Gao Li… was proud and arrogant in his youth, but was defeated by Ma Yan. Now that he has returned, and just as the two from Iron Ruler Pass have been captured, I fear…”

Xu Zhenguan furrowed her delicate brows:

“Are you worried that the Righteous Path Society will target Ma Yan…? No, with Ma Yan's cultivation, he is a tough nut to crack. Then, they will cause trouble for the entire Imperial Court, or target Zhao Du'an.”

Thinking of this, the Great Yu Empress's heart stirred.

She secretly decided that when Ma Yan summons that junior Imperial Guard into the palace later, she would offer him a few words of advice in person.

However, just a reminder is not enough to be secure. For safety's sake, perhaps she should give him a “talisman” as well…

Things are different now than they used to be. The little pretty boy from before had no value to be targeted by the rebel party.

But after the “internal spy” incident, Zhao Du'an will inevitably be targeted by those with ulterior motives.

Just at that moment, a eunuch hurried over with small steps from outside:

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Envoy Zhao requests an audience outside.”

He's so fast?

Xu Zhenguan was slightly surprised and happily nodded:

“Summon him in.”

…

Shortly after.

Led by the eunuch, Zhao Du'an came to the Imperial Study once again.

The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar, the third and fifth times are like a warm kang… Zhao Du'an was still far from climbing onto the dragon bed, but he was no longer nervous about facing the Emperor.

“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Zhao Du'an stepped over the threshold with a calm demeanor.

He raised his head and saw the white-clothed Empress sitting upright behind the wide desk, her thick black hair draped over her lower back, with a large, icy block of an “electric light bulb” standing beside her.

Xu Zhenguan looked at him with a smile, teasing:

“I ordered Ma Yan to find you just a moment ago, and you arrived right after. When did you learn such good Qinggong?”

No… you have no idea what I went through… Zhao Du'an seemed calm and composed, but he had truly walked through the gates of hell. It would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid.

He had relied on a single breath to get from Chang Street to Wu Gate.

Only at this moment, seeing the current White-Clothed Empress, one of the “Four Celestials,” did his tense heart finally relax.

He took a deep breath and smiled:

“Superintendent Du had told this subject yesterday that Your Majesty had already made arrangements. Only then did this subject realize the depth of Your Majesty's favor. I have nothing to repay it with, so I came to the palace early in the morning to thank you for your grace.”

Well… it's impossible to tell the truth.

He couldn't honestly answer that he was worried and wanted to see how that bastard Xia Jianghou would die, so he came to join the fun early in the morning, right?

Zhao Da Mi's EQ couldn't be that low!

Xu Zhenguan felt delighted after hearing this.

No one in this world truly likes “silent dedication.”

The nature of humans is ultimately to hope that the good deeds they do for others can be seen and receive positive feedback.

She shook her head and chuckled:

“Mo Zhaorong said you are accustomed to using flowery words, and it seems that is indeed true.”

You're talking bad about me again… Zhao Du'an glanced at the electric light bulb and found that the large block of ice was looking at its nose, and its nose was looking at its heart, pretending not to hear.

After exchanging pleasantries, they got down to business.

Xu Zhenguan did not mention Princess Yunyang first, but instead threw the secret report on the table to him:

“You've come at the right time, I just happen to have something to tell you. Take a look, the Righteous Path Society has infiltrated a new helmsman into the capital again. You must be careful.”

Zhao Du'an subconsciously took it and glanced at it, his expression becoming very strange.

Xu Zhenguan said in a solemn tone:

“You should have heard of this Gao Li. He had quite a reputation back then, and the late Emperor praised him when he was alive. Although he went into seclusion in the Jianghu after his defeat, he should not be underestimated…”

Zhao Du'an's expression became even stranger. Seeing that the Empress had not finished speaking, he did not want to interrupt, and could only hesitate to speak.

Xu Zhenguan pondered:

“Now that he has infiltrated the capital, and you have become famous these days, and have repeatedly thwarted his plans, I fear he will target you.”

It's not just fear, it's already… Zhao Du'an opened his mouth, wanting to speak:

“This subject doesn't think it's that…”

Next to him.

Mo Chou, who had been standing silently, suddenly spoke. With her androgynous beauty, she always gave people the feeling of a woman disguised as a man. The “First Female Official” said quietly:

“Nothing? Lord Zhao, do not underestimate the enemy. Do not let the victories of this period go to your head. You must know that there are people beyond people, and there are heavens beyond heavens.

The lesson that the traitor Zhuang Xiaocheng left you that day should be profound enough. Anyone who can serve as a helmsman in the Righteous Path Society, even if it is only a branch, is by no means an ordinary person.”

No… can you two let me finish a sentence…

Zhao Du'an didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He cupped his hands and said:

“Your Majesty, this subject also has a matter to report, which is related to this new helmsman.”

Xu Zhenguan and Mo Chou were both stunned at the same time, wondering if he already knew about this matter?

Well, that's possible.

The shadow guards' transmission is limited by distance, after all, it is slower. It is not surprising that Pear Blossom Hall has noticed it.

However, Zhao Du'an's next sentence completely made the two women unable to sit still.

He cupped his hands and said:

“Actually, early this morning, on the way from my home to the palace, this subject happened to encounter Gao Li's ambush. Fortunately, this subject was prepared and managed to survive by luck and counterattacked.

That swordsman Gao Li has also been executed, and his body has now been sent to the Imperial Court. The captured Frostwind Sword has also been brought into the palace as proof.

It is currently stored at the main entrance of the bedroom. If Your Majesty wants to see it, you can order someone to send it for identification.”

Silence.

At this moment, the Imperial Study was so quiet that a pin could be heard.

Mo Chou raised her head in shock, her eyes widened, staring fixedly at Zhao Du'an, suspecting that she had misheard.

Gao Li ambushed him, but was counter-killed?

The new helmsman who had just taken office burned himself to death with his first fire?

And Zhao Du'an, as the “assassination target,” was standing here safe and sound, with not even a scratch on his body, let alone wounds.

How could they dare to believe it?

Behind the desk covered with bright yellow silk, with pen holders and inkstones, and stacks of memorials piled up like a small mountain.

Xu Zhenguan was also stunned, quietly gazing at Zhao Du'an.

The Empress, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn waters rippling, a beauty capable of toppling empires, had a momentary daze in her ink-black eyes set against her snow-white skin.

What did she just hear?

Zhao Du'an, a mere mortal of middle-grade talent, had actually killed the once-famous genius swordsman of the capital…?

She had reason to doubt; the very existence of this event challenged common sense.

If the previous times Zhao Du'an had entered the palace to report on the case's progress had repeatedly refreshed her impression due to her underestimation of him,

then this time, it was somewhat outrageous.

Xu Zhenguan's gaze involuntarily fell upon the urgent report on her desk, a document that had cost manpower and resources to deliver overnight from the distant Jianghu.

It was clearly a freshly baked report, yet how could it be outdated in the blink of an eye…

“Say that again,” Xu Zhenguan asked expressionlessly.

“Yes…”

Zhao Du'an had no choice but to describe the process in detail, without omitting anything.

Except for the origin of that “Imperial God Talisman”—

he only said that Jin Jian had given him the talisman to repay the favor he owed him last time, offering assistance.

…

After a moment.

The two women who had listened to the entire process slowly came back to their senses.

So that was it, so that was how it happened.

Even after learning the cause and effect, the whole matter still seemed illusory, but with such affirmative tone and the presence of both human and physical evidence, it was clearly not a fabrication.

“So, Gao Li is dead. The Kuangfu Society in the capital has once again lost its leader,” Xu Zhen seemed to be talking to herself.

Then, without waiting for Zhao Du'an to answer, she said in an inscrutable tone:

“The rebels of the Kuangfu Society dare to assassinate officials right under my nose?”

After the initial shock, the Empress's fair face was replaced with anger.

In fact, although the rebel party had been fighting with the Empress for two years, they had not often used assassination as a tactic before.

Especially in the capital.

Firstly, assassination was prone to exposing oneself. The capital was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and cultivation battles reaching a certain level were easily detected.

It was a tactic of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own.

Secondly, assassinating ordinary officials was meaningless, while important officials such as Yuan Li either had strong bodyguards or life-saving measures, making it difficult.

Of course, there was an even more important reason.

The Kuangfu Society did not want to overthrow Dayu; they only wanted to seize power.

If capable officials were assassinated, the collapse of Dayu's ruling system would be more detrimental than beneficial to the Kuangfu Society.

Moreover, assassination would inevitably make all officials feel insecure and hostile to the Kuangfu Society… Therefore, the rebel party mainly adopted a “penetration strategy” towards the court, gradually corrupting and co-opting.

Taking the undermining of the Empress's authority as a supplement, they provoked various forces in the court to become enemies of the “Imperial Party.”

Perhaps it was because the Empress had not declined in the past two years, but instead, her position had become increasingly stable, leading to more radical actions by the Kuangfu Society.

That was why Zhuang Xiaocheng had used himself as bait in the “scheme” to deal with Ma Yan a few days ago.

However, even that time, they lured the person outside the city to take action. Today's interception and killing of the Empress's confidant in the city,

was undoubtedly a great provocation.

“Mo Chou,” Xu Zhenguan suddenly said, her tone turning cold.

“This servant is here,” Mo Zhaorong responded.

Xu Zhenguan said coldly:

“First, order the Jingying (Capital Garrison) to strictly investigate recent entry records into the city, and screen all suspicious persons, not letting go of any suspicious points. Do not give me excuses such as too many people entering the city, making it difficult to distinguish. I only want results.”

“Second, order the Yulin Guard, Jinwu Guard, Qianniu Guard… including the six major forbidden army commanders including Zhaoya, to dig three feet into the ground in the capital from today onwards. Gao Li brought in more than one person. Can the remaining people really not leave any traces?”

“Third, tell Ma Yan to hang Gao Li's body on the city gate tower. I want to see if those people in the Kuangfu Society who call themselves righteous and heroic have the courage to jump out and retrieve their helmsman's body.”

“Fourth, order the shadow guards of the nine daos and eighteen fu of the Jianghu to be dispersed, and behead all the rebel party members who have been identified, leaving none behind!”

A murderous aura!

The four imperial edicts were fiercer than the last, and the killing intent was more intense than the last.

Zhao Du'an was stunned.

At this moment, he seemed to see the Third Princess who swept across the battlefield with a treasured sword during the Xuanmen coup, killing so much that blood flowed like a river and heads rolled.

“Your Majesty, this…”

Mo Chou's face also changed, and she hurriedly advised:

“Screening and searching are fine, but hanging the corpse on the city gate… wouldn't this give the rebel party something to talk about?

Those traitors have been spreading rumors, trying to portray Your Majesty as a tyrant. Wouldn't this fulfill their wishes? It would be detrimental to your reputation.

As for beheading… weren't you planning to win over and instigate those rebel party members?

You also said that not all of the rebel party are beyond redemption. Zhuang Xiaocheng is co-opting and corrupting court officials, and we can also co-opt Kuangfu Society members… If we behead them now, wouldn't all previous efforts be wasted…”

She was worried that the Empress was being swayed by emotions and making irrational decisions.

Zhao Du'an also spoke to persuade her:

“Your Majesty, please calm down. This matter needs to be carefully considered before acting.”

However, Xu Zhenguan shook her head.

She stood up, walked to the window, letting the wind from the lake blow her long hair, her eyes clear and calm as she said:

“I have not been blinded by anger, but I have figured out some things.

I used to be constrained by my reputation, so I was restrained. But in fact, some people will really take an inch and want a mile, just like those false Confucians who are full of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, but are full of treachery.

They concoct rules that a benevolent ruler should abide by, but they never abide by them themselves.

Since they don't follow the rules, then I don't need to follow them either.”

After a pause, the Dayu Empress suddenly smiled, looked at the two of them faintly, and said softly:

“Do you think that Zhuang Xiaocheng and his gang really think that I… can't wield a knife?”