The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Boom!”

A long sword covered in frost was suddenly thrown, piercing straight into the erected target, blasting the iron-clad mannequin to smithereens.

Zhao Du'an reached out, seized the sword hilt, and lightly twirled a sword flourish.

Standing in the small “martial arts field” of his own courtyard, with the late summer morning's eastern sun in his eyes, he exhaled deeply:

“It's got something.”

In the past two days, he had focused all his mind on digesting the Empress's teachings.

In his mind, he replayed them again and again, practicing repeatedly.

During the day, he went to the yamen, but instead of handling cases, he took turns sparring with the constables from various halls, honing his skills in real combat with these martial arts experts.

His progress was rapid.

If the Supervisor Ma Yan's realm wasn't too far apart from his, Zhao Du'an would have wanted to find his cheap senior brother to be his sparring partner.

And in actual combat, the weaknesses on his body that the Empress had pointed out were gradually being filled, while his strengths were constantly being developed.

“I feel like I'm terrifyingly strong now, and I desperately need an enemy to kill.”

Zhao Du'an tossed the scabbard to a family servant at the edge of the field, happily embracing one of life's three great delusions: "I can make a comeback."

“Master, this servant will wipe your sweat.”

Next to his stepmother, a maid named Mian Tao ran up diligently, holding a wet towel in her hands.

This maid was of average appearance, but her figure was full, and she was clever and capable.

The Zhao family was a small household, with only a few maids and old women.

Not long ago, Zhao Du'an hired a few more to share the burden, and Mian Tao was promoted to “head maid” on the spot, gaining the opportunity to serve the master.

“I can do it myself.” Zhao Du'an relied on himself and said casually:

“Aren't you going to help with the preparations?”

The maid Mian Tao looked up with admiration:

“Master has moved the chefs from Ding Feng Restaurant back home, so there's no need to prepare anything more. The madam is dressing up, and the young lady is with her, so they don't need this servant.”

The two were discussing the fact that Yujinhua's family members would be visiting at noon today, and they would be entertaining guests at home.

Yes, not long after that family letter was sent, the Yu family arrived in the capital.

And after settling down, they sent a greeting card and arranged to visit relatives today.

In fact, within two hours of the Yu family entering the city, Zhao Du'an had already learned of the group's whereabouts through the Zhaoyamen's channels—

With his current status and position, secretly ordering the martial officers at the city gate to send a message after they entered the city was just a matter of a word.

In addition, Zhao Du'an ordered his men to conduct a simple investigation into the basic situation of these “relatives”:

As his stepmother said, it was her second uncle's family who had come this time.

The leader was Yu Zhande, the head of the Yu family branch in Xipingdao.

According to the information, this person was also a martial artist of high rank… This made him slightly surprised.

But considering that the families in various parts of the Great Yu Dynasty who could gain a stable foothold either had officials in their clan to support them.

Or, they were associated with the word “cultivation,” counting as half of the Jianghu forces, so it was not surprising.

Of course, Yu Zhande was not a pure martial artist; the Yu family's main business was still trading.

That is, relying on geographical advantages, they traded goods between the Western Regions and the Great Yu.

Xipingdao had a strong folk customs, with a mixture of Jianghu atmosphere and merchant spirit.

Also, due to the relationship with the caravan, they often dealt with the border troops in the western corridor of the imperial court, which led to the later marriage of Yu Jinhua to a returning soldier.

However, Yu Zhande didn't bring many people to the capital this time.

In addition to a few clan guards, the only close ones were his wife and youngest son.

According to seniority, Yu Jinhua should call them aunt and cousin.

In addition, intelligence showed that this family had also met a noble young master from the same Xipingdao direction on the road.

However, because he was a “passerby,” the subordinates only conducted a simple investigation and had no detailed information, so Zhao Du'an didn't care.

Zhao Du'an ordered people to investigate, but he had no other thoughts, just wanted to get a feel for the situation.

Although according to his thoughts, it would be merciful not to retaliate against such bad relatives.

But since his stepmother was thinking of family ties, Zhao Du'an also gave Yu Jinhua enough face.

For this reception, he specially ordered people to bring the back kitchen of a nearby large restaurant to his home to be responsible for the luncheon.

The maid immediately felt that the master was really capable.

“Okay, I don't need anyone to serve me. Go take care of those chefs. By the way, are the tableware for the guests ready?”

“Yes, the Dong family sent a set of valuable utensils as an apology last time, which is more than enough.”

The maid said quickly, raising her head:

“In my opinion, with your current status, master, not going to the yamen and personally staying at home to receive them today is already a great blessing for them.”

In her words, she already had some demeanor of a head maid.

Zhao Du'an smiled and shook his head, saying meaningfully:

“Outsiders may not recognize my position; they may even despise me in their hearts.”

Mian Tao said anxiously:

“How is that possible? Who in the capital doesn't know how powerful you are, master?”

… …

… …

On the other side, Yu Zhande's family got up late this morning.

Xipingdao was far away from the capital, and it was not easy to arrive.

Yu Zhande, who had martial arts cultivation, was fine, but his delicate wife and spoiled youngest son were exhausted.

In addition, the dazzling world of the capital was fascinating, and the woman, who was used to dressing up in jewelry, finally entered the capital once, dragging her son around all day, and didn't care about visiting relatives.

They returned to the inn late last night, and only got up lazily in the morning, yawning and slowly tidying up.

She was more serious about makeup than usual.

Yu Zhande urged several times.

Finally, near noon, the family took a carriage to the Zhao family.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry, you as an uncle are diligent, and so is your niece. She doesn't understand the order of seniority, and instead of coming to greet us, she wants us elders to come to her door.”

Inside the carriage.

The middle-aged woman, who was already old, even with careful maintenance, still had wrinkles on her neck, spoke in a strange tone.

Her head, neck, and hands were covered with jewelry, and she was holding a mirror in her hand.

The Yu family head, who was well-proportioned, had an air of wealth, and a steady gaze, shook his head and exhorted:

“This is the capital, not Xiping. I have also asked people to inquire about it these days. That Zhao Du'an doesn't sound like a kind person.”

The woman curled her lips and said:

“I know, isn't he just an arrogant and domineering person who has gained power overnight? A nouveau riche, how can he be a good relative?”

Yu Zhande said with a straight face:

“It is this kind of young man with an arrogant temperament who is difficult to deal with. Besides, I heard that this person is probably not simple. It seems that he was recently caught in Dali Temple, and only came out after being low-key. Before, he was also arrogant in the officialdom.”

Nowadays, Zhao Du'an's impression in the eyes of outsiders exists in several layers.

The only people who know him best, know about the many major events he has done, and understand his position in the Empress's heart are a very small group of people in the court.

Basically limited to the top circle:

Yuan Li, Li Yanfu, Dong Xuan… those very few top bosses.

Li Yanfu doesn't even know much.

Further out, it is the impression of many officials and scholars in the imperial court.

It is much weaker, whether it is fighting Pei Kai Zhi, Zhou Cheng, the eldest princess… or the recent Xiuwen Pavilion and the Little Grand Secretary, in fact, in the officialdom, they are just rumors.

Like the recent fight against the Little Grand Secretary… almost no one knows that he is the mastermind behind the scenes.

At most, they hear some rumors such as:

“There may be Zhao Yama's shadow behind this matter.”

Most of them are brainwashed into thinking that Zhao Du'an is just a cruel official who works for a big man.

He is a pawn.

And further out, leaving the officialdom circle above the fifth rank.

Below, some low-ranking officials, as well as ordinary people in the capital, know even less information.

The impression still remains on the level that Zhao Du'an is a gigolo who rose to the top by selling cattle and is domineering and arrogant…

To put it bluntly, it's three words:

Information gap!

Therefore, don't look at Zhao Du'an's success in the circle of top bosses, but for the vast majority of middle and lower classes…

The judgment of Zhao Du'an's current energy and power is completely lagging behind!

Yu Zhande may be considered a figure in Xipingdao.

But after entering the capital, the network channels he can contact in a short time are not enough to see.

With his status, the largest Beijing official he can barely contact is probably only the level of the county magistrate…

Therefore, Yu Zhande greatly underestimated his niece's “stepson.”

But even so, just relying on the official status of “Zhaoyamen Constable” is enough to make him take it seriously.

“In short, even if he relies on a face to get to the top, he is also ascending to the throne of the current emperor. The Zhao family may only be ants in the eyes of those big officials in the Great Yu Dynasty, but compared to our Yu family, they are big figures.”

Yu Zhande's tone was serious, and he instructed his wife:

“Remember, we are here to build relationships this time.

If you don't want to ruin things, put away that attitude of yours, and when you enter the Zhao family, be polite, especially to my niece, and don't be like you were back then.

Jinhua is sentimental. As long as we can win her over, are we still afraid that Zhao Du'an won't help?

The men of the Zhao family are dead, and Jinhua is the mistress of the Zhao family. No matter how arrogant Zhao Du'an is outside, he should still listen to the elders when he returns home.”

The woman with jewelry fiddled with her fingers and said indifferently:

“I know, I've heard these words so many times that they've formed calluses.”

Next to him.

The fat, greasy-faced teenager muttered:

“I don't know what the Zhao family is like, whether it's as grand as our family.”

Soon, You Lu'er, the spoiled young master of the Yu family, got the answer.

When the carriage stopped and saw the Zhao family's location, which was in a remote location and only an ordinary house.

The fat teenager couldn't help but be disappointed and despised:

“Dad, did you go to the wrong place? Just this? Didn't you say he was a big shot? Why is it not as good as our house?”

The mean woman also frowned, feeling that the rumors were probably exaggerated.

If that Zhao Du'an was very favored and was really a big shot, how could he live in such an ordinary house?

I think it is also true, even if the current emperor accepts male concubines, there must be more than one, the Zhao family may just be one of them.

But he still warned his son not to talk nonsense.

Yu Zhande was also weighing silently, thinking about the rumors that Zhao Du'an was tried by Dali Temple.

With complex thoughts, the family carried a few gifts brought out by the servants and stepped forward to knock on the door.

Not long after.

The old steward of the Zhao family personally greeted them and said warmly:

“Madam and young master have been waiting for a long time, please follow me.”

This old servant… doesn't follow the rules, doesn't respect seniority… The family frowned deeper and deeper.

When they arrived directly at the inner hall, they saw that at the entrance of the hall.

Yu Jinhua and her daughter, as well as a tall and handsome young man, were waiting.

… …

Seeking monthly tickets for July