The First Lackey Under The Empress

On the horizon.

The dark cavalry was like a sharp blade, cutting open the blurred dividing line between the desolate autumn sky and the earth.

Bowl-sized hooves heavily trampled the ground, stirring up turbid waves of dust.

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Zhao Du'an smiled and threw out these words, and above the cavalry, a circling falcon had already taken the lead and swept over the crowd.

"Halt!"

The general leading the charge with the flag shouted in a deep voice, and more than two hundred cavalrymen stopped hundreds of meters away in an instant, their movements uniform.

This level of skill alone far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.

It was clear that they were an elite force trained with heavy investment.

The leading general planted the flagpole into the ground and rode alone to the outside of the small tea stall.

He dismounted, knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and clasped his fist towards Zhao Du'an, saying:

"This humble general, Yuan Xingjun, the Deputy Commander of the Linfeng Road Commandery, pays his respects to you, sir!"

People from the Linfeng Commandery?

Xu Junling's beautiful eyes revealed a "just as expected" expression, and then she couldn't help but look at Zhao with surprise, her big eyes seeming to speak:

Is this the backing you, a 'river-crossing dragon,' rely on?

Zhao Du'an, who was not wearing official robes and was dressed more like a wealthy young master, put down the rough tea bowl and looked at the military officer clad in black fish-scale light armor with a smile:

"Do you recognize me?"

Yuan Xingjun frankly said:

"This humble general has had the honor of seeing your portrait, sir. After receiving your letter, the Commander ordered this humble general to escort you into the city and, during your stay in Linfeng, to obey your orders."

The autumn wind blew.

It lifted the booklet in Zhao Du'an's hand, on which "Linfeng Road Commander" was clearly listed.

Since Zhenbao had given him the authority to mobilize troops, Zhao Du'an naturally did not stand on ceremony.

Last night, he sent out two letters from the post station, one to Taicang Prefecture City, ordering the local officials to come out and welcome the Imperial Envoy.

The second was sent to the garrison.

In the Dayu Dynasty, the Regional Administration Commissioner, the Surveillance Commissioner, and the Commander formed a three-legged balance of power, with military and political affairs separated.

With the cooperation of the local troops, Zhao Du'an, this "river-crossing dragon," could control this muddy swamp.

"Very good, General Yuan, please go and wait. After this official finishes this bowl of tea, I will enter the city," Zhao Du'an said with a smile.

The Linfeng Deputy Commander, who had been repeatedly told by the Commander to "be cautious in his words and actions" before he came, responded and took his leave.

From beginning to end, he did not look at the princess once.

"By the way, what was the princess saying just now?"

Zhao Du'an turned to look at Xu Junling.

The well-read lady gritted her silver teeth and forced a smile:

"Nothing. I just didn't expect that after leaving the capital, Lord Zhao would still be so impressive, even using the dignified Linfeng Deputy Commander like a hawk. With such guards, this princess has also benefited."

Zhao Du'an shook his head and said:

"If the princess wants to enter the city, please fall behind. The Imperial Envoy's team must take the lead."

Xu Junling was stunned, a look of suspicion on her face.

Soon after.

The group left the tea stall.

The two carriages of the Imperial Envoy's team, surrounded by two hundred cavalrymen, headed towards Taicang Prefecture City with great momentum.

Leaving only the princess's two carriages, slowing down and lagging behind.

Watching the horse team slowly advance, the tea stall owner breathed a sigh of relief, marveling and smacking his lips while wiping his hands with a rag, muttering:

"Such great prestige, could it be a powerful young master from the capital? Goodness, even the prefect's son doesn't have such grandeur."

The waiter next to him scratched his head:

"Could it be an official taking office? That nobleman was speaking in official jargon and even brought female relatives."

The boss slapped the waiter on the head:

"Where are there such young and handsome officials?"

… …

… …

Dozens of miles away, Taicang Prefecture City.

Early in the morning, the yamen runners and government officials urged the people to clean the streets, suppressing all the eyesores, such as gangs in the city, in advance.

A group of Linfeng officials in the city put on their official robes and black gauze hats, leading a group of local officials to line up and eagerly await at the city gate.

Finally, outside the city, the grand Imperial Envoy's team arrived.

"The Imperial Envoy is here."

Sun Xiaozhun, the black and thin, decisive prefect, was taken aback, "Why have the Linfeng soldiers been mobilized?"

At this moment, the officials present all felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Regional Administration Commissioner Gao Lian and the elderly Surveillance Commissioner looked at each other, secretly thinking that this was a fierce arrival.

When the team stopped at the city gate.

Gao Lian, the Regional Administration Commissioner, who was elegant and had his official robes ironed without a wrinkle, laughed loudly, stepped forward, and cupped his hands:

"Is that Imperial Envoy Zhao ahead?"

In the center of the cavalry, the thick curtains of the two carriages were successively lifted.

The first to come out was the green-robed Censor inlaid with silver-plated dentures, and then, leisurely, Zhao Du'an, who Qian K柔 had invited out.

Zhao Du'an looked arrogant and indifferent, his eyes disdainful, wearing the unique official robe of the White Horse Supervisor that he had changed into on the road.

When the boots depicting cloud patterns stepped out of the carriage, a man in brocade actually knelt on the ground, using his body as a stool, for the Imperial Envoy to step on his back and land steadily.

Then, his gaze arrogant, he swept over the smiling faces of Gao Lian and other local officials, sneering:

"If it weren't for this official, who else would you be waiting for?"

Uh… The Linfeng officials were all stunned.

Gao Lian, the Regional Administration Commissioner, who was a "regional governor" in charge of two prefectures and held the rank of second-grade official, twitched the corner of his eye slightly.

His smile remained unchanged on his face, and he laughed heartily:

"What the Imperial Envoy says is true. I have long heard of the fame of Lord Zhao from the capital. Rumor has it that he is handsome in appearance and extraordinary in demeanor. Seeing him today, the rumors are true. No wonder His Majesty relies on him so heavily."

The Surveillance Commissioner, who had a kind face, also smiled:

"What Regional Administration Commissioner Gao said is very true."

Even Prefect Sun Xiaozhun, who had outstanding political achievements and dared to slam the table with his superiors at every turn, was all smiles, looking eager and sparing no praise.

Led by the three, the rest of the local officials spoke one after another, various flattering words engulfing Zhao Du'an like they were free.

Even the middle-aged Censor, who was working as an assistant, also benefited from a lot of flattery and hurriedly said:

"You're too kind, too kind."

"Are you done speaking?" Zhao Du'an said flatly, listening to a string of rainbow farts with a blank face, and said lightly:

"Regional Administration Commissioner Gao, why haven't you welcomed this official into the city to stay?"

Gao Lian, who was elegant and had a smile on his face, smiled slightly:

"It is we who have been negligent. The Imperial Envoy has traveled a long way. We have prepared post stations and banquets to welcome the Imperial Envoy and wash away the dust. Someone, lead the way!"

Zhao Du'an turned around and drilled back into the carriage, and the team entered the city gate with great fanfare.

Under the countless eyes focused on them in the prefectural city, they proceeded along the quiet main street.

Watching the carriage enter the city first, the smile on Gao Lian's face slowly faded.

A breeze brushed past the neat hair on his temples, and his person also changed from eager to indifferent.

"Lord Provincial Treasurer, this Zhao is too pretentious. He doesn't put us in his eyes at all!"

Next to him, the rest of the officials also gathered around, and some couldn't help but feel indignant and said in a low voice.

"That's right. Those who know it is an Imperial Envoy, and those who don't know it would think it was the Holy One himself!"

"I heard rumors early on that this Zhao Yama is flamboyant and domineering, relying on the Holy One's favor in the capital. Today, I have finally learned it."

"We are fine, but this person doesn't even have the slightest respect for you!"

The faces of the officials were not good-looking, filled with righteous indignation, speaking up for their superiors.

Liu, the Surveillance Commissioner, and Sun Xiaozhun, the Prefect, also had unsightly faces, without saying a word.

With their status and position, personally going out of the city to welcome him, and even shamelessly flattering a young man, was already considered a compromise.

Unexpectedly, this "Zhao Yama" had no good expression throughout the whole process, and was even too lazy to speak.

They did not give the other party a show of force, but Zhao silently slapped the faces of all of them.

"Alright! Don't gossip," Gao Lian swept over the crowd coldly, took a deep breath, and said:

"Have you forgotten what I told you? If we appease the Imperial Envoy, we will be fine. Put away all your resentment. Whoever speaks out of turn and leaves a handle will know the consequences."

After saying that, he strode towards the city.

Prefect Sun Xiaozhun stroked his chin, smacked his lips for a long time, and muttered:

"Is he like his name, or is it intentional?"

"Lord Prefect, what are you saying?" An official next to him asked curiously.

Sun Xiaozhun glared at him unhappily:

"Have you taken care of the things I told you to do?"

"How dare this official be negligent? Everything is done according to your requirements, Lord. The accommodation and banquet are all within the rules, coming steadily, not giving the Imperial Envoy any room to pick out mistakes," the official said.

"Good," Prefect Sun nodded, a little eager to try:

"I want to see how capable this Imperial Envoy is."

… …

The team that entered the city was mighty, until it disappeared.

The shops on both sides of the main axis of the prefectural city, which had been ordered to close their doors and not go out, were relieved and reopened to welcome customers.

The people in the city also returned to normal order.

Everything settled down.

Outside the smaller East Gate, which supplied people entering the city, two low-key carriages slowly entered.

Inside the leading carriage.

Xu Junling, dressed as a lady, leaned against one side of the carriage, squinting her beautiful eyes, looking at the man sitting opposite her, and said:

"Is this something you came up with on the spur of the moment, or was it premeditated?"

The noble young master, sitting in the same carriage as the princess and wearing luxurious clothes, used his hand to open a crack in the curtain, examining the street scene in Taicang Prefecture City with interest.

Hearing this, he turned his head, and the corners of his handsome face slowly curled up, saying:

"What do you think?"

Xu Junling's expression was strange, staring at Zhao Du'an in front of her, and said:

"It must have been premeditated. Your subordinate named Shen Juan is clearly similar in stature to you, and it is obvious that he knew about this arrangement early on, so he naturally switched places with you.

So, your plan from the beginning was to let him impersonate you, swaggering around, pretending to be the 'Imperial Envoy' to enter the city, displayed in the open.

And you, the real Imperial Envoy, are sneaking into the city without anyone knowing, to make a surprise visit?

Speaking of which, how can he pretend to be so similar? Aren't you afraid of being seen through?"

Zhao Du'an was leisurely and content, putting down the curtains in a lazy posture, and said with a smile:

"Since it was premeditated, how could it be so easily seen through?

Moreover, this is Taicang, not the capital. Gao Lian and the local officials have only seen my portrait. It should be possible to fool them for a few days."

He sighed softly, saying with some headache:

"His Majesty personally ordered me to enter the city openly. As a subject, how can I disobey His Majesty's orders?"

A brilliant smile appeared on his face, like the dazzling golden chrysanthemums of autumn:

"I have carried it out to the letter."

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