The First Lackey Under The Empress

In the capital, Mo Chou, acting on the Empress's decree, had said during her night visit to the Zhao residence that he should enter the city in a “just and honorable” manner.

The phrase "just and honorable" was worth pondering.

Zhao Du'an wasn't sure if Zhenbao was giving him a hint, but it didn't matter.

As the saying goes, a general abroad may disregard some orders.

Xu Zhenguan, sitting in the capital, couldn't interfere with the specifics of how the Taicang silver mine corruption case was investigated.

Similarly, Li Yanfu, orchestrating the situation from within the Prime Minister's residence with handwritten plans, couldn't fully anticipate everything.

Therefore, Zhao Du'an chose the tactic of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass."

He gave the disguise mask he had seized from "Thousand-Faced Divine Lord" to Shen Juan, and instructed Shen Juan to imitate his words and actions in advance.

Shen Juan was to replace him as the "Imperial Envoy" entering the city, drawing everyone's attention.

Meanwhile, he himself would quietly sneak into Taicang Prefecture.

"Originally, I intended to act alone, but since the Princess is happy to help, it saves me a lot of trouble."

Zhao Du'an said with a smile, his face full of false gratitude.

Xu Junling's party returned in a low-key manner, without much fanfare.

The local officials also didn't know that a princess had inexplicably joined the Imperial Envoy's team.

As for his own appearance after giving the disguise mask to his subordinate, Zhao Du'an wasn't too worried.

There weren't many people in the entire Taicang Prefecture who had seen his portrait.

Besides, the portraits in this world were quite different from the real person... Before setting off, he had learned a few "disguise techniques" from Haitang, the kind used by the yamen runners.

It was barely passable, but sufficient.

"The main thing is that I'm too handsome, so I have to put on ugly makeup, otherwise I'd stand out like a crane in a flock of chickens, sigh, such a troublesome thing," Zhao Du'an sighed.

"..."

Xu Junling ignored his frivolous words, frowned her delicate eyebrows, and asked suspiciously:

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Zhao Du'an put away his joking thoughts, his expression became slightly more serious, and he smiled:

"What does the Princess think my mission is here?"

"Naturally, it's to investigate the Taicang magistrate's suspected corruption and theft of national silver," Xu Junling said blandly.

Zhao Du'an stared at the dignified, eyebrow-painted royal princess, his eyes showing disappointment:

"Why does the Princess have to say these polite words? With your intelligence, you should know that a mere magistrate isn't worth His Majesty's great effort.

The Taicang silver mine case is primarily about killing the chicken to scare the monkeys. His Majesty needs to use thunderous means to deal with it, so that local officials can see the court's determination, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policies…

Heh, the new policies have been passed in the capital, but in the localities, they are still struggling to move forward."

"Secondly, what matters is who else is behind this Taicang magistrate. Who is providing him with a protective umbrella, and who is the mountain he relies on."

Xu Junling said in a calm, declarative tone:

"So, you suspect that the Taicang magistrate's backer is among the officials who welcomed you into the city. You don't trust these people, so you decided to investigate secretly."

Zhao Du'an appreciatively snapped his fingers and said:

"The Princess understands me. Investigating a case is like playing chess. When you're in the middle of it, it's easy to be blinded by a leaf and be led by the nose by these local officials.

After all, I'm a dragon crossing the river. Even if I have those two hundred cavalry, if my eyes are blind, it's meaningless.

Only by standing outside the chessboard can you see the whole picture. Well, besides that, doing this has another advantage."

Xu Junling asked curiously: "What advantage?"

"Relaxing vigilance."

Zhao Du'an conjured a die onto the back of his hand as if by magic.

With a flick of his fingers, the small die seemed to stick to his hand, tumbling between his fingers. This was a tool he had recently been using to practice micro-control:

"Does the Princess like to gamble?"

Xu Junling shook her head and frowned:

"Gambling is forbidden in Da Yu. Although there is a gambling culture in the Huai River area, I don't touch it. What do you want to say?"

Zhao Du'an said quietly:

"I once heard that some gambling masters who are good at playing cards will observe their opponents' behavior, actions, and subtle habits.

Everyone has some habits, such as their habitual methods of doing certain things, which hand a martial artist is used to holding a knife, the trajectory of a scholar's handwriting, the reactions of a gambler when they get different cards... there are traces to follow.

The local officials in Taicang, whether they are the magistrate's backers or not, will certainly try to clear their names as their first reaction in order to protect themselves from being implicated.

In order to protect the official hats on their heads, they will try their best to deceive me, the Imperial Envoy, and narrow the scope of the case... Heh, it's only human nature.

So what will they do?

Or rather, how will they perfunctorily deal with me, the Imperial Envoy?"

Xu Junling understood instantly, her eyes slightly brightened:

"You mean, they will try to understand your style of doing things and your investigation habits, so as to respond accordingly?"

She easily understood this idea.

Because her ability to handle social situations with ease was also due to understanding the personalities and habits of the people she was dealing with in advance, and then catering to them.

Zhao Du'an sighed:

"Yes, my habits of handling affairs in the capital over the past few months will be used as a reference.

For example, they might find that I like to find fault and establish authority whenever I go to a place.

It was the same when I went to the Zhao Yamen and the Divine Mechanism Camp.

So, today they will try their best to be law-abiding, so as not to let me find any faults.

Well, the Princess must be well aware of this. Wasn't the reason you sent someone to challenge me on the arena in the first place because you were sure that my personality wouldn't allow me to endure it?"

That makes sense... Xu Junling nodded first, then reacted and said sternly:

"Lord Zhao, don't misunderstand, I just..."

"Haha, it's all in the past," Zhao Du'an waved his hand generously, indicating that he didn't mind.

If you didn't mind, you wouldn't have brought it up... Xu Junling muttered inwardly, and brought the topic back to the main point, seriously:

"So, you plan to take advantage of this?"

Zhao Du'an gently said "En" and smiled slyly:

"My calling Shen Juan domineering and arrogant is the first step, and there will be a second step... The purpose is to deliberately make these local officials think that I am using the old methods of the past to deal with them.

The more I conform to their imagination, the more relaxed they will become, thinking that they have mastered my behavior habits and can steadily win this game.

And once people become complacent, they will reveal flaws, and they won't be far from losing."

As he spoke, he suddenly flipped the back of his hand, grasping the jumping die in his palm.

Xu Junling's heart seemed to be clenched tightly, following the die.

She stared blankly at the man in front of her, suddenly feeling a little creeped out.

She understood why this guy could continuously defeat so many opponents in just a few months.

He was simply… full of tricks.

"Then what is your second step?"

Xu Junling couldn't help but ask.

Zhao Du'an didn't answer, but just smiled mischievously:

"If the Princess is curious, why not send someone to inquire about it?

There should be people from your Huai'an Royal Mansion in this Taicang Prefecture, right? Oh, and tell your people to prepare a better inn room. I'm not used to sleeping in bad rooms."

Xu Junling looked annoyed.

At this time, the carriage had slowly stopped at the back door of an inn that was secretly owned by the Huai'an Royal Mansion.

With a fierce look on her face, she lifted her skirt and got out of the carriage:

"If you want to stay in a good room, pay for it yourself. This Princess is not your subordinate!"

Zhao Du'an rested his head on his hands and leaned back in the carriage, squinting his eyes to examine the princess's upturned buttocks and slender waist as she got out of the carriage, and praised softly:

"Princess, be careful not to bump this butt, tsk tsk, there are quite a few pounds in the round places, it's easy to give birth to a child with a handle."