The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Is it this one?"

Xu Junling's eyes showed surprise, then he smacked his lips, and realized—the mining affairs supervisor who submitted the letter of accusation was surnamed "Song."

In local areas, clans of the same surname often gather.

It seems likely that Supervisor Song has kinship with this local small aristocratic family. Well, this also explains why he entrusted the "evidence backup" to someone.

"Let's go."

Zhao Du'an didn't say much, clapped his hands, and turned back to the carriage.

Xu Junling and her servants immediately followed. Before setting off, Zhao Du'an had reached a gentleman's agreement with her:

If you want to follow along to investigate the case, you must listen to Zhao Du'an's dispatch and take him as the leader.

At this moment, a group of outsiders, feeling the mountain breeze, bypassed the "Taicang Silver Mine" along the rugged country road without entering.

Zhao Du'an wasn't very interested in the mine.

Besides, there were government officials guarding it below. He was here on an unannounced private visit and didn't want to attract attention too early.

However, he kept in mind what Lü Qingfeng had said about the mine being flooded with water on rainy days.

Perhaps after returning to Beijing, he could find Gongshu Tianyuan and get an ancient version of a water pump.

However, this was just a fleeting thought and was quickly dismissed.

However, even though Zhao Du'an tried his best to keep a low profile, after they left, some of the laborers carrying stones on the periphery of the silver mine still raised their heads and whispered to each other.

Immediately, one person dropped his burden, strode in straw sandals, and ran towards the distance.

Preparing to report the news of "suspicious outsiders" to the foreman in exchange for a reward.

—It is said that this was an order issued by the County Magistrate.

… …

The person Zhao Du'an was looking for was Song Juren of Taicang County, who was also the current clan elder of the Linfeng Song family branch.

Song Family Village was where the Song clan lived. Although located in the countryside, it was backed by mountains and rivers, and its grandeur resembled a small town.

The roads outside the village were paved with flat stone surfaces.

Looking from afar, the continuous buildings, which already showed some Jiangnan style, were connected together.

All were white walls and black tiles, and even a few two-story buildings rose scattered, with neat land and houses.

The group arrived outside the village and simply got out of the car and walked.

The old man in a plain robe, Lü Qingfeng, walked beside Zhao Du'an, leading the way, with a look of emotion:

"In a flash, more than ten years have passed, and this place is even better than before."

Zhao Du'an said leisurely with his hands behind his back:

"The people here seem to be much wealthier than elsewhere."

Xu Junling pursed her lips and smiled faintly:

"Adjacent to the silver mine, even if they don't steal or rob, just doing some convenient things will prevent them from being poor.

Leaving aside other places, the cleanliness and tidiness of this village alone is considered above average even in the Huaishui area.

This…Miss, understands a bit why the Song Family Village Master dared to keep Master Lü as the village's martial arts instructor. It seems they are not short of money."

The basic public security in the Great Yu Dynasty was poor. It was already good if the petty officials didn't harm the countryside.

Not to mention the endless bandits, robbers, and local tyrants. Therefore, even if the families in the countryside valued literature and studied, they would pool money to support some martial artists to protect themselves.

Usually, they would also invite these people to teach the young and strong men in the entire family martial arts.

With the financial resources of Song Family Village, it would not be surprising to invite some Jianghu experts or even cultivators to sit in town.

Lü Qingfeng smiled without saying a word, apparently acquiescing.

At this moment, as the group approached, they had already attracted the attention of some people near the village, but they all stood guard and watched from afar, without coming forward.

However, in an open space in the village, separated by fences planted with morning glories and chrysanthemums, square and square, there was a sound of laughter inside.

Zhao Du'an thought about asking for directions, so he walked closer.

Unexpectedly, a huge rattan ball "whooshed" out from behind the fence wall and flew high, hitting everyone.

"Bang."

Zhao Du'an spread his five fingers and raised his hand to catch the rattan ball, slightly surprised, understanding that someone was playing Cuju.

"Ah, it flew out again!"

"Fifth Brother, you are like this again…"

"Haha, who told me to learn my kung fu well and have great foot strength? Just pick it up."

A burst of laughter came from inside the fence wall, which was taller than a person.

Then, the half-covered fence door was pushed open, and a sturdy young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old trotted out.

He was wearing a short shirt, with jade inlaid on his belt, and his hair was tied up messily.

Looking around, seeing the group of people outside, the frivolous expression on his face was obviously stunned.

His eyes were instinctively firmly attracted by Xu Junling, secretly swallowing, his eyes shining brightly.

Only then did he catch a glimpse of Zhao Du'an, dressed as a wealthy young master, and the rattan ball he was holding in his hand.

"Where did this beautiful sister come from? She even picked up my ball?"

The sturdy young man smiled cheekily, only staring at Xu Junling.

The sound attracted twenty or so young and strong men to swarm out of the fence wall.

They all stared at the group of strangers in surprise.

Xu Junling's expression was natural, without the timidity of ordinary women, she pursed her lips and smiled:

"You have a sweet mouth, but it wasn't me who picked up the ball."

Saying that, she turned her eyes to her side.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"Almost smashed someone with the ball, it's okay not to know how to apologize, but also to mistake people…Hehe, never mind.

That young man, we are here to find Song Juren, can you point the way, which house is it? I'll return the rattan ball to you, how about that?"

Looking for Juren?

The group of disciples were not surprised, many people came to visit the clan elder.

The burly young man, known as "Fifth Brother," glanced at him, seemingly thinking that the man and woman in front of him were a couple, and his expression couldn't help but turn cold, not picking up the conversation at all.

Still smiling cheekily, he said to Xu Junling:

"Where did this sister come from? What's the matter with looking for my uncle? Did you come to visit by name?"

Xu Junling smiled slightly, and gave Zhao Du'an a smug look, as if to say:

Look, people don't pay attention to you at all. Our King Yama Zhao, when he leaves the capital, has no face to use…Look at this princess.

The princess won big.

She smiled sweetly, elegantly and gently:

"We have something to visit Song Juren, please lead the way, young master."

Zhao Du'an glanced at her in surprise, this scheming little princess actually deliberately pinched her throat!

Is it interesting to tease the young people in the countryside?

A smile appeared on the burly young man's face, his eyes turned again, and he said with a smile:

"Sister speaks, naturally it is possible.

It's just that, the village does not receive idlers, and also, I don't like this person, he waits outside, and he has to return the rattan ball to me…By the way, he has to apologize to me."

The young man raised his hand, his finger pointing at Zhao Du'an, with a smug look.

Among the group of Cuju teenagers behind him, some of the older ones frowned slightly, wanting to speak, but the rest抢 先 opened their mouths:

"That's right! Men are not allowed!"

"Fifth Brother said it well, women enter the village, men are not allowed!"

"Return the ball!"

In the midst of the noisy voices, the old man in a plain robe, Lü Qingfeng, felt a thud in his heart, secretly saying it was not good.

The burly man with a saber around his waist, and the unremarkable female knight in her thirties, turned their heads to look at "King Yama Zhao" at the same time, with a bit of caution in their expressions:

"Young master…"

In the shouting of the arrogant young man from the village.

Zhao Du'an's eyes slowly narrowed, the faint smile on his face became more and more brilliant, he said softly:

"Apologize?"

Following the martial arts instructor in the village to learn martial arts, his strength far exceeds that of his peers. The sturdy young man, who considers himself a martial arts genius, is used to being domineering. Seeing that this young master is just smiling, he can't help but become more arrogant:

"That's right, don't think I didn't hear what you said, you said I don't know etiquette…"

"Is that so," Zhao Du'an oh-ed, smiling and reaching out his right hand holding the rattan ball:

"In that case, returning it to you is all right."

That's about right…a coward…I guess you few servants don't dare to run wild in the village…

The sturdy young man raised his head triumphantly, stepped forward, and was about to take it, when he suddenly saw the young master turn his wrist and press the rattan ball directly towards his chest.

"Bang!"

The next second, in the horrified eyes of everyone, the young man, along with the ball, was as if hit head-on by a warhorse galloping in battle.

With a scream, his body soared into the air, bowing like a shrimp in mid-air, his face twisted in pain, spitting out filth.

The whole person was like a broken sack, slamming into the towering fence wall.

"Ah! !"

The rattan ball also collapsed and exploded under the force of the palm, and the collapsed fragments were like bullets, hitting the group of Cuju teenagers who were scurrying with their heads in their hands, screaming in pain.

In the blink of an eye, like wheat straw, they fell to the ground, looking at the group of strangers in horror, where was the laughter?

Zhao Du'an slapped out a palm, and suddenly grabbed from the air, turning the "Milky Way Hanging Upside Down" over and using it, a strong suction force suddenly spewed out from the palm.

He dragged the young man "Fifth Brother" back from the air, grabbed his neck with his hand, and lifted him into the air lightly.

"What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."

Zhao Du'an had a pure and innocent face.

"Gah…Giggle…"

The sturdy young man was lifted like a chicken in the air, his legs kicking wildly, his face flushed red as blood, his eyes filled with fear, unable to speak, he turned his eyes to the "gentle sister" for help.

But seeing Xu Junling, with an elegant demeanor and a look of a lady from a noble family, with a smile on her face, she didn't have the slightest sympathy.

"Murder!"

"Go call someone!"

"Please ask Master Xie to come, saying that thieves have broken in!"

The fallen teenagers ran away in terror, shouting and running towards the village.

"Young master, this group of people…"

The Han man wearing iron arm guards, who had vowed to challenge Zhao Du'an that day, showed a fierce look, humbly bowed, and gave a look asking if he should stop them.

"No need.

It's better to ask for a toast than to be forced to drink a forfeit, so it's easier to find someone this way."

Zhao Du'an casually threw the almost suffocated young man on the ground and sighed softly:

"I am kind-hearted, today I will teach that Song Juren how to discipline the children in the clan."

Everyone looked at each other.

The sturdy young man who was thrown on the ground coughed violently, and was about to get up when he was stepped on the mud by the man holding the knife, surprised and said:

"Master Lü, that Song Juren, have you met him back then? Was he also so ignorant?"

Lü Qingfeng stroked his beard, his eyes recalling:

"I met him once, but there was not much interaction. It was the previous Song Family Village Master who earnestly asked me to stay, but the one who really made this village famous is indeed this Juren.

Hehe, but it's not because of any fame, but because this person once followed Mr. Zhengyang to cultivate himself, and has always called himself a disciple of Zhengyang."

"Mr. Zhengyang?"

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows, feeling a little familiar, maybe he had heard it somewhere.

Xu Junling explained:

"This person is the number one hermit of the Great Yu Dynasty.

When the Xiuwen Hall opened, as far as I know, the imperial court sent people to invite Mr. Zhengyang to come out of the mountain, but he politely declined."

Thank you book friend: Masked Superman of Mercury for the 100 coin reward!