The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the money box, it wasn't empty.

For example, on the top layer, there was a stack of silver notes, mixed with a land deed, which, according to his memory, was the deposit Wang Xian gave him.

In addition, there were his own house deed, as well as a small amount of silver, the original owner's mother's jewelry, and other miscellaneous items, which, in ordinary families, would already be a large sum of money, but…

“Where's the money I embezzled?” Zhao Du'an was a little dumbfounded.

In his memory, the original owner, in the past year, although he didn't dare to be too greedy for fear of being caught, he still received a lot of benefits both openly and secretly.

But now, they have all disappeared without a trace.

“Was it stolen? Or did You Jinhua take it away? No… impossible.”

Zhao Du'an tried his best to squeeze his brainpower, trying to search for memories.

But more than three days have passed since the transmigration, and the original owner's remaining memories have gradually become blurred.

Many things only exist as impressions, and a large number of details have been lost.

Just like he can remember that there are concubines and stepsisters in the family, but the appearance of the two is not clear. Only seeing them again can awaken his memory.

It's like a person suffering from amnesia, only having the impression that “the original owner made a lot of money,” but he can't remember exactly how much, or the ins and outs of each sum.

“It seems that I… took it away myself.”

Zhao Du'an's face didn't look good. “But I forgot where the money went.”

It's quite like:

Seeing the lottery numbers and finding that they are exactly the same as the ones you bought, but you can't remember where you put the lottery ticket.

“This is a坑爹…” Zhao Du'an's mouth twitched.

What is the most painful thing?

It's when a person is alive, and the money is also there, but you forget where you put it.

“Calm down! Perhaps I can try to inquire with You Jinhua,” Zhao Du'an thought, “The memory is just blurred, as long as I get a reminder, maybe I can remember it.”

Moreover, although the original owner was useless, he was not stupid. It was impossible for him to lose a large sum of money that he had worked so hard to get.

After comforting himself for a while, Zhao Du'an took out the “deposit”, put in the Mind Nourishing Pill, locked the “safe”, and sat cross-legged to breathe and calm his energy.

Just now, he looked calm, but his meridians had been subjected to excessive energy transfer, and he felt a faint pain.

“It's normal for it to be a little painful when it's too tight the first time. Do it a few more times, and it will be easier.” Eunuch Hai's instructions were still in his ears.

Zhao Du'an deeply agreed.

It wasn't until the sun was setting in the west that he was awakened by the sound of footsteps outside the door. He heard the maid knocking on the door and timidly saying:

“Young master, it's time for dinner.”

… …

Inner hall.

When Zhao Du'an arrived, he saw six dishes and one soup on the round table, but he didn't see the figures of the concubine and stepsister.

“Where are the people?” He asked subconsciously.

The maid next to him had a strange expression and whispered to remind him:

“Young master has forgotten, the madam and young lady are not allowed to be at the table.”

Zhao Du'an's vague memory was activated, and he remembered that after the original owner gained power, in order to humiliate the two women, he would always finish eating every meal at home, and the remaining dishes would be served to You Jinhua and her daughter by the servants.

Awesome, I have learned all the dregs of hierarchy… Zhao Du'an complained and said coldly:

“Go and call them over to eat together, I have something to ask.”

The maids and old women were a little surprised, but they didn't dare to ask.

Not long after, the mother and daughter walked into the inner hall.

Zhao Pan had a stern face and didn't say a word, as if her mother had warned her.

You Jinhua was careful and spoke softly:

“Young master…”

“Sit down and eat.” Zhao Du'an said. Seeing that the two women didn't move, he had to pretend to be angry. Only then did You Jinhua hurriedly pull her daughter to take a seat.

Zhao Du'an didn't say anything either. His stomach was rumbling, and he finally understood why the Empress was so capable of eating… One of the drawbacks of the royal family's cultivation technique seemed to be that it was easy to get hungry.

The mother and daughter were initially nervous and alert, wondering what was wrong with the eldest son today.

Seeing Zhao Du'an eating in silence, Zhao Pan gritted her teeth, took the lead in picking up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of meat fiercely, and swallowed it into her stomach. Seeing this, You Jinhua also hesitated and picked up a dish.

The hot meal entered her mouth, and the beautiful woman almost wanted to cry. She had already forgotten when was the last time the three of them sat together quietly and ate.

Has the wolf changed its nature?

Zhao Pan looked suspicious. She plucked up her courage and carefully went to pick up the dish that she liked to eat in front of Zhao Du'an, but the latter did not get angry, but just glanced at her, then moved the chopsticks away, as if…

Was… yielding to her?

How is that possible! The girl was extremely vigilant, suspecting that this was the calm before the storm.

Finally, when Zhao Du'an had eaten six parts full, he casually said:

“A few days ago, I took money out. Does Aunt know about it?”

You Jinhua was stunned. Aunt? How long has it been since she heard this title?

“Ah, what's the matter?” You Jinhua held her chopsticks, concealing the emotion in her heart.

Zhao Du'an frowned and repeated the question.

The mother and daughter looked at each other. You Jinhua hesitated and said:

“Isn't the money at home always managed by the eldest son? Besides the household expenses, I don't know where the rest was spent. Could it be that the eldest son was eating and drinking with some friends outside?”

Friends?

Zhao Du'an got a key word, and a small light bulb lit up on his head.

After the original owner gained power, he did make some纨绔friends, all of whom were children of small powerful families in the capital, and he usually enjoyed their flattery.

The reason why he fell so quickly was also thanks to these people.

Otherwise, even if a small imperial guard wanted to be corrupted, he couldn't find the entrance to the big social dye vat.

However, since Zhao Du'an had an accident, those drinking and meat friends who used to surround him and flatter him had all disappeared tacitly.

It's really the reality of the world… Zhao Du'an sneered in his heart, secretly noting down this clue, and preparing to free up his hands to investigate again.

Seeing that Zhao Du'an didn't ask any more questions, You Jinhua became even more strange, thinking that maybe the other party was in a good mood today because he was pardoned.

She said carefully:

"Speaking of which, the family's account is almost empty. Next month's expenses... I don't know when Eldest Brother will be available..."

The family's food, clothing, and expenses, the servants' wages, the comings and goings... Considering the high cost of living in the capital, it's a considerable sum each month.

You Jinhua lives a life of dependence, saving every penny each month, afraid of overspending.

Even so, she still feels uneasy every month when she asks Zhao Du'an for living expenses.

Although she has been working hard to save and manage the large family.

However, this time, Eldest Brother did not, as usual, scold her for being a "spendthrift" or a "freeloader," or question whether she had secretly spent the money.

The usually violent Zhao Du'an was first stunned, then he guiltily put down his chopsticks and said gently:

"This time, escaping the disaster cost a lot of money to smooth things over. I'll give it to you, Concubine, when I receive my salary in a few days. Well, I'm done, you guys eat slowly."

With that, he got up and left the inner hall, so embarrassed that he wanted to dig out a three-bedroom apartment.

He was really embarrassed to say that he didn't know how, but he had spent all the family's money.

"Heh, who would have thought that such a big villain like me would be so poor that I can't even afford living expenses..."

Zhao Du'an mocked himself, feeling that the action of overthrowing the Zhang brothers and earning money through meritorious service must be hastened.

Only the mother and daughter remained at the dining table, staring blankly at his departing figure, feeling that the sun had really risen in the west.

...

That night, outside the main bedroom.

Zhao Pan, holding an oil lamp, pushed open the door and saw her mother sitting at the table.

The beautiful woman was only wearing a nightgown, her swan neck lowered, her temperament gentle and refined.

In her hand was the skirt that her daughter had worn during the day. Because she had accidentally torn a hole when she fell, she was now focused on mending it.

After completing the last stitch and biting off the thread with her silver teeth, You Jinhua looked at the delicately embroidered peach blossom at the hole with satisfaction, raised her head, and smiled at her daughter:

"Come try it on, is it pretty?"

Zhao Pan bit her lip, her eyes dancing with light under the lamplight. She walked to her mother's side, put down the lamp, and grabbed her mother's hand with heartache, complaining:

"Why didn't you give it to the servants to sew?"

You Jinhua smiled: "The old women's eyesight is not good, they might ruin it even more if they embroidered it at night."

Then she said guiltily:

"At your age, you should be getting new clothes, but blame Mother for not being able to save money... I can only mend your old ones."

"Mother..." Zhao Pan's eyes turned red, and she said with heartache:

"I don't want new ones. Mother, you haven't bought new clothes for yourself in a long time."

The Zhao family is not short of money. Zhao Du'an's food and drink outside are enough for them to buy a good outfit.

But the living expenses he gives them each month are only barely enough to support the family, and they are always tight. He would scold them for even a penny less.

It is rare for the family of a dignified White Horse Monitor Commissioner to be so poor.

You Jinhua was deeply moved. The mother and daughter snuggled together, huddling for warmth.

After a long while, You Jinhua suddenly said: "Your elder brother seems a bit different today."

"He's not my brother," Zhao Pan said with a straight face, "He must have been reprimanded by the emperor, and is temporarily keeping his tail between his legs. Sooner or later, he will show his fangs."

You Jinhua was speechless, only sighing. Wasn't she also guessing the same thing?

She just held unrealistic hopes.

"Maybe... Mother is saying maybe... he has changed for the better after this incident? Men, ah, can only grow up after being tempered... The ancients had stories of prodigal sons returning..."

"I don't believe it. I only know that he bullied us, he's been bullying us since we were little!"

"Alas... When you were little, he had just lost his own mother and shouldn't dislike your mother..."

"Stop talking, I don't want to hear it!"

"Alright... Go back to your room and sleep."

Outside the door.

Behind the corridor pillar, Zhao Du'an listened to the end of the conversation inside the room. With a leap of light skill, he flew silently to the roof.

Watching Zhao Pan carry the lamp away, he was silent for a long time, looking up at the dark night sky of the capital, a conspicuous unknown tall building, somewhat distracted.

...

The night sky was like a wash, dotted with stars.

In the Great Yu Capital, located in the Taoist Sect's main altar, namely the "Tianshi Mansion", on a towering clock tower, on an outwardly protruding platform.

Starlight suddenly condensed, outlining a slender figure.

The night wind blew, the other party's warlock robe, black as the base and outlined with gold threads, fluttered. In a corner of the robe, the emblem of the "Tianshi Mansion" was also embroidered with gold threads.

It was the mysterious warlock who witnessed Zhao Du'an driving away from a corner tower near the White Horse Monitor the night before yesterday.

No, according to the Tianshi Mansion, it should be a "Divine Official."

At this moment, the wind blew the clouds away, revealing the bright moonlight, illuminating the Divine Official's appearance, which turned out to be a beautiful girl.

Her skin was fair, her hair slightly curly, and her eyes lacked focus, appearing dull.

Her temperament was mysterious and ethereal. If Zhao Du'an were here, he would probably associate her with Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter...

As soon as the girl Divine Official appeared, she missed a step and fell straight down the building with an "Ah!", then got up as if nothing had happened.

Pretending nothing happened.

"Ah, Senior Sister Jin Jian!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister!"

"Senior Sister, you went out to play again?"

"Bah, what do you mean by playing? Senior Sister is following the Tianshi's decree to patrol the capital at night, guarding the peace and preventing evil gods from acting mischievously..."

"Ah, yes, yes, yes... That's right — —"

Under the clock tower, a group of passing Tianshi Mansion Divine Officials gathered around, praising her.

The girl named Jin Jian enjoyed the flattery, focused her gaze, and locked onto everyone: "You."

The Divine Officials were puzzled: "What are your orders, Senior Sister?"

Jin Jian paused and slowly uttered the second half of the sentence:

"Who can tell me about that Zhao Du'an?"