The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Zhao Du'an!"

Li Lang was stunned for a moment, as if Zhao's words had hit a nerve, or perhaps the words "mother" had opened up unpleasant memories.

The face of this son of the Eldest Princess turned visibly red, and anger surged: "Say that again!"

His hatred for Zhao Du'an ran deep, not only because he had been publicly humiliated in Lihua Hall.

Even more so because after Princess Yunyang was placed under house arrest, this nobleman, who had once been fawned over, became a laughingstock in the entire capital.

In the past six months, he had countless times heard others gossiping about him in secret, and the entire駙馬 residence had become low-key and depressed.

It was not until Xu Zudi's arrival that Li Lang was able to straighten his back again.

He felt that he was back in business!

"Heh," Zhao Du'an laughed. In his eyes, the phrase 'say that again' itself showed weakness.

"Cousin."

At this moment, the Prince's son, who had been resting his head on the lap of a beautiful maid, slowly sat up and gently reprimanded Li Lang.

The latter glanced at his cousin before reluctantly closing his mouth.

Xu Zudi, in a condescending posture, examined Zhao Du'an, clicked his tongue in wonder, and said with a smile:

"This Prince's son heard of the great name of Zhao, the envoy of the capital, while in Qingzhou. Seeing him today, he indeed has a handsome appearance. No wonder he can please the imperial sister."

After speaking, he looked at the doorway, at the servants who had rushed over from the courtyard, and waved his hand lightly, saying:

"Didn't you see that there were guests? Why don't you give Envoy Zhao a chair? Lest people say that this Prince's son doesn't know how to treat guests."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant brought over a rosewood chair, and the dancers on the carpet in the center of the hall silently retreated, leaving the room with several musicians.

Zhao Du'an gladly accepted, handing the sword at his waist to Hou Renmeng, and then sat down, saying:

"While in the capital, I have long heard of the Heng Prince's son's love for elegance. Seeing you today, it is indeed true."

This was just a casual lie, but listening to music and watching dances at home in broad daylight was indeed a sign of someone who loved to enjoy life.

Xu Zudi laughed loudly, but his posture was casual. He sat on the Hu bed, and the maid silently massaged his shoulders before he squinted and said:

"Just now, there seemed to be some commotion outside?"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"The gatekeepers under the Prince's son refused to report, insisting that I go get my waist token. This brother of mine has a bit of a quick temper. Seeing me humiliated, he resorted to fists. Speaking of which, I still have to apologize to His Highness the Prince's son."

Xu Zudi's smile faded, and he said indifferently:

"Lord Zhao really acts as domineering as the rumors say."

Zhao Du'an shook his head and said:

"His Highness the Prince's son is joking. This official is just a small military officer, but he is not as domineering as the Prince's son. Under the feet of the capital, arresting government runners is not ambiguous at all, and I, this superior, have to redeem people."

Xu Zudi raised his eyelids, displeased:

"Lord Zhao, don't randomly pin this hat on me. This Prince's son's men only know that drunkards are causing trouble in brothels. At that time, they were not wearing brocade fish dragon uniforms, and they were not on duty.

Moreover, relying on force to snatch women and beat up my cousin's relatives, this matter is not justified even if it is said in the Golden Luan Hall, right? Or is this what Lord Zhao has trained his subordinates to do? I have long heard that the officials and runners of the Jinyiwei are rampant and domineering. Today, I have finally seen it."

Beside him.

Li Lang, who had been holding back a bellyful of fire, also sneered:

"Cousin, you are not in the capital, so naturally you don't know. This Zhao Du'an has the nickname 'Little Yama' in the officialdom. As the saying goes, what goes up must come down. What does it matter if the people below are arrogant and violate the law? Maybe he is condoning it."

Hou Renmeng's face twitched, feeling a little embarrassed, and he said angrily:

"Li Lang, stop spouting nonsense!"

Zhao Du'an raised his hand, signaling not to argue. He did not dwell on this matter, and said calmly:

"Where are my people?"

Xu Zudi glanced at the open door and raised his voice slightly: "Bring the people over."

"Yes."

The servants of the Prince's residence outside the door responded and walked towards the firewood room.

After a while, three government runners who were tied with rawhide ropes, their mouths stuffed with rags, and their faces bruised and swollen, were dragged over and thrown at the door, kneeling neatly on the ground.

The three of them had not closed their eyes all night, and they were already sober from the alcohol. Seeing Zhao Du'an, their eyes lit up, and they struggled to groan.

Xu Zudi said with a smile: "Lord Zhao might as well ask, is what this Prince's son said true or false?"

Zhao Du'an turned his head and looked at the three subordinates at the door, saying calmly:

"The Prince's son said that you… did you have such a thing last night?"

He repeated the other party's statement.

The three subordinates knelt on the ground, silently lowered their heads, and stopped struggling, apparently acquiescing.

This kind of thing is too easy to investigate, and they dare not lie in front of the Jinyiwei.

Their direct superior, Hou Renmeng, blushed and scolded: "Useless things, you only know how to cause trouble for the Lord!"

The three of them cowered, not daring to raise their heads.

Zhao Du'an sighed, turned his head, looked at Xu Zudi, and said seriously:

"I have failed to discipline my subordinates, and I have to trouble the Prince's son to discipline them on my behalf."

Xu Zudi smiled and generously expressed his willingness to help.

Zhao Du'an changed the subject and said:

"But the country has national laws, and the hall has hall rules. If my subordinates have done something wrong, it is their own fault for being beaten. I won't say anything, but there is no reason to detain them by others."

Xu Zudi waited for the following:

"So?"

After speaking, he frowned and scolded: "Your strength is too great."

The beautiful maid behind him shivered, like a frightened little beast, constantly apologizing, and her technique became much gentler.

Zhao Du'an paused and said:

"I came here today to take people away. After taking them back to the yamen, they will be severely punished, and I will never condone them.

They beat people and caused a lot of losses. I will personally compensate for the medical expenses and the like on their behalf. As the chief official, I should also bear a part of the responsibility and apologize to the injured on their behalf."

After speaking, Zhao Du'an stood up again.

Under the gaze of everyone, he walked to the long table laden with fine wine and food, picked up a wine pot, took a large wine cup, filled it to the brim, and said as he put down the pure silver wine pot, "As for disturbing the Prince, I'll offer a cup of wine as a penalty. What does Your Highness think?" A penalty of wine!

Hearing this, Hou Renmeng and the three lieutenants kneeling on the ground were stunned, and then became anxious.

Normally, a penalty of wine is nothing; it's just a joke among friends, and no one cares. But the occasion is different, and the meaning of many things changes.

In the upper circles, face is more important than money. If Zhao Du'an is willing to offer a penalty of wine for his subordinates today, and bow his head to the Prince,

before tomorrow, the whole officialdom will spread the word about this, and everyone will know that the Prince of Qingzhou has suppressed Zhao Du'an.

This is a matter of face.

"Lord!" Hou Renmeng was greatly alarmed, stepped forward, and was about to snatch the wine cup, "This subordinate is their direct leader, I'll drink this wine!"

The three men tied up in the hall also widened their eyes, their faces ashamed, and their eyes red.

Xu Zudi didn't say anything, as if he was thinking.

Li Lang next to him jumped up first, pointing at Hou Renmeng and cursing:

"What kind of thing are you? How dare you talk to my cousin?"

He then stared at Zhao Du'an with a gloomy face, venting his anger:

"A penalty of wine is enough? You wish! If you are really sincere, why not kneel down and let me break one of your legs?!"

"Li Lang!" The Prince of Qingzhou said displeasedly in a deep voice, this time directly calling his name, and glared at this unworthy cousin.

He raised a folding fan in his hand, and with a snap, blocked Zhao Du'an's hand from taking the wine cup.

Xu Zudi leaned his body slightly forward, across the long table, and looked at Zhao Du'an in military uniform, smiling and saying:

"Lord Zhao is too polite. Since you've already said this, how could this Prince be unreasonable? You can take the people away. Compensation doesn't matter how much, this Prince wouldn't do such a thing as extorting money. As for this penalty of wine…"

He paused slightly and smiled:

"It's not necessary. This Prince has a game. If Lord Zhao agrees, this matter will be considered over, how about it?"

"A game?" Zhao Du'an slowly retracted his hand and walked back to his previous seat, wondering.

He couldn't quite figure out the other party's intention.

Xu Zudi stood up, stepped down from the Hu bed, bent down, reached out, and picked up a red apple from the luxurious fruit plate on the table.

"This Prince has heard in Qingzhou that Lord Zhao is good at throwing knives. Coincidentally, this Prince usually likes to watch acrobats perform knife throwing at home. It's much more exciting than the lukewarm singing and dancing of those dancers."

Xu Zudi took a step, paced on the carpet, and walked towards the woman behind the Yaoqin.

He slapped his forehead and smiled:

"Look at my brain, I forgot to introduce her. This is the female head of the famous Xiao family of Donghu in Qingzhou."

When Zhao Du'an entered the room, he noticed this woman whose temperament and demeanor were different from the others.

Especially when the musicians and dancers left, she never moved, nor did she participate in the conversation just now, as quiet as a large vase decorating the room.

Unexpectedly, she is the legendary female head of the family.

The head of the dignified Xiao family of Donghu is actually here, playing the zither for the Prince?

Even if Prince Heng has great power, he shouldn't humiliate the head of a great family like this, right?

"Xiao Dong'er greets Envoy Zhao."

The woman with dark hair, a round and generous face, and an outstanding appearance, wearing a dark Mamian skirt, slowly got up and saluted him.

She had a somewhat humble and submissive posture.

Zhao Du'an nodded, his expression unchanged: "So it's Madam Xiao, I've heard of you for a long time."

Xu Zudi didn't give the two of them any room for small talk, and said with a smile, "The game is simple."

He handed the apple in his hand to Madam Xiao. The woman in her thirties opened her sandalwood mouth and bit the apple.

Xu Zudi said with a smile: "Lord Zhao, please stand where you are and use a throwing knife…"

He gently tapped the apple held in Madam Xiao's mouth with his finger: "Shoot through it."

He added with a smile:

"As long as it penetrates, but doesn't hurt Madam Xiao, you win. This matter will be over today, how about it?"

At this moment, Hou Renmeng and the others were obviously stunned, never expecting the other party to make such a strange request.

"Good! This game is good! By the way, you are not allowed to use cultivation!"

Li Lang stood up, clapped his hands and cheered. The eyes of this playboy sparkled with an almost perverted light.

He almost wrote the words "I want to see blood flowing like a river" on his face.

Zhao Du'an silently met the gazes, looked at Madam Xiao, who was holding an apple in her mouth and standing in the distance with her eyes lowered, and suddenly curled the corner of his mouth, and said quietly:

"That's interesting."

He raised his right hand, turned it over, and a simple and exquisite Golden Crow Flying Knife appeared in his palm out of thin air.

Zhao Du'an pinched the flying knife, pretending to aim, and the surroundings quieted down.

Everyone held their breath and concentrated. With the perception of the Divine Chapter Realm, he could clearly find that Madam Xiao's expression was slightly tense, and a layer of fine goosebumps appeared on her slender neck, and her breathing was also slightly rapid.

Under the gaze of everyone, Zhao Du'an made a gesture of accumulating strength to try to throw the knife.

One, two, three…

Just when everyone thought he was about to throw the flying knife, Zhao Du'an suddenly clenched the hilt, smiled, and shook his head at the Prince:

"An interesting game, but unfortunately, I don't have the habit of performing acrobatics for others."

The moment he finished speaking, he turned his wrist, and a vigorous and violent aura poured into the Golden Crow Flying Knife.

The next second.

The dark golden flying knife turned into a ray of brilliant thin thread, and in a flash of lightning, shot towards Xu Zudi's face!