The First Lackey Under The Empress

Although she was sophisticated and adept at understanding men's psychology, her position was too low to access high-level information.

Therefore, she didn't know about the private feud between Zhao Du'an and the Zhang brothers.

She simply assumed that they were colleagues from the White Horse Bureau, and Zhao Du'an might have been introduced by the former.

"That's not the case," Zhao Du'an said with a smile, curiously adding,

"It's quite a coincidence that Brother Zhang is also one of us. It's just that I haven't seen him staying out overnight before."

Xiao Ya, hearing his friendly address, assumed they had a good relationship and replied with a smile,

"Sir Zhang is, after all, a great talent. I suppose he doesn't want to show his face in public. Whenever he wants to come for a drink, he usually sends someone to deliver a message in advance, arranging a time... or his brother brings the message..."

"Sir, if you want to come in the future, you can do the same, without having to be with those people in the front hall, to avoid damaging your reputation."

Heh, it's as if my reputation is any better... Zhao Du'an had nowhere to vent his feelings. Twirling his wine cup, he asked with a smile,

"When Brother Zhang and I usually chat and drink, he's quite talkative, eloquent, and full of allusions. Thanks to him, I know many new things in the capital... Has he ever mentioned me to you?"

Xiao Ya held up the wine pot with both hands, filled his cup, and shook her head with slight surprise,

"Sir Zhang is very tight-lipped here with me, rarely speaks. Whenever I try to chat with him, he doesn't pay much attention."

Not surprising.

That hypocrite Zhang Changshuo is indeed cautious.

Otherwise, Xiao Ya wouldn't be unaware that their relationship isn't harmonious.

"What about Colonel Zhang?" Zhao Du'an asked casually.

Mentioning Zhang Changji, Xiao Ya showed some displeasure and complained,

"The second son of the Zhang family is a boorish man, never considerate. But contrary to his elder brother, he's very talkative and even likes to teach me how to speak, and even talks in his sleep at night..."

What does he teach you to say... Zhao Du'an's gossip soul ignited, but he forcibly suppressed it, seizing on the key point of "talking in his sleep."

Somewhat unexpected.

No wonder Zhang Changji, as a captain in the Jing Camp, rarely spent the night in the camp. Even when he was on patrol duty, he had to go home to sleep in the middle of the night.

He actually has this habit.

"Oh? Has he ever told you anything about the court or the Jing Camp?" Zhao Du'an asked, pleasantly surprised.

Xiao Ya was about to answer, but suddenly came to her senses and closed her lips.

Her beautiful eyes looked at him, her body twirled around, leaning towards him, her soft hands sliding down, her breath like orchids:

"The night is late. How about I serve you to rest, sir, and we can talk somewhere else?"

However, the next moment, her slender hand was gripped by Zhao Du'an.

Zhao Du'an's face, which had been smiling all along, narrowed his eyes and said quietly:

"What is it? Is there something you can't say?"

Xiao Ya was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook her head: "No..."

Zhao Du'an stared at her intently, stating with certainty:

"You know, but you don't want to answer me."

Xiao Ya suddenly panicked:

"What do I know? What are you talking about, sir? I don't understand."

Zhao Du'an shook his head, his smile disappearing, and said:

"I'm asking you if Zhang Changji has said anything important."

Xiao Ya hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Sir, you're just upset about that. It's nothing important, just the things you men care about, like, 'Today, His Majesty was angry? Which official is in trouble?' Things like that, trivial and boring..."

"That's not right," Zhao Du'an said calmly:

"If it were just these words, why would you hesitate to speak? You must know something that you don't want me to hear."

He had come with the purpose of interrogation, so he naturally observed her carefully.

Xiao Ya was startled, then said resentfully:

"Sir, you're too suspicious. I just think that one should keep one's mouth shut and not casually reveal the affairs of you great men. If you said something today, sir, I would definitely not say half a word to others."

This explanation made sense.

But Zhao Du'an, with the strength of a mortal, middle-grade martial artist, could clearly hear that Xiao Ya's heartbeat was abnormally fast at this moment.

In her wrist, the blood flow was also accelerating...

This was a manifestation of guilt and nervousness.

His smile completely disappeared, his face turned cold, and a hint of violence appeared just right:

"No, you're afraid of speaking carelessly and offending the Zhang brothers."

"But," he sneered, "if you don't dare to offend them, do you dare to offend me?"

He exerted force on his palm, and Xiao Ya's slender wrist immediately felt pain.

She was afraid!

At this moment, some rumors about Zhao Du'an surfaced in her mind, and fear filled her heart.

The person in front of her was not a gentleman, but a cruel and violent villain!

"No... I wouldn't dare..."

Xiao Ya was completely flustered. She wasn't a woman with a firm will like Yun Xi, and at this moment, she was already terrified.

"Is it that you don't dare to offend me, or that you don't dare to speak?"

Zhao Du'an's expression was sinister. He took out a knife for cutting fruit from the fruit plate on the table with his other hand.

He gently gestured with it on Xiao Ya's fair neck, his voice like a devil:

"Do you know why I came here today?"

"No... I don't know..."

Zhao Du'an said:

"I am acting on imperial orders to investigate the case of the rebel Kou Fu Society. I traced it to Zhang Changji and learned that he has frequently come to the Azure Lotus Abode in the past six months for secret meetings with you..."

"Heh, and you refuse to answer, helping him cover up... I have reason to suspect that your true identity is a rebel from the Kou Fu Society hiding in the capital!"

Xiao Ya was so frightened that her face turned pale.

Rebels, Kou Fu Society... Even if she didn't know what was important, she knew that this was a capital crime that could lead to the extermination of her family.

She was already afraid in her heart, and this big label scared her out of her wits:

"I'm not a rebel, I'm not..."

Zhao Du'an said quietly:

"Whether you are or not, you'll know after you're thrown into the imperial prison and subjected to severe torture."

"There are two paths in front of you, a path to life or a path to death. It's up to you to decide."

The imperial prison... a place where nine out of ten people die.

Xiao Ya completely collapsed, tears welled up, and she cried:

"I'll talk, I'll say everything! I only ask for your mercy, sir!"

It would have been better to cooperate earlier.

I had to be forced to play the role of a villain... I really don't want to scare women... Zhao Du'an muttered, suddenly letting go of Xiao Ya and throwing her back to the table.

He completely restrained his fierce appearance, restored the gentle appearance of a humble gentleman, and a smile bloomed on his face again. He said gently:

"Speak."

This state was his true character.

Xiao Ya's hair was disheveled, her clothes were wrinkled, her face was full of tears, and she knelt on the carpet, trembling, as if she had returned from hell to the mortal world.

Seeing Zhao Du'an switch between the two states so freely, she couldn't help but feel terrified, thinking that the rumors were indeed true.

The Emperor's favorite concubine was a wolf in human skin.

"I... I don't know where to start..." she sobbed.

Zhao Du'an patiently persuaded:

"Whatever you want to hide the most, just say that."

He had originally come tonight just to try, but he didn't expect a pleasant surprise.

What Xiao Ya was willing to hide, even at the cost of offending him, must not be simple.

However... Zhang Changji, a mere captain of the Jing Camp, even if he was a scumbag who disregarded human life and bullied men and women, shouldn't be able to commit any major crime.

However, Xiao Ya's next words stunned him.

"I... after Zhang Changji fell asleep, I heard him say that he seemed to have secretly transported firearms to Prince Jing's mansion..."

Zhao Du'an's expression changed instantly.