The First Lackey Under The Empress

The Prince of Heng is against… and only follows Your Majesty’s lead…

Inside "Tea Rong Cottage", the autumn wind of late autumn stirred the autumn trees in the yard, and a few sparks flew from the stove that was burning red inside.

Zhao Du'an finally showed a surprised expression, sat up a little straighter, and stared at this famous widow.

First published on the entire network by 𝕥 𝕨 𝕜 𝕒 𝕟 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞

Allegiance! Pledge of allegiance!

The other party actually offered a pledge of allegiance so frankly and undisguised!

"Madam Xiao, do you know what you are saying?" Zhao Du'an asked, narrowing his eyes.

Xiao Dong'er's eyes did not dodge or avoid, and her expression was still firm and resolute.

She knew that once these words were spoken, it would be equivalent to putting the entire family on the gambling table, either a great victory, promoted to a real wealthy family, or falling to the bottom, a century of accumulation, family ruin and death!

"My lord, if you didn't hear clearly, I can say it again." Xiao Dong'er said calmly.

Zhao Du'an was silent for a while, and asked, "Why?"

He was not surprised that the head of this level could see through the situation of the world, and he was not too surprised by this woman's decision and gambling nature, but he was very curious about what gave her the basis for making the choice.

The Empress had only been on the throne for three years, and the eight princes were eyeing her covetously.

In the end, who would win, even Zhang Yan Yi, who was proficient in deduction, could not calculate or understand.

Xiao Dong'er said frankly:

"Because the Xiao family cannot be tied to Prince Heng. Nowadays, although the remnants of Kuangfu Society are rampant, the general trend has passed and they are destined not to compete in the world. The current Majesty has gradually stabilized and has the air of an emperor. Although there are rumors in the market that the eight princes may have the heart to ask questions."

Perhaps the eight people working together do have the strength to fight, but even if we take ten thousand steps back, the eight princes win, but there is only one dragon chair for the Son of Heaven, who can sit? Who can't sit?

Today, it is generally acknowledged that the Prince of Daao is the strongest, followed by the Prince Mu of Yunfu… Going down the ranks, Prince Heng is probably in the middle reaches. Although he is much stronger than the Prince of Lingnan, if we talk about asking questions… In the thousand-year history of Qingzhou, there has never been an emperor."

These words were spoken eloquently. As a woman, commenting on the situation of the world has a different kind of spirit.

Zhao Du'an said calmly:

"So, you are sure that Prince Heng will not win. Even if the eight princes join forces and do something extraordinary, Prince Heng will not be ranked in the top three when it comes to dividing the spoils. And by then, how can the one who sits on the throne tolerate others sleeping soundly beside his bed?"

Xiao Dong'er nodded:

"My lord is wise. Therefore, if Your Majesty wins, then my Xiao family will not have a good result if they are tied to Prince Heng. If unfortunately a certain prince wins, the Donghu Xiao family, who are tied to Prince Heng, will still not have a good result. In that case, why not take a gamble?"

Why not gamble?!

At this moment, she spoke extremely frankly, and there was even a hint of madness.

Zhao Du'an was silent. He could probably guess that the reason why this woman chose to bet on the Empress should also be because she had been bullied by Prince Heng's mansion for too long.

But still… very…

Crazy.

"Do you know that just based on your words just now that are recklessly discussing state affairs, this official can throw you into the詔獄." Zhao Du'an suddenly said.

Madam Xiao smiled sweetly, without any panic, and presented the grilled rice cake.

Zhao Du'an took it and said:

"How can I believe what you said? What if you were sent by Xu Zudi to act?"

Madam Xiao smiled and said:

"If my lord is willing to nod, Dong'er will swagger out with my lord and record what I just said into an image. Or, since my Xiao family does not take any profit in business, even if it is fake, it will not harm the court, will it?"

You've thought it through pretty well… Zhao Du'an took a bite of the rice cake and said:

"Is this the decision of the entire Xiao family?"

"I am the head of the family. Once I do it, the entire family will have no way back."

Xiao Dong'er replied calmly, "As long as I become a royal merchant, no matter how angry or targeted Prince Heng is, at least he can't do anything on the surface, and my Xiao family will be able to withstand it."

You're dragging the entire clan to the gambling table, what a crazy woman… Zhao Du'an stroked his chin and said:

"One last question."

He suddenly smiled evilly: "Since you are coming to me for help, how will you please me?"

Madam Xiao was stunned, and a trace of sadness and sigh suddenly appeared in her eyes.

After hesitating for a while, she seemed to have finally made up her mind. She slowly stood up, took off the shawl on her body, and said in a soft voice:

"Whatever my lord wants Dong'er to do, I can do."

She misunderstood.

Seeing that Zhao Du'an did not answer, this widow, who was extremely famous throughout the Dayu Dynasty, bit her lip, took a few steps closer, and was about to kneel down…

But she was stopped by an iron fork.

"What does Madam mean by this?" Zhao Du'an asked with a smile.

Madam Xiao was stunned, unable to speak, and seemed to finally realize that she might have misunderstood:

"I…"

Zhao Du'an said lightly:

"I do need you to do one thing. In a while, the court will open a market in Huting, do you know about it?"

The topic changed too abruptly, and Madam Xiao's brain stalled for a short time before she nodded:

"Of course I know. This is the biggest event that merchants from all over the world are paying attention to recently. It is said that the court will hold a meeting in Huting to announce the first batch of royal merchants and a corresponding business strategy."

Zhao Du'an nodded and said calmly:

"I can give you a spot as a royal merchant, but not now. I need you to attend the Huting meeting at that time and wait for my news. Maybe at that time, I will need your Xiao family to publicly set an example."

Madam Xiao was first shocked, then showed surprise, and hurriedly bowed respectfully:

"Yes! The Xiao family will definitely live up to your lord's expectations!"

"Go back. Before that, don't startle the snake." Zhao Du'an ordered.

Madam Xiao was already overjoyed. She quickly responded, thanked him several times, and then put on her cloak again and left in a hurry.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhao Douan was left alone by the fire in the small courtyard.

He picked up the cup of hot tea with milk, took a sip, felt the warmth flow down his esophagus, and suddenly smiled to himself.

"There are surprises everywhere in life."

Zhao Douan had just had a flash of inspiration, casually placing a piece, although some of his plans were not yet clear, but the world is unpredictable and will not follow a set path.

Just as he didn't expect that a contest with Xu Zudi would attract the allegiance of the Xiao family of Donghu.

Similarly, who dares to say what miraculous effects a chess piece he casually placed on the chessboard might have in the future?

When Yuan Li laid out the chessboard, he could only barely be a chess player in the corner.

When the Empress and Prince Jing played chess with Taicang, he became a pawn charging into battle.

Now, he first plots to use spies against Zhuang Xiaocheng, and then uses Xiao Dong'er to restrain Prince Heng, but unknowingly, he has developed the aura of strategizing and launching a counterattack.

Shaking his head, temporarily putting aside this unexpected episode, Zhao Douan finished his cup of milk tea, glanced at the sky, muttered something, and got up to leave.

Meeting Madam Xiao was just a last-minute addition; his real arrangement for today was to start targeting Mr. Zhengyang.

"Looking at the time, it's time to leave. Heh, Zhengyang, ah Zhengyang, let's test your mettle a little."

...

...

On the other side.

Madam Xiao walked out of the tailor shop, with a servant girl carrying several wrapped garments, and the group returned directly to the imposing courtyard from yesterday.

This place originally belonged to the Xiao family's property, but Xu Zudi forcibly followed, freeloading on food, drink, and lodging.

As soon as the group entered the courtyard, they saw Xu Zudi, dressed as a young master in luxurious clothes, practicing his fist techniques.

He even had a bit of imposing momentum.

Madam Xiao resumed her docile, harmless vase-like image, standing aside and watching silently.

After finishing a set of punches, Xu Zudi slowly exhaled, staring at Xiao Dong'er with a smile that was not quite a smile:

"Well, did the Xiao family head knock on the gate of the yamen today?"

Madam Xiao shook her head in frustration.

Xu Zudi laughed loudly, his face full of undisguised pleasure:

"This young master said long ago that the imperial court would not let you enter the market, but you just wouldn't believe it. How is it? You abandoned your role as the head of the family and insisted on pressing your hot face against their cold backside at the yamen gate."

Madam Xiao sighed softly, seemingly resigned to her fate: "What Your Highness says is true."

Xu Zudi was in a good mood and suddenly said:

"In a while, the imperial court will open a market in Huting. You should go there."

Madam Xiao was stunned for a moment: "Your Highness, what is this..."

Xu Zudi smiled triumphantly:

"Since the imperial court doesn't want you, then the Xiao family head should understand that you should still wholeheartedly be with my Prince Heng's mansion. It just so happens that during the Huting gathering, merchants and powerful families from all over the world will gather. You can set an example and let these people see the situation clearly and know which side to stand on."

"..."

The look in Madam Xiao's eyes was extremely strange, but this emotion only existed for a moment before it disappeared. She bowed slightly, saying with an ambiguous meaning:

"As you command."

...

...

The capital is becoming more and more lively.

If the news of the academic debate had just spread yesterday, then today, it was already causing a stir, and even those who didn't read books had heard about it.

In front of the Imperial Academy.

Scholar Song and a group of scholars belonging to the "Zhengyang School" were almost driven out.

This action caused a burst of indignation among his companions:

"What an Imperial Academy! Unable to win a fair debate, they resort to driving us out! It's truly unworthy of scholars!"

"That's right! They are nothing more than a group of petty thieves, knowing that they can't win against Mr. Zhengyang, so they use such means to block our mouths! But you can block us, but you can't block the countless voices of scholars in the world!"

"Senior and junior brothers, it's still early, let's go to several literary gatherings in the city and be sure to clear the name of Mr. Zhengyang!"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

A group of scholars, filled with righteous indignation, turned around and left, with Scholar Song in tow.

The academic debate between Dong Xuan and Zhengyang will only begin in four days, but public opinion outside the debate is also an important factor.

Therefore, in the past few days, the hundred or so disciples who followed Zhengyang into the city have begun to contact classmates and friends in the city, organizing various literary gatherings to build momentum in advance.

Today, they entered the Imperial Academy to build momentum, but ended up arguing fiercely with a group of students, only to be discovered by the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, who ordered them to be driven out directly.

Scholar Song, caught in the crowd, was, after all, an old man in his fifties, not as energetic as the younger brothers of the school.

After a fight, he had lost his spirit and had no choice but to wave goodbye to the other members of the "Zhengyang School", and walked alone along the long street, returning to the inn.

Scholar Song had been very excited these past few days.

Initially, he had actually planned to send Mr. Zhengyang to the capital and then leave. After experiencing the Gong Taicang case not long ago, he had a certain vigilance against the bloody disputes of the upper echelons of the imperial court.

He didn't really want to get involved.

But later, he couldn't resist the loud clamoring of the other senior and junior brothers who insisted on not retreating, and Scholar Song, who was very concerned about face, was forced to stay... He really couldn't bring himself to say that he wanted to leave.

So he entered the city in a daze. After entering the city, it was even more noisy. Scholar Song was swept along by the fanatical scholars and also felt a sense of heroism in supporting the correct learning for the people of the world and reshaping the etiquette and law.

In short, he was carried away.

He even had a feeling that the previous decades had been wasted. A lifetime of reading should be spent fighting such a magnificent battle, with no regrets for defending the teachings of the sages.

"This old man is suddenly feeling youthful..."

Scholar Song was walking on the long street, feeling excited, until a young man suddenly appeared in front of him, smiling at him:

"Scholar Song, right? My master invites you."