The First Lackey Under The Empress

The sky was completely dark, and lanterns lit up, reflecting the pavilions and tiled houses of the Zhao mansion.

Zhao Pan, sitting on the steps with her knees drawn up, turned her head. The girl's delicate eyebrows and eyes were warm white like jade in the lamplight, and the sorrow between her brows added a touch of pitifulness to her.

"Can't sleep again?" You Jinhua placed the lotus lantern in her hand on the ground and squatted beside her daughter. Because of this movement, her plump buttocks stretched into a rounded arc.

"Yeah, I miss Big Brother." Zhao Pan nodded and said softly.

Her limpid eyes, like autumn water, reflected the southern starry sky.

"I wonder if Big Brother is doing well at this time? Whether he is safe and where he has arrived." Zhao Pan's mood was low, and the Pekingese dog lying at her feet also whimpered in cooperation.

You Jinhua was silent.

With the status of the mother and daughter in the capital's circle of noble women, many news can be quickly learned.

Naturally, it included secrets such as the Empress's failure to perform the Feng Chan ceremony and her escape, with Zhao Du'an escorting her.

As female family members, the worry and anxiety in their hearts were self-evident.

During this period, the Zhao family seemed calm, but in fact, people were panicking. The servants in the mansion often talked privately, discussing that if Her Majesty was gone, the Zhao family, which depended on the Empress for its existence, would probably be destroyed soon.

"No, it won't," You Jinhua suddenly said very forcefully:

"Your big brother will be fine. How many dangers has he experienced in the past year? Hasn't he been safe and sound? There will be no accidents this time. Maybe he is not far from the capital, and he will be back in a while."

Zhao Pan stared blankly at her mother's profile and suddenly said:

"Mother, you are different from before."

You Jinhua, who had a gentle personality, smiled and blinked:

"Mother is also growing. Women are like vines, and men are like trees. The bigger the tree grows, the stronger the vine becomes. Even if the tree is gone one day, the old vine will not be the same as it was at the beginning, right?"

From managing a small Zhao family to now managing the huge Zhao mansion, welcoming and sending off noble women in the capital all day long, how could You Jinhua not have made any progress?

Zhao Pan hugged her mother and buried her head in the latter's magnificent chest:

"Mother, you are not old at all."

You Jinhua smiled lightly, gently patting her daughter's arm, just like when she was a child coaxing her to sleep, looking up at the faint stars:

"Sleep, it's not so easy for our family to fall down now. Even if the rebel army really breaks through the city one day, our mother and daughter will run to the south in advance and find your big brother. We have overcome so many difficulties, this is nothing."

"Yeah." Zhao Pan gently acknowledged and closed her eyes.

The Pekingese dog at her feet also snuggled up to the girl and closed its eyes.

… …

The night grew darker.

Inside the inn, a lamp flickered like a bean. Zhao Du'an looked through the information sent by the Grand Inner Court Guards, his face becoming more and more solemn:

"Your Majesty, the situation is really not right. Judging from the clues, the Li faction has been restless since you left the capital."

The information sent by the Grand Inner Court Guards was very detailed and could not have been obtained in a short time.

Zhao Du'an thought for a moment and realized that the Empress had probably arranged a group of guards in secret before going south to perform the Feng Chan ceremony, hiding in the city to monitor the potentially unstable elements headed by Li faction officials.

Xu Zhenguan stood by the window, looking at the sparse stars peeking through the gaps in the clouds above the capital:

"Isn't this what we should have guessed long ago?"

Her expression was very calm, without much surprise:

"Putting myself in Li Yanfu's position, I wouldn't let go of such a good opportunity."

Zhao Du'an's heart moved, and he said:

"According to the information sent by the secret guards, I'm afraid these people may cause trouble in the next few days."

Xu Zhenguan understood what he wanted to express and said calmly:

"Everything remains the same. Tomorrow morning, I will enter the palace and publicly announce my return during the court meeting."

Even if waiting a few more days could make this group of internal thieves jump out, she would no longer wait.

"Moreover, with the information currently available, we can eliminate many moths." Xu Zhenguan's voice was as cold as ice.

Zhao Du'an nodded, but felt his right eyelid twitching slightly, feeling a little uneasy.

… …

Zhao Yamen, the General Superintendent's Hall.

Ma Yan sat upright in the hall, working by candlelight.

He frowned, repeatedly reading the documents on the table, and said without looking up:

"Why wasn't this information reported earlier?"

Haitang, with her single ponytail and a tear mole at the corner of her eye, sat in the hall, yawning softly:

"Supervisor, recently, all the halls have been working around the clock in shifts. The city has been uneasy recently, as you should know. It's not easy for this news to be delivered."

Her face was full of fatigue, and the other investigators in the hall, such as Zhang Han, were also "not far behind."

During this period, the entire Zhao Yamen was busy day and night. There were too many things to do, and the nightly reports were delayed until after midnight every day. If they weren't all martial artists, ordinary people would have been unable to bear it.

Ma Yan raised his head and knocked on the table solemnly: "Anything involving the Li faction is no small matter. This time, I'll let it go, but if there is a next time, you can go and receive the punishment yourselves."

Haitang sighed and dared not refute.

Haitang only received information today about batches of people suspected of being martial artists secretly entering the city outside the city, suspected to be related to the Prime Minister's residence.

Not daring to delay, she immediately presented it to Ma Yan.

In the past, the Zhao Yamen should not have discovered such movements so late, but the situation has been special recently, so it was neglected.

"This matter will continue to be investigated and evidence collected. In these sensitive times, with His Majesty not in the capital, it is not appropriate to make a big fuss. I will personally question Li Yanfu at the court meeting tomorrow." Ma Yan thought for a moment and made a decision.

Zhang Han, the poker-faced workaholic, said: "Will it startle the snake?"

Ma Yan glanced at him, his stern, slender face serious:

"Now is not the time to investigate cases and make contributions. Maintaining stability within the city is the top priority. My doing this is to warn others by punishing one."

The investigators from the major halls in the hall perked up:

"Your subordinate understands!"

"Well, go back and rest." Ma Yan waved his hand.

The crowd dispersed one after another, and Haitang stayed behind: "Supervisor, is there any news about Her Majesty and Zhao Du'an?"

Ma Yan glanced at her, seemingly seeing through her thoughts, and shook his head:

"Eunuch Hai sent a message last time, it was still seven days ago. The next time should not be far away. Good people are blessed by heaven, Her Majesty and Zhao Du'an will be fine."

"Yeah." Haitang nodded, leaving worriedly.

In this precarious situation, how could the Zhao Yamen Jinyi, who were the "butchers" in the Empress's hands, not have fluctuating hearts?

Will be fine? Ma Yan said it decisively, but he couldn't tell how much confidence he had in his words.

… …

… …

The next morning.

The rising sun was blocked by dark clouds overhead, and the sky in the capital was a pale white.

The entire city was, for some reason, even more depressing than usual.

In the inner courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, the "Third Madam," a concubine, walked out of the room and instructed the maids in the backyard. One maid said:

"Madam, the Eldest Young Master has brought many people to the front yard, full of murderous intent, I don't know what they are going to do."

The Third Madam glared at her:

"You and the others are maids of the backyard, so you only need to manage the affairs of the backyard. Don't be talkative about the front yard."

With the scale of the Prime Minister's residence, each courtyard was a separate world, with independent servants, and their respective duties were clearly defined.

The maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, repeatedly saying yes.

The Third Madam sighed, waved her hand to disperse the crowd, personally picked up a tray containing a ginseng soup earthenware pot, and walked towards the study.

Last night, Li Yanfu secretly left the house through a secret passage and did not return until late at night. He did not sleep and stayed in the study until dawn.

The Third Madam knocked on the door: "Master, it's time to drink the soup."

"Enter."

She pushed open the door, and the pale sunlight shone into the messy study with a creaking sound.

Inside the house, Li Yanfu had not slept all night, but he was full of energy, wearing a blood-red robe and a white jade pendant around his waist.

At this moment, he stood quietly at a corner of the study, in front of a small offering table.

On the table, there was only an incense burner and a Li family ancestral tablet. Behind it was an ancient painting hanging on the pink-white wall.

The painting had mountains and water. An old elk with majestic antlers walked in the mountains, looking back. In the shadows of the jungle, there seemed to be a herd of deer following.

Li Yanfu lit the yellow incense in his hand, holding the three sticks of yellow incense with curling smoke in both hands, and planted them in the incense burner.

"Master..." Third Madam Xiaoyue called out softly.

Li Yanfu turned around. Today he was not as old as usual. Although he was old, he was radiant and his eyes showed a fierce aura, as if he was ten years younger overnight.

Xiaoyue's heart moved, and she frowned: "Master, did you take medicine again?"

Li Yanfu was not a cultivator, but just an ordinary body. At his current age, even if he was not feigning illness, he was still not as good as he used to be.

But if he took pills, it could temporarily rejuvenate him and make him energetic.

Li Yanfu glanced at her faintly, without answering, walked to the table and sat down, picked up the spoon, and drank the soup in sips.

Xiao Yue didn't move. Her hands clenched her dress tightly, and suddenly she knelt on the ground, raising her charming but uneasy face:

"Master, please think twice! If you leave the mansion today, there will be no turning back."

Li Yanfu paused, ignoring her, and continued to drink the soup.

The concubine, known for her gentleness and understanding, and deeply loved by the Prime Minister, said sadly, "Master, you..."

"Bang!"

Li Yanfu slammed the white porcelain soup bowl on the ground, shattering it instantly. The porcelain shards mixed with the ginseng soup, splattering Xiao Yue, who was kneeling on the ground.

The latter looked terrified, trembling.

"Get out!" Li Yanfu lowered his head, his beard stained with ginseng soup, somewhat dirty, but he didn't care.

Xiao Yue sighed, got up tremblingly, and walked out. As she was about to step over the threshold, she only said:

"This concubine has prepared three feet of white silk in the room. If Master... this concubine will follow you in death."

After saying that, this low-key woman, not well-known in the capital, walked away with firm steps.

Li Yanfu sat quietly in the chair. After a long time, he slowly stood up, his wrinkled right hand gripping the ornate, jewel-encrusted short knife on the table.

He straightened his back inch by inch, as if returning to his glorious years.

This legendary old man, who rose from an ordinary son of the Huai River clan to the position of Prime Minister, second only to one person and above ten thousand, walked out of the study, out of the inner courtyard, and came to the front yard step by step.

He saw hundreds of warriors standing silently in the large front yard courtyard, wearing red clothes, white ribbons tied around their heads, and swords on their backs.

They were assassins and retainers.

They were a group of assassins that the Prime Minister's Mansion had spent the past decade cultivating outside the city, obeying only Li Yanfu's orders.

In the past, they would do some shady work for Li Yanfu.

But now, this group of people, disguised as farmers, had infiltrated the city in batches and gathered here today for a major event that would be recorded in history.

"Father! Everything is ready, announce it!"

Li Yinglong stood at the front of the crowd, wearing a set of soft armor, his expression excited and his eyes fiery.

Li Yanfu stood on the steps, his gaze sweeping across the pale sky, the square courtyard, and the determined faces of the hundreds of red-clad men in the yard.

His lowered right hand, holding the short knife, suddenly raised above his head.

Li Yanfu's neck veins bulged, his face flushed, and his voice was like a wolf's howl:

"Revolt!!!"

Hundreds of retainers simultaneously drew their swords and raised them high, a forest of knives and spears pointing towards the sky:

"Revolt!"

"Revolt!"

"Revolt!"

Soon, the middle gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion opened wide. Li Yanfu put on his soft armor, mounted a steed, and led hundreds of retainers out, heading towards the south gate of the imperial palace.

The Prime Minister's Mansion was not far from the imperial palace. Hundreds of people surged along the street, like a tide of blood, heading towards the imperial palace in the morning light, amidst the terrified gazes of the people on both sides of the street!

The people closed their doors in fear, the memory of the Xuanmen coup three years ago flooding their minds.

...

South Gate of the Imperial City.

On the city wall, Wang Ye patrolled, wearing bright armor.

As an inconspicuous foot soldier in the Imperial Guards, his twenty-odd years of life had no remarkable stories.

If there was anything worth mentioning, it was probably that he had once been in the same squad as Zhao Dou'an, considered comrades, had a few drinks together, and played cards a few times.

At that time, Zhao Dou'an was just a taciturn, good-looking soldier, and Wang Ye's impression of him was limited to that.

Until the winter three years ago, on the day of the Xuanmen coup, as a soldier of the Imperial Guards, Wang Ye, under the command of the commander, fought against the rebel army of the Second Prince Jianwen and witnessed the feat of the Empress breaking through thousands of troops with a single sword.

It was also that time that Zhao Dou'an was accidentally valued by the Empress, and two months later he was promoted to the White Horse Office, and rumors of an affair with the Empress spread.

Wang Ye had tried to build a relationship, but he couldn't even get through the door and was driven out by the servants of the White Horse Office.

"Damn Zhao Dou'an! He doesn't recognize people when he's in power! What ability does he have? Isn't it just because of his face? Tsk!"

At that time, Wang Ye only dared to mutter sourly in his heart, but he didn't dare to show his teeth at all.

But since last year, Zhao Dou'an had repeatedly made great contributions, and his status had risen all the way. Not only did he defeat the Tianhai Monk in martial arts, but his literary talent made Han Banshan willingly admit defeat, and he even became a Junior Protector, which was like a dream.

Wang Ye's impression of Zhao Dou'an also changed from "lucky dog" to "His Majesty's discerning eye."

He often wondered how the taciturn and mediocre comrade he had known was actually a pearl covered in dust, and he hadn't seen it at the time.

But...

Remembering the news that was now spreading wildly within the Forbidden Army that His Majesty was missing, Zhao Junior Protector was missing, and five rebel armies were attacking the capital... Wang Ye suddenly no longer envied Zhao Dou'an.

"It's better to live poorly than to die well. What's the use of such great fame and power?"

"If he hadn't been chosen by His Majesty three years ago, he would at least be able to live well now and stand guard with me."

Wang Ye shook his head with a sigh, very satisfied with his current state.

However, when he turned his head to look at the patrolling soldiers of the Qianniu Guard and the Jinwu Guard on the city wall, he couldn't help but frown, feeling that something was wrong.

The brothers of the other two guards who were on duty with him today had all been replaced, and they were all unfamiliar faces.

Just now, when he tried to strike up a conversation, the other party had a cold face, and the look in his eyes was vaguely hostile, which made him very puzzled.

"Maybe they're just in a bad mood."

Wang Ye didn't think much about it, groping for the hilt of his sword, and looked out of the city.

Not long ago, the ministers who entered the palace had all entered one after another, and now the long street outside the palace gate was empty.

Suddenly, Wang Ye noticed in surprise that a large number of people in red clothes suddenly emerged on both sides of the street in the distance, which was extremely conspicuous.

They were approaching the imperial palace straight on.

He frowned, not knowing the situation, and only subconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword. The group of people came extremely fast, and the one riding a horse at the head looked somewhat familiar, but before he could see clearly, he caught sight of the bright swords and weapons on the group of red-clad people.

Wang Ye's face changed drastically!

Charging into the imperial palace with weapons? This was a treasonous crime!

Who are these people? What are they going to do?

Thinking of the news of the recent uprisings, Wang Ye's hair stood on end, and he shouted loudly:

"Enemy attack!!!"

Immediately, he subconsciously grabbed the copper whistle in front of his chest, preparing to blow it to warn, but the next moment, the scene of the city's defenders using bows and crossbows to resist and kill the thieves did not happen as expected.

Instead, screams suddenly rang out around him.

It was the painful cry of his comrades who were also Imperial Guards, just before their deaths.

"What's going on?" Just as this thought surfaced, Wang Ye only felt a chill in his throat! His body lost strength!

The copper whistle in his hand fell to the ground. He turned his head in astonishment, unable to believe that the strange Qianniu Guard soldier had a cold look in his eyes, ambushing him from behind and sending a dagger into his throat!

The ambush from his side left him with no time to react!

"Betrayed... betrayed..."

Wang Ye's body slumped and fell from the city wall, slamming onto the ground with a bang.

In the last moment before the darkness completely enveloped his eyes, the small character who had come to the end of his life finally saw the appearance of the old man riding on a horse and rushing into the imperial palace.

"Prime Minister... treason..."

The Forbidden Army within the city opened the city gate, and the heavy vermilion gate inlaid with rivets opened wide to both sides!

Revealing the long doorway.

Li Yanfu was on horseback, wearing soft armor and a helmet, his gray hair squeezed out in a mess.

He raised his short knife high:

"Clear the Emperor's side! Clear the Emperor's side! Those who obstruct will be regarded as rebels and killed without mercy!"

The retainers behind him drew their swords one after another, like a flood, pouring into the imperial palace along both sides of his warhorse, passing through the Meridian Gate, and heading straight for the side hall where the court meeting was held!

Everything was going as smoothly as expected.

As long as he used thunderous means to control the ministers in the hall before the other Forbidden Army could react, Li Yanfu could exercise the power of the cabinet on behalf of the Emperor and control this million-strong city with an empty throne!

...

...

Inside the inn.

Zhao Dou'an, who had taken off his disguise mask, pushed open the door and looked at the Empress of Yu, who was dressed neatly, had also washed off her disguise, and returned to her true appearance.

Xu Zhenguan was no longer wearing a low-key plain dress, but had once again put on the golden dragon robe that had long been washed of blood stains.

Her majesty was as dignified as ever.

"Your Majesty, it's time to go to court," Zhao Dou'an said in a daze.

Xu Zhenguan looked at Zhao Dou'an, who had also taken off his green shirt and changed back into the official robe of a Third-Rank Junior Protector of the Crown Prince, and smiled:

"Minister Zhao, accompany me to the palace."