The First Lackey Under The Empress

As the evening approached and the last rays of the setting sun faded, the deep, resonant chimes of the Shenlong Temple clock tower echoed throughout the city, signaling the arrival of night.

The Great Yu capital shed its veil, revealing its bustling and prosperous nightlife.

The streets teemed with people, and the shops lining the roads glowed with brilliant lights.

Ding Feng Lou was one of the most famous restaurants in the capital, and tonight, the Count of Ning'an was hosting a banquet there.

"Neigh!"

A carriage halted, and a servant in green livery lifted the curtain.

Zhao Du'an, having changed into plain clothes, stepped out of the carriage.

He looked up at the tall, red lanterns hanging from the restaurant, the red-lacquered wooden pillars, and the carved pavilions, saying:

"Wait here."

"Yes, sir!" the servant responded.

Then, a smiling manager with a small cap on his head greeted him from inside the restaurant:

"Welcome, Lord Zhao! Your presence brings good fortune to our humble establishment."

Zhao Du'an imitated the original owner's demeanor, not even glancing at him, and strode directly inside, heading towards the elegant rooms upstairs.

… …

Inside a private room.

A table was laden with delicacies and fine wines, but only one person was present, drinking alone.

The "Count of Ning'an," Wang Xian, was a middle-aged man of about forty.

Slender, dressed in silk and satin, he sat with a dignified air, his hand resting on a folding fan with ivory ribs carved with intricate designs.

It was an expensive piece.

Seeing Zhao Du'an enter, he said coldly:

"Lord Zhao is truly a busy man. I thought you wouldn't come."

Zhao Du'an acted as if he hadn't heard, went straight to his seat, casually placed his saber aside, and reached out with his chopsticks to pick up some food.

Since transmigrating, he hadn't eaten anything, and he was indeed hungry.

"Hold on!"

However, the next second, his chopsticks, about to grab some food, were suddenly pressed down by a folding fan!

Wang Xian's face was cold, with a hint of anger:

"Lord Zhao, did you not hear me? Did you really think I invited you for a free meal? You should know that in this world, there's no such thing as a free lunch or free money."

Zhao Du'an raised his eyelids and finally looked at the other man:

"What do you mean?"

His calm demeanor seemed to infuriate Wang Xian, who felt ignored.

Wang Xian's cheek muscles twitched, and he said in a low voice:

"Is Lord Zhao pretending to be stupid? Don't you know why I'm here? The matter I asked you to handle some time ago, why haven't you taken any action yet?

In the capital, we must follow the rules.

You took the deposit happily, but you haven't saved the person yet.

I've urged you several times, but you've ignored me. Isn't that inappropriate?!"

He narrowed his eyes, half threatening and half sarcastic:

"Don't forget, I also have evidence that you took the benefits… Today, I'm here to ask you face to face, is it that Lord Zhao doesn't want to do it, or is it that you don't have the ability to do it?

If it's the latter, then return the deposit promptly, and don't delay other people's lives!"

Straight to the point!

In any case, the private room was soundproof, so there was no need to beat around the bush.

Zhao Du'an calmly pushed aside the folding fan and slowly picked up a piece of Ding Feng Lou's signature lamb, which was tender, fragrant, and melted in his mouth.

After relieving his hunger, he put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said:

"Your attitude wasn't like this when you saw me before."

With his status, even if he didn't get things done, the other party's attitude wouldn't be so bad.

Wang Xian snorted coldly, his tone sarcastic:

"I know Lord Zhao has a lot of face. I heard that you even dare to snatch cases from the Zhao Yamen and even lost the rebel party."

… …The news spread so quickly?

So, the other party thought I was going to have an accident, so his attitude changed?

Asking for the deposit back was also because he was afraid of losing both money and people?

Zhao Du'an said calmly:

"It seems your news isn't very well-informed, otherwise you should know that I entered the palace this afternoon to meet the Emperor."

Wang Xian was stunned, his expression softening:

"Lord Zhao… is alright?"

Zhao Du'an glanced at him:

"If something happened, would I still be here for the banquet?"

He was betting that Wang Xian was only partially informed and didn't know the full situation.

The capital was very big, and one could hit four or five corrupt officials with a brick thrown down.

Moreover, the matter had only happened half a day ago, and the news spread slowly.

Even if it spread, most officials wouldn't be able to reach the high echelons of the imperial court.

Many people in later generations would have the illusion that big figures were very close to them.

But in fact, the resources and social stratum that even a CEO ridiculed by netizens or a top internet celebrity could mobilize were unimaginable to ordinary people.

The Count of Ning'an was a big figure to ordinary people.

But with his status, he would never have the chance to see the Empress's true face in his entire life.

Hearing this, Wang Xian's momentum weakened:

"So…"

Zhao Du'an seized the opportunity to reassure him:

"Don't worry, I've been investigating the rebel party these past few days and haven't had time to deal with other things.

Now that I'm free, I'll take care of the matter you mentioned."

Seeing that he was calm and composed, Wang Xian believed him eight or nine points.

He simply took the opportunity to step down and gave a light "En" sound, arrogantly:

"It's good that you said that."

As he spoke, he was about to stand up and take his leave—as an intermediary, he also had to appease the "buyer" after making progress.

"Hold on."

However, just as he took a step, he was stopped.

"Is there anything else?" he asked, frowning.

Zhao Du'an, sitting at the table, put down his wine cup:

"Your matter is over, but what about you yelling, threatening, and intimidating me just now? Are we just going to forget about that?"

Wang Xian looked displeased, but he still cupped his hands:

"I was impolite earlier.

I hope Lord Zhao will forgive me."

"Just like that?" Zhao Du'an smiled, but his eyes didn't.

Wang Xian's face darkened:

"Isn't an apology enough?"

Zhao Du'an didn't answer, but slowly stood up and straightened his clothes.

Just as the latter was puzzled, without any warning, a surge of energy flowed into Zhao Du'an's meridians from his lower abdomen, and with lightning speed, he kicked out!

"Bang!"

Wang Xian screamed, and his entire body flew out, smashing through the door of the private room and collapsing in the corridor, his body bent like a shrimp, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, his face pale!

"Ah!!!"

"Someone's fighting…"

The downstairs immediately erupted in chaos.

Guests screamed, and the restaurant manager hurried up the stairs, took a glance, turned back, and forbade outsiders from going upstairs, pretending that nothing had happened.

"You… you dare… you dare to hit a noble?!" Wang Xian struggled to get up, roaring in disbelief.

He knew the Empress's favorite consort had a bad reputation for being arrogant and domineering, but he never expected that the other party would dare to attack him.

However, the next second, his curse was stuck in his throat, as Zhao Du'an had drawn his saber at some point and placed it on his neck.

Cold sweat poured down.

"I… I am the Count of Ning'an…"

Zhao Du'an bent down, leaned close to the middle-aged noble's ear, and said softly:

"If apologies were useful, what would we need power for?

"Noble?

Heh, a dilapidated count from a remote village dares to challenge me?

Do you really think that wearing silk and satin and helping officials with their affairs makes you someone?

"People, it's important to know your place."

Wang Xian trembled, his lips turning white.

Zhao Du'an smiled, patted his face with the blade of the saber, and said:

"I will take care of the things I promised.

As for your impoliteness just now…"

He casually picked up the ivory folding fan from the wood chips on the ground and put it away:

"Consider this an apology gift."

Then, he sheathed his saber, stepped downstairs, took two steps, and as if remembering something, said without turning his head:

"Oh, right, remember to pay the restaurant for repairing the door."

After speaking, he went downstairs and left.

Only the Count of Ning'an was left, his face flushed red, slowly getting up, his chest heaving, his eyes wide with anger, but in the end, he swallowed the curse back:

"A gentleman takes revenge, ten years is not too late…"

"Those who commit many injustices will surely destroy themselves…"

At this time, the manager cautiously went upstairs:

"Count Wang, you…"

Wang Xian hysterically shouted:

"Get out!"

… …

… …

Outside Ding Feng Lou.

The moment Zhao Du'an got into the carriage, all the arrogance and domineering he had faked disappeared.

He leaned against the soft cushion and breathed out slowly.

He smiled self-deprecatingly:

"In my previous life, I walked on thin ice.

In this life, I have the opportunity to act recklessly.

Wouldn't you say that I've become the person I hate the most?"

He shook his head, refusing to waste his energy on self-criticism.

Staging this scene was both to send a signal to the outside world through Wang Xian that he was still full of confidence and to stimulate the other party in order to fish out even greater merits.

"Knock knock!"

Before long, someone knocked on the carriage, and then, the dark-skinned Zhu Kui squeezed in.

Zhao Du'an:

"How is it?"

Zhu Kui:

"Wang Xian has left, and our people are watching him according to your instructions."

"Very good," Zhao Du'an nodded in satisfaction, then, seeing that the latter hesitated to speak, he asked:

"Is there anything else?"

Zhu Kui said:

"Reporting, my lord, this subordinate accidentally discovered that Zhang Changshuo's hypocritical men were also peeking in the dark, suspected of using magical scrolls to record your meeting with Wang Xian."