The First Lackey Under The Empress

What exactly did Zhao Du'an want to do?

The answer is actually very simple.

It was to connect with Pei Si Niang and, through her, secretly meet with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a third-rank official.

There were some things he had to say to the other party in person for the best effect.

Given Zhao Du'an's reputation and the disparity in their status, it would be almost impossible to achieve this through a normal visit.

His visiting card would be thrown into the wastepaper basket, never to see the light of day.

Of course, besides this, another very important point was:

Only through Pei Si Niang could he most effectively lower Vice Minister Pei's guard.

As for testing the truthfulness of Yun Xi's information, this was also the most efficient method.

Whether it was Vice Minister Pei or Lü Liang, both were old foxes, and any probing by Zhao Du'an would make them very vigilant.

But a 'naive and innocent' woman raised in the inner chambers was much easier to deal with.

...

"You want to see my father?"

Pei Si Niang, wearing a long dress with a mandarin collar and a hundred flower patterns, and with her hair styled in a married woman's bun, raised her eyebrows.

She was quite surprised by Zhao Du'an's answer.

Inside the teahouse private room.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"I have a feud with Lü Liang and want to make trouble for him, but with my ability, I am not enough to do this."

Pei Si Niang raised her chin, somewhat proudly:

"Because my father would not allow it."

The energy that a powerful Vice Minister could exert was something Zhao Du'an could not contend with.

Zhao Du'an frankly admitted:

"Yes, so to deal with Lü Liang, I must first convince your father, which is why I am looking for you, to meet with him."

The vase-like noblewoman asked doubtfully:

"Are you confident that you can convince my father to abandon him?"

Now that things had come to this, she no longer concealed her own desire to get rid of Lü Liang.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"Success depends on effort, and besides, even if I can't do it, what loss would it be to you?"

Pei Si Niang frowned and thought for a moment, persuaded by these words.

From her perspective, if Zhao Du'an could accomplish it, it would be a great relief for her.

If he couldn't accomplish it, there would be no loss, so it was worth it either way.

But the vase-like noblewoman also had her own shrewdness, and asked suspiciously:

"Do you have something in your grasp? Also, how are you so sure that I will help you? Just because he has other women outside?"

"Some things lose their magic when spoken aloud," Zhao Du'an laughed, avoiding giving an answer:

"As for why I'm so sure..."

He sighed softly, giving an unexpected answer:

"Because I understand women's hearts. I sent people to investigate you, and after talking with you, I am even more certain of this."

Pei Si Niang stared at him blankly, then suddenly sighed in admiration:

"No wonder you are valued by the Holy One and taken as a male favorite."

She believed it.

Because as a woman herself, she knew that the Empress would not be intimate with a man solely because of his appearance.

And as everyone knew, Zhao Du'an didn't have much talent, so the only explanation was that he really understood women's hearts.

"Then... does Madam agree?"

Zhao Du'an's well-proportioned and slender fingers played with the exquisite teacup.

Pei Si Niang suddenly smiled, instantly full of charm:

"Wouldn't this be considered you asking me? Then you have to pay something."

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows: "What does Madam want?"

At this moment, the melody on the stage outside the building suddenly became gentle.

In the room, the noblewoman with a face like the bright moon, and a charm no less than a young girl, suddenly stood up.

A hand deftly removed the top button from her jacket, opening her collar, and her hips swayed.

Fluttering like a dandelion in the wind, or a plump peony, she landed on Zhao Du'an.

One hand hooked his neck, and the other skillfully placed the Bodhi button in Zhao Du'an's palm.

Gently drawing circles.

Pei Si Niang smiled like a flower, her eyes filled with the pleasure of revenge based on hatred:

"Does Envoy not want to take fierce revenge on Lü Liang right now?"

Here? Isn't that bad... Zhao Du'an was also a little surprised.

According to the information, Pei Si Niang was actually a very disciplined woman, completely unrelated to the word frivolous.

Even now, she seemed to be in control of the situation, but in fact, the stiffness and unnaturalness of her waist exposed that she was actually very nervous.

She didn't like the villain in front of her, but was just blinded by hatred.

Also a daughter of a great family, Miss Xiao Ya, who had completely gone to sea, was at ease, while Pei Si Niang was just imitating poorly.

"Why must Madam demean herself?" Zhao Du'an sighed softly.

Pei Si Niang said hatefully:

"Why can he do it, but I can't?"

As expected, love brains are prone to impulsiveness... Zhao Du'an didn't want to anger this furious Hedong lioness.

He smiled casually, pointed to the outside of the room, separated by a door, and whispered:

"The walls have ears, I don't want to be killed in some alley by his people before I even see the Vice Minister."

"Are you afraid?"

Pei Si Niang's pretty face changed slightly, and she also realized that she had been inconsiderate.

Although the dowry maid outside the door had been with her for many years, she was, after all, from the family, and might report to the family.

"Afraid?" Zhao Du'an chuckled, imitating the domineering and uninhibited look of the dragon king in short dramas, and whispered in her ear:

"I just want to take revenge more thoroughly. When Lü Liang is thrown into prison, we will... show him in prison, wouldn't that be better?"

Pei Si Niang's beautiful eyes were full of surprise:

I didn't expect you to be this kind of person.

There was also a vague expectation in her heart.

...

After watching her leave the private room, he was the only one left in the room.

Zhao Du'an picked up the cold tea and drank it all in one gulp, extinguishing the fire in his heart.

The villainous expression on his face was gone, and his eyes were full of calm.

Not to mention that for the sake of the Empress, even the original owner could keep himself clean, Zhao Du'an would not lose big for small.

Just the woman's identity was a disaster that could not be touched, otherwise, when Vice Minister Pei fell, he would be implicated in this trivial matter, and it would be a laughingstock.

Everything just now was just acting.

"Knock knock."

A knock sounded, and Zhu Kui strode in and said:

"Master, Madam Lü has returned."

"En." Zhao Du'an nodded.

His gaze looked out the window below for the first time.

On the stage, the old general was holding a sword, glaring angrily, raising his hand and dropping the knife, slashing at the young man and the Qingyi actress on the stage.

"Tsk, even after time-traveling, I'm still not one to listen to operas. It's better to go to the Jiaofang Division to watch the dancers twist their butts."

Zhao Du'an laughed mockingly, shook his head, but still patiently waited for the end of the play.

Only then, accompanied by Zhu Kui, did he leave through a separate passage.

"Master, where are we going next?"

Zhu Kui skillfully tightened the horsewhip, acting as a coachman.

The old clerk faintly smelled the familiar taste of the layout, and always felt that his master was going to do something again. In addition to anxiety, there was also a bit of excitement.

"Next..."

Zhao Du'an stretched his old waist in the carriage, yawned, and said lazily:

"Go back home."

A successful hunter must have enough patience. When the fishhook is cast, it may face a long wait, but the hand holding the rod must not waver.

...

Eight Directions Opera House, backstage.

After a play ended, cheers thundered from beyond the curtain.

On this side of the curtain, the actors retired in an orderly manner, each removing their makeup.

"You sang well today."

The opera house manager, wearing a silk shirt, a soft hat, and an emerald thumb ring, came to the backstage, found the popular young man in the crowd, and praised him with a smile.

This handsome young man, who was favored by Pei Si Niang, entered Beijing at the beginning of the year, and made a name for himself in the Eight Directions Opera House, smiled shyly:

"Thanks to the guests' support."

The manager smiled and said:

"With your skill, if you continue like this, you will be able to secure a place among the top three in the opera house within a year. Maybe, you will be the next top actor in the capital. Amazing, you are so young, and your acting is so good."

The handsome young man in costume smiled, but there was no pride in his expression.

Suddenly asked:

"Manager, I wonder which distinguished guest was in Yunshui Pavilion today? It seems that from beginning to end, they didn't look at the stage much."

"Oh, that one... is not easy to mess with..."

After listening to the manager's introduction, a sharp look suddenly flashed in the young man's eyes, and there was a very subtle fluctuation belonging to a sorcerer, which disappeared in a flash:

"So, you are Zhao Du'an, the one that Grand Tutor Zhuang mentioned...?"