The First Lackey Under The Empress

The rain drizzled, and the old man fishing on the shore, clad in a straw raincoat, spoke in a deep, powerful voice.

Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows and smiled.

What an ignorant servant… It's hard to say that this deliberate difficulty isn't a power play.

Perhaps it's expressing his dissatisfaction with Zhao Du'an's attempt to meet him through his fourth daughter.

Or perhaps, it's a test, a probe, or some other intention.

It doesn't matter.

What matters is that he is standing here now, and the other party has offered him a passable way out.

And if he had continued to swallow his anger just now, his treatment at this moment might be very different.

"I have long heard that the Pei family of Huaishui has strict family traditions and governance. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation," Zhao Du'an praised.

Pei Kaizhi seemed not to hear the sharpness in his words, and said:

"The wind and rain are heavy. Envoy, you should change into a raincoat."

Behind him, a servant stepped forward to respectfully assist.

Once Zhao Du'an was also cloaked in a raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat, the Pei family guards retreated three zhang in unison.

In this way, none of today's conversation would be overheard by a third party.

"Since you fear the wind and rain, Assistant Minister Pei, why brave the rain?"

Zhao Du'an was generous and actually sat down on the vacant bamboo chair:

"I heard people say that the best time to fish is after a heavy rain."

Sitting at this angle, he finally saw Pei Kaizhi's face clearly.

About sixty years old, with white hair and beard, not tall, with an aura of authority between his eyebrows, and a faint resemblance to Pei Si Niang in his appearance.

Tsk, this is a complete reversal.

Pei Kaizhi chuckled and said:

"Envoy Zhao must not be good at fishing, nor has he lived in a place with developed lakes and marshes."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I was born in the land of fish and rice in Jiangnan, and I have known since I was a child that if you really wait until after the rain to set off, the good spots will have been taken long ago."

Zhao Du'an's eyes flashed, and he smiled:

"Is that so? I have been taught."

Pei Kaizhi asked: "Do you also know why people say it's good to fish in the rain?"

Zhao Du'an: "Please enlighten me."

Pei Kaizhi looked at the clear breeze on the river, the water calm and still.

He raised his hand, looking like an experienced fisherman imparting wisdom:

"Fish also need to breathe underwater, and they are most sensitive to water temperature. Different seasons, different rainfall intensities, before, during, and after… all have differences. If the aquatic plants are lush, the water will be warm and stuffy, and the fish will be uncomfortable, so they will gather in open areas without plants…"

Zhao Du'an listened quietly. This scene was undoubtedly strange.

One side came with the intention of fighting and setting traps.

The other side, not knowing the specifics, cautiously responded with three parts anger.

Yet they only talked about fishing experiences. However, Zhao Du'an seemed to enjoy it, without the slightest impatience or agitation.

It seemed that he would not mention anything until Assistant Minister Pei opened his mouth.

Finally, perhaps due to old age and frailty, he couldn't bear too much cold wind.

Pei Kaizhi coughed and changed the subject:

"Speaking of which, if the current imperial court is compared to this pond of water, it would be quite fitting."

Zhao Du'an followed up: "Oh?"

Pei Kaizhi tightened his collar, seemingly afraid of the wind, and said:

"The sage's joy and anger are like thunderstorms and warm sunshine. We officials and subjects are like the big and small fish under the water. When the rain is heavy and the wind is strong, the fish become flustered and vigilant. Who knows which one will lose its head and bite the bait, becoming a dead soul in the pot."

The meaning of these words was clear:

Recently, Xu Zhenguan was angry, the ministers were terrified, and the political situation was turbulent. Officials could only be cautious to avoid disaster.

Zhao Du'an couldn't figure out whether the other party had guessed something or was deliberately testing him. He cautiously didn't take the bait and said:

"Thunder and rain are all imperial grace. I don't understand anything too complicated. I only know that loyalty to His Majesty is always right."

Thunder and rain are all imperial grace…

Pei Kaizhi chewed on these eight words repeatedly, and his gaze towards Zhao Du'an showed a slight surprise.

Not just this sentence.

From Zhao Du'an's response to his show of power today, to his conversation with him at this moment, neither humble nor arrogant, it was different from the rumors.

However, he didn't know that this was all the result of Zhao Du'an's deliberate performance.

Before setting off, Zhao Du'an had thought about how he should meet the other party.

Maintain the arrogant and domineering villain persona?

If facing Pei Si Niang, he could do so.

But Zhao Du'an didn't think that his acting skills were enough to deceive a powerful assistant minister who had been immersed in officialdom for many years.

Therefore, the original character setting would instead make the other party vigilant. He could only be his true self.

And appropriately hide his true purpose under a false face.

"I now know that there is indeed a reason why you can please the sage," Pei Kaizhi smiled.

No, you don't know anything… I have many advantages, such as being a late bloomer… Zhao Du'an used sarcasm to relieve the pressure of directly facing the scrutiny of a powerful minister.

Pei Kaizhi changed the subject:

"However, speaking of which, this storm in the court is also related to you."

After a pause, his gray-brown eyes looked over:

"I have learned about your actions during this period of time. Although there is a large element of luck in it, you have more scheming and means than the playboy in the impressions of outsiders."

The implication was: Stop pretending, I have thoroughly investigated you.

As expected!

This old guy hasn't seen me for a few days, and he's been secretly investigating… Zhao Du'an wasn't surprised and said calmly:

"Scheming and means… that's not a nice word."

Pei Kaizhi raised his eyebrows and said, "Otherwise?"

Zhao Du'an was righteously awe-inspiring, shamelessly plagiarizing Qi Ting's lines:

"I just want to improve too much."

Pei Kaizhi was stunned, then laughed loudly, the hair under his bamboo hat trembling, as if he had heard something interesting.

At this moment, he finally confirmed that the person in front of him was not worth worrying about.

Yuan Li was secretly targeting him, and Pei Kaizhi had long been aware of it.

Li Yanfu had ordered even earlier that the Li Party members should keep their tails between their legs and not create unnecessary troubles at this juncture, giving the Empress something to seize.

Therefore, facing Zhao Du'an's sudden request for a visit, Pei Kaizhi had to be careful.

Of course, he could choose not to meet.

But since the other party had gone to great lengths to find his daughter, it meant that he probably had something important to say to him.

Weighing the possibility of missing some important matters and the risk of meeting Zhao Du'an, he chose the latter.

Before this, he carefully learned about and investigated this young gigolo under the Empress's skirt and was surprised to find that this person might be different from the rumors.

But also… that's all!

Yes, that's all!

Just as in the eyes of Xu Zhenguan and Yuan Li, Zhao Du'an's previous actions were just small tricks.

Apart from accidentally involving the Jing Prince's Mansion, the rest of the methods were, in the end, just some petty cleverness that couldn't be put on the table.

The level of dealing with him was also limited to miscellaneous fish like the Zhang brothers.

Even the key clue to solving the case was provided by a prostitute…

Combined with the operations of extorting money and leading the Embroidered Uniform Guards to break down doors for revenge during the investigation process.

Therefore, Pei Kaizhi's evaluation of him was only "a greedy little man with some petty cleverness and scheming."

But he was still not at ease.

Several tests did indeed show that Zhao Du'an was more calm and composed than expected.

But the overall impression was no different.

Even if Zhao Du'an really endured the guards' search of his body, he would have thought highly of the other party.

But Zhao Du'an chose to act, and that was a sign of weakness.

A young man who cannot control his anger and emotions can hardly carry out deep disguise.

And a gigolo who is crazy about "advancement", bullies others, is greedy and lecherous, and has a bad reputation, naturally has no reason to threaten him.

Of course, if Pei Kaizhi knew that Zhao Du'an had been in the same carriage with Yuan Li, his thoughts might be very different.

But it just so happened that Lu Liang, who was at odds with his old father-in-law, harbored resentment, and secretly harbored rebellious intentions, didn't tell anyone about this humiliating matter.

Pei Si Niang was even less likely to tell Lu Liang about Zhao Du'an finding her and secretly meeting Pei Kaizhi.

The family, which should have shared information, had a wonderful "information gap".

So, in Pei Kaizhi's eyes, he greatly relaxed his vigilance against Zhao Du'an.

But little did he know that all of this was within the Empress's lackey's plan.

…

"What are you laughing at, Assistant Minister?" Zhao Du'an asked curiously.

Pei Kaizhi restrained his smile, looked at him with a smile that was not a smile, and said:

"I laugh because you and Lu Liang are originally the same kind of person."

Zhao Du'an was silent for a while, and surprisingly did not refute it, and said:

"Assistant Minister, you can just say what you want."

Pei Kaizhi, who thought he had seen through the other party, also lost interest in the conversation, turned his head to look at the river fishing rod, and said calmly:

"Si Niang has already told me about your intention. Lu Liang has offended you, and it is natural for you to seek revenge, but you should not seek trouble with Si Niang, making her unhappy, and if she is unhappy, I will also be unhappy."

Zhao Du'an said "Oh?"

"So?"

Pei Kaizhi said lightly:

"But since ancient times, enemies should be reconciled, not formed. Since you are someone appreciated by His Majesty, I will naturally give you some face. Besides, since you have already come to my door, if I don't give you an explanation, I'm afraid you won't be willing."

After a pause, as if pondering.

Pei Kaizhi finally said in an almost declarative tone:

"How about this, I will order Lu Liang to come to your door to apologize.

In addition, the teahouse you saw when you came today, and a batch of top-quality spiritual medicines in Yaozhizhai, will all be regarded as compensation for my son-in-law's offense to you.

Heh, the income of a high-end teahouse, and herbs that are quite beneficial to your martial arts cultivation, this condition is generous enough.

If you are still not satisfied, wait a few more days, when the political situation is stable, I can also help you operate and get a lucrative position.

In this way, you should also look at my face and let the matter with Lu Liang be settled, how about it?"

The tone was casual, scattered, and the attitude was almost condescending.

But Pei Kaizhi was sure that the other party would agree.

Because whether it was face or interest, he had given enough generously.

And in contrast, it was nothing, and he was happy to get the anger of a Criminal Department Assistant Minister.

Pei Kaizhi believed that no one would refuse.

However, Zhao Du'an's face looked a little strange.

Then gradually, the corners of his mouth raised, and for the first time since today's meeting, he truly revealed his fangs and claws.

"Is that so? It's indeed very generous, and it seems there's no reason to refuse," Zhao Du'an mocked: "But…"

"But what?" Pei Kaizhi frowned.

Zhao Du'an's mouth curled up, cold and unruly:

"But, what is your face worth?!"