The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Not yet.” A eunuch said softly:

“Since ascending the tower with Envoy Zhao, His Majesty has already downed twelve jars of wine.”

Mo Zhaorong’s expression changed slightly. She knew that Xu Zhenguan often only became slightly tipsy when drinking while overlooking the tower.

Such an amount today was truly rare.

If she were to become completely drunk and that treacherous villain took advantage, it would be unimaginable.

… …

On the tower, cups and plates were scattered in disarray.

“Your Majesty, the wine is finished.” Zhao Du’an said, hugging an empty wine jar.

Meaning that this small gathering had come to an end.

Under the lamplight, Xu Zhenguan’s complexion was somewhat flushed, but as she heavily exhaled a thick cloud of alcohol-laden breath,

The Empress's drunkenness visibly dissipated, and her eyes became much clearer.

At this moment, clouds gathered in the sky, obscuring the bright moon.

“Enough, let us end here for today.”

She said calmly, then looked at the barely conscious junior imperial guard and smiled:

“Your contribution in bringing down Pei Kai is undeniable. Have you thought about what reward you desire?”

Didn’t you say before that you wanted to think carefully and then ask me… Zhao Du’an said:

“Your Majesty, please decide on the reward.”

His cultivation was steadily advancing, and he didn’t need resources for the time being. He also hadn’t fully mastered the Flying Dagger Golden Crow, so he couldn’t think of anything for the moment.

After sobering up, the Empress regained her usual graceful and noble demeanor, and smiled:

“Lord Yuan previously recommended you to me in the imperial study, seeking a position for you.

Your intelligence and skills would be wasted in the White Horse Bureau. Coincidentally, the Pear Blossom Hall of the Imperial Prison lacks an ‘Investigator,’ I wonder if you are interested?”

What? Imperial Prison Investigator?

Zhao Du’an shuddered, his spirits lifting.

He realized that he seemed to be getting promoted!

As far as he knew, the Imperial Prison was under the control of Director Ma Yan, and it had nine halls under its jurisdiction.

Named after different flowers, Pear Blossom Hall was one of them.

The Investigator position was the head of the hall, with a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards at his disposal, belonging to the military officer sequence.

The rank wasn’t high, but the power was terrifying.

They monitored all officials, often arresting people and confiscating their homes.

If Ma Yan was “King Yama,” and the Embroidered Uniform Guards were “little devils,” then the Investigator was the mainstay of Yama’s Palace.

Zhao Du’an had repeatedly brought down officials, his actions overlapping with the functions of the Imperial Prison.

If he could become an Investigator, he could do things openly and have more opportunities to make contributions.

The power in his hands would also be greater.

Of course, correspondingly, the attention he received and the enemies he faced would be incomparable to the past.

Thump, thump… Zhao Du’an’s heart pounded wildly, but he didn’t answer immediately, instead considering:

“With my qualifications, parachuting into the Investigator position might be inappropriate.”

According to his idea, it would be reasonable to transfer him to a “deputy position.”

Directly filling the position would inevitably cause dissatisfaction.

Especially since his reputation was still lacking…

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him: “Are you afraid?”

Zhao Du’an said solemnly:

“The main reason is that I am reluctant to part with my colleagues in the White Horse Bureau, and I still want to serve by Your Majesty’s side.”

The envoy of the White Horse Bureau had the privilege of entering and leaving the palace, but the Imperial Prison Investigator didn’t have that. He was weighing the pros and cons.

Slippery… Xu Zhenguan snorted and said:

“Your official position in the White Horse Bureau will not be lost. You will temporarily serve as the Investigator of the Imperial Prison concurrently. If you don’t do well, or if there is a better candidate, you can come back.”

Hoo, so it’s a “temporary Investigator,” ah, that’s barely acceptable…

Moreover, holding both the positions of envoy and Investigator at the same time, he could advance or retreat as needed. Zhao Du’an had no reason to refuse:

“In that case, I am willing to give it a try!”

At this point, he also understood:

What Yuan Li had promised him, that if he handled matters well, the gift he would give him, what exactly it was.

Xu Zhenguan nodded in satisfaction and said:

“However, having you serve as the Investigator is not for nothing. I also want you to do one thing.”

“What thing?”

“Try to find the rebels of the Kuangfu Society lurking in the Imperial Prison.” Xu Zhenguan said coldly.

In the case of Zhuang Xiaocheng, Zhao Du’an had judged that rebels might be lurking within the Imperial Prison.

During this period, Ma Yan had repeatedly probed and searched, but had not gained anything.

Either the judgment was wrong, or they were hiding too deeply.

The Empress sighed:

“I trust Ma Yan, but he has been sitting in the Imperial Prison for too long. All the people below him were promoted by him, so it is inevitable that he is in the midst of the situation and is blinded, and he is not good at scheming…”

What does that mean, so I’m a villain who is good at scheming… Zhao Du’an felt extremely wronged.

“But you, as an outsider, may be able to see clearly,” Xu Zhenguan said, “If you can find the internal thief, I will give you another good reward.”

Zhao Du’an said solemnly: “Your subject will do his best.”

Xu Zhenguan nodded and said:

“I am tired, I will return to the palace first, you can go home yourself.”

I wouldn’t mind staying in the palace for the night… Zhao Du’an thought, but he also knew it wasn’t realistic.

The dragon carriage was also not suitable for sending him back.

“Your Majesty, please wait.”

Seeing Xu Zhenguan about to leave, he then remembered something, took out a porcelain bottle with body temperature from his inner pocket, and offered it with both hands:

“Your Majesty’s grace, I have nothing to repay, so I specially concocted this rose fragrance dew. Your Majesty can sprinkle it on your clothes, and there will be a floral fragrance lingering wherever you go.”

Xu Zhenguan was stunned.

Her beautiful eyes stared at the porcelain bottle in his hand for a moment, and finally she raised her hand and grabbed the neck of the bottle with her slender jade fingers.

She didn’t try it, just said:

“You have a kind heart.”

… …

When Zhao Du’an was alone, walking down the Son of Heaven Tower.

He saw “Big Ice Block” Mo Chou leading the crowd forward, suspiciously scanning: “Where is Your Majesty?”

Zhao Du’an yawned and pointed to the sky: “Your Majesty has already returned to the palace.”

As a great cultivator, the Empress already had the ability to step into the air and ride the wind.

“Someone come, go up and clean up the cups and leftovers.”

Mo Zhaorong turned her head and ordered. Immediately, a team of eunuchs swarmed up the tower. When she wanted to ask what His Majesty had said to him.

She found that Zhao Du’an had already left straight away.

… …

… …

The night was quiet, the wind blew the clouds, obscuring the bright moon.

The streets and alleys of the capital also appeared dim and cold.

Zhao Du’an was full of food and drink, and as he walked, he tried to force the alcohol out of his pores, but found that he had failed.

His cultivation was far inferior to the Empress.

After the alcohol entered his stomach, it would not be discharged for a long time, so he could not force it out again.

When he was upstairs, he only felt slightly drunk. At this moment, when the cold wind blew, Zhao Du’an realized that he was really drunk.

“Oops, in my previous life, I blocked alcohol at the wine table for my leaders and developed the ability to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, but in this life, I have changed my body.”

Zhao Du’an felt that he had made a mistake.

The after-effects of the imperial wine surged, and his mind gradually became muddled. He only relied on memory to walk in the direction of his home.

Unconsciously, a snack street appeared in front of him. The shops on both sides supported an interwoven and continuous awning.

Some shops were closed, but some were still open.

The fiery red lanterns hanging under the eaves and the fluttering wine flags made Zhao Du’an feel a little moved.

He stepped into a soup noodle shop and threw a string of copper coins from his sleeve:

“Bring me a bowl of sobering soup!”

Immediately, he heard an old laughing voice beside him:

“This old man only has one bowl left here. If the young master doesn’t mind, I will give it to you.”

Zhao Du’an suddenly turned around, opening his eyelids.

In the dim lamplight, he saw an old man sitting beside a square table under the awning.

He was wearing a very ordinary long gown, but he had a tall stature rare in the Great Yu Dynasty.

His age could not be seen, but his pure white beard and eyebrows without any impurities showed that his age was already not young.

His face was ruddy, and his slightly narrow eyes gently overlooked him, as if he was examining him.

Zhang Yanyi was examining Zhao Du’an.

Zhao Du’an was also examining Zhang Yanyi.

In the night street, it was quiet for a moment as if a needle could be heard falling.

Finally, Zhao Du’an stepped forward and sat down opposite the old celestial master.

He lowered his eyes and stared at the bowl in front of him, steaming hot, and the sobering soup was cooked just right.

“Old gentleman, are you waiting for me?”

Zhao Du’an quietly clenched his fists, his nails pierced into his flesh, using pain to forcibly dispel his drunkenness, and regained consciousness from his muddled mind.

The muscles of his whole body under his clothes were tense, the martial artist’s warning bell rang loudly, and his Qi sea roared quietly.

As if facing a formidable enemy.

Zhang Yanyi smiled and said slowly like an ordinary old man:

“I am originally a guest in the mortal world, quietly waiting for a destined person.”

Thank you book friend Yi Qi Jue Cheng for the 500 coin reward support!