The First Lackey Under The Empress

Seeing Zhao Du'an sitting upright, Zhou Cang had no choice but to walk to his side and stand beside him.

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After a short while, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and several people walked in sparsely from outside the inner hall.

The leader was the female officer who had gone to summon people earlier, clasping her hands in a formal salute, and said in a measured tone:

"Reporting to Inspector Zhao and Centurion Zhou, all the constables of the Pear Blossom Hall are in position."

It is worth mentioning that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is strictly hierarchical. The Director-General holds great power, commanding nine Hall Inspectors.

Under the Inspectors are about ten "constables," who enjoy the same treatment as military officers of the Great Yu, hence the customary title of Embroidered Uniform Guard Captains.

Yes, the same rank as the Zhang family's second son who was removed from his post.

Further down, each constable has several attendant officers, also wearing Embroidered Uniforms, who are subordinate staff.

Adding the white-robed clerks responsible for daily tasks and the scribes who handle paperwork, the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard numbers between one thousand and three thousand people.

Zhao Du'an raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over those who had come to the hall.

Behind Qian Kerou, closely followed a young man with a sturdy build, thick eyebrows, large eyes, bronze skin, and an expressionless face.

Between his eyebrows was a hint of arrogance and impatience, and his calloused hands hung beside the scabbard, suggesting he was a martial artist who diligently practiced swordsmanship.

His appearance and temperament were very similar to Li Yuanfang in "Detective Dee."

Zhou Cang whispered in his ear:

"This man's surname is Hou, given name Renmeng. He used to work in the top-ranked Peony Hall. He is very capable, but he doesn't obey orders and has had multiple physical conflicts with his colleagues, so he was squeezed out."

Hou Renmeng… If his surname were Park, it would be perfect… Zhao Du'an mentally labeled him "Monkey."

Behind the young man, leisurely strolled an old officer of about fifty or sixty years old.

He was not tall, his hair was slightly balding, and he held a large ceramic tea mug in his hand, with a roll of court gazettes tucked under his arm.

After entering, he smiled at Zhao Du'an, familiarly found a chair, and sat down.

"…"

Zhao Du'an looked at Zhou Cang, as if asking: Are you sure someone this old hasn't retired yet?

Zhou Cang looked embarrassed and whispered in his ear:

"This is an old-timer in the yamen, surnamed Zheng. He will retire in a year. He has a lot of experience and is one of the few who voluntarily applied to come to Pear Blossom Hall."

Heh, just say he's a loafer who came here to retire… Zhao Du'an was expressionless.

Finally, behind the old officer, was a young Embroidered Uniform Guard, a few years older than Qian Kerou, with noticeable dark circles under his eyes and a lazy demeanor.

His steps were loose when he walked, in stark contrast to "Hou Renmeng."

Zhou Cang explained:

"This man is named Shen Juan. He has some family background and wealth, so he is carefree, idle, and his performance is the worst."

Understood, a second-generation loafer who is lying flat in the workplace… Zhao Du'an sighed, thinking that they were indeed all talented.

Turning his gaze again, only one young man arrived late outside the hall.

Unlike the others, he was not wearing a uniform, but a silk shirt, and his appearance was not bad, with delicate skin.

But his lowered eyelids and pursed lips gave people a sense of superiority, like a noble young master.

In his hand, he even carried a birdcage containing a precious shrike.

"Li Lang?" Zhao Du'an guessed his identity.

Zhou Cang nodded and said:

"The Pear Blossom Hall is not fully staffed yet. Currently, there are only these five constables."

Okay, Zhao Du'an sighed and had a preliminary impression of the five people:

Princeling wastrel Li Lang.

Rookie female Embroidered Uniform Guard Qian Kerou.

Retiring old man Zheng.

Troublemaking, arrogant Hou Renmeng.

Slacking-off Shen Juan.

This team cannot be said to be full of talents, it can only be said to be a disastrous start. Yuan Li, you old thief… I'll remember this… Zhao Du'an silently held a grudge.

…

The five people took their seats one after another. Zhou Cang coughed and announced:

"The relevant announcement was issued by the Director-General yesterday. I won't waste any more words. This person beside me is the new Hall Inspector temporarily appointed by His Majesty's imperial decree, and also the White Horse Supervisor, Lord Zhao, who has made great contributions recently."

In the rumors, the Empress's kept wastrel?

The one who was impeached by all the civil and military officials, but was able to escape unscathed and defeat the Zhang brothers.

The one who recently worked for Lord Yuan and allegedly bit Pei Kai in the "factional struggle," that person with a despicable character, arrogant, self-important, and extravagant gigolo?

The expressions of the people were different, but they had all heard of the name "Zhao Du'an."

They were already surprised when they learned of the notice yesterday.

Seeing his true face today, they could only say that the Empress's aesthetics were indeed good.

But such a notorious lackey and scumbag parachuting in as their immediate superior?

Even the rookie Qian Kerou was a little unconvinced.

Presumably, he is similar to Li Lang, here to hold a sinecure, gild his resume, right? The female officer thought silently.

The other four had similar thoughts and had no respect for the new superior.

Seeing the cold reception, Zhou Cang was about to say something, but Zhao Du'an waved his hand:

"Alright, Centurion Zhou, go and get busy. I'll talk to them about the follow-up matters."

"This… Alright, if you need anything, Lord, you can come to the General Directorate to find me." Zhou Cang reported directly to Ma Yan, not belonging to the nine halls.

…

Watching Zhou Cang leave, only their own people were left in the Pear Blossom Hall.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Captains, who had barely sat upright just now, immediately relaxed.

Li Lang, as a member of the royal family, took the lead to get up, carrying the birdcage, with a mocking smile on his lips, and drooping his eyelids, he greeted:

"Let's go, go back and continue playing cards. Heh, what a big deal, having to go through this again."

Shen Juan, the king of slacking, yawned, his buttocks feeling heavy, glanced at the female officer, and said with a grin:

"Kerou, can you cover for me? I'm really sleepy, I'll lie down for a while."

Rookie Qian Kerou "ah"ed, sitting up straight, waving her hands in a panic, her eyes darting towards Zhao Du'an, her meaning was obvious:

Inspector is still here, this is not appropriate!!

Beside him, the troublemaker Hou Renmeng crossed his arms, with a disdainful expression.

He had always looked down on people like Zhao Du'an who curry favor with the powerful, and was also about to leave his seat.

Only old Zheng was unhurried, blowing on the hot tea in his mug, squinting his eyes, as if watching how the new superior would respond.

But he only saw Zhao Du'an with a calm expression, sitting in the main seat, as if he was not surprised by his subordinates' actions.

Without getting angry, he just said in a calm voice:

"Sit down."

Hou Renmeng, who was about to leave his seat, paused, as if he also wanted to see the quality of the new superior, and did not leave his seat.

His arrogant eyes did not dodge, as if he was not afraid of the power of the Empress's favorite.

There are always some people in the world who are not afraid of these things, and he happened to be one of them.

In this way, only Li Lang, wearing a silk shirt, an overbearing young master, was left to walk out.

Li Lang seemed to have not heard, and continued to walk out.

"I said, sit down."

Zhao Du'an placed his hands on his lower abdomen, his voice still calm, but his tone was a bit heavier.

Li Lang finally stopped, turned back indifferently, drooping his eyebrows, with a slightly mocking smile on his lips, and said:

"Zhao Du'an, we're all here to loaf around and gild our resumes, there's no need to put on airs and show off your power here, right?

I've heard of you, it's said that you have something going on with my sister? Heh, your appearance is not bad, no wonder you can be a male favorite… But you have to understand your identity.

I heard that you rely on favor to run rampant in the capital, and you also hang out in the capital circle, messing around with that Qin Qiu, I don't play in that circle, but I also know what kind of stuff you guys are…"

The "sister" he mentioned naturally refers to the current Empress, Xu Zhenguan.

He was also emphasizing that his mother was Princess Yunyang.

The faces of the people in the hall were strange, they didn't expect Li Lang to not give the new Inspector any face at all, not even pretending.

However, who told him to be a member of the royal family?

Although a married princess is like water that has been poured out, he follows the surname of the驸马, and will not be able to enter the Xu clan's genealogy in the future.

But… after all, they are still family.

Royal family members and foreign officials are ultimately two different classes. Others fear Zhao Du'an, but Li Lang is not afraid at all:

"So, don't think that just because you've become a favorite of His Majesty and got a cushy job, you're really something.

If you know what's good for you, be a transparent person in the Pear Blossom Hall, and everything will remain the same, and I won't bother to go against you. If you're sensible, I might even take you to play together and meet the real powerful children, understand?"

After speaking, this young master in brocade and silk clothes turned around and continued to swagger towards the door.

While teasing the bird in the cage, he hinted:

"Let's play cards, everyone come out with me. Heh, birds are more obedient than people, they know not to bark when they shouldn't."

Swish—The four people in the hall instantly looked at Zhao Du'an.

The sun was shining brightly, but for some reason, the atmosphere was quietly tense.

In the almost solidified atmosphere, Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth rising little by little, as if a beast seeing its prey.

The next moment, in the Pear Blossom Hall, a thin line of golden light flashed and disappeared.

Before everyone could recover, there was a "pa" sound!

Two huge, life-size, floor-to-ceiling vases in the hall were torn apart by a powerful aura, instantly shattering, with porcelain shards and water droplets flying wildly.

At the door, the expensive birdcage that Li Lang was holding was cut in half by some extremely sharp weapon, the cut smooth as a mirror.

Only a pool of feathered flesh and blood remained of the bird in the cage.

His right foot was suspended on the threshold.

Just one step away, he could have stepped out, but he was forced to stop in mid-air, unable to move an inch!

Everyone got up in shock, only to see that between the eyebrows of the arrogant young master, a palm-sized golden flying knife was hovering at some point.

The flying knife vibrated and trembled, as if it had a soul, eager for blood, the blade had pierced into his eyebrows a little, and a drop of bright red blood slowly dripped down.

Quiet.

In a silence.

Only the newly appointed Inspector, Zhao Du'an, who was sitting in the main seat, who had not even moved his posture from beginning to end, said coldly:

"He who steps out of this door, dies."

Thanks to 墨墨o for the 100-coin reward~