The First Lackey Under The Empress

The return journey from the Imperial Court to White Horse Prison wasn't long.

The colleagues within the prison had grown accustomed to his frequent trips back and forth, his two-timing act, and the number of those coming up to greet him had sharply decreased.

The gazes directed at Zhao Du'an now held more reverence.

Zhao Du'an himself hadn't noticed, but after becoming a Jisi, commanding a hall and dozens of men, his temperament had subtly changed in just a few days.

An inadvertent glance now carried a hint of authority.

Commonly known as: official威威 (guan wei - official authority).

"Environment changes people, huh? No wonder classmates I knew in school, all smiles and laughter, seemed like different people after they put on the police uniform..."

"Yeah, and then after they were dismissed and put on prison garb, they seemed like different people again..."

Zhao Du'an felt a lot of emotions and silently reflected:

Not to be pleased by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses.

Back at his hall, he immediately picked up his brush and drafted an "Application."

To be on the safe side, he didn't fully trust anyone in the Imperial Court.

Therefore, after tricking Ma Yan into being his public "Demon-Slaying Blade," he also needed to find a hidden blade to restrain Ma Yan.

And there weren't many people who could provide help and were trustworthy.

Old Warden Si was one of them.

With strokes like dragons and snakes, Zhao Du'an lifted his wrist and put down his brush, picked up the paper, blew on it, folded it, and walked outside.

Outside the duty room, Zhu Kui happened to arrive and, seeing this, asked in surprise:

"Sir, are you going to deliver a letter? Just give it to this humble servant, no need for you to lower yourself."

Saying that, he reached out to take it, but Zhao Du'an took a step back and waved his hand:

"No need, you're busy with your own affairs."

With that, he went straight to the rear office.

Leaving Old Zhu, his face plastered with a fawning smile, frozen in place, his hands suspended in the air, silent for a long time.

...

"You want a bodyguard again?"

In the rear office, the old eunuch with graying temples and a loose-fitting official robe turned his gaze away from the "Application."

Frowning, he said unhappily:

"What are you up to now, kid? You've only been in the Imperial Court for a few days, and you're already causing the entire court to fuss about. Give His Majesty a break."

Old Sun felt exhausted.

He even regretted why he had spurred this kid on, from one extreme of being an idle loafer to another extreme of constantly causing trouble...

Zhao Du'an, however, didn't wear a playful smile but said seriously:

"This time it's a serious matter, I need a master."

Seeing his serious tone, Old Warden Si also sat up slightly straighter:

"How high a master do you need?"

Zhao Du'an said without hesitation:

"At least someone who can subdue Duke Ma."

Old Warden Si's wrinkled old face twitched, and he said in a deep voice:

"Is it to suppress a 'Worldly Realm' martial artist, or to suppress Ma Yan?"

This sentence sounded strange at first, but Zhao Du'an understood, and he was slightly surprised:

"Is Duke Ma a Worldly Realm martial artist?"

Mortal Body, Divine Chapter, Worldly Realm, Heavenly Realm, Human Immortal... the five great realms of martial arts. Back then, the wild sorcerer who rescued Zhuang Xiaocheng from thousands of miles away was in the "Worldly Realm."

Seeing that Old Warden Si was too lazy to answer, Zhao Du'an said:

"I want a master who can suppress Ma Yan."

Silence!

Old Warden Si was slightly moved, interpreting a dense amount of information from this answer:

"You..."

Zhao Du'an smiled and explained:

"Sir, no need to overthink it, it's just to be prepared, in case of one in ten thousand."

Old Warden Si then breathed a slight sigh of relief and said:

"When do you need to use them?"

"Tomorrow. Well... if possible, it's best to arrive at my house before dawn, hide in the shadows and don't show your face, just follow me... They need to be good at concealing their presence, so they won't be discovered."

Speaking of this, he suddenly thought of Jin Jian, the Divine Officer who liked to hide and watch people bathe, and said:

"Divine Officer Jin Jian..."

Old Warden Si shook his head:

"Not stable enough. You go ahead, this matter will be arranged properly for you by this old one."

Pausing, he added:

"And no news will be leaked."

That understated tone made it seem as if a Worldly Realm expert could be summoned at will.

...

That day, two things happened in the Imperial Court.

First, Duke Ma issued a strange order, forbidding all eight halls from leaving their homes tomorrow. The chief Jisi must stay at home and, without permission, are forbidden from stepping out of their house.

Second, rumors spread that everyone in Pear Blossom Hall was preparing, sharpening their knives, as if there was a mission to go out tomorrow, suspected to be related to the rebel party.

The combination of the two messages made people speculate wildly.

But Zhao Du'an, who was at the center of the vortex, disappeared again.

In the evening.

Inside the dining room of the Zhao residence.

The family of three ate quietly. The beautiful stepmother sipped her chopsticks delicately, occasionally glancing at her stepson, her plump figure shifting restlessly under her dark green long dress.

"If Auntie has something to say, then say it."

Zhao Du'an pinched his spoon and scooped up a piece of tofu filled with broth.

Tonight's main dish on the table was "Crucian Carp Stewed with Tofu," cooked personally by You Jinhua, one of her specialties.

Since a few days ago, when You Jinhua talked too much during a meal and annoyed him, his stepmother had been much quieter during meals these past two days.

You Jinhua was greatly relieved and couldn't help but say:

"Auntie just wants to ask, has Da Lang been doing well in the new yamen recently... Auntie has also heard some gossip at home. They say Da Lang has arrested many officials and has also offended Princess Yunyang."

You Jinhua was a timid and fearful, weak character, only wanting her family to be safe and sound.

"It doesn't matter, it's all small matters."

Zhao Du'an ate a mouthful of tofu cooked by his stepmother, soft, glutinous, tender, and full of juice.

"Mom, I told you, no need to worry about him,"

" Zhao Pan wore a look that she had seen through this guy, her face stern:

"It would be a blessing if he didn't provoke others."

"Haha, not bad, my sister understands me best." Zhao Du'an got up, put down his chopsticks, and threw the remaining half bowl of fish soup soaked rice to her:

"Here's a reward for you."

After saying that, he turned around, yawning, and walked away, he needed to recharge his energy.

Leaving Zhao Pan, her palm-sized oval face flushed red with anger, gripping the chopsticks tightly, her knuckles turning white.

This guy really treats himself like someone who eats leftovers!

...

Nothing was said overnight.

Early in the morning, the air was slightly cold. Zhao Du'an walked out of his house, his senses as a martial artist causing him to look left and right.

He didn't notice the presence of a "bodyguard" and called out twice, but no one responded.

"Did the person Old Sun arranged arrive or not... Are all experts like to act profound?"

Zhao Du'an helplessly decided to trust him this time.

Alone, he walked towards Jinjiang Embankment.

Today was cloudy, the sky was gloomy, Jinjiang Embankment was without Pei Kai zhi.

After the fishermen of the capital came in groups, they were shocked to find that among the weeping willows lining the long embankment, there stood fully armed, murderous-looking Jinyi officials.

"Sir!"

When Zhao Du'an arrived, the four subordinates who had been waiting for a long time cupped their hands and saluted.

Today, all four of them wore soft armor, carried crossbows, wore chest protectors, and carried long sabers, making them intimidating.

"Hehe, don't be nervous, we may not need you today, but we have to put on a good show," Zhao Du'an said with a smile, easing the tense emotions of his subordinates.

Then he asked: "Where is Duke Ma?"

Qian Kerou pointed to the carriage prepared in the distance.

Zhao Du'an happily went over and, upon lifting the curtain of the carriage, he saw the stern-faced, gaunt, and unsmiling Grand Eunuch sitting upright with his eyes closed.

"You've come," Ma Yan opened his eyelids and said calmly.

"I've come," Zhao Du'an's tone was deep, as if two long-renowned rivals in the Jianghu had met again on the riverbank after decades.

"Then what's the point of talking nonsense? Where are we going to arrest people? Get in the car!" Ma Yan said unhappily.

You ruined the good atmosphere, a disappointment... Zhao Du'an slandered in his heart, stepped into the car, and waited for the curtain to fall.

The carriage immediately drove away, surrounded by the Jinyi of Pear Blossom Hall.

Inside the carriage.

Ma Yan, his face sullen, asked suspiciously: "What are you up to?"

He had already noticed something was wrong. If it was a normal arrest, it should be swift and should be done on horseback.

Zhao Du'an smiled and took out a small bamboo table and a plate of fresh melon and fruit from a hidden compartment in the carriage:

"Senior brother, don't be impatient, eat some melon and fruit to cool down."

Ma Yan stared at him blankly.

Zhao Du'an sighed helplessly and had no choice but to say:

"The matter hasn't been settled yet, so some things can't be revealed. If senior brother trusts me, then sit well in the carriage.

Later, no matter what you hear or see, don't be surprised or make a sound, just remember one thing, only when you hear me call you out can you show your face."

Ma Yan was silent and closed his eyes, which was a default agreement.

...

...

Zhang Han woke up early today.

Not particularly special. As a Divine Chapter martial artist proficient in swordsmanship, he had a habit of practicing swords every morning.

The cultivation of martial artists is much more difficult than that of sorcerers, emphasizing that one cannot be lazy. If one is lazy for a day, it takes three days to make up for it.

As the chief Jisi of Peony Hall, the well-known "workaholic" in the Imperial Court, the number one person under the Duke.

He had a strict schedule, no matter how late he slept last night, he would wake up at dawn, exhale and nourish his qi, and practice swords in the courtyard.

Waiting for the morning light to dawn, he would bathe, eat, and arrive at the yamen to report for duty.

Rain or shine.

But today, after Zhang Han finished eating, he sat blankly in the hall and began to space out.

Yesterday's curfew order from the Duke caused a great uproar among the eight Jisi, and combined with the unusual movements of Pear Blossom Hall, Zhang Han had already guessed something.

He even had a faint premonition that something big would happen today.

"Master, master!" Suddenly, the gatekeeper of the Zhang family rushed in and shouted:

"A group of Imperial Court officials have come outside."

Sitting in the hall, Zhang Han, who had been closing his eyes to rest, suddenly opened his eyes.

His ears twitched slightly, clearly distinguishing the number of people from the sound of horses' hooves outside the courtyard.

He could even imagine in his mind the path of that team of officials dividing into several teams, surrounding, and blocking his own residence.

"Master, soldiers have also come to the back door, looking fierce!" The cook also ran in in a panic.

These servants couldn't distinguish which hall those officials belonged to.

But as human beings, they could easily discern that the other party didn't come with good intentions.

Beside Zhang Han, a heavy "seven-foot sword" lying horizontally on the rosewood desk was suddenly unsheathed!

Guided by the qi, it delivered the sword hilt into its master's hand.

The master of Peony Hall, about thirty or forty years old, with a tall and imposing figure, fair complexion, and a somewhat expressionless face, got up and walked out of the hall step by step.

He clearly saw that on the courtyard walls all around, archers were leaping up, locking the arrows flashing with cold light on his entire body.

"Bang!"

The gate was split open, and the Yanwangs of Pear Blossom Hall poured in, the leader being none other than his former subordinate, Hou Renmeng.

"Sir! The one named Zhang hasn't run away!"

Hou Renmeng grinned, his whole body tense, extremely vigilant. Facing his former superior, he knew the difference between them.

Zhang Han glanced at him, his gaze bypassing him, and looked at the Xuan-colored Jisi robe behind the crowd, which parted like waves.

Zhao Du'an walked over leisurely, stopped a few feet away, and said with a smile:

"Master Zhang, we meet again."