The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1224 - 653: Return to the Capital

Outside the Border City, Capital Commandery Commander’s Office.

A round, ethereal moon slowly emerged, then opened up.

Zhao Douan stepped out, holding Jin Jian’s little hand, his boots stepping onto the solid bluestone pavement. He raised his eyes to the two stone lions outside the office and the sign hanging high.

"Ah!" The soldiers guarding outside the government office were initially startled, instinctively drawing their swords.

Upon recognizing "the Grand Governor and his friends," they immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then knelt on one knee, excitedly paying their respects:

"Greetings, Governor!" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Hmm... So polite?

Has my prestige among the border army grown this high? Zhao Douan felt a bit caught off guard.

He quickly realized that it was likely due to his recent heroic charge outside the city walls, which had spread, earning him the admiration of these border soldiers.

"Is General Zhao here?" Zhao Douan "hmm"ed and asked.

A soldier raised his head, his eyes fervent:

"The General and his wife, along with the officers, are outside the city detaining prisoners..."

Following this, Zhao Douan listened to the soldiers’ account to piece together the events that transpired after his departure.

After Zhang Yan Yi suppressed Po Yun, many masters within the Liao Clan army rebelled together. "Helplessly," the Old Heavenly Master had to take action and captured a batch of experts.

Seeing this, Zhao Shixiong simply waved his hand, ordered the city gates to be opened, and the army inside surged out, launching an attack on the Liao Clan.

One side had extraordinary morale, while the other had their leader and masters either dead or captured, making the outcome obvious.

After a slaughter, the Liao Clan army fled, and Zhao Shixiong and his wife dealt with the aftermath.

As for Zhang Yan Yi, this old man, after finishing his task, entered the government office to rest under the admiring gaze of everyone.

"Alright, I should first visit the Heavenly Master." Zhao Douan exhaled and stepped through the door.

Passing through the central courtyard, he reached the inner hall in the rear courtyard, finding an elderly man in a black priest’s soft robe leisurely admiring the ancient paintings on the wall.

Upon hearing the noise, he turned his head to look.

"Master!"

Yu Xiu, Jin Jian, and Han Zhao quickly bowed.

Zhang Yan Yi responded with a mild "hmm," and his gaze fell on Tuoba Weizhi, with a hint of admiration:

"You are..."

Tuoba Weizhi was holding a large cloth bag containing the unconscious Xu Jianwen, his eyes cautious.

"La Garden Priest."

Zhao Douan stepped forward, blocking the silent witch behind him, emphasizing:

"She is now my servant."

Zhang Yan Yi grumbled slightly, "Can a decrepit old man still snatch from you?"

Zhao Douan turned to the people behind him, saying:

"I have matters to discuss privately with the Heavenly Master."

The group sensibly left the hall and closed the door.

With only the two left, Zhao Douan sat in the chair, sizing up old Zhang and clicking his tongue in wonder:

"It seems the Heavenly Master hasn’t suffered during his time in the Great Territory."

Zhang Yan Yi snorted, uttering softly:

"Not as comfortable as you, young man. While I was in a life and death struggle with the Evil God, you not only gained a beautiful female servant but also played the hero again."

Zhao Douan chuckled.

In earnest, Zhang Yan Yi asked, "Tell me, did you find the key?"

Zhao Douan "hmm"ed, without withholding information, and immediately recounted how he stealthily entered La Garden that day, discovered Qi Country’s secrets, and brought back Tuoba Weizhi.

After listening, the Old Heavenly Master showed awe, stroked his beard with one hand, and sighed:

"To think there was such a causation, what a grand gesture from the Grand Ancestor Emperor of yore. So, matters here seem concluded."

Zhao Douan nodded, sighing:

"Not only resolved but surprisingly smooth."

The original goal was simply to find the key, but in the end, he not only brought back a powerful bodyguard but also used the Heavenly Master Mansion to resolve the Liao Clan invasion and captured Xu Jianwen.

The rewards of this mission can truly be described as "abundant"!

However, Zhang Yan Yi appeared indifferent to such worldly affairs, stating:

"Far smoother than an old fool like me anticipated. Given this, we should return to the Capital, adjust a bit, and retrieve the second key."

The Old Heavenly Master clearly had a strong sense of urgency.

Zhao Douan nodded:

"I still need to handle some follow-ups in the city, but it shouldn’t take long. By afternoon or evening, we should set off."

The two of them agreed on a plan.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside, accompanied by the call of "Is the Governor back?"

Zhao Douan stood up.

Zhang Yan Yi smiled, "Go take care of your business."

"Hmm," Zhao Douan nodded, pushed the door open, and exited the inner hall, seeing Zhao Shixiong and his wife stride inside in full battle attire.

Upon seeing Zhao Douan unharmed, the couple both breathed a sigh of relief, their faces breaking into smiles:

"Greetings, Governor!"

Zhao Douan smiled, lightly assisted them, and began inquiring about the situation outside the city.

Zhao Shixiong quickly reported, which was similar to the soldiers’ account earlier, that a batch of Liao Clan masters were captured while the remaining army retreated.

"The Liao Clan army is massive; capturing all by sheer force would be difficult and come at great cost. Therefore, I believe that presently, there’s no need for a desperate struggle," Zhao Shixiong analyzed:

"Regardless, even if the Liao Clan leader emerges to lead troops, their threat will be greatly reduced."

Zhao Douan nodded in agreement:

"Do not chase a cornered enemy. Xiping Road is the main battlefield now. You only need to stabilize the territory here. Afterward, I’ll have to trouble the General to stand guard here to prevent further enemy harassment."

Zhao Shixiong sensed the underlying meaning, "Is the Governor leaving?"

Zhao Douan nodded and pointed to the eaves below, where Tuoba Weizhi was holding the cloth bag, and said solemnly:

"I’ve captured Jian Wen and will be returning to the Capital."

Jian Wen... Zhao Shixiong glanced at the bag, feeling a mix of emotions.