The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 419 - 347, Zhao Douan: It’s been a long time since anyone dared to talk to me like this.

Zhao Douan's heart suddenly sank, thinking to himself: could it be such a coincidence?

He first glanced at the "Military God" beside him munching on a sweet potato, then frowned and asked, "What's happened?"

Hou Renmeng had rushed back, now noticing the Secretariat Envoy beside him, hesitated to speak.

"Just say it," Zhao Douan said calmly.

Hou Renmeng nodded, took out a letter, held it up with both hands, and handed it over, explaining at the same time:

"This morning when we were checking attendance at the hall entrance, we found that three people were missing. Initially, I didn't take it seriously, thinking they were late, but later, someone delivered this letter, saying that you need to go fetch someone."

Zhao Douan took the letter, which contained few words, no content, just an address, and a signature—Xu Zudi.

Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives... Zhao Douan, expressionless, clenched the letter tightly, turned his head to Xue Shence, sighed with a wry smile,

"Mr. Xue's reminder was indeed timely."

Xue Shence swallowed the last piece of sweet potato and asked, "Xu Zudi?"

"Yes, it seems that my men were detained by this Princely Heir, and now he wants me to redeem them," Zhao Douan sighed, proactively passing over the letter in his hand.

Xue Shence took it, glanced at it, and frowned, apparently not expecting such quick retaliation from the other party.

His reminder to Zhao Douan was merely a return for Zhao passing on a message for him before.

But the timing now made this "reminder" a bit awkward.

"Mr. Xue, it seems I will have to excuse myself from the later banquet."

Zhao Douan bowed slightly; his people were detained, and he must go handle it immediately.

Xue Shence pondered for a moment, then suddenly said:

"While there's still time, why don't I accompany you? After all, dealing with the son of Prince Heng might get too stiff, which won't be good for you."

Now it was Zhao Douan's turn to be surprised—why would this military officer voluntarily wade into such muddy waters?

Xue Shence seemed to read his mind and smiled indifferently:

"I can't just eat your sweet potatoes without giving something in return. Lihua Hall is also under the imperial guard's jurisdiction, and hence under my command. It's reasonable for a general to extract his soldiers, isn't it?"

Offering a peach in return for a plum?

Or is he seizing the opportunity to confront Prince Heng, to demonstrate his allegiance to the Empress, mending trust fractured by a spy inside the Privy Council?

Zhao Douan's mind was in turmoil, unsure of Xue Shence's intentions.

But no matter how he thought about it, it seemed beneficial. If Xue Shence was coming along, a whole group of military generals would inevitably follow.

Having the entire military faction as support, and to overpower a Princely Heir who had yet to inherit his title, seemed like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut... Zhao Douan smiled, did not refuse, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"Since you're willing, I shall not decline. However, it is ultimately a personal matter; allow me to meet Xu Zudi first, and you can cover from behind, how about that?"

Xue Shence nodded with a smile.

Zhao Douan immediately spurred his horse, accompanied by Hou Renmeng, and galloped towards the distant city gate.

Xue Shence followed behind, waited a bit, then a whole crowd of military generals gathered behind him.

Shi Meng curiously asked, "Lord Privy Council, what is this about with Master Zhao?"

Xue Shence glanced over the generals and said indifferently:

"No need to ask more, just follow me. Let's join the fun."

…

…

Ahead.

Once they had covered some distance, Zhao Douan slowed down his horse, his expression grave as he looked at Hou Renmeng and asked: "What exactly happened?"

From observing his expressions and words, he had already sensed that Hou was holding back something when he spoke earlier.

Hou Renmeng also tugged the reins to draw nearer and replied:

"The messenger who came mentioned the reason they detained the men."

Following that, he described the situation:

Those detained were three ordinary Jinyi Captains from the Lihua Hall, the kind whose names Zhao Douan could not remember.

According to the other party, last night after their shifts, these three had gone to the Rouge Alley to drink, and during the session, they took a fancy to a beautiful courtesan at the next table, asking her to join them. The patrons at the next table naturally refused, and a verbal argument ensued.

Later, taking advantage of their drunken state, the three Jinyi Captains rushed over and beat him up severely; the other party was injured and escaped.

As for the three captains, they did not pay much heed and continued drinking, unaware that the other party had called for back-up, and they were ambushed and kidnapped all at once.

"The opposing side claimed that the assaulted guest was a relative of Consort Li Shuping. After he was beaten, he went to the Consort's Mansion, and Prince Heng's heir, who was there, learned of it and sent his followers to arrest them," Hou Renmeng explained.

Zhao Douan listened with a poker face, rubbed his brow, and calmly asked:

"Do you think this was a deliberate setup or a coincidence?"

Hou Renmeng thought for a moment and honestly said:

"It's hard to say, it indeed feels a bit coincidental. But such trivial matters are exactly what those three guys are capable of causing."

The implication was:

Given the general behavior of the Jinyi Captains, it was not surprising that they would exploit their power to cause trouble...

He paused, then added:

"That is, assuming the other party's story is true and not made up."

Zhao Douan remained silent.

In fact, whether the incident was real or not didn't matter; the important thing was that the other side had seized this excuse, and the goal was still targeted at him.

After all, those from the Imperial Court Jinyi were not exactly saints—finding faults with them was easy.

"Forget it, we'll discuss this later. Let's first meet this Princely Heir."

Zhao Douan sneered, "Just the two of us are enough; let's not amuse the other factions."

"Yes."

Hou Renmeng felt a bit ashamed for not admitting that the three captured men were his subordinates.

...

The location on the envelope was a large mansion with white walls and black tiles in the center of the Capital.

It was also where Xu Zudi and his entourage stayed upon entering the city.

When Zhao Douan arrived at the entrance of the mansion, he found two soldiers in soft armor guarding the door.

According to the laws of Great Yu, each prince was allowed to keep a certain number of private soldiers, and Xu Zudi brought some people with him as he entered the Capital.

"Halt!"

Two soldiers from Qingzhou, resting their hands on the hilts of their swords, stepped forward to intercept.

Zhao Douan dismounted and said indifferently,

"Lihua Hall Master Zhao Douan, requesting an audience with the Princely Heir."

One soldier scrutinized him with a strange expression, partly surprised by the visitor's youthful appearance.

On the other hand, Zhao Douan had hurried over, still dressed in the lightweight armor of a military officer, and his delicate looks made him seem like a gilded young general, hardly fitting the image of a leader from the Imperial Court.

"Show your waist card and verify your identity," the soldier said icily.

Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned and frowned.

Was this deliberate? An embarrassment tactic? Or merely an outsider who truly didn't recognize him?

"You bastard, how dare you yell at my master like that? Verify identity? What makes you think you're qualified?"

Hou Renmeng was furious, already holding back his anger, now ready to erupt.

"Old Hou!" Zhao Douan raised his hand to stop his subordinate, his demeanor still calm, even wearing a warm smile as he addressed the increasingly cold-faced guards,

"I came in haste and did not bring the arrest warrant. Please announce my arrival; your Princely Heir should be aware."

The two soldiers, however, already looked angry, probably used to throwing their weight around in Qingzhou and relying on the support of the Imperial Family's Heir, coldly sneered:

"Without a waist card, you are just some outsiders. Do you really think the Princely Heir has spare time to entertain just anyone who visits? Want to enter? Go back and bring your waist card."

Their commanding tone left Zhao Douan somewhat dazed.

How long had it been since anyone dared to speak to him with such a tone in the Capital?

Right, this was the treatment a transmigrator deserved, to be faced with scorn and ridicule wherever he went.

It tasted just right.

With a flicker of thought, Zhao Douan earnestly said:

"Just now, my subordinate spoke rashly and was disrespectful. How about I apologize on his behalf? Otherwise, please announce my arrival to avoid delaying important matters."

The two soldiers stood like door Gods, ignoring him entirely.

Zhao Douan's polite smile finally slowly faded.

He had followed all the proper etiquette; this surely was not his fault.

He calmly glanced at Hou Renmeng beside him and said:

"What are you still standing there for? Do you need me to show you how to open the door?"

Hou Renmeng hesitated for a moment, then a fierce grin spread across his face. With a swoosh, he drew his long sword, its formidable aura enveloping the blade as he struck down at the two dumbfounded private soldiers who never expected anyone to actually attack!

"If you don't want to die, get lost!"

The closed courtyard door was blown open by the sword energy, and the two armored soldiers screamed as they were flung inside, bloodstained.

Unable to believe what had just happened.

Zhao Douan stepped over the threshold without a glance at them, proceeding straight past the screen wall into the depths of the courtyard.

Entering the central courtyard, he faintly heard the sound of silk and bamboo music ahead, with many attendants walking out from the mansion.

Among them were several private soldiers, looking uncertainly at Zhao Douan, who walked with leisurely grace, hands folded behind his back.

Their eyes caught sight of the blood-stained sword Hou Renmeng carried behind him and quickly averted their gaze.

"Zhao Douan seeks an audience; where is Heir Xu?!"

Zhao Douan announced himself loudly; the Royal Mansion's guards hesitated in their movements.

The music from inside the mansion stopped abruptly.

Without waiting for an answer, Zhao Douan led Hou Renmeng through the surrounded crowd and walked directly into the back hall.

The door was open, the corridor decorated with bright golden chrysanthemums.

Zhao Douan lifted a hanging curtain, clearly seeing the inside of the room.

In the spacious room, the floor was so polished it could be used as a mirror, with a dancing girl in the middle, and musicians in each corner.

At the master's place at the head of the room, a table was set.

A man in his thirties with rosy lips and white teeth was resting his head on the lap of a plump concubine with fair legs, who was gently massaging his temples.

Unsurprisingly, it was Prince Heng's Heir, Xu Zudi.

Beside Xu Zudi, another long table held a Chinese zither played by a woman in her thirties, her demeanor markedly different from the musicians and dancers.

Her hair was jet black, adorned with white jade pearls, bearing a face of national peace; her dark flowered satin dress spread on the floor.

In a corner of the room stood silently an old man whose presence could easily be overlooked, his hands past his knees.

The moment Zhao Douan stepped into the room, the old man subtly fixed his gaze on him.

Beyond that, behind another low table, holding a cup of wine, was another noble young man watching intently with a dark gaze, his expression slightly twisted with excitement:

"Zhao Douan! You really showed up!"

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Zhao Douan glanced at this guy he had almost forgotten and raised his eyebrows:

"Li Lang? Your leg healed and you didn't stay at home. What are you doing running around causing trouble for your mother again?"