The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Returning from the Imperial Court to White Horse Hall, the distance was not long.

His colleagues within the Hall had grown accustomed to his frequent back-and-forth travels, straddling two positions, and the greetings that came his way had notably decreased.

The looks directed toward Zhao Douan now carried a shade of awe.

Zhao Douan himself hadn't noticed that, having become the Master, commanding a hall and dozens of subordinates, his demeanor had undergone some subtle changes within a few days.

An unintentional glance could even carry a tinge of authority.

Commonly called: the aura of an official.

"Environment changes a person. Isn't it said that classmates from the past life, who were all laughter and jokes at school, turned into completely different people once they donned the police uniform after graduation..."

"Yes, and later, when they put on prison clothes after stepping off their horses, they changed into yet another person..."

Zhao Douan felt a profound sense of reflection and silently introspected:

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

Upon returning to the hall, he immediately picked up his brush and drafted an "application letter".

To be cautious, he did not fully trust anyone from the Imperial Court.

Thus, after he had tricked Ma Yan into becoming the overt "ghost-slaying blade," he also needed to find another blade hidden in the shadows to keep Ma Yan in check.

Those who were capable of offering help and worthy of trust were few.

The Old Director was one.

As his brush danced like a dragon or snake, Zhao Douan lifted his wrist to finish writing, picked up the paper to blow on it, folded it, and walked out.

Outside the office, Zhu Kui happened to come over and, seeing this, expressed his surprise:

"Sir, are you sending a letter? Leave it to me; there's no need for you to lower yourself."

As he reached to take it, Zhao Douan stepped aside and gestured with his hand:

"No need, you attend to your matters."

Having said this, he went straight towards the back of the government office.

Leaving Zhu, who piled up a sycophantic smile, stunned in place, his hands paused in mid-air, silent for a long time.

...

"Do you need a bodyguard again?"

In the back office, the old eunuch, with white temples and wearing a loose official robe, shifted his gaze from the "application letter."

He frowned and said impatiently:

"What are you up to again, lad? You've been to the Imperial Court for just a few days? You've stirred up enough trouble to involve the entire court, civil and military. Give His Majesty some peace of mind."

Old Sun expressed his tiredness.

He even had some regrets about why he had encouraged this youngster, who had gone from one extreme of idleness to another of constant trouble-making...

However, Zhao Douan was not all smiles and jokes, but spoke seriously:

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

Seeing his solemn tone, the Old Director also sat up slightly:

"How skilled of a master do you need?"

Zhao Douan replied without hesitation:

"At least someone who can subdue Lord Ma."

The Old Director's wrinkled old face twitched, and he said gravely:

"Do you need to suppress a 'worldly' martial artist, or suppress Ma Yan?"

This question might sound strange, but Zhao Douan understood it, slightly surprised:

"Is Lord Ma a Worldly Realm martial artist?"

Mortal, Divine Chapter, Worldly, World, Human Immortal... the five realms of martial arts. The wild Magician who had once saved Zhuang Xiaocheng from thousands of miles away belonged to the "Worldly" realm.

Seeing the Old Director reluctant to answer, Zhao Douan said:

"I need someone who can overpower Ma Yan."

Silence!

The Old Director was slightly moved and deciphered a dense amount of information from this reply:

"You..."

Zhao Douan explained with a smile:

"Sir, there's no need to think too much, it's just being precautious, in case of the one in a million chance."

The Old Director then somewhat relaxed and said:

"When will you need it?"

"Tomorrow. Uh... if possible, it would be best if they could arrive at my residence before dawn, hide in the shadows without showing themselves, and just follow me... They need to be skilled in concealing their presence and not being detected."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered Priest Jin Jian, who liked to use invisibility to peek at people bathing, and said:

"Priest Jin Jian..."

The Old Director shook his head:

"Not reliable enough. You go on, I will make the arrangements for you properly."

He paused, then added another sentence: "And the information won't leak."

That casually spoken tone, as if summoning a Worldly Realm powerhouse was as simple as calling them forth.

...

That day, two things happened in the Imperial Court.

Firstly, Lord issued an inexplicable order that the next day, the Eight Halls were to be confined; the leading officers and Masters must stay at home and were forbidden from stepping outside without permission.

Secondly, rumors stated that all members of Lihua Hall were on alert, sharpening their knives vigorously, as if they had a task to go out on the next day, possibly related to rebels.

Combining both pieces of news led to wild speculation.

However, Zhao Douan, the person at the center of the vortex, had disappeared again.

At night.

Inside the dining hall of Zhao's residence.

The family of three quietly had dinner, You Jinhua sipping her chopsticks lightly, occasionally glancing towards her stepson.

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

Zhao Douan pinched his spoon, scooping up a piece of tofu brimming with broth.

Tonight's main dish on the table was "Carp Stewed with Tofu," a specialty of You Jinhua, who had personally cooked it.

Since a few days ago, You Jinhua had been talking too much during meals, which annoyed him. So for the past couple of days, his stepmother had been much quieter during meals.

As if granted a reprieve, You Jinhua could not help saying:

"Auntie just wanted to ask whether Grandson has been doing well in the new government office recently... At home, Auntie also heard some gossip. They said that Grandson has arrested quite a few officials and even committed offenses against Princess Yunyang."

You Jinhua was a timid and frail character, her heart only concerned with her family's peace.

"No worries, it's all minor issues."

Zhao Douan tasted the tofu cooked by his stepmother, soft, tender, and fully soaked in juice.

"Mother, I told you, there's no need to worry about him," Zhao Pan said with a knowing look and a stern face:

"It's already good enough if he doesn't provoke others."

"Ha-ha, right, my sister knows me best." Zhao Douan stood up, put down his chopsticks, and tossed the remaining half bowl of fish soup rice to her:

"This is for you."

After speaking, he yawned, turned around, and left, seeking to conserve his energy.

Only leave Zhao Pan's palm-sized melon-seed face flushed with anger, her hand clutching the chopsticks, knuckles turning white.

This guy, he really thinks of himself as someone who lives on leftovers!

...

A night without words.

In the early morning, the air was slightly cold, Zhao Douan walked out of his house, scanning around with the perception of a martial artist.

He did not notice the presence of the "bodyguard." After calling out twice, there was still no response.

"Has Old Sun's arranged man arrived yet... Do all experts love to act profound?"

Zhao Douan reluctantly decided to trust him once.

Alone, he walked toward the Jinjiang Embankment.

Today was cloudy, the sky mournful and dismal, Jinjiang Embankment was without Pei Kaizhi.

Fishermen from the Capital arrived in groups, only to be shocked to discover, among the willows lining the embankment, stood numerous fully armed government officers in Jinyi, exuding a murderous aura.

"Sir!"

When Zhao Douan arrived, the four subordinates who had been waiting a long time greeted him with a salute.

Today, the four were all in soft armor, carrying powerful crossbows and wearing Heart Protecting Mirrors, strapped with long knives, daunting to behold.

"Hehe, no need to be tense, we may not need you today, but the act must be played out fully," Zhao Douan said with a smile, easing his subordinates' tense mood.

Then he asked, "Where is Lord Ma?"

Qian Kerou pointed at the carriage prepared in the distance.

Zhao Douan gladly headed there, lifted the carriage curtain, and indeed saw the thin, stern-faced, and unsmiling eunuch sitting with his eyes closed.

"You're here," Ma Yan opened his eyes and said calmly.

"I am here," Zhao Douan replied deeply, as though the two of them were long-standing rivals from the Jianghu, meeting by the river after decades.

"What's there to talk about then, where are we going to make arrests? Get in the carriage," Ma Yan said displeased.

There goes the good atmosphere, how disappointing... Zhao Douan silently criticized, stepped into the carriage, and relaxed the curtain.

The carriage immediately drove towards the distance, surrounded on all sides by the Jinyi from Lihua Hall.

Inside the carriage.

Ma Yan frowned, suspiciously asking, "What exactly are you up to?"

He had sensed something was off; usually, an arrest would proceed rapidly, ideally facilitated by fast horses.

Zhao Douan smiled, and from a hidden compartment within the carriage, he pulled out a small bamboo table and a plate of fresh fruit:

"Brother, don't be impatient, have some fruit to cool off."

Ma Yan stared at him expressionlessly.

Zhao Douan sighed helplessly and then said:

"The situation has yet to be settled, and some things are not easy to disclose. If you trust me, brother, then just sit tight in the carriage. Whatever you hear or see later, do not be alarmed or make any noise. Just remember one thing: only come out when you hear me calling for you."

Ma Yan remained silent, closed his eyes, and that was his tacit agreement.

...

...

Zhang Han woke up early today.

It wasn't unusual; as a martial artist skilled in Sword Dao from the Divine Chapter Realm, he had a routine of practicing sword every morning.

The cultivation of martial artists was much harder than that of Magicians, emphasizing diligence without laxity; a day of slackness required three days to recover.

As the Peony Hall Arresting Officer, well-known "Scroll King" in the Imperial Court, and second only to Lord Ma,

he followed a strict schedule, and regardless of how late he slept, he would wake at dawn, cultivate his breath, and practice sword in the courtyard.

After the first light of dawn, he would bathe, eat, and then arrive at the government office to mark attendance.

Rain or shine.

But today, after his meal, Zhang Han sat in the hall, beginning to drift in his thoughts.

The confinement order issued by Lord Ma yesterday had caused a great stir among the eight arresting officers and, coupled with the unusual activity at Lihua Hall, Zhang Han had already made some guesses.

He had an inkling that something significant would occur today.

"Master, Master!" Suddenly, the doorkeeper of the Zhang family rushed in, exclaiming:

"There's a group of Imperial Court officers outside."

Sitting in the hall, meditating with his eyes closed, Zhang Han abruptly opened his eyes.

His ears twitched slightly, clearly identifying the number of people from the sound of horse hooves outside,

even envisioning in his mind how the group of officers was divided into teams, each encircling and blocking the paths to his family residence.

"Master, there are also soldiers at the back door, looking fierce and menacing!" The cook also ran in, panicked.

These servants could not distinguish which hall the officers belonged to.

But, as humans, they could easily tell that the visitors bore ill intentions.

Beside Zhang Han, a heavy "seven-foot sword" placed on a rosewood desk suddenly drew itself from its sheath!

Following the pull of his qi, the sword handle was delivered into its master's hand.

Around forty years old, majestic, with pale skin and a somewhat expressionless face, the Peony Hall Master stood up and walked out of the hall step by step.

He clearly saw, around the courtyard walls, crossbowmen leaping up, aiming their gleaming cold arrows at his body.

"Bang!"

The door was split open, and the King Yan's men from Lihua Hall filed in, led by Hou Renmeng, whom he once commanded.

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

Hou Renmeng grinned, his muscles tense and highly alert, knowing full well the gap between himself and his former superior.

Zhang Han gave him a glance, then his gaze moved past him to focus on the crowd parting beyond, spotting a figure in a dark arresting officer's robe.

Zhao Douan casually walked over, stopped several meters away, and smiled:

"Mr. Zhang, here we meet again."