The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"Sir? Sir?"

In the courtyard of the Tie family, seeing Zhao Douan staring at the note, lost in thought for a long time, two Masters softly called out to him.

Zhao Douan then snapped back to reality.

Zheng Laojiu, with his keen mind, said,

"Sir, did you recall something? If this note is genuine, I'm afraid your movements have already been monitored by the rebels."

Zhao Douan fell silent for a moment, clutched the note in his palm, and said,

"You stay here to 'preserve the scene', I need to verify some things."

After speaking, he stepped out of the courtyard, mounted his horse, and galloped toward White Horse Hall.

The wind blew his disheveled hair, and Zhao Douan pursed his lips. Is it you?

...

There are many roads leading out of White Horse Hall.

One of them is to exit through the side gate and head to the nearest riverbank.

One can take a boat across the river, following a narrow, bustling area full of buildings on both sides of the river, taking a turn to enter Hun River toward the ferry crossing.

Zhu Kui hurriedly arrived at the riverbank, where a boatman, waiting for passengers, immediately lowered his hat brim, pretending not to see—ordinary citizens especially avoided doing business with government officers, often not getting paid.

"That boatman there!"

Zhu Kui strode forward, picked up his sheathed sword, and without drawing it, slapped it on the man's back, and said sharply,

"This is government business. I need to borrow your boat for a bit. You don't need to steer; just wait on the shore, and there'll be a reward for you when I return!"

The boatman made a face as if to refuse.

But Zhu Kui, with his tiger-skin cloak and a face full of brutal features, who would dare to say no?

Meekly, the boatman handed over his small, dilapidated boat that could only hold three or five people.

Zhu Kui leaped onto the deck, skillfully grabbed the oar.

The slender stick struck the river bottom and the shore, and the small boat, like an arrow off its string, cleverly left the bank.

After traveling a distance, he shook off the bundle he was holding, draped on his own clothes to cover up his official identity, and stuffed the sword back into the bundle.

Then he took the conical hat from the boatman's head and put it on, thoroughly assuming the guise of a sturdy boatman.

"Splash...splash..."

The boat cut through the water and quickly entered the bustling, lively section of the river.

Periodically, stone bridges spanned the river; shops lined both banks, and pedestrians swarmed like ants.

Zhu Kui cautiously piloted the boat, maintaining a slightly faster-than-normal speed.

The cries of street vendors, the clapper in the teahouse storyteller's hands, and the cheers for acrobats on the bridge above...

Zhu Kui silently rowed, passing through the busiest segment of the river safely and was just feeling relieved when he suddenly saw a government officer from the government office rushing on one bank.

Zhu Kui immediately turned sideways, fearing being recognized by his former colleagues, and the boat slowed down.

Finally, when those officers had gone far, Zhu Kui released a sigh of relief and was about to speed up but suddenly felt the stern of the boat sink heavily.

Then, a familiar and indifferent voice delivered over,

"Zhu, where are you heading?"

Zhu Kui's body stiffened abruptly, his hand gripping the oar trembled fiercely, and he forgot to row, simply letting the boat drift downstream.

He slowly turned his neck, and at the stern, Zhao Douan stood with his hands behind his back, calmly scrutinizing him, his gaze difficult to read.

"Si... Sir..."

Zhu Kui's voice shifted in tone, stunned for a few breaths before he belatedly realized and forced a flattering smile,

"How did you..."

"Finished my work, was heading back to the government office for a rest, just happened to glance from the shore and saw a familiar figure. I never expected it to be you. Eh, at this hour, what boatman ferries an empty boat?" Zhao Douan said lightly.

Indeed, what boatman ferries an empty boat?

Zhu Kui forced a bitter smile and said,

"I saw it was almost noon, so I thought of heading home."

Zhao Douan said,

"That's not the way to your home. It looks more like you're leaving the city, going back to your hometown."

Zhu Kui remained silent.

Zhao Douan, overlooking the boatman attire, the shrewd and competent old clerk, said,

"Iron Ruler Pass was arrested this morning for being part of the rebels, and from his desk at Lihua Hall, they found a piece of intelligence written last night.

It's about me. I thought about it and realized very few people know this, and you happen to be the most suspicious."

Zhu Kui stayed silent.

The boat drifted downstream, and the scenery on both banks became even more delightful, with weeping willows reflected in the water, the river surface green as emerald soup.

Zhao Douan sighed,

"I should have realized it sooner. Among so many messengers at White Horse Hall, why did a 'straw bag' like me manage to recruit someone as shrewd and capable as you?

Why, when I suddenly went to capture Zhuang Xiaocheng, nobody from the Imperial Court reacted in time, but Zhuang Xiaocheng still managed to flee early?"

"It used to be, I thought it was because the opposition was well-prepared, alert enough. But there's another possibility, that there are also eyes from Kuangfu Society around me."

"This could also explain how Zhuang Xiaocheng and Yun Xi, one old, one young, managed to escape safely to the Southern Suburb Bamboo Forest, Earth God Temple, under a whole squad of imperial guards' pursuit because at that time, you were leading the chase."

Zhu Kui still remained silent.

Zhao Douan said self-mockingly,

"Ridiculous. I thought at the time that you were sensible, knew not to overreach, that's why you surrounded but didn't capture.

But later, when the Magician knocked me out and I almost lost my life, the concern you showed must not have been entirely fake, as if I had died, you wouldn't be able to escape blame either.

You, like Yun Xi, are just disposable pawns for Zhuang Xiaocheng, without a shred of concern, not considering your lives at all."

He suddenly felt a frustration akin to being let down,

"But Yun Xi is young, naive, duped into thinking she's on a just path by Zhuang Xiaocheng. It's foolish but understandable. But not you Zhu, with your experience. You should understand all this, so why still sell your life for them?"

Zhu Kui kept silent still!