The Empress's No.1 Lackey

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At this moment, the sunset gradually sank, reflecting the man's face with a rosy hue, like an old general on stage.

"Hey, that's right," another member of the Red Flower Society smirked.

"No wonder she's the 'young lady' from an official's family. She must eat well, have energy, and looks pretty, with delicate skin."

The others also gave knowing smiles.

The man leading the group raised his wine bowl, glanced at his followers, and warned:

"Keep your hands clean; without orders from above, no one can touch her. God knows what trouble it might bring."

The group reluctantly replied:

"Understood. But what are we doing capturing an official's maiden? Besides, she's seen our faces. If we let her go..."

"Stop overthinking. Just follow Lord Meng's orders."

The "Lord Meng" they mentioned was the sect leader of the largest gang in the Capital.

Among the commoners, he had the nickname "Prince of the Night."

Some believed that during the day, the Capital belonged to the Empress, and at night, it belonged to Lord Meng. In the depths of the night, Lord Meng was the biggest figure they would ever see.

As they ate meat and drank wine,

suddenly, they faintly heard the sound of chaotic footsteps approaching outside.

"Someone's—"

The man in charge became alert, put a finger to his lips to signal silence.

He grabbed a nearby iron rod with one hand.

"Bang bang bang!" Someone forcefully knocked on the door: "Open up."

No one responded; the gang members cautiously approached the courtyard gate with weapons drawn.

But the next second, they heard a "bang" as the wooden gate was kicked open by several feet!

As the gate collapsed, a group of government officers from the Imperial Court stormed in!

In almost an instant, the gang members were all knocked out, overwhelmed in combat.

"Ah, spare us, officers..."

It was a detective from the Peony Hall who kicked the door, launching a flying kick straight into the chest of the man holding the rod, a cold blade pressed against his neck:

"Where did you tie up the person? Where is she?"

The man stammered without speaking.

One officer who had gone to search stood outside the woodshed, glanced inside, and shouted:

"Chief, there's a woman inside matching the description."

The detective from the Peony Hall's eyes lit up, and he said:

"Don't move rashly, launch the fireworks."

A subordinate took a bamboo tube from his waist, pointed it to the sky, and yanked the pull cord hard.

"Whoo—"

A sharp whistle sounded as a crimson firework shot up and exploded in the sky, accompanied by a noticeable trail of smoke.

Moments later,

the thunderous sound of hooves approached outside the courtyard, with Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou arriving simultaneously after also searching in the East City.

"The person's in the woodshed, identity not yet verified," a colleague from the Peony Hall reported, clasping their hands.

The two exchanged a pleased look, and Qian Kerou stepped forward, drew a sword, and cut through the chains.

Once inside, they saw a beautiful girl in a dress tied up and squirming in the dim woodshed.

"Don't be afraid; we're here to rescue you."

Qian Kerou crouched down, pulled the cloth from the girl's mouth, and compared her with the picture in hand before asking:

"What's your name?"

The girl was terrified and timidly said:

"Feng... Lianlian..."

Her youthful face streaked with tears, she was still clueless about what had happened.

They had found her... Qian Kerou exhaled silently, smiled as she cut the ropes, and said:

"We are from the Imperial Office Pear Blossom Hall, under Master Zhao's command, here to rescue you. Come with us."

Master Zhao... the one her father mentioned, that gigolo of the Empress… White Horse Lord Zhao?

Feng Lianlian was dumbfounded.

Suddenly thinking of the rumors about Zhao Douan's vile reputation, she became even more frightened and shrank back.

Qian Kerou: "..."

At this moment, footsteps were heard again outside the courtyard.

At the end of the alley, a sea of gang enforcers wearing identical outfits with red flowers embroidered on their lapels surged forward.

But seeing the government troops of the Imperial Court, their momentum slightly diminished.

In their midst, a silver-haired elder around fifty, wearing a Tang-style jacket and cloth shoes, strode forward.

He was handling a pair of oily, smooth walnuts.

Beside him was a young man with sharp eyes, steady steps, apparently also a cultivation martial artist.

He was the youngest "red baton" enforcer in the Red Flower Society.

"Haha, may I know which esteemed gentlemen we have the honor of hosting?" the silver-haired elder asked with a smile.

The eyes of the few gang members who had been tied up and thrown into the courtyard lit up:

"Lord Meng—"

Rugged and audacious, Hou Renmeng rubbed the hilt of his sword, squinted an eye, and stepped forward:

"Are you the boss of the Red Flower Society?"

Lord Meng lived in luxury for long, yet possessing the aura of someone in high places, nodded with a smile.

Despite this outward composure, his heart wasn't as calm.

He wasn't clear on whom Marquis Xiajiang targeted, only followed orders to have Feng Ju's daughter captured.

To someone like Lord Meng, who ruled the Capital's underworld, a sixth-rank Ministry of Personnel official was hardly someone he either preferred or feared to offend.

Moreover, he'd done similar dirty work for Marquis Xiajiang more than once, so he was familiar with it.

But what he hadn't anticipated was that:

barely half a day after the kidnapping, news broke that the officers of the Imperial Court were launching a full-scale operation.

They raided every single hall like mad dogs.

Utterly shocked, Lord Meng had rushed over with no choice but to come sooner, yet he was still a step too late.

"Well, it's good to see you here; saves me the trouble of finding you."

Hou Renmeng grinned menacingly, showing off his sharp teeth, and barked:

"Seize him for me!"

Lord Meng's face changed, thinking to himself where did these unruly officers come from?

Shouldn't they negotiate first?

How could they be so reckless?

The red baton beside him immediately drew his iron stick, stepped forward, and exuded a martial artist's aura.

"What audacity! Dare to resist arrest and defy the court!"

Instead of being angered, Hou Renmeng laughed, slashing out with his sword.

Lord Meng's face drastically changed in color; he hurriedly shouted, "No fighting back!"

Even the biggest gang was still black, how could they brazenly confront the government?

Hou Renmeng, taking advantage, relentlessly struck each blow against the defensive red baton until he was forced to his knees, spitting blood, then arrogantly spat and sneered:

"Just in time, huh? Do mice like you even deserve to ask my lord's name?"

Then he skillfully knocked the elder's two oily walnuts from his hand, stomping them into shards—

Hou Renmeng hated people who pretended too much; well, except for his own lord.

In the courtyard,

Qian Kerou helped the weak-legged girl outside, looking coldly at the crowd before noticing many distant onlookers gathering. She shouted loudly:

"Lihua Hall is handling the case, outsiders keep away."

Lihua Hall…so they were Zhao Douan's people…

Master Meng's face turned suddenly pale; the so-called "Prince of the Night" felt a shiver down his spine, his legs trembling.

He wondered how he managed to provoke this young demon king.

His heart suddenly sank in worry.

All that he could hope for was Marquis Xiajiang's quick intervention—he had already sent word before leaving.

...

...

The setting sun looked like blood.

Zhao Douan sat alone in the main seat of the Lihua Hall, holding a white cloth, wiping his sword.

The hall was empty except for a few scribes; the rest had been sent out.

Within two hours, they managed to locate the person in this vast Capital.

Even with nine halls out and clues, it wasn't easy.

Suddenly, there was a clamor outside the hall.

Naturally with a round face, fittingly with extraordinarily clear, foolish eyes, a female Jinyi returned with swift competence.

Bowing with clasped hands:

"Sir, Feng Lianlian has been rescued, safe and sound. The perpetrators, including the head of Red Flower Society 'Lord Meng,' have all been apprehended."

Zhao Douan didn't look at her, still slowly, purposefully drew the white cloth from the handle of his sword to the tip.

His tone remained calm: "Bring Feng Lianlian here, let me have a look."

"Yes!"

Shortly, Feng Lianlian was brought in.

She had the typical temperament of a lady from a scholarly family, her skirt dirty, shrinking quietly with tension, her lovely face a mixture of fear and curiosity.

When she saw Zhao Douan's appearance, she suddenly froze.

Her heart pounded like a flustered deer, her fear suddenly gone.

"It is Lianlian, right," Zhao Douan got up, revealing a warm smile.

"You've suffered; did my men frighten you?"

Feng Lianlian blushed, looked down and twisted her fingers, timidly saying:

"No... not at all, Sister Ke Rou treated me kindly."

Zhao Douan laughed heartily, said:

"That's good. Your father and I are friends. When he learned you were missing, he came to me. Luckily, we found you. Ke Rou, personally escort her home and inform Old Feng, so he'll be at ease."

Ah, father's friend?

Feng Lianlian was confused, subconsciously gave a salute:

"Thank you...uncle."

...What are you talking about, I'm clearly more like a brother...alright, since I said I'm Feng Ju's friend, the seniority got mixed up...Zhao Douan gave a longing look.

He then summoned Hou Renmeng and, after a brief inquiry, ordered him to imprison "Lord Meng" in the Imperial Court:

"Personally keep an eye on him; ensure this old local serpent won't be connected even in the Imperial Prison, and force him to confess Marquis Xiajiang."

Hou Renmeng asked: "What if he bites his tongue and says nothing?"

Zhao Douan gave him a glance: "Do I have to instruct that?"

Hou Renmeng grinned and turned away—

A gang leader like Lord Meng, there wasn't anything clean about him; even without interrogation, executing him a hundred times wouldn't be unjust.

Inflicting torment on him felt no burden at all.

Zhao Douan then summoned Shen Juan and Zheng Laojiu, instructing:

"Brothers in other halls have worked hard, Old Zheng, take some money from the account and treat them to drinks. Give Peony Hall a bit more, including money for Zhang Han to fix the door..."

Speaking of fixing the door, he felt slightly speechless.

Zhang Han was a respectable figure with a decent salary; how could he think about compensating for a broken door?

He shook his head and said:

"Shen Juan, tell our hall's people to wait and not to go off duty yet, as we might head out again tonight."

Shen Juan paused. "Sir, do you mean..."

Zhao Douan smiled but did not explain.

He looked up, glancing at the sky where the sunset seemed like blood, the pears in the yard all outlined with a golden edge.

With the witnesses caught, next it was time to strike while the iron was hot.

...

...

Governor Hall.

When Zhao Douan arrived, he saw that Ma Yan had been waiting for a while in the spacious, majestic room.

With a long, thin face, unruly eyebrows, and a sullen, cold demeanor, the Grand Eunuch said blandly:

"You're here? Explain yourself."

As the Lord, he was one to know as soon as the nine halls simultaneously set out.

But he had not intervened to stop it, nor inquired about it, only awaited Zhao Douan's explanation.

"Senior Brother, you truly are composed."

Zhao Douan smiled, offering a flattering remark without hesitation.

Flattery was something he enjoyed the most.

It cost nothing, required only a slight effort of the lips, and had a chance of yielding gold coins. Was there anything more profitable than this?

Ma Yan sighed helplessly:

"Get to the point. What have you stirred up again this time?"

Zhao Douan replied seriously:

"I have come before the Lord to report and request for a 'warrant.'"

Ma Yan frowned. "Who are you after this time?"

That "again" was well-placed... Zhao Douan exhaled deeply, his words clear and resonant:

"Marquis Xiajiang of Great Yu's hereditary nobility!"

...

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