The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Arresting Marquis Xiajiang... Ma Yan's cluttered eyebrows suddenly twitched, he asked:

"I need a reason."

Zhao Douan didn't hesitate, he began from his encounter that morning where he was intercepted by the other party on his way out, all the way to Feng Ju's plea for help.

The reason why he said these things was because he understood that Lord Ma couldn't tolerate any dishonesty in his sight.

It can't be hidden anyway, and there is no need to, might as well be honest.

"So, Marquis Xiajiang is taking up the cause for Princess Yunyang, intending to use Feng Ju as a breakthrough point against you."

Ma Yan's expression remained calm:

"So you're borrowing Nine Halls manpower just to rescue that kidnapped girl?"

"Yes," Zhao Douan admitted frankly.

"You could have just reported to His Majesty, there was no need for such a grand gesture," Ma Yan said.

"But there's no time to wait," Zhao Douan asserted:

"Lord must know, those who can commit such taboo actions, won't care about a woman's chastity."

Ma Yan glanced at him and said:

"It's also because you want to seize the other party's weakness, not willing to let them off easily, right?"

"Master sees clearly!" Zhao Douan sighed:

"My little schemes indeed can't escape Your discerning eye."

"..." Ma Yan had no strength to parry his flattery, sighed, and said:

"So, do you now have concrete evidence in your hands? Although Marquis Xiajiang provides protection for the Red Flower Society from behind, it's not enough to prove that every action of the Red Flower Society is assigned by him."

Zhao Douan said:

"The head of the Red Flower Society has already been thrown into Imperial Prison, I believe the confession will be there shortly."

"So there's none yet." Ma Yan's iron-faced impartiality stared at him.

"...Not yet," Zhao Douan replied, his scalp tingling.

Silence fell in the room.

Just as he sighed inwardly, thinking his plan might go awry,

Lord Ma, seated behind the desk, suddenly raised his hand and pulled out an "arrest warrant" from a stack of documents next to him, and pushed it towards him.

On the white paper, sealed with the bright red official stamp of the Imperial Court.

In the name field of the properly formatted arrest warrant, "Marquis Xiajiang" was written in bold characters.

The arrest warrant was already prepared in advance!

Zhao Douan looked up in astonishment.

How did my dear senior brother know I was going to arrest Marquis Xiajiang?

True, as the one overseeing the Imperial Court, it's not surprising that he got some news before me...

He saw Ma Yan's stern face still lacking any expression:

"If that's the case, then go."

"But... Lord Meng hasn't spoken yet..." Zhao Douan opened his mouth hesitantly.

"He will speak," Ma Yan gave him a look, "won't he?"

Nicely done... I've always said no one can hold the position of Lord without being somewhat ruthless... Zhao Douan's face showed surprise.

He grasped the arrest warrant in his hand, then hesitated:

"But I've heard that Marquis Xiajiang's martial arts cultivation isn't weak, our Lihua Hall is already short on people, if the other party resists arrest..."

"That would be a good thing, wouldn't it?" Ma Yan stated.

Damn... you're quite ruthless, old Ma... Zhao Douan marveled with a click of his tongue.

If Marquis Xiajiang resisted arrest, even fought back, he would be delivering a ready-made charge.

However, Zhao Douan was still hesitant, fearing the what-ifs.

He still remembered Zhang Yan Yi's warning of a "calamity of bloodshed."

If it came true here, he'd be screwed... Who knows if the "Divine Talisman" in his chest would be reliable.

"Don't worry," Ma Yan seemed to see through his thoughts, casually said:

"He can't hurt you. Remember the arrangement when you took me to deceive Nine Halls several days ago?"

Zhao Douan was stunned.

...

...

Inside the teahouse private room.

As the last streak of twilight in the sky gradually faded,

The atmosphere inside the room, heavy and oppressive, reached its zenith.

"The tea's gone again, shall we get another pot?" the slightly chubby literati lifted the empty teapot, asking.

The man with the headscarf shook his head; this pot of tea, already refilled the whole afternoon, had lost all taste.

"It's nearly dark," Feng Ju, with a sullen face, sat despondently, his eyes full of blood vessels.

He tried to sleep, but couldn't.

"I can't wait any longer."

As he spoke and tried to get up, he was held back by his two friends:

"Where can you go at this time?"

"Going anywhere is better than sitting here doing nothing!" Feng Ju's face showed a hint of ferocity:

"If nothing else, I'll go to Marquis Mansion and ask, beat the drum, stir up trouble."

You're insane... The two exchanged glances, knowing that Feng Ju was somewhat losing his reason.

Right at this moment, someone knocked on the private room door.

The slightly chubby literati was startled, opened the door, only to see, standing outside, was none other than Feng Ju's coachman.

"Sir," the coachman panted, clenching an envelope in his hand:

"Lihua Hall has sent a reply."

Feng Ju suddenly stood up, strode forward to grab the envelope and tore it open, then froze.

Inside the envelope was clearly written "problem solved" in three characters.

"This..." The two friends also saw it, exchanging bewildered looks.

The slightly chubby literati muttered:

"What does this mean? How is it solved? Could it be that Marquis Xiajiang has agreed to release her? Or is Lianlian already rescued?"

The man with the headscarf shook his head:

"How long has it been? At most, not even two hours have passed. Could there be a trick? Or are they trying to placate us for now?"

It was too short a time.

They instinctively doubted it—of course, this was also due to their mistrust of Zhao Douan.

Feng Ju, anxious and uncertain of the specifics, thought for a moment, said:

"I'll go check at the Imperial Court."

"Not wise..."

While the three were discussing, suddenly, again, footsteps approached from the staircase, and it was one of the Feng family's house servants, panting:

"Master, master, the young lady is back."

What?!

Feng Ju's breathing became hurried, staring at him:

"What did you say?"

The house servant was startled, explained:

"Just now, a female Colonel from Lihua Hall who claimed to be a Master, escorted the young lady home.

She said by the order of Master Zhao, with a joint force of nine hall gates, they managed to rescue the young lady from the kidnappers in time, and she is unharmed, only confined in a firewood room for a few hours, and now the kidnappers are all in the prison..."