The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"Zhao Douan!"

Li Lang was taken aback, either stung by Mr. Zhao's mocking words or by the reminder of unpleasant memories evoked by the words "mother."

The Princess's son's face visibly reddened with anger as he snapped, "Say that again!"

His hatred for Zhao Douan ran deep, not only because he had been publicly humiliated by him at Lihua Hall.

But also because, after Princess Yunyang was put under house arrest, he, who was once adored, became the laughingstock of the entire Capital.

Over the past six months, he had heard people secretly discussing him countless times, and his entire mansion had been subdued.

Only with the arrival of Xu Zudi had Li Lang straightened his back once again.

He felt vindicated!

"Heh," Zhao Douan laughed, seeing the request to "say it again" as a sign of weakness.

"Cousin."

At this time, the Princely Heir seated in the main seat, his head resting on the lap of a beautiful servant, slowly sat up and gently chided Li Lang.

The latter glanced at his cousin and reluctantly closed his mouth.

Xu Zudi, looking down from his high seat, examined Zhao Douan and exclaimed, "I had heard of Lord Zhao's great reputation in the Capital while I was in Qingzhou, and today I see it's true; you indeed have a fine appearance, no wonder you caught the Imperial Sister's fancy."

After speaking, he looked at the doorway and saw a servant rushing over from the courtyard; he waved dismissively, "You didn't see we have guests? Why haven't you brought a chair for Lord Zhao? We wouldn't want to be accused of lacking hospitality."

As soon as the words were out, a servant brought over a redwood chair, and the Dancing Girl in the center of the hall, as well as several musicians, quietly withdrew from the room.

Zhao Douan graciously accepted, handed his sword at his waist to Hou Renmeng, and then sat down, saying, "I have long heard of the Princely Heir's refined taste in the Capital, and seeing it today, it truly is no exaggeration."

These words were mere flattery, but someone who spent the day indulging in music and dance at home was indeed a lover of pleasures.

Xu Zudi laughed heartily, his posture relaxed as he sat on the couch while the servant girl silently massaged his shoulders; squinting his eyes, he said, "There seems to be some commotion outside?"

Zhao Douan smiled and replied, "The guards under the Princely Heir refused entry without seeing my waist card. My subordinates, being hot-tempered, could not bear to see me humiliated and thus resorted to fisticuffs. It must be said, I owe the Princely Heir an apology."

Xu Zudi's smile faded, and he spoke indifferently, "Lord Zhao, you do seem as overbearing as the rumors suggest."

Zhao Douan shook his head and said, "The Princely Heir jests. I am but a small military officer, and I do not wield the authority that you do, Lord. In the Capital, catching government officers is done succinctly, and it still requires my intervention to redeem my men."

Xu Zudi's eyelids flicked up, clearly displeased, "Lord Zhao, be careful not to misplace blame. My men are only known to be rowdy drinkers in pleasure quarters, not wearing their official uniforms at that time, nor were they on duty.

Moreover, relying on brute force to abduct women and even beating my cousin's relatives, that, spoken on the floor of the Golden Throne Hall, surely won't hold water, right? Or is this how Lord Zhao instructs his subordinates? I have long heard the Imperial Court government officers are tyrannical, and today I see it for myself."

From the side, the agitated Li Lang sneered, "Cousin, being away from the Capital, you wouldn't know. This Zhao Douan has a nickname in the bureaucracy, 'Little King Yan;' as the saying goes, 'like master, like man.' His subordinates are arrogant and violate the law; what does it matter? It must be his connivance."

Hou Renmeng's face twitched, struggling to maintain composure, he angrily said, "Li Lang, don't falsely accuse others!"

Zhao Douan raised his hand, signaling not to argue, and spoke calmly, "Where are my men?"

Xu Zudi glanced at the open doorway and raised his voice slightly, "Bring them here."

"Yes."

A servant from the Royal Mansion responded and headed towards the shed.

In a moment, three government officers, bound with cowhide ropes and gagged with rags, their faces bruised, were brought forward and neatly knelt at the doorway.

Having not slept all night, they were already sober, and seeing Zhao Douan, their eyes brightened, and they struggled to speak.

Xu Zudi smilingly said, "Lord Zhao, you might want to ask them personally if what the Princely Heir said was true."

Zhao Douan turned his head, looking toward the three subordinates at the doorway, and calmly asked, "The Princely Heir mentioned that last night... did this happen?"

He repeated the other party's accusations.

The three subordinates knelt on the ground, silently hanging their heads, no longer struggling, which was as good as an admission.

Such matters were too easy to investigate, and they dared not lie before their Master.

Direct supervisor Hou Renmeng's face flushed red, and he cursed, "Useless fools, always causing trouble for your superior!"

The three subordinates shrank back, not daring to lift their heads.

Zhao Douan sighed and turned back to look at Xu Zudi, earnestly saying, "It seems I have been negligent in managing my subordinates, forcing the Princely Heir to discipline them on my behalf."

Xu Zudi smiled and graciously indicated he was very willing to help.

Zhao Douan changed tack and said, "But a country has its laws, and a hall has its rules; if my subordinates have done wrong, they brought the beating upon themselves, I won't say anything, but there's also no reason for others to shift blame."

Xu Zudi waited for him to continue, "So?"

After finishing, he furrowed his brow, chiding, "Too much strength."

The beautiful servant behind him shuddered, like a frightened little beast, repeatedly apologizing, her technique becoming much gentler.

Zhao Douan paused, then said, "I came here today, naturally, to take my men back. Once back at the government office, they will be strictly punished, no clemency will be shown.

"They caused injuries, and the losses incurred, including medical expenses, I will personally compensate them. As the head officer, I should also bear part of the blame and apologize on their behalf."

After speaking, Zhao Douan stood up again.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked to the long table filled with fine wines and food, picked up a jug, took a large wine jar, filled it to the brim, and upon placing down the silver jug, he said:

"As for disturbing the Princely Heir, I'll have a drink as a penalty, what do you think, Your Highness?"

A penalty drink!

Upon hearing this, Hou Renmeng and the three kneeling Colonels were stunned, then became frantic.

Normally, a penalty drink was trivial, a jest among close friends, nothing to fuss over, but depending on the context, the significance of many things could change.

In upper-class circles, face was far more important than money, and Zhao Douan's willingness to drink in penalty, bowing to the Princely Heir today...

There was no need for tomorrow; the entire government could spread word of this event, everyone would know that the Princely Heir of Qingzhou had overshadowed Zhao Douan.

This was a matter of face.

"Sir!" Hou Renmeng hurriedly stepped forward, intending to snatch the wine jar, "I am their direct superior, I should drink this wine!"

The three tied men below also widened their eyes in shame, their eyes reddening.

Xu Zudi remained silent, seemingly contemplating.

Li Lang was the first to jump up, pointing at Hou Renmeng and cursing:

"What are you? How dare you speak to my cousin?"

He then stared at Zhao Douan with a gloomy look, spitefully saying:

"Just a penalty drink? You wish. If you are sincere, why don't you kneel down and let me break one of your legs?!"

"Li Lang!" The Princely Heir of Qingzhou spoke sternly with displeasure, calling him by his name, glaring at his incompetent cousin.

A folding fan in his hand snapped shut, blocking Zhao Douan's hand from reaching for the wine jar.

Xu Zudi leaned slightly forward, across the long table, locking eyes with military-clad Zhao Douan, and smilingly said:

"Mr. Zhao is too polite, after all you've said, would I be the type to not forgive when I have the upper hand? You can take the people, and the compensation doesn't matter much either, the Princely Heir is not one to extort money, and about this penalty drink..."

He paused slightly, then continued smiling:

"It's unnecessary, I actually have a game in mind. If Mr. Zhao agrees, we can consider the matter settled, how's that?"

"A game?" Zhao Douan slowly withdrew his hand, returning to his previous seated position, puzzled.

Uncertain of the other party's intent.

Xu Zudi stood up, came down from the couch, bent over, stretching his hand to pick up a bright red apple from a luxurious fruit basket on the table.

"I've heard back in Qingzhou, Mr. Zhao, that you are skilled with the Flying Knife, coincidentally, I enjoy watching jugglers play with Flying Knives at home, way more thrilling than those temperate dances and songs of the Dancing Girls."

Xu Zudi took steps across the carpet, approaching a woman standing behind a guqin.

He slapped his forehead, smiling:

"Look at my memory, I almost forgot to introduce her, this lady here is from a prominent family in East Lake, the Xiao family, head of the household."

Zhao Douan had noticed this woman with distinct grace and demeanor different from others upon entering.

Especially when the musicians and dancers left, she hadn't moved at all nor participated in the previous conversation, quiet as a decorative vase in the room.

Unexpectedly, she was the legendary Family Head.

The head of the grand Xiao family of East Lake, here to play the guqin for the Princely Heir?

Even if Prince Heng held great power, generally it wouldn't be to this extent, to humiliate a head of such a significant family, right?

"Xiao Donger, at your service, Lord Zhao."

Her hair was jet-black, her face round and robust, her beauty noteworthy, dressed in a somber horse-faced skirt, the woman slowly rose and bowed to him.

Displaying a somewhat submissive manner.

Zhao Douan nodded, his expression unchanged: "So you are Mrs. Xiao, I've long heard of you."

Xu Zudi didn't give them room for further pleasantries, interjecting with a smile, "The game, it's quite simple."

He brought the apple to Mrs. Xiao, the woman in her thirties opened her lips and bit the apple in her mouth.

Xu Zudi said with a smile: "Mr. Zhao, just stand where you are and use the Flying Knife..."

He pointed gently at the apple held in Mrs. Xiao's mouth: "Shoot it."

He added with a smile:

"Just penetrate it, but do not harm Mrs. Xiao. If you succeed, you win, and today's incident will be considered resolved, how about that?"

At this moment, Hou Renmeng and a few others visibly froze, surprised by such a peculiar request.

"Good! This is a good game! And remember, you must not use your 'cultivation'."

Li Lang stood up, clapping his hands in approval, his eyes glimmering with an almost perverse excitement.

Nearly wearing the words 'I want to see blood flow like a river' on his face.

Zhao Douan, silently facing the many eyes upon him, looked at Mrs. Xiao standing in the distance with her head lowered, biting the apple, and suddenly, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, he murmured:

"That's interesting."

He raised his right hand, with a flip, a rustic and exquisite Golden Crow Flying Dagger appeared in his palm.

Holding the Flying Dagger, Zhao Douan took aim, the surroundings quieted down.

Everyone held their breath, focused; with his Divine Chapter Realm senses, he could clearly sense Mrs. Xiao's slightly nervous demeanor, her long neck covered in fine goosebumps, her breathing slightly hurried.

Under everyone's gaze, Zhao Douan made a stance as if gathering strength to throw.

One, two, three...

Just when everyone thought he was about to throw the Flying Dagger, Zhao Douan suddenly tightened his grip on the handle, put on a smile, and shook his head at the Princely Heir:

"An interesting game, indeed, but unfortunately, I'm not accustomed to performing tricks for others."

The moment the words fell, his wrist flicked, sending a vigorous and fierce qi into the Golden Crow Flying Dagger.

The next second.

The dark gold Flying Dagger turned into a dazzling thin line, in a flash like lightning, shooting towards Xu Zudi's face!