The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Evening.

As the last rays of the setting sun disappeared, the deep chimes of the Divine Dragon Temple's clock echoed throughout the city, signaling the arrival of night.

The bustling Capital of Great Yu unveiled its lively and prosperous facade.

On the streets, the crowd moved in streams, while the shops along the road were brightly lit.

Dingfeng Building was one of the famous taverns in the Capital, and this evening, Wang Xian, known as Ning'an Xianzi, held a banquet here.

"Neigh."

The carriage stopped. A servant in green attire lifted the curtain, and Zhao Douan, who had changed into casual clothes, stepped down. He looked up at the tavern's large red lanterns, the red-painted wooden pillars, and the carved pavilions, and said,

"Wait outside."

"Yes!" the servant responded.

Then, from inside the tavern, a shopkeeper with a small cap and a face full of smiles came to greet him:

"Lord Zhao, your gracious presence brings good fortune to this humble establishment."

Zhao Douan mimicked the original owner's demeanor, without glancing at him, and walked straight in, heading towards the private room upstairs.

...

Inside the private room.

The table was laden with delicacies, but only one person was present, drinking alone.

"Ning'an Xianzi" Wang Xian was a middle-aged man around forty.

He was slender, dressed in silk and satin, with a poised sitting posture. In his hand, which hung at his knee, he held a folding fan with ivory carved ribs.

It was quite expensive.

Seeing Zhao Douan enter, he said coldly,

"The Lord seems to be very busy. I thought you wouldn't show up."

Zhao Douan ignored him and took his seat, placing his sword casually aside before slowly reaching to pick up some food.

Ever since he crossed over, he hadn't eaten or drunk anything and was indeed hungry.

"Hold on!"

However, in the next second, his chopsticks, reaching for some food, were suddenly stopped by a folding fan pressing down!

Wang Xian had a cold expression, faintly carrying anger:

"Didn't you hear what I said, Lord? Do you really think you were simply invited for a meal? You must understand that nothing is free in this world."

Zhao Douan raised his eyelid, finally looking at the other party:

"What do you mean?"

Apparently, Zhao Douan's calm demeanor seemed to annoy the other to the point of feeling ignored. Wang Xian's cheek muscles twitched, and he growled:

"Are you pretending to be ignorant, Lord? Unaware of my intentions? Why haven't you acted on the matter I asked you to handle recently?

In the Capital, rules must be followed. You accepted the down payment readily, yet the person hasn't been rescued even after several reminders. Isn't that inappropriate?"

He narrowed his eyes, half-threatening, half-sarcastically said:

"Don't forget, I also have evidence of you accepting benefits... Today, I've come to ask face to face, is it that you are unwilling to help or incapable of helping?

If it's the latter, kindly return the deposit to avoid delaying others!"

He was straightforward!

After all, the private room had good soundproofing, and there was no need for pretense.

Zhao Douan calmly pushed aside the folding fan, unhurriedly picked up a piece of Dingfeng Building's signature lamb, soft and fragrant, melting in his mouth.

Once the hunger was alleviated, he put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said:

"The last time you met me, your attitude wasn't like this."

Given his status, logically, even if he didn't help, the other party's attitude wouldn't be so nasty.

Wang Xian snorted coldly, with a sarcastic tone:

"I'm aware of your prestige, Lord. I heard you even dared to seize cases from the Imperial Court and lost a rebel."

Information spreads so quickly? So the other party thinks I'm in trouble, hence the change in attitude? Asking for the deposit back, fearing both resources and people could be lost?

Zhao Douan calmly said:

"It seems your sources aren't very reliable. Otherwise, you would know that earlier this afternoon, I entered the palace to meet the Empress."

Wang Xian paused, his demeanor softened: "So the Lord... is fine?"

Zhao Douan glanced at him: "If anything had happened, how could I have made it to this banquet?"

He was betting on Wang Xian's partial understanding of the situation.

The Capital was large, enough to hit four or five corrupt officials with just one thrown brick, not to mention the event had only transpired half a day ago, with news travelling slowly.

Even if the news spread, the vast majority of officials couldn't reach the elevated hall of the temple.

Many in later generations always had the misconception that they were close to big figures.

In fact, the resources an executive mocked by netizens or even a leading influencer could mobilize, and the level they belonged to, were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

To the average citizen, Ning'an Xianzi was a big shot.

But given his status, throughout his life, he wouldn't even have the chance to witness the Empress's true appearance.

After hearing this, Wang Xian's momentum indeed weakened: "Then..."

Zhao Douan seized the opportunity, reassuring him:

"Rest assured, I've been busy pursuing rebels recently. Now that I have the time, I will handle the matter you mentioned."

Seeing Zhao Douan remain calm, Wang Xian already believed him eighty percent, so he simply went along with it, replying "Hmm" lightly, and said haughtily:

"Good to hear you say so."

With that, he was about to stand up and take his leave—as a middleman, with some progress, he needed to reassure the "buyer."

"Wait."

However, as he took the first step, he was stopped.

"What's the matter?" He frowned and asked.

Sitting by the table, Zhao Douan put down his wine cup:

"You've finished your business, but the matter of you yelling and threatening me earlier, is that just going to be let go?"

Wang Xian looked displeased but cupped his hands:

"I was rather rude earlier, hope the Lord can forgive me."

"Is that it?" Zhao Douan asked with a slight smile.

Wang Xian's face darkened: "Is an apology not enough?"

Zhao Douan did not answer but slowly stood up, straightening his clothes.

Just as the other was puzzled, without warning, Zhao Douan's abdomen surged with Qi Mechanism, swiftly unleashing a kick!

"Bang!"

Wang Xian screamed miserably, his whole body flew backward, smashing through the private room door with a crash, falling into the corridor, doubled over like a shrimp, blood seeped from his mouth, his face ashen!

"Ah!!"

"Someone's been hit..."

There was immediate chaos downstairs, with guests screaming, and the tavern's shopkeeper hurriedly running up the stairs, took a glance, turned away, and blocked outsiders from coming up, pretending nothing had happened.

"Ugh... How dare you... how dare you hit a noble?!" Wang Xian struggled to get up, shouting incredulously.

He knew of this Empress's gigolo's notorious arrogance, but he never imagined that Zhao Douan would dare to lay hands on him.

However, the next moment, the curses in his throat got stuck as Zhao Douan, without anyone noticing, drew his sword and placed it against his neck.

Cold sweat poured like a waterfall.

"I... I am Ning'an Xianzi..."

Zhao Douan bent over, whispered in the noble's ear:

"If apologies were enough, what would be the use of power?

"Noble? Heh, a declining Xianzi from a backwater place dares to contend with me? Do you really think dressing in silk and satin, handling matters for officials, makes you someone?

"People ought to have self-awareness."

Wang Xian trembled, his lips turned white.

Zhao Douan smiled, tapping his face with the flat of the sword, saying:

"I will take care of what I promised, as for your disrespect earlier..."

He casually picked up the ivory folding fan from the debris, and said:

"This will serve as compensation."

Then he sheathed his sword, stepped downstairs, walked a few steps, and as if remembering something, called back without turning his head:

"By the way, remember to pay the tavern for repairing the door."

After saying that, he descended the stairs and left.

Leaving Wang Xian's face flushing red as he slowly got up, his chest heaving, his eyes glaring, but ultimately swallowing back his curses:

"A gentleman's revenge is never too late in ten years..."

"Evil deeds will inevitably lead to self-destruction..."

At this point, the shopkeeper cautiously went upstairs: "Lord Xianzi, are you..."

Wang Xian hollered hysterically: "Get out!"

...

...

Outside Dingfeng Building.

As Zhao Douan entered the carriage, the arrogance and swagger he had been pretending dissipated completely; he reclined on the cushion and let out a deep breath.

Smiling self-deprecatingly: "In my past life, I was exceedingly cautious, but in this life, I have the chance to be reckless. Does this mean I've become the person I disliked the most?"

He shook his head, refusing to indulge in psychological distress.

Playing out this scene was meant to send a signal to the outside world through Wang Xian that he was still confident and, more importantly, to provoke him to lure out a more significant accomplishment.

"Knock knock!"

Not long after, someone knocked on the carriage, and soon after, Zhao Douan's dark-skinned associate, Zhu Kui, climbed in.

Zhao Douan: "How did it go?"

Zhu Kui: "Wang Xian has left, and our men, as instructed, are keeping an eye on him."

"Very well done," Zhao Douan nodded in approval, then saw Zhu Kui hesitating to speak and asked:

"Anything else?"

Zhu Kui replied:

"Reporting to Sir, I inadvertently discovered that Zhang Changshuo's lackeys were also spying in the shadows. They seemed to have used a Magic Scroll to record your meeting with Wang Xian."