The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Your Grace, please be careful with your words. When you and I converse, we should avoid such topics,” Zhao Du'an's expression changed drastically, adopting the demeanor of a virtuous gentleman and a loyal lapdog of the Empress. He took a step back and said earnestly:

“I fear Her Majesty might misunderstand!”

“……” Xu Junling, with her sweet and lovely appearance and skin as smooth as silk, froze in her smile.

Feeling the strange gazes from all directions, she took a deep breath, her small hands hidden in her sleeves clenched tightly, maintaining the elegance and poise of a "talented woman," and said with a smile:

“Master Zhao is jesting.”

After dropping this sentence, Zhao Du'an didn't bother with her anymore, his gaze sweeping around.

Leaving the capital, the scenery became noticeably more open.

A long official road, stretching from north to south, was flanked by withered leaves, a scene of decay as they fell in droves.

Although a small portion of green remained on the treetops, it was dwindling.

The tea stall's dusty "tea flag" hung listlessly on a flagpole rooted in the loess road.

At this moment, as the small team stopped, the accompanying personnel busied themselves.

Some fed the horses, while others looked for wooden stakes to tie the carriages to.

Zhao Du'an didn't bring many people on this trip, less than ten in total, including the direct subordinates from Pear Blossom Hall.

Qian Kerou, Shen Juan, and Hou Renmeng were the leaders, along with several Embroidered Uniform Guards.

As for Zheng Lao Jiu, he was left in the capital to guard the house.

In addition to these, there was also an imperial censor from the Censorate, serving as the deputy to the imperial envoy.

A middle-aged man with a woman's name, Chen Hong.

At this moment, the middle-aged censor Chen Hong poked his head out of the carriage, revealing a somewhat weathered old face with two silver false teeth, and smiled brightly:

“Master Zhao, please rest at your leisure. This humble official will remain in the carriage.”

As expected, Yuan Li's subordinates are all a bunch of cowards… Zhao Du'an nodded with a smile, inwardly cursing like mad.

This deputy censor was fine when he left the capital.

But from the day Her Grace the Princess suddenly and inexplicably joined the team midway, the old geezer caught a cold that very day, reducing the number of times he left the carriage, clearly indicating that he didn't want to get involved.

As for the remaining two carriages, they naturally belonged to the daughter of the Prince of Huai'an.

Xu Junling and her maid, Lǜ Shuǐ, occupied one carriage.

The swordplay master "Master Lǚ," who fought with Eunuch Hai that day, and the tall, burly man and mediocre female warrior who feigned challenges on the arena that day, occupied the other carriage.

At this moment, the owner and staff of the roadside tea stall, seeing the attire of this group, dared not be negligent in the slightest.

They obsequiously wiped tables and benches, welcoming them with smiling faces.

With keen eyes, they wiped the best table twice, inviting Zhao Du'an and Xu Junling, who appeared to be the "master," to sit down:

“Esteemed sir, madam, please, both of you.”

Zhao Du'an rolled his eyes, and having been misunderstood too many times along the way, he simply couldn't be bothered to explain.

Xu Junling, dressed in expensive-looking silk and bright clothes, sat down opposite him with a smile. Only after the waiter poured tea and left did she whisper:

“Are you not afraid of your Imperial Sister misunderstanding now?”

Zhao Du'an sat astride the bench in a relaxed manner, picked up the teacup, and moistened his throat first.

Blowing on the slight cool breeze of autumn, he stared at her helplessly and sighed softly:

“Your Grace, you are playing with fire. This time, I am acting under Imperial orders, out on official business. You should be returning to your Huai River. What is the meaning of suddenly appearing halfway and following us?

Fortunately, there is still Censor Chen to testify for me, otherwise this official's lifelong reputation would be ruined.”

Reputation… Heh heh… The corners of Xu Junling's mouth twitched slightly. She had become resistant to Zhao's shamelessness and said with a smile:

“This Princess is just going home, heading back to the Huai River Route, which happens to pass through Linfeng Route. Moreover, having traveled north with such difficulty, how could I miss the opportunity to discuss poetry and literature with a talented man like Master Zhao?”

You're just spouting nonsense… Zhao Du'an didn't bother to expose her.

…

In the past few days, Xu Junling had indeed often found him under the pretext of "discussing poetry and literature."

The reason she gave was high-sounding:

At the Zhangtai Banquet that day, Zhao Du'an composed a poem while drinking, leaving behind a famous piece that was regarded as a great story.

Others were concerned with the gossip behind the poetry, but Xu Junling, as a "talented woman from Jiangnan," was more interested in the talent revealed in the poem itself.

These days, every time they stopped to rest, she would find him to discuss it.

She was practically a modern version of a literary young woman.

But Zhao Du'an wasn't stupid. He saw at a glance that this scheming little princess was taking the opportunity to further understand him.

Xu Junling didn't deny this.

Standing in her position, she should befriend this powerful minister who was bound to rise… at least, she had to figure out his personality.

However, her admiration and curiosity about his poetic talent did indeed exist.

Xu Junling still couldn't understand how this guy, whose resume showed little reading experience, could produce such poetry.

Unfortunately, no matter how she probed, Zhao Du'an didn't reveal even half a point of poetic talent again.

For a time, it made her suspect whether Zhao Du'an was either deeply hidden or just fishing for fame and buying poetry in advance.

“It's good as long as Your Grace is happy,”

Zhao Du'an shook his head and pointed forward seriously:

“However, ahead is Taicang Prefecture City. I have to investigate a case here. Once we enter the city, we should part ways.”

Xu Junling said "Oh" and didn't care much, saying lightly:

“This Princess is also visiting Taicang Prefecture for the first time and is thinking of staying in the city for a few days to enjoy the autumn scenery. If Master Zhao doesn't mind, I am also quite interested in this silver mine matter.”

Zhao Du'an took a deep look at her:

“If Your Grace wants to stay, I naturally can't stop you. It's just, is Your Grace not afraid of getting burned?”

Xu Junling smiled charmingly, with a generous demeanor:

“If there are no ghosts in one's heart, one is naturally not afraid. My Prince of Huai'an's Mansion has never done any silver mine business, nor has it stretched its hands into this Linfeng. What is there to fear?

Besides, my Imperial Sister's affairs are my affairs. If someone embezzles my Xu family's silver, how can I sit idly by?”

In the small tea stall, the two sat facing each other, their eyes not dodging or avoiding.

One frowned, the other smiled.

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly:

“If Your Grace has this intention, I believe Her Majesty will also be very pleased.”

He didn't mind this scheming princess joining in on the fun.

Openly interfering was better than being sneaky in the dark.

Moreover, he had never underestimated the power that this princess could mobilize.

Not to mention anything else, the old man surnamed Lǚ beside her could be considered a good helper.

As for vested interests… in all likelihood, there really weren't any. On the one hand, if the Taicang matter was related to the Prince of Huai'an, then the princess following him would only increase suspicion.

On the other hand, the Prince of Huai'an, who was wealthy and controlled several merchant ships, really didn't care about this small-scale corruption.

“What are you looking at?”

Xu Junling caught sight of Zhao Du'an taking out a booklet and flipping through it.

“Looking at which local snakes are in this territory, which ones are poisonous, and which ones are not.”

Zhao Du'an said casually, and the names of individuals appeared on the booklet in his hand.

The Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, the Regional Military Commissioner… These were the "Route" level officials, high-ranking officials above the third rank.

Well, corresponding to the "Province" level feudal officials he was familiar with in his previous life.

Then, there was Sun Xiaozhun, the Prefect of Taicang Prefecture City.

Here, it is necessary to mention the administrative divisions of the Great Yu. There are nine Routes, and each "Route" is quite vast, with a large number of counties distributed within it.

Because the area of a "Route" is large, two "Prefecture" cities are divided out as the primary and secondary centers, roughly corresponding to cities.

Thus, there is the saying of nine Routes and eighteen Prefectures… not including the capital.

Linfeng Route is adjacent to the capital. To the south is Huai River Route, and to the southeast is Jiancheng Route—that is, where the Prince of Jing's Mansion is located.

To the west is Xiping Route—where You Jinhua's maiden family is located.

Within the territory of Linfeng, there are two Prefectures, one is "Linfeng Prefecture" and the other is "Taicang Prefecture."

Taicang County, where the silver mine is located, is where Taicang Prefecture City is located.

“The court's documents arrived many days earlier than me, so at this time, the officials of Linfeng must all be in the Prefecture City ahead, waiting for me, the Imperial Envoy, to pass by.

Heh heh, the post station where we stayed last night also sent the message early, so at this hour, those officials are probably preparing to line up to welcome us at the city gate.”

Zhao Du'an said casually.

Xu Junling nodded gently, not surprised at all.

With her vision, she often spoke with officials at the level of Provincial Administration Commissioner when she was in Huai River, so she felt it was ordinary.

At this moment, she couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth and teased:

“Then you're crashing straight into their nest. Don't think that just because you're an Imperial Envoy from the capital, you can bring just a few people to other people's territory… Heh heh.

These officials who control one side may be polite to you on the surface, but in secret, it's a situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak.

How about it, have you thought about how to establish your authority? Or, you can beg me, my Prince of Huai'an's Mansion is still…”

Zhao Du'an raised his head, smiled strangely, and suddenly raised his finger to his lips:

“Shh, listen.”

Xu Junling was stunned.

Immediately, she suddenly caught sight of the water in the teacup on the table suddenly rippling.

It was the ground shaking.

At this moment, the earth rumbled without warning, and the tea table shook.

The owner and staff in the tea house, as well as the other guests, widened their eyes and carefully picked up their teacups, looking into the distance.

Xu Junling and the others also raised their heads, and then froze.

They saw a group of iron cavalry rushing out from afar, stretching into a black line, as if there was no end.

In the dust, armored cavalrymen approached fiercely, and the leading general carried a flamboyant banner with the words "Linfeng" written on it, fluttering in the wind.

Zhao Du'an held the coarse teacup and smiled slightly:

“Who said I only brought these few people?”