The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the Jinyi Guard Prison.

The dimness made it difficult to perceive the passage of time. Only the light filtering through the "品"-shaped ventilation holes at the top of the wall offered a faint clue to the hour.

Yun Xi woke from her sleep, propping herself up slowly on the stone bed. Clearly not fully awake, several strands of hay clung to her disheveled hair.

The girl, sitting in a duck-like posture, bore no visible injuries. Beneath the slightly small prison uniform, the circular character "囚" (prisoner) bulged outwards.

Though it seemed unbelievable, during her imprisonment in the Jinyi Guard Prison, the girl had not only avoided further weight loss, but her chest had actually… grown larger…

"Mmm…"

On the same stone bed, Qingniao, sleeping on the outer side, was still dreaming.

Her hand had been resting on Yun Xi's body, but now her five fingers grasped at the air.

Her brow furrowed, awakened by the sudden loss of contact.

Qingniao, the maidservant who had once held the large black umbrella for the Thousand-Faced Divine Lord and a member of the Kuangfu Society, rubbed her eyes and glanced at her:

"Is it time to eat?"

In six words, their daily life in the prison could be summarized as:

Eat, sleep, sleep, eat.

When the Thousand-Faced Divine Lord was arrested, Qingniao was also thrown in to keep Yun Xi company.

Initially, she was very nervous, expecting to suffer inhuman and tragic tortures.

But Yun Xi was carefree, telling her she was overthinking it.

And indeed, as the "prison veteran" Yun Xi had predicted, under Zhao Du'an's special care, no one bothered them at all.

At first, the two chatted all day long, talking non-stop.

But after three days, they could no longer find new topics to discuss.

They completely devolved into a "disgrace to the patriots," spending their days drawing lines on the wall with pebbles to record the days of their imprisonment, or sleeping and finding amusement.

"No… I don't think so. It shouldn't be mealtime yet." Yun Xi, whose face had become chubby, raised her head, looked at the dim ventilation hole, and said uncertainly.

"Is that so? How long have we been sleeping?"

"I don't know."

After the brief exchange, the two cellmates fell silent, sighing simultaneously.

Qingniao, a few years older and slightly less beautiful, got off the bed, stood up, and stretched her limbs.

Then, looking at the floor covered with grids, she finally found a blank space, picked up a pebble, and invited with expectant eyes: "Chess?"

"No, I always lose."

"I'll let you win."

"That's even less interesting…"

The girl sat on the bed, bent her knees, wrapped her arms around them, and sighed:

"I wonder what's happening outside? Is the struggle more severe, or has it improved? It's been almost three months, right? The Grand Tutor must have sent a new helmsman. I wonder how the situation is now, and whether that Zhao thief is still alive.

It's hateful that we, righteous people, are abandoned in this corner, ignored. I don't know when we'll see the light of day again."

Qingniao squatted in the cell, seeing Yun Xi's worried and patriotic appearance, and said softly:

"Since no one has bothered us so far, the situation probably hasn't changed much."

Yun Xi waved her delicate fist angrily, her eyes firm:

"The Grand Tutor once said that we don't have much time left. If the stalemate continues, and that pseudo-emperor who killed his brother and father solidifies his throne, the people of the world will face a brutal reign, and the common people will never have peace. It's hateful that the righteous people outside are still fighting bravely, resisting the evil pseudo-emperor and his lackeys, while we can't help at all, and are only getting fatter…

Sister Qing, we can't be so decadent! Even if we can't escape the evil empress's prison for now, our will cannot be diminished!"

In her passionate excitement, Yun Xi's eyes filled with tears, and her teeth gnashed. She couldn't help but stand up and wave her fist forcefully.

But as she felt her increasingly heavy body, she couldn't help but feel sorrow again.

Qingniao wanted to say something but hesitated.

She was a few years older and had been by the Thousand-Faced Divine Lord's side for a long time, so she was no longer passionate and simple-minded.

Although she wasn't sure of the specifics, she had a general idea of the truth of the coup in those years.

She knew that the truth of history was not as Zhuang Taifu had proclaimed to the world.

She really wanted to tell Yun Xi that the truth wasn't like that, but she worried that shattering the illusion would demoralize the girl, even collapsing her faith.

Suddenly, messy footsteps came from the corridor, accompanied by the clanging of iron chains.

The two women, one standing and one squatting, turned their heads to look outside the fence at the same time, then quickly exchanged glances, their eyes becoming serious.

Then, they saw the warden of the Jinyi Guard Prison leading several jailers, appearing outside the cell door. The former sneered and waved his hand:

"Bring them out!"

"Yes."

The jailer opened the lock and pushed open the door.

Qingniao trembled all over, taking two steps back, but Yun Xi's eyes lit up, her body trembling slightly, both afraid and expectant:

"Is it finally time for the execution ground?"

Imprisoned for several months, a determined, miserable smile squeezed out of her exceptionally pale face:

"What's coming, has finally come. That's good, Sister Qing, it saves us from living ignobly…"

Qingniao opened her mouth, thinking to herself that she didn't want to die.

However, the jailers who rushed into the cell did not put heavy shackles on them, but instead put two strange "ankle ring"-like shackles on their ankles.

This was a magical artifact specially designed by the imperial court to lock down the cultivation of prisoners. Whether martial artists or sorcerers, once locked, their power would be greatly reduced, suppressed to the level of ordinary people.

"Heh heh, want to die? Have you asked Lord Zhao?" The warden sneered:

"Lord Zhao wants to take you out, so be honest."

The two women were stunned.

… …

Shortly after.

Two female prisoners who had been imprisoned for several months were escorted through the narrow passage and stepped out of the Jinyi Guard Prison gate.

As they were pushed out of the door, they almost simultaneously raised their hands to shield their eyes, to resist the dazzling sunlight.

Yun Xi's eyes were stimulated and watery.

She tried her best to open her eyelids, saw the high autumn sky, wisps of clouds, vast buildings, and the fiery setting sun in the west, about to sink below the horizon.

After half a year, the girl saw the sun again.

"Hurry up!"

Unfortunately, the rude jailer behind her didn't give her a chance to appreciate it. The two were quickly pushed out the door and saw a large carriage parked on the street outside.

"Get in!"

Amid the scolding, Yun Xi and Qingniao held hands and were pushed into the carriage.

Then they saw Zhao Du'an, who was leaning against the silk cushion in the carriage, wiping his long sword with a handkerchief.

Zhao Du'an, dressed in casual clothes, raised his head lazily and said with a smile, "Long time no see."

"Why aren't you dead yet?"

Yun Xi was stunned at first. After several months, seeing this familiar face again, the girl inexplicably felt a strange sense of security.

It was as if, although she hated this dog thief and wanted to devour his flesh and gnaw on his bones, he was at least a "familiar face" compared to the unfamiliar world.

Unfortunately, this feeling only appeared for a moment before being dismissed by the girl.

She sneered sarcastically, instantly reverting to the fierce female beast that had been trapped in the Earth God Temple in the bamboo forest in the southern suburbs!

"Are you hoping I'm dead? Then it seems I've disappointed you, Miss."

Zhao Du'an said with a smile, sheathing the Frost Sword with a clang.

He pointed to the opposite seat: "Sit down, tsk tsk, it seems you've been eating well in the Jinyi Guard Prison. If Zhuang Xiaocheng saw this, he'd probably be grateful to this official for raising his disciples so plump and fair, haha."

"You! Shameless scoundrel! Treacherous villain! Lackey of the pseudo-emperor! Beast in human skin!"

Yun Xi's cheeks flushed with anger, dyed with sunset-like blush. She was furious, without the slightest awareness of being a prisoner, and cursed loudly.

Zhao Du'an didn't care at all, only finding it amusing.

At this time, Qingniao noticed that the carriage wasn't moving, and couldn't help but turn her head in confusion, then she was stunned.

She saw a man in ordinary green clothes, of medium build, with ordinary features, and a birthmark on his right cheek, walking over from the Jinyi Guard Prison.

Qingniao didn't recognize this person, but she recognized those eyes: "Young… Young Master…?!"

The mediocre man walked to the carriage, respectfully saluted Zhao Du'an, and showed a flattering smile:

"Lord, were you looking for me?"

The Thousand-Faced Divine Lord!

The Tiangang member of the Kuangfu Society who had been besieged and captured alive by Zhao Du'an and thrown into the Jinyi Guard Prison.

The former helmsman of the capital's branch, the Thousand-Faced Divine Lord!

Zhao Du'an nodded with a smile: "Thousand-Face, do you know her?"

The Thousand-Faced Divine Lord, having restored his true appearance, looked at Yun Xi and said indifferently:

"Zhuang Xiaocheng's foolish disciple he keeps by his side."

Yun Xi was furious, her eyes filled with disbelief. She widened her eyes and said angrily:

"You're Thousand-Face? You've defected to the pseudo-emperor's court, defected to this Zhao dog thief? You traitor!!"

The girl was furious. If she weren't wearing ankle rings and powerless, she would have bitten this thief to death!

A traitor is always more hateful than an enemy!

The Thousand-Faced Divine Lord's expression was blank. He suddenly took a step forward and slapped her.

With a slap, half of the girl's face instantly turned red.

He sneered: "Yun Xi, you can scold me however you want, but you actually dared to be disrespectful to Lord Zhao. This slap is a warning."

After speaking, the once arrogant Thousand-Face turned his head, bowed and wagged his tail at Zhao Du'an, his face full of obsequious smiles:

"Lord, this bitch deserves to be taught a lesson."

Zhao Du'an, lying in the carriage, with an elegant and lazy expression, squinted his eyes, examining the Thousand-Faced Divine Lord, and suddenly said:

"Did I tell you to hit her?"

"Ah…" Thousand-Face was stunned for a moment, then his pupils suddenly dilated, and suddenly his knees weakened, and he fell to the ground, letting out an uncontrollable scream.

His skin was as red as a cooked shrimp, and an unspeakably painful burning sensation made him wish he were dead!

At Zhao Du'an's fingertips, a wisp of white, illusory flame, like a sprite, danced on his fingertips.

"Remember this from now on. Since you've chosen to be this official's dog, then you must have the awareness of a dog. This official tells you to bite whoever, and you bite whoever, not act on your own initiative. Do you understand?"

Zhao Du'an said quietly.

"Little one… under… understands… Please, Lord… take away… your divine power…" The Thousand-Faced Divine Lord wailed in pain.

Zhao Du'an extinguished the spirit flame and said indifferently: "Slap yourself in the face. There won't be a next time."

The Thousand-Faced Divine Lord crawled up, waved his two hands, slapping himself left and right, hitting his face hard, until blood seeped from the corners of his mouth.

"Stop," Zhao Du'an said casually, then looked at the two stunned women and said with a smile, "What, don't you recognize me anymore?"