The First Lackey Under The Empress

This book is first published on twkan.com across the entire network.

A divine official invited by the Celestial Master's Mansion?

Zhao Du'an's spirits lifted, his expectations soaring.

If he had any curiosity about this world, besides the Empress's measurements, second place would have to be 'sorcerers'.

Following his gaze, the night descended like a tidal wave, causing nearby birds to take flight.

The space in the courtyard twisted and writhed, as if a skilled painter was taking up a brush, outlining a golden silhouette of a figure out of thin air, the semi-transparent girl gradually becoming clearer.

Materializing into reality:

A well-tailored black divine official's robe, embroidered with gold thread, a petite and exquisite figure, with a slight curl at the end of her black hair.

Her slightly pale face had unfocused eyes, lacking any focal point, making her appear somewhat blank.

The girl's sleeves fluttered, her boots floating in the air, perfectly compensating for the height difference.

"This is the current Vermilion Dot Disciple from the Celestial Master's Mansion, the Old Celestial Master's personally taught female disciple, Jin Jian. According to the rules, we should have only sent an ordinary divine official, but Divine Official Jin Jian took the initiative to volunteer, and she will protect you from now on."

Sun Lianying introduced, with an expression that said, "You're a lucky kid."

Then, she introduced to the girl:

"This is Zhao Du'an, the person the divine official is here to protect."

Vermilion Dot Disciple?

Oh… it seems that within the Celestial Master's Mansion system, all sorcerers personally taught by the 'Celestial Master' are called 'Vermilion Dot Disciples'.

Only disciples with extremely high talent can receive this honor.

I've found a treasure… and she's so beautiful… Zhao Du'an thought in surprise, revealing a warm smile:

"I am Zhao Du'an, I have long admired your name."

Only at this moment did Jin Jian's unfocused gaze gain clarity, carefully scrutinizing him for a moment, her voice ethereal:

"It really is you."

Zhao Du'an was stunned, not understanding her meaning, only assuming it was because his "name was well-known" and she had heard of him.

"I will stay by your side and appear when needed," the mysterious girl said, then her figure seemed to be diluted, disappearing into the air.

"Ah, this… My Lord?" Zhao Du'an asked, confused, looking at the old eunuch.

Sun Lianying coughed dryly and said:

"The Celestial Master's disciples are highly accomplished cultivators, they have their own temperaments, no need to overthink it."

It's not… it's not a question of overthinking, it's that I have no confidence… Zhao Du'an thought bitterly.

He highly suspected that her attitude was because of his bad reputation, looking down on him and unwilling to talk to him.

After the old eunuch left, he stood in the courtyard, calling out several times, "Divine Official Jin Jian?"

But there was no response, as if she had truly disappeared.

"My Lord—"

At this moment, Zhu Kui rushed over:

"The Imperial Censorate is reporting that there's movement!"

Zhao Du'an put aside his concern for the girl, his expression solemn:

"Take me to see, by the way, is the matter I instructed Zhou Cang to prepare ready?"

… …

… …

As night deepened, the bustling streets of the capital became deserted.

At dusk, a "night soil cart" drove into Zhang Jia Da Lang's residence from the back door.

In this era, there were no flushing toilets, and the excrement of wealthy families was stored in outhouses, which were cleaned by people every few days.

Like the Imperial Palace, they even had a special gate opened for the carts transporting feces to use.

The elegant term for feces was "night soil," it can only be said that humans are hypocritical enough.

The night soil cart stopped inside the mansion for a full hour before slowly returning fully loaded from the back door.

One person drove the cart, and another night soil shoveler in ragged linen clothes escorted the cart beside him. The summer heat made the stench unbearable, and both men covered their mouths and noses with face cloths, hiding most of their faces.

"Clatter…"

The little donkey's pace was unhurried, its tail swishing to drive away flies.

Passersby avoided them all the way, and after walking far away to a secluded alley, the night soil shoveler slipped into the alley.

Pulling off the face cloth, revealing a delicate mustache.

Zhang Changshuo discarded the face cloth in disgust, enduring the stinky clothes, identified the direction, and with the help of the moonlight, he weaved and turned, arriving outside a civilian residence.

With the help of the moonlight, he groped for a thin rope and pulled it hard.

"Clang—"

A muffled bell rang, accompanied by a unique rhythm.

The owner of the house was alarmed, and after a short time, a crack was torn open in the door:

"Who is it?"

"Southward migration, northward return," Zhang Changshuo said the password. To prevent someone from disguising themselves, they had agreed on a unique way of contacting each other.

"Come in."

The person inside reached out and pulled him in, and the courtyard door closed.

Zhang Changshuo stepped into the courtyard and followed the person towards the house. In the left and right wing rooms, martial men dressed as ordinary people walked out.

Their cold gazes swept over him, making him, as a scholar, feel frightened, knowing that these people were all elite private soldiers of the Jing Prince's Mansion.

"This way, please." The guide opened the door.

As soon as Zhang Changshuo stepped in, he saw a middle-aged man wearing a black robe and a black veil sitting at a round table in the brightly lit room.

"Envoy Zhang, why do you visit so late at night?"

The middle-aged sorcerer stared at him, then frowned, disapprovingly saying:

"Did Envoy fall into a manure pit? How filthy."

The other party was the leader of the Jing Prince's Mansion in the capital. The two sides had met several times, but from beginning to end, his true face was never revealed.

"Something happened," Zhang Changshuo, already marinated in the smell, pretended not to hear and went straight to the point, quickly saying:

"My second brother was arrested by the Imperial Censorate…"

He immediately described the situation.

The middle-aged sorcerer had not yet received the news of the sudden incident.

He was initially shocked, but after listening to the whole story, he calmed down, his eyes stern:

"Are you sure he was framed and implicated, and not that the matter was exposed?"

"I'm sure!"

Zhang Changshuo's tone was firm, indignantly saying:

"That Zhao thief is vindictive and has nothing but a pretty face, in reality, he is a good-for-nothing, his intentions are not hidden at all. Framing us is not enough, he even extorted a full six thousand taels of silver from Second Brother, it's really hateful!"

Six thousand taels? The middle-aged sorcerer was shocked and frowned: "What do you want to do?"

Zhang Changshuo said:

"The Imperial Censorate is investigating the firearms case, I'm afraid it will involve clues. We and Prince Jing share weal and woe, and we implore your side to lend a helping hand, quickly rescue Second Brother, and demand the return of the silver."

Share weal and woe with the Prince… you're not worthy?

… … The middle-aged sorcerer disdained, but the Zhang brothers were still useful, so abandoning them like this was indeed a pity.

He pondered slightly, just as he was about to reply, suddenly the window lattice was brushed by the wind, a premonition of inspiration, and he suddenly raised his head.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Changshuo asked in confusion.

The middle-aged sorcerer's eyes were sharp:

"I ask you, were you followed when you came here?"

"Impossible." Zhang Changshuo was quite confident in his disguise.

Who would care about a night soil boy?

"That's not right…" In the middle-aged sorcerer's pupils, there was a cyan light lingering, and a strong sense of crisis surged in his heart.

Without hesitation, he grabbed his arm, crashed out of the room, and said to the soldiers in the courtyard:

"Follow me and retreat…"

"The moon is lovely tonight, friends from the south, where do you want to retreat to?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out faintly.

The courtyard door opened with a "boom", and several Imperial Guards rushed in from the left and right, in the center giving way to a handsome and tall figure in gorgeous clothes.

Zhao Du'an said with a smile: "Brother Zhang, have you been well?"

At the same time.

In all four directions of the entire courtyard, a Censorate official in a flying fish suit jumped onto the wall, sealing off all directions.

Holding military crossbows in their hands, one quenched crossbow bolt after another tightened the bowstring, ready to fire.

As if as long as Zhao Du'an gave an order, countless arrows would fall like a torrential rain, turning everyone in the courtyard into hedgehogs.

"Zhao! Du! An!"

Zhang Changshuo was struck by lightning, his eyes bulging, looking at this scene in disbelief.

How could he not understand that he had been fooled?

"The people in the courtyard listen, put down your weapons, or you will be killed without mercy!"

On the wall, Zhou Cang held a torch in one hand and pressed his knife in the other, full of murderous intent.

In his heart, he was both surprised and delighted, he did not expect that the case that had plagued the entire Imperial Censorate for so long, Zhao Du'an only used one day to lure out the person behind the scenes.

At the same time, the soldiers in the courtyard also drew their knives, surrounding the leader in the center.

The middle-aged sorcerer did not hesitate at all, his lips moved, and his hands formed a hand seal.

Suddenly, with him as the center, a huge, circular magic circle glowing with cyan light was outlined on the ground.

"Rumble…"

The ground paved with bluestone bricks vibrated, and in the center of the formation, a pale cyan, illusory, and huge burly figure emerged.

"God…"

Zhao Du'an narrowed his eyes, after many days, he witnessed the gods of this world for the second time.

… …

Tomorrow is Tuesday, PK data, I urge all brothers and sisters to remember to open tomorrow's chapter and help us. Thank you!