The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 164 - 144, Showdown!

Zhao Douan!

At the Hele Building, next to the wine table, Zhou Cheng and Wang Shan saw him, their faces visibly changed.

Why had he appeared here?

Especially Wang Shan, who was fat with no beard and reddish eyes, his hand shook and the teacup he held tumbled, spilling the wine.

He guiltily avoided Zhao Douan’s beaming gaze.

What was it like when the subject of their quiet conspiracy suddenly showed up at the door?

"Sir..." At this point, at the staircase, a group of government officers from the Ministry of Justice staggered and rushed up.

Leading them, wearing a blue official robe, Master Hee wore a face marked with bruises:

"He brought people over to go upstairs. I refused them, and they used force to storm up."

Three times!

In this short period of time, Hee Zheng had been beaten three times; even a clay figure would grow angry after so much abuse.

But without waiting for Zhao Douan to speak, Hou Renmeng behind him sneered and raised a scabbard as if to strike:

"Good dogs don’t block the way. You obstruct my master’s investigations time and again without learning your lesson. You deserve a beating!"

Hee Zheng and the other government officers, unskilled in combat, retreated in terror to a corner on the second floor.

"Enough!!"

A sudden sharp rebuke.

At the table, a high official of the court in a crimson official robe and a black cap furiously slammed the table, shattering a wine cup on the floor.

Zhou Cheng’s face was livid, fury uncontainable.

Beating a subordinate of the Ministry of Justice in front of him was akin to slapping his face by proxy.

A similar scene had occurred just days before.

But once is an exception, twice is a pattern.

"Zhao Douan! How dare you commit such insubordination?!" Zhou Cheng shouted angrily.

"Hehe, Minister Zhou, don’t joke," Zhao Douan said with a chuckle, giving a signal, and Hou Renmeng and the others laughed and withdrew their hands:

"These underlings of mine were unaware and just joking with Master Hee. I will discipline them when we return."

Joking?

Zhou Cheng was almost amused by anger.

He took a deep breath, maintaining the composure of a high court official.

Seeing this, Hee Zheng and his associates quickly gathered next to the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

For a moment, the two groups almost seemed to confront each other.

Zhou Cheng’s expression was as still as water; he didn’t dwell on the conflict between the underlings and asked coldly:

"Zhao Douan, do you really think that having narrowly escaped last time, you can act above the law? Or perhaps today, leading these dogs and horses, you are again acting under His Majesty’s orders to arrest me?"

Ah, you’ve guessed it...

Zhao Douan still wore a smile but did not respond immediately. Instead, he slowly walked towards the wine table.

Hee Zheng and the others trembled inwardly, unsure whether to step forward to protect him or retreat to save their lives.

Wang Shan tried his best to lower his head and moved back into the crowd, attempting to blend in.

Zhou Cheng remained silent, only watching as Zhao Douan approached, glanced at the dishes on the table, and remarked:

"This is quite a feast. I would advise Minister Zhou, at your advanced age, to avoid rich foods meant for the younger generation."

Saying this, he pulled out a chair and nonchalantly sat down.

Looking around as if searching for chopsticks, he spotted Wang Shan clinging to the crowd and couldn’t help but smile and beckon:

"Mr. Wang, why hide so far? Come closer, otherwise wouldn’t it be a waste since I came looking for you so early in the morning?"

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Looking for me?

Wang Shan’s heart skipped a beat and he looked towards Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng’s gaze hardened, observing Zhao Douan turn his head back, prop up his leg, and speak to him:

"Minister Zhou, don’t misunderstand, I am but a mere Sixth-rank Master. How could I dare lay hands on a Minister?

Today, I am here regarding a case that involves Mr. Wang, hence asking for his cooperation with the investigation.

I first went to Mr. Wang’s home, but he was not there. I had to follow him here, and unexpectedly, I find Minister Zhou dining with him...

Tsk, the last time we arrested Marquis Xiajiang, it was the same situation. It seems, sir, that we truly are fated."

This excuse again!

Zhou Cheng was amused with anger:

"What kind of case could Wang Shan be involved in? I would like to know."

Zhao Douan stared at him, his voice low:

"I have a friend named Qin Qiu, who was supposed to meet me these past few days but suddenly disappeared.

Concerned for my friend’s safety, upon inquiring, I learned he might have gone to Mr. Wang’s residence. Minister Zhou, don’t you think this is suspicious?"

Nonsense!

Wang Shan’s face changed, Qin Qiu’s disappearance? What does that have to do with me?

He was about to explain but suddenly realized—how had Zhou Cheng found him?

Could it be related to Qin Qiu’s abduction?

If so, Zhao Douan’s abrupt action to apprehend someone...

"Does the Imperial Court handle cases so casually? Based on groundless suspicions, you detain a former Commander? And he was part of your own ranks at the Imperial Court?

Moreover, a friend goes missing...and since when did that fall under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court? Your Majesty didn’t raise you for the sake of serving individuals!"

His fierce gaze swept over the government officers at Lihua Hall. With his official authority, in the past, a simple reprimand would have sufficed to instill fear in the lower ranks.

Yet, this group of troublemakers from Lihua Hall seemed relaxed, paying no mind at all.

"Mr. Zhou, are you intending to obstruct this officer’s case handling?"

Zhao Douan’s smile faded into a mocking tone,

"Or, are you going to say Wang Shan had already reported to your Ministry of Justice, with the same excuse as Marquis Xiajiang?"

Zhou Cheng didn’t fall for it. Wang Shan had been invited by him, his circumstances vastly different from those of Marquis Xiajiang that day, and he merely responded coldly,

"Today, this officer is catching up with an old friend. You think you can snatch him from me?"

He paused, his eyes similarly mockful:

"Or perhaps Ma Yan is lurking in the shadows again? Why not show yourself?"

Zhao Douan remained expressionless.

Zhou Cheng’s gaze was cold, as if looking down upon him from a great height:

"Without Ma Yan backing you, what are you? Engaging in insolence in front of this official?"

Across from him, the government officers of Lihua Hall glared angrily, but against a Third-Rank Official, they felt powerless.

The phrase ’insubordination’ was never a light accusation.

Zhou Cheng, stationed in the Capital, was fearless.

Even though he was facing the Empress’s Favored Minister, should harm come to him, the entire officialdom of Great Yu, in order to preserve their own positions, would stand behind him.

That was a ’ritual and law’ even imperial power could not contest.

The atmosphere inside the building became tense and solidified.

However, Zhao Douan’s expression remained extraordinarily calm:

"So, Mr. Zhou, are you determined not to release him?"

Zhou Cheng reached to his waist and took out a ’Court Prosecutor’ waist card, calmly placing it on the table, his expression mocking:

"Young man, you need to learn respect. You’re a smart man, you should know the rules of the court. Your card isn’t bigger than mine, so you can’t take him away."

Wang Shan silently breathed a sigh of relief, the corner of his mouth lifting.

Hee Zheng and others stood straight, their expressions haughty.

Hou Renmeng, Shen Juan, and other government officers from Lihua Hall remained expressionless, their grips on the handles of their knives tight, yet heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds.

The bureaucratic system ultimately operated on rules. Anyone who benefitted from it must abide by them.

To not abide is to be an enemy to everyone.

Zhao Douan lowered his gaze, staring at the Third-Rank Court Prosecutor waist card on the table, and said softly,

"Is it a competition of whose card is bigger..."

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he suddenly reached into his bosom and slowly pulled out a waist jade in the style of a waist card with two fingers. Exquisitely crafted, a gold tassel dangled beneath, seemingly still carrying the faint scent of a fairy.

As he took out this jade card, others in the room were still reacting with confusion.

Only Zhou Cheng across from him sharply narrowed his pupils.

He of course recognized this jade card.

He had seen it many times hanging at the waist of the Empress, aware that it was Xu Zhenguan’s personal token.

Why... was it in Zhao Douan’s possession?

What did it represent?

A mere minion in the Empress’s chambers, how could he possibly possess the Empress’s personal token?!

"Snap!"

Zhao Douan placed the Empress’s waist jade on the table, smiling,

"Sorry, seems like my card is actually bigger."

Zhou Cheng remained silent.

Those around him froze, puzzled.

Zhao Douan slowly stood up, stepped back towards his subordinates at Lihua Hall, turned his back to Zhou Cheng, and suddenly drew out Shen Juan’s standard-issue saber from his waist.

Holding it vertical in his hand, the action instantly made the group alert, Hee Zheng shouted loudly:

"What are you doin... Ah!"

The next second, Zhao Douan’s wrist flicked, and a fierce and powerful surge of energy flowed into the blade.

With a "bang," the blade, several feet in length, shattered into pieces, turning into a storm of wind and rain, wrapped in Qi, howling in all directions.

Sitting in the big chair, dressed in a red official robe, Zhou Cheng’s body tensed, feeling the fierce wind on his face.

A thin blade of the knife sliced past his temple, penetrating the top hat on his head, the kinetic energy of the debris carrying the hat away from the scalp with a "thud," nailing it onto the window frame!

Other knife shards either stabbed into the floor or got nailed to wooden pillars, window frames, causing numerous exclamations.

Suddenly, there was a deathly silence!

Zhao Douan let go, the bare handle of the knife falling to the ground, rolling a few times.

He slowly turned back around to face the now stiff expressions led by Zhou Cheng, apologetically smiling:

"Ah, the swords from the Military Weapons Workshop are too brittle, can’t even withstand Qi, sorry for startling everyone."

Shen Juan’s cheeks twitched, trying hard to control his rising smile but barely managing.

"What are you laughing at, hurry and seize him, don’t disturb Mr. Zhou’s mealtime?" Zhao Douan joked.

Shen Juan and other government officers, like wolves onto prey, rushed forward, capturing the ashen-faced Wang Shan, and retrieved Zhao Douan’s left behind waist jade.

No one obstructed during the process.

"Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou..."

Wang Shan tried to appeal for help but shut his mouth after meeting Zhou Cheng’s extremely grim gaze.

After a while, the people from the Imperial Court left in strides.

Only a wrecked building and the curious onlookers far away remained.

"Sir... we just let him go like that?"

In the deathly silence, Hee Zheng cautiously stepped forward, hands pulling the official hat from the window frame and presenting it bowing to Zhou Cheng.

The next second.

"Slap!"

A slap landed on his face, Zhou Cheng stood up, his chest heaving with anger, frightening a group of Ministry of Justice officials into kneeling.

"Zhao... Dou... An!"