The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 216 - 191. Change the Household

Nighttime at Jinjiang Embankment.

When Zhao Douan last visited this place, he was only an envoy of the White Horse Hall.

But this time, his identity had undergone a tremendous change.

"People and things are no longer the same," Zhao Douan stretched his back and leaned on a chair made of cloth.

A lantern hung by his side, in front of him a fishing rod was propped up with a Y-shaped support, and its tip extended straight into the dark river water.

The water reflected dim starlight and the broken moon.

Tonight, moved by a sudden impulse, Zhao Douan had chosen this place for night fishing.

Behind him, trusted government officers from the Lihua Hall vigilantly surveyed their surroundings to ward off any possible outsiders.

"Master, the person has been brought here," shortly after, Hou Renmeng approached and whispered.

With a wave of his hand, the Colonel behind him threw a tattered sack onto the riverbank’s shallow sand and untied the opening.

"Wuu wuu wuu."

Bound hand and foot, with his mouth gagged, Xu Mingyuan tumbled out, still unclear about what had happened.

"Heh, you’d better not yell, or you know the consequences."

Hou Renmeng removed the rag from his mouth and then easily cut the hemp rope binding him with a dagger.

"Huff—"

Once a revered scholar of the Hanlin Academy, frequented by literati, and once a second-place laureate in the imperial examination, Xu Mingyuan took deep breaths, his name well-respected though not as prominent as Han Zhou.

His eyes darted around suspiciously, his heart uneasy.

He did not know the origins of these people, but since they clearly knew his identity, they must not fear his background.

Thus, he did not foolishly make any threats.

His gaze, moving quickly, skipped over the plainclothes government officers standing like javelins in the darkness.

It settled beside him, on the mysterious figure leisurely fishing in the chair by the lantern.

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Realizing that this was the main player, only the darkness was too thick for him to see clearly, he cautiously inquired:

"Who might you be, sir, and have I ever wronged you?"

The mysterious man did not answer immediately, instead continuing to quietly gaze at the dimly lit river surface, where early autumn had passed and the Capital’s night had begun to cool.

The river breeze then disturbed the wild grass, and the paper lantern started to sway, casting ghostlike shadows.

The extremely quiet riverbank seemed cut off from the bustling worldly noise, not like in the busy Capital, but more like somewhere in the wilderness.

Just as Xu Mingyuan grew increasingly uneasy.

Finally, the mysterious man let out a light laugh:

"Scholar Xu, are you so forgetful? We had met not long ago."

That voice... so young... Xu Mingyuan was stunned.

It sounded familiar, but he could not recall immediately.

Until Zhao Douan, donning a conical hat and holding the fishing rod, turned around, his handsome face illuminated by the faint lantern light.

Xu Mingyuan’s mind buzzed, his eyes widening, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, dispelling any lingering drunkenness instantly!

"It’s you!"

Zhao Douan!

The kidnapper was none other than the Empress’s lackey he had cursed at Zuixian Inn an hour ago!

In that moment, Xu Mingyuan felt a chill rush up his spine, a fear as if he had been under surveillance.

Could it be that what he had said was known to the other party?

Had they come for revenge?

Yes, everyone in the Capital knew that the White Horse Zhao family was famously vengeful, a shameful lot...

He thought his ordeal had ended with a stint in the Imperial Prison, but here was Zhao Douan, appearing like a specter before him.

Thinking of Zhao Douan’s terrifying reputation from the past, Xu Mingyuan instinctively stepped back, his expression fierce but inwardly timid:

"What do you want to do? Does the Imperial Court plan to revolt, kidnapping a Hanlin scholar—that’s..."

Zhao Douan turned his head back: "Slap him."

Beside, Shen Juan, looking lazy and sporting dark circles under his eyes, smiled and flicked his sword scabbard, which, skilfully manipulated, hit Xu Hanlin’s cheek precisely.

with a sharp "smack!",

"Argh..." Xu Hanlin cried out in pain, and unexpectedly, Zheng Laojiu kicked him back, causing him to kneel on the grass.

Two Colonels stepped forward, one held him down and gagged him, while the other repeatedly slapped him left and right.

"Smack," "smack," "smack"...

"That’s enough, if you disfigure him, it would be bad if it hinders the Prime Minister’s plans,"

Qian Kerou stated eerily, then added:

"Use a needle to pierce the bone seams, excruciating but leaving no surface marks."

Xu Mingyuan, dazed by the slaps and seeing stars, heard this and trembled with fright, whimpering as he looked at Zhao Douan, begging pitifully.

"Heh, don’t scare him, Scholar Xu is a literate man, unlike us crude Martial Artists,"

In the darkness, Zhao Douan’s mocking voice carried, "Scholar Xu, isn’t that right?"

As the government officer released him, Xu Mingyuan covered his burning face, swallowing his pride though deep down utterly reluctant, he lowered his eyes obediently:

"Mr. Zhao, I had mistakenly believed the rumors last time, and thereby showed disrespect to Mr. Zhao, I already..."

Zhao Douan, smiling, said:

"Oh? Believed in rumors? I’m curious, whose rumors did you listen to, and whose instructions did you follow?"

Xu Mingyuan shut his mouth, remaining silent.

Though still slightly groggy, he knew well what could be said and what must not be spoken carelessly.

Zhao Douan sighed softly:

"It seems, Scholar Xu, that you are still not sincere."

Nearby, the officers from the Lihua Hall faked a move to hit him again.

Xu Mingyuan’s face changed.

As he struggled internally, he saw Zhao Douan, who was still sitting in his chair fishing in his conical hat, gesture with his hand, and then those fierce and ruthless henchmen stopped their approach.

"Don’t be violent in everything you do," Zhao Douan said calmly. "You must treat scholars gently. Understand?"

The people from Lihua Hall bowed their heads in shame:

"We understand."

They thought to themselves that their master truly had an expansive heart to treat such petty people with courtesy.

Seeing this, Xu Mingyuan straightened up and thought to himself:

It seems that although the Zhao thief is ferocious, he still fears my scholar status.

He felt somewhat more at ease and his courage partially restored.

Zhao Douan didn’t look at him, but brought the lantern closer to himself and adjusted the angle of his fishing rod, sighing softly:

"Actually, even if Mr. Xu Hanlin didn’t mention it, I already knew. It’s nothing but Li Yinglong causing trouble behind the scenes.

Her Majesty has also spoken to me and reprimanded the Li father and son. Normally, I’m not a petty person, so I had let it go.

But these past few days, hearing about what you’ve been through, Mr. Xu, I truly felt indignant on your behalf."

Indignant for me? Xu Mingyuan wondered what this cunning scoundrel was plotting.

Zhao Douan continued:

"As I know, Mr. Xu Hanlin has been wholeheartedly serving the Li family, like when you changed the crops from rice to mulberry despite knowing Her Majesty disliked it, yet still presented a so-called dilemma-solving memorandum, which seemed to be your handiwork.

I was in the Imperial Study at the time and heard about this from Her Majesty. I felt that Mr. Xu truly exerted a lot of effort, willing to be the Li family’s pawn. If this method were really implemented, it would surely end in disaster. At that time, the Prime Minister could simply blame and discard the scholar who proposed this strategy, and all would be well...

Well, was that idea yours, or did you present it on someone’s behalf? Hehe, no need to answer, I’m not really concerned about the truth."

Xu Mingyuan’s expression changed uncertainly.

Zhao Douan went on:

"Fortunately, Her Majesty didn’t delve too deeply into the matter, but who would have thought that Mr. Xu Hanlin would again be used by Li Yinglong as a pawn. He’s smart, staying in the background the whole time. That way, if anything goes wrong, the fire doesn’t reach him.

Hmm... originally, I thought the Li family would consider your hard work and promote you, but it seems not."

Xu Mingyuan felt a stabbing chill through his heart but said calmly:

"Mr. Zhao, if you have something to say, please speak directly."

"Good, I like straightforward people." Zhao Douan smiled as he looked at him for the second time:

"You know, I have a vendetta with Li Yinglong, and you, I suppose, aren’t happy under him either. Why not come over to my side? Heh, if you agree, I can disregard our previous slight tensions."

Xu Mingyuan was stunned, then almost laughed.

He thought to himself, has this scoundrel gone mad?

A few words and he wants me to switch sides?

What a joke.

Li Yinglong certainly isn’t anything good, but what standing do you, Mr. Zhao, have to criticize the Young Master?

Although he was discontented, at least he was aligned with the Li family, and with his teacher Chen Zhengru’s relationship, he could rely on the Li Party.

And Zhao Douan? Their enmity was genuine, and he would be crazy to join him.

"Mr. Zhao must be joking. If I were to join you, would the next step be for me to follow Feng Ju, bite at the Young Master or even the Prime Minister?"

Xu Mingyuan said indifferently:

"If you intend to use me against the Prime Minister, then I must say your efforts are in vain, Mr. Zhao. Although I’m merely a scholar and no match for your knives, I do have some integrity."

Zhao Douan looked at him strangely, then smiled meaningfully:

"What a man of steel and scholar indeed. So, you are refusing me?"

Xu Mingyuan stiffened his neck and closed his eyes:

"Please forgive me, but I cannot agree."

He was firm in his belief that Zhao Douan’s previous actions were merely to intimidate him.

Whether being dragged here or slapped, it was all superficial wounds, not even serious injuries.

No matter how mad the other party was, he wouldn’t dare to murder a scholar in the Capital.

Thus, Xu Mingyuan was confident that even if he refused, the worst he could face was a beating.

This might not be a bad thing; if he went to find Li Yinglong with injuries all over, the other party would inevitably help him.

Otherwise, the Li Party’s morale would indeed dissipate.

"Alright then, since that’s the case, there’s nothing more to say,"

Zhao Douan’s expression also turned cold as he said flatly:

"Bring Mr. Xu Hanlin down. Just right, my bait isn’t fragrant enough, needs something nourishing for the fish."

"Yes!"

Xu Mingyuan was stunned and began to feel uneasy.

He saw the government officers from Lihua Hall approaching, one stuffed a rag in his mouth, another retied his hands and feet, then pushed him into a sack and dragged him towards the river.

"Move a bit to the side, don’t disturb the master’s ’nest’." Qian Kerou said, arms crossed.

Hou Renmeng grinned, pulling on a rope, dragging the sack containing Xu Mingyuan, who was barely able to show his head, further and further away.

At the riverbank, Shen Juan came carrying a large stone tied with rope, attaching the other end to the sack.

Xu Mingyuan’s eyes widened in horror as he finally understood, struggling and trying to dislodge the rag with his tongue, and screamed in terror:

"You can’t kill me... you can’t kill me..."

But his vision no longer included Zhao Douan, only dimly seeing a bright lantern in the distance.

It seemed like the last bit of twilight.

"Help..."

"Mr. Zhao... I... am willing..."

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

His last words were swallowed by the river, and Xu Mingyuan’s vision was engulfed by darkness.