The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 263 - 231, Mr. Zhao doesn’t remember who gives gifts, but he clearly remembers who doesn’t.

"Secretariat Envoy, sir!"

Accompanying the halt of his boots, a thick and dull voice resounded:

"Commander Shi Meng of the Divine Mechanism Camp, reporting."

Only then did Xue Shence lift his head, closing the document in his hand, his gaze cool and indifferent as he scrutinized the man before him.

True to his name, Shi Meng was imposing and muscular, clad in soft armor with bulging muscles and pronounced veins on his burly arms, his skin a dark and dull shade.

He appeared to be around forty, with a beard stiff as steel needles and eyes fierce as a tiger’s.

At that moment, he clasped his hands in salute, his expression puzzled,

"I don’t know why you summoned me urgently, sir. What is the matter?"

Among the Capital is three major camps and the Five Armies, each had a Commander.

Shi Meng was in charge of the Divine Mechanism Camp and was also a Cultivation Martial Artist.

He looked like a rough military brute, somewhat inconsistent with the "Divine Mechanism Camp", but Xue Shence, who was close to him, knew well:

The man before him, seemingly rough, was cleverly disguised, for there was refinement in his roughness.

How could a true brute climb to such a position among the military officers?

"Take a look at this." Xue Shence stated calmly, tossing a document to him.

The brutish-looking Commander of the Divine Mechanism Camp flipped it open and frowned deeply,

"His Majesty has appointed Zhao Douan to the Divine Mechanism Camp as acting Commander? This..."

Xue Shence folded his hands in front of him, his tone calm,

"The official appointment has not yet been issued, this is to inform you in advance to prepare for his arrival."

The rugged Shi Meng looked utterly perplexed,

"This Zhao Douan, although a military officer, is from the Imperial Court. Why suddenly come to the Capitol Camp? Could it be… for Prince Jing Mansion…"

Xue Shence sighed and said,

"The firearms case is of great urgency. His Majesty ordered a self-investigation which did not satisfy the Saint. Now by sending this man to take charge, it’s clear he wants to oversee the matter. Just cooperate with him as best as you can. Whatever he intends to do, as long as it’s not out of line, let him be. And also…"

He paused briefly, the first-rank military officer, known as the "Military God", spoke earnestly,

"Make sure to instruct your subordinates not to give him any handle on this crucial juncture of his temporary assignment."

Shi Meng was startled, his eyes shifting slightly,

"You’re worried about His Majesty…"

Xue Shence waved his hand, choosing not to say more, simply ordering him to withdraw and ponder for himself.

Shi Meng took his leave with a clasped fist.

Leaving the Secretariat.

His massive frame like a small hill, he mounted a fierce horse of the army. On his way back to the camp, he pondered continuously.

In his mind, he recalled the recent rumors spreading throughout the army.

Namely,

The literary officials’ conflicts at court had momentarily ceased, and it was highly possible that the Saint would free up his hands to reorganize the military generals.

So… the meaning of the Secretariat Envoy’s words was... afraid that a group of arrogant and fierce generals might cause trouble, creating a pretext for His Majesty to act…

Yes, that must be the case.

But...

"Trouble indeed." The Commander held the reins, feeling a headache coming on.

The military generals were bold and fierce, holding strong camaraderie. Not to mention the Divine Mechanism Camp Colonel, Zhang Changji, who was killed by Zhao Douan—although it was a minor issue involving Prince Jing Mansion.

The key issue was, not long ago, experts from the Kuangfu Society had continuously assassinated officials. Whether intentionally or not, a significant portion of the victims were military officers.

Especially the first deceased junior banner officer; reportedly, his brother, in a moment of agitation, had cursed a few times and was thrown into prison by the minions under Zhao Douan, severely tortured and handled ruthlessly.

Coupled with some instigators spreading rumors, it left some military officers in the camp harboring grievances. Now with Zhao Douan parachuting into the Divine Mechanism Camp, how to pacify the subordinates...

Especially with that young master from the Duke’s family leading the military honors’ descendants... It was indeed a difficult problem.

Hopefully, his words as "Commander" would have some effect.

And...

The traitors siding with Prince Jing Mansion...

Shi Meng looked worried.

Unknowingly, the Capital Camp was in sight.

…

…

"Clang!"

Deep within the Imperial Court, inside a solitary confinement cell for female prisoners.

Accompanied by the sound of a door opening in the corridor, Yun Xi, curled up on a bed strewn with straw, suddenly woke up groggily from her timeless slumber.

In the darkness, the slender and neatly-featured girl, dressed in prisoner clothes, had disheveled hair and her skin, scarcely exposed to sunlight for months, appeared sickly pale.

She blinked her eyes, looking toward the high "品"-shaped vent in the prison cell, where a beam of light shot through carrying floating dust.

"Daytime..."

Yun Xi murmured softly, eagerly climbing up and walking to the wall, lit by the beam.

With a small stone, she carved another mark on the wall.

The gray-black walls of the cell were filled with marks, tallying her time in prison.

As an "Abandoned Child" discarded by Zhuang Xiaocheng, Yun Xi suspected she had been completely forgotten.

The last interrogation was several months ago.

Imperial Censor, Lv Liang, had tried to take her to the Ministry of Justice in the prison carriage but was stopped by Yun Li.

Since then, Yun Xi grew increasingly angry, passing on the information she held about Lv Liang to that detestable Zhao Douan via a prison guard.

After that, silence; no further news.

Days later, Yun Xi was suddenly moved from the government office’s great jail to the notorious Imperial Prison, known as purgatory.

Yun Xi had been utterly thrilled, thinking her time as a rebel was finally meeting a brutal interrogation.

Bring it on!

The eighteen kinds of torture!

She was ready.

She would rather sacrifice herself, cruelly killed by the minions of the Fake Emperor, to die for the ideal of supporting the state rather than suffer the agony of being forgotten.

But then...

She was disappointed again!

Even in the Imperial Prison, she still couldn’t escape the fate of being forgotten, and somehow...

The accommodations and meals were even better than when she was at the government office...

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Yun Xi moved away from the wall, sitting on her tiny bed like a walking corpse.

With both hands, she supported the large "PRISONER" caption written across her prison uniform, feeling the heavy weight of her flesh.

No tears left to cry.

The days seemed to stretch longer...

"When will such days ever end?" Yun Xi sighed to the heavens.

Suddenly, she was shocked to find that the sound of footsteps in the corridor was getting closer.

But it clearly wasn’t mealtime.

Until the prison guard escorted a woman, a few years older and slightly less comely than herself, and threw her into Yun Xi’s cell before turning to leave.

It then dawned on Yun Xi’s slow mind that she seemed...

to have a "roommate" now.

She couldn’t hide her excitement, yet she approached cautiously, nudged the woman lying on the ground with her toe, a woman who seemed to have suffered much punishment.

She spoke awkwardly,

"Are you... okay?"

The woman acting under the alias Qing Niao slowly rose, her expression distant as she looked at her.

Their eyes met and both women paused, eyes wide.

Then, simultaneously, they exclaimed,

"Yun Xi?!"

"Qing Niao?!"

...

After a moment,

in the Imperial Prison, the two women performed a scene of recognition.

They were former acquaintances.

Initially at the headquarters of the Kuangfu Society, they had studied together for a while before parting ways—Yun Xi following Zhuang Xiaocheng, and Qing Niao following the Thousand Faces God.

It had been several years since they last met.

"How did you get arrested too? Did Thousand Faces come to the Capital?"

Yun Xi anxiously helped the frail Qing Niao to her small bed, eager for outside news.

She was too desperate for information from the outside world.

Now no longer a maidservant, the real name of "Qing Niao," whose expression was melancholic, said:

"Thousand Faces has been captured, yes, but I didn’t see it myself; I heard it from the prison guard. I had been abandoned by him as an ’Abandoned Child’ before that."

Yun Xi paused, feeling a strange sense of empathy.

But Master Zhuang certainly hadn’t abandoned her; he was simply powerless to take her with him.

As Qing Niao continued her story, Yun Xi was utterly flabbergasted.

The new leader was ambushed... changes in the court... Zhao Duan in collaboration with the tributor of the palace plotted everything...

"Wait!" Yun Xi grabbed her, her lips trembling, eyes agitated:

"You’re saying Zhao Duan captured Thousand Faces? He also killed the Cold Frost Sword? He’s just a pretty boy from the White Horse Hall, how could he have such capabilities? And what is his connection to the Imperial Court?"

Qing Niao gave her a strange look, then it dawned on her:

"You’ve been locked up here too long, unaware of the changes outside. That Zhao Duan has long since changed, even Grandmaster Zhuang considers him a major enemy, listen to me..."

In a while.

From Qing Niao’s account, Yun Xi filled in the past few months’ numerous changes outside and Zhao Duan’s various schemes.

Yun Xi, like a broken doll, just sat dumbly on the cold, little broken bed, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

"He? How is that possible..."

...

...

In the following days, the Capital entered a rare period of stability.

On the court, the major factions ceased their strife, and the implementation of new policies was orderly, though it was destined to be a long-term project.

Not achievable overnight.

Zhao Duan had not forgotten, he still had the task of arresting Zhuang Xiaocheng.

He attempted to obtain information from the Thousand Faces God but received little of value.

It was unclear whether it was because he was tight-lipped or truly ignorant.

You Zhande and his family, after being ambushed in South City, were rescued and had survived.

Though severely injured by the Thousand Faces God, You Zhande inevitably needed to recuperate for much of the year.

Zhao Duan unexpectedly showed a "soft heart" and did not pursue the matter further.

Rather, You Zhande had someone send a letter to Lihua Hall, full of thanks.

Claiming that if Zhao Duan ever visited Xiping Road and had any requests, the You family would not hesitate to die at his command.

Maintaining a very apologetic and cooperative attitude.

Subsequently, he took his wife and children and left the Capital, returning to his hometown.

Meanwhile,

Zhao Duan’s promotion to fourth-rank came belatedly, along with the imperial decree appointing him as a Commissioner Commander.

The official community was slightly buzzed for a while.

Jumping from sixth-rank to fourth-rank was indeed rare, but considering his achievements, it was deserved, and few spoke ill of him.

In the days that followed, Zhao Duan continually hosted banquets at his home, welcoming both known and unknown officials; he received so many congratulatory gifts his hands grew weary.

Especially prominent figures from the court like Yuann Li and Dong Xuan sent congratulatory gifts, showing him great face.

Even though many officials secretly dreaded and despised "Yama Zhao," it didn’t stop them from reluctantly giving gifts.

"Who gives gifts, Yama Zhao might not remember, but who doesn’t, Yama Zhao’s little notebook definitely keeps a clear record."

This phrase, coming from nowhere, spread rapidly.

Suddenly causing the number of gifts to surge again.

One evening, when the Zhao family of three closed their doors to light the lamps and open their gifts,

Zhao Pan curiously asked her brother a question about who had slandered him.

Zhao Duan, slightly embarrassed, lightly tapped his younger sister’s head with a box containing a hundred-year-old ginseng, scolded with a laugh:

"Mind your own business, little girl."

Zhao Pan felt indignant as she was not a little girl.

...

Fall had come to the Capital.

This was confirmed by Zhao Duan this morning when he got up and noticed the slightly icy dew on the window.

And as he yawned, got out of bed, and dressed in his brand-new dark azure military officer’s uniform, when he pushed open the door,

he squinted at the splendid chrysanthemums in the courtyard, his gaze inadvertently passing over the wall towards the south of the city.

He had not forgotten.

Today was the day for the new officer to take up his post.