The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 445 - 365, Princely Heir blocks the way, warship with dragon flag_2

"Hehe, I couldn't hide it from you," Zhao Douan said with a smile.

Old Tributor smacked his lips and suddenly glanced at Haitang, sighing:

"It's a pity His Majesty made the first move; otherwise, I really had the thought of taking you as a disciple."

Haitang looked on emotionlessly, glaring at him with annoyed eyes: "If you're talking about him, just talk about him; why are you looking at me?"

Hai Chunlin chuckled, not the least bit annoyed.

How many people in the entire court dared to talk to the old tributor like this? But those around had become accustomed to it.

"There's no need to be so serious," Zhao Douan said cheerfully, "If I had known earlier that you, Haitang, were related to Mr. Hai, we from the same hall should have been closer to each other."

Eunuch Hai had family when he entered the palace years ago.

At that time, they were a small household, willing to send offspring into the palace to become eunuchs.

After Hai Chunlin became a tributor, the "Hai family" on the outside eventually received care. Although not extremely wealthy, they had ensured a smooth century for the family.

In terms of seniority, Haitang's great-grandfather was Hai Chunlin's brother, a true blood relative.

She was also the second member of the Hai family with notable cultivation talent in a hundred years, apart from Hai Chunlin, and with her meticulous mind and solid work, she was able to join the service at the Imperial Court.

Mr. Hai was extremely fond of this great-granddaughter of his, but Haitang was someone who didn't wish to rely on her background, so very few were aware of their connection.

"Ah, to have such a substantial background and not use it, but instead insist on struggling by oneself—do all the children of rich and noble families have such serious issues?" Zhao Douan complained inwardly after learning of the relationship between the two; he had thought such things only happened in TV dramas, yet here was one right beside him.

"Mr. Zhao, call by titles when on duty."

Haitang rolled her eyes, signaling her refusal in a slightly mocking tone:

"If Mr. Zhao is concerned about his subordinates, you might want to check on those two over there."

Zhao Douan, helpless, followed her gaze towards a corner of the official vessel's deck.

Two other top guards arranged by Zhenbao were there—Lang Shiba and Ji Yue.

At the moment, the swordsman known as Lang Shiba sat cross-legged in a corner of the deck, his long hair obscuring one eye.

The blue cloth of his simple garment seemed thin, a sword lain across his knees. Beside him was an especially large green gourd, its mouth open, diffusing the fragrance of strong liquor.

Lang Shiba pinched a broken pottery bowl in his hand, gazing blankly, occasionally sipping from the bowl.

If he drank it dry, he would scoop another bowl from his large liquor gourd.

A "drunkard"...

Five steps away from him, the Magician "Ji Yue" was draped in red, with mostly whites in her pupils, giving her an almost ghostly appearance.

She was always damp and although the chains once restraining her wrists and ankles were gone, the scars from prolonged confinement and wear remained.

Ji Yue hung her head low, avoiding everyone's gaze, rarely speaking.

According to Zhao Douan's observations along the journey, she had a severe case of social anxiety...

"Eunuch, I've always wanted to ask, what are the backgrounds of these two people arranged by His Majesty?" Zhao Douan sighed, asking softly, "They don't seem very reliable."

The old tributor, with his hands behind his back and a smile as warm as an elder from a village, responded:

"Didn't I tell you? One came from the north, the other from the east."

I don't want to hear platitudes... Zhao Douan sighed gently and said:

"My observation these past days reveals that although Lang Shiba seems intoxicated, like a carefree Jianghu wanderer, he has an undiminishable military air, though not strong. Perhaps he was once a formidable soldier in the military? The north? Directly north of the Capital is Iron Pass Road, the territory of the Yanshan King...

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

But since he's in the Capital, he likely has no connection to the Yanshan King, and such a master shouldn't be unknown. Perhaps a person from Jubei City, where the court stations troops on Iron Pass Road? Am I right?"

"And as for Ji Yue, she has a severe case of social anxiety... Yes, social anxiety means the fear of interacting with people. Her accent is a bit strange, not like Qingzhou, nor like Coastal Road... She doesn't have the sun-darkened complexion typical of someone from Lingnan either, and occasionally she speaks some incomprehensible dialect. Could she be from the Thousand Islands of the East Sea? Not a person from the Great Yu Dynasty?"

Mr. Hai remained cheerful: "Haven't you guessed quite a lot?"

Zhao Douan replied with a bitter smile: "I'd like to know more details; otherwise, I can't use them with confidence."

Mr. Hai laughed heartily:

"What's there to worry about with what His Majesty provides? Be at ease; before you die, I guarantee these two will die in front of you."

The swordsman drunkard seemed not to hear the discussion and continued to stare blankly, drinking on his own.