The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 299 - 263, The Day the Imperial Court was Humiliated

"Saliva…"

In the empty second-floor tea house, when Zhao Douan frivolously uttered this sentence, Xu Junling was stunned.

The smile on the face of this noble young lady from the Royal Mansion froze.

Her posture holding the teacup also paused, as if she hadn't heard clearly, or didn't dare to believe it.

Instead, standing at the top of the stairs as the only "third party", the maid after a moment of stupor, incredulously exclaimed:

"How audacious! You actually dare to take liberties…"

The maid shouted half a sentence before suddenly remembering something and dramatically lowered her voice,

Afraid that her shout might be heard by others, she lost all momentum because of this action.

Xu Junling was jolted awake by this sentence, a trace of deep red suddenly flew across the delicate cheeks of this Jiangnan water town's lady.

Her red lips involuntarily pursed, as she threw the teacup onto the table.

Then, only after a moment, did she become aware of her anger, her face turned cold, and still barely able to believe what she was hearing,

"Mr. Zhao, what did you say just now?"

Heh… indeed, the best way to break the composure of a well-mannered noble maiden is always so simple and crude…

Zhao Douan held a smile, his eyes focusing on the pearly teeth between her red lips, watching the strands of saliva that clung there, and said:

"The Commandery Princess's saliva…"

"Shut up!" Xu Junling's face slightly changed color as she stared at him,

"Mr. Zhao, aren't you afraid my imperial sister will hear of you speaking in such a manner?"

Zhao Douan, without any inhibition, raised his hand and gestured around the second floor, saying carelessly:

"Here, there are only you and your servant, along with me. How would Your Majesty know? Or are you, Commandery Princess, intending to report to Your Majesty? Do you think that Your Majesty would believe you?"

Xu Junling paused for a moment.

Would the Empress believe it? It wasn't a question of belief, but she would never even consider telling outsiders.

Not because of her reputation, but because of her position.

As one of the "Eight Princes" and closely connected with the scholarly family groups behind the "Li Party",

Xu Junling, with this identity, absolutely couldn't "slander" Zhao Douan to the Empress, nor could she spread it to others.

Because it would be interpreted as sowing discord, and a very low-level form of it at that.

Or possibly as rumors spread by rebels.

Therefore, this was the reason why the other party was so unscrupulously teasing her with his words…

It was a certainty that there was no risk, that even if it were spread everywhere, no one would believe it…

"Mr. Zhao, do you find it amusing to act this way?" Xu Junling calmed herself down and swiftly adjusted her emotions.

Zhao Douan continued to pour tea for her with a smile:

"As a person of learning and status, the Commandery Princess should know that as a 'younger sister', to jest about the 'elder sister's' relationship with a man is extremely rude."

"…" Xu Junling was suddenly at a loss for words, thinking to herself:

The rumors are indeed true; Mr. Zhao really holds grudges. With just the slightest probe from her, she had received such a retort.

"Mr. Zhao overthinks it; I didn't mean to disrespect my imperial sister."

Xu Junling took a light breath, stood up to leave:

"However, it is indeed improper for a man and a woman who are alone to stay together. Lv Shui, let's go."

So, she is leaving? Not probing further?

Zhao Douan narrowed his eyes, watching Xu Junling turn around, call her maid, and head downstairs.

He sneered, saying mockingly:

"Oh, one more thing. The fashion in the Capital is much more liberal compared to the Huai River area; there's no need for the Commandery Princess to tightly bind her chest with silk ribbons for the sake of ladylike decorum, which causes even her speech to lack vigor, truly not forthright.

Why hide the beautiful scenery? Why skulk around? Thinking that the way you dress might look unflattering? Wrong, the magnificent landscapes are what truly captivate."

Xu Junling's breath and steps faltered.

The maid beside her, enraged, was restrained by her raised hand.

The wealthy Commandery Princess took a deep breath, didn't turn around, and sarcastically said:

"Mr. Zhao, instead of wasting time critiquing others, why not consider how to ensure that the Capital doesn't descend into chaos? As far as I know, Chai Keqiao from Martial Emperor City is heading to the Imperial Court."

After dropping this line, she descended the stairs and disappeared outside.

Leaving Zhao Douan momentarily struck,

The frivolous facade on his face vanished, with no trace left of the careless libertine.

...

...

Under Zhao Douan's command, the conflict on the street came to an end, and Lv Qingfeng followed the Commandery Princess away.

The big man and the martial artist woman were also released, disappearing into the crowd.

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Only this interlude remained, spread by word of mouth, becoming a discussion bound to be shrouded in mystery.

Alongside a quiet street.

Inside a luxurious carriage.

Xu Junling quietly waited for a while, then saw the maid Lv Shui enter, and softly asked:

"How is Master Lv?"

The maid replied: "The injury is not severe, but he needs to rest for a while."

Xu Junling gently nodded, relieved, and took out a porcelain bottle:

"Take this pill to Master Lv."

The maid Lv Shui received it, then asked, "What arrangements have been made on their side?"

The "they" she referred to were the big man and martial artist woman who had also served as guards for the Commandery Princess.

Xu Junling sighed softly, saying helplessly:

"Let them come straight back, no need to pretend not to know each other anymore, Zhao Douan has already seen through it."

Lv Shui was greatly surprised: "He saw through it so early? Then…"

Xu Junling's gaze turned serious, saying thoughtfully:

"This man clearly forced me out on purpose. His crude and frivolous words, his filthy language, must also be a tactic to gain control over the conversation.

In just a short quarter of an hour of talking with me, he managed to grasp my style, knew my many considerations, using teasing words to break and shift the topic, disrupting the opponent's conversation rhythm…"

"It seems that my imperial sister has truly raised a formidable person."

Here we go again...

Lü Shui was no stranger to her Commandery Princess's habit of speculation and analysis, and she remarked,

"So, in this round, we've been defeated?"

Xu Junling smiled, exuding contentment,

"Of course not, at most he gained some verbal advantage. At least I now have a general understanding of his character.

The goal has been achieved.

Moreover, he must be anxiously rushing back by now, ha, let's see if he can still be as arrogant after losing face."

Lü Shui seemed to half-understand and half-not, responding with a muffled "Oh."

Xu Junling picked up a scroll and listened to the rain as she flipped through the pages.

But for some reason, Mr. Zhao's last words kept echoing in her ears.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on her chest.

Remembering the scene a few days ago of spending the night in the Empress' bedroom and bathing with her imperial sister, she was suddenly distracted.

The magnificent scenery of mountains and rivers, isn't it the most captivating... It seemed, not at all wrong.

...

...

"Clip-clop..."

Elsewhere, after seeing off the Commandery Princess, Zhao Douan, finding that Eunuch Hai had not returned, left a note.

Then, he descended alone, mounted his horse, and braved the wind and rain, quickly heading back to the government office.

"Xu Junling, oh Xu Junling... if you dare to fool me, this will not be forgotten..."

While riding, Zhao Douan kept using his inner strength to shake off the rain that landed on his body.

Muttering to himself,

He was not entirely sure how truthful Xu Junling's last words were.

However, since the other party had accurately mentioned "Chai Keqiao," it was worth making the trip.

Shortly, when Zhao Douan reached the main gate of the Imperial Court, he leaped off his horse and asked the gatekeeper,

"Has anything happened in the government office? Has anyone from outside come in?"

The officer, upon hearing this, trembled as if he had seen his pillar of strength,

"Master Zhao, you're back at last, please come in and see for yourself."

Zhao Douan felt his heart sink.

Without wasting words with him, he threw the reins and strode into the government office.

His ears perked up, following the direction of the loudest voices, quickly arriving at Governor Hall.

He saw the usually serene courtyard of the hall now teeming with people, all of them Jinyi government officers from various departments.

He immediately spotted his subordinates from Lihua Hall and ordered sternly,

"Make way! What's all this about, crowding around here?"

With a low shout, the crowd turned to look at him, then followed with a messy chorus of calls for "Master Zhao."

The young secretary Qian Kerou was also there, her eyes lighting up as she ran over quickly and said,

"Sir, you're back at last. Not long ago, a strange-appearing Martial Artist came to the government office, claiming to be Chai Keqiao, and as soon as he entered, he declared he wanted to challenge the court's top fighters.

The first to receive him was Mr. Hai.

After that, he sequentially challenged the masters of the eight halls.

When he reached our Lihua Hall, seeing that you were not around, he left."

Another challenge?

Will this never end?!

A surge of anger inexplicably burst through Zhao Douan's heart as he demanded,

"What about the Lord? Isn't the Lord here?"

Qian Kerou shook her head,

"The Lord went out on business this morning, and has yet to return."

Zhao Douan took a deep breath and with a stern face walked towards the interior of Governor Hall.

The densely packed Jinyi officials parted like waves to either side.

As he entered Governor Hall, he saw all the masters of the halls slumped in their chairs next to the large meeting table.

Each person's face was pale, bloodless, their breaths weak and unsteady.

They all appeared to be recuperating and adjusting their breath.

Many of them had various minor injuries.

Seeing him enter, they all turned to look at him, their eyes revealing their shame.

"How are the injuries?" Zhao Douan asked urgently.

Zhang Han, the stoic face of Nine Halls and the first of them, moved his lips slightly and shook his head,

"It's nothing serious, we have just light wounds... But... *cough cough*, our Qi Sea has been shaken, and we feel a bit powerless."

His hands were cracked at the tiger's mouth, but now they were already bandaged with medicine.

Zhao Douan silently breathed a sigh of relief, his expression grim,

"Is it the direct disciple of Wu Xiankui, Chai Keqiao who did this? Did you all lose?"

Haitang was also drained of strength, slumped in the chair, her expression weak, still instinctively retorting against him,

"Idiot... Do we look like winners to you... That man is really formidable. Zhang Han didn't last a few exchanges with him... I said this morning... that this man was not to be taken lightly... *cough cough*..."

Zhao Douan walked over, placed his hand on her shoulder, and used his inner strength to help her regulate her breath, frowning,

"Don't talk, you all need to rest."

One of the Master's followers indignantly said,

"Master Zhao, go find the Lord, this can't be overlooked. The court's face has been... *cough cough*."

At the side, an old acquaintance, Households Commander Zhou, explained with a bitter face,

"We've already sent someone to look for him, but the Lord can't return at once, and it's not good to... for this sort of thing..."

"I understand," Zhao Douan waved his hand, scanned the crowd with a cold gaze, and asked,

"Where is that Chai Keqiao!?"