The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 671 - 453. If the mountain doesn’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain (5k)

Chapter 671: 453. If the mountain doesn’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain (5k)

Zhao Douan crossed the last step with a smile in his eyes, calmly surveying the two bewildered people in the room.

At this moment, most of the sunset had sunk into the ground, with sunlight streaming through the windows of the Zhu Pavilion, casting half shadow, half light on the floor.

He stood precisely on the border between light and shadow.

Behind him, the entire first floor had been taken over by Eunuch Hai and his men, with the Cao Gang thugs standing no chance against the Inner Palace Experts.

"Governor Ning, what does this mean?!" Beside the table, He Xiaolou’s expression changed, staring at Ning Zechen, subconsciously assuming the young man ascending the stairs was an accomplice arranged by the latter.

But Ning Zechen wore a similar expression of surprise and confusion. He stood up, carefully scrutinizing the newcomer, only feeling that the face was quite familiar, yet not knowing where he had seen it before.

"The Governor doesn’t recognize Zhao, no surprise. But you must know that Zhao has been preparing to arrive in Jianning Prefecture these days." Zhao Douan walked leisurely, speaking with a faint smile.

Thunder from a clear sky!

At this moment, the Second Rank official holding real power in Jianning Prefecture felt as if struck by lightning, a flash of insight crossing his mind, blurting out: "Junior Guardian Zhao from the Capital?"

Zhao Douan nodded and corrected, "On this trip, I am handling matters for the Saint, the Governor may call me Lord."

White Horse Zhao! The top favorite in the Capital, a legendary figure who has been blazing red in the sky, extremely likely to become the Future Emperor’s Consort.

Ning Zechen opened his mouth, suddenly engulfed by a strong sense of unreality, not understanding why this official from the Capital appeared abruptly here.

No... what’s worse, appearing in this scenario.

"Junior Guardian Zhao... Lord Zhao... is it him?!" He Xiaolou’s pupils also contracted sharply, and the fan in his hand gripped so tightly his knuckles turned white.

A thunderous roar surged in his heart, as if struck by lightning, revealing an expression of disbelief accompanied by intense fear!

The reputation of a person, the shadow of a tree.

In his position, of course, he had seen portraits of Zhao Douan and knew of his methods and prowess.

Suddenly, the thought that something terrible was happening flashed through his mind. He Xiaolou rushed to the window, leaning against the frame to bend and look down.

"Boss He, no need to look, when I came upstairs, there was a minor clash with the people below, at least taught them a small lesson." Zhao Douan smiled, walking over to the round table, and said:

"Hope Boss He doesn’t mind?"

He Xiaolou’s forehead was covered with fine sweat. Where was the easy-going composure that controlled a Second Rank official just now?

His body turned back stiffly, forcing out a smile like someone whose father had just died: "No... I don’t mind."

"Haha," Zhao Douan laughed heartily, pulling out a chair and sitting down at his leisure, glancing at the sumptuous dishes and the sword left on the table, and nonchalantly greeted:

"Why are you all standing? Sit down and talk, sit down and talk."

As if he were the host of this banquet.

Ning Zechen:...

He Xiaolou:...

Both remained silent, unsure of the situation, and had to sit back down, but the negotiation atmosphere from earlier was entirely gone.

Zhao Douan smiled, waiting for a while, jokingly said: "Why not continue? You can continue your discussion as if I am not here."

The minds of the official and bandit were racing with countless thoughts, thinking who dares to act as if you are not present?

Zhao Douan sighed lightly, saying helplessly: "Since neither of you are speaking, it falls on me to say something. Haha, when I entered the city today, I had intended to call on Governor Ning, but found him absent, so I had to seek him out."

Both remained silent.

Zhao Douan continued leisurely, "My hearing is rather good, I faintly heard the two of you upstairs mentioning that Governor Ning’s wife and daughter were captured by water bandits? Is this true?"

Ning Zechen had no choice but to speak up now, stiffly saying: "Indeed it is true..."

He Xiaolou quickly added: "Governor Ning is a benefactor to our Cao Gang; upon learning of the disappearance of his wife and daughter, he entrusted the Cao Gang to find them..."

"Oh—" Zhao Douan dragged out the sound, alternating between smiling and scrutinizing both, saying: "So, is Governor Ning here tonight to ask Boss He for help in rescuing them?"

Ning Zechen didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

Zhao Douan continued, "That’s quite a coincidence, on my way to Jianning Prefecture, I happened to encounter a group of water bandits attacking passing merchant ships. After intervening in the rescue, I saved a mother and daughter claiming to be the Governor’s wife."

Ning Zechen looked up abruptly, disbelievingly staring at him, excitedly asked: "Lord, are these words... true?!"

But immediately, he felt skeptical: if his wife and daughter were not in the hands of the Cao Gang, why would He Xiaolou dare to negotiate?

Could there be a misunderstanding?

He Xiaolou’s eyebrows twitched wildly, feigning joy: "Is this true?"

Zhao Douan laughed, "Would I be so bored as to make up such a joke? Bring it."

He suddenly clapped his hands.

Soon, footsteps came from the stairs, and an accompanying Inner Palace Expert came up, holding a square wooden box with both hands.

It was placed in front of He Xiaolou and then retreated.

He Xiaolou suddenly felt a strong sense of unease, but under the smiling and steadfast gaze of Zhao Douan, he could only furrow his brows and tentatively use both hands to slowly lift the lid of the black square wooden box.

"Bang."

The box opened, a gush of bloody stench mixed with cold air burst forth, and inside was a bloody human head, surrounded by ice to prevent decay.

"Ugh—"

He Xiaolou’s face instantly turned deathly pale, retching violently, the folding fan in his hand hitting the ground with a "clang."

Governor Ning also caught a glimpse of the head inside the box, his heart pounding with fear.

Zhao Douan’s smile didn’t change, speaking eloquently: "The person in the box was the leader of that group of water bandits, quite ferocious, actually a Divine Chapter Warrior. Fortunately, I had many followers with me to capture this person. Before his death, he claimed to be ’Zuo Rong,’ assertively stating he was under Boss He. I wonder if what he said was true?"