The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"Heh heh, esteemed officials need not act like this; we serve in the same court, and I still rank lower than several of you here, so I really cannot bear such treatment."

Zhao Duan's smile was splendid as he first pacified the crowd and then indicated that he would not blame them, which allowed the group of civil officials to relax slightly.

"Doctor Feng," Zhao Duan sat at the head seat, picking up a blue-and-white tea bowl, took a sip, and then said indifferently,

"There are a few things I need you to do next."

"You say!"

"First, immediately arrest rebels throughout the city, paying special attention to places like clinics. If there are any injured suspects, do not alarm them; report it immediately."

"Second, summon the royal merchants to Zhuozheng Garden. I will personally meet them to reassure them."

"Thirdly, I just visited the place where Prince Jing is staying. For specifics about what I did, you can ask Hou Renmeng and then propagate this matter for me. By tonight, I want the entire city to know about it."

Zhao Duan fixed his gaze on him again, "Lastly, the meeting at Hu Ting will start tomorrow as usual. I will wait in Zhuozheng Garden for the results."

The officials exchanged looks, clearly understanding what was implied, and rose to affirm before hastily leaving to carry out their tasks.

After everyone had left, Haitang, who had been left behind to find Mrs. Xiao, approached somberly,

"Were you deliberately keeping me in the city?"

Zhao Duan smiled and said to his female colleague, "How could that be?"

Haitang, feeling indignant, responded, "It clearly was! I'm not weak! If I had been there, maybe we could have captured Qi Yuchun!"

To say such things, you are Eunuch Hai's descendant... In such a dangerous situation, taking you there yet unable to alter the outcome, wouldn't that indicate my lack of understanding? Jianghu is not only about fighting and killing, but also about the subtleties of human relationships...

Zhao Duan thought to himself critically.

Haitang, with a stern face, took out a bottle of healing medicine and bandages, about to speak, when she suddenly heard noises from outside the courtyard. It turned out to be the old eunuch in a python robe, accompanied by Ji Yue and Lang Shiba returning.

The three of them had evidently found out that Zhao Duan was safe, and as they entered, they too were quite surprised.

"I thought I was going to die because of you, kid."

Eunuch Hai, wearing a modest cotton robe with his white-flecked temples still damp with sweat,

Stepped inside, took a moment to assess Zhao Duan, tossed him the Cold Frost Sword, and sat down gruffly, summoning his granddaughter to rub his shoulders.

"Heh heh, who could have expected an assassin."

Zhao Duan, with a playful smile, briefly explained the situation, mentioning only that he had precautions in place. Eunuch Hai, old and cunning, asked no further.

Ji Yue and Lang Shiba, seeing he was unharmed, also breathed a sigh of relief and silently went to recuperate.

After a while talking in the hall, Zhao Duan also spoke about his return to the Capital and the disturbance he had caused at Prince Jing's place.

"Today's incident, while unlucky, forced Prince Jing to swallow this setback, and those neutrals will likely be further shaken as well."

Zhao Duan reflected with emotion.

He was still contemplating Prince Huaian's change of stance, but how precisely Prince Huaian would choose would be revealed tomorrow.

Haitang, having heard what had occurred, looked displeased, indignantly stated,

"Your Majesty should have just killed those princes. On the battlefield, we 'capture the king to capture the rebels.' If we had just killed them directly, what underhanded tactics would we need to fear?"

I hadn't realized, little Hai, you're quite extreme... Zhao Duan glanced at her.

Eunuch Hai, enjoying his grand-daughter's shoulder rub, heard this but with drooping eyelids, said irritably,

"Think less of such nonsensical things. Currently, Your Majesty is defamed by rebels, burdened with the accusations of fratricide and patricide, yet thankfully has not committed those acts. After all, Prince Jing is Your Majesty's uncle; if nothing outrageous is done publicly, how could we simply find a rationale to kill him under the table? Would you really have Your Majesty bear eternal infamy?"

After reprimanding his great-granddaughter, Eunuch Hai sighed and added, "Besides, do you think they could just be killed like that?"

"Isn't Your Majesty in the Heavenly Human Realm?" Haitang stubbornly argued, "There's nothing she can't kill."

Eunuch Hai shook his head and sighed,

"Your Majesty in the Capital, bolstered by the imperial Dragon Qi, naturally is a Celestial. Once outside the Capital, it's a different scenario altogether."

Zhao Duan remained silent, knowing that Eunuch Hai was referring to the "Fake Celestial," the "fake" part being particularly significant.

Being a fake undoubtedly has its drawbacks.

For the Empress, straying too far from the Capital would see her realm diminishing.

Haitang exclaimed in surprise, "Does Your Majesty's Dragon Qi lessen upon leaving the Capital?"

Eunuch Hai nodded, and after a moment's contemplation, added,

"It used to be so, which is why leaving the Capital wasn't possible. But as long as the throne is firmly held for a longer time, perhaps next year, it might be possible to venture a bit further. And if the whole realm truly aligns in loyalty, once the position is completely secured, then there would be no distinction throughout the territories of the Great Yu Dynasty."

Zhao Duan suddenly felt inspired:

If the Empress could slightly venture outside the Capital next year, could that mean the world order would undergo further changes?

Eunuch Hai gently patted his great-granddaughter's young hand with his wrinkled one and sighed,

"Without the Heavenly Human Realm, where would the princes conduct their killings, even if they managed to kill one, it would only incite the others to immediately create chaos… The court now is simply unable to bear the uproar from this group, not to mention if bandits increase, there would still be suppression issues, let alone the Vassal Kings..."

Zhao Douan smiled, "After the markets open, next year's fiscal deficit in the court will greatly ease, and we will then have the upper hand to repress the rebels."

Eunuch Hai glanced at him, "Do you think opening the market will be successful?"

"Most likely, by seventy to eighty percent."

Zhao Douan gave his answer, and looking towards the winter day outside, he softly said,

"We'll just have to wait and see."

...

That day, soldiers in Hu Ting City marched down alleys, rigorously hunting for the rebels, casting a solemn air throughout the city.

Meanwhile, the news of Zhao Douan surviving an assassination attempt unscathed, and then throwing a whip and discarding corpses at Prince Jing's residence, spread like wildfire. It took just one night to permeate all of Hu Ting.

That night, countless people found sleep elusive.

...

The following day, the day Hu Ting's markets opened.

Zhao Douan rose at dawn, didn't leave, but quietly had his breakfast in Zhuozheng Garden, then moved a chair outside to sunbathe in the courtyard, waiting for results.

He had done what he could.

Indeed, there was no need for him to attend this conference.

Time passed bit by bit.

In Zhuozheng Garden, only the chirping of birds was heard. Hu Ting City was unusually quiet today, as if brewing something that could change this decayed dynasty.

After an unknown amount of time.

Lying in the chair with a book spread over his face, Zhao Douan heard the distant mixed sounds of footsteps.

It was Feng Ju, hurrying back. This low-ranking but influential doctor, wearing an official robe and flushed with excitement, was almost running to Zhuozheng Garden.

Perhaps running too fast, he stumbled and face-planted near Zhao Douan, but disregarded it, nearly kneeling on the ground, looked up at Zhao Douan excitedly,

"Si… Sir…"

Zhao Douan raised his hand, slowly pulled the book off his face, looked at the rows of birds flying across the clear blue sky and the glaring winter sun, and asked, "How did it go?"

Feng Ju excitedly said,

"Family Head Xiao of Qingzhou led the way, and the rest of the neutral merchant families closely associated with Prince Huaian's Mansion also changed their stance... The market opening was a success! It was a great success!"

Zhao Douan's lips curled slightly, lazily flipped over, listening to Feng Ju's uncontrollable laughter, he muttered disdainfully,

"Look at you, absurd."

...

Da Feng Tower.

Roof.

Prince Huaian, listening to his son's and daughter's reports, this gluttonous prince with hands clasped behind his back, gazed towards the city gate at a procession of carriages exiting the city towards Jiancheng Road.

That was Prince Jing, already departed.

"Father, as per your instructions, today was supposed to be led by our person, but unexpectedly, that widow from Xiao family seized the spotlight. She has already become the imperial merchant,"

Xu Junling said, slightly regretfully.

Prince Huaian chuckled,

"Talented people rise in every generation; it seems I've underestimated this Zhao Douan."

"Father, what about our dealings with Her Majesty next..."

"Everything as usual, business is business, stances are stances, let's just...wait and see, next year, there will definitely be a change."

"Yes... Oh, Father, there seems to be something amiss with the Buddhist sector. It's not just the Esoteric Sect monks from the Western Regions coming to Great Yu, our people reported they saw traces of Bodhisattva Long Shu and Da Jing Master at Huai River and Linfeng."

...

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