The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Song Jinxi chuckled and said, "Mo Zhaorong is resting in the room. As for Mr. Zhao, he just went out. Do you need him for something?"

"No, nothing." Nie Yurong waved her hand, turned around and returned to her room. After turning, her eyes became suddenly profound.

Judging from Song Jinxi's reaction and the lenient treatment she received, she concluded she wasn't suspected and had successfully infiltrated the government office.

But Nie Yurong did not plan to gather military intelligence—her goal was to find an opportunity to assassinate Zhao Douan, and if that failed, settle for assassinating Mo Zhaorong.

Only by killing someone of that level would the war's balance be significantly affected.

However, according to intelligence, Zhao Douan's cultivation was exceptional, so Nie Yurong dared not act rashly and could only slowly wait for an opportunity.

"Hmph, what about the Worldly Realm? As long as it's a human, there will be moments of laxity, and they can be killed. Through the ages, many Strong people have been assassinated due to negligence."

Nie Yurong's eyes were cold. As one of the top assassins of the Embroidered Robe Envoy, she had immense patience.

Just need to wait.

However, she did not notice that after she turned away, the smile on Song Jinxi's otherwise smiling face slowly faded, and his eyes turned cold.

Staring at her back, the eunuch, who was the most skilled in assassination within the Inner Court Tributors, stood like a ghost.

Next door, Jin Jian, who was sprawled on the bed and snoring, suddenly stretched and mumbled something in his sleep before drifting off again.

Yu Xiu, sitting cross-legged beside him, sighed softly and closed her eyes.

...

Lu Mansion.

Zhao Douan was placed alone in a courtyard of rather luxurious architectural style, where the setting was elegant and filled with scholarly air.

Especially the clusters of plantain trees in the courtyard, which were particularly lush, and a pond that housed a group of fat, white geese.

Zhao Douan praised the environment highly and was quite satisfied. As he hadn't eaten lunch yet, he ordered the Lu Family's servants to pluck and roast the fat geese in the courtyard to eat.

Finding the servant girls clumsy, he deliberately summoned the wives and concubines of Lu Mansion to accompany him in conversation and to relieve his boredom, inquiring about the city's customs and culture.

Among the Lu Family's three sons, the youngest was unmarried, while the elder sons' wives and concubines were each exquisitely beautiful and gentle. When summoned by Zhao Douan, they initially acted like virtuous women, but once they saw Zhao Douan's demeanor and appearance, they immediately "compromised for the greater good."

"My lord, please drink this icy mist fruit wine from our mansion, it is most refreshing." The matron held the wine jug with dainty hands, shyly and timidly offering mulled wine to Yama Zhao.

Looking at the fruit platter, the chilled, mist-covered vessel, and the sparkling, translucent wine, Zhao Douan sighed lightly, "The soaring prices in the city and the grain shortage for the common people create quite a contrast to the scene within the Lu Mansion."

The matron was taken aback, with her expression slightly stiffening, vaguely sensing that something was amiss with the atmosphere.

The second lady beside her, younger and introverted, said little but frequently glanced at Zhao Douan's face with her heart pounding like a deer. When Zhao Douan occasionally looked over, she would hurriedly turn her head away, feigning fear.

Ah… do any heirs of great families marry and take concubines for love? It's all just superficial playacting.

Nonetheless, Zhao Douan could imagine how the Lu Family's male members, wind-blocking outside, must feel quite stifled.

Occupying their nest and commandeering their wives and concubines for company… wouldn't that make one angry? Yet, this Lu Family really knows how to endure.

But… if you all can endure so well, how shall I find fault and deal with you?

Zhao Douan sighed softly, picked up the chilled fruit wine imbued with the matron's affection, and drank it.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Zhao Douan looked up and smiled, waving his hand to dismiss the two young wives of the Lu family who were accompanying him. He then patted the short wooden chair beside him, warmed by the matron's seat, and said, "Governor Sun, perfect timing; the roast goose is just ready, sit down and have some."

Sun Xiaozhun came over with a wry smile, sat down heavily, and looked at the scenery of the plantain pond and the roast goose and fruit wine snacks, smiling bitterly, "The governor here is quietly terrifying us. The dignitaries in town are frantic like ants, rushing over here."

Zhao Douan glanced at the gradually setting sun, smiled, and said, "Is it the Lu Family who sent you the message?"

Sun Xiaozhun paused for a moment, nodded, and said, "I was busy settling the barracks affairs when I got the news and thought to come and see. The Lu Family didn't say much."

Zhao Douan took a sip of wine and sneered, "They don't have to say anything, nor can they tell if you were informed beforehand of today's feast. But having their magistrate here surely puts them more at ease than me being here alone. Haha, people always feel more secure with familiar faces around. Just like this military provision issue, didn't Governor Sun find the local gentry hard to handle before?"

Sun Xiaozhun's heart skipped a beat, cold sweat dripping down: "Governor, I never favored the Lu Family. In dealing with military provisions, I've been gentle because of the pressing enemy and needing support from this group of gentry… That's why..."

He was worried about being held accountable, as ineffectively urging for military provisions could either mean the Lu Family's refusal to provide or that he, as the magistrate, took bribes and didn't exert effort… it's hard to say.

Zhao Douan laughed, "Governor Sun, don't be nervous. I have faith in your character. I understand that being a magistrate in Taicang Prefecture, you can't completely disregard the local tyrants' faces, so let me be the one to offend people."

He smiled slightly, "Consider me here today to back you up."

Sun Xiaozhun paused, swallowing nervously and couldn't help but ask, "What is the governor planning to do today?"

"You just wait and see," Zhao Douan said, watching the last bit of sunset fall, then smiled and stood up, "Come, the banquet is about to begin."