The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Zuo Rong? The thug from the Cao Gang? Governor Ning's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the person.

After retching, He Xiaolou barely managed to cover his pale lips with a handkerchief and slowly shook his head: "I don't know this person... nor is he under the Cao Gang. I suppose... it's some bandits from the Martial World framing us..."

Zhao Douan replied with a leisurely "Oh," and said slowly, "Framing, is it? However, before this person died, he revealed the code and method of contacting the Cao Gang. I was curious and sent a message to you, Boss He, as per his method. Didn't you receive it?"

He Xiaolou's face turned even paler as he adamantly denied, "Lord, you misunderstand, I indeed received no such message."

"Is that so? Then why doesn't Boss He call upon your subordinate Zuo Rong to face him directly?"

"...Well, Zuo Rong went home to visit relatives a few days ago, he's not in Jianning Prefecture."

"Oh, conveniently went home at this time," Zhao Douan sighed softly and suddenly picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table, his smile disappearing: "It seems you don't quite understand my way of handling cases."

He Xiaolou looked back blankly and then saw Zhao Douan flick his wrist suddenly, the two chopsticks in his hand shot out like flying knives.

"Puff!"

"Puff!"

With two consecutive sounds, they pierced into the scapulae of the Cao Gang leader with such force that He Xiaolou was dragged off his seat and slammed hard against the screen behind him.

"Ah!"

Amidst a scream, He Xiaolou was nailed to the screen by two chopsticks!

Governor Ning's eye twitched wildly, staring at this favored minister of the Empress he had never met, filled with astonishment.

Zhao Douan slowly reached out, grabbed the precious sword on the table, stood up, walked to He Xiaolou, and said calmly, "I have no interest in small talk anymore. I'll give you three breaths to tell me who instructed you to do this."

He Xiaolou cried out in pain: "Lord, I..."

"One."

The sword in Zhao Douan's hand flashed, and with a puff, a big hole was poked in He Xiaolou's leg.

He Xiaolou, in pain nearly to the point of fainting, said, "It wasn't me..."

"Two."

Zhao Douan twisted the sword hilt, and the other leg was also pierced, blood gushing out.

Then, he drew out the blood-stained sword tip, pressing it against He Xiaolou's legs.

Finally overwhelmed by fear, He Xiaolou nearly screamed as he said, "It was the Shen family! The Shen family coerced me into doing it!"

The Shen family?!

Zhao Douan and Ning Zechen's hearts were moved simultaneously, both feeling it was not surprising.

In Jianning Prefecture, the only ones with motive and ability to commit such an act would be Prince Jing Mansion and the Shen family, with the Shen family being most suspicious.

"It's absolutely true! Mr. Shen passed away some days ago. Governor Ning pushed for the New Policy and targeted the Shen family. They found me..."

He Xiaolou, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, recounted the process of how they approached him, instructed, and threatened him, as if he had recited it countless times in his heart.

Zhao Douan furrowed his brow slightly, walked slowly back to the table, casually tossed the sword among the dishes, and smiled at the Shipping Governor: "It seems that handling a case isn't so difficult."

"..." Ning Zechen took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed solemnly: "Today, I am..."

"No need to say more," Zhao Douan interrupted him with a gentle smile, "The governor came to the banquet alone, showing courage. I have long admired you, Lord Ning, while in the capital."

Is this... not pursuing the matter anymore? Ning Zechen's impression of this rumored favored minister of the Empress changed again.

Upon careful consideration, though his ways are indeed as domineering and arrogant as rumored, it is clear that he acts with a methodical approach, worthy of being able to continuously crack major cases and even personally arrest Zhuang Xiaocheng as Junior Guardian Zhao.

"Lord, you flatter me. May I ask about my wife and them..."

"Don't worry, your wife and daughter are unharmed, just a bit scared. They are now staying in an inn in the city. If the governor wishes to see them, why not follow me to fetch them back?" Zhao Douan asked with a smile.

Governor Ning took a deep breath: "I would be delighted!"

"Good," Zhao Douan laughed heartily, called the Inner Palace Experts downstairs, and casually instructed, "Take He Xiaolou back, I still have use for him. As for the miscellaneous fish below..."

Ning Zechen said: "If you trust me, Lord, you can send someone with my waist plaque to the Cao Transport Office, someone will handle it properly."

Mr. Wen will handle it, right... though he is also my man... Zhao Douan muttered in his heart, smiling gently, "Alright."

...

...

Less than half an hour later, Zhao Douan and Governor Ning's party returned to the inn where he was staying.

By now, it was completely dark, and when the group entered the backyard of the inn, Mrs. Ning and the attentive, straightforward young woman who came out upon hearing the news also saw Ning Zechen entering the courtyard.

"Husband——"

"Daddy——"

The joyful shouts, after a long period of anxiety, filled the hearts of the mother and daughter with relief as they happily embraced Governor Ning.

Soon, there was the typical family reunion scene where they survived the crisis and met to ask about each other's situation and express their heartfelt sentiments.

"Master, if it weren't for Mr. Zhao's timely rescue, we would have been harmed by those villains long ago," Mrs. Ning, elegant and serene, spoke up graciously.

The young woman also nodded like a pecking chick: "Mr. Zhao treated us very well. When I mentioned that my father said he was a good son-in-law, mother pinched me and wouldn't let me say it, but Mr. Zhao didn't get angry; he even laughed loudly."

Ning Zechen and his wife: "..."

"Ahem," observing from not far away, Zhao Douan cleared his throat gently, breaking the awkward atmosphere, first asking the two women to return to the house, then straightforwardly sat down in the courtyard with this capable official to discuss serious matters.

Governor Ning, eager to show himself, quickly explained the current situation in detail: "...Overall, the implementation of the New Policy faces significant resistance. I originally intended to tackle the Shen family, the hard obstacle, first. As long as the Shen family nods in agreement, then dealing with the other observing, smaller scholarly families will be much easier. Unfortunately, their influence is deeply rooted, and I'm lacking capable people under my command, which is why I've repeatedly submitted memorials to the court, requesting new officials."