The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1002 - 563: Hunt Operation 3

But none of this was Zhao Douan’s main focus.

What he looked at carefully was which of the officials in this group originated from the Huai River Western Front, more precisely, from the scholarly families of "Jingchuan City."

"Jingchuan City" is the area where, over hundreds of years, the scholars of the Huai River expanded their gardens and built together.

Centered around a local county town and radiating outward, it is a prosperous area comparable to the Prefecture.

The residence of Prince Huaian, Xu Wen, is located there.

Xu Jingtang is also stationed there now, and the rescue operation for Zhao Ke’er previously took place in Jingchuan City.

"Take me to see Peng Wenliang." Zhao Douan closed the booklet, stood up, and said.

Peng Wenliang was the first target in the campaign to clean up the Pure Stream Party, a high-ranking official personally captured from the Imperial Court of Supervision.

After a while.

Zhao Douan, led by Zheng Laojiu, entered the Imperial Prison.

In a cell, he saw Peng Wenliang, wearing prison clothes, covered in wounds, lying on the floor.

"Wake him up." Zhao Douan said calmly.

The prison guard immediately opened the cell door, grabbed a bucket of salty water, and poured it down!

The wounds of the sleeping Peng Wenliang stung, and he let out a pig-killing scream.

When he was tremblingly dragged out like a dead pig by the prison guard, his haggard face was forced to tilt up, and through his messy black hair, he saw a mask and couldn’t help but tremble: "It’s you!"

Zhao Douan smiled and said, "Long time no see, Mr. Peng. I heard you’re not doing well here, and that your mouth is still hard."

Peng Wenliang’s eyes were venomous, staring at him intensely: "Kill or cut, as you please!"

Zhao Douan seemed to smile, but then suddenly kicked, sending Peng Wenliang flying backward, crashing hard into the cell!

"You traitor, what are you acting smug for with this official?"

Zhao Douan entered the cell, his boot stepping on Peng Wenliang’s chest, saying: "I’ll give you a chance. Write a letter to your family, asking the Peng Family to help the court. This official can let you suffer less."

The Peng Family is a considerable family in Jingchuan City of the Huai River.

Zhao Douan wants to decisively break Xu Jingtang’s lair, and having only a squad of elite cultivators is not enough; it would be best to also get local forces to assist.

If this person is willing to cooperate, he can request the Old Heavenly Master to deliver this person’s letter together to the front lines.

Peng Wenliang’s face turned pale, but he chuckled bitterly, angrily saying: "You think I would trust the words of this lackey... Never!"

He understood clearly that his rebellion meant certain death and he absolutely could not implicate his family further.

Since the family has already taken refuge in Mu Prince Manor, they must follow this singular path to its end.

Peng Wenliang sneered: "Mu Prince will surely attack the Capital. Even if I die, the family remains..."

Zhao Douan sighed softly, knowing he’d failed to secure the Peng Family, he squatted down, lowering his head to look sympathetically at Peng Wenliang: "While you’re still in prison, you don’t know that Zhao Shixiong has already surrendered to the court and will soon head south to capture Xu Jingtang. At that time, since your Peng Family stands on Xu Jingtang’s side, you’ll only face a doomed fate of extermination."

Peng Wenliang raged: "Don’t try to deceive me! I will never believe you! Bah!"

Zhao Douan raised his hand and wiped the spittle off the surface of his mask, shook his head, stood up, walked out of the cell, and said calmly: "From now on, attend to Mr. Peng once a day, but make sure not to play him to death; keep him hanging on until Xu Jingtang is dead, so he can lose hope."

The prison guards respectfully and obsequiously replied: "As you command."

As Zhao Douan stepped outside, he heard Peng Wenliang cursing loudly from the depths of the dungeon hallway, followed by wails and screams.

...

Upon exiting the Imperial Prison.

Zhao Douan looked at the late night, which was nearing dawn.

"This puppet body does have its advantages, at least it doesn’t feel fatigued..."

He sighed and headed straight to the Imperial Palace.

Having failed to secure the Peng Family, he needed to think of another plan, though the news of Zhao Shixiong’s surrender had been fully reported.

Next, he must race against time to execute the final step.

Quickly, Zhao Douan returned to the Imperial Palace’s Martial Arts Hall, greeted Eunuch Hai, and stepped into the old building.

...

Linfeng Road, Taicang Government Office.

Just before dawn, the darkest time.

Zhao Douan opened the bedroom door and came out, standing outside a room in the backyard of the government office, knocked: "Get up, come with me to Yongjia for a meeting."

"Creak."

The door opened, Yu Xiu hurriedly donned her Daoist robe, her graceful figure faintly visible underneath, emerged with a frown: "A meeting?"

"Yes, where did Jin Jian go? Find her, get ready to kill."