The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1009 - 566: Zhao Douan: Prince, We Meet Again

The wealthy man, dressed as a wealthy gentleman, sat upright in a Taishi Chair, with a large ink painting hanging on the plain wall behind him.

It was none other than Prince Huaian, Xu Wen!

Beside the elder, there was a young man who bore a five or six-part resemblance to him in appearance, holding a folding fan, with fierce brows and eyes.

Prince Huai’an’s Heir, the Commandery Princess’s brother, Xu Qian!

"Sister!"

Xu Qian, inside the hall, saw no one standing in the bright light outside and exclaimed in shock.

Prince Huaian’s face was expressionless, and he said in a deep voice, "Come out!"

"Clatter——"

In the silent royal mansion’s grand courtyard, a commotion emerged in the night.

Zhao Douan’s peripheral vision swept over, spotting hundreds of warriors with weapons emerging from various corners, each clad in night attire, their aura fierce, certainly not ordinary, with almost every one possessing cultivation.

On the rooftops and courtyard walls behind, left, right, and front, shadows cloaked in darkness appeared, each wielding different weapons.

His ears twitched, even hearing the sound of bows being drawn, suggesting that a substantial number of crossbowmen were ambushed further in the darkness.

With a single command from Prince Huaian, crossbow arrows would rain down like locusts, engulfing this empty ground!

As expected, the mansion was fraught with danger, heavily guarded!

Instinctively, Lang Shiba drew his curved blade, Ji Yue formed a hand seal with both hands, while Jin Jian and Yu Xiu furrowed their brows, each gripping their Magic Wand and Flying Sword.

Divine Thought belonging to the Worldly Realm extended outward around them.

"Ah!"

The Commandery Princess, held hostage, suddenly exclaimed. Zhao Douan’s right hand clamped down like iron pincers on her delicate neck, as if a mere thought could twist it.

"Prince Huai, long time no see, is this how you treat your guests?"

Zhao Douan smiled indifferently, showing no sign of tension, seemingly ignoring the warriors ambushed around.

This confidence didn’t stem from the hostage in his hand but from profound inner strength.

The Huai Royal Mansion was a massive merchant estate in Jiangnan, hosting martial world experts like them wasn’t unusual at all.

But facing several of them today, all of whom belonged to the Worldly Realm, was more than enough, not even needing Zhong Pan outside to intervene.

"Commander Zhao’s presence lightens my humble chamber, but... a night visit to private quarters is impolite, and kidnapping my daughter is even ruder. Perhaps release her daughter first, then we can talk?" Prince Huaian, Xu An, spoke solemnly.

Zhao Douan scoffed without immediately answering, leisurely glancing around as if searching for something.

His gaze swept across the courtyard perimeter, pausing suddenly in the crowd upon seeing a familiar face.

Feng Xiaolian!

She once met with him on assignment in Yongjia City’s brothel, conveying goodwill from the Huai Royal Mansion.

Later, she was asked by Zhao Douan to deliver a blank letter to Zhao Shixiong’s store manager!

This person... indeed managed to escape back...

After Zhao Shixiong surrendered, Zhao Douan inquired about her whereabouts, learning that after the fire erupted that night in Yongjia, Feng Xiaolian disappeared without a trace amidst the chaos after sending the message.

Meeting Zhao Douan’s gaze now, Feng Xiaolian, also clad in night attire, had a complex expression of apprehension and amazement.

"Shopkeeper Feng is here too," Zhao Douan seemed unfazed by the strained atmosphere and greeted with a smile, joking as if meeting an acquaintance on the road: "The last time in Yongjia City, I didn’t get to thank Shopkeeper Feng for her help."

Feng Xiaolian’s expression changed, not daring to speak rashly, first glancing at Prince Huaian before pursing her lips, saying: "Greetings, Commander Zhao. Didn’t expect to meet here today."

Zhao Douan smiled faintly, his gaze landing on a stone stool beside the ink bamboo in the yard.

He extended his free left hand, grabbing the air!

The stone stool was suddenly captured, spinning in the air with a "whoosh," landing with a "thud," Zhao Douan flicked up the hem of his robe, sitting amidst the martial world experts, forcing Xu Junling to buckle at his knees, kneeling by Zhao Douan’s side on the ground, her neck pinched by his hand, her hands supporting the ground, in a dog-like kneeling posture.

"How dare you humiliate the Commandery Princess, release my sister!" The princely heir Xu Qian was enraged, loudly accusing.

Zhao Douan cast a peculiar glance at this incompetent princely heir, ignoring him, continuing to look at Prince Huaian with a smile as warm as a spring breeze: "The prince must be joking, I and the Commandery Princess are old acquaintances. Today’s abrupt visit perfectly provides the Commandery Princess to make an introduction. But during the last Hu Pavilion market opening, the taste of river fish personally cooked by the prince at Da Feng Tower still lingers in my mind, sadly today we meet again without wine or meat."

Prince Huaian remained seated in the Taishi Chair, without rising.

Watching his daughter, restrained on all fours by Zhao Douan, this wealthy foodie prince’s face showed little emotion.

He calmly said: "Since the farewell at Hu Pavilion, it’s surprising in these few short months how much Commander Zhao has made me reconsider. Not only have I heard your martial arts cultivation improved, but recently you decisively defeated the Qingzhou rebel army alongside Su Dan’s Yunfu rebel army. Each accomplishment astounds me, even my daughter, Junling, often marvels with me in the mansion, praising Your Majesty’s unparalleled foresight for finding a pillar-like talent to stabilize the nation."

The atmosphere was strange.

Zhao Douan held the Commandery Princess in a nearly humiliating manner, while the surrounding atmosphere was entrenched with killing intent, tightly woven like a web.

Yet, Prince Huaian was speaking in a conversational tone, lavishly praising Zhao Douan.

What’s stranger was that no one present felt it was inappropriate.

Clearly, a year ago, when Zhao Douan met Prince Huaian, he needed the backing of the imperial envoy to dine together.

But today, he was a formidable guest, already standing equally in momentum with Prince Huaian, maybe even overshadowing him.

Zhao Douan listened with a grin, saying: "The prince likewise astonishes me in these tumultuous times, managing to profit from all sides. I hear the prince is concurrently funding Prince Jing’s and Prince Mu’s armies to contend against the court? Quite the opulent move."

Prince Huaian paused, a trace of bitterness flashing at the corner of his mouth, he shook his head: "Commander Zhao need not say so; you should know I have no ambition to rule the land. What I seek is merely to be a peaceful wealthy man. Back then at Hu Pavilion, I was serving the court market, opening my doors to do my part; now I’m closing them for self-preservation, just the same."

Zhao Douan asked with amused eyes: "So, sending the store manager Feng Xiaolian to collaborate with me in Yongjia City was for this very reason?"

Even though everyone present was from the Huai Royal Mansion, the mood subtly shifted.

He pierced through directly.

Feng Xiaolian was initially stunned, her mouth opening as if to speak but ultimately remaining silent.

Prince Huaian was similarly taken aback, suddenly sighing lightly, his eyes flickering with some anger: "If Commander Zhao remembers this incident, today shouldn’t have barged in thusly, nor treated the Commandery Princess this way."

Bringing this up kindled his irritation.

When the two princes first rebelled and divided Huai River, Prince Huaian believed the Empress couldn’t hold the throne, and the most likely contenders for the imperial seat were Jiancheng and Yunfu.

So he placed a heavy bet, hoping to reverse his poor investment at the Hu market.

For this, he reluctantly issued orders, abandoning resistance, handing over the entire Huai River territory while only keeping the mansion and various businesses.

Originally, facing the constant extortion of both princes, the Huai Royal Mansion’s wealth was enough to endure.

But as fate would have it, the Empress returned to the Capital, stabilizing the court, and Zhao Douan consecutively crushed the Qingzhou rebel army and the Yunfu rebel army led by Su Dan.

Prince Huaian had no choice but to attempt communication again, but without clear inclination, still believing the court’s chances were slim.

The contact was merely precautionary, a businessman’s instinct to not put all eggs in one basket.

Who could’ve foreseen that Zhao Douan’s maneuvers, using cunning stratagems, implicated Feng Xiaolian, as well as him?

Prince Mu, Xu Jingtang, upon learning of this, personally led troops to the mansion, forcefully extorting another layer of wealth from Prince Huaian’s hands.

Practically causing severe damage to the mansion.

Fortunately, the Eight Princes still maintained their alliance.

Even for the sake of alliance stability, Xu Jingtang dared not truly annihilate the Huai Royal Mansion or act too outrageously at this juncture.

Thus barely escaping a calamity.

Subsequently, Zhao Shixiong’s defection further unsettled Prince Huaian.

——

A bit of writer’s block, this Chapter is a bit shorter...