The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 981 - 556: Zhao Douan’s Scheme (5k)

After what seemed like an eternity, the blue smoke suddenly halted in a secluded alley, transforming into the alluring figure of the female assassin.

"You’re here." In the shadows of the alley, light and shadow slowly twisted and turned as Song Jinxi stepped out ominously, his gray eyes fixed on her.

Nie Yurong stood resolute, holding a deep respect and fear for this court tributor whose skills in concealment, infiltration, and assassination surpassed her own by far.

The female assassin clasped her fists and bowed: "Greetings, Tributor Song."

Song Jinxi chuckled: "It seems everything is as Mr. Zhao predicted. Upon learning the news, Xu Jingtang would undoubtedly send people to capture, and you, delivering the messages as a first-class Embroidered Robe Envoy, are the perfect candidate."

Nie Yurong replied coldly: "I’ve acquired the waist token of Mu Prince Manor’s second young lord. All the checkpoints along the way can be mobilized to cover your withdrawal."

Song Jinxi shook his head: "No. The waist token given to you is both power and a test. If you move rashly, Xu Jingtang will react quickly, causing trouble instead. Next, you should fully focus on capturing Zhao Ke’er, but you can send a message to Mu Prince Manor, saying that Shadow Guards are protecting Zhao Ke’er during the pursuit."

Nie Yurong paused for a moment before reacting suddenly: "Mr. Zhao dispatched a third force to escort Zhao Ke’er? Tributor Song, the Shadow Guard you lead is just a decoy for her withdrawal?"

Song Jinxi stared at her eerily: "Smart, but genuinely smart people, even when they understand, need not say it aloud."

Nie Yurong shuddered, as if a venomous serpent had fixed its gaze upon her. She pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it over: "Mr. Zhao instructed me to investigate the matter, and I’ve found some clues. Hope the steward sends it back to Linfeng."

With a sweep of his robe sleeve, Song Jinxi tucked away the secret letter, his figure twisted and wriggled, disappearing into the shadows.

Nie Yurong waited a moment longer, ensuring his departure, then exhaled and stepped out of the alley, basking in the sunlight, and glanced back towards the Southwest, her lips curling:

"This time should count as redemption. Hmph, want my head? Mother pledges allegiance to Zhao, not tagging along."

...

The gates of a certain tailor shop within the city remained tightly shut.

And in the backyard of the shop, in a small workshop, Zhao Ke’er sat upright on a round stool, facing a copper mirror on the table.

Behind her, a fresh-faced young man with delicate feminine features, held paintbrushes between his fingers, deftly applying makeup onto her flawless skin.

Wu Ling spoke as he painted: "Don’t move around. If this makeup gets ruined, transforming your appearance might not be possible. You know how many people in the city are searching for you, don’t you?"

Zhao Ke’er, having survived death, immediately froze like a statue, relying on the mirror’s reflection to glance at Yun Xi standing by the door, looking outside. She whispered softly: "Esteemed heroes, isn’t your Kuangfu Society against the court, opposing the Fake Emperor? That Zhao Douan even killed your leader, that Zhuang... what was his name..."

"Zhuang Xiaocheng."

"Right, something Cheng. Shouldn’t you harbor deep hatred for him? Why help him?"

Yun Xi peered through the crack in the door and observed soldiers patrolling the street. Retracting her gaze, she calmly replied: "Because Zhuang Xiaocheng is the true traitor, a villain who brings calamity to the nation. Everyone has been deceived. It’s hard to explain in a few words, but ultimately, if it’s between Mu Prince and the Empress, we would choose the latter."

Zhao Ke’er nodded quickly, sharing a common enemy: "Exactly! That Mu Prince is no good. I even advised my father against getting entangled with him back then..."

"Stop moving! You’ll ruin the makeup!" Wu Ling’s expression turned sour.

You yelled at me... Zhao Ke’er felt very aggrieved, yet wisely remained silent.

Suddenly, Yun Xi’s ears twitched. She turned to the corner of the room where Lin Yuebai and his sister were and said: "You two keep watch; I’m leaving for a while."

Yun Xi swiftly departed the room and appeared beside the tailor shop.

Song Jinxi tossed a letter to her: "Take it back to Mr. Zhao, and remember, once in the northern region, contact our Shadow Guards and await Mr. Zhao’s orders."

Yun Xi expressionlessly pocketed the letter, nodding: "Understood."

Having undergone months of trials and challenges, Yun Xi had grown significantly. Though her youthful appearance remained, she was no longer the young idealistic youth in the Imperial Prison, eating idle meals and longing for the Fake Emperor’s overthrow at the cost of her life.

"And these, are Zhao Ke’er’s personal items left behind during her escape."

Song Jinxi tossed a small bundle over and continued: "As per the lord’s orders. Next, we’ll disguise as the contingent escorting Zhao Ke’er north, attracting the pursuit from Mu Prince Manor, thereby covering for the real team escorting her north."

"Rest assured, checkpoints along the way—we’ll find ways to deal with them in advance for you..."

This is Zhao Douan’s true arrangement.

Three forces cooperating with each other.

The pursuing soldiers led by Nie Yurong can divert most attention, and if necessary, utilize the authority from the waist token to mobilize forces along the way to encircle and intercept "Shadow Guards," subtly creating a northern route for Yun Xi and others without arousing suspicion.

Those who escort, those who pretend to escort, and those who chase are all under Zhao Douan’s command.

How will Xu Jingtang counter this time?

Soon, Song Jinxi was seen off.

Yun Xi returned to the tailor shop, where Wu Ling had used the God of Drama’s magic to successfully transform Zhao Ke’er into another person in front of the mirror.

"There’s no time to lose; we should leave now." Yun Xi said, tossing the bundle over: "See which items might expose her identity and which won’t."

Zhao Ke’er instinctively caught the bundle, opened it, and upon seeing many items she’d left behind, was taken aback:

These people are genuinely considerate, fetching all her belongings.

...

...

Under deliberate suppression by Mu Prince Manor, Zhao Ke’er’s disappearance did not attract any attention.