The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 984 - 557: Kings Meet: Zhao Shixiong Braves the Meeting Alone

Yuan Feng was at a loss for words!

Inside the room, the other officials and generals were silent as well!

Everyone knew that across the whole realm, all the Vassal Kings were waiting for winter to arrive.

Despite the recent momentum of the court, having won three successive battles, once winter comes, the current advantages will be wiped out.

"If there’s truly no other way, our Five Army Camp could risk a fight against Zhao Shixiong. If we win, we might have a glimmer of hope on the East-West Front," Yuan Feng with a square face gritted his teeth and said.

But everyone could see that he lacked confidence in his words.

The one ahead was no ordinary person; he was the Southwest Commander on par with Xue Shence!

Given Zhao Shixiong’s strength and the Yongjia River as a natural barrier, attempting to conquer him with the Five Army Camp was akin to a fantasy.

Once we attack, not only might we fail to achieve victory, but it could also lead to a collapse of the Western Front, causing the court’s hard-earned advantageous situation to vanish.

Zhao Shixiong.

The name was like a towering mountain, weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts.

It blocked the entire Western Front.

Forcing everyone to hope for progress on the Eastern Front.

However, just as everyone was frowning and anxious, suddenly, a clerk rushed in from outside the hall, shouting loudly:

"Reporting to the governor, outside there is someone... claiming to be Zhao Shixiong seeking an audience!"

Boom—

Under the hazy, rainy sky, a rumbling clap of thunder rolled across suddenly.

The group inside the hall rose in astonishment.

Expressions of shock appeared on everyone’s faces.

Zhao Shixiong? Which Zhao Shixiong? How did he appear outside the government office?

Everyone’s first thought was absurd.

Because they had not received any signals of an enemy siege, with the city wall intact, unless Zhao Shixiong had infiltrated the city alone?

"How many came?" someone asked.

"Just one person," the clerk replied, "Upon observing his appearance, it indeed matches the description of Zhao Shixiong from the rumors."

"Nonsense! Perhaps it’s a lunatic tricking their way into the government office!" Yuan Feng yelled in anger.

Sun Xiaozhun also said, "It must be false, the government office is a critical spot, guarded by several Worldly Realm experts. Even with Zhao Shixiong’s formidable martial power, attempting to break into the government office alone is a suicide path!"

Saying that, he was about to have him expelled.

"Wait," suddenly, Zhao Douan, seated at the main position inside the hall, who had not spoken so far, opened his mouth. He casually threw the account book onto the tea table, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted, his gaze calm:

"Let him in."

It was as if...

He had long foreseen all of this.

"Governor... this..." Governor Sun and others were puzzled, not understanding, but the clerk had already turned to invite him in, while Yu Xiu, Lang Shiba, and Ji Yue arrived ahead.

The three Worldly Realm individuals seemed to have a sensing, rushing from the rear part of the office, along with the suddenly restless Jin Jian, they solemnly stared at the courtyard.

The officials infected by the atmosphere instinctively turned their gaze to the wide courtyard outside the eaves.

Soon.

In the misty autumn rain, a slightly short, middle-aged man wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, calmly approached.

From afar, this person did not stand out.

But as he drew closer step by step, an indescribable sense of crisis quietly filled every seam of the brickwork and every corner of the government office.

Light rain fell.

The Qiumu trees swayed in the courtyard, the rain-slicked bluestone path was smooth like a mirror.

In the silent atmosphere, as the middle-aged man’s boots stepped through the puddles, the rainwater fanned out but strangely turned into a mist with a tremor!

And beneath the hat, a face grizzled with a beard, full of the vicissitudes of life, akin to a lion’s visage, penetrated the rain curtain and entered everyone’s sight.

"Zhao... Zhao Shixiong!?"

Someone unknown exclaimed first, then numerous officials began sweating like rain!

Yuan Feng instinctively reached to draw his sword but found it empty; he wasn’t wearing a sword at his waist!

Sun Xiaozhun’s pupils shrunk, fists clenched under his robe, filled with disbelief.

Was it really Zhao Shixiong!? This power that affected the whole hall’s Qi Mechanism with mere gestures was not something anyone could imitate.

But why did Zhao Shixiong infiltrate Taicang Prefecture alone? Why did he appear before them?

"Pa! Pa! Pa!"

Abruptly, a crisp clapping sound echoed in everyone’s ears, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Inside the hall, only Zhao Douan remained seated in the high-backed chair, smiling gently, applauding lightly, and laughing: "The General’s arrival at the government office was a neglected welcome, I, Zhao, have been waiting for some time."

What?!

In that moment, Sun Xiaozhun, Yuan Feng, and even Yu Xiu, Lang Shiba, and the others all turned sharply in shock towards Zhao Douan.

Garbled in a raincoat and hat, Zhao Shixiong also halted his steps, standing at a relatively safe distance in the center of the courtyard.

This general who had commanded the border army for years, whose battle prowess faintly approached a Half-step Celestial, sharply focused his gaze on Zhao Douan.

No.

It should be said, from the moment he stepped into the government office, his eyes had only been fixed on Zhao Douan.

"Commander Zhao invited, how could I dare not come?" Zhao Shixiong remarked meaningfully, with a hint of sarcasm.

Invite...

Was Zhao Shixiong invited by our master? When?

Wait a minute!

Why would he agree to come alone? What happened?

Everyone was thrown into confusion, finding it difficult to comprehend the scene unfolding before them.

Fortunately, Zhao Douan did not keep them puzzled for long and said to Sun Xiaozhun, "Governor Sun, I have urgent matters to discuss with General Zhao, you all may retreat for now."

"...Ah...yes." Sun Xiaozhun nodded instinctively, pulling Yuan Feng and the others to withdraw from this courtyard.

Only Yu Xiu, Jin Jian, Lang Shiba, and Ji Yue did not leave.

Zhao Shixiong gazed disdainfully at the few, coldly laughed: "Is this how Commander Zhao treats guests?"

Zhao Douan sighed gently and smiled, spreading his hands: "I am a notorious wicked character, unlike the heroic stature of the General. Naturally, I must be slightly careful with my life; last time when sparring with the General, I nearly lost my life. Naturally, I have to be more cautious."