The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 985 - 557: Kings Meet: Zhao Shixiong Braves the Meeting Alone

His frank confession instead erased the contempt in Zhao Shixiong’s eyes, revealing a hint of appreciation.

Soon after, Zhao Shixiong raised his right arm, his five fingers mimicking a grip!

The air rippled, and a pitch-black, heavy great guan sword slowly emerged from the air.

At the same time, flying swords circled around Yu Xiu, and Lang Shiba drew his curved blade, ready to strike at any moment.

Even if it was a Half-step Celestial, with five or six mortals acting together, they might not kill him, but they could at least defeat him.

However...

After Zhao Shixiong pulled out the Soul-breaking Blade, he casually tossed it aside!

"Clang!"

The Soul-breaking Blade was thrown far onto the ground, drenched by the rain.

He lifted his chin, stepping inside the hall.

Zhao Douan’s eyes moved, and with a subtle wave of his fingers, Yu Xiu and the other four also withdrew from the hall, but they didn’t go far and waited in the courtyard.

Lang Shiba stepped forward decisively and clutched the Soul-breaking Blade in his hand.

Although Zhao Shixiong’s personal martial prowess was strong, Zhao Douan was confident that he could hold out for a while; only the Soul-breaking Blade was too troublesome.

Losing this weapon meant the greatest threat to Zhao Douan had disappeared.

...

The rain drizzled softly.

Zhao Douan smiled brightly, personally got up, and picked up a vessel to brew tea, fully displaying the hospitality of a host.

Zhao Shixiong stood by the door, removed his raincoat and bamboo hat, and hung them by the door, revealing a martial artist’s outfit underneath.

If others saw his ordinary attire, they would never associate him with the Border Army Commander who wielded authority over a region.

"Last time we parted, the General’s charisma left a deep impression on me. I didn’t expect to meet again under these circumstances," Zhao Douan remarked.

It was as if the person sitting across was not a fearsome military figure but a scholar at a casual gathering.

Zhao Shixiong looked at the hot tea handed to him, neither drinking it nor accepting it, saying sternly, "My daughter arrived in Yongjia yesterday."

No pleasantries, no nonsense, Zhao Shixiong, with his military background, began with this statement.

Zhao Douan, without an ounce of awkwardness, placed the offered teacup on the table, withdrew his hand, and said with a smile, "Is that so? Is your daughter unharmed?"

Zhao Shixiong replied, "Although exhausted from the journey, she is intact."

"That’s good to hear." Zhao remarked with a nod.

Zhao Shixiong stared at him: "It was you who arranged for people to bring my daughter over."

"Yes."

"My daughter told me that Xu Jingtang believes I betrayed Yunfu and colluded with you..." Zhao Shixiong recounted Zhao Ke’er’s experience methodically.

Zhao Douan, although he had heard Yun Xi’s report, did not pay as much attention; listening to it now, he was extremely earnest.

After listening to the other’s recount, he couldn’t help but sigh and said indignantly, "Xu Jingtang masquerades as a virtuous gentleman, appearing eager for peace from the outside, but is actually vile and shameless inside, to doubt the General’s integrity and even lay hands on Miss Ke’er, a true beast indeed."

Zhao Shixiong fixed his gaze on him, with a faint tone: "Isn’t it because of you that the Prince suspects me?"

"How could the General falsely accuse people without basis," Zhao Douan said with an air of innocence, self-righteously, "I infiltrated Yongjia wholeheartedly, eliminating enemies, rescuing loyal officials. Is that wrong? Xu Jingtang’s paranoia, how could that be my fault?"

"..." Zhao Shixiong gritted his teeth: "That blank letter, are you saying you didn’t write it?!"

Zhao Douan seemed to just remember, suddenly enlightened, "Oh! The General means this matter, alas, this fills me with indignation too. Although you and I are adversaries, we belong to the same lineage. The night in Yongjia, I was lucky to succeed, but didn’t want to lose decorum, so I sent a letter to convey my regards. Unexpectedly, the subordinates were careless, and mislabeled a letter of regards with a blank sheet. In the end, it was my lack of propriety."

Zhao Shixiong stared at him in disbelief as he spouted lies in earnest, almost laughing in anger.

He decided to get to the point: "Fine, as they say, all is fair in war. Let’s not mention the matter of the letter. I only ask, regarding my daughter’s account, how much is true and how much is false? Is Mu Prince really going to act against me, or are you fabricating? Deceiving my daughter?!"

The last few words were spoken with intense heaviness!

Inside the room, the flames beneath the hearth licked the pot’s bottom, with plums bobbing within.

Zhao Douan remained silent for a moment, calmly changed the pot’s position, then raised his eyes, with a faint smile, meeting the battlefield general’s gaze.

"General, do you believe that with Xu Jingtang’s character, even if he seizes the throne, he would spare the General’s life?"