The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 992 - 560: Farewell to Dong Da Debuts! (Part 2)

Fortuitously, Zhao Douan had achieved two victories and held the title of Future Emperor’s Consort, preventing these people from openly targeting him, at most resorting to exaggerated praise.

Bai Jisi, as a ’trusted follower’ of Zhao Douan’s faction, was riding the wave of attention, yet his relatively low status made him an ideal target for blows."

Several arresting officers from other halls also approached, nodding quietly.

Haitang was not unaware of this principle, but she felt stifled. At this moment, she suddenly noticed a line of people riding horses from a distance through the corner of her eye.

Her eyes brightened slightly: "He actually came."

The group of arresting officers looked over, surprised to find the prominent figure who had disappeared for more than half a month, brazenly riding in.

Zhao Douan was dressed in a black outfit, his face covered with a distinctive pure white mask.

He was accompanied by a group of Jinyi from Lihua Hall.

"Ssshhhhhhhhh."

Zhao Douan stopped his horse at the edge of Le You Garden, dismounted, and tossed the reins, letting the Jinyi behind him handle it.

He led his trusted aides such as Qian Kerou, Shen Juan, and Hou Renmeng like a sharp blade, cutting through the crowd.

Instantly, he drew the attention of the entire scene; the distant strolling tourists, and the literati composing poems in the pavilions and terraces all stopped what they were doing to look over.

Some even pointed and whispered.

This recent prominent figure of the Capital indeed had arrived!

In a flash, the crowd in front of Zhao Douan parted like the tide, moving aside. Those unable to dodge in time were suddenly pulled aside by their companions!

As if fearing a ferocious tiger!

Zhao Douan tread lightly, moving purposefully toward Gancao Platform at the mountain’s peak.

He quickly reached the hillside where the literary society was being held.

The previously gathered crowd, who had been discussing and sneering at him with irony, all simultaneously closed their mouths, their eyes evading, quietly retreating backward.

People’s fame is like the shadow of a tree!

Even if his backing wasn’t as strong as "Yama Zhao," he was rumored to be a fierce and ruthless character. Mere outside complaints, who dared to be impudent face-to-face?

Even Chen Siye and the Chief Steward closed their mouths.

"Oh?"

Zhao Douan halted, noticing the familiar faces of a scholar and a military officer by the roadside.

"It’s you two, meeting again. How did you get those injuries on your faces?" Zhao Douan asked casually.

He indeed asked casually because he was in a very, very good mood today.

So good that he couldn’t be bothered with a little offense.

Upon hearing this, Chen Siye and the Chief Steward both changed their expressions, their faces, still showing remnants of bruises, turning red and white, feeling heavily insulted.

How did they get hurt?

Wasn’t it you who sent people to beat them?

The two wanted to be more assertive and give a face-to-face retort, but they found they couldn’t open their mouths no matter what.

Clearly, Zhao Douan was just standing in front of them, yet they felt a heavy pressure in their hearts.

Chen Siye, being a scholar, was naturally timid and couldn’t help but look at the Chief Steward.

But the military officer of the Privy Council, who dared to smash a cup in a drunken moment, was inexplicably anxious today, breaking out in a sweat on his forehead.

Somehow, he felt that today, this white-faced arresting officer seemed a bit different.

Seeing the two silent, Zhao Douan couldn’t be bothered to deal with them, cast a glance around, suddenly stopped again, and turned towards a pavilion not far away.

Here was a literary society, with none other than Mr. Dong as the protagonist.

As the grandson of the Grandmaster, Mr. Dong decided to put his studies on hold, enlist in the military, and head to Xiping Road to help quell the rebellion.

This news had long spread throughout the Capital.

Today, at the climbing literary society, many literati and students composed poems to bid farewell to Mr. Dong.

Han Zhou and other scholars from Xiuwen Pavilion, being subordinates of Grandmaster Dong, also came to show support.

Seeing this white-faced arresting officer approaching directly, a group of scholars frowned.

The Imperial Court’s henchmen were all a group of crude martial artists; why did they come here? Were they here to stir up trouble?

Han Zhou took the initiative to step forward, cupping his hands, "Are you Bai Jisi of Lihua Hall? I’ve long admired your name."

Behind Zhao Douan’s mask, his eyes looked through the holes at Han Zhou, smiled, "I have also long heard of the famous Han Banshan."

Han Zhou was momentarily stunned because, for some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity in front of the person, yet he couldn’t immediately connect the dots.

Zhao Douan had no interest in exchanging pleasantries with a group of scholars, his gaze swept over the tables inside the pavilion, looking at the ink, brushes, and paper.

Then he looked at Dong Shusheng, smiled and said, "I just received the latest dispatch from Taicang. Commander Zhao learned of Mr. Dong’s imminent departure, and thus sent a farewell poem."

He initially intended to go directly to Gancao Platform to report, but upon seeing Dong Shusheng, he decided to delay for a bit.

Otherwise, after he finished reporting, I’m afraid the whole Le You Garden would be in an uproar, and this farewell poetry assembly couldn’t continue.

That day, in the restaurant, upon learning Dong Shusheng was enlisting, he intended to see him off, and today was the perfect opportunity to fulfill that intention.

"What? Commander Zhao sent a poem?"

As the words came out, the crowd was stunned, though the surprise wasn’t primarily about the poem being sent.

The acquaintance and friendship between Zhao Douan and Dong Shusheng were no secret in the Capital’s official circles.

When Xiuwen Pavilion was first established, coinciding with the Ullambana Festival held at the Divine Dragon Temple, Zhao Douan went to participate and got into a conflict.

At that time, Mr. Dong stepped in to mediate, something many knew about.

Furthermore, Zhao Douan also had a "non-official scholar" identity at Xiuwen Pavilion and had an excellent relationship with Grandmaster Dong.

Thus, sending a poem was well within reason.

What surprised everyone was the additional information revealed in the white-faced arresting officer’s words:

News had come back from Taicang Prefecture! And it was the latest, as yet undisclosed news!

Additionally, considering the white-faced arresting officer’s absence and low profile for most of the past month, the truth was about to surface:

It seemed Bai Jisi had indeed left the Capital in the past month, perhaps even traveled once to the Linfeng western front, or at least made contact with the Shadow Guard over there.