The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1129 - 615: Reporting to Your Majesty, the Second Prince Jian Wen Is Not Dead...
In the military tent, Zhao Douan slowly returned the blood-stained Chasing Saber to its sheath.
A sense of fatigue also surged inside him; using the remaining Qi Mechanism, he decisively killed Ye Xin, leaving him with no extra strength for battle.
"Didn’t this old man surrender to you? Perhaps he knew he was wrong." Jin Jian, holding the Magic Wand, looked outside at Jiang Wangsun, dead in the chair.
Zhao Douan intentionally waited for Ye Xin to kill Jiang Wangsun before choosing to appear.
In other words, it was a kind of killing with a borrowed knife.
"No, he didn’t realize his mistake, he was just scared." Zhao Douan shook his head, having no fondness for the likes of Jiang Wangsun.
In any case, he had already lost his value, killed by Ye Xin, so it didn’t count as a breach of the court’s agreement.
At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the tent, as if soldiers were approaching, Zhao Douan shook his head and said, "Let’s go back."
The fate of Xu Jianwen was unknown; Ye Xin, Jiang Wangsun, and Bai Ying were dead, leaving only one commander whose status was uncertain, but it didn’t affect the overall situation.
With the high-level opponents gone, Hu Ting was firmly in their grasp.
"Hmm." Jin Jian, now nearly exhausted of Mana, the two didn’t choose to teleport but instead both had lilac markings appearing on their faces.
Activating the effect of the [Two-Life Gate], their figures gradually faded away.
As soon as the two disappeared, a military officer’s voice came from outside the tent: "General? Any orders? Your subordinate heard sounds..."
No response.
A moment later, an officer cautiously lifted the tent flap and saw two corpses inside, stunned on the spot.
...
Rear courtyard of the temporary Governor Mansion.
An ancient doorframe stood inside, Ji Yue, Yu Xiu, and others had already returned through the Two-Life Gate, while the Tributor Song Jinxi and others were still at Yansuo Lake, transporting prisoners.
Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the doorframe, and when the light faded, Zhao Douan and Jin Jian also emerged.
"Crack!"
This ancient Suppressing Object split with a thumb-width crack, which quickly spread across the entire door panel.
The original Spiritual Energy on it rapidly dried up, losing its luster, becoming a mere mortal object.
After multiple uses, the [Two-Life Gate] was finally wasted.
"What a pity..." Zhao Douan sighed inwardly, there weren’t many Suppressing Objects like this.
He recalled the remnant memories from Master Gu Huo, with another treasure trove left behind, he couldn’t help but wonder:
Does that treasure trove also have such quality good stuff?
"Mo Chou just came by to see if you’ve returned; she said the city’s defense line attacks were all intercepted." Yu Xiu sat by the round table, glancing at him and said.
Zhao Douan nodded, quickly gathering his thoughts, stepped out of the backyard, arrived at the front hall.
Mo Chou, Ning Zechen, and other high-level figures were still anxiously waiting here.
Seeing him return safely, everyone looked relieved.
"I killed Ye Xin, and that Military Advisor Xu is not an immediate concern. The rebel army is leaderless; pass the order to attack immediately and reclaim control of Hu Ting."
Zhao Douan got straight to the point and issued the command directly.
The group was stumped, wanting to ask more, but Zhao Douan rudely interrupted: "Time waits for no one, you are responsible for taking Hu Ting, I have pressing matters to attend to. Any questions?"
Mo Chou pursed her lips, seemingly seeing Zhao Douan’s eagerness to get away, she said: "No problem. The Three Armies Commander will handle combat, just await news."
Zhao Douan nodded in relief, turned back to the backyard, spoke with Yu Xiu, Jin Jian, and Ji Yue about assisting his protection duty.
He entered the main room next to the three women, swallowed a handful of pills, then collapsed onto the bed, entering a meditation state.
No longer needing to worry about subsequent affairs.
He had more important matters to handle.
"Return to the Capital!"
...
...
Capital, Imperial Palace.
Glittering light on the stone wall of the old building’s fourth floor.
Zhao Douan emerged in a Divine Soul state, looking around, not finding his "Puppet Substitute."
"I almost forgot, left the substitute at home last time... Never mind, I don’t need it for now."
Zhao Douan remembered, in Divine Soul state, floated out of the room, the bell hanging under the eaves shook, but he didn’t quickly wait for the Empress to arrive.
"Heh, woman, your name is fickle-hearted!"
Zhao Douan smirked.
He knew, due to frequent visits to the Capital lately, unless it’s a crucial period, even if the Empress knew he returned, she’d treat it as a routine visit, not hurry to greet him.
"What a pity, Zhenbao you surely wouldn’t expect whom I’ve encountered and what I’ve been through."
Imagining the Empress’s astonished look later, Zhao Douan had an inexplicable mischievous thought.
Shaking his head, Zhao Douan in Divine Soul form floated outside, passing through the deep red palace walls, winter dry yellow weeping willows, a black palace cat gracefully walked on the palace wall, suddenly arching its back, raising its tail, cautiously observing around, bewildered at the non-existent passerby. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Zhao Douan floated all the way into Yangxin Hall, first to the Imperial Study Room, not seeing Zhenbao.
He glanced at the noon-high sun, then went to the dining hall.
As expected, he saw the Empress sitting alone at the dining table, elegantly eating a chicken.
Xu Zhenguan in spotless civilian clothes, her long hair tied up with a pearl hairpin, sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing two alabaster forearms.
While dining, she was undoubtedly graceful and poised, but the speed was surprisingly fast.
A roast chicken dismantled into dozens of varying pieces by her delicate fingers like flower picking; a drumstick stuffed into her crimson lips, in less than two seconds, only a smooth chicken bone remained.
As the ghostly Zhao Douan drifted in, eerie and silent.
Xu Zhenguan, without raising her head, reached out for a handkerchief, wiped her lips and fingers, and said calmly: "Back so soon this time? Xue Shence hasn’t even reached the Capital yet. Was taking control of Hu Ting smooth?"
