The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 237 - 210, split account: ten thousand taels of silver, with the invention of ’spectacles
"My Lord, did you already know that she would choose to become an ’Imperial Merchant’?"
After stepping out of the office, the young secretary Qian Kerou tilted her head and asked curiously.
Zhao Douan chuckled and countered, "Why do you say that?"
The rookie government officer thought for a moment and said,
"It’s just a feeling, I sensed that you weren’t surprised at all."
Zhao Douan did not deny it:
"Someone like Lin Susu would never leave her fate to chance."
Qian Kerou appeared thoughtful, then blinked,
"Then why is her name written on the contract? She is not a merchant... Oh, I understand now, it was to provide her some protection, right?"
Zhao Douan remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed at the lanterns hanging in the government office.
Love is always unreliable.
No one knows, after this ordeal, how the merchant surnamed Hu, once released from prison, would feel towards his wife who had been defiled by the Young Master.
Though Zhao Douan had fulfilled the deal, whatever lay in the couple’s future was none of his concern.
But as the saying goes, ’send the Buddha all the way to the west’, casually adding some leverage to Lady Lin might just save a life from despair.
"My Lord..."
The round-faced, increasingly adept female secretary suddenly pursed her lips and said,
"You actually have a soft heart, don’t you?"
You’re the one who’s soft, your whole family is soft... Do you not know, good people do not live long, scoundrels live for a thousand years... Zhao Douan glared and dismissed her.
Qian Kerou retreated with a giggling smile, her lips curving upwards.
No one truly likes, following a cold-blooded fierce creature.
Zhao Douan shook his head with a helpless expression, yawned, and started to make his way home.
"I always feel like I’ve forgotten something..."
...
...
Later that night, at the Xu family.
Xu Hanlin paced anxiously. Since betraying the Young Master yesterday, he had followed the orders from Lihua Hall and returned home to wait for news.
It had been an almost torturous day.
It was only when he heard that the "Li Party" had changed their stance during the morning court, he finally realized that the matter was settled.
Xu Mingyuan had gone to the Imperial Court during the day, seeking Zhao Douan to try to please him to earn rewards and to wedge himself into the Imperial Faction.
After all, through this event, he completely played both sides and desperately needed support.
Unfortunately, he only received word that "the Lord has gone to the palace and has not yet returned."
"Thud, thud, thud..." the doorman suddenly reported:
"Young Master, someone is looking for you outside."
Xu Mingyuan’s spirits lifted, his eyebrows joyous, thinking perhaps the support from the new backer had arrived, and he hurried out the front door only to see a carriage parked nearby.
But the closer he approached, a sense of unease grew within him.
When he clearly saw the person in the carriage under the dark, his face turned pale,
"Tea... Teacher..."
Chen Zhengru looked at him expressionlessly, with documents in hand that had been sent to him about Xu Mingyuan betraying his friends and family.
"You did very well, truly very well."
The Hanlin Academy Scholar said calmly as he dropped the papers onto him.
Xu Mingyuan glanced at them and felt darkness before his eyes, dizziness overtaking him, realizing he had been sold out by Mr. Zhao, and he collapsed to the ground.
Being double-faced never ended well, he vaguely understood this, but it was already too late.
...
...
That night, news about the court’s new policies being finalized spread everywhere in the Capital.
In an instant, countless onlookers sprang into action.
Who knows how many spies hidden in the Capital relayed the news at top speed to all major prefectures.
As the heart of the Great Yu Dynasty, every minor change here affected countless people.
Yet only very few knew that the one who truly made the final decision was that infamous Mr. Zhao.
...
The Capital finally moved towards early autumn from the lingering heat.
This was determined by Zhao Douan from the slight chill in the early morning air the next day.
After having breakfast, Zhao Douan first went to the government office to clock in and learned that the new policies were moving into the implementation phase.
The scholars of Xiuwen Pavilion were extremely busy.
He shook his head, having no intention of helping, and rode straight to the Heavenly Master Mansion.
Having not visited for several days, the Heavenly Master Mansion still maintained its majesty.
The tall bell tower was particularly striking within the square-shaped architecture.
Zhao Douan stated his identity, assuming that the guard would go and report his arrival.
Unexpectedly, this time the other politely said,
"Lord Zhao, please follow me. Sister Jin Jian instructed, ’if Lord Zhao visits, make him comfortable first before informing her.’"
Huh... Jin Jian’s emotional intelligence has improved, eh, even making arrangements in advance to appease me?
Or did she... know I would come?
Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.
Zhao Douan was greatly surprised.
Following the Daoist inside, he saw from afar within the Heavenly Master Mansion that the building clusters were arranged in neat rows, vastly different from the old impression of the Daoist Temple.
Different smaller building clusters were strategically placed and varied in appearance.
The guiding Daoist explained:
Besides handling the regular operations of the Heavenly Master Mansion, managing businesses, and operating some spiritually significant lands, this part is handled by dedicated priests.
There are six main building clusters in the Heavenly Master Mansion, each nominally managed by one of the Old Heavenly Master’s six disciples... merely nominally, as they hardly involve themselves in the affairs.
Zhao Douan sat in a guest room for a while.
Outside,
a petite, pale-skinned, delicately featured young priestess appeared expressionless.
Jin Jian was still wearing her eternally unchanged embroidered priest robe.
At that moment, her expressions were faintly wary:
"The scroll was given to you, what else do you want? I’m very busy."
Busy sleeping, right... Zhao Douan teased, with a half-smiling tone:
"Priests often forget things. I am here today to collect my share of the profits from the ice business."
She was indeed here for the money!
Jin Jian, hearing this, clenched her small hand hidden in her sleeve tightly, her body tensed as she darted glances around and said:
