The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 246 - 216, Campaign against Zhao Douan

Governor Hall.

Zhao Douan came from Lihua Hall, directly reaching this central hub of the Imperial Court, and on the way, he vaguely sensed the tense atmosphere permeating the air.

Arriving at the gate of the hall, he coincidentally ran into a familiar face.

"Were you also summoned by the Lord?" the two said in unison.

A tall female detective with black hair tied in a ponytail, a hidden weapon pouch at her waist, and a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye furrowed her brows:

"Do you know what happened?"

Zhao Douan looked at Haitang and shook his head,

"I just arrived at the government office, and only heard that a murder was committed by the rebels."

Haitang’s expression was grave, "That’s all I know too. Let’s go see the Lord."

The two entered the Governor Hall together and happened to see Ma Yan walking out.

Known as the "King Yanluo," this imposing eunuch with a cold, stern face, unruly brows, and large knuckles swept his gaze over the two subordinates, nodded, and said,

"You’re just in time, let’s visit the scene together."

So urgent?

Zhao Douan and Haitang exchanged a glance, said nothing further, and immediately followed Ma Yan out of the government office.

Outside, a group of Jinyi Captains was already waiting.

Given the urgency of the situation, the three did not take a carriage but rode on horseback.

On the way, Zhao Douan couldn’t contain his curiosity, asking about the specific situation.

Ma Yan glanced at him and only said,

"The report came from the government office, and because it involves the rebels, they notified us. Haitang is skilled at solving cases, and you, with your cunning mind, have experience handling rebels."

What... Ma, you’re not being fair, why describe me as cunning... why can’t it be smart and brave, does it have to be sly and deceitful... Zhao Douan was speechless.

...

The murder occurred on Niu Lan Street, inside a house.

By the time the Imperial Court party arrived, the house had already been sealed off by the government officer.

A blue-robed official was waiting there, bowing in greeting at the sight,

"Greetings, my Lord."

Then looking at Zhao Douan, with a slightly complicated expression,

"Greetings, Master Zhao."

Haitang: "..."

So I just get ignored, huh?

Ma Yan was a straightforward person, waving his hand to have someone lead the way while inquiring about the situation.

The blue-robed official said,

"This house belongs to a minor officer of the Yulin Guard, he died last night, and traces of the rebels were found at the scene, necessitating the Lord’s personal investigation. The scene hasn’t been disturbed much, just over here."

As they spoke, the party reached a study room, guarded by the government officers at the door.

Ma Yan led the two into the threshold, and Zhao Douan couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.

The room seemed to have experienced not much of a "struggle."

The general idea was:

Everything like tables, chairs, and bookshelves were intact, but the weapons on the rear rack had been tampered with, leaving only a scabbard.

Both the rack and the wall behind it had numerous tiny traces, with many things in disarray and a broken ceramic vase.

On the ground lay a middle-aged officer, lying on his back, with a scarlet wound on his neck, his eyes wide open in anger, a look of terror still in his eyes.

A trail of congealed blood was left on the wall and floor.

Nearby lay a bloodstained sword.

"Haitang." Ma Yan stopped, his voice heavy.

Haitang stepped forward, skillfully squatting down and examining the wounds of the deceased.

While observing, she calmly stated,

"Judging from the body’s condition, the time of death was likely before midnight last night, with only the neck showing a fatal wound, likely a single fatal blow. The deceased, being a minor officer, had martial arts cultivation... indicating the enemy’s strength far surpassed his."

She then stood up, walked around the study, and pondered for a moment beside the bookshelf.

Picking up the sword on the ground, she carefully compared it, then said,

"Judging from the traces, the deceased should have been working at the desk last night, then stood up to draw his sword against the enemy. Yet, somehow, the enemy managed to snatch the sword and kill him with one blow, while the residual sword Qi swept the bookshelf, shattering items... the bloodstains on the ground and the body’s position match... but that’s peculiar."

"What’s peculiar?"

Zhao Douan curiously inquired.

He didn’t understand detective work, only feeling that the female detective was very professional.

Haitang furrowed her brow,

"There are no signs of the doors or windows being forced open, and the deceased faced the enemy head-on, indicating the enemy wasn’t hiding within the room but came through the front door. With the deceased’s cultivation, he shouldn’t have been caught unaware..."

Ma Yan voiced heavily,

"Are you suggesting it was someone familiar? If someone known came in, he naturally wouldn’t be alerted, only rising hastily to draw his sword upon sensing danger."

Haitang stated,

"Possibly. By the way, didn’t the deceased’s family hear the sounds of a fight? Why didn’t they report it immediately?"

By the door.

The blue-robed official explained,

"Upon questioning, the deceased’s family heard nothing. When he returned home late last night, they assumed he was dealing with work in the study and didn’t disturb him. As dawn approached, his wife noticed he hadn’t returned, searched the study, and discovered the body."

The few exchanged looks, realizing it was likely the culprit had used some "Magician’s" method to conceal the commotion.

Ma Yan frowned,

"You mentioned there were traces of the rebels, where?"

The blue-robed official extended his hand, producing a sheet of paper from his sleeve and handing it over,

"Here. The deceased’s family found this after entering and brought it to the government office to report."

Zhao Douan, having had no chance to express himself, curiously moved over.

He discovered that the paper was filled with numerous words written in blood.

Haitang suddenly realized,

"So the culprit dipped a pen in the deceased’s blood to write this. No wonder I found a pen in the bloodstain while investigating, mistakenly thinking it had fallen by accident."

Ma Yan took the paper without avoiding the two subordinates and glanced at it.

Immediately, the expressions of all three changed simultaneously!

The words, about dozens in total, were left by the culprit.

The general idea was:

Zhao Doe’s unfounded killing of Kuangfu Society Members, coupled with the Fake Emperor’s "evil policies," meant the Kuangfu Society, standing against treachery, decided to assassinate supporters of the Fake Emperor’s New Policy from the Imperial Faction...

Demanding the Fake Emperor halt the "evil policies," eliminate gigolos and traitors... or they would continue to kill until the stubborn officials woke up.

Signed: Thousand Faces God.

...

The room fell into silence for a moment.

Zhao Douan was stunned, finally understanding why the blue-robed official gave him such a strange look upon entering.

He almost wanted to burst out cursing:

"The rebels’ assassination is one thing, threatening with blood-written letters is another, but why drag me into it?"

In the blood letter, besides the typical rebel buzzwords like "Fake Emperor," Zhao Douan was particularly highlighted.

The implication seemed to be that the murder was in retaliation for Zhao Douan’s alleged slaughter of rebels.

Even in the closing demands, they specifically wrote about removing him as a gigolo traitor.

Zhao Douan almost wanted to applaud, thinking to himself:

Didn’t I just kill someone with the Cold Frost Sword, expose two spies including one at Iron Ruler Pass, capture a group of Capital Kuangfu Society Members, break old thief Zhuang Xiaocheng’s plans, aid the Empress in clearing some enemies, stabilize the "Fake Emperor’s" regime, and draft a new policy to strengthen the "Fake Emperor’s" power...

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"Is it really such a big deal that Zhuang Xiaocheng holds a grudge against me and even lists me alongside the Empress in a blood letter..."

Zhao Douan expressed his confusion.

"Thousand Faces God... is that the one from Kuangfu Society’s Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang?"

Haitang focused on the identity of the culprit, frowning,

"When did this person arrive in the capital? If it’s him, it explains a lot. This person practiced Dual Cultivation, known for being proficient in changing appearances using magic.

Not just ordinary disguise, but able to almost perfectly mimic others...

Last night, if he disguised as a family member of the deceased and entered the study, then revealed his murderous intent, it would make sense."

Ma Yan then said in a grave tone,

"Thousand Faces God... a Cultivator of the Divine Chapter Realm. In this light, he was sent by Kuangfu Society as the new Branch Leader after the Cold Frost Sword’s death. This person is cunning and adept at disguise, no wonder we didn’t detect it beforehand."

Zhao Douan frowned,

"Has Kuangfu Society really become so insane as to start assassinations?

To my knowledge, they previously used tactics on officials like co-opting and setting traps, trying all means to get them to join, rarely resorting to assassination.

After all, Kuangfu Society’s goal wasn’t to make the court collapse, nor did it wish for officials to fear or oppose them... they still harbor ambitions to overthrow His Majesty and establish a new ruler."

Ma Yan cast a complicated glance at him, saying quietly,

"It seems your New Policy has truly unsettled the rebels."

Or rather, provoked the Eight Princes.

Zhao Douan had a realization,

So, was it because the Eight Princes, or Kuangfu Society, realized that if the "New Policy" was successfully implemented, the Empress’s rule would become more stable?

That’s why they acted out of desperation, resorting to assassination.

However, it seemed they still held back, as at least the first target was just a minor officer.

More of a show of force, killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.

"Leaving such a message, Thousand Faces God aims to cause panic among officials, especially those aligned with the ’Imperial Faction,’ he is indeed sinister," Ma Yan lamented.

No... He was also playing on the officials’ hatred towards me... Zhao Douan sighed.

The repeated mentioning of his name in the blood letter would undoubtedly link the assassination moves to him in others’ minds.

A classic method of redirecting conflicts...

Is this a blood letter?

No, it’s practically an edict condemning Zhao Douan.

The trio felt a heavy burden, understanding that if the enemy continued their killing spree, the court’s newly stabilized situation would once again face turmoil.

With this thought, they prepared to leave immediately, report to the Empress, and draft a response.

However, just as Zhao Douan stepped out of the study, an enraged shout came from the courtyard directed at him.

"Zhao Douan, give me back my brother’s life!"

...

Correction of typos will be done later.