The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 670 - 452, so lively here, you don’t mind adding one more, right? (6k)_4

Ning Zechen fixed his tiger-like eyes on him, saying, "This is the place you chose. I came here alone. Is there still a need to say these deceitful things?"

He Xiaolou smiled but did not respond. freeweɓnøvel~com

Ning Zechen suddenly sighed, whether in resentment or admiration, "Boss He is truly cautious."

He Xiaolou let out a light sigh, put down the wine pot, slowly sat down, and said with some melancholy, "Sir, you were once a carp, cultivated for five hundred years, leaped over the dragon gate, and became a dragon after marriage. As for me, I was only a loach, cultivated for a thousand years to become a carp, then another five hundred years to barely leap over the dragon gate... no, how can it be counted as a dragon gate? At most, I entered the river from the creek... but at least I gained some wealth. If you fall, you’ll still be a carp, but I will turn back into a loach. Tell me, how can someone like me not be cautious in my actions?"

Ning Zechen was silent for a moment and sighed, "I don’t like beating around the bush. Tell me, what are your terms? What conditions will help me... find my wife and daughter?"

He Xiaolou laughed heartily and said, "Why does the Governor have to ask when he already knows?"

Ning Zechen stared at him, "The New Policy is not solely mine, it belongs to the court!"

He Xiaolou replied seriously, "But the one executing the tasks is you, Master of the clan."

Their gazes locked, neither giving way, and the red light streaming through the carved windows of the Zhu Pavilion seemed to stain everything with blood, illuminating the feast between them.

Ning Zechen suddenly gripped the hilt of his sword, stood up without warning, and unsheathed his sword; the chilling blade pressed against He Xiaolou’s brow!

"If I push my sword forward just an inch, you will surely die!" he said, enunciating each word.

He Xiaolou sat quietly in his chair with a smile on his face, slowly raised his folding fan, and gently diverted the bloodthirsty blade with the precious ribs of his fan.

He said leisurely, "The Governor is a smart man and should know that killing me won’t bring back Mrs. Ning. The ones who abducted them cannot possibly be in my hands."

Ning Zechen slumped back into his chair, his sword clattering onto the table, overturning bowls and chopsticks.

Indeed, how could he not know? Once the people were taken, they certainly wouldn’t be brought back to the city but would be directly handed over to another group.

They couldn’t possibly remain in the hands of this gang leader.

He Xiaolou wore a peculiar smile, seemingly intrigued by the loss of composure of a grand Governor, a Second Rank official, in his presence. He smiled as he stood up, picked up chopsticks, and personally served Ning Zechen some food, saying, "The Governor is also human, not an unfeeling sword or knife in the Emperor’s hand. Why make your family fall apart and work yourself to death for people thousands of miles away? Actually, this matter is simple, not that difficult. The Governor doesn’t even need to do anything excessive. The New Policy continues to advance; you just need to ease up a bit, take it slow, and everyone will be happy, won’t it be wonderful?"

Ning Zechen remained silent.

Seeing his demeanor, He Xiaolou’s smile widened. He was just about to persuade him again, when suddenly they heard a noise from downstairs, as though someone was being interrogated by his subordinates. Then, a short cry of shock and a scream followed, accompanied by the sound of cracking bones, and all of it ceased within a few breaths.

As if it had never happened.

Then, footsteps were heard on the stairs as Zhao Douan slowly ascended to their level, casually glancing over the scene. His lazy, indifferent voice also reached their ears:

"Tsk, what a lively scene. Mind if I join?"

...

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