The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Zhao Douan was looking for a person, the scion of the Song family from Taicang County, who was also the current patriarch of the Linfeng branch of the Song family.

The Song Manor was where the Song clan resided, and although it was situated in the countryside, it was nestled by the mountains and waters, looking like a small town with its grandeur.

The road outside the manor was paved smoothly with stones.

Far off, the buildings, slightly showing some Jiangnan styles, were connected in an unbroken stretch.

They were all white walls and black tiles, with several two-story small buildings sporadically shooting up from the flat terrains of the lands.

A group of people reached outside the manor and simply got off their carriages to walk.

Wearing a plain robe, the senior Lv Qingfeng walked beside Zhao Douan leading the way, his expression melancholic:

"It's been more than a decade since I last visited, this place has improved greatly since then."

Zhao Douan said leisurely with his hands behind his back:

"The common folk here seem to be much more affluent than those in other places."

Xu Junling pursed her lips and smiled faintly:

"Adjacent to a silver mine, even if they don't engage in greed or robbery, simply doing some convenient business, they can't be poor. Not to mention other places, just the cleanliness and tidiness of this manor, even if placed in the Huai River Road, would be considered above average.

Well… Miss, somewhat understands why the manor owner dared to retain Master Lv as an instructor back then, must be because they were not short on silver."

The grassroots security in Great Yu was poor, the petty officials not causing harm to the townsfolk was already good enough.

Let alone cutting off robbers, bandits, and bullies, hence even the scholarly families in the countryside would gather funds to sustain some martial artists for self-defense.

They would usually have these people teach martial arts to the young men in their family.

Given the financial strength of the Song Manor, securing some Jianghu experts or even cultivators to be stationed here was not surprising.

Lv Qingfeng smiled without saying a word, seemingly agreeing.

At this moment, as the group approached, they drew attention from some peasants nearby, who stood watching from a distance, vigilantly but did not come forward.

However, within an open space inside the manor, separated by a fence that had morning glory and autumn chrysanthemums, from inside it came sounds of frolicsome laughter.

Zhao Douan thought of asking for directions, so he walked a bit closer.

Suddenly, from behind the fence, a massive rattan ball whooshed out high in the air, hurtling towards the crowd.

"Bang." Zhao Douan reached out with fingers wide open and caught the rattan ball, his surprise was evident as he realized people were playing Cuju inside.

"Ah, it flew out again!"

"Little Wu, you're doing it again…"

"Haha, who can blame me, when I've learned such good martial arts? I'll go fetch it."

High laughter came from behind the tall fence.

Subsequently, the slightly ajar fence gate burst open and a robust teenager around seventeen or eighteen jogged out.

He wore a short shirt, embedded with jade at his belt, his hair messily tied up.

He glanced around and upon seeing the group outside, his flippant expression obviously froze.

His gaze instinctively locked onto Xu Junling, he swallowed discreetly, eyes gleaming.

Then he noticed Zhao Douan beside her, dressed like an affluent young master, and the rattan ball held in his hands.

"Where did this beautiful lady come from? Has she picked up my ball?"

The robust young man said playfully, staring only at Xu Junling.

Attracted by the sound, from behind the fence out swarmed twenty or so sturdy young men.

All in their teens or twenties, staring curiously at these strangers.

Xu Junling's demeanor was natural, showing none of the timidity common to most women; she smiled faintly with pursed lips:

"He sure is sweet-talking, but it wasn't me who picked up the ball."

Saying this, she turned her eyes to the side.

Zhao Douan smiled and spoke:

"Nearly got hit by the ball, and not knowing how to apologize is one thing, but to mistake people too… heh, well. Young man, we are here to look for Master Song, how about you show us to his house, and we can return the ball to you?"

Looking for Master Song?

The group of disciples was not surprised, as people often came visiting their elder.

The robust young man, known as "Little Wu," gave him a glance, seemingly feeling that the man and woman before him were a couple, his expression turned slightly cold, ignoring them.

Still with a playful smile, he turned to Xu Junling:

"Where is this lovely lady from? What business does she have with my great uncle? Could it be a visit out of admiration?"

Xu Junling grinned slightly smugly and threw a meaningful glance at Zhao Douan, as if to say:

See, he's not even bothering with you. Our Yama Zhao loses face once he steps out of the Capital… Look at this Commandery Princess.

The Commandery Princess won the game.

She sweetly smiled, graceful and gentle:

"We have some matters to discuss, seeking to visit Master Song, kindly requesting this gentleman to show the way."

Zhao Douan looked at her, surprised, the little princess of schemes even purposely squeezed her voice!

Is it fun to tease the country boys?

The burly youth's face broke into a smile, his eyes shifting again as he cheerily said,

"Since sister has spoken, naturally it can be done. However, we do not welcome idlers in the manor, and moreover, I do not like this person. Let him wait outside, and he must return the rattan ball to me… Oh right, he also must apologize to me."

The youth raised his hand, his finger pointing directly at Zhao Douan, a smug look on his face.

Behind him, an older boy among the group frowned slightly, wanting to speak, but the others got ahead of him:

"That's right! Not the men!"

"Little Wu is right, let the women in the manor, but not the men!"

"Give the ball back!"

Amid the clamor, the white-robed elder, Lv Qingfeng, felt a sudden dread in his heart and muttered to himself that this was not good.

The sword-wielding woman in her thirties next to the burly man with a saber at his waist, turned their heads to look at "Yama Zhao", their expressions revealing a cautiousness:

"Young Master…"

Amid the boisterous shouting of the unruly youth from the manor,

Zhao Douan's eyes slowly narrowed, and a faint smile spread across his face, more brilliant than ever as he softly said,

"Apologize?"

Having learned martial arts under the manor's instructor, the burly youth who thought himself a martial arts prodigy and was accustomed to bullying others, saw that the young master was merely smiling and became even more arrogant,

"Right, don't pretend you didn't hear me when you said I lack manners…"

"So it is," Zhao Douan responded with a sound of realization, smiling as he reached out his right hand holding the rattan ball,

"In that case, I shall return it to you."

This is more like it… What a coward… With just a few servants, you wouldn't dare make trouble in the manor…

The burly youth, proud and haughty, stepped forward to catch it, but suddenly caught sight of the young master's wrist twisting, unexpectedly pressing the rattan ball directly against his chest.

"Bang!"

The next second, under the horrified gazes of those around, the youth, along with the ball, was struck as if hit by a charging warhorse.

With a scream, his body soared into the air, curling inward like a shrimp in mid-air, his face contorted with pain, as he spat out filth.

His entire body hit a towering hedge, crashing into it with a loud bang.

"Ahh!!"

The rattan ball also collapsed and exploded under the pressure of the palm, its fragments scattering like bullets, causing the group of cuju-playing boys to scatter and wail in pain.

In the blink of an eye, they fell to the ground like wheat chaff, their eyes full of terror as they looked towards these strangers. Where was there room for laughter?

With a single palm strike, Zhao Douan suddenly grabbed through the air, reversing the "Milky Way hung upside down," and his palm suddenly expelled a strong suction force.

He pulled "Little Wu" back through the air, grabbing his neck and casually holding him aloft.

"What did you say just now? I didn't quite hear you."

Zhao Douan's face was the picture of innocence.

"Gah… gack gack…"

The burly youth dangled in the air like a chick, his legs flailing wildly, his face flushing as red as blood, his eyes filled with terror, unable to speak, his eyes turning towards the "kind sister" for help.

Yet he saw the graceful and well-bred Xu Junling smiling without a hint of sympathy.

"Murder!"

"Quick, go call for help!"

"Get Master Xie, tell him thieves have broken in!"

The boys on the ground ran towards the manor in terror, shouting loudly.

"Young Master, these people…"

The large man with an iron arm guard, who had once vocally challenged Zhao Douan, showed a fierce expression, bowed humbly, and gave a look suggesting whether he should stop them.

"There's no need. Those who don't heed the toast, drink the penalty. It's actually easier this way."

Zhao Douan casually threw the near-suffocated youth to the ground, sighing lightly,

"As the young master, I am kind, teaching today on behalf of that Song Juren how to discipline his clan's youth."

Everyone exchanged glances.

The burly youth on the ground coughed violently, attempting to rise, only to be stamped back into the mud by the sword-bearing man, who wondered aloud,

"Master Lv, that Song Juren, you've met him before, right? Was he also this ignorant?"

Lv Qingfeng stroked his beard, his eyes reflecting memories,

"I met him once, but we didn't interact much. The one who earnestly requested me to stay back then was the previous manor owner of the Song family. However, this manor really became famous because of that Juren.

Ha, but not for his scholarly honors, rather because he once followed Mr. Zhengyang in self-discipline and always claimed to be a disciple of the Zhengyang Sect."

"Mr. Zhengyang?"

Zhao Douan raised his eyebrows, feeling it sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

Xu Junling explained,

"This man is the foremost recluse of Great Yu; when Xiuwen Pavilion opened, as far as I know, the court had sent someone to invite Mr. Zhengyang to come down from the mountains, but he declined politely."