"He fainted just like that? Truly a person of narrow-mindedness..."
Zhao Douan hadn't expected a few words could have such a devastating effect and couldn't help wearing a peculiar expression on his face.
Shaking his head, he stood up, his icy gaze swept towards the group of wicked servants:
"Aren't you leaving yet?"
It was only at this moment that the servants holding the whistle sticks snapped out of their daze. Who would dare to utter another word of nonsense?
They immediately tucked their tails between their legs, flustered and in disarray, dragging away the unconscious Zhang Changji and hastily fleeing from the Zhao Residence, fearing they would be killed on the spot if they were a step slower.
They were even more anxious to report what had happened to Zhang Changji's elder brother and old master.
...
"My lord, are you... alright? Just now, that man claimed that you had been punished and sent to the great prison."
At this time, the servants of the Zhao family finally came back to their senses, and the old steward, his eyes brimming with tears, asked.
In his youth, Mr. Zhao had been the steward of the household, close to the family as if he were one of them.
Henceforth, even after the original owner gained power, the treatment towards him remained kind.
"No need to listen to that man's nonsense; what kind of relationship do I have with Her Majesty? Could anything go wrong?"
Zhao Douan deliberately raised his voice, banking on the Empress's authority to reassure his servants.
Then, he briefly described the confrontation in the Imperial Palace, glossing over the details, emphasizing the outcome instead.
The people of the household had been restless for days.
Now that they knew their master had not only atoned but also earned the Saint's favor and acquired great benefits during a shared meal, they all beamed with joy.
The tense atmosphere swept away, and compliments began to flow.
"Enough, why are you all gathered here? Clean up the damaged area. Also, send someone out; my carriage was left behind. Tell Zhu Kui it's all clear now."
Zhao Douan dismissed the servants to get busy, then turned his attention to the main character.
Despite retaining some vague impressions, the first-hand sight still took his breath away.
Such a beautiful stepmother and sister...
You Jinhua was now standing up, her long dress of dark green silk stained with dust, her soft and gentle face showing a sense of relief after surviving a calamity.
Seeing Zhao Douan's gaze, she subconsciously shivered and forced a pleasing smile:
"It's good to see you well, sir. You mustn't have eaten enough while accompanying the emperor. Let me go arrange a meal for you... Paner? What are you standing there stupidly for? Go fetch your brother's proper clothes."
Though clearly the head of the household, she behaved subserviently and cautiously, as if she was afraid of angering him.
In his memory, this aunt had been very good to him since she entered the household.
She managed the affairs of the home efficiently and had a soft and gentle nature.
Even when slapping her, the original owner would only see her silently retreat and weep... a quintessential wife of the feudal era.
No wonder Mr. Zhao disregarded the rumors and insisted on bringing her home... Zhao Douan felt a complexity of emotions, a sense of guilt rising up, and was about to say something to console her.
Suddenly, he was interrupted by the voice of a young girl.
"I won't!"
Crying, Zhao Pan spoke, the girl inheriting her mother's striking beauty, with an oval face and a high nose, her hair disheveled.
Her eyes, like autumn water, were red with tears, her silver teeth clenched, like a wounded young leopard.
Eh, this sister's temperament was completely opposite to that of her mother's—assertive, independent, courageous.
Having witnessed her mother's enduring concessions and repeated bullying by the original owner, she harbored strong feelings of defiance towards Zhao Douan.
"Paner, how can you be so unreasonable... Apologize right away!"
You Jinhua's face changed, feigning anger, fearing to provoke Zhao Douan into harming her daughter.
Zhao Pan's eyes reddened even more, and she was on the verge of tears.
She didn't understand why her mother always protected this scum; clearly, he was nothing but an unheated stone.
No, a wolf, a wolf that bullied her and her mother!
Gritting her teeth, she mustered the courage from somewhere and said:
"If he hadn't caused all that trouble outside, how would our enemies have found our house? Just now, we almost were..."
You Jinhua bit her lip, suddenly swinging her hand towards her daughter's pretty face. Zhao Pan did not dodge or hide, just wept.
"Enough—"
However, midway through the swing, the woman's wrist was grabbed by Zhao Douan, stopping her in her tracks.
"I'm agitated today; I don't want to see women crying,"
Zhao Douan scolded with a stern face:
"I'm going to my room to rest, do not disturb me before dinner."
Saying that, he left with long strides, deeply sighing in his heart, feeling his head buzz:
"How bad can my terrible persona be..."
You Jinhua certainly had no clue about his thoughts, simply breathing a sigh of relief, then lovingly embracing her sobbing daughter, patting the girl's back gently, whispering words of comfort.
Meanwhile, watching Zhao Douan's retreating figure, her eyes filled with confusion:
Today's lord didn't seem so terrible.
...
Inner chambers.
The confines of his own bedroom.
Zhao Douan threw himself onto the bed, digesting the experiences of the past three days.
Only now did he truly relax.
"The Empress, although she bestowed upon me the position of Tributor, it's only temporary; with my criminal record, she could cast me back into the dust at any time.
How I'll be viewed in Xu Zhenguan's eyes, what status I might hold, will depend on my subsequent performance...
For now, one could only say that I've secured a ticket to the court of imperial favor... I must not be careless...
Heh, even though this series of maneuvers allowed me to escape unscathed, I've thoroughly offended Prime Minister Li Yanfu... Once that old fellow learns the news, he'll surely target me in the future..."
"However, when one has too many lice, one stops fearing bites. Given my people skills, it's nearly impossible for me to take the approach of flattering everyone and dancing at two weddings. From any perspective, holding firm to the Empress's coattails is my only way to survive!"
"And her coattails should be quite long and white..."
Zhao Douan gave himself a mental slap: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, focus on serious matters!"
He crossed his hands behind his head, gazing at the bed canopy, arranging his thoughts:
"The Great Yu dynasty unifies the Central Plains, surrounded only by scattered vassal states, eerily like the world I'm familiar with.
So, no matter whom I offend, I can't afford to offend Xu Zhenguan; otherwise, I might as well be like Zhuang Xiaocheng and that band of rebels, akin to rats in a gutter."
"...Zhuang Xiaocheng, how bitterly you've trapped me. And with more than half a year to go, where would I even begin to capture you?"
The Empress had given him half a year to capture the rebel, but Zhao Douan felt this case was far-fetched.
Kuangfu Society was undeniably powerful, with Zhuang Xiaocheng as a high-ranking member able to marshal "world" tier Magicians for protection, and after this incident, it was highly unlikely he would reveal himself.
Left to his own devices, Zhao Douan saw completing this task as an almost zero possibility.
"Change the perspective; the Empress has no reason to force me into an impossible task and to death.
Thus, it's essentially a 'trial period' of half a year. If I can establish enough merits within this span, I can offset the Zhuang Xiaocheng case!"
Of course, Zhao Douan did not entirely entrust his life and death to the whims of the sovereign.
Deeper within his heart, what he looked forward to more was cultivation.
"Was that light... martial skills?"
Zhao Douan examined his right hand, lost in thought:
Exchanging blows with Zhang Changji of the same realm, the opponent's flesh turned inside out, while he bore mere superficial abrasions.
Such stark contrast, no doubt, was due to the mysterious morning's glow.
He had always believed his talent for cultivating the "Martial God Map" was excessively outrageous and suspected it had something to do with his transmigrator status, but there was no evidence.
Deciding not to dwell on it, becoming stronger was certainly correct.
Once he was strong enough to be dreaded even by the Empress, where in this vast world could he not go?
"According to Eunuch Hai's words, as long as I perform meritorious service, there's a chance to obtain resources from the Imperial Palace's armory, and the Martial God lineage suits me...
So, my next goal is still to accumulate as many merits as possible, using them to enhance my cultivation, and... greater... power!"
Indeed, power!
Both his past life experiences and the observations made in these three days of transmigration reiterated the importance of power.
At least before his Martial Arts Cultivation was substantially developed, power was his most significant safeguard.
Consider, without power, how could he coerce Feng Ju and Wang Xian?
Turn the tables in his favor?
Without power, how dare he resist Zhang Changji's bullying, offend a doctor from the Ministry of War?
"Military might and power, I must hold both firmly in my grasp!"
As for how to gain merits... he already had a target.
"Zhang Changshuo, Zhang Changji..."
Zhao Douan muttered under his breath, pondering. Given the Zhang brothers' character, surely they must not be clean.
Being someone who holds grudges, he couldn't let go of the Zhang brothers' repeated attempts on his life.
Why not... begin with uprooting the Zhang family?
It was worth a try...
However, this required further contemplation of the details.
Zhao Douan put the thought aside for the moment. With a kip-up, he rose to his feet and started searching the room for his money box.
The matter of Feng Ju's rescue was far from over; the case was bound to be reviewed, and the "advance" Zhao Douan had received would have to be returned.
Otherwise, it could easily bring negative gossip.
"After all, the former owner has extorted quite a bit this past year; returning a sum wouldn't be too much."
Zhao Douan's face lit up with excitement, thrilled at the prospect of counting his gold and treasure.
His little treasure trove must contain quite a sum of money.
However, when he opened the locked metal box in his room full of anticipation, his smile instantly froze, and his pupils slowly dilated:
"Where's my money?!"
...
ps: Tomorrow is Tuesday, brothers, remember to check the latest chapter update and contribute by following along. This chapter has 3,000 words, and tomorrow noon's chapter will also have over 3,000 words with full sincerity.