The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 154 - 135. Zhao Douan: It seems you prefer punishment over a toast.

"Yes!"

The carriage driver responded and tucked the horsewhip into his waistband, then asked for instructions,

"After finding the person, do we apprehend him immediately?"

He Zheng rubbed his thumb against his mustache, a habitual movement when he pondered. He shook his head and said,

"No need, just confirm his presence without alerting him. Then come out and wait. There are too many eyes inside, wait for him to leave, and then we can capture and interrogate him."

He remembered Zhou Cheng’s instructions very well, to avoid alarming Zhao Douan prematurely.

As his attendant headed toward the Teaching Bureau, the official in green robes lightly tapped his knee, his gaze drifting far away:

After two days of investigation, he had failed to find any evidence of Zhao Douan bedding women behind the Empress’s back.

However, he had learned that this "Qin Qiu" was a close associate of the Zhao thief, and prying his mouth open might lead to a breakthrough.

---

East City.

After leaving the teahouse, Zhao Douan and his party headed straight for their destination.

As they drew closer to the east side, the buildings on both sides of the street visibly deteriorated.

Not surprisingly, if the Capital were divided into four directions, it could be crudely summarized as:

The north is noble, the west wealthy, the east poor, and the south bustling.

East City was indeed where the poorest of the populace were the most numerous.

Indeed, even at the foot of the Emperor’s throne, the so-called land of ultimate virtue, there was no shortage of poor people.

"Is the private school run by that Xue Xuan located around here?"

Zhao Douan lifted the carriage curtain, curiously surveying their surroundings.

Haitang, riding on a horse beside the carriage, parallel to him, responded indifferently,

"What else? Grandmaster Dong only spared her life, but what else could the daughter of a convicted official do in the Capital?

Besides, the idea of a woman teaching is rare even now, let alone a few years ago.

Only in East City, where many children cannot afford to attend proper schools, would they accept a woman teacher. Even so, what she teaches are mostly just beginner students."

Ah, so it’s basically a kind of preschool... While Zhao Douan looked around, he saw a large complex ahead with many children inside and curiously asked,

"Is that a school as well?"

Haitang curled her lip:

"That’s the orphanage, a type of charitable institution, specifically for taking in orphans. You can’t possibly be unaware of this, can you?"

Zhao Douan asked with curiosity, "Oh, is it funded by the government?"

"Yes, but the funding from the government office alone isn’t enough," Haitang said with a snort of derision.

"The silver allocated for charitable institutions gets passed through so many hands, with each taking a share, leaving very little in the end.

Especially East City being the poorest, there have even been cases of people starving to death in previous years. But it’s improved somewhat in recent years. I heard that there’s a priest who regularly makes personal donations, sustaining many orphans."

There are such great philanthropists?

Zhao Douan was a bit surprised and then curiously said,

"You seem quite familiar with all this."

"I’m definitely more knowledgeable than a spoiled son of privilege like you." Haitang rolled her eyes.

"Stop the chatter; we’re almost there. By the way, when we arrive, don’t talk. Zhang Han and I will ask around, to avoid frightening them."

Perhaps because Zhou Cheng had played an insider during a ruse on that day, and Zhao Douan had shot her, Haitang’s words were edged with resentment.

Am I really that terrifying... I suspect you’re insinuating something.

"Heh, I won’t say a word."

Mr. Zhao was broad-minded and didn’t take a petty stance with the young lady.

Mainly because he knew his infamy among ordinary folk, a pure representation of a frivolous and ruthless villain.

If Haitang could graciously obtain information, he was content not to interfere.

---

---

East City, Zhongfang Street.

The locals all knew that on the side of the street, in the alley among the flowers, the third house with a large willow tree at the front was home to a female teacher.

The female teacher had moved here over ten years ago, a youthful girl at the time, with just an elderly couple in tow.

It was said that she came from a North City official’s household.

Having fallen on hard times, she ended up in Zhongfang Street, with the old couple who were her family’s former servants.

In the early morning, neighboring women would gradually bring their young children over, dropping them off at the private school run by Mrs. Xue, and pick them up in the afternoon.

Children living nearby would also come running over by themselves.

Today was no exception.

As the sun rose, children trickled in one by one. Upon entering the courtyard, they would respectfully bow toward the elegant lady standing in the yard, addressing her with a,

"Teacher."

The courtyard buzzed with lively chatter.

Xue Xuan would be wearing a female Confucian robe, smiling gently as she nodded to each child.

She was only in her twenties, slender and fragile in appearance, but her every movement was imbued with an air of literacy rare in this part of the street.

Perhaps naturally fair-skinned, her cheeks would flush even when speaking normally.

"Teacher! My mother made some spring rolls and asked me to bring them especially for you!"

A girl around five or six years old, looking adorable with braided pigtails, held a little box as she scampered in from outside.

Nearly stumbling at the entrance, she elicited a startled cry that made Xue Xuan rush over to assist.

However, the young girl steadied herself, her face breaking into a silly, happy laugh, eagerly lifting the lunchbox high, exclaiming,

"Teacher, eat! Teacher, eat!"

Being short, she could barely reach up to Xue Xuan’s chest with the box.

The little girl strained on tiptoe, yet still couldn’t reach.

Xue Xuan’s face blossomed with a tender smile, as she reached out to ruffle the girl’s hair and took the box, gently and softly asking,

"How many did mother make? Have you eaten?"

The girl was a bit slow and among the youngest of the children, so Xue Xuan gave her some extra care.

The young child started counting on her fingers, earnestly tallying up:

"One, two, three... six, Mother made six of them, said they were for the teacher, and wouldn’t let Nannan have any."

A somewhat disappointed expression.

Xue Xuan chuckled and adjusted her sheep horn braids before stuffing the lunch box back into her hands:

"The teacher will have to teach soon, so Nannan, hold onto them for now. We’ll go to the private school and recite our lessons, and shall we have lunch together at noon? We can split them, half for each of us."

The little girl became very happy and scampered back into the house.

Before all the children arrived, they would recite their lessons by themselves, and the class would officially start once everyone was present.

By now, the room was already filled with the tender sounds of reading.

Xue Xuan straightened up with a smile, greeted a few more children, and then tranquility returned to the doorway.

"Miss, I’m going to the shop to buy paper money and incense. Is there anything you’d like to remind me to do?"

At this moment, an old servant with graying hair approached and asked in a low voice.

The old servant, carrying a bamboo basket and dressed plainly, still had an air that could only be cultivated in a household of great wealth.

The smile on Xue Xuan’s face slowly faded.

A look of desolation flashed in the eyes of this once wealthy woman who had fallen on hard times.

With a momentary sorrow on her face, she forced a smile and spoke softly:

"I have no special instructions, Uncle Fu. I’ve always been assured of your work."

The old servant named Uncle Fu showed a relieved smile:

"I can’t remember things as clearly as I did in my younger days. In a few days, it will be the late master’s anniversary.

Last year I almost forgot to buy wine; luckily, you remembered, Miss. The late master never cared about silver, he just had a preference for yellow wine.

If I forget it again, and a few years down the line I too pass away, and meet the late master and madam, they’d surely berate me for not taking care of things properly."

Xue Xuan’s eyes reddened slightly, squeezing out a smile, trying to say something comforting, but found herself choking up.

Thirteen years had passed since the Xue family was wiped out, and the once fortunate survivor Xue Xuan had grown up.

The only ones who did not leave were Uncle Fu and his wife, who were now elderly.

The neighbors on Zhongfang Street only knew that Xue Xuan was originally the daughter of a government officer.

But these lower-status individuals didn’t know that this gentle and strong-willed woman, praised by all as "Madam of the Xue family," was once the only daughter of a fourth-rank official.

Not only did they not know, even Xue Xuan herself almost began to forget.

Only on the day of the family’s annual commemoration was she forced to remember the extermination from years past.

Was there hatred in her heart?

Of course, there was—deep-seated, vengeance-seeking rage.

But the enemy who sent Xue Lin to jail and destroyed the Xue family had climbed the ranks, and by now was a significant figure whom she, a mere ant, couldn’t even hope to meet.

What could she do about it?

Xue Xuan could only wipe the moisture from the corner of her eyes, force a smile, and try to forget the painful past.

However, at this moment, the sound of horse-drawn carriages and hooves came from outside the flower-lined alley.

Then, three unwelcome guests appeared under the shadow of the great willow.

"Who are you looking for?" Uncle Fu asked with a mix of confusion and wariness.

The newcomers were, of course, Zhao Douan and his two companions.

At this moment, he curiously surveyed the simple private school, his gaze moving past the old servant to fall upon the fallen miss who exuded the aura of a bookish, her fair and flushed face.

He instantly concluded that this woman was a descendant of Xue Lin.

There was no other explanation; even after over a decade of destitution, the aristocratic air bred into her bones made her stand out starkly among these commonfolk.

Just by standing there, she might as well have had the words "My ancestors were wealthy" branded on her forehead.

"Miss Xue, we meet again."

Haitang spoke with a smile.

She had visited a long time ago to investigate the documents, but at that time, she only got a cursory grasp of the situation and had announced herself as a government officer from the Imperial Court.

Xue Xuan recognized her, her complexion changed slightly, and her gaze took on an imperceptible cool distance:

"So it is the arrival of the government officer. Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome. Are these two, perhaps, your colleagues?"

The government officer... Zhao Douan wore an odd expression as he glanced at Haitang:

You said I frightened her, but you’re not doing much better.

Haitang nodded with a smile:

"These are my colleagues. Today’s visit is still about understanding the case of Mr. Xue Lin once more. We had to leave in a hurry last time due to urgent matters, without having the opportunity for a thorough discussion, so we’re here because..."

Xue Xuan, without waiting for her to finish speaking, shook her head respectfully and interjected:

"My father was terribly guilty; I’m fortunate to be alive and grateful for the mercy shown. The government had already come to a conclusion on the case back then, and I’m sure the relevant documents are all there. If the government officers wish to understand more, they may go look it up. I am not knowledgeable about those imperial court affairs."

Tsk, clearly there’s distrust... this is the normal reaction...

If a government officer asks and she starts claiming innocence, she’d only be inviting her own destruction.

Hehe, that year’s case was overseen by the late Emperor and was judged by the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Cheng.

If Xue Xuan dares to say a word of injustice or discontent, wouldn’t that mean the late Emperor was wrong? Master Zhou wrong?

Zhao Douan shook his head; naturally things weren’t going to be that easy.

"Miss Xue, there’s no need to be on guard like this, my colleagues and I come here with no ill intent..." Haitang was still trying to persuade with kind words.

Next to her, Zhang Han, who always wore a stoic expression, said gravely:

"Miss Xue, please cooperate with our investigation."

Damn it!

Zhao Douan wanted to bury his face in his hands.

As expected, no matter what the other two said, Xue Xuan was adamant about clinging to the conviction that her "father’s crimes were monstrous," giving them no opening.

Haitang and Zhang Han found themselves at a loss.

They couldn’t outright say that they were on a mission from her Majesty to seek trouble with Master Zhou.

"Let me handle this."

The usually silent Zhao Douan, who hadn’t made a peep since entering the premises, couldn’t stand it any longer and finally spoke up.

He stepped forward, shot a glance at the other two officers, shook his head and said:

"Do you always handle cases with such gentle and yielding manners?"

Then he turned to look at Xue Xuan and Uncle Fu, his face taking on the guise of a villain, staring down at them with a haughty smile, his taunting grin curled:

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

"Seems like you won’t drink a toast, so you must drink a forfeit!"