The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 546 - 410, Zhao Douan: How much is Duke Cao’s face worth? (5k)_3
"I heard that the escort who accompanied this official on the trip South has caused some trouble and ended up in jail. I've come to take a look."
Vice Minister Huang's face twitched with difficulty as he said, "Lord Zhao, this..."
Zhao Douan smiled and said,
"Mr. Huang, there's no need to feel troubled. This official is simply visiting the prison. It won't kill anyone to check on the food and drink. If there's any issue, it's on me."
The Ministry of Justice had been walking on eggshells for the past few months due to the incident where Gao Lian and County Magistrate Wang Chusheng died in jail.
Vice Minister Huang hastily waved his hands,
"Lord Zhao, you jest. With your influence, who would dare refuse a gift of food or even bedding for the prisoners? It's not that I'm unwilling to accommodate you, it's just that..."
Zhao Douan raised his eyebrows, "Just what?"
Before the other could speak, the two standing in front of the prison courtyard heard a strange and deep voice coming from the entrance:
"Just that, Duke Cao has ordered, suspect is extremely cunning, and also a nontrivial martial artist. To prevent escape, he has specially ordered me, this general, to stand guard here, strictly forbidding anyone to visit."
Zhao Douan's gaze passed over Huang's shoulder and saw a young man walking slowly out of the dark and deep entrance of the prison.
He was dressed in a dark suit of armor with a saber hanging at his waist. His face was unremarkable except for his extremely thick eyebrows, which looked as if they had been drawn on with an ink brush.
As soon as he stepped out, Zhao Douan's muscles tensed instinctively with caution!
A master! A martial arts master!
Definitely as formidable as the military generals like Tang Zhao from the army!
The two exchanged glances, as if the clash of metal resounded in the air.
Vice Minister Huang's forehead secreted a sweat bead the size of a soybean, and his heart was filled with distress.
He, too, was a high official in the court in the Capital, who wouldn't show him respect. Yet here he was, caught between Yama Zhao and Duke Cao.
He had already cursed the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice, who had foisted this situation upon him, seven or eight times in his mind.
Yet his face still squeezed out a smile as he introduced them:
"Ha-ha, this is Lord Zhao, the only one in the Capital. Surely he needs no introduction."
"And this one, a name that resounds like thunder, is Vice General Cao kedid, the most trusted adopted son of Duke An, Cao Mao."
Vice General of Jubei City?
The rising star of the border army under that Cao Mao mentioned in the records?
Zhao Douan still wore a smile on his face,
"So it's Vice General Cao. I've heard much about you. Just now, you said that the Duke has ordered you to guard a prisoner?"
Clad in the dark armor, Cao kedid size him up carefully, his eyes carrying deep meaning as he smiled, "Lord Zhao's reputation has reached even the Northern regions. I wonder which prisoner does the Lord wish to visit? As long as it's not the 'Northern Blood Saber,' please feel free."
Zhao Douan smiled,
"That's good to hear. Vice General Cao, please continue with your duties. Vice Minister Huang? Kindly lead the way for this official to see the prisoner Lang Shiba."
Cao kedid side-stepped to block the path, furrowing his brows, "Lord Zhao, did you not hear me clearly?"
Zhao Douan said in surprise,
"I heard you clearly. You're guarding the 'Northern Blood Saber.' What does that have to do with my visiting Lang Shiba?"
"..." Cao kedid's forehead bulged with veins, stunned by Zhao Douan's shamelessness, and he slowly withdrew his smile, "Lord, please don't make this difficult for me."
Zhao Douan, still wearing a smile, met his gaze,
"Who in the Capital doesn't know that this official is always kind to others? Amicable as the spring breeze to friends?"
He paused and then smiled, "But for enemies, one must be as cold as the harsh winter."
Cao kedid said flatly, "I have no intention of being your enemy, and I trust Lord Zhao wouldn't wish to disrespect Duke Cao."
The two stood off, neither yielding to the other.
The wind in the Imprisonment also grew as sharp as razor blades, seemingly able to cut people.
"Both of you... please, calm down..."
Vice Minister Huang's heart skipped a beat, trying to mediate, but as important as he was, he was utterly ignored by the two.
Zhao Douan narrowed his eyes and flexed his wrists, sending out a "click-clack" of his bones, scoffing,
"How much is Duke Cao's face worth on a scale?"
Face worth a few ounces?! freewebnøvel.com
Done for! Vice Minister Huang's heart sank to the bottom of the valley.
Upon hearing this, Cao kedid's face suddenly changed as if he had been provoked. His right hand reached for the hilt of his blade at his waist. With a "clang," the sword left its sheath by an inch!
"How dare you! To show such disrespect to a Duke!"
Whoo—A cold wind arose from the ground. In the gray and black courtyard, invisible and intangible strands of Qi, dense as spiderwebs, crisscrossed around the two men at the center.
The prison guards in the distance changed their expressions, feeling it difficult to breathe and their faces burned as if mere boldness to approach would result in their being slashed by the Qi in the air.
Vice Minister Huang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his legs heavy as lead, unable to move.
As a mere mortal, faced with the Qi struggle between Divine Chapter Realm Martial Artists, he felt as vulnerable as if he might be torn to shreds at any moment.
However, just as tensions seemed about to erupt, suddenly, a hearty laugh broke the oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard!
The laughter came from outside the big courtyard, devoid of any trace of worldly concerns.
And not a hint of a Cultivator's aura.
Yet, both Zhao Douan and Cao kedid were startled at the same time, their nerves tensed as they looked toward the courtyard gate.
Because, neither of them had noticed anyone approaching from outside before!
Without the slightest awareness!
Who could it be?
"Haha, Lord Zhao, this Duke has been looking for you with great difficulty."
A Duke? Another Duke?
In that moment of surprise, Zhao Douan saw, from outside the gray and black gate of the Ministry of Justice's prison, a slightly hunched figure with a limp leg approaching slowly.
He was dressed in costly, extravagant robes without a single weapon, his attire overly refined, and at first glance, he resembled a wealthy elder.
But the moment he stepped into the courtyard, that all-encompassing, dense Qi as if seized by an iron hand was violently torn apart.
So strong!
A Martial Artist of the Worldly Realm! And not just an ordinary one!
Zhao Douan quickly deduced that the visitor's cultivation was extraordinary, and that the strong aura of a seasoned soldier he exuded was even more potent than that of Cao kedid.
Connecting this with his self-proclamation as a "Duke" and his appearance... Zhao Douan was fortune-smitten and blurted out, "Duke Tang?"
Duke Tang Zhao!
Unexpectedly, he appeared here without any forewarning, and it seemed he was looking for himself by the sound of it.
Duke Tang, laughing heartily as if a refined wealthy elder, seemed to ignore the standoff in the courtyard. His gaze landed on Zhao Douan, and he walked over with a smile, saying:
"My daughter and son returned home and disclosed the full story, only then did I realize the misunderstanding. Thus, causing my daughter to intrude upon Lihua Hall inappropriately. Moreover, I heard that Lord Zhao taught that ignorant fool a lesson at Divine Mechanism Camp.
This Duke thought it proper to invite Lord Zhao over for a simple meal to apologize in person. I never expected that I would search in vain until finally tracking you here, only to perhaps arrive at an inconvenient time."
He's inviting me to dine? So amiable?
Isn't the famous Duke said to be overprotective... Yes, but I have only heard he's domineering, not that he's difficult to get along with...
Zhao Douan was extremely surprised, and although taken aback, the adroitly diplomatic man still responded with a smile and a bow, "It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. I am unworthy of the trouble that the Duke has taken to search for me."
Duke Tang smiled, and after the pleasantries were finished, he then turned his gaze and gave Cao kedid a glance.
With just that glance, Cao kedid felt his Qi churn violently within, his face flushing red—a result of his blood boiling.
His expression was one of alarm, never having imagined that Duke Tang possessed such domineering presence on the inside.
"The adopted son of Cao Mao? Not bad, what a pity, he's followed the wrong person."
Duke Tang looked indifferent as if with a mere breath, he had seen through the young man in dark armor, inside and out.
His tone carried the unquestionable authority of someone long accustomed to power:
"Go back and tell Cao Mao that the Capital isn't his Jubei City, the prison here isn't his army's jail; this is the place beneath the Emperor's feet, where right must be spoken."
He paused:
"What is right?"
Duke Tang wore a smile without a hint of commonality, yet the words he uttered struck like a hammer, making Cao kedid see stars, retreating step by step.
He pointed at himself, smiling and said:
"This Duke is stronger than Cao Mao, that's the right."
