"All cleared!"
Zhao Douan, after delivering a slap, felt refreshed and did not bother with the Crown Princess who was sitting behind him on the cool mat as he walked outside.
Although the suggestion to "make Li Lang's mother apologize" was quite stimulating, he knew he should not fall into such an obvious trap, even if he were blind.
"Creak."
As he pushed open the door with his hand, Zhao Douan stepped out and saw Lord Li Shuping pacing anxiously by a red-painted wooden pillar in the corridor.
Perhaps attracted by the sound of Zhao Douan's laughter, he looked over, his face changed, and he averted his gaze.
"Let's go."
Zhao Douan shook his head, uninterested in wasting words, waved his hand grandly, and led two eunuchs back to report.
The remaining eunuchs stood silently; they were there to oversee the implentation of imperial orders.
By the end of today, they had to bring the Crown Princess to the nunnery.
"Yunyang, what did that Zhao man say to you alone?"
After Lord Li Shuping saw the others leave, he breathed a sigh of relief and hurried into the room, then froze.
He only saw his wife on the cool mat, holding a pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks, sitting sideways.
She hid the side of her face that had been slapped, her red dress was disheveled, and her shoes were carelessly discarded, all in silence.
Seeing this, Li Shuping paused, his breathing beca more rapid:
"Did he..."
Imagining what might have happened between a lone man and a lone woman in the room, a bizarre excitent sprouted in his heart amidst his anger.
Yunyang sneered, turned her head back, and looked at him with disappointnt and scorn:
"Useless thing."
Li Shuping blissfully accepted the insult.
...
...
Zhao Douan left Lord Li's residence and did not return to the palace.
He saluted two palace eunuchs and then galloped toward Heavenly Master Mansion.
On the way, he saw five groups of imperial guards sweeping through the streets, the atmosphere in the Capital had changed.
Clearly, the Empress's decree had been issued, and the Capital was entering a new round of purges against rebels.
"The New Leader had just taken office and got knocked off quickly, I believe people in Kuangfu Society would be sane enough to go into hiding, at least until the headquarters issues another appointnt, these rats from the sewers won't make a move."
"Oh right... I still have a rebel on my hands, almost forgot."
Zhao Douan rembered Yun Xi, the female disciple abandoned by Zhuang Xiaocheng, who had been locked in the dungeon for days.
A few days ago, after Zhao Douan secured his position in the Imperial Court, he issued an order to transfer Yun Xi from the governnt office's dungeon to the Imperial Prison.
To prevent a repeat of the incident with Lv Liang attempting to snatch her.
Although she had been transferred to his jurisdiction, Zhao Douan had largely ignored her.
"Haha, if the young girl knew the New Leader was chopped down by again, I wonder what her expression would be."
Zhao Douan shook his head, "Well, I'll deal with it later."
Recently too busy, he couldn't be bothered to visit her.
Heavenly Master Mansion was an independent complex surrounded by square walls, housing buildings that resembled a Daoist Temple.
The most striking feature was the large bell housed in a tower at the center.
Every ti it rang, the heavy bell could be heard even outside the city
— The day he crossed over, he had heard the bell, but this was his first visit here.
A Daoist guarded the main gate; those not dressed in priest robes were laborers, not cultivators, belonging to the miscellaneous staff of the Heavenly Master Mansion.
Zhao Douan politely stated his na, causing the Daoist to glance at him in surprise:
"Lord, please wait, I will notify them."
In a mont, Priest Jin Jian yawned, appearing as if he had just climbed out of bed, floated out like a ghost:
"Yawn~ You here?"
No... It's approaching noon... Zhao Douan opened his mouth, recalling his sleep-deprived self in a previous life.
Sleep at four a.m., wake at seven, even King Yan praised his endurance.
"Priest, may I speak with you for a mont."
Zhao Douan gestured indicating the presence of others, signaling he wanted to speak inside.
The pale-faced girl with delicate features and unfocused eyes shook her head:
"Unless it's a special situation, Heavenly Master Mansion prohibits outsiders."
Then with a wave of her hand, a faint glimr passed by:
"Alright, now no one will overhear our conversation."
Am I not special...? So in your eyes, I'm just an ordinary outsider... Zhao Douan mused internally and, sowhat disappointed, maintained his composure with a polite bow:
"I was in a hurry before, and I've co to thank the priest for your assistance in concealing the matter."
He referred to the matter of the Divine Talisman.
Priest Jin Jian covered her mouth with a small hand:
"Yawn~ No need to thank , I was just helping soone out."
Zhao Douan had an epiphany:
"Was it that tall officer? Now that you ntion it, he has co looking for several tis, introduced by Priest Jin Jian, right? Are you familiar with him?"
Priest Jin Jian gave him a strange look, grunted noncommittally, and said:
"Quite familiar."
Indeed! Zhao Douan confird his guess, curious, he asked: "May I know his na?"
Priest Jin Jian paused, then said: "His surna is Wang."
Wang... When I have ti, I should inquire about any notable officers surnad Wang in Heavenly Master Mansion... Zhao Douan took note and said diplomatically:
"Please convey a ssage for , tell him I'm grateful for his favor this ti. The sentence I gave him last ti, I won't charge for it. If he wants more later, he can co to , maybe trade with talismans or sothing. Bulk orders are preferred..."
Priest Jin Jian responded: "... Alright. Anything else? If not, I'm going back to sleep, yawn~"
Sothing suddenly occurred to Zhao Douan:
"Oh, I rember our Heavenly Master Mansion also runs quite a few businesses, like shops, right?"
Places like Heavenly Master Mansion and Divine Dragon Temple have stood for many years, housing many non-productive priests requiring massive resources.
Selling dicinal pills, healing drugs only covers a small part.
Most operational funds rely on their industries, like vast farmlands, shops, etc.
Priest Jin Jian nodded naively:
"Yeah."
Zhao Douan took out a recipe for making ice from his bosom and explained:
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