How influential was Zhao Douan in the Capital?
The expelled mbers of the You family, driven out like stray dogs, did not know.
But naturally, they assud that if one path was blocked, they could simply take another.
You Zhande, a man of decisive action, returned to the inn and ordered his servant to buy so dicine to treat his wife and child's injuries. He then turned to follow a list of nas to find connections.
The first stop was at the Ministry of Personnel Chief, Feng Ju.
According to the interdiary, this chief might only hold a fifth-rank and be less known, but he was actually "unfathomably deep."
His promotion was due within months; following the court's new policies and the implentation of the Examination thod, the responsibility fell onto the shoulders of just a few in the Ministry of Personnel, including Feng Ju.
You Zhande quickly deduced that this "Mr. Feng" surely wielded more power than Zhao Douan.
Considering Zhao Douan's notoriously bad reputation and being an implicit public enemy of many officials, You Zhande decided to make no ntion of his relationship with Zhao Douan during the visit.
He thought that money could convince anyone, doubting that Feng Ju could resist the temptation.
Initially, things went smoothly. Though he didn't et Chief Feng himself, the steward of the Feng family agreed to pass on a ssage.
You Zhande returned to the inn with high hopes and waited for a night.
Unbeknownst to him, just after he left the Feng residence, a Jinyi governnt officer from the Lihua Hall secretly entered the Feng family's threshold.
…
The next day, You Zhande revisited with eagerness only to be turned away coldly.
Feng Ju had the steward relay just one word:
"Scram."
You Zhande didn't understand the harsh treatnt.
But as a family head accustod to adapting, he left with a smile and proceeded to visit the second, third, and fourth nas on the list…
In the following days, You Zhande visited one door after another with silver in hand.
Yet, it was as if he saw a ghost, experiencing similar betrayals over and over.
So outright refused, others changed their attitudes abruptly.
In the most extre cases, he had etings with officials from his list, reaching almost an agreent,
only for the agreent to be shredded coldly by the servants who chased after him as soon as he stepped out.
In his life, money, which had always paved the way, proved futile.
In the vast Capital, countless officials uniformly shut their doors on him.
Walking through the bustling streets of the Capital, You Zhande inexplicably felt a chill of early autumn.
"Could it be because of the Zhao surna?"
Back at the inn, amidst their luxurious setting, Mrs. You sharply analyzed:
"Those officials, wanting our gifts, surely checked our background and found out about our connection with Zhao Douan, hence their hostility?"
You Zhande shook his head:
"That's the most likely reason, but these dog officials have investigated us way too quickly."
Mrs. You scoffed:
"It's obviously the case. I told you, with Zhao's notorious reputation, once they hear we're related to the Zhao family, who would want to make money with us? That Zhao is universally resented. It's detestable, not a single advantage your niece had brought us, instead attracting troubles."
You Zhande frowned:
"I still feel there's sothing off. Let's visit our clan uncle tomorrow, see him together and inquire about it."
The 'clan uncle' he ntioned was a mber of the primary branch of the You family, an official residing in the Capital.
He was reluctant to contact him, fearing interference from the main branch, but now had no choice but to see him.
…
The next day.
The couple left their son at the inn and went on their visit; this ti, they were not turned away.
However, when You Zhande shared his experiences with the family official working at the Ministry of Industry, there was no surprise on his face.
The old official with goat-like whiskers gave them a pitiful look, speaking in a complex tone:
"Old man figured you'd co asking. Heh, do you know whom you've offended?"
The You couple was stunned, not expecting their uncle to already know, feeling both embarrassed and puzzled:
"Offended soone? We've only been in the Capital for ten days, eting nurous officials with utmost apprehension. How could we dare to offend anyone... Unless it's only..."
The clan uncle "Heh":
"Rember now?"
You Zhande's face soured:
"Is it really because of Zhao Douan? But we are at odds with his family. Even if the officials are angry, it shouldn't be to this extent... Wait..."
He suddenly realized sothing was wrong: "Are you suggesting..."
The aged, goatee-bearded, blue-robed official sighed and shook his head:
"You are incredibly naive. Coming to the Capital without properly finding out who can be provoked and who cannot?
Do you really think it is because of your family connection with the Zhao family that you are unwelco? Big mistake!
In fact, these people refused to associate with you precisely because you've offended Yama Zhao.
As the old man knows, these past few days, every official below fifth-rank in the Capital has received instructions from Lihua Hall, warning that anyone daring to involve themselves with your You family would be making an enemy of Yama Zhao...
Heh, not just the few you t. I'd wager no amount of running about will change that, even if you find a third-rank, second-rank, or even a current first-rank official, it would be useless!"
The You couple stood dumbfounded, their long-held perceptions shattered.
"Clan… Uncle, I heard that Zhao Douan had fallen out of favor, even been imprisoned recently, his residence didn't seem all that imposing..."
The elderly official sneered:
"Didn't your father teach you not to judge by appearances? Wherever you got your information, it's drastically wrong. If that Yama Zhao counts as out of favor, then there are no favored ministers in this world!
Do you know how deeply His Majesty favors him?
He is even on par with the current Grandmaster, even with the Imperial Censor Mr. Yuan, associating on equal footing... Even the experienced Grandmasters and the current Pri Minister have reportedly suffered from his subtle maneuvers...
How dare you provoke him?
Regarding the royal trade you're seeking, Yama Zhao wouldn't even need to show up himself; a simple command would suffice to handle all. Yet, you chose to look elsewhere...
Ah, just go ho, stop this nonsense. Dragging the main branch of the You family into this, making Yama Zhao displeased..."
Saying so, the old man picked up his teacup, signaling the end of the visit.
As the couple absently walked out of the residence.
Standing in the deserted street, they suddenly realized, from the very beginning, they had been wrong.
That shattered teapot indeed was a genuine antique.
"Snap!"
You Zhande suddenly slapped his wife, infuriated:
"You, it's all ruined because of your mouth."
Mrs. You, appearing wronged, dared not retort, ekly said:
"Shall we go to your niece again?"
You Zhande shook his head with a bitter smile,
"Useless, as it stands, we must ask Mr. Lv for help."
He still was not reconciled to leave dejectedly like that and wanted to make one final struggle.
...
...
In a certain inn in the Capital, Room Jiazi.
A young man nad Lu Baifeng was seated at the table, quietly flipping through docunts.
He appeared to be in his late twenties, handso and displaying the distinctive characteristics of a person from the northwest.
His bearing was extraordinary, carrying the noble air of a prominent family's offspring, combined with the chivalry of a young master, his Jinyi held to his waist by a belt inlaid with purple jade.
Next to him stood a pretty maid.
However, the maid's small hands were not tender; the palms bore calluses ford from long years of holding weapons.
Next to the maid, in the corner, stood a heavy umbrella, weighing several kilograms.
"Master, are you really not going to contact the 'comrades' in the Capital?"
The maid couldn't help but speak.
The man known as Lu Baifeng, who was in reality a mber of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang of the Kuangfu Society ranked twenty-eighth known as "Thousand Faces God," looked up, smiled, and shook his head,
"Qing Niao, do you know why Cold Frost Sword died upon entering the Capital?"
The maid, nad Qing Niao, said,
"Because he didn't investigate thoroughly? Underestimated Zhao Douan's capabilities?"
Lu Baifeng shook his head,
"No, it's because he relied too heavily on the useless mbers of the Kuangfu Society in the Capital."
This famous martial arts expert known for his ticulous and versatile mind scoffed,
"People in the society with strong martial skills are nurous, but those who are willing to use their brains are few.
When Grandmaster Zhuang was in charge in the Capital, and he coordinated them, the sub-branch in the Capital was as efficient as an extended limb. But after Grandmaster Zhuang left, they beca disorganized.
This Wu Ling who rashly attempted assassination thought he was brave, yet he only ended up alerting the Zhao thief, giving him ti to prepare...
Cold Frost Sword was purely a swordsman, straightforward in thought, and not only did he fail to kill his target, but he also lost a treasure like the Void Illusion Scroll…"
Qing Niao listened quietly to his critique and remained silent.
She harbored a veiled apprehension toward the Thousand Faces God.
Even though she had been with him for several years, she had never once seen his true face.
The man before her seed always to be clad in a disguise.
Every ti he switched identities, even his personality would change.
"Enough of this,"
Lu Baifeng, disinterested, tossed the docunts including the ones on Zhao Douan aside and stood up with his hands behind his back,
"Moreover, who knows if there are traitors among the Kuangfu Society mbers in the Capital?"
Qing Niao said, "Master worries that Cold Frost Sword's failure was because a society insider leaked his whereabouts?"
Lu Baifeng said,
"Maybe, maybe not. In any case, there's no need to take risks. Let the governnt keep an eye on the Kuangfu Society, that will leave us free to act.
Speaking of which, this Zhao Douan is truly bizarre. The things he has done in the past two months have greatly shocked even Grandmaster Zhuang, who regrets not having crushed him when he had the chance; now he has beco a severe nuisance."
He paused, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth,
"However, I, the Divine Monarch, prefer killing geniuses. If it were a diocrity, I would be too lazy to make a move."
At that mont, Qing Niao suddenly looked toward the door and raised her hand to gather the docunts on the table.
Soon after, there was a knock on the door.
When Mr. You and his wife entered with smiles, they saw a gracefully tea-drinking nobleman from a prominent regional family, the third young master of the Lv family, and a beautiful maid next to him.
"Mr. You, I haven't seen you for several days. Have you been managing smoothly in the Capital?" the Divine Monarch asked with elegant grace.
Mr. You smiled bitterly and, after exchanging pleasantries, diplomatically shared the predicant he faced.
The Divine Monarch laughed heartily, seemingly unconcerned, "I thought it was sothing serious. I will think of a solution and give you a ssage in a couple of days. However, should the need arise, I would also ask you to lend a hand with so minor matters."
Mr. You was overjoyed and readily agreed.
He further promised that if matters turned out well, the You family's trade route from Xiping Road to the Western Regions could be shared with Mr. Lv...
As he traveled to the Capital, Lu Baifeng had often ntioned this.
This was also the reason Mr. You dared to seek him out—
Unsolicited favors suggest ulterior motives.
The Lv family is a great clan from the northwest; a noble son aiming to gain power in his clan also needed to amass forces.
Mr. You believed that the other party sought friendship because he was interested in the You family's trade route.
After a good talk, when they saw off Mr. You and his wife, the smile on the Divine Monarch's face turned cold, and he narrowed his eyes as if plotting sothing,
"Given that, it's ti to alter the plan."
He turned his head and instructed Qing Niao,
"Tonight, I need to step out."
...
...
Another day.
In the morning, Zhao Douan arrived at the Imperial Court in Lihua Hall for his daily work punch-in.
These past couple of days, he had been busy moving.
The shares Jin Jian had given him had just helped him secure a grand three-section residence in the inner city.
Regarding the move, his stepmother and sister showed great enthusiasm.
Zhao Douan simply spread his hands, leaving the trivial matters entirely to them, playing the role of an indifferent shopkeeper.
After moving, his biggest realization was that the commute to work had significantly shortened.
"Indeed, happiness is not having to wake up early for work and having the office right downstairs," Zhao Douan strode into Lihua Hall, in high spirits.
His smile widened.
It would also be more convenient to see Zhenbao from now on.
However, his upward-curving smile did not last long before it was suppressed by an unexpected matter.
"My lord, you have arrived. Lord wants to see you; there was a murder last night in the city related to the rebels," Qian Kerou said earnestly.
Murder? Rebels?
Zhao Douan raised his eyebrows, inexplicably sensing a chill in the late sumr morning of the Capital.
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