The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 5 If apologies work, what is the use of power?
evening.

As the afterglow of the setting sun faded and the deep chime of the Shenlong Temple clock echoed throughout the city, night fell.

The capital city of Dayu unveils its prosperous and bustling veil.

The streets are crowded with people and the shops along the streets are brightly lit.

Dingfenglou is one of the famous restaurants in the capital, and the county magistrate of Ning'an is holding a banquet here tonight.

"Xilulu."

The carriage stopped, and a servant in blue lifted the curtain. Zhao Duan, who had changed into casual clothes, stepped out of the carriage. He looked up and saw the big red lanterns hanging high in the restaurant, the red painted wooden pillars, and the carved attic. He said:
"Wait outside."

"Yes!" the servant responded.

Then the restaurant owner, wearing a small hat and smiling, came out:

"It is a blessing for my building to have the presence of Lord Zhao."

Zhao Duan imitated the original owner's manners, without even looking at him, he walked straight in and headed towards the private room upstairs.

……

In the private room.

There was a table filled with delicious delicacies, but there was only one person at the table, drinking alone.

Wang Xian, the "Ning'an County Master", is a middle-aged man of about forty years old.

He was thin, dressed in silk and satin, and sat in a very stylish manner, with his hands hanging down from his knees, holding a folding fan with a frame made of carved ivory.

The cost is high.

Seeing Zhao Duan coming in, he said coldly:

"You are such a busy man, I thought you wouldn't come."

Zhao Duan pretended not to hear anything and went straight to the table. He put his sword aside and started to pick up some dishes with ease.

He hadn't eaten or drunk anything since he came here, and he was indeed hungry.

"Wait a minute!"

However, the next second, the chopsticks he was using to pick up food were suddenly pressed down by a folding fan!
Wang Xian had a cold face, with a hint of anger:

"Your Excellency, can't you hear me? Do you really think I'm inviting you to dinner? You should know that there is no such thing as free food or free money in this world."

Zhao Duan raised his eyelids and finally looked at the other party:

"What do you mean?"

It seemed that his calm appearance made the other party feel annoyed as if being ignored. Wang Xian's cheek muscles twitched and he said in a low voice:

"Are you playing dumb? Don't you know why I came? Why haven't you taken any action on the task I asked you to do a few days ago?

In the capital, we have to follow the rules. You took the money very happily, but the person was reluctant to save you. You urged him several times, but he just shirked his responsibility. This is inappropriate, isn't it?!"

He narrowed his eyes and said half threateningly, half sarcastically:

"Don't forget, I have evidence that you have taken advantage of me... Today, I will ask you face to face, is it that you don't want to do it, or that you don't have the ability to do it?
If it is the latter, just return the deposit quickly to avoid wasting other people's lives!"

Let’s get straight to the point!
Anyway, the private room is well soundproofed, so there is no need to hide.

Zhao Duan calmly opened his folding fan and slowly picked up a piece of Dingfenglou's signature lamb, which was soft, tender and fragrant, and melted in the mouth.

When the hunger pain eased, he put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said:
"You didn't have this attitude when you met me before."

Given his status, it would be reasonable for the other party to have such a bad attitude even if he didn't do anything.

Wang Xian snorted coldly, saying:

"I know that the envoy has great reputation. I heard that he even dared to snatch the case of the imperial court and got rid of the rebels."

...The news spread so quickly? So, the other party thought something was going to happen to me, so their attitude changed? They asked for the deposit because they were afraid of losing both their money and their lives?
Zhao Duan said calmly:

"It seems that you are not very well-informed, otherwise you would know that I will go to the palace to see the emperor in the afternoon."

Wang Xian was stunned for a moment, then his expression eased: "Envoy...are you okay?"

Zhao Duan glanced at him and said, "If something happens, can I still come to the banquet?"

What he was betting on was that Wang Xian only had a vague understanding and was not aware of the situation.

The capital city is very big. If a brick is thrown down, it can hit four or five corrupt officials. Not to mention that the incident happened only half a day ago and the news spreads slowly.

Even if the news spread, most officials were too low in rank to even reach the highest levels of government.

Many people in later generations always have the illusion that important people are very close to them.

But in fact, the resources that a CEO who is ridiculed by netizens as Lei Zi, or even a top internet celebrity, can mobilize and the class he belongs to are unimaginable for ordinary people.

The Lord of Ning'an County is a big shot to ordinary people.

But given his identity, he never had the chance to see the true face of the empress in his entire life.

Hearing this, Wang Xian’s momentum weakened: “So…”

Zhao Duan struck while the iron was hot and gave the other party a reassurance:
"Don't worry. I've been busy investigating the rebels these days and have no time to take care of other things. Now that I'm free, I'll take care of what you said." Wang Xian saw that he was calm and confident, and he believed him 80% of the time. He simply took advantage of the situation and said "yes" lightly, and said arrogantly:
"I'm glad you said that."

Having said that, he was about to stand up and say goodbye - as a middleman, if there was any progress, he also had to appease the "buyer".

"Wait a minute."

However, as soon as he took a step, he was stopped.

"Anything else?" he asked, frowning.

Zhao Duan, who was sitting at the table, put down his wine cup:

"You have finished talking about your business, but are you going to let it go after you yelled at me and threatened me just now?"

Wang Xian looked displeased, but still cupped his hands:

"I was rude before, I hope you can forgive me."

"That's it?" Zhao Duan smiled.

Wang Xian's face darkened: "Is an apology not enough?"

Zhao Duan did not answer, but slowly stood up and adjusted his belt.

Just as the latter was puzzled, without any warning, a stream of Qi from Zhao Duan's lower abdomen flowed into his meridians, and he kicked out with lightning speed!
"Oh!"

Wang Xian screamed and flew backwards, smashing the door of the private room. He fell in the corridor, hunched over like a shrimp, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth, and his face was pale!
"what!!"

"Hitting someone..."

There was an immediate chaos downstairs, and the guests screamed. The restaurant owner hurried up the stairs, took a glance, turned around and went back, forbidding outsiders to go upstairs and pretending that nothing had happened.

"Ugh...you dare...you dare to hit a noble?!" Wang Xian struggled to get up and shouted in disbelief.

He knew that the empress's favorite had a bad reputation for being arrogant and domineering, but he never expected that he would dare to attack him.

However, the next second, his curse was stuck in his throat, as Zhao Duan had drawn out his sword and put it against his neck.

Cold sweat pours down.

"I...I am from Ning'an County..."

Zhao Duan bent down, leaned close to the middle-aged nobleman's ear, and whispered:
"If apologies are useful, what is the need for power?
"Noble? Oh, a poor boy from a remote and impoverished village dares to challenge me? Do you really think that you are a person of some importance just because you are wearing silk and satin and helping officials?
"People, it is important to know yourself."

Wang Xian was trembling and his lips turned pale.

Zhao Duan smiled, patted his face with the blade of the knife, and said:
"I will do what I promised. As for your impoliteness just now..."

He picked up the ivory folding fan from the wood chips on the ground and put it away:
"This is my apology."

Immediately, he sheathed his sword, walked downstairs, took two steps, and as if remembering something, he said without turning his head:

"By the way, remember to pay the restaurant for the money to repair the door."

After saying that, he went downstairs and left.

Only County Man Ning An was left, his face flushed as he slowly climbed up, his chest heaving, his eyes bloodshot, but he eventually swallowed back his curse:

"It is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge..."

"Unjust is doomed to destruction……"

At this time, the shopkeeper went upstairs cautiously: "County Wang, you..."

Wang Xian was hysterical: "Get lost!"

……

……

Outside Dingfeng Building.

The moment Zhao Duan entered the car, all his pretended arrogance and arrogance disappeared. He leaned back on the cushion and let out a deep breath.

He laughed at himself: "In my last life, I was walking on thin ice, but in this life, I have the opportunity to do whatever I want. Am I considered the most annoying person?"

He shook his head, refusing to waste his energy.

This act was staged not only to send a signal to the outside world through Wang Xian that he was still confident, but also to stimulate the other party in order to gain greater credit.

"Dong dong!"

Not long after, someone knocked on the carriage, and then the dark-skinned Zhu Kui came in.

Zhao Duan: "How is it?"

Zhu Kui: "Wang Xian has left. Our people are keeping watch as you ordered."

"Well done," Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction, and then saw that the latter was hesitant to speak, so he asked:
"What else?"

Zhu Kui said:
"Your Excellency, I accidentally discovered that Zhang Changshuo's hypocritical subordinates were also spying in the dark, and they seemed to have used a magic scroll to record your meeting with Wang Xian."

(End of this chapter)