The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 572 - 420. The strategist enters the situation personally_2

Yun Xi finally spoke: "Master, you certainly have other things to tell me, don't you?"

Zhuang Xiaocheng said seriously: "To be frank, I suspect there are spies from the court among this group of captives."

Yun Xi was shocked: "Are you saying that some brothers and sisters have betrayed our cause? Joined the Fake Emperor?"

Zhuang Xiaocheng saw her righteous indignation did not seem feigned, subtly smiling, he said:

"I'm not entirely sure myself, which is why I have sought you out. I have absolute trust in you, hence I speak these words to you alone.

I wish for you to secretly observe the other members in the coming days, particularly those who have returned from captivity exchange. Alas, I am reluctant to do this, but the Fake Emperor is powerful, while we are weak and cannot withstand the damage caused by traitors."

Old Dog, you probably say this to everyone, both as a test and to make us monitor each other... Yun Xi coldly snickered, nodding resolutely:

"Disciple will certainly exert maximum effort! For the dawn of the world, even sacrifice shall be without regret!"

Zhuang Xiaocheng was greatly pleased, encouraging her with a few words, and sending Yun Xi off.

After the young girl left, his smile vanished, flicking away tear drops with his fingertips, and he heard the walls in the room slowly moving.

The wall made of compacted earth unexpectedly manifested facial features, then a man slowly stepped out.

He seemed about thirty years old, with broad shoulders and skin the color of earth, wearing a robe of the same color, his square face featured a flattened nose, and he calmly said:

"Do you think she has a problem?"

Zhuang Xiaocheng shook his head, saying: "Among these captives, she is the one I trust the most."

The magician Ren Kun, ranked fourth among the Heavenly Gang of Kuangfu Society but effectively the third in the organization, with martial prowess comparable to Qi Yuchun, smirked:

"Is it because she's foolish enough?"

Upon Zhao Douan's initial crossing, Ren Kun had performed "Divine Descent" at the Earth God Temple in the South Suburb of the Capital, traversing a thousand miles to rescue Zhuang Xiaocheng, while also being the one who killed "Zhao Douan."

He had witnessed the event at the South Suburb with his own eyes, hence he posed the question.

Zhuang Xiaocheng gave a cold snort, glaring at him:

"If you hadn't underestimated your enemy initially and held back, letting Zhao Douan survive, would we be so passive today?"

Ren Kun looked annoyed: "Grand Tutor, how many times will you bring this up? I've said that my strike should have been enough to kill him, who would have thought his protective magic artifact was so strong?"

Not wanting to argue, Zhuang Xiaocheng asked: "Has the Purple Rob Taoist arrived?"

"He came early, just waiting for you."

"Let's go."

Ren Kun stomped on the ground, and the floor beneath their feet suddenly turned into a muddy swamp, rippling with earth-colored waves that enveloped the two of them.

Afterward, they sunk into the ground, using the Escape Technique to emerge in another room elsewhere in the estate.

The room had tightly closed doors and windows, isolated by a talismanic formation, it contained only a round table, several chairs, and a candlestick.

Two individuals were sitting beside the table.

One was, unexpectedly, the former Commander of the imperial guard, Qi Yuchun.

The other was a middle-aged Daoist with a black beard, long whiskers, an aura of immortality, wearing a purple robe.

Seeing Zhuang Xiaocheng and Ren Kun emerge from the ground, the two turned their attention to them.

"Grand Tutor, this humble Daoist has been waiting for a while, speak freely." The purple-robed Daoist said calmly, "In my palace, there are Kun Dao waiting for favor."

Zhuang Xiaocheng ignored his improper words, sat down, and the upper echelon of Kuangfu Society was assembled.

He looked toward Qi Yuchun: "How are the Princess Consort and the Princely Heir?"

The commander Qi Yuchun replied:

"Everything is arranged, tomorrow they will leave Forbidden Mountain Villa to hide in another location."

Zhuang Xiaocheng nodded, speaking earnestly:

"The current situation needs no elaboration, the Fake Emperor's power grows daily, unless we take effective action, we will be destroyed. Now, with the court exchanging captives, giving us an open conspiracy, I shall reciprocate by entering the game, luring Zhao Douan to capture."

This former National Scholar displayed a fierce and resolute expression:

"Now, the location of Forbidden Mountain Villa should already be in the hands of the court. With the Zhao thief's vengeful habits, and the momentum of the Li Party in the court, he is very likely to arrive after the New Year.

Then, eliminating him will cause significant damage to the Fake Emperor's rule, greatly boosting our momentum."

The expression of the others became serious.

Qi Yuchun hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Grand Tutor, you are different from us, a mortal body, wouldn't it be better to retreat together with the Princely Heir and the Princess Consort? Since this place is set as a trap, we would be the hunters."

Zhuang Xiaocheng simply shook his head, laughing self-deprecatingly:

"Do not underestimate that Zhao Douan. If I'm not here, he will certainly not fall for the trap, there's no need to persuade me.

Since I've received Prince Jianwen's will, I should live and die with Kuangfu Society. Since the Zhao thief became a great threat because of me, it should also be me to eradicate him, to eliminate future troubles."

The crowd was moved.

The purple-robed Daoist even clapped and laughed:

"With such ambition, the Grand Tutor cannot be stingy. Know that a strong dragon does not suppress the local snake; I must see this Zhao thief, without the Fake Emperor's support, what waves he can stir in this place."

...

...

Capital.

The lantern festival of New Year's Eve slowly came to an end.

The Zhao family.

When You Jinhua and Zhao Pan, each holding a small persimmon lantern, returned home under the protection of the house servants, they were surprised to see Zhao Douan standing in the courtyard, building a snowman.

"Big brother? You're back?"

Zhao Pan's eyes, like autumn water, radiated with joy as she ran over, holding her delicate little persimmon lantern.

Looking at the ugly snowman in front of him, the girl wrinkled her brow, expressing disdain:

"It's so ugly..."

You Jinhua wasn't as excited as her daughter, twisting her waist and walking over while carrying the persimmon lantern, cautiously saying:

"Didn't you say the gates wouldn't be kept open tonight, didn't you stay overnight at the palace?"