Hidden Shadow – CH 224

Chapter Two-Hundred-Twenty-Four: Gao Dazhuang’s Past

Gao Dazhuang deeply felt that sending someone like Fourteenth Young Lady, who was utterly lacking in every way except for her appearance, to carry out the mission was like sending a lamb to the slaughter.

Zhao Ling said, “Xiao Cheng has a particular fondness for women from Jiangnan. This one is petite, and her features are the most beautiful; she’s the most suitable.”

Gao Dazhuang said, “Forgive my bluntness…”

“Hmph,” Zhao Ling snorted, thinking to himself, “Have you not been blunt enough already!”

“We’ve been sent to assist in the battle, to plant spies in Xiao Cheng’s residence. We will not be of much use in the war in the short term, so I refuse your orders.” Gao Dazhuang’s words were indeed very direct.

For a moment, An Jiu and the other two could not help but look at him. Gao Dazhuang seemed to have become much tougher after arriving in Hejian Prefecture; even his effeminate manner could be ignored.

“You dare refuse orders!” Zhao Ling, repeatedly thwarted, turned ashen-faced and glared at him. “I will report this to the Emperor!”

“Hmph, go ahead and try.” Gao Dazhuang clicked his tongue, a murderous aura emanating from him, his eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty excitement. “I can also report to the Emperor that you harbor treasonous intentions. Want to take a gamble? Will the Emperor believe you or me?”

“You!” Zhao Ling’s hair stood on end.

The current Emperor was extremely suspicious. Even a loyal minister like Ling Ziyue, who showed no signs of rebellion, was feared. If someone were to report him to the Emperor, what would become of him? Zhao Ling shuddered at the thought.

If Zhao Ling were an upright and honest person like Ling Ziyue, without any wrongdoing, he could speak with righteous indignation. However, Zhao Ling had engaged in many underhanded tactics to climb the ranks. Even though these had nothing to do with treason, once a person had a guilty conscience, they became weaker in their inner conflict.

In truth, Gao Dazhuang had fooled Zhao Ling. Zhao Ling was unaware that the Emperor had already begun to crack down on the Konghe Army, and he was even more ignorant of the army’s internal affairs. Someone of Gao Dazhuang’s rank would not even have the right to submit a memorial, let alone an audience with the Emperor.

“If the Lord has any further serious orders, then summon us,” Gao Dazhuang said, swaying as he left.

An Jiu followed behind him, watching his swaying figure, even more alluring than the three women, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lou Mingyue, always fond of straightforward people, had no objection to Gao Dazhuang’s actions.

At least among these people, Sun Dixian was relatively rational. Once outside the courtyard, she said softly, “The Lord is playing with fire.”

The Shadow’s duty was to obey orders unconditionally, and Gao Dazhuang not only refused to carry out the mission but also showed disrespect to his superiors. Zhao Ling had not grasped the situation. If he understood that he was in a position of overwhelming power, Gao Dazhuang would be in danger.

“I used to be in the top ten of the Konghe List,” Gao Dazhuang said, gently smoothing his eyebrows with a finger, glancing sideways at them. “Do you know why I was kicked out of the Konghe Army?”

Everyone was hearing this for the first time and stared at him in astonishment.

“Because I crippled the Dark Capital Commander,” Gao Dazhuang sneered. “Do you know why I was not killed even though I committed a capital crime?”

The Dark Capital Commander! That was the third-in-command of the Konghe Army…

An Jiu suddenly said. “The saying ‘Evil lives on for a thousand years’ is very true. The more repulsive a species is, the more tenacious its vitality.”

Like cockroaches and flies.

Gao Dazhuang glared at her.

The others suppressed their laughter, but seeing An Jiu’s serious gaze, they could not help themselves anymore.

Sun Dixian adjusted her mindset and flattered him, “My Lord, you are truly amazing. Please teach us, alright?”

Gao Dazhuang gave her a “teachable” look. Rubbing his aching back, he slowly said, “Because I am utterly loyal to His Majesty. If His Majesty says the sky is red, I will never say it is blue. If His Majesty sentences me to castration, I will cut off my own manhood without anyone lifting a finger.”

Gao Dazhuang was once one of the top assassins who could meet the Emperor directly, but he was kicked out of the Konghe Army for making a mistake. However, instead of being reassigned elsewhere, he was transferred to the Konghe Institute, which trained trusted secret guards for the Emperor, showing that the Emperor still trusted him.

“I never thought I’d come back like this, only to be put in this predicament,” Gao Dazhuang said, pointing at several people with his finger. “The way to survive in the Konghe Army is to be utterly loyal; otherwise, it is all about your own ability.”

An Jiu’s impression of Gao Dazhuang kept changing; by now, she had actually developed a slight liking for this dead eunuch.

“Your Excellency initially agreed with the supervisor’s plan; why did you change your mind later?” Sun Dixian’s gaze quickly swept over An Jiu.

It was only when Zhao Ling pointed to An Jiu that he flatly refused. Sun Dixian had not seen An Jiu do anything to please anyone, so she was puzzled as to why everyone was protecting her.

Gao Dazhuang chuckled twice and waved his hand. “At first, I only thought Fourteenth Young Lady was a good-for-nothing. Throw her into the river, and she would not be able to stop the flow or build a dam. But then I thought about it carefully, and you are not much better! The only one who fits the bill has a mind full of hatred. If she goes to Liao, she might be even worse than the two of you! It is a real pity for any of you to die like this. It would be better to throw you onto the battlefield to kill a few Liao soldiers.”

The little bit of feeling of being protected that the three of them had had instantly vanished.

“Besides, the ‘beauty trap’ is something you people who’ve practiced martial arts for over a decade do not need to do. There are plenty of cunning, venomous beauties in Dangerous Moon; you could throw one anywhere, and she’d stir up a storm.” Gao Dazhuang pointed at An Jiu and Lou Mingyue. “With your faces that look like you are owed two taels of silver, you are not cut out for it. Sun Dixian’s personality, however, is quite suitable.”

Sun Dixian was a little smug at this assessment, but Gao Dazhuang immediately added, “However, her ugliness is a major flaw.”

Sun Dixian’s face stiffened. She thought to herself that her earlier compliment had been wasted and gave a light snort, “Your Excellency speaks like Fourteenth Young Lady.”

Although she was still far from being skilled at using a beauty trap, and although she certainly could not compare to Lou Mingyue and An Jiu, she was at least considered pretty.

An Jiu, despite being criticized, did not utter a single word in response. Gao Dazhuang was somewhat puzzled and glanced at the silent An Jiu.

An Jiu noticed his gaze and said calmly, “I only speak the truth; I never take pleasure in mocking people.”

She could poison an entire village with her words, so why this expression of distancing herself from him? Gao Dazhuang’s face darkened, thinking to himself, “Who wants to associate with a shorty like you?”

Sui Yuntong, Li Qingzhi, and Qiu Yuntong, who were nearby, also heard their conversation and secretly grinned. After laughing, they felt even more respect for Gao Dazhuang. Back at the Konghe Academy, no one had seen the instructors make a move; they never dreamed that this seemingly unremarkable effeminate man was so surprisingly skilled.