152, I report to Your Majesty that I have fulfilled my mission, and Zhou Cheng and his followers have been captured.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop."

The sound of horse hooves struck the spacious bluestone road as Zhao Douan, full of spirit, arrived at the foot of the Imperial City.

The imperial guard manning the gate instinctively stepped forward to stop him, but upon recognizing the man atop the horse, their expressions turned to that of seeing a ghost:

"Zhao... Lord Zhao? Weren't you supposed to be in..."

What he meant to say was, weren't you supposed to be in prison?

Or standing trial in court, how come you appear here all of a sudden, looking nothing like a prisoner?

Had he escaped from prison? An absurd thought arose...

"Hehe, spare me the nonsense, I have urgent matters to report to His Majesty, make way at once."

Zhao Douan couldn't be bothered to explain and left the guard with the backside of his horse, breezing his way into the city.

It's just that while the Imperial City was easy to enter, he was stopped at the palace gate.