The First Lackey Under The Empress

An opportunity for a complete transformation? Zhao Du'an's eyes lit up:

"May I ask Your Majesty, what exactly is it?"

Xu Zhenguan was too lazy to explain, only glancing at him and humming:

"It certainly won't disappoint you. Just go and wait."

Immediately, the white-robed Empress gently waved her sleeve, and Zhao Du'an's eyes blurred. To his astonishment, he found himself dozens of feet away, standing at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Miraculous… Is this also a martial arts technique?

Zhao Du'an yearned for it, but then clutched his stomach with a bitter face:

"I haven't eaten yet."

…

With the Empress's command, Zhao Du'an had no choice but to bide his time patiently in the side hall, devouring all the fruits and pastries on the table.

He took this opportunity to sort out his next steps:

"Well, after today, the Zhao Yamen will surely be in turmoil for a while, with two positions of Surveillance Commissioner vacant, needing new people to fill them. Hmm, that means my Pear Blossom Hall might be able to take this opportunity to move up the rankings."

However, he was just thinking about it, not really caring about the so-called rankings.

As for whether there were still rebellious factions within the Zhao Yamen, he didn't care about that either.

Even if there were, they would probably be small fry, not a real threat.

"But speaking of which, even though the Second Prince was defeated and died, it's one thing that the Kuangfu Society didn't collapse, but to still have so much power…"

Zhao Du'an smacked his lips, feeling that the rumors were probably true.

Behind the Kuangfu Society, there must be support from one of the "Eight Princes."

Only then could it be explained why these rebels were so hard to eliminate.

Even though the Second Prince was dead, they could still support a certain Prince to ascend the throne, which would still be a meritorious service.

"Forget it, that's too far removed from me. I'm still just a pawn charging into battle."

Zhao Du'an had a clear understanding of his position.

Seemingly impressive, but still a vine attached to the bigwigs of the court.

Having witnessed the terrifying strength of his cheap senior brother, he became even more eager to master his own martial arts.

…

He waited patiently until nightfall, and just as his stomach began to rumble again.

As the sun set and the sky turned dark blue, someone finally remembered him.

"Eunuch Hai!?" Zhao Du'an was greatly surprised. "Why have you come?"

Outside the side hall, there stood an old eunuch wearing a bright red python robe, slightly hunched, with a ruddy face and a powerful aura.

The Imperial Clan's Grand Guardian, Old Hai.

Eunuch Hai stood with his hands behind his back, followed by a eunuch carrying a lantern.

This inner court expert, who rarely left the "Martial Arts Hall" and appeared in other parts of the palace, seemed to smile at the corner of his eyes:

"What's wrong, don't you want to see this old one?"

Zhao Du'an got up to greet him, his smile radiant:

"What are you saying? If the Eunuch summons, this humble official wouldn't dare refuse."

Eunuch Hai seemed to enjoy his flattery, scrutinizing him and sighing:

"I heard you've made another contribution. Good lad, it hasn't been long, and you've already changed your skin."

In his words, he was referring to the "Surveillance Commissioner" official robe.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"No matter where this humble official goes, the innermost thing is still the waist tag of our Guardian."

Eunuch Hai was quite satisfied with this show of loyalty, scolding with a smile:

"Stop being so sweet-tongued. His Majesty has sent this old one to come and have you make some preparations. Let's go."

With that, he turned and walked outside.

Zhao Du'an hurriedly followed.

Immediately, he was surprised to find that behind Eunuch Hai were not just one or two eunuchs carrying lanterns, but a full thirty eunuchs.

But they were not Guardians, just ordinary eunuchs.

These people stood in two neat rows, each holding or carrying something similar to a food box.

Their empty hands held lanterns, silently following behind, like two red fire dragons in the dark blue night.

"What are these…?" Zhao Du'an asked, puzzled.

The python-robed old eunuch walked ahead with his hands behind his back, saying indifferently:

"You'll know later. Heh, they're all prepared for you."

Damn it, a bunch of riddle-makers… Zhao Du'an didn't give up, following beside the old Guardian, probing indirectly.

Eunuch Hai was annoyed by him and said helplessly:

"Why are you so garrulous?"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"If the Eunuch explains clearly what this bone-changing, complete transformation is, I naturally won't ask."

The group had now left the area of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but instead of heading towards the Martial Arts Hall, they took a turn towards the southwest corner of the palace.

After nightfall, the entire palace became a sea of lights.

Patrolling guards, eunuchs and palace maids coming and going, like fireflies dancing in the summer night.

Naturally, the remote areas were dark, without lights.

But Zhao Du'an saw that the direction they were heading was particularly bright.

And there were several golden, shining buildings, extremely eye-catching.

"Forget it," Eunuch Hai sighed, "Young people are just impatient. Do you know what lies ahead?"

"I don't know," Zhao Du'an admitted honestly, shaking his head.

Eunuch Hai smiled and said:

"When this imperial palace was completed, it included a hot spring source, which was converted into a natural bathhouse, exclusively for the nobles in the palace to bathe, now called 'Tangquan Palace'."

Tangquan Palace… Zhao Du'an had heard this name.

In popular folk erotic stories, there was a very popular "Noble Consort Bathing Picture", which was based on Tangquan Palace, said to have extremely terrifying sales.

Zhao Du'an asked, puzzled:

"So? Your Majesty wouldn't be rewarding me with a bath in the palace, would she?"

Eunuch Hai ignored him and continued:

"There are thirty-six hot spring pools of various sizes in Tangquan Palace. Because they have been nourished by the dragon energy for hundreds of years, they are first-class good water, especially for martial artists."

Good water… Zhao Du'an's expression changed slightly.

He thought, could it be that I'm being rewarded with drinking the Empress's bathwater… He was shocked by this perverted thought.

Eunuch Hai, unaware of his thoughts, said slowly:

"Since you have practiced martial arts for many years, you should know how important a strong physique is to a martial artist."

Zhao Du'an nodded and said:

"When I was learning martial arts, the master who enlightened me said that how far one can go on the path of cultivation depends heavily on the words 'root and bone'. 'Root' refers to the spiritual root of a mage, and 'bone' refers to the skeleton of a martial artist."

In the Great Yu Dynasty, the number of martial artists was far greater than that of mages.

Related knowledge was also more widespread.

As the saying goes, "Cultivating literature requires poverty, while martial arts require wealth." Those who embark on the path of martial arts not only need to practice diligently day after day for years, but also need to supplement with a large amount of medicinal herbs to cultivate their Qi and blood, and nourish their physique.

In short: Body Refinement.

Eunuch Hai said, "I have examined your bones, and they can only be considered of average quality. Your natural endowment isn't bad, but the medicinal herbs used for body refinement since childhood were very ordinary, so the foundation of your physique is not good enough.

You are currently in your youth, so it may not be too obvious, but when you cultivate to a higher level, or as you grow older, you will know how crucial the quality of your physique is to your cultivation path.

Heh, I know, you might say that many powerful martial artists in history also came from humble backgrounds, but you should also know that these martial artists have lifespans far shorter than those of alchemists of the same rank. This is due to the lack of a solid foundation.

Seemingly brilliant at their peak, but in reality, they are overdrawing their lives."

Zhao Du'an frowned:

"But I have heard that once one's natural endowment is formed, it cannot be changed."

Eunuch Hai corrected:

"It's not that it's impossible, but that it's difficult.

The older a person is, and the higher their cultivation, the more difficult it becomes. At your age and realm, changing it is already quite difficult, but it is still far from being impossible to reverse."

"And the so-called Marrow Cleansing is to use secret methods to help people reforge their bodies, and re-temper and solidify the foundation of a martial artist."

The old eunuch in the python robe glanced at him and said:

"I don't know what great luck you, young man, have had. With the merit you have achieved so far, it is far from enough to exchange for a Marrow Cleansing, but His Majesty has unexpectedly granted it to you, heh."

Zhao Du'an finally understood, and his heart pounded wildly.

The reward the Empress gave him was actually a chance to be reborn and reforge the foundation of his cultivation.

And from Eunuch Hai's words, which were not without a hint of envy, it was enough to know how rare this opportunity was.

Not to mention the impact on the upper limit of future cultivation, the mere fact of "increasing lifespan" was enough to make him ecstatic.

… …

While speaking, the group stepped into the "Tangquan Palace" area.

It turned out that this was a garden, surrounded by white walls and black tiles, with rows of pine and cypress trees, and a series of hot spring pools in the center.

The ground was paved with white stones, interspersed with bronze lamp posts.

Although it was night, the rising heat from the spring water still created a large area of mist, like a fairyland.

"Are these the pools where the nobles in the palace bathe?" Zhao Du'an asked curiously.

Eunuch Hai glanced at him, as if seeing what he was thinking, and said:

"Don't think about it. His Majesty would not be in these open-air pools, but in the front."

Zhao Du'an raised his eyes and saw a quaint pavilion standing in the distance, with the words "Clear Pond" written in a flamboyant style on the plaque.

The largest spring pool was inside the pavilion, and these open-air ones outside were obviously much lower in grade.

At this moment, the area was empty. Eunuch Hai led him to a hot spring pool and waved his hand, saying:

"Start."

Then, the thirty-odd eunuchs behind him surrounded the hot spring pool and opened the boxes in their hands.

They poured all kinds of rare and priceless natural treasures into the pool, and the sound of "plop" was endless.

"Splash—"

Even more eunuchs held huge wooden spoons and stirred.

In a short while, this hot spring pool had become a medicinal bath.

"Take off your clothes and get in," Eunuch Hai said indifferently.

Zhao Du'an was already shocked by this grand gesture.

Taking a quick glance, any one of the medicinal herbs was worth at least a thousand taels of silver:

Tianshan Seven-Colored Lotus, Dragon Vein Six Dynasties Fruit, Golden Ganoderma Jade Leaf, Barbarian Song Flower, Ascension Grass…

Among them, there were even treasures that were enough to be taken out and used as the generational treasures of the medicinal herb halls in the capital.

At this moment, they were casually poured into the pool, enough to make all the martial artists in the world jealous and scold them for wasting natural resources.

"Oh, oh!"

Zhao Du'an immediately tore off his clothes, and without caring about the group of eunuchs around him, he was about to jump in.

"Take them all off, leaving nothing," Eunuch Hai said indifferently.

It's not… I'm saving face for you, taking care of your feelings, okay… Zhao Du'an looked at his only remaining pair of shorts and raised his eyebrows.

He kicked them off decisively, and a group of eunuchs immediately turned their heads away in sadness and inferiority.

They thought that His Majesty's choice of Envoy Zhao as a male favorite was very reasonable.

"Plop!"

Zhao Du'an jumped into the hot spring pool, and instantly felt all the pores on his body breathing:

"Eunuch, can I just sit in meditation and absorb the medicinal power?"

Eunuch Hai shook his head and said:

"Marrow Cleansing is an act against the heavens, and these natural treasures are just auxiliary medicines. The most crucial thing is that a strong person must empower you and reshape your foundation."

Empowerment… Zhao Du'an's face showed some resistance:

"Is Eunuch going to do it for this official?"

Eunuch Hai shook his head and said:

"Although this old servant can also do it, my cultivation is ultimately inadequate and cannot achieve perfection. His Majesty is truly showing you great favor, and will personally empower you tonight. Just wait patiently."

After saying that, the old eunuch in the python robe waved his sleeve and led a group of eunuchs who had been stung by sad past events away, without taking away a trace of cloud.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhao Du'an was left alone in the entire Tangquan Palace.

He was stunned for a long time before he realized what was about to happen.

Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at the brightly lit pavilion in the distance.

He saw that the doors on the second floor of the pavilion suddenly opened.

A "fairy" in white, with flowing black hair, and an otherworldly beauty, came riding the wind and landed gracefully in the garden.

The Great Yu Empress seemed to have just finished bathing, her skin as pink and tender, with a hint of light red in her fair complexion.

Her long hair was loose and wet, hanging lazily behind her neck.

A pair of bare, white, delicate and exquisite jade feet stepped on the warm white stones, the toes curled and then stretched.

Only an inch away from her feet were Zhao Du'an's clothes and pants scattered on the ground.

Xu Zhenguan descended like a fairy, lowered her eyes, looked down from above, and stared indifferently at Zhao Du'an, who was soaking in the soup, with only his head exposed.