The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Actually, I'm just an ordinary person who has read a lot of books…” Zhao Du'an pondered for a moment before recommending himself.

Then, he helplessly watched the Empress's lips curve upwards, as if amused by his words.

Xu Zhenguan shook her head, a bit amused and exasperated, and said:

“I am pleased that you want to share my burdens, but as the saying goes, specialization is essential.

I have seen your performance during this period, and you have done exceptionally well. I will naturally not mistreat those who have contributed, nor am I unwilling to promote you.

However, this newly established 'New Inner Cabinet,' known as the Institute for the Advancement of Literature, is tasked with sharing my government affairs, offering advice and suggestions, discussing national affairs, and deliberating on government decrees, laws, silver, construction projects, military affairs, rituals, and many other matters.

Therefore, only scholars can be recruited.

Moreover, the scholars who enter should have as little involvement as possible with the two parties in the court.”

Such patient explanation could be considered heartfelt.

Zhao Du'an naturally understood.

The so-called New Inner Cabinet was nothing more than a literary group loyal to the imperial power that the Empress wanted to create.

Therefore, she deliberately kept the current officials in the court out and also avoided the infiltration of the "Li Party" and the "Purist Party." The Institute for the Advancement of Literature is the prototype of the future "Inner Cabinet."

As a result, he wanted to squeeze in even more, but the Empress's attitude was very clear:

The Institute for the Advancement of Literature is a place for scholars to shine, and Zhao Du'an, a military man, should not join in the fun.

As for his so-called reading… in Xu Zhenguan's view, perhaps it existed.

But how could he compare with the Jinshi who had emerged from the "sea of books and mountains of corpses?"

“I…” Zhao Du'an opened his mouth, a little helpless.

There was no way around it; the stereotype was too strong, and he obviously couldn't reverse it in three or five sentences.

He couldn't just give an impromptu speech on national governance, could he?

Although he had read a lot of books during this period, he had only gained an understanding of the ruling framework of the Great Yu Dynasty.

The details were still unclear, and the most important thing for any strategy was to "adapt to local conditions."

Without specific problems in front of him, he couldn't show off even if he wanted to.

“Alright,” Xu Zhenguan said with a smile, seeing his frustrated look. After thinking for a while, she said:

“You are still unwilling to give up after I say this.

How about this, if you are interested, I can take you to see the world when the Institute for the Advancement of Literature opens in a few days, so that you can know the difference between your so-called reading and that of the scholars in the Institute.

By then, you will naturally give up.”

“Then I will thank Your Majesty in advance!” Zhao Du'an's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

No matter what, he would go and see first.

Moreover, although he thought he had accumulated a lot of experience in his previous life, Zhao Du'an never dared to underestimate the wisdom of the ancients.

What if they were all extremely strong and didn't need him?

In the night breeze, the two walked along the square. After dark, the air was no longer stuffy.

After this little episode ended, it was the Empress's turn to start a topic, asking about his cultivation progress.

Zhao Du'an hesitated slightly and replied:

“I have left the desert in the Martial God Diagram and am about to step into the snowfield.”

In fact, he had already entered the depths of the snowfield, but considering his overly "shocking" talent, he decided to play it safe.

Even so, the Empress was still visibly stunned, surprised by his speed, and could only attribute it to the influence of the last "Yi Jing Cleansing."

“In that case, I have underestimated you,” Xu Zhenguan smiled:

“Good, I was originally planning to help you tonight. I was worried that you didn't have enough mental tempering accumulated in the Martial God Diagram, but now it far exceeds my expectations.”

Zhao Du'an asked strangely: “What do you mean, Your Majesty? Help?”

Xu Zhenguan nodded and said:

“It has been a while since you entered the Mortal Embryo Middle Grade. The last time I performed the Yi Jing Cleansing for you, I used many spiritual medicines in the medicinal bath. Even after deducting the consumption of rebirth, the remaining medicinal power is enough to help you save a year of hard work and advance to the Upper Grade.

If it were a proper martial artist, the medicinal power would be exhausted every day through sparring and fighting.

But you are in the capital all day long and have no fighting experience, so the medicinal power has settled in your body.

I can help you force out the medicinal power and advance to the Upper Grade.”

Advance in cultivation?

Zhao Du'an's breathing tightened:

“Your Majesty, where shall we break through? Are we still going to the Hot Spring Palace?”

He was a little expectant.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him, her face a little hot in the darkness, and pointed forward:

“We're almost there.”

…

Soon, Zhao Du'an was brought to a pavilion-shaped building. The pavilion had two sides, and the plaque above was inscribed with three large characters:

Ancestral Temple.

Xu Zhenguan ordered the attendants following behind to wait outside and led Zhao Du'an forward alone.

She explained: “Do you know what this place is?”

Zhao Du'an shook his head honestly.

Xu Zhenguan said:

“This is a pavilion that the Emperor Taizu personally ordered to be built when he was still alive, and it was used as a place for contemplation.

It is said that whenever Emperor Taizu faced major events and could not make a decision, he would lock himself in this building to meditate and avoid external interference.

After that, it has been passed down from generation to generation. After the Emperor Taizu passed away, although sacrifices are held in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, in order to facilitate the imperial descendants to cherish his memory, they often burn incense here. Therefore, it can also be considered a 'family temple,' right?”

As she spoke, she had already arrived outside the building.

With a wave of her hand, the tightly closed door opened, and the lamps inside lit up on their own.

Stepping inside, the interior of the building was a space similar to a Taoist temple hall, with the first and second floors connected. Thick red-lacquered wooden pillars that required several people to hug supported the majestic dome.

In front was a huge offering table, but there were no statues on it, only an extremely large calligraphy painting hanging on the wall, with a vigorous and unrestrained "Wu" (Martial) character.

Zhao Dou'an stared blankly upward, awestruck by the character "Wu" (Martial) that seemed to burst through the paper and cleave open the heavens and earth.

"Is this the writing of Emperor Taizu?" he asked.

"...No," Xu Zhenguan said, slightly embarrassed, explaining:

"Taizu was not skilled in calligraphy. This character was written by a great calligrapher of the time, but Emperor Taizu imbued it with the essence of martial arts."

I knew it. Who would write such beautiful characters, and then draw stick figures for the Martial God on the stone tablet... Zhao Dou'an silently complained.

He then saw the Empress walk directly to the offering table, open a drawer, and take out six incense sticks.

She handed him three, lit them herself, bowed respectfully, and then inserted them into the three-legged incense burner on the offering table.

How could Zhao Dou'an delay?

He imitated the Empress, offering three incense sticks.

Inside the quiet family temple, the lamps shone brightly. A man and a woman stood side by side in front of the offering table, offering incense to the character "Wu."

At this moment, Xu Zhenguan restrained her imperial majesty and the ethereal aura of a powerful cultivator, becoming simply a descendant before her ancestors.

Zhao Dou'an simply regarded it as offering incense to his cheap master, Old Xu. Since he had taught him skills, it wasn't a loss.

But as he inserted the incense, in the swirling smoke, he glanced at the Empress beside him. From the cuff of her sleeve, two sections of white, jade-like wrists peeked out, along with half of her impossibly beautiful profile.

An odd thought popped into his mind:

Could this be considered some form of "meeting the parents"?

"What are you spacing out for? Aren't you going to sit down?" As Zhao Dou'an drifted off, he heard the Empress's voice and saw her pointing to a prayer mat on the floor.

"Oh, oh." Zhao Dou'an hurriedly sat down cross-legged, taking on the air of meditating in a temple.

After offering incense, Xu Zhenguan seemed much more relaxed. She flicked her sleeve and closed the doors of the Yuan Ancestor Hall, so that everything that happened inside would be invisible from the outside.

The Empress then walked to the side of the offering table and suddenly raised her hand to turn a candlestick on the table.

With a "creak," a stone door opened in the wall, with steps leading down inside.

Zhao Dou'an was shocked: "Your Majesty, this is..."

"A wine cellar." Xu Zhenguan stepped into the stone door and soon emerged with two wine jars, tossing one to him: "Drinking it will help digest the medicinal effects."

Zhao Dou'an sat cross-legged on the prayer mat, holding the wine jar, and asked curiously:

"Isn't this a family temple? How could there be..."

Xu Zhenguan's slender jade hand lifted the mud seal of the wine jar, and she tilted her head back to take a sip. The clear wine formed a stream, pouring into her parted red lips and sandalwood mouth.

Below her delicate head, her swan-like neck swallowed, revealing the same unrestrained and dashing spirit as when the two of them had drunk together at the "Son of Heaven Tower."

Zhao Dou'an suddenly understood. The Empress had said last time that she liked to drink alone when she was happy. Last time, Pei Kai fell, and they went to the Son of Heaven Tower.

Today, Zhou Cheng fell, and they came to the Yuan Ancestor Temple. The Empress was actually a drunkard. Who would believe it?

"Heh, the family temple is something later generations have given it. When Emperor Taizu built it, he left this hidden wine cellar behind. There are even formations set up inside to keep the wine refreshing and unchanged year-round..."

Xu Zhenguan carried the wine jar, kicked a prayer mat to the opposite side of him with her lotus feet, and then sat down as well. She let out a wine-flavored burp, and the fragrance of wine mixed with her body scent wafted over. She squinted and said:

"Only after I ascended the throne did I discover the secrets hidden here.

I remember reading in the Taizu's daily records that Emperor Taizu's empress forbade him from drinking. It seems that building this structure, all that talk about calming the mind and thinking was just a pretense. It was actually a place for Emperor Taizu to secretly drink alone."

Zhao Dou'an was speechless, feeling that the image of "Old Xu" as an expert seen in the Martial God Diagram was collapsing a bit.

"Alright, stop talking nonsense. Take a few sips of wine, then close your eyes and meditate. I'll help you dissolve the medicinal effects." Xu Zhenguan urged.

At this time, sitting on the prayer mat, she showed no trace of imperial majesty, but looked more like a sword-wielding heroine in the Jianghu after a fairy had descended to the mortal world.

Zhao Dou'an, smelling the sweet fragrance of the other party so close, used his previous experience to try to suppress his restless Little Zhao and closed his eyes to meditate.

Little did he know that as he entered visualization, Xu Zhenguan, sitting opposite him, was quietly staring at his face with her bright eyes, completely engrossed.

"He's quite... handsome."

...

Whoosh, whoosh...

On the snowy plains, the biting cold wind was mixed with snow flurries.

Zhao Dou'an opened his eyelids and found himself wrapped in a cotton coat, huddled in a leeward snow pit.

At this moment, the sky was about to dawn, and the morning light was faint. He climbed out of the snow pit and found Old Xu, also wearing thick clothes and boots, sitting cross-legged on the snow.

His thick back was like a rock, like a high mountain. His messy black hair was connected to his thick beard. He was not asleep, but was looking north with his bright black eyes.

"Old Xu, what are you looking at?"

Zhao Dou'an was familiar with the routine. He grabbed a handful of snow, squatted by the edge of the pit, and rubbed his face until his skin was red before the chill on his body gradually subsided.

Old Xu said: "Old people."

What the heck? Zhao Dou'an didn't hear clearly. When he asked again, Old Xu didn't say anything.

He was already used to this, knowing that Old Xu was like an AI that was occasionally online but mostly offline. He didn't argue with him. At this moment, after washing his face, he suddenly smiled mischievously:

"Do you know what I just did? Your great-great-great-granddaughter took me to offer incense to you, in that Yuan Ancestor Temple in the palace, or Yuan Ancestor Pavilion. Speaking of which, did you build that building just to dig a wine cellar to secretly drink?"

He joked casually, not expecting an answer.

Old Xu suddenly turned his head, glanced at him, and uttered two words:

"Eleven, secret passage."