The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Was that him?" Zhao Du'an paused, a look of surprise on his face. He narrowed his eyes, sizing up the uninvited guest, and said:

"So it's Scholar Han, what a coincidence. Does the scholar live nearby?"

Inside the carriage, the man known as the "Number One Genius," who had recently shone brightly in the Academy of Literary Studies, the Great Yu's "Wang Anshi," smiled and said:

"Envoy Zhao, there's no need to test me. After leaving the Academy, I deliberately followed His Majesty's carriage, my purpose being to find you.

It's already noon, and I happen to know a good restaurant nearby. I wonder if Envoy Zhao would do me the honor of joining me?"

For me? Zhao Du'an raised his eyebrows and readily nodded:

"Alright."

...

A short while later.

Inside a refined restaurant, Zhao Du'an and Han Zhou, led by a waiter, entered a private room.

The restaurant wasn't large, but it possessed a "tranquility amidst the bustle" charm. Its style was elegant, and its prices were equally so.

As Zhao Du'an entered, he noticed that most of the patrons were dressed as scholars, indicating that this was a common gathering place for literati.

"Envoy Zhao, please."

Han Zhou was clearly a regular. After inviting him to take a seat, the two exchanged polite greetings and ordered wine and dishes.

The private room wasn't furnished with tables and chairs, but rather with mats spread on the floor and low tables.

Sitting cross-legged to drink was a popular trend among the scholars of the capital.

Zhao Du'an observed his proper demeanor and said with a faint smile:

"I've long admired Scholar Han's reputation. I just never expected that you would invite me for a drink."

Han Zhou, who appeared to be about thirty years old, possessed a strong scholarly aura, his hair neatly combed back. He smiled, first adjusting his headdress, then smoothing his sleeves—after leaving the Academy, he had changed back into his Confucian robes.

Only then did he take the initiative to pick up the wine pot, fill Zhao Du'an's cup, and say with a smile:

"Envoy Zhao's name is also well-known throughout the capital. Seeing is believing, and since we are both officials serving the same court, I should return the favor after having eaten your pears."

Hypocritical… Zhao Du'an shook his head and said:

"Well-known… it would be more accurate to say infamous. I've heard that many scholars in the Hanlin Academy hate me and denounce me as a traitor. Isn't Scholar Han afraid of associating with me and tarnishing your reputation?"

This man, who had been poor since childhood, scrimped and saved to study diligently. One year, when heavy snow blocked the mountains, he had no rice to cook. He divided a bowl of cold porridge into three portions with a twig, eating it over three days, and changed his name to include the single character "Zhou" (粥), meaning porridge.

Having witnessed widespread starvation during famine years, he vowed to ensure that everyone in the world would have white porridge to eat every day. The Hanlin Academy editor, renowned for his literary talent and considered by the current literati to possess the potential of a prime minister, had the demeanor of a spring breeze.

He wasn't fazed in the slightest by these overly direct words. Instead, with the air of a gentleman, he said:

"Now that Han has entered the Academy, why would I still care about reputation?"

Zhao Du'an pondered this statement, his gaze falling on the face of this pillar of the nation, whose pen name was Banshan (Half-Mountain).

Han Zhou didn't dodge or avoid his gaze, his eyes clear with a hint of self-deprecation.

He clearly looked like a frail scholar, yet he faintly exuded a tough and sharp edge.

Zhao Du'an understood the meaning of his words and felt a slight interest in this other-worldly version of Wang Anshi.

Frankly speaking, Zhao Du'an's feelings towards scholars were complicated in his previous life.

On the one hand, these ancient highly educated individuals were indeed important pillars supporting the operation of society, and many figures who left their names in history emerged from among them.

On the other hand, their aloofness from worldly affairs, their detachment from reality, and their almost abnormal thirst for fame were truly repulsive.

In this world, how can one achieve a flawless reputation?

It's very simple, just do nothing.

As long as you sit idly and engage in empty talk, pontificate about the country, and focus on criticizing others, a good reputation will naturally be within reach.

If you do nothing, you will naturally not make mistakes.

And those who actually do things will inevitably be criticized. The bigger the things they do, the more mistakes they will make, the more interest groups they will touch, and the wider the scope of insults and attacks they will face.

And Han Zhou's words clearly meant that he had come to the Academy to "do things."

If you want to get things done, you will inevitably offend many people.

Even in order to succeed, sacrificing the innocent, staining your hands with blood, and bearing eternal infamy… that's why he said that once he entered the Academy, he no longer cared about reputation.

Since his reputation was going to be ruined sooner or later, why bother caring?

"Haha, well said," Zhao Du'an laughed, raised his hand, picked up the wine cup that the other man had pushed over, and drained it in one gulp:

"This calls for a drink."

Inside the private room.

A gentle breeze blew in through the cracks in the window, decorative bamboo plants adorned the corners, and landscape paintings hung on the walls…

And two men, a civil official and a "military general," with distinct temperaments, sat cross-legged, drinking and eating.

The atmosphere, initially stiff and tense, suddenly relaxed and eased as Zhao Du'an finished his drink.

"In that case," Zhao Du'an put down the empty cup and said with a smile:

"Scholar Han invited me for a drink, but your motives are impure."

Han Zhou was curious: "How are they impure?"

Zhao Du'an wore a knowing expression and said with a smile:

"I've always been disliked by the circle of scholars. After thinking about it, the only value I have for Scholar Han is probably that I'm relatively efficient at getting things done and am somewhat closer to His Majesty.

I've also heard Scholar Han's ten policies, which are highly valued by Grand Tutor Dong and have surpassed many scholars in one fell swoop. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that you have great ambitions.

But if you want to do things, if you want to implement your plans, you must first obtain His Majesty's support, and second, you must find people who can help you get things done. And I think I'm relevant to both of these. May I ask, Scholar, am I right?"

Having his thoughts exposed in one fell swoop, Han Zhou wasn't embarrassed and remained a modest gentleman:

"Envoy Zhao is indeed insightful. Han is not forthright enough."

He admitted it.

Clearly, while other scholars were still maintaining their status and keeping a clean image, unwilling to associate with a harsh official like Zhao Du'an,

Han Zhou had already lowered his status and was trying to win Zhao Du'an over to join his camp.

This alone made Zhao Du'an look at this scholar in a different light.

"However, Han's invitation to Envoy Zhao for a drink is not solely for the purpose of making friends," Han Zhou continued.

"Oh?" This time, it was Zhao Du'an's turn to be curious.

Han Zhou picked up the wine pot and poured him another cup before saying:

"Previously, in the Academy, when we discussed state affairs, Envoy Zhao always sat in the corner. Although you didn't say a word, it seemed to me that Envoy Zhao had different views on what we were discussing.

In particular, when Han offered his 'Ten Policies,' I glimpsed that Envoy Zhao seemed… to disapprove."

Zhao Du'an was very casual, enjoying the other man's "service," squinting his eyes, and said:

"How is Scholar Han so sure that I disapprove?"

Han Zhou said:

"Perhaps, some might think that Envoy Zhao was just listening and didn't understand what we were discussing.

But Han has read books for over twenty years. In other respects, I might not be as good as others, but I do have the ability to discern whether a person understands or is pretending to understand.

Therefore, Han dares to ask, to hear Envoy's views on my 'Ten Policies.'"

Heh, seeking my views is a pretense, trying to convince me to agree with you is the real goal… Zhao Du'an smiled knowingly.

This Han Zhou clearly wanted to win him over and get him to help him win in the formulation of the new policies.

Therefore, he must first convince him in terms of strategy.

With his knowledge and confidence in the Ten Policies, he clearly didn't think that Zhao Du'an could offer any powerful rebuttals.

He could even guess that Han Zhou's script should be like this:

First, in the name of seeking advice, let Zhao Du'an express his views.

Then, Han Zhou would explain them one by one, using his eloquence to give Zhao Du'an, a military man, a little shock in terms of cognition.

As long as he could convince Zhao Du'an to agree with the Ten Policies, it would be equivalent to winning over a powerful external force.

Unfortunately…

You've found the wrong person.

Zhao Du'an sighed softly, shaking his head in his heart, and looked at the other man with some pity.

He thought, you finally asked the right person…

"Do you really want to hear it?"

Zhao Du'an's expression was strange, somewhat unwilling to crush the other man's spirit.

After all, it would be a little unbearable to crush the confidence of this capital's Number One Genius with just a few words of his own… Young Master Zhao wasn't a bad person after all.

Han Zhou, still unaware that he was facing a cheat, smiled with elegance:

"Envoy, please speak freely. The truth becomes clear through debate. I also want to hear everyone's opinions in order to fix any loopholes."

It's you who insisted on humiliating yourself… Zhao Du'an sighed softly, reluctantly saying:

"Since that's the case, then I'll briefly talk about your Ten Policies."

Han Zhou listened with a smile.

However, the next second, his smile froze on his face.

He only heard Zhao Du'an scoff and comment:

"Ten Policies for Strengthening the Nation? Policies for Ruining the Nation, more like. My evaluation? Not worth dog shit."