The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the tightly shut pavilion, a ray of sunlight pierced through the door crack, landing on the Empress's fair face.

Xu Zhenguan sat cross-legged on a prayer cushion, a glimmer of divine light flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Then, formless and intangible divine sense, centered on her, spread out in all directions.

Enveloping the palace city, attempting to capture the location of the "Dragon Soul".

But the next second, that suddenly appearing aura vanished abruptly.

"Eh?" Just as the Empress was disappointed and retracting her divine sense, the aura appeared again.

She swept her divine sense over again, only to see the aura disappear once more.

This time, Xu Zhenguan learned to be clever, maintaining her divine sense coverage at all times.

But she only sensed that the Dragon Soul's aura appeared for a moment, then disappeared for several breaths, in a rhythmic manner, repeating like this.

And no matter how she investigated, she couldn't lock down its location.

Finally, after the last disappearance, it didn't appear again for a long time.

"What happened?" Xu Zhenguan withdrew her divine sense, furrowing her brows, her expression blank.

This was an experience she had never had before.

"Could it be related to the upcoming Ghost Festival?" Xu Zhenguan thought back and forth, only barely managing to draw out this connection.

The reason for offering sacrifices to the gods on the Ghost Festival was also because the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was at its most concentrated on that day.

"Forget it," Xu Zhenguan sighed softly. Since her divine sense had gained nothing, she didn't need to leave her seclusion.

Calculating with her fingers, she had been in seclusion for several days.

"I wonder where the new policies in the Academy of Scholarly Affairs have progressed, and whether there is any direction yet."

Xu Zhenguan couldn't help but think that, in her opinion, the planning of the new policies must be slow.

Waiting until she left seclusion in a few more days, she was afraid there would be no progress at all. She would be content if there was a plan to replenish the national treasury.

As an emperor, she was not good at these things and could only pin her hopes on scholars like Han Zhou to pool their wisdom and share her worries.

Casting aside distracting thoughts, the Empress closed her beautiful eyes and entered contemplation again.

From beginning to end, she never connected the new policies to a certain small imperial guard in the slightest.

… …

… …

"Splash!"

Under the bridge, Zhao Du'an burst out of the water, his wet hair plastered to his scalp.

He breathed heavily, using the fresh oxygen to relieve the dizziness from holding his breath for too long.

Climbing ashore, he hurriedly took out his clothes, changed into a dry coat, and Zhao Du'an quickly left.

After walking far away, he exhaled deeply, frowning.

"Can't open it… …"

At the bottom of the lake, he tried repeatedly, but failed to activate the sealed formation.

"Is it because my cultivation is too low? Not enough to open it? Or is the opening method wrong?"

Zhao Du'an was basically certain that the formation at the bottom of the lake was the entrance or exit of the "secret passage".

"Since it's a door, logically speaking, there should be a unique key."

Zhao Du'an thought back and forth, deciding that he still had to start with Old Xu.

There was no reason to not enter when encountering a treasure mountain. He always felt that such a secret existence must be extraordinary.

"I can only leave temporarily and think of a way later."

Zhao Du'an made a decision and left immediately, deciding not to come again until he found a way to open the door.

… …

… …

In the following days, Zhao Du'an's life became regular.

Every day, he fixedly contemplated and cultivated, using all kinds of flirty words to probe indirectly.

Attempting to obtain more information about the "secret passage" from Old Xu.

Hit or miss, he would give it a shot.

Old Xu ignored him, firmly leading him towards the East Sea, leaving the Mubei Forest further and further behind.

During the day, he regularly clocked in at the Imperial Guard, occasionally went to the White Horse Bureau, and from time to time slipped to the Academy of Scholarly Affairs to brainstorm.

Inside the academy, the new policies were advancing at a terrifying speed.

Under normal circumstances, they should have been arguing with each other, constantly discussing for at least half a month, or even a month, before a prototype could be determined.

But the "Three Strategies" given by Zhao Du'an were too superior and complete, so what a group of scholars had to do was to refine the existing mature plan.

The progress was naturally rapid.

At the same time.

For some reason, some opinions began to gradually emerge in the circle of scholars in the capital.

Initially, many literati were envious and jealous of the first batch of scholars in the Academy of Scholarly Affairs. The status of scholars led by Han Zhou rose rapidly.

Even a considerable number of scholars took the initiative to defect, and the threshold of Han Banshan's house was almost broken.

Everyone understood that a group of young upstarts was about to be born.

The so-called praising one and stepping on another. As the reputation of Han Zhou and others began to grow rapidly.

During this period, Zhao Du'an, who also rose to fame, was naturally compared.

As an object to be pulled down and trampled on.

Scholars had always hated and despised Zhao Du'an, and the voice of scolding him had never stopped.

After the Zhou Cheng case, Zhao Du'an focused his energy on the Academy of Scholarly Affairs. Because of confidentiality, he seemed particularly quiet in the eyes of outsiders.

His reputation gradually surpassed that of Han Zhou and others.

Even more, someone lit a fire.

Claiming that His Majesty still knew who was important and who was not. Compared with Han Banshan, who might ascend to "Prime Minister" in the future and become a repairman of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Zhao Du'an, the Empress's gigolo, a petty person who was vindictive, was set off to be even more disgraceful.

"Zhao Du'an? Heh, just a vicious dog raised by His Majesty. He can only be thrown in places like the Imperial Guard, and released from time to time to bite people… How can he be compared with Han Banshan?"

"That's right, hehe, during this period, His Majesty didn't attend court, and Zhao Du'an really tucked his tail and didn't move. He didn't bite people anymore. He's really a dog relying on his master's power…"

"A cruel official is just a cruel official after all. I heard that Grand Tutor Dong also has a lot of complaints about him, and even wrote to His Majesty, saying that he should be close to virtuous officials and stay away from villains…

Presumably, that Zhao dog also heard the news… After the establishment of the Academy of Scholarly Affairs, Grand Tutor Dong is in power. How dare Zhao dog offend him? Aren't you afraid of making the Grand Tutor unhappy?"

After tea and dinner, wherever scholars gathered, there were similar voices.

"Sir, I heard that recently those scholars in the city are scolding you in groups. Aren't you angry?"

On this day, in Pear Blossom Hall, the round-faced little secretary Qian Kerou washed a basin of pears and handed them into the inner hall.

Looking at Zhao Du'an, who was leisurely reading a book, she asked.

"Why should I be angry?"

Zhao Du'an leaned back on the grand master's chair in a carefree manner, his legs on the table.

He glanced at the pears, signaling the little secretary to feed him:

"There are too many people in the world who scold me. If I get angry whenever someone scolds me, can I do anything else?"

After a pause, he added lazily:

"Besides, I have to understand a little bit. They are envious and jealous. They were suppressed by this official before and didn't dare to say anything. Now, the Academy of Scholarly Affairs has finally emerged, as if it has boosted the morale of their scholars.

Thinking about it, it's also interesting. What does it have to do with them that Han Zhou and his scholars are so powerful?

Scholars always have this problem. They like to care about others and rarely care about themselves."

Qian Kerou used a small knife to peel the pear skin, nodding earnestly, sharing the same hatred:

"What sir said is true. Scholars are the most annoying."

After a pause, she added:

"But that Han Zhou has indeed been very famous recently.

It is said that the Academy of Scholarly Affairs is planning new policies, using something called the 'Ten Strategies' proposed by him, but outsiders don't know what it is specifically."

Zhao Du'an smiled without saying a word.

With the advancement of the new policies, the outside world will inevitably know something.

It's not that the scholars are leaking information, but in order to prepare for the new policies, Grand Tutor Dong must make some arrangements with the Six Ministries and other yamen, and extract some information, etc.

These actions cannot be hidden.

Although the new policies will be announced sooner or later, and according to this speed, in a few days, it will be basically completed and can be taken out.

But the Grand Tutor believed that it was always good to hide it for a while longer.

So, after conspiring with Zhao Du'an, they jointly released a smoke bomb to the outside world.

The abandoned "Han Zhou's Ten Strategies" were pushed out to mislead the courtiers.

Let outsiders think that the new policies were being done according to the Ten Strategies, and Han Zhou was also thrown out to attract outsiders' attention.

In order to cover Zhao Du'an's "Golden Three Strategies".

Therefore, Zhao Du'an wanted to laugh when he heard those scholars comparing Han Zhou and himself, praising one and stepping on another.

These days, his greatest pleasure was to go to the Academy of Scholarly Affairs every day, find Han Banshan, and say in front of him how the people outside were praising him.

Every time, Han Zhou was so embarrassed that he couldn't wait to dig out a three-bedroom apartment on the spot with his thumbs.

But Grand Tutor Dong wouldn't let him clarify, only saying two words:

Hold it in.

Zhao Du'an was very happy.

"Oh, is that so? Then it seems that those scholars are indeed quite capable."

Zhao Du'an opened his mouth and bit into the peeled, white pear that the little secretary diligently brought to his mouth.

Taking a bite, the juice was full.

Qian Kerou nodded and said:

"Yes, I don't know how those scholars' brains are made up, but you are no worse than any scholar…"

"Haha, the flattery skills need to be improved,"

Zhao Du'an smiled and changed the subject:

"By the way, the Ghost Festival is the day after tomorrow. The yamen will be closed then. How do you plan to spend it?"

Qian Kerou blurted out:

"Go to Shenlong Temple. On the Ghost Festival, Shenlong Temple will hold the Ullambana Festival. Many people will go to worship their ancestors and pray for blessings. It is said that this year, the disciple of Abbot Xuan Yin, Dharma Master Bianji, will personally preside over it.

However, Dharma Master Bianji is in the 'Zhai Garden' opposite Shenlong Temple.

Those who can enter the Zhai Garden are not ordinary officials like us. They must be dignitaries and literati invited by others…

Speaking of which, this year's Academy of Scholarly Affairs will be held, so that group of scholars must also be invited. The Grand Tutor must also go, as well as Duke Yuan, the ministers of various departments…

After all, it is a Buddhist service, so face must still be given.

In previous years, His Majesty would even show up, but recently His Majesty has not attended court, so Mo Zhaorong should be going to participate instead.

Also, there are scholars. Buddhism likes to invite scholars very much. Many members of the Hanlin Academy and even students of the Imperial College will be invited exceptionally…"

Zhao Du'an looked surprised.

He didn't know these things. It seemed that this so-called Ullambana Festival was a place where big shots from the capital gathered.

Those people he was familiar with, and those who scolded him, would all be there.

"Sir, you are so famous this year, maybe you will also be invited."

Qian Kerou suddenly said, then hesitated a little:

"But those monks in Shenlong Temple are very particular about Buddhist nature and temperament… Your reputation is not very good after all…"

The implication was that Shenlong Temple might not invite him because of Zhao Du'an's bad reputation.

"Does Shenlong Temple look at reputation when inviting?" Zhao Du'an asked curiously.

"Well, anyway, our Director-General is not invited every year…" Qian Kerou said weakly.

Zhao Du'an: "… …"

Alright.

It seemed that the monks did have a temper. In that case, he was probably out of luck.

Just as they were talking, Shen Juan walked in from outside the hall, holding a Buddhist invitation in his hand:

"Sir, a monk from Shenlong Temple has come outside, saying that he is inviting you to participate in the Ullambana Festival on the Ghost Festival."