The First Lackey Under The Empress

This book is first published on the entire network by 𝕥 𝕨 𝕜 𝕒 𝕟 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞

Accompanying the appearance of the scholars of the Institute for the Advancement of Literature.

More precisely, it was Han Zhou's words and demeanor that were presented before this group of famous figures in the capital.

The air, which had been somewhat chaotic due to the arrival of the scholars, seemed to have its neck suddenly grabbed, and all sound vanished.

“Scholar Zhao… Scholar Zhao? What did Han Banshan just say?”

A scholar stood there dumbfounded, muttering to himself.

“Huh, why didn't Han Banshan pay attention to Scholar Xu, but instead bowed to Zhao Du'an?”

In the distance, a noblewoman from some official's family asked in surprise.

At this moment, many people suspected they had misheard.

Well, perhaps, Han Zhou was simply showing courtesy to Zhao, the Emperor's favored minister, due to his status—this was the most reasonable explanation.

But what followed mercilessly shattered their illusions.

“Heh heh, it's not hard to guess. You arrived a little later than I expected,” Zhao Du'an nodded slightly and asked:

“Where is the Grand Tutor?”

“Behind us,” Han Zhou replied.

At this time, the other scholars also came over.

Guo Jieyuan, a financial expert, usually smiled at everyone, but at this moment, his smile was particularly sincere and cheerful. He hurried forward, cupped his hands, and said:

“Scholar Zhao, thanks to that mathematical algorithm you taught me the other day, I was able to finish my work early. I still have some doubts about that mathematical method and would like to ask you for advice later.”

Zhao Du'an smiled and nodded: “Easy to talk about, easy to talk about.”

Next, the third scholar cupped his hands and bowed, saying: “Scholar Zhao.”

Then came the fourth.

The fifth…

The eight young scholars of the first class of the Institute for the Advancement of Literature had recently become extremely popular in the capital, and countless scholars had worn out their thresholds trying to see them, but to no avail.

A group of aloof individuals.

Yet at this moment, the young scholars, whom countless literati in the capital racked their brains to curry favor with, were lined up in a row.

The first thing they did upon entering the Zhai Garden was to come over and greet Zhao Du'an.

Even Wang You, the son of the Minister of Rites, who was the most arrogant and looked down on everyone, glanced at the surrounding scene, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded to Zhao Du'an.

It was like an absurd farce was being staged.

No.

The protagonist of the farce was certainly not Zhao Du'an, but the group of literati who had been plotting for a long time and launched a group attack.

Xu Hanlin, who had been high-spirited and quick to label others, stood frozen in place.

He hadn't even put down his cupped hands, but no one present looked at him.

But Xu Hanlin was in no mood to be angry. He was just bewildered, not understanding what had happened.

He even suspected that these scholars were imposters.

Otherwise, how could the proudest first-rate talent be so polite to an ignorant and cruel official?

That wasn't just the usual awe of power, but a kind of…

Respect.

Yes, respect.

But…

How could it be possible?

Beside him, Chen Zhengru, dressed as a Confucian scholar and also a Grand Academician, looked no better than his students.

Every bow from a scholar was like a hammer, hitting his heart hard.

Why?

Just because of power?

Just because the one named Zhao was the Emperor's favorite minister?

Did that make you people so subservient?

Overwhelmed by shock, this Confucian scholar even ignored the title “Scholar Zhao,” and a fire rose in his chest.

He was jealous.

Jealous that Han Zhou and the others only talked to Zhao Du'an, but ignored him.

“The Grand Tutor is here!”

Suddenly, someone shouted.

Chen Zhengru looked up and indeed saw the elderly man, with several attendants behind him, arriving late after the scholars.

Dong Xuan was still wearing his scarlet scholar's robe, with white hair and a white beard, and sharp eyes.

Although he was old, he had the imposing manner of a tiger and a dragon as he walked.

As he walked over, he looked around and frowned.

“Greetings, Dean,” Chen Zhengru stepped forward and said. Dong Xuan was in charge of the Hanlin Academy, and the two were superiors and subordinates.

“Chen Zhengru? What are you doing here instead of in the inner courtyard? And what is going on here?”

Grand Tutor Dong glanced over the crowd, obviously sensing something was wrong.

His gaze suddenly locked on Dong Da, and he asked in surprise:

“You're here too?”

“Grandson greets Grandfather!” Dong Shusheng bowed respectfully at this moment, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

After bowing, he remembered his third brother, glanced around, and caught sight of the纨绔 figure sneaking out, and couldn't help but feel angry:

“Third Brother! Where are you going? Come over and greet Grandfather!”

Plop… Dong Third Young Master shivered in fright…

He knelt again.

“Dean, this is how it is. This Zhao Du'an is talking nonsense and even wants to draw his sword and kill the Third Young Master…” Chen Zhengru seized the opportunity to distort the facts.

Dong Da was now emboldened and immediately interrupted, displeased:

“Grand Academician Chen, don't listen to rumors.”

Then, he looked at his grandfather and described what happened in neutral terms.

In the end, he said with shame:

“Third Brother is at fault. As his elder brother, I have failed in my duty to discipline him. I beg Grandfather to punish me.”

After listening to the account, Grand Tutor Dong's ancient and unwavering face slowly narrowed his eyes, as if he understood something.

Xu Hanlin's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly said loudly:

“Grand Tutor, even if this matter was indeed caused by the Third Young Master, this Zhao Du'an actually wanted to use force and even mentioned your name with no respect. It is really…”

Zhao Du'an was too lazy to listen and looked directly at Dong Xuan, saying calmly:

“Grand Tutor, it seems you guessed correctly yesterday. Recently, there has been a lot of public opinion, and someone is indeed stirring up trouble.”

Grand Tutor Dong sighed.

Suddenly, he looked at Madam You and her daughter. This important minister of the court, a leading figure in the literary world, suddenly cupped his hands and apologized:

“My Dong family has failed to teach our 'son' properly, causing Madam Zhao and your daughter to be frightened. I am truly ashamed. This old man will apologize on his behalf and will send a small gift to your residence later to express my apology.”

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan were completely dumbfounded.

The whole experience was like a roller coaster for them.

They had thought disaster was imminent, but they never expected the situation to turn around.

When the highly acclaimed Han Banshan was so polite and respectful to their eldest son, the mother and daughter's brains crashed.

And now, the Grand Tutor of the court was condescending and apologizing to them, two commoners…

This was something the mother and daughter would never have dared to dream of.

“Grand… Grand Tutor is too kind…”

You Jinhua stammered, at a loss, and looked at her stepson for help.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

“Since the Grand Tutor has said so, then let's just let it go.”

Grand Tutor Dong gave him a grateful look.

Then he turned his head, looked coldly at the Third Young Master kneeling on the ground, who was completely dumbfounded, and scolded:

“Why haven't you gone back yet? Are you going to continue embarrassing me here?”

“Ah… Yes…” The Third Young Master was submissive, with not a trace of his previous arrogance.

“Grandfather… Are you acquainted with Brother Zhao? Just now, Scholar Han called him… What is going on?”

After his younger brother ran away in a panic, Dong Da slowly regained his senses and asked the question that everyone was most eager to know.

What exactly was the reason?

Wasn't it said in the streets that Grand Tutor Dong hated this cruel official the most? Why… would he be like this?

Grand Tutor Dong looked at him, his expression softened slightly, and he slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over all the scholars present.

As his sharp gaze swept over them, no one dared to meet his eyes, and they all lowered their heads timidly.

Even Chen Zhengru's mind was blank, and he couldn't say a word.

“Heh,” Grand Tutor Dong chuckled softly, saying with complex emotions:

“What a grand display.

This old man has heard many rumors these days and didn't want to pay attention to them, but I never expected that you would intensify your efforts, carrying the banner of this old man, and using tricks on such an occasion today.

You even plotted against the descendants of my Dong family. Very good, very good.”

His tone was calm, but this revelation caused all the scholars who had participated in the attack to be drenched in sweat and feel a chill down their spines.

They realized that after today, they would have no place in the literary world.

Thinking of this, some scholars, as if giving up all hope, raised their heads and said:

“Why does the Grand Tutor have such awe for an ignorant and cruel official?”

They didn't understand!

Many people here had joined the condemnation because of rumors that Grand Tutor Dong hated Zhao Du'an.

Now, they suddenly felt betrayed and aggrieved.

Grand Tutor Dong laughed in anger:

“What a why! Then this old man will tell you why today!

It is this so-called ignorant and cruel official in your mouths who, as an unofficial academician, fully participated in the formulation of the court's new policies, built the skeleton of the new policies, and the rest of the academicians did nothing more than fill in the flesh!

Even to say, the credit he alone deserves exceeds the entire Institute for the Advancement of Literature!

Aren't you curious as to why Han Zhou and others respect him so much? That is the reason!

This is what you call ignorance, this is the military officer you despise and disdain!

Literati kill people without knives, all in the four words of verbal criticism and written attacks. Now you want to verbally criticize and attack Zhao, the academician of our Institute for the Advancement of Literature. Tell me, what should be this old man's attitude!”

After a pause, this Grand Tutor of the court, this elderly man, suddenly spat and shook his head in disappointment:

“A group of sycophants.”

He turned his head again, looked at Chen Zhengru and Xu Hanlin, and snorted:

“A group of petty, scheming people.”

Silence.

This outer garden seemed to have no sound other than the old Grand Tutor's voice.

Even the monks of the Shenlong Temple, who were responsible for receiving guests in the distance, looked at each other, their hands clasped together.

Of all the Zhai Garden Dharma assemblies over the years, this should be the most dramatic in nearly a century.

And all this stemmed from the youth standing calmly with his hands behind his back in the pavilion.

A monk praised in a low voice:

“After today, the name of Zhao Du'an will probably resound like thunder in the Confucian world of Dayu.”

There are tens of millions of Confucian scholars in Dayu, but today, they are no match for Zhao Jun alone.