The First Lackey Under The Empress

The carriage left Shenlong Temple, going against the flow of people, and returned to the Zhao family before noon.

The cook was greatly surprised and hurriedly added more dishes. Fortunately, Zhao Du'an was different now than before, and even if the food was slow to prepare, he wouldn't resort to scolding and beating.

At the dinner table, the women of the family transformed into curious babies, asking about Zhao Du'an's experiences in the Xiuwen Pavilion.

Helpless, he had to pick and choose some things that could be said... Of course, it also satisfied his need to show off, successfully reaping the worshipful gazes of the mother and daughter.

But... in the end, the most important person was missing...

After the meal, Zhao Du'an climbed onto the roof, looking in the direction of the palace, wondering when His Majesty would emerge from seclusion.

Unfortunately, he was afraid that he wouldn't have time to report in person this time.

He felt a sense of loss.

"Sigh."

Zhao Du'an lay on the gray tiles of the roof, with the shade of the large tree behind the courtyard overhead.

A gentle breeze blew, and he pondered the rest of the day.

"Grand Tutor Dong's public announcement shows that the New Policies have been finalized. Next, it's just waiting for His Majesty to emerge from seclusion, and after reviewing them, barring any accidents, they will gradually enter the implementation phase."

"As for me, after today's events, the attacks from the literati will be reduced a lot... at least for now.

As for my contribution to the Xiuwen Pavilion, the Grand Tutor didn't say it clearly, but so many scholars will find out sooner or later. Whether outsiders believe it or not? It doesn't really matter."

What he coveted was never some bullshit reputation.

However, after the news of my drafting the New Policies spreads, I'm afraid it will attract more hostility... such as those powerful families and corrupt officials who are being rectified?

Including, the level of importance the Kuangfu Society places on me?

"People who transmigrate usually get better and better. Why do I have more and more enemies?" Zhao Du'an sighed.

Unconsciously, he fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already dusk, and the last ray of sunlight sank into the earth.

Suddenly, he felt that taking a nap at home was much more pleasant than participating in some broken Dharma Assembly. The only regret was not having a proper holiday.

"Da Lang, Da Lang..."

The old steward's call came from the courtyard.

Zhao Du'an sat on the roof, looking down, and sighed:

"I'm here. Don't use that soul-calling tone even if it's the Zhongyuan Festival..."

"Ah! Da Lang is here." The old steward was startled and said:

"There's a young lady looking for you at the door. She looks noble and imposing, so she may not be simple."

A young lady? Could it be Mo Chou?

Zhao Du'an was puzzled, patted his butt, landed on the ground, and walked outside.

When he walked out of the gate, he didn't see his rival Mo Zhaorong. There were no carriages or servants outside.

Only a solitary masked woman.

She was wearing a light blue long dress, tall and slender, with a veil covering her face, revealing only her narrow eyes and forehead. Her hair was simply tied behind her head, held in place by a jade hairpin.

Her clothes were ordinary and unremarkable, but just standing there, she exuded nobility.

"May I ask, this young lady..."

Zhao Du'an cautiously opened his mouth, but when his eyes met the stranger's, he was suddenly stunned, in disbelief:

"Your..."

"Silence." The Empress, walking among mortals in disguise, waved her hand and disappeared with him into thin air.

...

In the capital, on a small bridge.

At the moment when darkness swallowed the city, two figures quietly appeared.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty!" Zhao Du'an shamelessly bowed and scraped, his tone excited:

"Your Majesty, when did you emerge from seclusion?"

The Dayu Empress stood on the bridge, amused:

"How did you recognize me?"

Zhao Du'an had a full awareness of being a bootlicker, and said with sweet words:

"Your Majesty's grace, how could your subject dare to forget? Even if only a corner of your face is revealed, no one in the world can compare..."

"...Slick-tongued." Xu Zhenguan was used to his temperament.

It was strange, though. The same flattery, some people disgusted her.

Some... just... their words were quite pleasing to the ear.

So the Empress was also a double-standard monster.

Slick-tongued? How would you know if you haven't tasted it... Zhao Du'an was unconvinced, feeling that judgments without experimentation were unscientific.

"I only emerged from seclusion today. I went to the Ullambana Festival before, and only just returned," she said.

Xu Zhenguan's slender jade hand rested on the stone bridge's railing, and the light blue dress was ruffled by the river breeze.

A few strands of dark hair scattered beside her delicate earlobes also swayed slightly.

Overwhelming beauty was not as simple as just saying it.

Even if she covered most of her face and changed into the most ordinary clothes, she was still an extremely outstanding beauty.

Zhao Du'an had heard in his previous life that masks were the best fashion item, easily increasing one's appearance several times.

Because the human brain would make up a perfect appearance based on the half that was revealed.

But this law was invalid on the Empress, because her complete appearance was even better than what the brain could imagine.

If he had to describe it, it was probably that half a face could make Little Zhao's blood rush.

After a pause, she added: "The Grand Tutor told me about your affairs."

Speaking of this, even after digesting it for half a day, the Dayu Empress still hesitated:

"So, the Three Golden Policies, were..."

Zhao Du'an nodded shamelessly: "Were done by your subject."

"...Why?" Xu Zhenguan parted her red lips slightly, asking the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time, "Why... do you... understand these things?"

She still clearly remembered how, in the meditation room, Grand Tutor Dong had told her in detail how Zhao Du'an had left the manuscript, how he had been invited to explain it, how he had spoken of the "Three Golden Policies," and how he had secretly helped refine the New Policies during these days...

She seemed calm, but what kind of emotions had surged in her heart.

It seemed that every once in a while, he would give himself a big surprise, far exceeding what he had expected before.

Xu Zhenguan was not "forgetful," so she had repeatedly adjusted her perception of this little Imperial Guard.

Even if Zhao Du'an ran to her and said that he had overthrown a certain Minister of the Six Ministries after this seclusion.

She thought to herself that she wouldn't even be distraught.

But... the Xiuwen Pavilion?

New Policies?

Three Policies?

Scholars?

How could these nouns, which were completely inconsistent with previous perceptions, be connected to him? The Empress couldn't understand.

That kind of shock was like suddenly discovering that the old Grand Tutor was an unparalleled fierce general, whose arms could run horses, and who could kill seven in and seven out among ten thousand troops... it was as unreasonable.

"Your subject said before that I have read many books in private," Zhao Du'an said calmly, having already prepared his explanation.

"Only that?"

"Also, your subject understands the wickedness of the world and is more pragmatic than those scholars."

"Only that?"

"...Your subject dreams that there is an old immortal..."

"...Do you believe that I will punish you for the crime of deceiving the emperor?"

"Your subject was wrong." Zhao Du'an immediately cowered, also very helpless. He wanted to tell the truth, but no one believed him.

Xu Zhenguan pursed her plump lips, with emotion in her eyes.

However, these things cannot be asked in the end, and can only be explained as Zhao Du'an truly having a beautiful country in his belly, but no one appreciated it in the past.

The Empress suddenly sighed softly and said quietly:

"If one day, you suddenly chant poems and write fu, and your poems and essays also overwhelm the talents of the world, I wouldn't be surprised."

I haven't had time to copy... You've blocked me first, is that okay... Zhao Du'an's expression froze.

"You don't really know how to chant poems and write fu, do you?" Xu Zhenguan just said it casually, but now seeing his expression, her expression also became strange.

"Cough cough, I know a little," Zhao Du'an said honestly.

"...Write one to listen to?"

"Not now, I have no inspiration," Zhao Du'an said reservedly.

Tch... Xu Zhenguan suddenly rolled her eyes, but she didn't really want him to write poetry. What she cared about was the court, was Dayu:

"I want to hear your views on the New Policies."

"Yes," Zhao Du'an thought for a while and said:

"The Grand Tutor must have already relayed the specific details. Now that Your Majesty has emerged from seclusion, it is time for the New Policies to surface."

"However, this is destined to be a long process. It requires rectifying officialdom, implementing the Kao Cheng Law, and at the same time delineating areas and opening up markets to make money... After relieving the immediate needs, then promote the 'Return of Ding Tax to Land'. Don't think about getting to this step without a few years."

"In addition, where to start implementation is also a problem. Your subject believes that the Eight Kings are all over the various provinces, so it is always unavoidable, but the order of selection is a great learning.

Your subject heard people in the Pavilion talking about the previous dynasty's weakening of the vassal states. The Dayu Dynasty does not have vassal kings, and the Eight Kings are only powerful, but they are not vassals.

But if they are to be weakened, the principle is the same, it must, and can only start from the weakest one, and not the other way around.

And your subject believes that using the method of the market to try to drain the enemy's money is the best policy. Soldiers are always the worst of the worst..."

Beside the bridge.

The night wind blew.

The summer heat dissipated, and it was cool and pleasant.

Zhao Du'an talked eloquently, as if he had returned to his previous life, when he was in a closed-door meeting and speaking.

In fact, compared to the various things he had experienced after coming to this strange world, what he was talking about now was his professional field.

When he said everything in his heart in one breath, he belatedly realized that the Empress had not spoken for a long time.

Zhao Du'an shuddered, thinking he was being carried away, and hurriedly looked to his side, then froze.

He saw Xu Zhenguan, wearing a veil in the night, looking at him quietly and intently, her beautiful eyes like stars.

"Your... Your Majesty?" Zhao Du'an was a little flustered.

Xu Zhenguan suddenly said: "Do you know?"

Zhao Du'an was stunned: "What should your subject know?"

Xu Zhenguan looked at him with strange eyes and said:

"When you were talking about these things just now, it seemed like you were... shining."

"..."

Zhao Du'an didn't know how to respond for a while, and seemed a little dazed.

At this time, a vendor pushed a cart over the bridge.

A child who was following his elders to set up a stall had a pile of strange "god" masks hanging around his neck, ran back, rolled his eyes, and said to Zhao Du'an:

"Young master, young master! Buy a mask for your wife!"

According to Dayu folk customs, on this night of the Zhongyuan Festival, gods and deceased relatives will walk in the world.

In order to avoid being taken away by ghosts and gods, living people will wear various strange god masks, pretending to be gods, muddling through, so as to avoid being caught by gods and ghosts.

There is also an activity at night called "Night Tour."

Wife... The Empress was stunned for a moment, and then realized that she had been misunderstood, frowned, and was about to explain.

But she saw Zhao Du'an smiling and handing over a few big coins, and took off two "Yaksha" masks, one black and one white, from the child's neck.

Handing the white Yaksha to the Empress, he said:

"Your Majesty, when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Xu Zhenguan stared at him with a smile that was not a smile: "Do you want to die?"