The First Lackey Under The Empress

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for the scholars of the capital.

Just as many literati were feeling disheartened and uneasy, returning to their homes, preparing to sleep.

Teams of officers from the imperial court, filled with murderous intent, knocked on their doors.

"Master, master, something terrible has happened! Court officials are at the door!" At the Chen residence.

Grand Scholar Chen Zhengru of the Hanlin Academy was studying at his desk when a terrified servant suddenly burst in, pushing open the door.

"What?"

Chen Zhengru abruptly stood up, and before he could react, a swarm of officials had already poured in, led by Zhou Cang, the centurion.

Who now said with a smile:

"Scholar Chen, we suspect that the recent shift in the capital's atmosphere is related to rebellious factions. Please don't make things difficult for us and come with us for a while."

Chen Zhengru's expression changed drastically, and he said:

"Zhao Du'an is only a minor sixth-rank official; he has no authority to arrest me."

Zhou Cang threw an arrest warrant on his face, took a few steps closer, his smile disappearing, and said:

"Grand Scholar, don't you understand? The one who wants you to come is not Lord Zhao, but His Majesty."

Chen Zhengru's face turned pale, and he looked bitter.

A purge—unexpectedly, it came so quickly.

… …

At a certain residence.

"Bang!" Ferocious officials barged in.

Hanlin Scholar Xu had just fallen asleep and now walked out wearing his clothes, outwardly stern but inwardly timid:

"I am a Hanlin…"

Hou Renmeng, who was on duty at Pear Blossom Hall today, struck out with the hilt of his saber, and Xu Hanlin's eyes immediately went dark. A sharp pain struck, and he bent over like a shrimp.

He actually fainted from the pain.

"Bah! Useless trash, daring to oppose my lord?"

Hou Renmeng felt bored, turned his head, and said grimly:

"Take him away!"

… …

Similar scenes were happening in many places at the same time.

Inside the Grand Councilor's residence, in the study.

The lights were bright.

With hair like hedgehog bristles, eyebrows like stone ridges, and messy stubble spreading along both cheeks, intersecting with his sideburns, Li Yanfu sat expressionlessly on a square chair.

His eyes, as deep as a dark pool, were fixed on the luxurious knitted carpet in the room, where the "Young Senior Grand Secretary" stood with his head bowed, looking like he was being lectured.

"…The course of events is like this."

Li Yinglong, nearly forty years old, with delicate features, a high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes, finished recounting the events of the day but did not receive a response from his father.

The atmosphere in the room was terribly oppressive.

The hourglass on the table slowly trickled sand, and in the silent atmosphere, the Ministry of Works Vice Minister, who was ambitious but lacking in talent, and clearly not young but still acting immaturely, seemed to hear the sound of the sand flowing.

In the silence.

Finally, the leader of the Grand Councilor's faction, sitting high in the main hall, slowly opened his mouth, saying only two words: "Foolish."

Li Yanfu's face faintly showed anger at his son's lack of ambition:

"Did your father not tell you last time to be patient and not to fixate on a cruel official? In the end, what did you do?"

Li Yinglong remained silent.

Li Yanfu sighed, seeming somewhat tired:

"Forget it, what's done is done. If I'm not mistaken, now that His Majesty knows, whether it's using this as an excuse or buying a horse's bones with gold, in any case, he won't let it go easily. I'm afraid Chen Zhengru will also be implicated and suffer a bit."

After a slight pause, he narrowed his eyes and calmly instructed:

"Tomorrow, at court, find an excuse yourself, claim that you were ineffective in handling matters, and ask His Majesty to punish you with at least half a year's salary. Hmph, self-punishment is better than His Majesty finding fault with you."

Li Yinglong suddenly raised his head:

"Father, I only slightly pushed this matter; surely they won't be able to find out…"

"Fool!" Li Yanfu's face darkened. "Do you really think that His Majesty is so young that he can't guess your underhanded tricks?"

Li Yinglong opened his mouth, wanting to argue.

At this moment, there was suddenly the sound of footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the door:

"Master, people from the palace have come, saying that His Majesty heard you were unwell and came to visit."

Father and son exchanged a glance inside the room.

"Invite them to the front hall," Li Yinglong said.

Soon after, Li Yinglong supported the current Grand Councilor, who looked unwell and coughed repeatedly, to the front hall.

Several eunuchs were waiting there, and the leading eunuch hurriedly stood up:

"Since the Grand Councilor is seriously ill, why did you come out in person? We should have gone to visit you."

Li Yanfu slowly sat down, looking weak, completely different from before:

"Since the envoy has arrived, this old minister should welcome you. I heard that His Majesty has emerged from seclusion?"

The middle-aged eunuch nodded, waved his hand, and a small eunuch beside him stepped forward, holding up boxes of precious items:

"His Majesty heard from Vice Minister Li that the Grand Councilor had caught a cold, so he missed this year's Dharma Assembly. He specially ordered this servant to send nourishing palace treasures such as old snow ginseng.

His Majesty feels grateful for the Grand Councilor's hard work for the court, and says that since this is the case, you should rest and recuperate. For the next period of time, the Grand Councilor need not attend court."

He then turned to Li Yinglong and said:

"His Majesty also said that Vice Minister Li is a filial son, and presumably wants to take care of the Grand Councilor, so he need not worry about the affairs of the Ministry of Works for now, and should focus on caring for his family."

Forbidding his father from attending court… weakening his authority…

The Young Senior Grand Secretary's expression changed slightly. He hadn't expected His Majesty to take action so decisively and to protect that pretty boy so much.

Retaliation overnight… couldn't even wait a day?

Li Yanfu looked calm and smiled:

"In that case, thank His Majesty on behalf of this old minister."

In the depths of his deep pupils, however, was a cold desolation.

… …

… …

"Your Majesty's grace is such that this subject has no way to repay it, except with utmost loyalty."

Zhao Du'an vaguely guessed the result and decisively offered his loyalty.

When the leader rewards, it is necessary to give positive feedback in a timely manner. For him, it has almost become a muscular reflex.

Xu Zhenguan was very satisfied, and then frowned:

"It's just that I can help you block the open attacks, but it's difficult to guard against hidden arrows. Next, the New Policies will be released and gradually implemented slowly.

And this will undoubtedly provoke fierce resistance from many people in the court.

What I and the Grand Tutor mean is that you should stay away from the Institute of Literary Excellence next, including that academic title. For you, at this moment, it is more harmful than beneficial."

This was said quite bluntly.

Once the New Policies are made public, officials from prominent families and scholarly clans will inevitably launch a frantic counterattack, attempting to obstruct them.

In the court, a new round of fierce struggles will inevitably unfold, and its scale will probably be comparable to the previous factional strife surrounding Pei Kai.

Especially…

This time, the New Policies affect not just one "Li faction."

The "Purist Party" members behind Yuan Li also have a large number of scholars from prominent families, and even the Empress's "Imperial Party" also face the huge risk of rebellion and resistance.

Ultimately, when the court wants to compete for benefits with the officials, even the most loyal subjects will raise their swords.

Therefore, proposing a strategy is only the first step.

How to withstand the heavy resistance is the real difficulty.

Just like in history, those reformers that Zhao Du'an was familiar with almost all faced tragic endings.

Zhao Du'an is still too weak now, with a rank of only a minor sixth-rank official, and a military officer at that.

The court struggles that the Institute of Literary Excellence is involved in are still too intense for him.

Therefore, after thinking it over, the Empress decided to let him hide under the wings of herself and others, develop in a low-key manner, and avoid the storm.

"I will follow Your Majesty's instructions in everything," Zhao Du'an nodded happily.

Xu Zhenguan looked at the time and said:

"It's been too long outside."

"This subject will see Your Majesty off."

Zhao Du'an paid the bill, and after the Empress lifted the concealment, the two Rakshasa then walked out of the noodle shop.

After finding a secluded place, the Empress's figure suddenly disappeared, leaving only a Rakshasa mask on the ground.

Zhao Du'an silently picked up the mask and glanced at the brightly lit palace in the distance, then turned and went back the way he came.

The moon and stars were sparse, and in the bustling and prosperous streets, he was the only one left, alone.

… …

Unconsciously.

Zhao Du'an walked back to the bridge where he had just talked with the Empress, looked at the river, and remembered the handkerchief that had floated away.

And then…

"Huh?"

Zhao Du'an suddenly felt that this place was somewhat familiar.

He also vaguely sensed that the energy within his body was boiling on its own, and a certain resonance was faintly established with the depths of the river in the distance.

He looked around, saw that no one was paying attention, and quietly slipped into the darkness, flipped over, and arrived at the bottom of the bridge.

His expression was strange:

"What a coincidence… Isn't this the location of the palace's secret passage?"

However, what really surprised him was this.

At this moment, he clearly felt the faint attraction from the formation at the bottom of the lake.

As if…

Calling!