The First Lackey Under The Empress

After dropping these words, Zhao Du'an didn't wait for the "Little Grand Secretary's" reply, and spurred his horse towards the palace.

"Clearly unable to retaliate against me for the time being, yet still running over to spout harsh words, truly ambitious but lacking in talent."

Zhao Du'an shook his head, no longer regarding him as an enemy.

Shortly after.

He arrived at the palace, reported according to the rules, and was then led into the palace by someone.

That familiar, older female official walked over, smiling, and said:

"Lord Zhao, please follow me, His Majesty is waiting in the garden."

There are many imperial gardens.

But the one known for its "flowers" is only one.

It has no trees or pools, only a sea of flowers of various colors, crowded together to form a "sea of flowers."

It is said that in the past, a certain emperor had a sudden idea, demanding that all the rare flowers in the world be collected and transplanted into the palace, thus creating this "Back Garden Flower Sea."

When Zhao Du'an arrived, he could see from afar, amidst the colorful sea of flowers, a figure standing and admiring the flowers.

The elderly palace maid stopped at the appropriate time, standing on the periphery with the other attendants.

Zhao Du'an puffed out his chest and raised his head, walking along the stone path on the ground called "Flower Path" to the Empress's side.

Xu Zhenguan was in a very good mood today, her fair and crystal-clear skin dazzling in the sunlight.

The long dress trailing to the ground accentuated her graceful figure, yet inspired no vulgar thoughts.

Her dark hair was loose, her delicate and exquisite nose, her lips of moderate thickness, and her bright eyes like lacquer under her long eyelashes, were quietly admiring the colorful butterflies dancing in the flowers.

"Your Majesty…"

Zhao Du'an was about to speak, but saw her shake her head almost imperceptibly.

As if afraid of scaring away the butterflies.

Zhao Du'an followed her gaze and discovered that the two colorful butterflies entwined in the flowers were not ordinary creatures.

They possessed seven colors, and as they flew, the air seemed to ripple with light.

After a while, the two colorful butterflies flew away, and the Empress's clear voice rang out:

"These butterflies are called 'Seven Days City'. If ordinary mortals stare at them for too long, their minds will be drawn in, and they will enter a dream, recalling the seven happiest days of their lives.

Therefore, too many people seek to capture them, but these butterflies cannot be kept in captivity, so when they are caught, they will starve themselves and die within a week.

They have gradually become scarce within the Great Yu, and this pair was brought from the Mubei Forest and has lived in the palace for two hundred years."

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment. He knew that strange life existed in this world, but this was the first time he had come into such close contact with it:

"Your Majesty said that they cannot be kept in captivity? Then how were they brought back?"

Xu Zhenguan raised her slender jade hand and gently pointed to a cluster of pure black flowers in the distance:

"That is the Lightless Flower, the Seven Days City's favorite flower, but this flower is extremely rare.

After birth, out of a thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine will burn due to bathing in sunlight and accumulating heat, leaving only one.

After swallowing it, one will not fear flames, and the body will not decay for hundreds of years. The royal family spent a lot of effort to obtain it in those years, using it to lure the Seven Days City."

Zhao Du'an marveled and said:

"I am a petty official, buried in the mundane world, and I don't know that there are so many magical things in the world."

Xu Zhenguan turned her head and looked at him with a smile, and said:

"If you want it, I will reward it to you."

Zhao Du'an was flattered:

"I am not worthy… Moreover, I believe that treasures should be possessed by those with virtue."

Xu Zhenguan joked: "Are you saying that you have no virtue?"

Zhao Du'an mocked himself:

"Why does Your Majesty need to ask the obvious? Probably not many people in the capital… or even the world, think that I have anything to do with 'virtue'."

Xu Zhenguan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said very seriously:

"You have suffered."

In the Empress's eyes, Zhao Du'an's reputation was so bad, mostly because of her.

No… I just think it's too much effort to clear my name… Once a fixed impression is formed, how easy is it to change?

He deliberately showed a carefree smile:

"Being able to serve Your Majesty, what does this little bit of suffering matter?"

"…" Xu Zhenguan stepped forward:

"Walk with me."

…

The two strolled through the sea of flowers, and when the wind blew, hundreds of flowers bowed to her.

The monarch and her subject first talked about the changes in the court.

Learning that the New Policy dispute had come to an end, Zhao Du'an also put down the stone in his heart and said:

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan's lips curled slightly, and then she said calmly:

"It's just the first step of a long journey. The decree has left the court and must also leave the capital, going to the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures, to the fields of the common people. Even if the officials are upright, there will still be obstacles in the implementation."

Zhao Du'an blinked and tentatively asked:

"Is Your Majesty worried about the Eight Kings?"

Xu Zhenguan was silent, which was equivalent to admitting it.

She should not have said these words to a mere small military officer.

But after so many things, she no longer regarded Zhao Du'an as an ordinary person:

"My few uncles will definitely be watching this side closely. With their minds and staff, they can understand the power of the New Policy with a little thought. Will they let it go? Cooperate with the court? Or secretly obstruct it?

The so-called 'Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away', my sword can only sweep over the hundreds of thousands of heads in the capital, and beyond that, my reach is beyond my grasp."

Zhao Du'an frowned. He could not rashly speak on this topic.

On the one hand, it was almost unsolvable, involving the struggle for the throne, and what kind of conspiracies and tricks were not very useful.

The best way was to cut the flesh with a soft knife.

When one's own side is strong and the other side is weak, the desire to resist and fight will naturally fade.

On the other hand, he was too unfamiliar with the area outside the Great Yu capital.

Since crossing over, Zhao Du'an had hardly left the capital. Of the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures of Great Yu, he only knew this one in the capital.

He neither understood the situation in various places nor the character of the Eight Kings.

The various strange cultivation groups in the Jianghu, the Fashen Sect, the Five Chang Sect, the Ming Sect, the White Robe Sect…

Even beyond the Great Yu territory, the mysterious and magnificent land, the intricate forces.

The Gushen Clan, the Great Black Heaven Sect… the ancestral court of Western Regions Buddhism… and many powerful people… all only remained at "hearing about them."

How could he provide any advice?

"Let's not talk about this."

Xu Zhenguan also realized that she had given this little forbidden army a somewhat difficult task.

Or rather, she was used to the fact that the other party could always help her solve problems, so she habitually said it.

But whether it was the threat of the "Eight Kings", the remnants of Kuangfu She, or the cultivation Jianghu, it was too far away for him.

"Let's go, I'll take you to see something good."

Xu Zhenguan smiled and said:

"Well, if you still want to see this scenery, you can take another look."

A big treasure… Zhao Du'an regained his senses, knowing that the Empress was going to reward him, he couldn't wait, but his face was full of sincerity:

"In my eyes, Your Majesty is the most beautiful scenery in the world. Being able to follow Your Majesty and learn at all times, I am already satisfied."

"…" Xu Zhenguan scolded him with a smile for being glib, then turned and walked towards the distance.

Her footsteps, however, became a little lighter inadvertently.

This guy's words are still quite pleasant to hear…

…

Shortly after.

Xu Zhenguan led Zhao Du'an to an empty palace in the imperial palace, with only the three words "Martial Arts Field" written in a vigorous style above it.

Upon arrival, a eunuch was already waiting outside, opening the door.

In the sound of the heavy door opening, Zhao Du'an saw an empty hall paved with green bricks, and a humanoid wooden stake in the distance.

On the wooden stake, there was a set of radiant armor.

Xu Zhenguan said softly:

"Go and see the reward I chose for you, this thing is called 'Six Talisman Treasure Armor'."

…

This chapter is a bit watery, I will try to write more tomorrow to make up for it. . Holding head and scurrying