The First Lackey Under The Empress

The next day, early morning.

Inside the room, Zhao Du'an stood in front of a full-length mirror, tidying his appearance.

After carefully arranging his collar and clothes, he nodded with satisfaction.

"That's good."

Leaving his house, he didn't take a carriage but rode his own horse to the Imperial Palace.

After arriving at the Imperial City, he asked someone to announce his presence.

Soon, a guard returned and said:

"His Majesty will be out shortly, please wait a moment, sir."

So, Zhao Du'an stood at the gate of the Imperial City and waited for almost half an hour before a grand procession of carriages emerged from the palace city in the distance.

"I knew it, waiting for a woman to leave always takes at least an hour..."

Zhao Du'an sighed, but he was enjoying it.

Today's visit to the Celestial Master's Mansion was not a grand event.

Therefore, the Emperor's carriage procession was of moderate size, with only about fifty or sixty people accompanying it.

The carriage stopped after exiting the gate, and a palace maid conveyed the message that "Lord Zhao" was to board the carriage for an audience.

Riding with the Empress was a great honor for any official.

However, Zhao Du'an had already experienced it three times in just a few months.

...

...

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhao Du'an squeezed into the unusually spacious carriage and performed the ritual honestly—the most taboo thing for a favored subject is to become arrogant; the more favored one is, the less one should be presumptuous in front of the leader.

"Be seated, you and I are ruler and subject, no need for formalities."

The clear, jade-like sound, like pearls rolling on a silver plate, struck his heart.

Zhao Du'an gave his thanks before carefully raising his head, and then his eyes lit up.

Today, the Empress had changed her attire.

It was neither the Emperor's dragon robe nor the usual casual wear in the palace, but rather something resembling the attire of a Daoist cultivator.

Inside was white, covered with a green robe, similar in style to a Daoist robe.

The collar was open, and half of her black hair cascaded down her back, while the other half was tied into a Daoist bun on top of her head, casually secured with a jade hairpin.

Without any makeup, her face was naturally fair and translucent, making any beautiful woman in the world feel ashamed and ridicule herself as ordinary.

A red cinnabar dot was painted between her eyebrows, like a jade statue.

The fairy with eyes like autumn water glanced at him, and the slight upturn of her lips made Zhao Du'an slightly lose his senses.

"Is there a flower on my face?" Xu Zhenguan asked with a smile.

Zhao Du'an realized his impoliteness and immediately said sincerely:

"Your Majesty puts all the flowers to shame."

"...Heh,"

Xu Zhenguan felt that she should put on a stern face, but she wasn't really angry, and thinking about how this guy had made a contribution yesterday, she just snorted:

"Smooth-tongued."

Just smooth-tongued?

Zhao Du'an blinked, realizing that the Empress was indeed in a good mood today.

She didn't even reprimand him...

It felt a little unusual...

Sitting on a stool on one side of the carriage, Zhao Du'an's mind was racing, wondering if he should be a little bolder; a man should always take the initiative.

He then heard the Empress speak calmly:

"Regarding yesterday's matter, I heard Eunuch Hai say that you made a great contribution."

Zhao Du'an quickly came back to his senses and said seriously:

"Eunuch Hai is exaggerating.

Your subject only did what was within his duty.

Rather, it was Your Majesty who secretly sent Eunuch Hai to protect my safety, for which I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay you, except to devote my life to Your Majesty, exhausting my efforts, and still fearing that I cannot repay Your Majesty's kindness."

Even Xu Zhenguan, who was accustomed to flattering officials, was a little overwhelmed at this moment.

She tilted her head slightly, changed her posture, and said reservedly:

"There's no need to be like this...I'm just curious, how did you know the location of that thief?"

Here it comes!

As expected, she asked.

I thought I could get away with it...How should I answer?

Telling the truth is not appropriate.

As the saying goes, a loyal minister does not serve two masters.

Although my relationship with Old Wang is purely business, it can't stand a woman's overthinking...If she thinks I'm playing both sides, flirting with both the Celestial Master's Mansion and the royal family, it would be terrible...Zhao Du'an's mind raced.

But his mouth hardly hesitated and immediately replied:

"It was because I asked the Divine Official Jin Jian for help."

Xu Zhenguan smiled slightly and said in a teasing tone:

"Jin Jian is willing to help you?

Isn't that against the rules?"

Oops, this question has a trap...A bad answer and everything will be lost...Zhao Du'an's brain worked rapidly, and his expression remained normal as he said:

"Does Your Majesty know that I recently purchased a house?"

"I've heard a little about it."

"Does Your Majesty know how I got such a large sum of money?"

Xu Zhenguan narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly and said in a light tone: "I don't like guessing riddles."

"..."

Zhao Du'an frankly asked and answered himself:

"I usually like to tinker with small objects.

Previously, I accidentally discovered a method of making ice, so I sold it to the Divine Official Jin Jian.

In this way, I earned a sum of money, which allowed me to purchase a house and get closer to Your Majesty.

It is also because of business dealings that the Divine Official Jin Jian has provided me with much help..."

Xu Zhenguan listened quietly.

She actually already knew about Zhao Du'an's business with the Celestial Master's Mansion.

But at this moment, hearing him answer honestly, she was still very satisfied.

The Empress knew that Jin Jian was naturally greedy for money.

Zhao Du'an helped her make a fortune, and it was reasonable for the girl to reciprocate.

She nodded slightly, with a smile:

"Last time you made that floral perfume, and this time you know how to make ice, you are indeed versatile."

Huff...The deadly topic is finally over...Zhao Du'an exhaled silently and said:

"These are just trivial skills, mere tricks, not worth mentioning."

His heart moved, and he took the initiative to change the topic:

"As for being able to start a business, it's mainly due to Gongshu Tianyuan's efforts."

"Oh? Zhang Tianshi's fifth disciple?"

Xu Zhenguan was indeed diverted from the topic and looked enlightened.

"It's him, no wonder."

Zhao Du'an raised his head and asked curiously:

"Does Your Majesty know him?"

The Empress gave an "En" sound, and seeing that her little imperial guard didn't know much, she casually explained:

"Gongshu Tianyuan cultivates the 'Craftsman God' lineage, capable of crafting divine weapons and treasures, and is extremely talented.

It's just that he spends years buried in the craftsman's room and rarely goes out...En, the scroll you used before to record sound and images was made by this person...However, he was not the original creator."

Damn...The voyeuristic scroll was made by him?

Zhao Du'an was shocked.

The Empress sighed:

"However, this lineage is difficult to achieve great success.

Progress in cultivation requires the creation of breakthrough artifacts to advance.

Therefore, this person is most concerned about your so-called tricks.

However, although progress is difficult, if one day he truly enters a higher realm, he can be called a national treasure.

Heh, a master craftsman who can create high-quality magical instruments and divine weapons is someone even the royal family must befriend."

Saying that, she glanced at him meaningfully, her meaning obvious:

If you can befriend him, it will be beneficial to you.

Is that so?

That little fatty is still a potential stock...Zhao Du'an cheered up and said seriously:

"Thank you for Your Majesty's guidance."

Xu Zhenguan's lips curled up, and she wanted to say:

Although that Gongshu Tianyuan is a genius, his personality is quite arrogant.

Even if you go to befriend him, he will look down on you.

After all, this kind of "technical talent" only recognizes technology and never cares about power or looks down on it.

Relying solely on making ice is not enough to make that Celestial Master's disciple look at Zhao Du'an differently.

But...

Forget it, there's no need to dampen the subordinates' enthusiasm.

However, the Empress didn't know that Zhao Du'an had already made that lonely heir of the Craftsman God stay up for three days and three nights, mentally and physically exhausted, with just a simple diagram of the principle of light transmission in glasses.

"The Celestial Master's Mansion is almost here.

Wait for me to go in later, don't talk nonsense.

If you are lucky enough, you may be able to see Zhang Tianshi in person today."

Xu Zhenguan raised her eyes and looked at the gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion that had already appeared outside the carriage, and said lightly.

The legendary Zhang Tianshi?

The living immortal of the Great Yu?

Zhao Du'an looked expectant.