The First Lackey Under The Empress

The wind moved the clouds, and the moonlight poured down like water, illuminating the Empress in the carriage with an extraordinary aura.

"Yes." Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, then responded, lifting the hem of his robe and entering the carriage.

As the curtain fell, the luminous pearl in the center of the carriage's small square table brightened.

It illuminated the jade pot and cups on the table, and the air was filled with a faint scent of wine.

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"Has Your Majesty been drinking?" Zhao Du'an sat down with half his buttocks on the seat, frowning slightly.

He was naturally not referring to drinking at the celebration banquet.

Xu Zhenguan picked up an empty cup with her jade hand and drank it all in one gulp, tilting her head back.

Because she had her hair up, her fair neck was particularly "exposed" today.

From this angle, Zhao Du'an could see her delicate chin and the rise and fall of her tight, fair neck as she swallowed the wine into her esophagus.

"Pour wine," the Empress said softly, putting down her exquisite cup.

Zhao Du'an didn't say a word, tacitly holding up the jade pot with both hands and pouring wine for her.

The carriage started moving, but both of them remained silent. The Empress drank three cups in a row, and Zhao Du'an raised his hand to cover the wine pot, sighing:

"Your Majesty, excessive drinking is harmful to your health."

In the dim light of the luminous pearl, the Empress, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a gold crown of the same color, stared at him expressionlessly and reached out to snatch the wine pot.

But Zhao Du'an dodged it, and he earnestly advised:

"Your Majesty, this subject remembers that you said you used to drink alone whenever you were happy.

It seems that this grain-fermented beverage should be something that brings joy. If you are not happy and only want to forget your worries, it becomes using alcohol to drown your sorrows."

Xu Zhenguan's beautiful eyes still stared at him without emotion.

In the past, when she made such a gesture, the palace maids and eunuchs would be terrified and grant her every wish.

But Zhao Du'an held the wine pot tightly, boldly meeting her gaze, his eyes extremely frank.

In the Empress's eyes, he could not see the joy of eliminating traitors, only deep loneliness.

Xu Zhenguan curled the corners of her lips and sneered:

"If I were the late Emperor, a courtier like you who dares to disobey the Emperor, no matter how great your achievements, would be thrown into the 'cold palace'."

Zhao Du'an's eyes did not waver, and he said seriously:

"That's why Your Majesty is not the late Emperor, and this subject dares to speak frankly."

He had extensive experience in understanding the thoughts of his female leader, knowing when to show "consideration."

Sure enough, Xu Zhenguan's gaze softened, and the jade hand that was hovering in the air to snatch the wine pot slowly fell.

Her full lips exhaled a fragrant breath of wine, and she leaned back slightly against the carriage wall, her eyes showing more moisture and warmth:

"How wonderful it would be if there were more courtiers like you in the court."

Zhao Du'an put down the jade pot and smiled:

"Wouldn't that mean this subject would fall out of favor?"

It wasn't a very funny joke, but it appropriately diluted the dull atmosphere in the carriage.

He knew that the reason why the Empress was like this was because she was stimulated by Wang Heng's attitude of admitting his guilt... If Wang Heng had denied it in every possible way, even kowtowing and crying, shouting injustice...

The Empress wouldn't have had much emotional fluctuation, just anger.

Although he was in a high position of power, it wouldn't make much difference to bring down another similar important court official.

But precisely...

"Tell me, how many people in the court are like Wang Heng?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly asked softly.

The tone... wasn't really asking for an answer, more like a sigh, or asking herself.

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, instinctively feeling that this question was difficult to answer.

This question, on the surface, was asking which other corrupt officials there were, but in reality, the Empress was hesitating about what attitude to take towards these traitors who were both hateful and not so hateful.

Of course, Zhao Du'an could give a meaningless, self-protective answer.

Historically, eunuchs who accompanied the emperor like accompanying a tiger had extensive experience in responding to such inquiries from the emperor at any time.

However, he still said:

"If the water is too clear, there will be no fish; if people are too discerning, there will be no followers. Your Majesty should feel gratified that people like Wang Heng have shown remorse, which means that the time when everyone's heart is with Your Majesty is not far away."

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him with a slight surprise, first chewing on the sentence, then smiling noncommittally:

"That doesn't sound like something a slippery person like you would say."

...I'm not a slippery person, at least not now... Zhao Du'an said righteously:

"Whatever Your Majesty wants this subject to say, this subject will say."

Tch... Xu Zhenguan snorted, looking disgusted, but her mood was much lighter and smoother after his teasing, or rather, comforting.

"Let's not talk about this," Xu Zhenguan looked at the shaking curtain and said softly:

"Do you know where I'm going?"

"This subject is ignorant," Zhao Du'an said with a naive look, "Could it be that Your Majesty is going to reward this subject for this achievement?"

Xu Zhenguan said unhappily:

"You know how to ask for credit. Isn't it your duty to handle your own affairs properly? And you're asking me for a reward?"

Zhao Du'an just smiled when he was reprimanded, and Xu Zhenguan felt a little helpless looking at him like this.

She gently supported her forehead with her fingers, and then said softly:

"This is the direction to the Jizhao Nunnery."

Jizhao Nunnery... the nunnery near Shenlong Temple... the place where Princess Yunyang is confined... Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, then reacted:

"Is Your Majesty going to visit the Eldest Princess?"

Speaking of which, it had been many days since he slapped Princess Yunyang and sent her to the nunnery to chant Buddhist scriptures.

He had almost forgotten about this licentious Eldest Princess...

Xu Zhenguan gently "En" and said:

"She is, after all, my aunt. It's been so long, I should visit her."

Zhao Du'an rolled his eyes and said:

"Why not send the Eldest Princess home?"

With his current power, frankly speaking, he didn't care much about what happened back then.

Xu Zhenguan didn't look at him and said:

"With my aunt's personality, a few months is far from enough to change her nature. It's good for her to chant Buddhist scriptures there."

It was like sending an elder to a rehabilitation center for internet addiction... Zhao Du'an muttered.

He realized that the reason why the Empress was going to visit was probably also stimulated by her uncle, Prince Jing...

He didn't continue this topic, but instead asked curiously:

"I heard that there is a Buddhist Bodhisattva stationed in Jizhao Nunnery?"

Xu Zhenguan "En" and casually explained:

"The current Buddhist sect... not to mention the Tantric sect in the Western Regions, but only the Shenlong Temple lineage of the Great Yu, the strongest in Buddhism is Abbot Xuan Yin, followed by the three Bodhisattvas in the Great Perfection of the Mortal Realm.

The one in Jizhao Nunnery is Bodhisattva Prajna, who mainly cultivates the three non-leaks in Buddhism... The other two are Bodhisattva Nagarjuna and Great Pure Master... This Prajna is indeed the youngest of the three."

"How young?" Zhao Du'an asked curiously.

"Fifty-two years old."

...A fifty-two-year-old nun... Zhao Du'an lost interest and imagined the image of Abbess Miejue.

...

...

Jizhao Nunnery wasn't far from the banquet hall, and they arrived while talking.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the nunnery, and Zhao Du'an followed the Empress out of the carriage.

The nunnery in front of them wasn't very big.

Especially compared to the Shenlong Temple Dojo in the distance, which occupied a large area and was brightly lit even in the night, it seemed particularly inconspicuous.

Only two lanterns hung on the unimpressive main entrance.

The eunuch knocked on the door and stated their identity.

The nun who came to open the door was immediately shocked, put her palms together towards the Empress, and was about to report.

"There's no need to make a fuss. I'm just here to visit Yunyang and will leave later," the Empress said gently.

The young nun who opened the door was terrified and didn't dare to refuse.

She immediately made a gesture of invitation.

The Empress left the others waiting outside the door and only took Zhao Du'an into Jizhao Nunnery.

Under the night, the nunnery was quite deserted, but the scenery was extremely elegant, with a beauty of finding tranquility in the midst of noise.

"Your Majesty, Benefactor Yunyang lives in the guest house in front. This poor nun will lead you there."

The nun walked on the stone road, surrounded by well-maintained flowers and plants.

She pointed to a meditation room in front with a light on.

Xu Zhenguan looked over and asked softly: "How has she been these days?"

The nun with ordinary looks looked embarrassed:

"Benefactor Yunyang was more noisy at first, often throwing things. Bodhisattva Prajna couldn't stand it, so she talked to the Benefactor, and she got better.

It's just that she doesn't like the vegetarian meals in the nunnery. She eats less of the vegetarian meals that are sent over. As for the scriptures, the one that was sent in a few months ago hasn't been replaced with a new one."

Good heavens... How did they "talk"?

Was it a physical way? Zhao Du'an marveled and wasn't surprised.

Xu Zhenguan sighed softly and said to Zhao Du'an:

"I'll go take a look. You don't have to go."

"This subject knows."

Zhao Du'an lowered his eyebrows and eyes, a little worried that Yunyang would spread rumors about him... But thinking that the Empress probably wouldn't believe it, he felt relieved.

He watched the Empress and the nun walk away together, and Zhao Du'an stood alone in the elegant and quiet courtyard.

He was bored and didn't dare to walk far, but the central courtyard was quite large, like a small garden.

He strolled around, just to relieve boredom.

After walking for a while, his ears suddenly twitched, and he heard a faint singing voice.

The melody of the song was quite strange, not the "elegant music" promoted by the Great Yu, but rather biased towards "popular music", and with a bit of a Brahman flavor.

"A pure Buddhist place, who is singing at night..."

Zhao Du'an's curiosity rose, and he turned his head to look back.

Estimating that Zhenbao wouldn't be back for a while, he thought about it and followed the sound through a hanging flower gate and a winding corridor, entering a small courtyard.

After bypassing a clump of loquat trees, Zhao Du'an paused, unable to help but be stunned.

He saw that in front of him was a small pond.

In the pond were withered lotus flowers, and the bright moon was reflected in the water, broken by ripples.

Beside the pond, sat a plump and graceful figure.

She was wet all over, draped in a loose white robe, and a pair of round, slender, and tight jade legs were exposed in the early autumn night. Below her calves, they were soaked in the pond water, her bare feet like lotuses.

Beside her was a fruit plate, and in the plate was a pure white jade vase.

She sang to the moon while holding a black comb, gently combing her wet long hair.

Perhaps sensing someone's gaze, the singing stopped abruptly.

The mysterious woman turned her head to look, revealing a beautiful face as if shrouded behind a thousand snow-capped mountains, and a pair of almost transparent eyes.

On the woman's brow, the Buddhist symbol of the lotus flower emitted a demonic light in the moonlight.

"Heh..."

The woman, whose appearance was between twenty and thirty, with a plump figure and white, fleshy monk's robe that almost couldn't cover her, smiled charmingly:

"You are Zhao Du'an."

Not far away, Zhao Du'an was stunned, and a name almost subconsciously floated into his mind:

Bodhisattva Prajna!

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