The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the Imperial Palace, Xu Junling, with her sweet appearance, paused, then smiled and said:

“How could Imperial Sister not know?”

Xu Zhenguan’s expression was calm as water. She looked at her meaningfully and said:

“If an emperor knew everything under heaven, governing the country would be simple.”

Xu Junling’s expression was a little embarrassed. She changed the subject and asked:

“Then, Imperial Sister, which side do you think will win this battle of magic?”

Xu Zhenguan still shook her head, acting as if she wouldn't make a clear statement no matter how Xu Junling questioned her:

“Who can say for sure?”

The young county princess was helpless.

Years ago, when she entered the capital, she became acquainted with Xu Zhenguan, who was then the Third Imperial Princess.

Her impression then was that this older sister was brilliant and they enjoyed talking to each other.

Now, seeing her again, although their relationship seemed good on the surface, in the end… things were different.

“This younger sister does have some thoughts,”

Xu Junling could only try to use herself as bait. Seeing the female emperor look over, she put on a strategist's demeanor and analyzed:

“Imperial Sister, as the female emperor of my Xu Dynasty, should prioritize the interests of the court. The best outcome would naturally be to balance these two forces.

However, if we were to lean towards one, the Taoists of the Celestial Master's Mansion have always swept the snow from their own doors. Although the Old Celestial Master is strong, he rarely interferes in the mortal world.

But the Shenlong Temple is not a place of pure detachment. Although Abbot Xuan Yin has been in seclusion all day and hasn't stepped out of the Buddhist hall for many years, as long as the ancestral court of Western Region Buddhism exists, the Buddhist sects within my Great Yu Dynasty will always have the ambition to compete with Western Region Buddhism for legitimacy.

I've heard that the monk Bianji is on good terms with the powerful figures in the capital, and Buddhist temples are all over the Great Yu Dynasty… It's hard to say who is superior between Xuan Yin and Zhang Tianshi.

But looking at their subordinates, the Shenlong Temple lineage is becoming increasingly prosperous. If they win again this time and their reputation is further enhanced, I fear it will be detrimental to the dynasty.”

These words were clear and logical, revealing the female emperor's position in one go.

Xu Zhenguan only smiled.

She looked at her cousin, who was frantically probing her, with doting eyes, and said indifferently:

“I once heard Zhang Tianshi teach that true experts only focus on themselves. I hope even more that the Martial God lineage of my imperial family can return to its former glory.”

Again, she changed the subject.

Xu Junling felt a sense of helplessness, like punching cotton. She sighed:

“Imperial Sister is right, but in recent years, only Imperial Sister, a genius, has emerged from our Xu family.

Looking at the royal family, not to mention competing with the Buddhist and Taoist families, there isn't even one person who can be recognized by the Emperor Taizu's sword and wield this divine sword.

Not to mention those enshrined… Only Zhao Du'an has a considerable reputation, but he is not particularly skilled in cultivation.”

Xu Zhenguan smiled and dropped a chess piece:

“Is that so?”

She already knew about the amusing incident where this cousin probed Zhao Du'an and was countered.

Xu Junling asked curiously:

“Speaking of which, these days, it seems that Zhao Du'an has disappeared. Hasn't he been coming to the palace to accompany Imperial Sister?”

Xu Zhenguan said faintly, “He is resting in his mansion for a while.”

“Oh… The battle of magic is in two days. Will Imperial Sister go to watch?”

“We'll see.”

The Buddhist-Taoist battle of magic lasted for three days.

Half an hour later, the county princess, who had probed a lot but found nothing, left in disappointment.

The female emperor's slender fingers brushed across the chessboard, and the black and white pieces fell like a waterfall, returning to their respective boxes.

She got up and couldn't help but think of Zhao Du'an's appearance, pondering in her heart:

“I wonder if you can break through before the end of the battle of magic.”

… …

… …

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

The highly anticipated Buddhist-Taoist battle of magic kicked off on the third day.

On this day, the capital was a ghost town.

The Great Yu female emperor, Celestial Master Zhang Yan Yi, Abbot Xuan Yin…

It was extremely rare for these three “Celestial Realm” experts to appear in the same frame.

Although they only observed the “opening ceremony” and then left, without staying at the battle site, it still caused countless people to discuss.

This showed the grandeur of the battle of magic tradition.

Although the female emperor and the others left, there were still many experts from the Celestial Master's Mansion and Shenlong Temple on the scene.

High-ranking officials of the court even put aside their official duties and stayed to watch on behalf of the court.

The scale of the event was difficult to describe.

That night, the first day ended, and the city's lights were not extinguished until midnight.

However, among the officials who were supposed to be present, Zhao Du'an was conspicuously absent.

On the second day, the three Celestial Realm experts did not appear again, and fewer people went to watch the excitement, but it was still crowded.

Zhao Du'an still did not appear.

In the blink of an eye, it was the third day, also the day of the final battle.

Perhaps to set the scene, there was another autumn rain last night, which stopped only at dawn, but the sky was still gloomy.

… …

Early morning, Zhao Mansion.

The old steward, wrapped in a windproof coat, summoned two servants and walked towards the study.

According to the routine, at this time every day, he had to bring breakfast to the young master, send in new drawing paper, and carry out the mountain of used paper in the room.

However, today was different.

“Young Master?”

When the old steward arrived at the door of the study, he was suddenly stunned because he found that the door was actually ajar.

Not tightly closed.

He carefully pushed open the door and widened his eyes. He saw that the study, which was supposed to be messy and impossible to set foot in, was actually clean.

Everything was neatly arranged.

The originally disheveled Zhao Du'an had tidied himself up at some point, restored his handsome appearance, and was standing in front of the desk, cleaning the inkstone.

“Uncle Zhao, you're here.”

Zhao Du'an heard the voice, turned his head, and revealed a peaceful smile.

The old steward was stunned.

For some reason, at this moment, he always felt that the young master in front of him was different.

“You… you are…” he stammered.

“Oh,” Zhao Du'an smiled, “The seclusion is over. I woke up a little early, so I tidied up a bit first.”

“End… ended…”

The old steward was old and reacted slowly. He subconsciously said:

“Then the new paper for drawing…”

Zhao Du'an shook his head and said, “No need, put it back.”

Immediately, as if he remembered something, he asked casually:

“Are my aunt and the others at home? Or have they gone to watch the battle of magic? If I'm not mistaken, today is the last day.”

The old steward subconsciously replied:

“It is indeed the last day. The Madam and Miss are worried about you, young master, so they haven't gone to watch.”

“Is that so,” Zhao Du'an dragged out his voice, the corners of his mouth raised, revealing a bright smile:

“Then prepare the carriage, call the aunt and Pan'er, and let's go take a look together. It's a rare spectacle that only happens every few years, wouldn't it be a pity to miss it?”

Only then did the old steward suddenly wake up.

While nodding repeatedly, he ran away excitedly to report the good news to the “Madam”, accompanied by the joyful shouts of “The young master is out!”

— The young master, who had been crazy for half a month, was finally normal!

Zhao Du'an looked at the old steward running away, as well as the entire Zhao family who had been alarmed by him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He shook his head.

Zhao Du'an walked out of the study and stood beside the pillars of the corridor.

Facing him was the slightly cold air of autumn. The wind and rain were heavy last night, and at this moment, there were still drops of water falling intermittently from the tiles above his head.

In the courtyard, most of the leaves of several ginkgo trees had withered.

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, then suddenly gently stretched out his hand and flicked his finger.

A drop of water rolling down from the eaves rippled, floated lightly out of the corridor, causing the surrounding raindrops to gather into a string.

Far away.

A wet, golden ginkgo leaf fluttered down from the branch, lifted by this string of raindrops in succession, bounced several times in the air, and somehow landed in Zhao Du'an's palm.

Mysterious and profound, wonderful beyond words.

After several months, Zhao Du'an stepped into the Divine Chapter realm today.