The First Lackey Under The Empress

Chapter 287: Midnight Decree: Serving in the Palace? No…

The Imperial Palace.

Flickering lights melted the night.

In stark contrast to the bustling noise of Zhangtai, this palace city was always quiet and majestic.

“Your Majesty, Duke Yuan has been seen off.” At the entrance of the Imperial Study, Mo Chou walked slowly, stopped outside, and softly reported to the Empress who was standing at the door, gazing at the dark night.

Xu Zhenguan softly “Mmm”ed, her expression heavy and tired.

“Is Your Majesty worried about the Taicang silver mine?”

Mo Chou softly spoke, more like waiting for the Empress to make a decision than asking a question.

Xu Zhenguan looked at the night and said:

“The Great Yu Dynasty really can’t have a moment of peace, and I, this Emperor, can’t have a moment of leisure either.”

Listening to the Empress’s sigh, Mo Chou felt a pang of heartache, she comforted:

“Your Majesty, this matter has not yet been verified, and may not be true…”

Xu Zhenguan raised her hand to stop her, turned her head and smiled, saying:

“No need to say these words, from the day the new policies were promoted, I had already anticipated that there would be many obstacles.

It's not surprising that something happened to Taicang. Compared to the situation in the past few years, isn't it much better now?”

Mo Chou gently exhaled, relieved:

“If Your Majesty thinks so, then this servant and others will feel at ease. It's just that, how should we deal with the Taicang matter?

Speaking of it on a grand scale, it involves the new policies, and cannot be neglected. Especially if it is as the letter says, involving a great deal, we should send an imperial censor as soon as possible to investigate.”

Xu Zhenguan pondered slightly, seemingly weighing something, and did not immediately respond.

At this moment, a small eunuch suddenly ran over from afar, carrying a lantern in his hand.

The two women stopped talking and looked over in confusion. After the eunuch braked to a stop, he said:

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the banquet at Zhangtai Garden has just ended. The Grand Tutor ordered a follower to send a message to reassure Your Majesty.”

Xu Zhenguan said in surprise: “The Grand Tutor is thoughtful. Did anything go wrong at the banquet tonight?”

The eunuch shook his head: “No, everything was in order. It is said that later at the poetry gathering, the Princess won the praise of the audience…”

Xu Zhenguan was not surprised, temporarily suppressed the news of Taicang, and said with interest:

“Did Jun Ling write any good poems again?”

The eunuch said with shame:

“This servant does not know. If Your Majesty wants to hear, this servant will send someone to inquire.”

Xu Zhenguan waved her hand and smiled:

“There is no need to make such a fuss. However, did the Grand Tutor only come to report peace?”

“That's not it. The Grand Tutor sent a poem, saying it was written by Zhao Du’an, Lord Zhao, wielding his brush in a drunken state at the end of the banquet. The Grand Tutor said Your Majesty might be interested, so he sent it to you to take a look.”

As the eunuch spoke, he pulled out a folded piece of paper with no wrinkles from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

Zhao Du’an’s poem?

Can that guy write poetry?

Mo Chou was stunned, habitually expressing suspicion, but having been slapped in the face too many times, she had learned her lesson.

His… poem?

A few hints of surprise appeared on Xu Zhenguan’s fair face, thinking that the poem that could make the Grand Tutor personally send someone to deliver must have something special about it.

She couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity, raised her hand, and the ink paper floated lightly into her hand.

Xu Zhenguan unfolded the paper with her fair hand and lowered her eyes to look.

At first glance, it was the not-so-good-looking, even a bit ugly, calligraphy, she frowned slightly, and ridiculed in her heart:

It really is that guy’s handwriting.

However, when she saw the words and sentences of the poem, those hints of ridicule were replaced by the unrestrained talent in the poem, and the emotions leaping on the paper:

Tonight, I sleep drunk among the flowers and willows in the capital of the Yu Dynasty, drinking with princes and nobles.

Here, “flowers and willows” does not refer to brothels, but to the singing and dancing girls at the banquet, like flowers, like willows swaying in the gentle breeze.

The “Five Marquis and Seven Nobles” are virtual numbers, generally referring to princes, nobles, and important ministers in the court.

The next sentence, in front of heroes, with a dignified demeanor, when will I be willing to fall behind others?

The first half of the sentence undoubtedly describes the battle on the arena during the day with Tianhai. The second half of the sentence implies that tonight at the literary gathering, his poetry and literary talent are still not weaker than others.

Xu Zhenguan was slightly distracted.

Through these two lines of poetry, she seemed to witness with her own eyes how Zhao Du’an was congratulated and surrounded by the powerful figures in the capital at the banquet tonight, like a fire cooking oil, with flowers and brocade.

How he was unwilling to fall behind others, drinking alone, coldly watching the literary officials and talented scholars compose poems, her younger sister Xu Junling overwhelming the style, and finally leisurely got up, writing poetry in a drunken state.

“So proud?”

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, not disgusted, because today’s glory and splendor were all earned by that guy himself.

Her eyes moved down, and her lips moved.

“The Son of Heaven has a beautiful face in my youth, riding a horse in Zhangtai with a golden whip.”

Reading this sentence, Xu Zhenguan was suddenly stunned, and then, an unspeakable shame surged into her heart.

The Son of Heaven has a beautiful face…

“What is this guy writing?”

“When did I become his beauty? Utter nonsense!”

“And what golden whip… It’s fine to ride a horse to Zhangtai, but where did the golden whip come from? Simply…”

“An insult to culture.”

Under the night, Mo Chou next to her seemed to catch a glimpse of a blush inexplicably flying onto the Empress’s cheeks, and was surprised.

There are countless talented scholars in the capital, and in the past few years, there have been countless talented scholars who have presented poems and praises to Your Majesty, but she has never seen Your Majesty like this.

“What exactly did this thief write?”

Mo Chou tried her best to restrain the urge to steal a glance.

At this time, the Empress had finished reading the last sentence, sending the article to the Golden Luan Hall, listening to songs and watching dances, lingering in the luxurious and precious hawksbill banquet.

The second half of the sentence describes the grandeur of the banquet, as for the first half…

Isn't this poem really sent to the palace, into my hands?

No wonder the Grand Tutor wanted someone to send it…

Because in this poem, it has already written the meaning of sending the article into the palace.

So, he deliberately wrote it for me?

Xu Zhenguan was a little distracted.

“Your Majesty?” After a long time, Mo Chou couldn't help but call softly.

Xu Zhenguan then came back to her senses, the blush on her face faded, she coldly “Mmm”ed, put the white paper with the poem into her sleeve, and said to the eunuch:

“Tell the Grand Tutor, I know.”

Then, looking at Mo Chou, who was full of curiosity, she said:

“You leave the palace immediately and convey an oral decree from me…”

A moment later, the Empress left the bewildered female Prime Minister, alone, with a straight face, and walked straight to her bedroom, humming in her heart as she walked:

“Dare to tease me with poetry? Let’s see how I punish you.”

…

…

Outside the Zhao Mansion.

“Master Lang is back!”

The old steward of the Zhao family opened the door and directed the servants to welcome the drunken Zhao Du’an in.

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan were not asleep yet, came out to take a look, and were relieved to see that he had only drunk too much wine.

The stepmother ordered someone to cook a hangover soup, and then sent him back to his room.

The lights were dim.

After taking off his coat and wearing only pajamas, Zhao Du’an drank a bowl of hangover soup, cleared his head a bit, and lay on the bed, secretly apprehensive:

“I wonder if Zhenbao can GET my poem…”

“Hehe, according to my life experience, the more feudal the place, the more restrained the way to express enthusiasm… such as ‘The moon is beautiful tonight’, or writing a ‘love letter’…”

“High-end flirting is so full of style, not something like ‘Missing you at night’…”

“Well, Zhenbao should be able to see it tomorrow. I performed so well today, and added this poem, I don’t believe I can’t pry open the door of her heart…”

“Alas, unfortunately, the leader I followed in my previous life was a man, and I didn’t bother to learn this skill. I regret not studying when I need it, I’m still not good at it…”

Just as he was thinking wildly.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door:

“Master, someone is looking for you outside the door, saying they are from the palace.”

Zhao Du’an turned over, jumped up, his face suspicious, thinking, could it be that the poem has already been sent to the palace?

Could it be that Zhenbao was moved by my half-year of persistent offensive and decided to summon me to the palace to serve in her bed?

Oh my… so suddenly, without any preparation!

Because of the alcohol, Zhao Du’an, who was a little mentally excited, hurriedly said:

“Quickly invite the person in, don’t disturb my concubine and sister!”

…

Not long after.

Zhao Du’an, dressed neatly, especially sprayed with self-made perfume, and carrying two heavy treasure pouches, arrived at the inner hall and saw Mo Chou waiting here.

“Consort Mo? Why is it you?” Zhao Du’an was taken aback.

The female Prime Minister, wearing a female official robe and a black gauze hat, with a neutral beauty, sat in the Zhao family's hall and sneered:

“Who else did you think it would be?”

“…” Zhao Du’an eagerly looked forward to:

“Consort, why are you coming to my house late at night? Does Your Majesty have something urgent to find me?”

The iceberg face was obviously stunned for a moment, looking at him suspiciously:

“How do you know?”

She waved her hand, signaling the palace guards at the door to close the door and exclude irrelevant people.

When only two people were left in the hall, Mo Chou sat upright in the mahogany chair, her voice indifferent:

“Your Majesty has an oral decree, Zhao Du’an, receive the decree.”

Is it so formal? Shouldn't this kind of thing be sneaking into the village and not firing a shot?

Zhao Du’an was surprised, but he still stood in the room, respectfully lowered his head, treated Mo Chou as the Empress, and cupped his hands:

“Your subject, Zhao Du’an, is here!”

Mo Chou sat high in the hall, overlooking her love rival, with a smile on her lips, speaking in the Empress's tone:

“Now, the Censorate has received a letter of accusation, suspecting that the Taicang silver mine has the harm of corruption and theft of the country. I am very concerned about it. Now, I order the White Horse Supervisor Envoy Zhao Du’an to be the Imperial Envoy, raise manpower on his own, and rush to the Taicang silver mine within three days to investigate the matter of corruption. This is my decree!”

Zhao Du’an was dumbfounded.

“Zhao Du’an, why don’t you receive the decree? Do you want to disobey the order?”

Mo Chou could hardly suppress the smile on her lips, having a rare opportunity to pretend to be powerful in front of Zhao.

Isn't… wasn't it supposed to be serving in the palace? I laid so much groundwork in the palace during the day, and spent so much effort copying poems at night…

Zhao Du’an raised his head blankly, his whole person like a frost-beaten eggplant:

“Your subject… receives the decree.”

After saying this sentence, the role-playing of delivering the decree in the room ended, Mo Chou was beaten back to her original form, and said with lingering interest:

“Congratulations, Lord Zhao, on receiving another appointment, please set off as soon as possible. Although the Taicang silver mine is not far from the capital, it will take time to go back and forth.”

Zhao Du’an still couldn't believe it, and asked:

“May I ask Consort, why did Your Majesty suddenly assign a case to me? This late at night…”

It is said that even if there is a case for him, it would have to wait until daytime to say it, right?

Bringing glory to the royal family in the morning, and assigning tasks at night…

Even a beast of burden is not squeezed like this.

The iceberg beauty Mo Chou glanced at him, and said with a smile:

“Oh, Your Majesty originally didn’t intend to let you go, but the Grand Tutor sent Your Majesty the poem you wrote. After Your Majesty read it, she decided it was you.”

…

Book friends, Happy Qixi Festival, the single dog author is stuck in writing and wants to die…