The First Lackey Under The Empress

Chapter 360: Your Majesty, the victor of the Plum Garden Gathering is Zhao Du'an…

Not far from the Plum Garden, a three-story restaurant was packed with people today.

Unlike the common people who could only crowd outside the garden.

The influential figures in the capital who were concerned about today's academic debate, but found it inconvenient to attend, had booked the nearby buildings several days in advance to get the latest news on the debate.

“Hmm, it ended so quickly?”

Yuan Li, the "Chief of the Qingliu Party," sat by the window on the third floor of the restaurant, looking at the group of Zheng Yang walking out of the main entrance of the Plum Garden with slight surprise.

His handsome face revealed undisguised surprise.

Sitting opposite Yuan Qingyi was none other than Li Yanfu, the current Prime Minister.

Today, the two political enemies in the court were rarely sitting together, looking at this important academic battle from afar.

“Eh?”

Li Yanfu, who was not wearing official robes, but a loosely draped red robe, with a white jade belt, disheveled hair, and eyes as deep as a pool, also raised his eyebrows.

Not long ago, the two had personally witnessed Mr. Zheng Yang leading his disciples into the garden.

According to their estimation, this debate would take at least one or two hours to end, and even longer would not be surprising.

This was also the reason why the big shots booked the venue, ready to fight a protracted war and eat in the restaurant.

At the same time, as top powerful officials, although it was inconvenient to come forward in person, the dignitaries in the building had sent their subordinates to the Plum Garden, and would pass on the development of the debate every once in a while.

But how long has it been? Only the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, how did they come out?

“Something’s not right.”

Yuan Li frowned and said, “With Dong Xuan and Zheng Yang's knowledge, such a short time is only enough to start the topic and argue back and forth once or twice. Does the Prime Minister know the reason?”

Li Yanfu said unhappily:

“How would I know? Your informants, Yuan Li, don’t even know, and you’re asking me? But it seems that something has happened, and the debate failed to proceed.”

This was the only possibility, but what could have happened to force the debate to stop?

With the power and influence of the two of them, they were completely unaware?

Not only them, but at this moment, the dignitaries in the entire restaurant who were waiting for news stood up one after another, talking and discussing in surprise.

Some people couldn't wait and went out to inquire.

“Dong, dong, dong…”

Before long, a dozen figures came running from the crowd in the distance, all of them servants from various families.

Two servants from the Yuan Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion ran up to the third floor almost at the same time, cupping their hands and reporting:

“My lords, the result is out.”

Li Yanfu narrowed his eyes and made a gesture of "you ask first".

Yuan Li was not polite and immediately asked:

“What happened inside? Was there an accident? And what was the result? Did Grand Tutor Dong win? Or Zheng Yang?”

The Yuan Mansion servant had a strange expression and said: “There was no debate. After Zheng Yang came on stage, he directly admitted defeat.”

Such a thing actually happened?!

Yuan Li was extremely surprised, and the experienced and cunning Li Yanfu was also stunned for a moment, and said:

“It turned out to be like this… So, Dong Xuan still won.”

What he cared about was the result, and secondly the process. No matter why Zheng Yang admitted defeat, the most important thing was the victory or defeat itself.

The guard from the Prime Minister's Mansion also had a very strange expression and shook his head:

“Reporting to the Prime Minister, Grand Tutor Dong did not win this battle. That… the object of Zheng Yang's admission of defeat was… was Zhao Du'an.”

Silence.

The two party leaders at the table were expressionless, caught off guard by this extremely abrupt news, and were stunned for a long time before they came back to their senses.

Zheng Yang admitted defeat, but Zhao Du'an won?

Was this even reasonable?

After listening to the entire process reported by the two servants, Yuan Li and Li Yanfu fell into a long silence again.

The two old opponents looked at each other and saw a hint of absurdity in each other's eyes.

“Zhao Du'an…”

“It’s him again?!”

…

…

Jizhao Nunnery, in the Zen room.

The thirty-something Prince Heng's heir, who was well-maintained with rosy lips and white teeth, was smiling and talking with Princess Yunyang.

Today, this nephew of his specially came to visit his aunt again.

Xu Zudi had been to Jizhao Nunnery several times these days while he was in the capital.

He accompanied the Eldest Princess Yunyang, who was confined in this nunnery to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, to chat and relieve boredom.

“…It’s a pity that this nephew went to plead with His Majesty, hoping to let my aunt leave this place, but was ruthlessly rejected.”

Xu Zudi sighed, with a look of shame, “My mere heir, my words are not weighty enough after all.”

Eldest Princess Yunyang sat sideways in the Zen room. In order to meet her relatives, she tidied up her appearance, draped in a nun's robe. It was rare for her to have a bit of an elder's appearance, and she sneered majestically:

“Xu Zhenguan won’t let me out so easily. Your imperial sister is very ruthless. She’s having a good time raising male concubines, has she ever cared about this aunt of hers? This cousin of yours? I’m afraid even your father would be detained by her.”

Xu Zudi sighed: “Aunt has suffered.”

Yunyang suddenly smiled, seemingly very happy:

“But according to what you said, Zheng Yang and Dong Xuan debated today, and the chances of winning are quite high. After today, Xu Zhenguan should have a headache. Didn’t you arrange someone to report? When will they come?”

This neurotic and lewd princess's eyes were full of anticipation.

Xu Zudi smiled and said:

“I’m afraid the debate is not even halfway through at this moment, but the imperial court will definitely lose this time, it’s just a difference between a small loss or a big loss.”

There were no outsiders here, and the aunt and nephew didn't have so many scruples when talking.

They were happy to see Xu Zhenguan suffer.

At this time, there was a noise outside the Zen room. The old man with arms that passed his knees who was guarding the door opened the door and said:

“Your Highnesses, the monk Bianji passed by outside, and was stopped by the nuns in the nunnery and invited in. It seems they are asking about the results of the Plum Garden debate.”

“It ended so quickly?”

Xu Zudi was stunned for a moment, and smiled:

“It seems that Mr. Zheng Yang won more easily than I expected.”

He knew that the monk Bianji also went to the Plum Garden.

“Take this palace to see!”

Eldest Princess Yunyang said happily. The group of three left the Zen room and followed the sound to the front yard of the nunnery.

They saw the monk Bianji in white robes surrounded by a group of nuns, asking about the situation.

Princess Yunyang's eyes fell on Bianji's handsome face, and her eyes lit up. Her steps and waist were a little more graceful as she walked.

“Master, haha, I have admired your name for a long time.”

Xu Zudi greeted him with a big laugh. Bianji, who had already adjusted his mentality, greeted him warmly.

He also smiled and nodded towards Princess Yunyang, putting his palms together:

“This humble monk greets Eldest Princess Your Highness.”

Yunyang smiled brightly and said:

“Master, you don’t need to be so polite. I heard that you came back from Plum Garden, so this palace came to see. Has it ended over there?”

The monk Bianji nodded, his face calm, and said:

“The Plum Garden Gathering had some unexpected changes.”

Then, he described the events in detail. To avoid being questioned further, he spoke very precisely, even mentioning some aspects of the philosophy of the mind.

The nuns were mostly just surprised.

Xu Zudi's smile froze, a look of bewilderment in his eyes.

“Zhao Du'an… Philosophy of the Mind? Defeated Zhengyang ahead of time? And even made Master Zhengyang call him 'teacher'?”

The Heng Prince's worldview was completely overturned, leaving him utterly stunned.

Princess Yunyang, who had been gazing at Bianji with adoring eyes, was also dumbfounded. Her joyful expression suddenly turned gloomy.

Her fingers clenched tightly, producing a cracking sound from her knuckles.

One side of her cheek felt inexplicably hot, recalling the fear of being slapped and threatened in her room when Zhao Du'an came to her door.

“It's him again… It's him again…”

Yunyang's eyes turned red, and she looked towards the palace with resentment.

Resentful of her niece, Xu Zhenguan, for being so lucky.

Just finding a pretty boy who was not only exceptionally handsome but also repeatedly shielded her from disasters, making him difficult to contend with.

While she, this aunt, had found so many pretty boys, but they were all useless…

Why… At this moment, her jealousy exploded.

“The Bodhisattva has arrived…”

Suddenly, the nuns around her exclaimed.

A Bannya Bodhisattva with skin like snow, a voluptuous figure, and holding a jade bottle appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

This great cultivator, under the Xuan Seal of the Great Yu Buddhist sect, and on par with the Dragon Tree Bodhisattva and the Great Pure Master, was radiant and spirited. The almost transparent, colorless, glass-like eyes on her face stared at Bianji:

“Tell me in detail about this philosophy of the mind that Zhao Du'an described?”

Bianji was taken aback, his expression complex, and he bowed slightly:

“Yes.”

… …

… …

In the "Charong Study," Madam Xiao, who had taken advantage of Xu Zudi's absence to openly come here to warm herself by the fire and eat, was quietly roasting an orange.

Suddenly, footsteps came from behind her, and a confidant of the Xiao family approached:

“Madam, the results from Plum Garden are out.”

“Oh? Tell me about it,” Madam Xiao asked curiously.

“Yes.”

A moment later, the widowed woman who controlled the East Lake Xiao family was stunned, and remained silent for a long time.

She didn't even notice that the orange on the stove had been roasted to a charred black.

“Lord Zhao…”

… …

… …

Inside the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Garden.

Xu Zhenguan stood alone, quietly, in the autumnal garden.

Originally, she should have been in the Imperial Study dealing with government affairs at this time, but today… she really wasn't in the mood.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance. It was Mochou, hurrying back, weaving through the scattered palace maids in the garden.

Holding her skirt, she ran breathlessly behind the Empress.

“Your Majesty… the Plum Garden matter… is over…”

Xu Zhenguan did not turn around, still facing away from her, a look of surprise on her face: “So quickly?”

Immediately, her fairy-like face, which seemed to belong to another realm, slowly relaxed the fine, distant-mountain-like eyebrows:

“Very well, sooner is better. How is Grand Tutor Dong?”

She didn't rush to ask the results, but first cared about the Grand Tutor.

This was both because the Empress had already judged the outcome and also a way to win people's hearts.

Mochou's expression was complicated, she bit her lip and said: “The Grand Tutor is fine, um, the Grand Tutor is very well.”

“That's good,” Xu Zhenguan sighed, barely raising the corners of her mouth, and smiled: “Later, send the prepared gifts to the Grand Tutor's mansion. Grand Tutor Dong is so old, yet for the sake of Us, for the sake of the Great Yu Dynasty, he doesn't hesitate to risk his reputation and bury his everlasting fame. Do not fail to reward a meritorious official.”

If there had been no coup, Grand Tutor Dong would have been enough to join the ranks of great Confucian scholars for generations to come.

However, the old Grand Tutor's debate with Zhengyang today may very likely bury his life's reputation.

Mochou smiled wryly and said: “Your Majesty, he may not need it anymore.”

“Hmm?” Xu Zhenguan finally noticed something was wrong, turned her head to look at her strangely, and tentatively asked with some disbelief: “Could it be that the Grand Tutor didn't lose?”

She thought of the possibility of a tie.

Mochou shook her head, her face still dazed, and said:

“Neither is it, it's… ah, this matter is a bit complicated, roughly it's… that Zhengyang was secretly defeated by Zhao Du'an with a set of something called the 'Philosophy of the Mind' two days ago, and not only did he admit defeat on the spot.

Moreover, he seemed to have attained enlightenment, abandoned the orthodox learning, converted to the Philosophy of the Mind, and even wanted to return to Yunfu to promote this learning, calling Zhao Du'an his teacher…”

Perhaps this process was really difficult to hold back, Mochou's mind was also a little chaotic, and her narration was stumbling, but she still managed to narrate the entire process completely.

Xu Zhenguan at first: “… …?”

Xu Zhenguan next: “… …!”

Xu Zhenguan finally: “… …”

For a long time.

“Your Majesty?”

Mochou looked at the Empress, who was standing quietly in the garden like a jade statue, without any expression, and whispered: “Did this servant explain it clearly?”

Xu Zhenguan looked at her blankly, and suddenly said: “Where is he?”

The Empress felt a little empty. If it were in the past, shouldn't that guy have rushed into the palace proactively, vying to show off in front of her?

Mochou said:

“He left on the spot, probably went home to avoid the limelight… Well, when this servant came back, I saw a large crowd of scholars outside the Plum Garden, all shouting Lord Zhao's name.”

The struggle of academic differences, in a sense, is not inferior to the political struggle of the court.

If in the past, what Zhao Du'an did was only offending the scholars in the capital and causing the scholars of the world to despise him.

Then after today, Zhao Du'an, who has the "crime" of challenging Neo-Confucianism, has another layer of notoriety in the eyes of most scholars in the world.

Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath and said: “Summon him to…”

After a pause, the Empress changed her words again: “First summon the Grand Tutor and Ma Yan into the palace, and later, you prepare, We want to see him.”

“… … Yes.”

… …

… …

Zhao Family.

After leaving Plum Garden, Zhao Du'an took advantage of the fact that outsiders hadn't received the news yet, and slipped back home.

“Young Master is back!”

The servant opened the door and shouted. Zhao Pan in the yard rushed over eagerly, her eyes wide: “Big Brother, you're back!”

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