The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Yes, I'm back." Zhao Du'an smiled, taking off his outer robe and tossing it to the approaching girl. Then, he turned to the old butler and solemnly instructed, "Close the gates tightly. Someone might come calling later. Block them all, except those from the palace or the Zhaoya."

The girl, dressed in a goose-yellow long dress and a green vest, paused, her expression strange.

"Big brother, did you get into trouble again?"

This scene of closing the doors to ward off disaster... Considering Zhao Du'an's glorious record of causing big trouble at every turn, it's hard not to make that connection.

Moreover, Zhao Pan had personally witnessed Zhao Du'an's debate with Zhengyang.

"What do you mean 'getting into trouble'? I'm resolving matters for the court, you know?"

Zhao Du'an retorted, speechless, raising his hand to flick her forehead. He then strode casually into the inner hall.

At this moment, his concubine, You Jinhua, also hurried over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing the servants closing the gates and guarding them tightly, she was also startled.

The mother and daughter surrounded Zhao Du'an, pressing him for answers.

Zhao Du'an then briefly recounted what had happened in the Plum Garden.

The mother and daughter were stunned. Zhao Pan was surprised that Zhengyang had been conquered by her big brother, so much so that he admitted defeat out of fear.

You Jinhua's emotional response was even more genuine:

"What? That great Confucian scholar from the South publicly acknowledged you, Da'lang, as his teacher?"

Although You Jinhua had risen to the ranks of noble ladies in the capital thanks to her son, her knowledge was still somewhat lacking.

She didn't understand the implications, only finding it incredible.

Zhao Du'an crossed his legs, enjoying the top-tier service of his concubine massaging his shoulders in the inner hall, and said with a worried frown:

"Yes, it's a problem, albeit a small one."

Then, he smiled and said nonchalantly, "Perhaps this is the trouble of being famous."

The mother and daughter, who rarely left their residence, exchanged blank looks, not quite understanding.

However, You Jinhua was used to her stepson doing big things, so she remained calm.

She simply instructed the kitchen to prepare dishes and buy ingredients to cook a good meal tonight to celebrate Da'lang's great achievement.

...

After lunch.

Inside his own room.

Zhao Du'an threw himself heavily onto the bed, looking up and sorting out his thoughts:

"Well, today's event, although unexpected, was largely a successful counterattack. It can be considered a resolution to this crisis... I just don't know how Zhengyang will face Prince Mu after returning to Yunfu... Well, none of my business."

"It's easy to defeat a thief in the mountains, but difficult to defeat a thief in the heart... What a coincidence, Zhengyang can say such words. Tsk tsk, if I hadn't intervened, this person might have really developed Xinxue in his lifetime and become the Dayu version of Wang Yangming..."

"After today, I'm going to attract another wave of hatred from scholars... Well, after Zhengyang leaves, I can clean up another wave of scholars with impure thoughts in the capital according to the recorded list..."

"Heh, I wonder what Xu Zudi's reaction will be when he learns about today's events. And the Eighth Prince... Especially Prince Jing, he's probably paying attention too, right?"

"At this time, Zhenbao should also know the news. It's a pity I couldn't witness it in person.

But it's not a big problem. Matters of the heart need to be pulled back and forth appropriately. It's not good if I always take the initiative to report. It's best to wait for her to ask me to go to the palace, and then think about what benefits to ask for?"

Turning over these messy thoughts, Zhao Du'an looked inward again, sensing a faint throbbing pain in his brow.

He had asked Ma Yan, who said that this was a sign that he was about to advance to the middle stage of Divine Chapter.

After devouring the Bewitching True Man, it did greatly shorten his advancement time.

"Can't be complacent. It's meaningless to argue with scholars. I still need to increase my strength."

Zhao Du'an closed his eyes and entered cultivation again.

...

When he opened his eyes again, it was already evening.

Zhao Du'an finished his cultivation and walked out of the room, learning that several groups of people had indeed come to the door in the afternoon, but they were not important figures, so they were all turned away.

"No one came from the palace?" Zhao Du'an couldn't help but ask.

He received a negative answer.

He wasn't surprised, thinking that Zhenbao must be dealing with the aftermath and might only summon him to the palace in the evening.

In late autumn, the sky darkened much earlier. When the sun sank below the horizon, the Zhao family hung lanterns, and Zhao Du'an walked into the dining hall.

He saw that the maids had filled a large table with sumptuous dishes to celebrate his great success today.

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan were already sitting at the table. The stepmother had dressed much more conservatively after autumn, and she appeared even more dignified and beautiful as a noble lady.

She greeted her stepson to take a seat. Facing a large table of dishes, You Jinhua sighed with emotion:

"Everything is fine at home now, except that the family is still a bit small and not lively enough."

In the past, when they were a small family, it didn't seem like much.

But now, compared to other residences, the Zhao family was indeed a bit deserted.

Normally, Zhao Du'an, at his age and with his status, should have married a wife or even taken concubines and had children.

But because of the special rumors between Zhao Du'an and the Empress, there was no such thing as "urging marriage" in the Zhao family, and no family ever came to propose marriage for Zhao Du'an.

It was quite awkward...

"I think it's very good. More people means more distractions, which is troublesome instead," Zhao Du'an said with a smile, being an only child in his previous life.

You Jinhua was about to say something when suddenly the sound of horses' hooves faintly came from outside the courtyard, accompanied by knocking on the door.

The old butler hurried along the atrium, running over and saying:

"Da'lang, someone from the palace is here."

Finally here!

Zhao Du'an's spirits lifted, putting down his chopsticks and saying, "I'll go take a look."

Immediately, he strode outwards. At this moment, the sky was dark blue, and only two large lanterns hung on either side of the Zhao residence plaque.

Zhao Du'an walked out of the gate and saw a low-key, luxurious carriage parked there, with only three or five guards in plain clothes following.

"Could it be Miss Mo Da?" Zhao Du'an asked with a smile.

Guessing that Mo Chou had come to find him.

However, as the carriage curtain lifted, a familiar figure stepped down. Zhao Du'an's expression froze, and he said in surprise:

"Your... Your Majesty?"

Xu Zhenguan was wrapped in a dark cloak, covering her beautiful figure, revealing only her head. Her dark hair was tied up behind her head and secured with a jade-inlaid coronet.

It set off her fair face, making her eyebrows and eyes especially clear.

She smiled and said, "What, are you disappointed it's not Mo Chou?"

No... Zhao Du'an was greatly surprised, and he hurriedly shook his head, explaining:

"Your subject is just surprised. I didn't expect Your Majesty, the most honorable person, to grace my humble abode..."

Xu Zhenguan looked at him with a smile and said, "Since I'm already here, won't you invite me in for a seat?"

Ah, this... You really want to come in?

Not taking me to the palace?

Zhao Du'an's heart pounded. It should be known that this was the Empress's first time stepping into the Zhao family's threshold.

She could have summoned him to the palace, but she chose to come to the Zhao family... The meaning was very different.

"Please..." Zhao Du'an took a light breath and hurriedly turned to lead the way, while winking at the old butler near the screen wall inside the gate:

"Your Majesty is here, quickly call the people in the residence to greet her!"

The old butler was stunned, his eyes widening. He was dazed for a full three breaths before he came back to his senses, his old face flushing red.

With his status, how could he have imagined that he could witness the Emperor's arrival with his own eyes?

Moreover, it was such a sudden visit without any notice!

Before long, the entire Zhao family was in an uproar.

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan led several maids and the family's servants, rushing out in a flurry.

They saw in the courtyard the woman beside Zhao Du'an, who, although wrapped in a cloak, had an aura and appearance that far surpassed anyone they had ever seen, the female Emperor.

"Your... Your Majesty, the common people kneel to welcome Your Majesty!"

You Jinhua's voice was trembling.

This Zhao family mistress, who had not long adapted to her status as a noble lady, had no psychological preparation at all?

Her legs went weak, and she knelt down.

She didn't forget to tug at Zhao Pan, who was struck by the Empress's beauty and hadn't recovered yet.

The rest of the Zhao family's servants knelt down in unison, not daring to look up at Xu Zhenguan, fearing that they would have their eyes gouged out for being disrespectful, as described in the stories in the marketplace.

Xu Zhenguan was composed, not at all surprised by this scene, but she smiled radiantly, hurriedly bending down and reaching out to help You Jinhua and her daughter up, smiling gently:

"No need to be so polite. I am taking the liberty of visiting today, and it is I who have disturbed the host. Are you the concubine and sister that Zhao Qing speaks of?"

Where had You Jinhua ever seen such a scene? Her whole body was trembling with nervousness. She hurriedly said yes and looked at Zhao Du'an for help.

Zhao Pan was bolder, staring blankly at Xu Zhenguan's face, which was like a fairy under the moon, without any flaws. She suddenly felt ashamed of herself.

It wasn't that she had other thoughts like Mo Chou, but that not only men like beautiful women, but women like them even more.

In the past, although Zhao Pan had heard many rumors about the Empress in the palace, none of them were as good as seeing her with her own eyes today.

"Pan'er! Don't be rude!" You Jinhua hurriedly said.

Xu Zhenguan smiled gently: "It's okay, are you Zhao Pan? As expected, you are at the age of a lotus emerging from the water."

Zhao Du'an stepped forward to defuse the situation:

"Has Your Majesty eaten? The meal has just been served in my house, and we haven't touched our chopsticks yet."

Xu Zhenguan looked at him with a smile and nodded:

"Then I will eat a meal at your Zhao family."

Your Majesty wants to eat at my house?

You Jinhua and her daughter woke up in a daze and hurriedly ordered the servants to bring the best and unused bowls and chopsticks in the house, and also brought new chairs.

The guards that the Empress brought were waiting outside the door and did not come in.

In the blink of an eye, around the round table in the inner hall of the Zhao family, at the main seat of the sumptuous dining table, was the Empress, who had taken off her cloak, wearing a moon-white dress, with a powerful aura and unparalleled beauty.

"What are you all standing there for? Sit together, sit down and eat together."

Xu Zhenguan greeted several people to take their seats with a smile, as if she were the host.

Zhao Du'an felt a little strange and took the lead to sit beside the Empress, smiling at his stepmother and sister:

"Your Majesty has said so, so let's all sit down and eat together."

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan exchanged glances, their eyes strange. At the same time, they thought of the rumors about the ambiguous relationship between Zhao Du'an and the Empress.

So, if the Empress really had that kind of relationship with their Da'lang, then wouldn't this visit to eat together today be considered a...

Family banquet?

Thinking of this, the Zhao family mother and daughter couldn't sit still.