The First Lackey Under The Empress

The Lake Pavilion gathering concluded in a lively atmosphere.

Along with the "closing remarks," the detailed terms of the market opening and the list of the first officially recognized Imperial Merchants were finalized, and related details quickly spread throughout the entire Lake Pavilion.

And as expected, they would quickly spread throughout the entire territory of the Great Yu Dynasty's nine provinces and eighteen prefectures.

In contrast, Prince Jing's somber departure was particularly noticed by those with ulterior motives.

Everyone knew that the market opening was unstoppable.

Next, a rolling tide of wealth would flood into the new city centered on the Grand Canal shipping route, and the imperial court, which was leading this grand event, would quickly alleviate its financial crisis.

......

Zhuozheng Garden.

After the meeting, waves of people began to flock to Zhuozheng Garden to visit Zhao Du'an, the important figure who truly represented His Majesty.

Among them, the merchants and aristocratic families who had announced their support for the imperial court today were the most prominent; those who had not expressed their stance before now had to make up for it.

Zhao Du'an, without complaint, greeted them one by one with a smiling face, and only after everyone had left did he smile at Feng Ju, who was also beaming with joy:

"Now that the great task is accomplished, we have only taken the first step of a long journey. Next, the affairs of the Commercial and Trade Office will require the hard work of Secretary Feng. I will set off back to the capital tomorrow, and I will personally request credit from His Majesty for Secretary Feng and all my colleagues."

Inside the hall, Zhao Du'an finished speaking.

The officials sitting on both sides stood up one after another, all saying: We all rely on your Excellency, we dare not take the credit, and so on.

But Old Feng's smile, as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum, revealed the joy of this fellow.

Without a doubt, this achievement would be of great help to the careers of everyone present.

"Since you all say so, then I will forgo the request for credit."

Zhao Du'an said casually, and only after seeing the suddenly stiff faces of the group of officials did he laugh and joke:

"Just kidding."

Everyone then revealed smiles again, and the atmosphere relaxed a bit. Zhao Du'an gave a few more instructions on the follow-up matters before letting them leave.

As soon as the officials left, a beautiful woman in a fox fur cloak stepped over the threshold with a smile, holding a gift box in her hand, feigning resentment:

"Is Your Excellency returning to the capital so soon?"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said, "Madam Xiao, please don't look at me with such eyes, lest rumors spread in the streets about my affair with you."

Xiao Dong'er, wearing a Mamian skirt and showing completely different faces to different people, sighed softly, with tears in her eyes:

"Rumors are already spreading. Your Excellency doesn't know, but when I announced the Imperial Merchant status today, the way those people looked at me was so strange. I'm afraid they were already thinking about how I pleased you, Your Excellency, to get on this ship."

It's as if you didn't try to please me back then. Alas, I clearly haven't touched you, but I have to bear this indelible scandal…

No, you're saying it with a pitiful expression, but your eyes are sparkling… Madam, please have some self-respect. You clearly know that I'm not buying this act, so there's no need to show off your acting skills here, right…

Zhao Du'an complained in his heart, joked a few times, and then said seriously:

"Now that the Xiao family has expressed their stance, when the news returns to Qingzhou, Prince Heng's mansion will inevitably exert pressure. Madam may stay here for the time being. If you want to go back, you can first go to the Qingzhou garrison guardhouse. I have already contacted the commander there. If Prince Heng's mansion is unrelenting, Madam can act accordingly."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao also put away her performance and reverted to the true appearance of the iron-blooded female head of a large family, bowing to him gratefully:

"Thank you for your care, Your Excellency."

Zhao Du'an smiled. He had already discussed this with Zhenbao.

The Xiao family was the "thousand gold to buy a horse bone." The imperial court must provide sufficient protection to reassure the other Imperial Merchants.

After sending Madam Xiao away, the female constable Haitang walked in from outside, arms crossed, and said:

"The Huai'an Prince's Mansion hasn't sent anyone yet. Aren't you going to pay them a visit?"

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There's no need."

He could represent the imperial court in the matter of the market opening, but when it came to deeper, more fundamental issues of taking sides, he could no longer represent them.

However…

"It's impolite not to reciprocate. Pack up, return to the capital tomorrow, and have someone send a gift when we leave."

......

The next day, a cold wind blew through Lake Pavilion City.

Xu Junling changed into a thicker dress, led her maid and guards, and climbed the steps alone to the sixth floor of the Great Wind Tower.

Looking in the direction of the pier, silently watching the official ship slowly sailing away, turning its bow north.

"Princess, the Prince has sent someone to bring something, saying it was in the farewell gifts that Lord Zhao sent to the mansion, a special one for you."

The maid, Lǜshuǐ, walked up, holding a box.

Xu Junling was stunned for a moment, turned her head, curiously took it, and with her slender hand, opened the box. Inside was another flipped-through, tattered book.

Her expression became subtle because she remembered that last time in Taicang Prefecture City, it was the same at parting.

She opened the book, and with a rustling sound… Sure enough, she found a piece of paper clipped inside.

The maid, Lǜshuǐ, said:

"The messenger said that Lord Zhao came to Smoke-Locked Lake and the lake tour with you, Princess, was interrupted that day. Following local customs, he also left a couplet for the Jiangnan scholars to see, saying that if anyone can match it, there will be a reward of one hundred taels of gold."

One hundred taels of gold… What a big boast… Xu Junling raised her eyebrows, a mood of not admitting defeat rising, and looked at the paper with only a five-character first line:

"Smoke locks the pond willow."

......

......

The official ship sailed against the wind all the way north. Ancient sailboats could follow the wind direction at an angle to gain thrust when sailing against the wind.

But the speed was naturally far inferior to sailing with the wind.

Out of a mischievous sense of fun, Zhao Du'an, who had left behind an unsolvable, timeless, wonderful couplet, returned to the capital with his entourage, full of triumphant anticipation.

Only as winter deepened, at first it was fine, but after entering the Linfeng territory, the north wind on the canal became increasingly fierce, and the climate became even worse.

The official ship inevitably stopped frequently along the way. If it weren't for the fact that traveling by land in winter was really uncomfortable, Zhao Du'an would have wanted to go ashore and return by carriage.

This day.

The group stopped to rest in a town by the canal in Linfeng Road, and the official ship slowly docked.

Zhao Du'an stood on the deck, the land in front of him desolate.

The old eunuch slowly walked out of the cabin, came to his side, and glanced at him:

"Impatient, wanting to return to the capital to ask His Majesty for credit?"

Zhao Du'an's face was flushed by the wind, and he stubbornly denied:

"How could I be? I was thinking about the affairs of Buddhism."

That day, the search for rebellious parties in Lake Pavilion City yielded no results, but Zhao Du'an did not give up the investigation of this matter.

Before returning, he found the local imperial shadow guards and ordered an investigation.

And not long ago, he received the investigation results sent by the shadow guards on the way back.

Among them, on the day of the assassination, the Dragon Tree Bodhisattva and the Heavenly Master's Mansion's "Little Heavenly Master" were suspected of appearing nearby, and later, the news that the Little Heavenly Master was suspected of following the former as he left aroused his attention.

"According to the shadow guard's investigation results, the Dragon Tree Bodhisattva that day seemed to also want to participate in the assassination of me, but was intercepted by Zhang Tianshi's great disciple… Well, although it is not certain, the appearance of both parties there is too coincidental."

Zhao Du'an's face was serious, and he turned to look at the old offering:

"If the Divine Dragon Temple and the Eighth Prince are colluding together, things will be big."

Eunuch Hai said "Oh" and said indifferently:

"Do you think it's reasonable?"

"Unreasonable," Zhao Du'an said in distress:

"That's where I'm confused. If the appearance of the Dragon Tree Bodhisattva represents the attitude of the Divine Dragon Temple, then there must have been a major change in the capital, but no news has been transmitted. Moreover, the Divine Dragon Temple has no reason to suddenly turn to the Eighth Prince and participate in this kind of secular affair."

Eunuch Hai glanced at Zhao Du'an, who rarely showed a confused look, and gently reminded him:

"Just as you may not fully represent His Majesty, the Dragon Tree may not be able to represent the will of the Divine Dragon Temple."

"Are you saying… this is a personal act?" Zhao Du'an said in surprise:

"Just because I defeated Tianhai on the arena? Causing the Dragon Tree Bodhisattva's long-planned plan to fail? So he came to find trouble with me? But…"

He wanted to say, would a cultivator who could cultivate into a Bodhisattva be so irrational?

Even if it was revenge, wouldn't he find a suitable time to secretly take action? So blatant…

Zhao Du'an suddenly froze, a flash of inspiration flashed through his mind, he thought of what the old Heavenly Master Zhang Yan Yi had once told him, the four forces within the Divine Dragon Temple, and the pattern as intricate as the imperial court.

"Could it be said…

"The Dragon Tree Bodhisattva's move is aimed at guiding the imperial court to find trouble with Abbot Xuan Yin? Isn't… the internal struggle of the Divine Dragon Temple already so intense? This is a path of self-inflicting a thousand losses to injure the enemy eight hundred…

"Wait, I may have overlooked one thing, that is, the influence of the Western Regions Buddhist ancestral court… Zhenbao told me last time that after the Buddhist and Taoist competition, the Western Regions Buddhism was ready to make trouble. Perhaps, it is precisely because of this external pressure that changes have taken place within the Divine Dragon Temple…"

"Last time, the old nun Banruo, who was over fifty years old, came to me seeking dual cultivation... Now, Bodhisattva Longshu is deliberately interfering in the assassination attempt against me... These are all manifestations of the Shenlong Temple's internal strife reaching a fever pitch..."

For a moment, Zhao Du'an seemed to understand many things, yet due to a lack of information, he fell into even greater confusion.

"Kid, don't waste your mental energy like that. Just worry about your own little patch of land. The world is vast, can you possibly worry about everything?"

Eunuch Hai sighed with earnest words, patted him on the shoulder, and turned his head back to the ship's cabin.

Zhao Du'an chuckled self-deprecatingly. He didn't have the life of an emperor, yet he worried about the things an emperor would worry about all day long.

Only a thought flashed through his mind:

Banruo and Bodhisattva Longshu have both appeared, so when will the remaining one, Great Purification Master, show his face?

...

Not long after.

The official ship docked, and some of the group stayed in the cabin, while others went ashore to get some fresh air.

The boatmen and soldiers steering the ship talked with the officials at the dock to purchase supplies for the ship.

Zhao Du'an suddenly felt a pressing need to urinate, so he simply went ashore to a hillside overgrown with weeds to relieve himself. After pulling up his pants, he headed back towards the dock.

Suddenly, he was drawn to a black-awning boat docked at the shore.

The small boat was unremarkable, but from within the low awning, a middle-aged monk slowly emerged.

He was about fifty years old. Despite the freezing weather, he was only wearing a thin monk's robe, exposing half of his shoulder to the cold winter air.

Over the monk's robe, he wore an old red kasaya, which stood out against the backdrop of the barren, yellow landscape.

Beneath his bald head, a dignified face calmly looked towards Zhao Du'an, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards, as if uttering the phrase "Amitabha."

For no reason, Zhao Du'an felt his hair stand on end, and a strong sense of danger arose.

There were already not many monks qualified to wear a kasaya, let alone in such weather, with a bare shoulder, which was even rarer.

But most importantly, it was that unfamiliar yet familiar face.

At that moment, Zhao Du'an's brain raced, searching his past memories for the owner of this face. Finally, he found the corresponding target from a certain portrait.

It was something he had remembered when he was at the Zhao Yamen, looking through the Shenlong Temple's files.

Zhao Du'an's pupils suddenly narrowed, his right hand went to grab the flying knife in his sleeve, and he uttered a name:

"Great Purification Master!"

At the same time, one of the three Bodhisattvas of the Shenlong Temple, the veteran Worldly Perfection powerhouse, Great Purification Master, took a step and appeared before Zhao Du'an.

"Please, Lord Zhao, return to heaven."

The middle-aged monk with a dignified face said slowly, his right hand covered in gold lacquer pressing towards his chest.

Behind the monk, surging Dharma power condensed into a Buddha's Dharma form, overlooking the scene below.

"Pfft!"

Zhao Du'an had no power to resist. Like a kite with a broken string, he spat out blood and was sent flying, crashing like a sandbag towards the distant weedy hillside.

He had avoided the assassination at the Lakeside Pavilion, but on the return journey, when everyone had lowered their guard, he encountered the full force of a Worldly Great Perfection expert.

Sudden.

Decisive.

Fierce.

There was no chance to fight back.

Zhao Du'an only felt a sharp pain assault him. The shattered energy surged wildly within his body, instantly causing blood to pour out of every pore, and the ribs in his chest also cracked.

Darkness enveloped his vision.

However.

Inside his thick cotton clothes, the heart-protecting mirror inside the "Six Talisman Treasure Armor" worn on his upper body suddenly caved in, and a purple jade pendant shattered with a "crack!"

That was the jade pendant that the Empress had bestowed upon him a long time ago, called "Teleportation Treasure Jade."

In case of danger, as long as it was crushed, it would activate teleportation and return to the Dayu Imperial Palace.

As Zhao Du'an flew backwards, a layer of blurry light and shadow suddenly covered the surface of his body, like ripples in water.

With a "bang," he fell into a patch of weeds, and at the moment he fell into the grass, Zhao Du'an's entire figure rapidly faded away and disappeared.

Teleportation!

Great Purification Master landed a successful blow and was about to step forward to finish him off, but suddenly sensed a surging killing intent coming from behind him.

The monk's shoes spun in place, and his hands covered in gold lacquer slammed together with a "bang."

They clamped down on the incoming Frostmourne Sword covered in azure light!

On the deck of the official ship in the water, Eunuch Hai delivered a sword strike, his person heavily stepping down on the deck, and the entire official ship was almost tilted by this enormous force.

The nearly legendary old palace eunuch's hair crown fell off, and his white hair scattered in the piercing cold wind. Eunuch Hai's face was contorted as he pounced towards Great Purification Master.

Blocked by the nearly divine Buddha's Dharma form behind him, the collision caused a rampage of violent winds, and the resulting shockwave knocked down everyone on the dock.

Along with exclamations of surprise, Lang Shiba and Ji Yue, who were recuperating in the cabin, flew out like cannonballs.

Bypassing the two sides fighting fiercely on the dock, they simultaneously pounced towards that barren hill, only to see a pool of human-shaped blood on the ground in bewilderment.

"Lord Zhao... Was he beaten into a bloody mist?!"

Lang Shiba and Ji Yue's minds simultaneously buzzed, as if struck by a heavy blow.

...

...

Capital City.

Early this morning, dark clouds gathered in the sky above the capital city, and the piercing north wind was like a knife, causing the flow of people in the large and small streets and alleys of the vast capital city to appear much thinner.

Inside the Xiumen Pavilion, north of the capital city.

Xu Zhenguan nodded after listening to the reports from a group of academics:

"Let's end here for today."

The scholars, including Han Zhou, rose and cupped their hands in salute: "Respectfully sending off Your Majesty."

Grand Tutor Dong was not present today, after all, he was old. After entering winter, his body was obviously not as energetic as in the summer, especially after Zhao Du'an stirred up "Xinxue" last time.

Grand Tutor Dong has been a bit obsessed these days, and has also become embroiled in academic debates. Fortunately, the Xiumen Pavilion was already familiar with government affairs, but it no longer relied on Dong Xuan's management.

Xu Zhenguan got up, left the Xiumen Pavilion, and returned to the Imperial Study in the royal carriage.

Mo Chou was waiting here. After entering winter, her official robe became thicker, making her appear a bit rounder, but Xu Zhenguan was no longer afraid of the cold or heat, and her attire did not change much.

"Your Majesty, this is a memorial submitted by Duke Yuan, regarding the prevention of cold and snow disasters..."

Mo Chou followed the Empress into the house, feeling the warmth from the charcoal fire in the brazier, and her slightly trembling voice calmed down.

"Mm, put it down." Xu Zhenguan nodded, looked at the coldness on the female official's body, and jokingly said:

"In the past, I wanted you to put in hard work and try cultivating, but you refused. Now you know how severe winter can be, right?"

Mo Chou looked aggrieved:

"This servant also thought about it, but unfortunately, my talent is insufficient. How easy is it to cultivate to the point of being immune to cold and heat?"

Xu Zhenguan smiled and teased:

"When Zhao Du'an returns, you can go ask him. That person has many tricks and often comes up with new things. Maybe he can think of a way to keep warm.

For example, I heard that the last time he returned from the Taicang, he gave Gongshu Tianyuan a drawing of the machinery he designed for pumping water in the mines, and there has been some progress in tinkering with it now."

Mo Chou curled her lips and said:

"This servant didn't pay attention to that. I'll just go ask the Tianshi Mansion later."

She glanced at the white-robed Empress and said with a hint of sourness:

"Your Majesty is thinking about him again."

Xu Zhenguan didn't hear the resentment in the female servant's tone. She looked towards the south-facing doors and windows with her fair and delicate face, moved a censer to her side, and said softly:

"Counting the days, he should be on his way back. I'm not thinking about him, I'm concerned about the market opening."

Mo Chou didn't say anything, puffed out her cheeks, and didn't quite believe it in her heart.

She had served the Empress for many years and knew how much truth and falsehood there was in Her Majesty's words. She was the most familiar person in the world.

The results of the market opening? Of course, she was concerned, but to say that there wasn't a bit of longing for the person, she wouldn't believe it even if she was beaten to death.

She couldn't help but compare in her heart, wondering if the Empress would miss her if she were sent out on a business trip?

...

Meridian Gate Square.

A group of palace maids carried the newly distributed charcoal, chatting and laughing softly, as they walked towards their residence.

Suddenly, one of the palace maids turned her head to look towards the large square and was suddenly stunned. She saw mysterious ripples spreading out in the air, as if tearing open a gap.

She exclaimed softly, attracting a group of palace maids to look over. Then, they saw a blood-soaked figure suddenly appear from the air and fall onto the winter square.

"Ah!"

The palace maids were shocked. Some immediately ran to find the palace guards, while a few bolder ones cautiously walked over.

One of the older female officials looked closely and her face changed, she exclaimed:

"Lord Zhao?!"

"Quick, quickly report to Her Majesty!"

— —

I've already thought of the chapter name for the next chapter, it's called [The Son of Heaven's Wrath]

Thank you to book friend 2023... 1125 for the 153 coin reward... Speaking of which, what exactly does this kind of reward with zeros and integers mean...