The First Lackey Under The Empress

The study fell into a strange atmosphere.

Zhao Du'an, slightly restrained and surprised, felt Zhenbao's hand guiding his own, holding the brush to outline lines on the paper.

However, his mind was not on painting at all, but on the strange sensation, and his mood was joyful.

Although the monarch and his subject were not "holding hands" for the first time, this time the nature was very different compared to the previous few times.

The most obvious point is…

"She's so proactive…"

"Wait, shouldn't the normal script be a man teaching a woman how to paint, taking the opportunity to take advantage of her? Crap, it seems like I got the heroine's script… Oh, the other party is the Empress, then never mind…"

Zhao Du'an's mind was filled with complicated thoughts, and his usual cleverness and slickness disappeared at this moment, becoming a little clumsy.

From his perspective, which he couldn't see, Xu Zhenguan's fair face was also slightly flushed.

She was also a little surprised by her actions today, but perhaps the "public" nature of a certain identity at the Grand Banquet made her think she should try to move forward and actively push the relationship forward.

Well, the female emperor, who had never been in a relationship, didn't know what to do, but she felt that she had to take the initiative.

Well, as the female emperor, she likes to be on top—only when it comes to painting.

The two people had different thoughts, the only common point was that neither of them put their minds on the painting itself, but fortunately, the Empress's skill supported them, even if one was full of complicated thoughts and the other was distracted, the "self-portrait" outlined on the paper was still quite remarkable.

"Okay, that's enough."

Xu Zhenguan exhaled softly, withdrew her hand, felt the fragrant sweat oozing from her neck, and said a little awkwardly.

"Oh, oh, oh."

Only then did Zhao Du'an put down the brush and carefully stood up straight.

"How is this painting?"

Xu Zhenguan curled up the corners of her mouth, raised her chin, and signaled him to comment on the self-portrait.

She had a bit of a show-off mentality.

Zhao Du'an was muddled, nodded and said:

"This painting is so white… No, Your Majesty is so vivid… No, this painting is so vivid, as if it has come to life, lifelike, that's right, lifelike!"

"…"

Xu Zhenguan rolled her eyes in feigned anger, too lazy to correct his wording, stood up, and said:

"Alright, it's getting late, I'll leave with Zhuang Xiaocheng first, and I'll also help you conceal the news of your return to the city. If there's anything, have someone contact you through the White Horse Bureau. There are also Grand Inner Court experts near your home."

She added:

"Leave this painting to you to ponder."

Zhao Du'an respectfully walked over, held up the painting with both hands, and said seriously:

"This subject will have his servants mount it later and hang it in his room to ponder day and night."

Xu Zhenguan "En"ed, very satisfied with his attitude, casually picked up the box containing the Grand Tutor on the ground, took two steps, suddenly felt something was wrong, turned her head and glanced at him faintly, and warned:

"You are only allowed to ponder, not to use it for other purposes."

"Ah?"

Zhao Du'an held the painting, looking blank.

The Empress's jade face was already slightly red, not knowing what she had thought of, she carried the box out of the study, used her magic, and returned to the palace.

Tsk tsk, it seems that Zhenbao is not as simple as I imagined… That's right, ancient people married in their teens, and she's almost thirty… Those who know, know… Zhao Du'an啧啧 marvelled, feeling like a pure and cold fairy had suddenly become down-to-earth.

Shaking his head, he carefully put away the portrait. Zhao Du'an stepped out of the study and stood in the corridor, waiting for a while.

He saw Gongshu Tianyuan walking over not far away, still holding a "recording scroll" in his hand, throwing it to him like a hot potato:

"The thing you wanted, here you go, here you go, tsk… When Your Majesty looked over here just now, I was scared to death. It's a pity I only recorded half of it, Your Majesty 'shielded' the inside of the room with her cultivation. Speaking of which, what did you and Your Majesty do after interrogating Zhuang Xiaocheng? Why did it take so long to come out?"

The little fat god's small eyes rolled slyly around his waist, giving him a look that all men understand, mouthing the words:

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

Zhao Du'an frowned, thinking, you really think highly of me. With Zhenbao's personality, she would probably only truly take that step on the day of the wedding, in the bridal chamber…

"Brother Gongshu is thinking too much. Zhuang Xiaocheng is still inside. Your Majesty and I were discussing the situation of the rebel party, which is inconvenient to disclose."

Zhao Du'an was righteous and awe-inspiring, with a disdainful attitude, mocking Gongshu Tianyuan for being too dirty, ashamed to be associated with him.

Then he coughed lightly:

"Alright, I have discussed it with Your Majesty. Next, everyone will stay temporarily at my house, and when Prefect Luan arrives in the capital, he will personally send Old Dog Zhuang on his way."

…

…

Under deliberate concealment, few people knew of Zhao Du'an's return, let alone that Zhuang Xiaocheng, who had already "died," had been secretly imprisoned in the Grand Inner Palace.

In the next few days, Xu Zhenguan, according to the plan proposed by Zhao Du'an, almost found fault to strike and weaken the Li faction.

And the Li faction, already stimulated by the "New Deal" and like a hedgehog with bristling fur, tacitly did not resist in the face of the Empress's attack.

Without even symbolic resistance, they threw out certain benefits—which was completely in line with Zhao Du'an's speculation.

The Prime Minister's Residence, in the courtyard.

"Young Grand Secretary" Li Yinglong stood under the eaves, carefully reporting to Li Yanfu, who was wrapped in a cotton coat, pinching arrows in the bleak spring breeze, practicing "pitch-pot":

"…Father, according to your instructions, the people below are all enduring and letting Your Majesty vent her anger."

"That's right,"

Li Yanfu, wrapped in a loose scarlet robe, with a white jade pendant tied to his chest, and strands of white hair hanging down from his temples, only clapped his hands after watching the arrow hit the copper pot, and said:

"Your Majesty is in a fit of anger now. In Your Majesty's eyes, if it weren't for Father's coercion, Zhao Du'an wouldn't have had to go to Binhai, causing his death. If it were an ordinary woman, facing such a husband-killing hatred, she would have long since retaliated fiercely.

But Your Majesty is still Your Majesty, and Zhao Du'an is ultimately not the imperial consort who came to greet the bride. Your Majesty needs to be angry, but it won't be too much, and when a woman is in a fit of anger, if you provoke her, you might become a victim of her anger."

Li Yinglong smiled and said:

"What Father said is true, the people below all understand this principle and are very well-behaved."

He was in a good mood, or rather, the entire Li faction had been in a very happy mood recently.

With the help of the Kuangfu Society, they eliminated the great enemy Zhao Du'an, not only venting their anger but also calming the accumulated emotions within the party.

Li Yinglong said:

"However, at this juncture, regarding the officials of the New Deal, especially those in Jiancheng Dao, the official position that the Grand Canal Governor wants, we still…"

Li Yanfu glanced at him coldly:

"Don't interfere. The appointment and removal of New Deal officials are being watched by countless people from top to bottom. The other places are fine, but Jiancheng Dao is too dangerous, we can't touch it, understand?"

Li Yinglong nodded somewhat unwillingly:

"Understood."

"En,"

Li Yanfu nodded in satisfaction, picked up an arrow again, and said:

"The rebels escorted by Luan Cheng should also be entering the city. When Your Majesty kills this batch of rebels and vents the evil in her heart, this heavy tribulation will be over. It's not good to move around in winter, let's move around when the spring breeze blows."

…

…

Jizhao Nunnery.

In the desolate small courtyard, by the lotus pond, the Prajna Bodhisattva stood quietly, holding a jade purification bottle.

A pair of almost transparent eyes, staring at the gradually melting ice surface in the pond, and the swimming fish below, said:

"Why do you have the leisure to come over?"

By the pond, the monk Bianji, dressed in white, with red lips and white teeth, smiled calmly and said:

"With the Bodhisattva's current status in the Shenlong Temple, is it not a matter of course to come and inform you of the affairs of the temple, large and small?"

Since the debate, Zhao Du'an's proposed enlightenment of the Buddha's Dharma led to the descent of the "World Honored One." In the Shenlong Temple, the wind of Zen study suddenly blew up.

As a representative, Prajna Bodhisattva effortlessly, the disciples of the Grand Master Jing, who originally belonged to him, came to serve him one after another, seeking shelter.

Now, in the Shenlong Temple, Abbot Xuanyin is still the greatest, followed by Prajna and the Dragon Tree Bodhisattva, each leading a force.

It's a bit like the "Three Kingdoms Struggle for Hegemony."

It's just that although Prajna has been pushed to be the leader, she is still disinterested in factional struggles, and people still live in the Jizhao Nunnery.

"Heh, if you have any business, say it."

Prajna Bodhisattva's graceful and plump figure was reflected on the water, her voice lazy and low.

She had been like this since the news of Zhao Du'an's death was spread.

Bianji said: "News came from the temple in the east that people have been sent down from Qingshan in the East China Sea to send a letter of challenge to the court next year."

Prajna's interest was slightly piqued, and she turned her head to stare at him with her beautiful eyebrows, and suddenly realized:

"Letter of challenge? Yes, I almost forgot… In the past, Emperor Taizu of Yu imitated the Buddhist and Taoist fighting methods and also set the tradition of a duel with the martial arts inheritance of the Qingshan faction, right after the Buddhist and Taoist fighting methods."

Bianji smiled and said:

"To be precise, it's next spring. And according to tradition, within one year before the duel, there must be a link to send the letter of challenge.

The last time, the imperial family offered Hai Chunlin to replace the imperial family members at that time, and went to Qingshan to fulfill the appointment, barely coping with it.

But this time, Martial Immortal Kui is afraid that he will no longer be willing to be fooled. This time, that Majesty in the palace can't escape."

Boreya lazily raised her eyebrows: "You seem quite happy."

Bianji smiled slightly:

"We Buddhists have an opportunity to watch the imperial family's drama, why shouldn't we be happy? Or is it that Bodhisattva Boreya still feels sorry for that Zhao Du'an? Because he helped you in the debate? Or is it that the Bodhisattva has taken a fancy to him as a vessel?"

Boreya's expression suddenly turned cold: "Get out."

"Bang!!"

A burst of Dharma power exploded in the silent courtyard, and pillars of water rose from the pond, startling the swimming fish.

Bianji staggered back several steps, his face flushed, and the monk's robe in front of him was torn to shreds.

Anger appeared on his face, but he quickly restrained himself and smiled:

"This humble monk will no longer disturb the Bodhisattva's rest."

He turned and left the courtyard, slowly walking towards the gate of the Jizhao Nunnery.

After walking halfway, he stopped and raised his eyebrows slightly:

"Grand Princess Yunyang?"

As the weather turned warmer, Princess Yunyang, wearing a monk's robe that she had altered with scissors and sunning herself in the courtyard, blocked his path, staring obsessively at the fair-skinned and red-lipped Dharma Master, and said with a smile:

"No one here talks to me, and I'm very lonely. I also have many things I don't understand in my study of Buddhism. It's been a long time since the Dharma Master came here, would you be willing to give me some guidance?"

Studying Buddhism?

Bianji's brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Yunyang dressed as a nun. Suddenly, the image of Bodhisattva Boreya appeared in his mind, and the images of the two women slowly overlapped:

"This..."

Yunyang smiled and pulled his sleeve, walking towards the meditation room:

"I'm just asking about Buddhism, surely Master Bianji won't refuse."

"...Alright."

...

...

"Splash—"

When the spring breeze melted the ice on the river and the earth thawed, and the rivers rippled, the official ship escorting the rebels finally slowly arrived at the capital's pier.

On the deck.

Prefect Luan Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the city gate with General Yuan Ji, who was wearing armor and carrying a war hammer, and at the same time breathed a sigh of relief:

"We've finally arrived."

Prefect Luan smiled at Yuan Ji:

"After disembarking, according to the rules, local troops are not allowed to enter the city without orders. I think the officials from the Jing Camp will come to lead you to the Jing Camp to settle down. This official will lead the prisoners into the city, so I must bid farewell to the General for now."

The mountain of flesh that was Yuan Ji looked worried:

"Prefect, after you enter the city, I'm afraid you will face His Majesty's thunderous fury, I..."

No... you don't know the truth at all. At this time, Lord Zhao should have already entered the city. Well, hopefully, nothing went wrong... Prefect Luan smiled and didn't explain.

Yuan Ji was immediately very impressed.

Lang Shisan, who also walked onto the deck, silently held his wine gourd, looked up and drank heartily, wiped the corner of his mouth, and let the spring breeze caress his face, feeling somewhat bored.

The group disembarked, and as expected, people from the Jing Camp came to meet them.

Yuan Ji and the other local soldiers were led away, and the rebels on the ship were loaded onto carts by the Imperial Guards of the Jing Camp waiting here, and taken into the city with Prefect Luan.

Inside the prison car, Lin Yuebai silently looked at the increasingly large metropolis, emaciated and haggard.

Kou Qichi in the same prison car trembled:

"Sister, we're going to die soon, right?"

Lin Yuebai smiled miserably, hugged her younger brother, who had a different surname but thicker than water, and said with relief:

"There will probably be some torture later. During the torture, you don't have to resist, just say whatever they ask."

Seeing her brother's unyielding appearance, she shook her head bitterly:

"Just tell them, the Grand Tutor is dead, and the information in our mouths is worthless anyway. Suffer less, so you'll have the strength to walk on the road to the Yellow Springs."

In the prison car, many Kuangfu members were either fearful, relieved, numb, or disdainful.

Various reactions abounded, but everyone knew that they had absolutely no chance of survival.

The court would definitely kill them all to vent the pseudo-emperor's anger just because that Zhao traitor was dead.

And what happened next did not exceed everyone's expectations. The prisoners were escorted into the imperial prison by the Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Zhao Yamen.

Luan Cheng took a bath and changed his clothes, and personally went to the palace, but was stopped and told by the people in the palace that His Majesty wanted him to enter the hall for the morning court meeting tomorrow.

Luan Cheng was thoughtful and readily agreed.

That night, the news that the rebel prisoners had been escorted to the capital caused a sensation throughout the capital. Such a large-scale arrest of rebels had not happened since the Xuanmen coup.

At the same time, the so-called coffins in the convoy containing the "remains" of Zhao Du'an, Zhuang Xiaocheng and others were also sent to different places.

Among them, the most attention was undoubtedly paid to the coffin of "Zhao Shaobao", which was sent directly to the Zhao Mansion. Many people tried to go to pay their respects, but were blocked by the gatekeeper.

"The mistress of the house is grieving excessively. The mansion is not receiving guests today, please forgive me." Zhao Bo, dressed in mourning clothes, explained to the guests.

Everyone expressed their understanding and retreated.

Just across a wall, Zhao Du'an sat in the courtyard, eating rare cellar-stored fruits while waving his hand with a gloomy face:

"Carry the coffin to the woodshed and chop it up for firewood."

The You Jinhua mother and daughter, dressed in mourning clothes, looked at each other, wanting to laugh but feeling it was inappropriate.

"Brother, how long do we have to act in this play? Now that the coffin has returned, it will arouse suspicion if we don't hold a grand funeral." Zhao Pan asked cautiously.

You Jinhua also pricked up her ears.

"And our coffins..." Haitang and Zhang Han also walked over quietly.

Zhao Du'an "kengchi" bit into an apple and smiled:

"Alright, we won't act anymore after tomorrow's court meeting, how about that?"

He threw the gnawed apple core to the Pekingese dog, stretched a big lazy waist, and rubbed his face:

"The play has been going on for about as long as it should, we... should 'revive' too."

...

Nothing happened overnight.

The next morning, the ministers arrived at the Meridian Gate early to prepare for the morning court.

However, today's protagonist was not Li Yanfu, Yuan Li and other high-ranking officials, but Luan Cheng, the fifth-rank prefect in the crowd.

Countless eyes were focused on him, and the ministers whispered to each other, some sympathizing, while others watched the show.

But the only common point was that no one took the initiative to talk to him.

Everyone knew that this capable prefect was unlikely to leave the palace unscathed today.

This official robe was likely to be stripped off.

Hiding the rebel headquarters under his rule was already a great dereliction of duty. The most important thing was that Zhao Shaobao was dead.

The credit for capturing the rebels undoubtedly belonged to the deceased Zhao Du'an.

Then the responsibility for Zhao Du'an's death could only fall on the still alive Luan Cheng.

"It's a pity, I don't know if Prefect Luan can escape the death penalty..."

"Alas, even if the death penalty is avoided, the result of being sent to the army in exile is probably inevitable..."

Whispering.

Only Luan Cheng stood in the wind, expressionless.

Finally.

With the sound of the bell.

The ministers entered the hall.

After a series of preliminaries between the emperor and her ministers, the Empress, sitting on the dragon throne, looked down at the ministers in the hall:

"Luan Cheng, Prefect of Bin Hai Dao, step forward to answer."

Luan Cheng stepped out of the crowd, respectfully walked to the front, took out a memorial from his sleeve, held it up with both hands, and began to loudly narrate the process.

The content of his narration was almost no different from the previous secret letter, and he also added the section on successfully escorting the prisoners to Beijing.

But those who were attentive were surprised to find that Luan Cheng's report skipped the core paragraph in which Zhao Du'an and Zhuang Xiaocheng died together.

Something's wrong!

There's a problem!

How could the officials in the court be fools? They all realized that something was wrong and didn't understand what had happened.

"Very good," Xu Zhenguan nodded lightly on the dragon throne, her tone without anger or blame, but with a bit of appreciation.

Immediately, without waiting for the ministers to react, the Empress said calmly:

"Minister Luan assisted Zhao Shaobao in capturing the thieves and has made meritorious service. It so happens that the position of Provincial Inspector of Bin Hai Dao is vacant. Is Minister Luan willing to take on this important task?"

Promoted? Wasn't he going to be beheaded or exiled? Why wasn't he blamed for such a great crime, but instead rewarded with an official promotion?

The ministers were stunned.

Luan Cheng was overjoyed: "This minister... is willing to do anything for Your Majesty! However, this minister dares not take credit. All the credit for capturing the thieves lies with Zhao Shaobao. This minister has only made a small contribution..."

The Empress was quite satisfied with his attitude. Seeing that the ministers were already in turmoil, she slightly raised the corners of her mouth and said, "What the Minister says is reasonable. In that case, summon Zhao Shaobao to see me!"

Boom!

Like a depth charge falling, the officials in the hall were all stunned. Almost at the same time that the Empress's words fell, the guards standing at the door had opened the hall door.

"Zha Zha Zha—"

In the sound of the heavy door opening, spring light shone into the hall from outside. Several figures stood outside the hall, and the leader was someone the officials in the court were all too familiar with.

Zhao Du'an, wearing Shaobao's official robe, stepped over the threshold, his boots stepping on the spotless Jinluan Hall.

His gaze swept across the sluggish faces and smiled slightly:

"This minister, Zhao Du'an, greets Your Majesty!"

There was silence.