The First Lackey Under The Empress

As the Son of Heaven, every word, every action, every gesture sends out various signals.

At this moment, the Empress deliberately ignoring the Shen family's actions was particularly glaring in the eyes of the Jingyuan guests.

The reasons for this were clear to everyone without explanation.

The Shen family's extensive contest with Zhao Du'an these past few days was already an unspoken 'secret,' and now, the Empress's personal arrival was clearly to regain face for her 'Imperial Husband'.

Zhao Du'an was well aware of this, but he didn't deliberately target anyone, instead striving to minimize his presence at the banquet.

As a subject, one should know to restrain their sharpness when the monarch is present.

Under his gaze, after taking his seat, Prince Jing smiled and chatted with the Empress, reminiscing and discussing family matters, merely asking about each other's recent situations.

However, having not met for several years, the uncle and niece had limited common topics, especially after excluding the coup initiated by 'Xu Jianwen'.

Therefore, after speaking for a while, they ran out of things to say. The scene of the Empress and Prince Jing engaging in a battle of words and hidden struggles that Zhao Du'an had imagined did not occur.

Their hostile relationship was already well known. As the saying goes, it's best not to say too much when opinions differ. Moreover, with so many outsiders present tonight, neither the Empress nor Prince Jing wanted to give others the spectacle of a royal family turning against each other.

Thus, the entire banquet was unexpectedly uneventful. They tacitly avoided mentioning the attacks outside the city earlier today.

It wasn't until the prepared songs and dances ended and the Empress expressed her fatigue that Prince Jing rose to take his leave.

Only then did she seem to remember something, finally glancing for the first time at the Shen family, who were still kneeling on the ground, almost prostrating themselves, and said indifferently:

"The Shen family has been acting a bit excessively these past few days."

The Old Madam, prostrating on the ground, said meekly:

"This concubine knows her mistake. The Shen family will fully cooperate with the court's new policies."

So obedient? So compliant?

No… you acting like this makes it seem like all my previous scheming was a waste… Zhao Du'an's mind was filled with complaints.

Of course, he knew that the Shen family's surrender at this moment was largely due to their defeat in the war against him.

"If that's the case, then withdraw," Xu Zhenguan said indifferently, her tone neither happy nor sad.

Immediately, she rose and headed towards the rooms prepared for the Empress's stay within Jingyuan. Zhao Du'an hurriedly followed like a lackey.

After the Empress and her entourage left.

The Shen family members, including 'Red Girl' and 'Shen Wuji,' who had been waiting far away, hurriedly swarmed forward to help the Old Madam and the middle-aged head of the family, who had been kneeling on the ground for a good one or two hours.

The head of the family was fine, being young and strong, with some martial arts foundation, he could endure it.

But the silver-haired Old Madam was on the verge of physical exhaustion, her legs aching so much that she couldn't stand up. A maid massaged them with distress for a long time before she could barely stand up with the help of her family.

Supported by Shen Wuji on his back, they fled Jingyuan like stray dogs under many strange gazes.

Under the night sky.

The Shen family's carriage traveled along the deserted streets, suddenly stopping at a corner. The Old Madam inside the carriage opened her eyes, hearing Shen Wuji, who was driving, say:

"Prince Jing's carriage is waiting ahead."

Then, Xu Jinglong stepped down from Prince Jing's carriage and walked directly to the Old Madam's carriage, cupping his fist in salute:

"Thank you for your hard work, Old Madam."

The silver-haired old woman's gaze pierced through the lifted carriage curtain, staring at the elegant young master, and said:

"What instructions does the Prince have?"

Xu Jinglong said faintly: "Wait."

"Wait?" The Old Madam repeated the word.

Xu Jinglong nodded.

All of human wisdom is contained in these five words—waiting and hoping.

……

……

Jingyuan.

The crowd dispersed, and the lively riverside gardens became quiet.

The Empress's lodging was still the most prestigious room in Jingyuan.

Xu Zhenguan stepped over the threshold and turned her head to look at a certain Zhao following behind, raising her eyebrows: "What are you doing following me?"

Zhao Du'an was calm and composed:

"Your Majesty came alone, without anyone to serve. This subject thought that if Your Majesty needed anything, you could simply command it."

Xu Zhenguan pursed her lips almost imperceptibly, her lotus feet stepping on the magnificent carpet laid in the spacious and bright room. Her slender jade hand pinched a well-pruned flower branch in a vase on the round table, and she suddenly said:

"The last time you stayed overnight at Jingyuan, did you also stay in this room? And encountered that courtesan's assassination?"

??

Zhao Du'an broke out in cold sweat, his mind buzzing. He wondered who had leaked the news.

Could it be Old Hai?

Yes, it must be that guy Old Hai…

He took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and swore with his middle, index, and ring fingers pointing to the sky:

"This subject was completely innocent that day and certainly did not indulge in pleasure. Eunuch Hai knows this."

"Pfft…"

Xu Zhenguan was actually amused, teasingly saying: "I didn't say anything about you, look how nervous you are."

At this moment, the Empress switched from the dignified and composed demeanor she displayed before her ministers to a hint of charm and laziness, the transition seamless.

And as she relinquished the deliberately 'upheld' imperial bearing she showed before outsiders, the entire room seemed to brighten up.

Zhao Du'an was stunned, then suddenly, against all reason, said: "Your Majesty looks even more beautiful now."

Xu Zhenguan pursed her lips, treating it as just his old habit of using sweet words, and didn't pay much attention. With a wave of her sleeve, two jars of wine appeared out of nowhere on the table: "Will you accompany me for a drink?"

If you want to drink, then let's drink… Zhao Du'an strode forward, picking up a jar. He hadn't forgotten the fact that the Empress was a secret drunkard… and her little habit of secretly hiding away to drink whenever she was happy…

It's just that since they drank together in the Imperial Ancestral Temple last year, the monarch and her subject had rarely drunk together privately again.

"Is Your Majesty very happy tonight? Because the Shen family has yielded?"

Zhao Du'an held the silver jar, which had intricate and beautiful patterns, wondering where to find a wine cup, when he saw the Empress had already picked up another jar and walked to the railing at the door with a carefree attitude.

The door was open, and the lights from the room spread out along the threshold, illuminating a small area in front of the door.

Outside the railing was a river, quiet and deserted. All the attendants were deliberately moved far away under the careful direction of Eunuch Hai and other inner court experts.

The Empress pulled off the lid with a 'pop', raised her slender white neck, aimed the spout of the silver wine pot at her cherry lips, and drank freely.

The clear wine flowed down her fair chin, along the graceful lines of her jaw, which she wiped off casually with her sleeve. The Empress gazed at the river with hazy eyes, saying with a body full of the smell of alcohol:

"I'm emboldening myself."

Zhao Du'an, who followed her out, was stunned.

Xu Zhenguan turned her head, smiling faintly: "Don't the common people say that alcohol emboldens cowards?"

Zhao Du'an held the silver wine pot with both hands, solemnly took a sip, and then said:

"Your Majesty's courage can make all the men in the world lower their heads. Why do you need alcohol?"

Xu Zhenguan ridiculed herself: "When the ancestors were young and conquering the world, they also drank alcohol to embolden themselves before every battle concerning life and death. If the ancestors were like that, what can't I say?"

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, then said: "Is Your Majesty worried about the Fengshan ceremony?"

"Yes."

"How confident is Your Majesty?"

"Sixty… seventy percent."

"That's already quite high."

"But it's not enough," Xu Zhenguan leaned against the railing, looking at the river, murmuring:

"Do you believe that at this moment, countless people in the world are watching here, anticipating the result of the Fengshan ceremony? If I succeed, although I dare not say that there will be peace from now on, the Eight Kings may not dare to have any crooked thoughts. But if I fail."

Zhao Du'an took a sip of wine: "If you fail, so what? Isn't Your Majesty still the Empress?"

Xu Zhenguan said softly:

"If I fail, it will be tantamount to proving to the world that I have not gained the approval of the Yu Kingdom's national fortune. At that time, the Eight Kings will probably take the opportunity to cause chaos."

Zhao Du'an suddenly understood.

Zhenbao is, after all, a woman. A woman claiming the throne is already questioned by the people of the world, and the national fortune in the dark is also related to the people's thoughts. Once it fails, the Eight Kings will be equivalent to obtaining the 'legitimacy' to cause trouble:

Since destiny is not with the Empress, naturally, several princes should inherit the throne.

This is a gamble, a bold one. If she wins, it will be a tapestry of flowers. If she loses, it will be like pouring oil on a raging fire.

"Your Majesty's good fortune is as vast as the heavens. You will naturally be victorious in every battle. Even if we retreat ten thousand steps, there is still this subject as a backup," Zhao Du'an said seriously.

"Backup?" Xu Zhenguan glanced at him.

Zhao Du'an recommended himself: "Dual cultivation to break through the realm."

"…" Xu Zhenguan rolled her beautiful eyes, teasingly saying: "You are so attentive to these improper things. Heh, wait until you step into the world."

Her tone had a kind of look-down-on "naive little boy" feeling.

Zhao Du'an was unconvinced, but he was too lazy to argue. He just accompanied the Empress in drinking. After the two jars of wine were finished, the Empress threw the silver wine pot into the river, turned around, and stretched lazily:

"Alright, I'm going to sleep. In these two days, you should step up your preparations for the Fengshan ceremony. When the Dragon Boat arrives in two days, we'll rush to Mount Luo, lest there be too many nights and dreams."

"Your Majesty?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. The Empress looked back in confusion, then froze.

She saw Zhao Du'an saying seriously: "This subject will protect Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan's heart was inexplicably touched, but she just smiled, turned around, and went to the room:

"Just protect yourself."

The double wooden doors closed.

Zhao Du'an pursed his lips, raised a hand, and a stream of water gently lifted the silver wine pot that had been dropped into the water.

He put away the pair of silver pots and turned to walk to the room next door that was left for him.

Closing the door, Zhao Du'an sat down cross-legged to meditate and carry out his usual cultivation.

With his visualization, he vaguely arrived once again within the 《Six Chapters Sutra》, outside that ancient, desolate, and dilapidated Buddhist temple.

Zhao Du'an pushed open the temple door along the mountain path, but the "skull-splitting" attack from Pei Niannu that should have appeared did not arrive as expected.

"Senior Pei?"

Zhao Du'an looked in confusion at the center of the dilapidated temple, overgrown with weeds, where the armor-clad, wedding-dress-wearing female warlock was sitting alone on the collapsed alchemy furnace.

Pei Niannu, with a mysterious aura and most of her face covered by a golden mask, stared blankly at the sky, lost in thought.

Hearing the call, she turned to look at him and said:

"I… before… sensed your… summoning."

Yes, I was trying to get you out to deal with the "Law God" at the time, but you were isolated and couldn't appear… Zhao Du'an was not surprised, nodded, and briefly explained.

Pei Niannu said, "That person's power… I'm familiar with it… but I can't remember…"

That person? Referring to the "Law God"? Zhao Du'an was stunned, surprised by the reaction of this old senior, who was in a strange state and suspected of being a spirit of an artifact.

"Senior, do you know the origin of that 'Law God'?" Zhao Du'an asked curiously.

"Can't remember… too long ago… can't remember…"

Pei Niannu said, hugging her head, no longer paying attention to him, like a sleep talker.

… …

… …

Southeast of Jianning Prefecture, there is a mountain named "Luo."

The mountain has a strange and majestic appearance, connecting the earth veins of the Three Mountains and is known as the "root of the earth veins."

At the foot of the mountain, there is a royal garden. Usually, an area of five miles is included in the royal territory, and ordinary people are not allowed to approach it.

Since the news of the Empress's upcoming Fengshan ceremony spread, the foot of Mount Luo has become lively.

Merchants who were willing to offer wealth to please the imperial court hired a large number of laborers, and two months in advance, they began to repair the surroundings of Mount Luo.

The forbidden area was expanded to a radius of ten miles.

When the Dragon Boat fleet entered Jianning Prefecture, joined the Empress, and a large number of people arrived at the garden at the foot of Mount Luo to stay, the Fengshan ceremony was prepared in full swing.

Foreign craftsmen and laborers crowded the several large towns near Mount Luo. At the same time, many people came after hearing the news, gathering around, wanting to witness the once-in-a-century emperor's Fengshan ceremony.

On this day, a group of people quietly came to a town near Mount Luo and found a desolate mountain in the wild.

The mountain wind howled.

On the desolate mountain, the Second Prince "Xu Jianwen," wearing a black robe, who had already died in the coup three years ago, stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the towering, magnificent, and ever-changing main peak of Mount Luo in the distance, and smiled:

"This place is a good place to watch the ceremony."

Behind him were three people.

They were:

Qi Yuchun, dressed as a Jianghu person, carrying a long spear wrapped in cloth on his back.

Ren Kun, wearing an earth-yellow robe, with eyebrows the same color as his clothes, holding his arms and looking frivolous.

And the Taoist-dressed "National Teacher" demon, Guhuo Zhenren, wearing a cassock, with more three-dimensional features than the Yu Kingdom people, who was resurrected a second time.

"Your Highness, although this place is still far from the main peak of Mount Luo, the pseudo-emperor is powerful, and on the day of the Fengshan ceremony, a large number of troops will be under martial law all around. We are only here to watch the excitement, coming here may be too risky," Qi Yuchun couldn't help but say.

Ren Kun, whose personality was the opposite of his, rarely did not sing a different tune, and nodded in agreement:

"It is indeed not very stable. Especially if the pseudo-emperor advances to the real Celestial Realm, it will be even more dangerous."

Only Guhuo Zhenren, with a strange personality, who had been resurrected for the second time, "hey" smiled strangely and said:

"Perhaps His Highness also wants to contribute to ruining the pseudo-emperor's Fengshan ceremony."

Qi Yuchun glanced at him coldly, without saying a word.

After Zhuang Xiaocheng's death, the Kuangfu Society almost fell apart. That day, after he and Ren Kun found Xu Jianwen, they were greatly shocked. Only after confirming that His Highness Jianwen had not died did they understand why Grand Tutor Zhuang dared to sacrifice himself.

After that, Qi Yuchun became the new leader of the Kuangfu Society on the surface, ordering the various sub-helms to enter a "dormant" state, hibernating and waiting for an opportunity.

In reality, it was the resurrected Xu Jianwen who was giving orders.

Not long after, Guhuo Zhenren, who had been killed by Zhao Du'an and resurrected from the Netherworld through the backhand left in advance, with the help of the "Netherworld Cult Master," appeared and reunited around Xu Jianwen.

This time, Xu Jianwen led three core generals of the Kuangfu Society to Mount Luo alone.

"No," in the mountain wind, Xu Jianwen shook his head, denying Guhuo Zhenren's guess. He looked calmly at the majestic Mount Luo and said:

"When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits. This time, we are only here to watch the ceremony, there is no need to show our faces. The Eight Kings will take action, we can just watch the excitement here."

Qi Yuchun couldn't help but say:

"If Your Highness wants to watch the excitement, why take the risk in person?"

Xu Jianwen slowly turned around, under the black hood was a slightly pale, wealthy, and compelling face:

"My third sister is dying, how can I, as her second brother, not see her off?"

… …

… …

In the third year of Tianfeng, May 15th, Jiazi Day.

Suitable for praying for blessings, fasting, and offering sacrifices to heaven and earth.

The day of the Fengshan ceremony has finally arrived. Zhao Du'an followed the Empress and arrived at the Royal Manor near Mount Luo a few days earlier.

Also living in the manor were the palace people of the fleet led by Mo Chou and Sun Lianying, and a group of civil officials led by the Minister of Rites.

And a group of imperial guards led by Eunuch Hai.

In addition, local officials led by Governor Ning and the Prefect of Jianning, as well as three elite troops from Jiancheng Dao, Huai Shui Dao, and Binhai Dao, had also been stationed in advance.

In order to ensure the smooth holding of the Fengshan ceremony, on this day, centered on Mount Luo, pedestrians were not allowed on the roads within a radius of twenty miles, and residents closed their doors and were not allowed to go to the streets.

The army and yamen runners thoroughly searched Mount Luo three times to ensure that no idlers were staying.

The accompanying astrologers of the Qintianjian repeatedly divined and confirmed that this day was an auspicious day for the Fengshan ceremony. Early in the morning, as soon as it dawned, Zhao Du'an saw that the sky was clear and cloudless, and the sun was shining brightly, which was extremely good weather.

Zhao Du'an put on a brand-new official robe and, together with Eunuch Hai and others, arrived at the foot of Mount Luo in advance to be responsible for guarding and patrolling.

The main peak of Mount Luo was towering and peculiar. Standing at the foot of the mountain, looking up, one could only see that the entire mountain was lush and verdant, with an extraordinary aura. With the main peak as the center, starting from the mountainside, wisps of cloud and mist flowed and coiled around like silk ribbons.

"Strange, the sky is clearly clear and cloudless, why is there cloud and mist on this mountain?" Zhao Du'an stood in the crowd and asked curiously.

The python-robed old eunuch stood beside him. Hai Chunlin was also dressed in grand attire today, and said calmly:

"Mount Luo is hollow, with springs of earth veins underneath, and water vapor gushes out to form clouds and mist."

This is so unscientific… Zhao Du'an looked at the old man in surprise, not believing half a word in his heart.

But thinking of the strange natural phenomena that existed in some scenic spots in his previous life, he began to believe it again.

"Today is the Fengshan ceremony, did Prince Jing really not come?"

Zhao Du'an looked around, as far as his eyes could see, besides a large group of officials from the Ministry of Rites and local officials gathered around the altar at the foot of the mountain, there were also a large number of elite soldiers who had sealed off the foot of the mountain.

A "Yu" character flag was erected every ten feet.

It was morning at this time, the sky was already bright, but there was still some remaining coolness, and the Empress's dragon chariot had not yet arrived.

Eunuch Hai put his sleeves together and said lightly:

"The Shadow Guards sent news that Prince Jing's family is all in the palace of Prince Jing in Jianning Prefecture, pleading illness and not coming out."

Zhao Du'an stroked his chin:

"I'm sure they're planning something bad. What about those warlocks from the Law God Sect who escaped? Have you found any trace of them?"

Eunuch Hai shook his head:

"No trace was found, but with that 'Law God's' ability to move magic power, he will definitely show up today. Although the core of the Fengshan ceremony is the five-colored altar on the top of the mountain, the altar of the gods at the foot of the mountain is still greatly related to the Fengshan ceremony.

If some people, led by Prince Jing, want to sabotage the Fengshan ceremony, the greatest possibility is to send experts to attack the foot of the mountain and destroy the offering table… We today are here to protect the foot of the mountain."

So… those warlocks from the Law God Sect, as well as Duan Shuliu, and the private soldiers and secret agents under Prince Jing, and even the other princes, the strong men who may have been sent secretly, will all be lying in ambush and will attack the altar today?

Zhao Du'an swallowed and muttered, "Eunuch, can we hold on?"

Eunuch Hai glanced at him faintly: "What is there to fear?"

Zhao Du'an also laughed, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "Those who come, we are not afraid."

Suddenly, the deep and heavy bells and drums were transmitted from a distance, echoing in the ears of everyone at the foot of the mountain, and a sense of solemnity arose spontaneously.

The imperial worshipers and strong men in the army, who had been chatting easily before, all fell silent and put on serious expressions.

In the sacrificial music played by the Ministry of Rites, a group of people left the Royal Villa in a mighty manner and headed towards Mount Luo.

The Empress has arrived.