The First Lackey Under The Empress

"Urgent report?"

Jing Wang's breath tightened, and he quickly took it with his big hand, took the paper roll from the bamboo tube on the falcon's leg, and unfolded it against the river wind.

However, the words that came into view were like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard!

Sad news! The secret agent leader and his party died tragically, suspected of being killed by Zhao Du'an.

"Dead?! How is that possible?" Jing Wang's expression changed drastically, and he repeatedly read the words on the paper three or four times, his expression already as gloomy as stagnant water.

If it was just another failure to capture, it would not make him so.

But this time, it was not only the defeat of that elite cavalry, but more importantly, Ouyang Ye, who was in charge of the Jing Wangfu's secret agent system, died tragically!

This loss is far more tragic than a team of soldiers and horses!

However, what really moved Jing Wang was not Ouyang Ye's death, but the speculation in the intelligence that Zhao Du'an had stepped into the Mortal Realm.

"Mortal Realm... Mortal Realm..."

Xu Wen's gentle and refined face was briefly ferocious, as disgusting as if he had eaten a fly.

Is this Zhao Du'an really favored by heaven and earth? He didn't die like this? Can he go further?

But apart from this explanation, what other people beside the monarch and his ministers have this ability? Slaughter the entire team?

"Father? What happened?"

The Prince of the World, who was standing beside him, noticed that the atmosphere was not right.

Xu Wen took a deep breath and tried his best to restrain his shock - as the main general, his every move would affect the morale of the entire "Jiancheng Army".

After handing the secret report to the Prince of the World, Xu Jinglong's expression also changed several times. In addition to shock and astonishment, he felt a strong jealousy.

"This Zhao Du'an... in just one year, from mortal to Mortal Realm... something is definitely wrong. I'm afraid that the pseudo-emperor has some life-saving trump card on him, yes, the Tai'a Sword!

Just like at the beginning, he was able to master the divine weapon of the Taizu, it must be like this!"

Xu Jinglong's chest heaved, trying his best to explain the situation in front of him with logic.

Jing Wang snorted coldly:

"It doesn't matter what method he used, what matters is that the stronger these two monarchs and ministers are, the more they cannot be kept! This king originally wanted to capture people before Shenlong Temple took action, but now it seems that it is better to die."

Xu Wen faced north, silently calculating the days. The team from Shenlong Temple going south to assassinate the Empress should have entered the Huai River.

Different from the Eight Kings' intention to hide the emperor and order the world, the old monk Xuan Yin definitely does not want the Empress to live as such a great hidden danger.

"Pass down the order and send the secret message to Mu Wang. Also, go and inform the Dharma God Sect that it is time for them to exert their strength again. Hmph, the elimination that was promised that day has not yet been fulfilled," Xu Wen thought for a while and said.

"Tell Mu Wang's side? Father, are you not afraid that the pseudo-emperor will be obtained by Mu Wang?" The Prince of the World was a little unwilling.

"Do it when I tell you to do it!" Xu Wen scolded angrily. The point he was most dissatisfied with this son was that he was always thinking about the future and lacked courage.

In order to hunt down the Empress, even Ouyang Ye died. He didn't want to lose any more generals, so he simply let Mu Wang, who also entered the Huai River, shed some blood.

"Do you think that if we don't inform them of such a big matter, Mu Wang will not receive the news?" Xu Wen's aversion to stupidity broke out.

Yes, although the intelligence system of Yunfu Mu Wangfu is not as good as his own, it will not be too far behind. I think he must have also learned about the Empress's whereabouts... Xu Jinglong was embarrassed and turned to do things.

Wangfei Lu Yan'er hesitated for a moment and said, "Why don't I go there?"

Xu Wen shook his head: "You stay and protect this king closely, you don't need to worry about the rest."

Lu Yan'er was silent. The situation changed too quickly, and it was no longer something she could easily intervene in.

However, with the three forces besieging, even if Zhao Du'an breaks through, he will no longer be able to survive, right?

… …

… …

The southern end of the Huai River waterway, the other end of the canal.

A boat was traveling from north to south.

Inside the cabin, a burly old monk was sitting cross-legged, with a heavy Zen staff lying across his knees, the top of which was crescent-shaped and weighed hundreds of pounds.

A string of Buddhist beads made of thirty-six jade stones in the shape of Buddha heads hung from the old monk's neck. His eyebrows were sparse and his eyes were filled with strange golden light.

It was actually "Longshu", one of the three great Bodhisattvas of Shenlong Temple.

"Master."

Suddenly, the door of the cabin was knocked open, and a young man of about sixteen or seventeen years old walked in, wearing a yellow-brown monk's robe. There were no Buddhist beads on his body, and he looked slightly thin. His appearance was ordinary, and he was dressed as a standard "martial monk".

A yellow silk ribbon was wrapped around his forehead, which was quite eye-catching, and a hexagonal prism-shaped Zen staff "Six Paths Staff" was slung behind him.

It was actually the little monk Tianhai who had defeated Jin Jian in the Buddhist and Taoist competition last year and was seriously injured by Zhao Du'an with the Tai'a Sword!

More than half a year has passed, and Tianhai's injuries have long since recovered, and he was promoted to "Mortal Realm" around the end of the year - he could have been promoted long ago, but he deliberately suppressed it for the competition.

"What's the matter?" Bodhisattva Longshu raised his eyes and looked at Tianhai with relief.

The young Tianhai said with a straight face:

"News has been sent, giving the location of the Empress. If we travel at full speed, we can arrive in two or three days at most. The news also said that Zhao Du'an seems to have entered the Mortal Realm."

The surname Zhao has entered the Mortal Realm?

Longshu, who had always been calm, was stunned. His brows furrowed, and he sighed:

"The abbot is right, if this son is not eliminated, he will definitely become a great disaster in the future."

This time, Bodhisattva Longshu led Tianhai, the chief of the Precepts Hall, and a group of experts to go south quietly. Their only purpose was to kill the fugitive Empress.

"If the Empress is in power for one day, the suppression of our Shenlong Temple and our Buddhist sect will not stop. First, she banned Buddhism, and then she supported Prajna and split Shenlong Temple. If we retreat blindly, we will only sit and wait for death! If we let her return to the capital, our flourishing Shenlong Temple may face a catastrophe."

Bodhisattva Longshu's eyes were firm and his sharpness was fully revealed:

"Pass down the order and travel at full speed to intercept and kill the Empress."

"Follow the Dharma decree!"

The young Tianhai did not hesitate, carrying the Six Paths Staff and walking out. After taking a few steps, he stopped and added:

"That Zhao Du'an is mine."

The implication:

The defeat on the arena that day was a shame to Tianhai. Now that they meet again, he wants to take back the lost victory with his own hands.

Bodhisattva Longshu's lips curled up: "Naturally."

… …

In a county town on the Huai River waterway.

A dreamy starlight suddenly crossed the long street and entered a private room in a restaurant.

The starlight condensed, and Jin Jian's figure slowly outlined. The young female priest pushed the crystal grinding glasses on the bridge of her nose and looked at the three people sitting at the square table in the private room.

The first person was the short and fat young man Gongshu Tianyuan. He was still wearing a wrinkled Taoist robe, with a large bamboo tube propped up in the corner behind him. He was looking at the "menu".

The second person was wearing a black robe, with an unusually ferocious and ugly appearance. He was holding a celadon covered bowl in his hand, and a large sword with an extremely wide blade, blood-red all over, and engraved with words was leaning against the chair.

Also an old acquaintance, "Little Celestial Master" Zhong Pan.

The third person was a female Taoist who could not tell her age, with an aura of about thirty years old, but without wrinkles on her face.

She was wearing a loose and elegant gray Taoist robe, but the sleeves were pure white, with a golden rope-like belt around her waist, and a cyan jade short sword slung across her body.

The female Taoist's appearance was not considered outstanding, but her temperament was excellent. The four words "Zhong Ling Yu Xiu" created by the ancients seemed to be tailor-made for her.

At this moment, the female Taoist was breathing in and out with her eyes closed. The moment Jin Jian appeared, she opened her eyes, and smiled calmly and peacefully:

"How is the news?"

Jin Jian yawned, looking listless as if she hadn't recovered from staying up all night:

"Second Senior Sister, I asked about the news. Zhao Du'an should be near some Hundred Flowers Village, and he seems to have become very powerful. He may have entered the Mortal Realm."

She "robbed" a scout from Mu Wangfu.

On the day of Feng Chan, Zhang Yiyi sent messages to his disciples scattered all over the capital, issuing the Celestial Master's decree to save Zhao Du'an.

Jin Jian and Gongshu Tianyuan responded first, followed by "Senior Brother" Zhong Pan, and Second Senior Sister, Yu Xiu, who was also traveling in the Central Plains.

As for the third and fourth disciples, they have not yet gathered.

According to Zhong Pan's calculations, the third and fourth disciples are very likely not in Yu Country, or are active in the border area, and it is too late to rush over after receiving the message.

Brother Zhao has entered the Mortal Realm? Gongshu Tianyuan was taken aback, but then he felt that it was a matter of course:

With Brother Zhao's talent for managing the world, such a small achievement is not surprising.

That kid, is he already in the Mortal Realm? Has he grown so amazingly? No wonder Master favors him so much... A look of surprise appeared on Zhong Pan's ferocious face.

"Hundred Flowers Village, I know this place. In that case, we will set off immediately after finishing this meal." Second Senior Sister Yu Xiu's voice was gentle, but her actions were quite swift and decisive.

And those who are familiar with this second disciple know that the sword at Yu Xiu's waist is countless times sharper than her person.

Yu Xiu's gentle and generous appearance forms a strong and distinct contrast with her inner madness and combat attributes.

Jin Jian once heard the old priests in the Celestial Master's Mansion gossip, saying that back then, when Zhang Yiyi accepted the first pair of "Vermilion Dot Boys,"

That is, Zhong Pan and Yu Xiu, Yu Xiu was originally rejected, but she stubbornly picked up her sword and forcibly fought against the contestants at that time. She fought for seven days in a row, both sides were seriously injured, and the other side couldn't hold on first, cupped her hands and conceded defeat, and withdrew from the election.

Strangely enough, despite being replaced, that person held no resentment towards Yu Xiu, but was sincerely convinced.

The ferocity of the Second Senior Sister was evident.

"Senior Sister is right. If even we can find out the news, it means countless enemies are going to ambush Brother Zhao. We need to hurry," Gongshu Tianyuan agreed.

Little Celestial Master Zhong Pan frowned tightly:

"You said, the Mu Prince's spies also know about this matter? Have they already sent out the message?"

After receiving Jin Jian's affirmative answer, Zhong Pan said:

"Prince Mu has been in Yunfu for many years, recruiting many Jianghu experts, and is particularly close to the White Robe Sect. With Zhao Shixiong's assistance, it is highly likely that he has also sent experts to Hundred Flowers Village."

Yu Xiu glanced at him: "What do you mean?"

Zhong Pan said:

"The master only wants us to save Zhao Du'an, but I'm afraid this person won't abandon the female emperor. If the Mu Prince's Mansion, the Jing Prince's Mansion, and even other forces all attack, should we intervene in the imperial family's internal strife?"

Yu Xiu was a woman who never suffered from mental exhaustion. She got up and walked out:

"If he doesn't leave, just knock him unconscious. Why make it so complicated?"

……

……

Let's rewind the timeline.

The night grew darker, and the villagers of Hundred Flowers Village were packing up their belongings, using the donkey carts that hadn't been destroyed to flee in all directions.

In a one-by-one, error-free version!

To avoid the ravages of war.

Zhao Du'an ultimately didn't do anything in the flower bushes with the female emperor… Well, Xu Zhenguan obviously didn't think in that wild direction at all.

Instead, she took Zhao Du'an and left Hundred Flowers Village, heading towards a wealthy local gentry's manor in the same area.

"That's right, seize the landlords and distribute the land… I almost forgot that there must be landlords and wealthy people near the village, and these gentry's houses are often separated from ordinary farmers. The housing conditions are also better."

Zhao Du'an silently admired Zhen Bao's choice of accommodation, and was also wondering if Zhen Bao had been eyeing this place many days in advance.

Taking advantage of the night, the monarch and her subject arrived at a gentry's garden, and then were surprised to find that the entire courtyard was tightly closed, with no one inside.

Zhao Du'an twisted off the lock and entered the house. Judging from the traces, there were still signs of activity not long ago.

"I inquired with the villagers. Because they foresaw the war early, the owner of this house had already fled, leaving only a few servants to guard the yard.

There are also fresh cart tracks at the door. If there are no accidents, it should be that the people here saw the scene of Hundred Flowers Village being set on fire not long ago, and were frightened of being involved, so they fled overnight as well."

Xu Zhenguan stood in the courtyard, calmly analyzing.

That makes sense… Zhao Du'an's expression relaxed a little, and he joked with a smile:

"Isn't this convenient? It's as if this entire house was specially left for us."

"…" Xu Zhenguan didn't say anything. In the darkness, her cheeks seemed redder than usual.

At this time, the night was quiet, and there were only the monarch and her subject in the entire house. The pursuit from the enemy would inevitably arrive soon, and there was not much time left for the monarch and her subject.

Every minute, every second, was precious.

"Your Majesty?" Zhao Du'an felt that the atmosphere was too dull, and wanted to take the initiative to break it. He looked up at the moonlight and said:

"It's getting late, your subject… will serve you to rest?"

"…En."

Zhao Du'an swallowed, inexplicably nervous. He turned around and closed the courtyard door first, then locked it from the inside.

Then the monarch and her subject walked towards the back house. Zhao Du'an's divine sense swept out, and any movement in the entire house could not escape his perception.

The back house was the house where the owner lived, and the conditions were much better. After the owner of the house left, the servants did not dare to move around.

There were more than a dozen houses in the entire courtyard, and the back house, including the厢房, had six rooms, and there were no outsiders.

Logically, they could each choose one, but under a tacit understanding, the monarch and her subject only opened the door of the east厢房.

Lighting the candlestick on the table, the entire quaint room became clear. Zhao Du'an immediately locked his eyes on the big bed in the room. Well, it was the size of three people… Damn landlord, he must have specially built it for his wives and concubines to sleep together…

"Your Majesty… it's getting late…" Zhao Du'an turned his head and looked at Xu Zhenguan.

But the Yu Kingdom's female emperor seemed to have adjusted her mentality at this moment, and restored her usual dignified and graceful appearance… Well, Zhao Du'an suspected that Zhen Bao's appearance was probably fake…

Trying to maintain the majesty of a superior in this special night… Well, unfortunately, Zhao Du'an only likes to bully those below and flatter those above, so unsurprisingly, there will be a fierce battle tonight.

Under the candlelight, the fairy-like human emperor was stared at by Zhao Du'an's scorching gaze. Suddenly, she stood up and walked out with slightly messy steps:

"I'm going to take a bath, you… wait in the room."

Her tone was trying to appear calm.

Your Majesty… we've even bathed together in the palace… It shouldn't be necessary to do this at the last minute… Zhao Du'an muttered in his heart, but his face was obedient:

"Do you need your subject to fetch water for Your Majesty?"

"No need… I… I can do it myself…"

Xu Zhenguan fled out a little flustered.

……

Zhao Du'an sat at the round table a little amused, thinking that probably only he had seen such a flustered side of Zhen Bao, right?

Then, he belatedly realized that his body was also trembling slightly…

Due to nervousness.

Zhao Du'an's smile froze. Okay, he didn't seem to be much stronger either. He tried to calm down, but he could already hear the sound of rushing water coming from next door.

He had noticed before that the servants in the house had left in too much of a hurry, and even the firewood in the stove was still burning, and the water in the pot was hot.

So, even the hot water had been heated for the two of them… As for the bathtub, clean clothes, and the like, such a big house certainly wouldn't be lacking.

However, listening to the sound of rushing water, Zhao Du'an's restless heart gradually calmed down.

Then he suddenly realized:

Wasn't it a little wrong for him to just wait like this? This was, after all, ancient times, not the modern city where etiquette had collapsed.

Ordinary women in the mortal world needed a set of grand ceremonies for their wedding night, let alone the dignified female emperor?

Originally, if the female emperor were to marry, it should be the most grand ceremony in the world. However, things were impermanent, and under the pressure of the situation, the two of them had to complete their dual cultivation as soon as possible in order to cope with the harsh situation.

It was fine to omit those cumbersome rituals, but even such a major event as the "wedding night" had to be hastily completed by occupying a landlord's house in the countryside.

Would she… really not mind?

"It seems like I'm just someone with bad intentions." Zhao Du'an suddenly felt a burst of shame, realizing that he had overlooked this point.

Fortunately, it wasn't too late to wake up.

It was certain that a woman would not be able to finish bathing for a while, and he immediately got up and busied himself.

First, he carefully cleaned the room again, making the bed and folding the quilt.

Then he walked out of the room and began to rummage through the boxes and cabinets in the house, looking for red lanterns to hang on the eaves, red candles, and gold paper, which he cut into 囍 characters with scissors and pasted on the candles to serve as wedding candles…

"It's just a pity that there are no wedding dresses, red veils, or anything like that…"

Zhao Du'an searched hard without success, then suddenly slapped his head and tried to visualize and summon Pei Niannu.

Accompanied by space rippling like distortions, Pei Niannu floated in the air, staring at him with unkind eyes:

"What… are you… doing… again…"

She didn't like this feeling of being forcibly conscripted. In the past, this guy begged her to take action and had to make promises, but now he could force her.

Zhao Du'an rubbed his hands like a fly, staring at her with fiery eyes:

"Senior Pei, can you take off this wedding dress on your body and lend it to me for a while… just for one night, I'll return it to you after I use it, and I promise not to get it dirty…"

??? Under Pei Niannu's mask, her eyes widened, and then anger surged. The knuckles of the hand holding the scale杆 clicked and cracked. After leaving a "滚!" (Get lost!), she turned into smoke and dust with a bang and disappeared without a trace.

"No…"

Zhao Du'an was turned away, and his fingers grabbed empty air in mid-air before helplessly drooping:

"It seems that even if she could lend it, she wouldn't… stingy…"

However, he didn't really expect that a visualized dress could really materialize.

In the end, he could only regretfully give up and turned to look for wedding wine and dishes.

……

By the time the female emperor finished her bath, the sky was completely dark, and the night was thick.

She changed into a set of clean women's clothes found in the house and walked out of the bathing room to the corridor.

Her heart was obviously preoccupied, and she forgot to use her Qi to evaporate the water stains. Her beautiful hair was scattered wet, and her face was steamed white and red, with an undisguised charm.

Then, when she looked at the main bedroom of the厢房, she couldn't help but be stunned.

……

Today's 9,000-word update is complete.