The First Lackey Under The Empress

Wasn't the most beautiful scenery you?… Zhao Du'an swallowed the cheesy words and followed Xu Zhenguan out of the "Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Outside the hall, a dragon chariot was prepared, accompanied by dozens of female officials and eunuchs.

Six purebred steeds were ready to go, the dragon chariot inlaid with gold, silver, jade, gems, and pearls, displaying utmost nobility.

He once thought that Yuan Li's car was already impressive, but today he realized that it was nothing compared to this.

…

Full moon night.

In the southwest corner of the capital's imperial palace, a team of Embroidered Uniform Guards were patrolling the streets.

The leader was none other than Zhou Cang, a centurion from the Imperial Guard.

As members of the imperial guard sequence, the Embroidered Uniform Underworld Judges were also responsible for the capital's defense, patrolling day and night.

The night was quiet, with only the clashing of armor plates as they walked.

"Sir, that watchtower ahead is so tall."

Behind Zhou Cang, a newly promoted officer looked ahead, his tone curious.

Although this area was outside the imperial palace, it was still within the scope of government offices, and few idlers approached.

Zhou Cang held the hilt of his saber in one hand, squinting at the dark pavilion under the night, and said:

"That is the 'Emperor's Tower', the largest and tallest of the watchtowers built in the capital in the past.

In wartime, it was a good place to send messages to the palace and watch over the capital. Later, when there was no war, many watchtowers in the capital were abandoned and used for other purposes.

In the past, during the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern fair, when North Ward was open, the people gathered, and the Sage would reside on it, enjoying the fun with the people.

However, after the North Ward market closed, it became a forbidden area, rarely used except for repairs by the yamen."

As soon as he finished speaking, the dark and towering "Emperor's Tower" suddenly lit up section by section.

From the lowest point, lanterns were lit one after another, all the way to the top floor.

Zhou Cang: "…"

The young Embroidered Uniform Guard asked: "Sir, didn't you say it was rarely used?"

Zhou Cang's face changed, and he said, "Return the way we came, the streets ahead don't need to be patrolled."

"Why?"

"Unless you want to disturb the Holy Presence," Zhou Cang snorted, and scolded:

"Since the current Sage ascended the throne, she occasionally ascends the tower to admire the moon. When the Sage goes on patrol, the area within a few miles is cleared of people and a curfew is imposed, and idlers retreat."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but look back at the tall building, there was a sentence he didn't say:

In the past, when the Empress ascended the tower, she usually only lit half of the lanterns.

Tonight, all of them are lit, could it be that the one ascending the tower is not only the Empress?

But in the whole world, who has this honor?

…

…

Bottom of the Emperor's Tower.

The noble and imposing dragon chariot slowly stopped.

Xu Zhenguan led Zhao Du'an down, and the eunuch who had been waiting respectfully handed over a warm towel to wipe away the dust.

Beneath this "First Watchtower", hundreds of palace attendants were waiting with their heads bowed. The ancient charm of the octagonal wind chime-like building was filled with traces of time, and the red lanterns were beautiful and magnificent.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has sent dinner to the top floor, now is the most suitable time," a female official said respectfully.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, a curfew has been imposed around the area, and the Golden Guard is guarding the four directions to ensure that no one is disturbed," a guard stepped forward.

Xu Zhenguan nodded, and the palace people dispersed, standing at a distance with their heads bowed.

No one dared to look up at the two of them, not even once.

"Surprised?" The Great Yu Empress suddenly asked with a soft laugh.

Zhao Du'an said honestly:

"Indeed. Surprised to come here, and also surprised that the Sage's trip out of the palace, just for a meal, is already such a big show."

Xu Zhenguan's demeanor was graceful:

"When you reach a certain position, you will find that the people in the world are kind, and any door will open by itself in front of you."

Zhao Du'an seemed to be lost in thought.

The Empress stepped up the tower.

The night wind blew gently, and her white clothes fluttered, exuding a faint fragrance.

Zhao Du'an followed closely behind, going up the winding and folding stairs.

He looked into the distance, and as he rose higher and higher, the scope of the capital in his vision expanded.

The lights of thousands of homes were like a galaxy on the ground, but for Zhao Du'an, who had lived in a modern city for many years and was accustomed to light pollution, this night scene was too shabby.

"Is what Your Majesty is showing your subject this capital's night view?"

Xu Zhenguan's profile would be reflected in orange when passing by the lanterns, like warm jade, and when moving away from the lanterns, it would be white and dazzling in the darkness.

Hearing this, she didn't even look at him, and said, "Very disappointed?"

"I dare not."

"Then it still is, but of course this is not the real scenery."

Saying that, Xu Zhenguan took a step up the tower, her slender jade fingers flicking lightly.

A golden light shot out from her crystal-like fingertips and entered Zhao Du'an's brow:

"Look again like this."

Zhao Du'an was caught off guard, only feeling a stinging pain in his eyes, followed by a flow of icy coolness.

When he opened his eyes again, he was shocked to find that the world was like unveiling a light gauze, revealing another real side.

In the distance, above a market, a huge and illusory tower ship slowly roamed.

Its shape was like a gold ingot, the cabin was filled with mountains of gold, silver, jade, gems, and copper coins. On the erected mast, a huge smiling face was painted on the huge sail.

To the left and right of the tower ship, there were also golden boys and jade girls carrying bamboo baskets, constantly scattering silver notes.

"That is the god 'God of Wealth', and the ones serving on the left and right are the 'Wealth Scattering Boys'," Xu Zhenguan explained calmly.

Zhao Du'an moved his gaze and cast it towards the direction of the Heavenly Master Mansion's "Great Bell Tower".

The night sky was dyed blue, rippling out circles of magnificent ripples.

Countless strange shapes, illusory and mysterious "gods", surrounded the blue sky, floating up and down, muddled and ignorant.

Echoing it from afar was the location of "Shenlong Temple".

Faint golden Buddha light tore through the night sky, and vaguely visible in the center of the Buddha light, a huge and unparalleled "Buddha Head" hovered above, its compassionate gaze overlooking the world.

"The Heavenly Master Mansion compiles a list of righteous gods, and during the cultivation of the gods, it will attract many gods to gather and linger," Xu Zhenguan said.

After a pause, she added:

"As for the magnificent Buddha Head, it is the main god of Shenlong Temple [World Honored One], meaning 'wisdom'. Don't look too much. If your cultivation is not enough, observing the World Honored One will infuse you with wisdom. In the mild case, you will feel dizzy; in the severe case, you will be foolish; and in the middle case, you will cut off your mortal roots, and there will be no more worldly desires."

Cut off roots… Zhao Du'an instantly retracted his gaze, deciding not to look over there again.

The night in the capital was so lively?

When mortals closed their doors and returned home, the world seemed to belong to the gods.

Zhao Du'an was greatly shocked and asked curiously:

"Divine officials and warlocks cultivate, attracting the manifestation of gods, your subject can probably understand. But what about the God of Wealth in the sky above the market, and those scattered in various places?"

In his vision, in addition to the "Heavenly Master Mansion" and "Shenlong Temple", there were gods floating in all directions of the entire capital, but they were too dim and small in comparison.

"The thoughts of mortals gather and also support the gods," the Empress said concisely.

So, every household in the market enshrines the God of Wealth, and when thoughts gather, they are manifested… Zhao Du'an suddenly understood.

His gaze suddenly caught sight of the direction of the "Eight Directions Opera House", and saw that there was also a dim god above it.

Well, what kind of gods do a group of actors enshrine? Curious.

"Your subject sees that there seems to be brilliance in many residences?"

"That is the 'House God' enshrined by the people. A powerful House God forms its own world, and if a strong person steps into it, they must be careful not to be frustrated."

"Your subject once saw 'Count of Wind' when fighting with the warlock of Prince Jing's Mansion, and heard that there is also a 'Master of Rain'?"

"When there is heavy rain, if you open your heavenly eyes, you can see the 'Master of Rain' clouding and giving rain in the dark clouds. If your martial arts are strong enough, you can destroy the 'Master of Rain' with one palm, and the clouds will dissipate and the rain will stop.

In the past, Emperor Taizu's martial arts reached the sky. It happened to be a severe drought in the Northwest and heavy rain in the South. The warlocks dispatched by the court were also ineffective. Emperor Taizu was furious and personally went to the South, capturing three hundred 'Masters of Rain' in the thick clouds and escorting them to the Northwest.

Along the way, thousands of miles of rain clouds covered the sky, which was a spectacular sight," Xu Zhenguan shared a secret story.

What South-to-North Water Diversion… Zhao Du'an yearned for it.

Suddenly, he thought that there were still years of disaster in the history books.

It can be seen that extraordinary means may have a price and cannot be easily used.

At this time, the coolness in his eye sockets dissipated, and the night sky returned to its original state.

Quiet and peaceful, the lights were like stars, and there were no more strange and mysterious scenes.

The monarch and her minister also came to the observation deck.

In a circle of railings, there was a flat terrace, and on the low table in the middle were the sumptuous dishes prepared by the Imperial Kitchen.

There were also dark wine jars, arranged around, numbering dozens.

The night wind blew, and the peerless Empress sat down cross-legged, her black hair fluttering, her ice-like skin and snow-like complexion surpassing countless people in the world.

"What are you still standing there stupidly for?"

Xu Zhenguan waved her sleeve, and with a "whoosh", a jar of sweet-scented osmanthus wine was heavily embraced by Zhao Du'an.

He suddenly understood where the old superintendent got the fine wine from.

The corners of Xu Zhenguan's mouth turned up, her beautiful eyes teasing:

"Waiter, bring the wine."

…

At the same time.

Eight Directions Opera House, brightly lit.

A big show had just ended, and the actors retreated into the backstage. Through the curtain, one could still hear the cheers in the hall.

The actor who sang "Young Man", who was favored by Pei Si Niang, took off his costume, sweat oozing from his forehead.

"Wu Ling, hard work tonight," the opera house manager came over, raising his thumb, his emerald green thumb ring dazzling:

"This play is amazing, a guest wants to see you."

The young man named Wu Ling looked weak:

"I feel a little uncomfortable, I'm afraid it's difficult to meet guests."

The manager looked embarrassed, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and said:

"Then you go to rest, don't catch a cold, it will ruin your voice."

Wu Ling thanked him, walked through the crowd to a quiet bedroom behind the opera house, and when he was far away from the crowd, his expression instantly became fierce, and he spread a note from his palm:

"Zhao Du'an is still in the palace, tonight he may return to his home, you can seize the opportunity to intercept and kill him."

Wu Ling narrowed his eyes and burned the note in the lamp.

Then, from a bamboo basket under the bed, he took out a scroll of painting and hung it on the wall to unfold it.

In the painting, there was a god wearing a colorful robe and a pure white mask.

Wu Ling bowed three times: "Please, Opera God!"

The stiff Opera God in the painting suddenly opened his eyes.