The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 188 - 167, Mr. Zhao, the Grandmaster invites you.

I’ve learned my lesson!

In the private box, Han Zhu forcefully set the wine cup on the table, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.

Before this, he had never imagined that he would be persuaded by Zhao Douan.

No.

It wasn’t persuasion, but rather a criticism that left him utterly without retort, like a Buddhist monk’s loud and sudden shout of awakening.

Just as Zhao Douan had guessed, his aim today was indeed to use the guise of seeking advice and try to persuade Zhao Douan, pulling him into his camp to aid in implementing the "Ten Strategies."

But who could have predicted that in the end, he would be the one persuaded.

The Ten Strategies? Worthless as dog excrement!

This was accompanied by a wave of doubts.

How could a mere Martial Artist serving as a government officer possess such profound insights in these matters?

Such sophisticated arguments, not even the other scholars, including Grandmaster Dong, had been able to make.

Yet they came from the mouth of an "uneducated" Martial Artist, unbelievable.

"Lord, your strike today has caused profound reflection. Now it seems, Han indeed—as Zhao Jun said—has been away from the mundane world for too long…"

Han Zhu offered a bitter smile, bowed respectfully, and paid his tribute.

Then, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he asked:

"But how did you come up with these thoughts, Lord Zhao?"

Zhao Douan, calm and composed, accepted the other’s bow and fell silent for a moment before saying,

"Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen too much."

Han Zhu was startled, initially interpreting this to mean that Zhao Douan had not been on the rise for very long.

A little over a year ago, he was just a foot soldier in the imperial guard, still part of the lower class.

His feelings would naturally be deeper.

In addition, compared to these noble scholars from Hanlin Academy, Zhao Douan was also a man of "practical affairs."

Used to seeing the flattery and sycophancy, the vile human heart…

Well, considering his reputation, he himself could also be considered a vile person…

However, only Zhao Douan knew the true meaning behind his remark was that he had read too many times about it in history books.

"Is that so," Han Zhu nodded, and then his expression fell:

"As you said, the court’s predicament is without solution then."

Zhao Douan, however, remained silent. No solutions?

Of course not.

Not to mention that Zhang Juzheng’s reform methods were more suitable, just take the concept of "money"—does the court needing money mean that the only way is to plunder from others?

How about a lesson in economics?

Wealth is not only about "distribution"; it can also be "created."

However, there was no need to discuss this with Han Zhu.

Zhao Douan himself needed time to think.

After all, although Zhang Juzheng’s approach was better, it was just as difficult to implement and not without its own problems.

He had an idea to take that approach and add some economic tactics to it.

Since it’s a matter of money, the most direct solution was, of course, to deal with money.

In the elegant room.

Seeing that Zhao Douan kept silent, Han Zhu’s bitterness deepened, and he had no expectation that Zhao Douan would offer a good strategy.

Criticizing and finding faults is easy, but constructing and creating is difficult.

Ultimately, they would have to rely on their own scholars to find the solutions.

Thinking this, he revived his spirits. If the Ten Strategies were flawed, then it was time to think anew. There’s always a way out.

At this moment, suddenly from outside the private box, there came the sound of footsteps, followed by knocking.

Both men turned to look; Han Zhu curiously said, "Come in."

The door opened, only to reveal another familiar face.

"Wang You? What are you doing here?" Han Zhu was taken aback.

At the entrance stood a scholarly-looking young man around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, dressed in luxurious clothes, with fair skin—a son of a noble family.

That was none other than Wang You, the second-ranked scholar at Xiuwen Pavilion and the son of the Minister of Rites; a descendant from a powerful lineage.

Zhao Douan’s impression of him was of his casual demeanor during discussions at the pavilion, and from Mo Chou’s files, of his overly high self-regard.

"Heh, why can’t I be here?"

Wang You, with a haughty demeanor, swept the room with his gaze, his face wearing a smirk:

"I wonder, how come as soon as I left the pavilion, you chased after His Majesty’s carriage in your own? I thought you might be trying to stop His Majesty midway to discuss something, but it turns out, you’re forming cliques secretly."

Han Zhu’s face flushed with embarrassment, he stood up and said,

"Lord Zhao and I are merely…"

"No need to explain," Wang You waved his hand, interrupting him,

"You want His Majesty to adopt your strategy? Worried that we would obstruct, so you came seeking external help? No need to explain, heh, I seem to have underestimated you, Han Banshan, before. Well, I was just passing by. Carry on."

With that, this son of the Chief of Staff, a noble offspring, just turned away and left the building.

As if his sole purpose for coming was to confirm the situation.

"Lord, don’t take his words to heart."

Han Zhu, seeing this, stepped forward to close the door, then turned and said,

"I didn’t know he would follow."

"It’s fine," Zhao Douan relaxed, smiling,

"This Wang You… truly is as arrogant as the rumors say."

Before, aside from an initial glance, he had only conversed with Han Zhu and had not given Zhao Douan another look.

No provocation, or rather, not deigning to provoke, but still completely disregarding him.

Han Zhu sighed,

"Wang You is indeed prideful, and takes his family status too seriously. When I first met him, he never deigned to give me a proper look."

Later, recognized for his exceptional talent by Wang You, it was only then he was barely deemed worthy to be noticed... but these words were not good to say outright.

Zhao Douan just smiled and said nothing.

It was clear that in the eyes of this son of the Minister, he was not yet worthy to have an equal conversation.

"The arrogance of scholars…"

Zhao Douan shook his head, stood up to take his leave,

"Well-fed and well-entertained, thanks for the hospitality, I shall take my leave now."

He was busy with planning new reforms.

Han Zhu personally saw him downstairs, and when he watched him leave, he stood outside the tavern and sighed softly, then got into the carriage:

"Back to Xiuwen Pavilion!"

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...

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When the carriage finally returned to the North Gate of the Capital.

Han Zhuzi deftly stepped through the threshold into the empty "office" and indeed saw that Grandmaster Dong had not yet left.

He was still pondering the thick pile of petitions before him.

"Han Zhuzi?"

The venerable old man, his face like a jujube and clad in the Grand Scholar’s official robe, looked at him in surprise:

"Is there something the matter?"

Like a respectful gentleman, Han Scholar suddenly bowed deeply and said,

"I have come to humbly request the retrieval of the ’Ten Strategies’ for further amendment."

Grandmaster Dong was startled and inquired in confusion,

"What has happened?"

He had already perused the Ten Strategies, and although some content was indeed extreme, it was still a Magic Door for remedying the current crisis.

Not long ago, he had spoken passionately about it, only a little more than an hour had passed, and now to request it back, there had to be something unusual.

Han Zhuzi spoke with shame,

"I am ashamed to say that I did not think things through before, and only after being severely reprimanded by Lord Zhao did I suddenly realize that this approach is improper."

"Are you speaking of... Zhao Douan?" Grandmaster Dong was taken aback and gestured to the chair,

"Sit down and explain to me in detail."

"Yes." Han Zhuzi took a seat and had nothing to hide, so he recounted in detail how he tried to bring Zhao Douan over to his side and how he was systematically refuted.

Finally, he said,

"A single remark from Lord Zhao gave me occasion for deep reflection, and I now brazenly wish to take back the Ten Strategies to revise them again."

The old man sitting in the rosewood armchair across from him was stunned into a trance.

His gaze fell involuntarily on a stack of "manuscripts" left by Zhao Douan, fragmented, filled with scattered sentences.

As if lost in thought.

...

...

"Mr. Zhao, have you arrived?"

At Lihua Hall, when Zhao Douan arrived, his subordinates who were sitting around the entrance eating pears stood up one after another.

The secretary Qian Kerou, holding up chilled, sliced pears as if offering a treasure, said,

"Please enjoy, Mr. Zhao. Hehe, ice has recently become cheaper in the Capital, and we bought some to enjoy these chilled pears."

"Ah, good." Zhao Douan expected to be waited on hand and foot, the crisp fruit refreshing and heat-relieving.

"Mr. Zhao, is Xiuwen Pavilion interesting? What did they talk about?"

Shen Juan crowded around, asking with a playful smirk, while Hou Renmeng and Zheng attentively perked up their ears.

They all knew that their boss had gone to the Xiuwen Pavilion today.

"Ha, it’s just a bunch of scholars discussing stuff like governance; it’s not to be mentioned."

Zhao Douan kept tight-lipped, adhering to confidentiality regulations.

Although in his view, the whole morning’s discussion was valueless anyway...

The others seemed to half understand but didn’t much care; to them, whatever these scholars studied was odd and unusual by nature.

They, as Martial Artists, even if they listened, wouldn’t comprehend.

Regarding the boss, they figured he didn’t understand much either and had just gone along for the ride.

Civil officials and military generals after all, are ultimately not of the same kind.

Once everyone had dispersed, Zhao Douan sat alone in the hall, eating the chilled pears and dabbing with a writing brush, sketching and thinking.

Entering a state of contemplation, time slowly passed, and his ideas about reforms became increasingly clear.

...

In the evening, at the Zhao family residence.

A family of three was dining at the table.

"Eldest son, you must be tired from today?"

You Jinhua observed carefully, her thoughtfulness deep,

"Let me draw a bath for you after dinner."

"It’s nothing, just thinking about some things," said Zhao Douan nonchalantly.

Beside him, Zhao Pan, looking for conversation to assert her presence, said,

"Big brother, did you know the Xiuwen Pavilion convened today?"

The womenfolk at home did not know Zhao Douan had gone to the Xiuwen Pavilion today—work-related matters, Zhao Douan did not discuss with them.

"You know about Xiuwen Pavilion?" Zhao Douan asked with a smile.

The young girl puffed out her cheeks and replied with feigned nonchalance,

"Everyone in the Capital who reads is talking about it. Even the servants hear about it when they go to the market. They say that in the future Cabinet, whoever enters will be extraordinary. For example, that great talent of the Capital, surnamed Han, has entered.

But brother, you’ve always disliked those scholars, so you probably don’t know him."

She had not known him before, but had met him in the afternoon... thought Zhao Douan to himself.

You Jinhua added,

"What’s so great about scholars? They always prove unfaithful, but elder son with his unbeatable martial skills, that’s what makes a true man."

The beautiful stepmother was partial, and since Zhao Douan disliked scholars, she did too.

Zhao Douan smiled and set down his chopsticks,

"It’s hot, I’ve lost my appetite, I’ll go enjoy the cool in the courtyard."

The stepmother then instructed the servants to bring him iced watermelon to eat, before turning to her daughter, puzzled,

"It’s nearly dark, why wear that heavy hairpin and risk breaking it?"

You Jinhua wasn’t wearing a hairpin that night.

"But mother, you wear it every day..."

Zhao Pan’s face froze, and she turned her head away silently, annoyed as she took off the gold hairpin named "Jade Leaf."

She had worn it hoping her brother would notice, but he seemed not to have seen it at all.

As Zhao Douan stepped into the courtyard, just about to sit down, suddenly a servant rushed in,

"Eldest son, someone’s looking for you."

Hm? Zhao Douan raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

Walking to the gate, he saw a carriage stopped outside the courtyard.

Next to it was a somewhat familiar servant.

Thinking back, it seemed to be the person who had called him over when he first met Grandmaster Dong at the palace gate.

Grandmaster Dong’s man?

A thought flashed through Zhao Douan’s mind.

The man bowed respectfully,

"Lord Zhao, Grandmaster Dong invites you to the Xiuwen Pavilion to discuss matters with the scholars."

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