The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 197 - 175, Buddhist Invitation

Inside the tightly closed pavilion, a sliver of sunlight shot in through the crack of the door, striking the fair face of the Empress.

Xu Zhenguan sat cross-legged on a mat, a divine light flitting across her beautiful eyes.

Then, formless and intangible Divine Thought radiated from her as the center, spreading in all directions.

It enveloped the Capital, attempting to capture the location of the "Dragon Essence."

But in the next second, the suddenly emerging aura disappeared abruptly.

"Ah?" Just as the Empress felt disappointed and withdrew her Divine Thought, the aura appeared once more.

She swept her Divine Thought out again, only to see the aura disappear once again.

This time, Xu Zhenguan learned her lesson and maintained her Divine Thought continuously.

Yet, she could only perceive that the Dragon Essence aura appeared fleetingly and then disappeared for several breaths, repeating the cycle.

No matter how she investigated, she could not pinpoint its location.

Eventually, following the last disappearance, the aura did not reappear for a long time.

"What happened?" Xu Zhenguan withdrew her Divine Thought, furrowing her brows in bewilderment.

This was an experience she had never had before.

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"Could it be related to the impending Ghost Festival?" Xu Zhenguan pondered, barely drawing this connection.

The reason for worshiping the gods during the Ghost Festival is also because, on that day, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth is the most potent.

"Never mind," Xu Zhenguan sighed lightly. Since her Divine Thought yielded no results, there was no need for her to leave her meditation.

Calculating on her fingers, she had been in seclusion for several days.

"I wonder how far the new politics have progressed at the Xiuwen Pavilion. Has there been any direction?"

Xu Zhenguan couldn’t help but think that the planning of new politics must inevitably be slow.

Waiting a few more days to come out of seclusion, she feared there would be no progress. She would be content with just a plan to replenish the National Treasury.

As an empress, she was not adept at these matters; she could only hope that scholars like Han Banshan could collaborate and alleviate her worries.

Casting aside stray thoughts, the Empress closed her beautiful eyes and re-entered contemplation.

From start to end, she never linked the new politics to any involvement with the Little Forbidden Army.

...

"Whoosh!"

Under the bridge, Zhao Douan emerged from the water, his wet hair plastered to his scalp.

He breathed heavily, using fresh oxygen to ease the stars in his eyes from holding his breath for too long.

Climbing ashore, he hastily retrieved his clothes, changed into a dry jacket, and Zhao Douan quickly left.

Only after walking a considerable distance, did he let out a deep breath and furrowed his brows.

"It won’t open..."

At the bottom of the lake, he had repeatedly tried but failed to activate the sealed Array.

"Is it because my cultivation is too low? Not enough to unlock it? Or is the method of opening incorrect?"

Zhao Douan was quite certain that the array at the bottom of the lake was the entrance or exit of a "secret passage."

"Since it is a door, logically, there should be a unique key."

Zhao Douan thought over it and decided he must start with Old Xu.

There was no reason to not enter Mount Tai when treasure beckons; he always felt that such a hidden existence must be extraordinary.

"I can only leave for now and think of a strategy."

Zhao Douan made up his mind, left at once, and decided not to come here again until he found a way to open the door.

...

In the following days, Zhao Douan’s life became regulated.

Every day, he consistently practiced contemplative cultivation, using various indirect inquiries.

Attempting to obtain more information about the "secret passage" from Old Xu.

Whether there were dates or not, take a shot anyway.

However, Old Xu ignored him, resolutely leading him towards the East Sea, leaving the Mubei Forest farther and farther behind.

During the day, he regularly clocked in at the Imperial Court, occasionally went to the White Horse Hall, and sporadically slipped into the Xiuwen Pavilion to offer his strategic planning.

Inside the Pavilion, the new politics were advancing at a terrifying speed.

Normally, there would be arguing and continuous negotiations for at least half a month, or even a month, before a preliminary plan could be established.

But the "Three Strategies" that Zhao Douan provided were too superior and complete, so what the scholars had to do was to refine the existing mature policies.

The progress was naturally rapid.

Meanwhile.

For some unknown reason, in the Capital’s scholarly circles, some opinions gradually gained traction.

At first, many scholars were envious, jealous, and hateful of the first batch of scholars from the Xiuwen Pavilion, with Han Banshan leading these scholars, their status rose significantly.

To the extent that numerous scholars voluntarily switched allegiances, and Han Banshan’s doorstep was nearly worn out.

Everyone understood that a group of young nouveaux riches was about to be born.

As the saying goes, "boost one by stepping on another," with the rapidly growing reputation of Han Banshan and others.

During this period, Zhao Douan, whose reputation was also rapidly rising, was naturally compared.

As a target to be criticized.

Scholars inherently despised Zhao Douan, and the voices condemning him never ceased.

After the Zhou Cheng case, Zhao Douan focused his efforts inside the Xiuwen Pavilion, and due to confidentiality, he appeared particularly quiet in the eyes of outsiders.

His reputation was gradually surpassed by Han Banshan and others.

And someone, not knowing who started it,

claimed that Her Majesty finally recognized who was more or less important. Compared to Han Banshan, who might ascend to become the "Prime Minister" and serve as the Great Yu Dynasty’s patchwork artisan.

The Empress’s petulant, vindictive, little lapdog Zhao Douan was made to look even more despicable.

"Zhao Douan? Ha, just a vicious dog nurtured by Her Majesty, only fit to be thrown in places like the Imperial Court to occasionally be let out to bite people... How could he compare to Han Banshan?"

"Indeed, hehe, when Your Majesty stopped attending court these days, Zhao Douan really kept his tail between his legs, stayed quiet, and didn’t bite anyone anymore. He truly is a dog relying on human power..."

"Cruel officials are just cruel officials, after all. I heard that Grandmaster Dong also had some criticisms of him. He even petitioned Your Majesty, suggesting to draw close to the wise and distance from the petty...

Zhao Gou must have heard the wind... After the establishment of the Xiuwen Pavilion, with Grandmaster Dong holding great power, how could Zhao Gou dare to offend him, fearing to upset the Grandmaster?"

After tea and meals, in any scholars’ gathering place, similar voices were heard.

"Sir, I heard that recently in the city, those scholars have been grouping together to curse you. Aren’t you angry?"

One day, inside Lihua Hall, the round-faced little secretary Qian Kerou washed a basin of pears and brought them into the inner hall.

She looked at Zhao Douan, who was leisurely reading, and asked.

"Why should I be angry?"

Zhao Douan sprawled in the Taishi Chair, legs draped over the table.

He glanced at the pears and motioned for the little secretary to feed him:

"There are many in the world who curse me. If I got angry every time someone cursed me, what else could I do?"

He paused, then languidly continued:

"Besides, you have to understand, they are envious and jealous. They were suppressed by me before and didn’t dare to speak out. Now that the Xiuwen Pavilion has emerged, it’s as if it has boosted their spirits.

It’s quite amusing to think about it. Those scholars like Han Porridge are impressive, but what does that have to do with them?

Scholars always have this problem, caring too much about others and too little about themselves."

Qian Kerou peeled the skin off a pear with a small knife, nodding seriously, sharing in the animosity:

"Sir is right, scholars are the worst."

She paused, then added:

"But that Han Porridge recently does have a great reputation.

It’s said that inside the Xiuwen Pavilion, they are planning new policies based on something he proposed, called the ’Ten Strategies’, although outsiders don’t know exactly what it is."

Zhao Douan smiled without saying a word.

As the new policy progressed, outsiders were bound to learn some of it.

It wasn’t that the scholars were leaking information, but to prepare for the new policy, Grandmaster Dong had to make some arrangements with the six ministries and other government offices, pulling some data and so forth.

These actions couldn’t be hidden.

Although the new policy would eventually be announced, and according to this pace, it would be mostly complete in a few more days and could be presented.

But the Grandmaster thought it was always good to keep it hidden a while longer.

Thus, after conspiring with Zhao Douan, they threw a smoke bomb to the public.

They pushed out the abandoned "Han Porridge’s Ten Strategies" to mislead the court officials.

Letting outsiders think that the new policy was based on the Ten Strategies, throwing Han Porridge into the mix as a distraction.

This covered Zhao Douan’s "Golden Three Strategies."

So, when Zhao Douan heard those scholars comparing Han Porridge to himself, praising one and disparaging the other, he wanted to laugh.

These days, his greatest amusement was visiting the Xiuwen Pavilion daily, finding Han Banshan, and telling him face-to-face how the outside world was praising him.

Every time, Han Porridge was so embarrassed he wished he could dig a hole to bury himself.

And Grandmaster Dong simply told him two words:

Hold it.

Zhao Douan was very happy.

"Hmm, well, it seems those scholars really are quite capable."

Zhao Douan opened his mouth, biting into the skinless, whitish pear eagerly handed to him by the little secretary.

Chewing noisily, juice filling his mouth.

Qian Kerou nodded and said,

"Yes, really. But who knows how those scholars construct their thoughts. However, sir, you are no less than any scholar..."

"Ha-ha, your flattery needs improvement," Zhao Douan laughed and changed the topic:

"By the way, the day after tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. The government office will be on holiday. What are your plans?"

Qian Kerou blurted out:

"I am going to the Divine Dragon Temple. During the Ghost Festival, the Divine Dragon Temple will hold the Ullambana Festival, and many people will go there to worship their ancestors and pray for blessings. It’s said that this year, Master Xuan Yin’s disciple, Mage Bian Ji, will personally preside.

However, Mage Bian Ji is in the ’Vegetarian Garden’ opposite the Divine Dragon Temple.

To enter the Vegetarian Garden, one must be invited distinguished officials and eminent scholars...

Speaking of which, with this year’s opening of the Xiuwen Pavilion, those scholars will definitely be invited, the Grandmaster for sure, along with Mr. Yuan, the Chief of Staffs...

After all, it’s a Buddhist ceremony; we have to show some face.

In previous years, even Your Majesty would appear, but since Your Majesty has not attended court recently, probably Mo Zhaorong will go in his place.

Others include scholars—Buddhism likes inviting scholars. Many from the Hanlin Academy, even students from the Imperial College, are exceptionally invited..."

Zhao Douan looked surprised.

He didn’t know about these things. This so-called Ullambana Festival seemed to be a gathering place for significant figures of the Capital.

Those familiar faces he knew, along with those who cursed him, would all be there.

"Sir, with your prominence this year, perhaps you might also be invited."

Qian Kerou suddenly said, then hesitated;

"However, the monks in the Divine Dragon Temple really value Buddha nature, character... Sir, your reputation, after all, isn’t so great..."

What she meant was, given Zhao Douan’s poor reputation, the Divine Dragon Temple might not invite him.

"The Divine Dragon Temple bases invitations on reputation?" Zhao Douan was curious.

"Yes, anyway, our Lord is never invited every year..." Qian Kerou said timidly.

Zhao Douan: "..."

Alright then.

It seemed the monks indeed had their temperament; with this in mind, his chances were slim.

While they were talking, outside the hall, Shen Juan walked in, with a Buddha Post in his hand:

"Sir, a monk from the Divine Dragon Temple has come, inviting you to the Ghost Festival’s Ullambana Festival."