The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 208 - 183, The Call from the Bottom of the Lake

Tonight, for the scholars of the Capital, was destined to be a sleepless one.

Just as many literary men, disheartened and anxious, returned home, ready to bed down,

a squad of menacing government officers knocked on their doors.

"Master, Master, something terrible has happened, the government officers are at the door!" At the Chen Residence.

Hanlin Academy Scholar Chen Zhengru was immersed in reading at his desk when suddenly, a frightened servant burst in, pushing the door open.

"What?"

Chen Zhengru sprang to his feet. Before he could react, he saw that the officers had already swarmed in, with none other than Hundred Households Zhou Cang at the lead.

Who now said with a smile:

"Scholar Chen, we suspect that the recent climate in the Capital relates to rebels. Please don’t make it difficult for us, and accede to accompany us back."

Chen Zhengru’s face paled dramatically, and he said:

"Zhao Douan is but a sixth-rank, with no authority to arrest an official like me."

Zhou Cang tossed an arrest warrant onto his face, moved a few steps closer, his smile fading, and said:

"Has the Grand Scholar not yet understood? The one inviting you over is not Mr. Zhao, it’s Your Majesty himself."

Chen Zhengru’s face turned deathly white, his expression bitter.

Settling accounts—never had he thought it would come this fast.

...

In a certain residence.

"Bang!" The fierce government officers burst in.

Xu Hanlin had just gone to bed, now he rose clad in his clothes, intimidating yet fearful inside:

"I am a scholar of the Hanlin..."

Today’s duty officer at Lihua Hall, Hou Renmeng, gave a blow with the handle of his knife, and in that instant, Xu Hanlin’s world turned dark, an intense pain struck, and he doubled over like a shrimp.

Actually passing out from the pain.

"Pah! Worthless, you still dare go against my master?" Hou Renmeng said disdainfully, then turned his head with a fierce voice:

"Take him away!"

...

A similar scene unfolded in many places at the same time.

At the Prime Minister’s Mansion, within the study.

The lamps shone brightly.

With his hair bristling like hedgehog spines and eyebrows like chiseled cliffs, the disheveled stubble spread along the cheeks, meeting the hair on his temples, Prime Minister Li Yanfu sat there expressionless on the square chair.

His eyes, deep as mysterious pools, stared fixedly at the sumptuously woven carpet in the room, where the "Young Master" stood with bowed head, in a chastised demeanor.

"...and that’s the full account of what happened."

Nearly forty, with effeminately delicate features, a high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes, Li Yinglong finished recounting the events of the day, yet his father’s response did not come.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressively stifling.

The sands of the hourglass on the table flowed slowly; in the silence that was thick enough to hear a pin drop,

This Vice Minister of Public Works, ambitious yet lacking in ability, clearly not young yet still immature in his actions, seemed as though he could hear the sound of the fine sand trickling.

In the silence,

Finally, the Prime Minister, the leader of his faction, spoke slowly, with just two words: "Foolish."

Li Yanfu’s face showed a flicker of frustration about his son’s lack of competitiveness:

"Did I not tell you last time to exercise restraint, to avoid fixating on a certain harsh officer? Yet, what have you done?"

Li Yinglong remained silent.

Li Yanfu sighed, seemingly weary:

"Well, what’s done is done. If I’m not mistaken, since Your Majesty is already aware, whether she seizes this opportunity or decides to ’buy a horse’s bones’, in any case, she will not let this go easily, I fear Chen Zhengru will be implicated and punished as well."

After a brief pause, he narrowed his eyes, and commanded calmly:

"Tomorrow at court, find an excuse for yourself, claim negligence in your duties, and request that Your Majesty penalize you no less than half a year’s salary. Hmph, it’s better to discipline yourself than for Her Majesty to find fault with you."

Li Yinglong suddenly lifted his head:

"Father, I had only a slight hand in this matter; they surely cannot trace it back to me..."

"Foolish!" Li Yanfu’s expression was as dark as water, "Do you really think that with her youth, Her Majesty cannot see through your petty, underhanded tactics?"

Li Yinglong opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself.

At that moment, suddenly there came footsteps from outside, followed by a knock on the door:

"Master, someone from the palace has arrived, saying that upon hearing of your indisposition, Her Majesty has sent them to visit."

The father and son exchanged glances.

"Invite them to the front hall," said Li Yinglong.

A short while later, Li Yinglong, supporting the Prime Minister who looked unwell and was coughing repeatedly, arrived at the front hall.

There they saw several eunuchs waiting, with one particularly eager eunuch getting to his feet:

"Seeing as the Prime Minister is severely ill, why trouble yourself to come out personally? It is we who should be visiting you."

Li Yanfu slowly sat down, looking feeble, a different person entirely from just moments ago:

"Since the celestial envoy has arrived, this old servant should naturally come to greet you. I hear, Your Majesty has exited the pass?"

The middle-aged eunuch nodded, then with a wave of his hand, a small eunuch holding precious boxed items stepped forward:

"Your Majesty heard from Vice Minister Li that the Prime Minister had caught a chill by chance and thus missed this year’s ritual ceremony. His Majesty has specially commanded this servant to deliver these nourishing treasures from the palace, including aged ginseng from the Snowy Mountains.

His Majesty appreciates the Prime Minister’s hard work for the court and said, if that is the case, then he should rest and recover in peace. For the coming period, the Prime Minister need not attend court."

He then turned toward Li Yinglong and said:

"His Majesty also mentioned that Vice Minister Li is a filial son, and presumably wishes to care for the Prime Minister. Therefore, the affairs of the Ministry of Public Works can be set aside for now. It would be appropriate to focus on looking after family with ease."

Forbidding father to attend court... diminishing my own authority...

Young Master’s face took on a slight change of expression, never expecting His Majesty’s move to be so resolute and protective of that pretty boy.

A reprisal in the dead of night... Could he not even wait a single day?

Li Yanfu’s expression remained calm as he smiled and said:

"If that is so, I must thank His Majesty on behalf of this old servant."

Yet in the depths of his profound pupils, there was already an expanse of icy solitude.

...

...

"Your Majesty’s divine favor leaves this servant with no way to repay, only to offer my life and remain loyal."

Zhao Douan had an inkling of the outcome and decisively offered his unwavering loyalty.

When the leader rewards, one must instantly provide positive feedback, which for him, had nearly become a muscle reflex.

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Xu Zhenguan was greatly pleased, then furrowed his brows and said:

"While I can protect you from the obvious threats, it’s difficult to guard against the hidden ones. Soon, the new reforms will be released and implemented gradually, slow in execution.

And this will undoubtedly provoke fierce resistance from many within the court.

The Grandmaster and I think that you should keep your distance from the Xiuwen Pavilion for the time being, including the title of Scholar. For you, right now, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits."

His words were quite direct.

Once the new reforms were made public, officials from scholarly families would undoubtedly push back furiously, attempting to hinder the progress.

On the court, a new round of fierce power struggles was bound to ensue, its scale and intensity perhaps no less than the previous conflicts centered around Pei Kaizhi.

Especially...

This time, the new reforms would not only affect the "Li Party."

Members of the "Imperial Faction" supported by Yuann Li, including gentlemen from scholarly families and even the Empress’s "Imperial Faction," would also face the enormous risk of dissent and resistance.

Ultimately, when the court contends for power with its officials, even the most loyal servants will rise with their swords.

Therefore, proposing strategies is only the first step.

The true difficulty lies in withstanding the many obstacles.

Just like the reformers in history, whom Zhao Douan knew well, most faced tragic endings.

Zhao Douan was still too weak, merely a Sixth-rank military officer.

The court struggles involving Xiuwen Pavilion were too intense for him.

Thus, after much consideration, the Empress decided that he should lie low under the protection of herself and others, quietly growing and avoiding attention.

"Everything as Your Majesty commands," Zhao Douan nodded readily.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at the hour and said:

"I’ve been outside for too long."

"Let me see Your Majesty off."

Zhao Douan paid the bill, and once the Empress removed the block, the two demon-like figures finally left the noodle shop.

Finding a secluded area, the Empress’s figure suddenly vanished, leaving only a Rakshasa mask falling to the ground.

Zhao Douan silently picked up the mask, looked towards the dazzling lights of the Imperial Palace in the distance, and turned back the way he came.

Under a moonlit sky, in the bustling and lively streets, only his lone shadow remained.

...

Unconsciously.

Zhao Douan found himself back at the bridge where he had talked with the Empress, and his gaze fell on the river, recalling the handkerchief that had floated away.

Then...

"Eh?"

Zhao Douan suddenly felt the place was familiar.

And he vaguely sensed that the qi within his own body was boiling on its own, establishing a faint resonance with the depths of the distant river.

He looked around and, seeing no one paying attention, quietly slipped into the darkness, flipping to the underside of the bridge.

With a strange expression:

"What a coincidence... isn’t this the location of the secret passage of the Imperial Palace?"

However, what truly surprised him was this.

At this moment, he clearly felt a faint attraction coming from the lakebed Array.

As if it was...

Calling!