The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 230 - 205, Your Majesty is the most beautiful scenery in the human world.

After dropping that line, Zhao Douan didn’t wait for the "Young Master’s" response, clamped his legs against his horse’s sides, and galloped towards the Imperial Palace.

"Clearly he can’t take vengeance on me right now, yet he comes to spout threats, he truly is someone with great ambition but little talent."

Zhao Douan shook his head, no longer considering him as an enemy in his heart.

After a while,

he arrived at the Imperial Palace, announced himself according to protocol, and was then led inside.

The familiar senior female court official came over, smiling as she said,

"Mr. Zhao, follow me please, Your Majesty is waiting in the garden."

There are many gardens in the Imperial Palace.

But the one known for "flowers" is unique.

Utterly devoid of trees and ponds, there is only a sea of various colored flowers, crowded together into a "flower ocean."

It is said to have been the whimsical idea of a certain Emperor who sought to collect all the exotic flowers from around the world and transplant them into the palace, thus creating this "back court flower ocean."

When Zhao Douan arrived, from afar, he saw a figure standing among the vibrant sea of flowers, quietly admiring them.

The senior palace maid paused at just the right time, along with other attendants, standing on the outskirts.

Zhao Douan puffed up his chest and lifted his head, walking along the stone path on the ground known as the "Floral Path," until he reached the Empress’s side.

Xu Zhenguan was in an extremely good mood today, her fair and translucent skin dazzling under the sunlight.

Her floor-length dress accentuated her graceful figure, yet it evoked in onlookers not the slightest bit of vulgarity.

Her jet-black hair draped loosely, her delicate and fine nose, lips that were appropriately full, and deep eyes below long lashes all quietly appreciated the colorful butterflies dancing in the flowers.

"Your Majesty..."

Zhao Douan was about to speak, but saw her subtly shake her head.

As if afraid to startle the butterflies away.

Zhao Douan followed her gaze and discovered that the two butterflies entangled amongst the flowers were not ordinary lives.

Their bodies glowed with iridescent colors, and as they flew, the air seemed to ripple with light.

After a while, when the two butterflies had flown away, the Empress’s cool voice finally rose:

"These butterflies are known as ’Seven Days of the Capital.’ Ordinary people, if they look at them for too long, their minds will be drawn in, becoming entranced in a dream, and they will recall the happiest seven days of their lives.

For this reason, many people seek and capture them, but these butterflies cannot be kept captive. Therefore, once caught, they will refuse to eat and won’t survive a week.

Inside the territories of Great Yu, they have become increasingly rare; this pair was brought from the Mubei Forest and has already lived in the palace for two hundred years."

Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned; he knew that this world harbored extraordinary life, but it was the first time he’d come into such close contact:

"Your Majesty says they cannot be kept captive? How were they brought back here?"

Xu Zhenguan raised her slender hand and gently pointed to a clump of pure black flowers in the distance:

"That is the lightless flower, which the ’Seven Days of the Capital’ greatly favor. However, this flower is exceedingly rare.

After they bloom, out of more than a thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine will combust due to soaking in sunlight and accumulating heat, leaving only one.

Once eaten, one can become impervious to flames, and the body will not decay for hundreds of years. Even the Royal Family put in great effort to obtain it, thus luring the ’Seven Days of the Capital’ here."

Zhao Douan was amazed and remarked:

"This servant has been groveling in the mundane world, buried in secular matters, and did not know that there were so many wondrous things in the world."

Xu Zhenguan turned to look at him, smiling as she said:

"If you want it, how about I gift it to you?"

Zhao Douan, feeling immensely honored:

"This servant does not deserve such luxury... Furthermore, this servant believes treasures belong with those of virtue."

Xu Zhenguan teased: "Are you implying that you lack virtue?"

Zhao Douan said self-deprecatingly:

"Why does Your Majesty ask knowingly? In the Capital... probably no one thinks this servant has any connection with ’virtue.’"

Xu Zhenguan fell silent for a moment, then said quite seriously:

"You’ve suffered."

In the Empress’s eyes, Zhao Douan’s reputation was so poor, mostly because of her.

No... I simply feel that cleaning my slate is too exhausting... Once a certain impression is formed, how easy is it to change?

He deliberately showed an unconcerned smile:

"Serving Your Majesty, such suffering barely counts for anything."

"..." Xu Zhenguan took a step forward and walked on:

"Walk with me."

The two strolled through the sea of flowers, and when the wind swept across, every flower seemed to bow in her honor.

The sovereign and her official first discussed the changes in the court.

Upon learning that the struggle for new policies had concluded, Zhao Douan felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart and said,

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan’s mouth curved into a slight smile, then calmly said,

"It’s only the first step of a journey of a thousand miles. After policies leave the court, they still have to reach beyond the Capital, to the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures, and down to the common people’s fields. Even with clear governance, implementation will meet resistance."

Zhao Douan blinked and ventured,

"Your Majesty, are you worried about the Eight Princes?"

Xu Zhenguan fell silent, which was tantamount to an admission.

These words, she should not have shared with a mere military officer.

But after so many events, she no longer regarded Zhao Douan as an ordinary person:

"My uncles will surely be watching closely. With their intelligence and advisors, a little contemplation will reveal the potency of the new policies. Will they let them be, cooperate with the court, or obstruct them in secret?

As the saying goes, ’Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away.’ My sword’s edge can only sweep across the heads of a million people in the Capital. Beyond that, my reach is too limited."

Zhao Douan frowned, finding it inappropriate to speak rashly on this topic.

On one hand, it was almost an unsolvable issue involving a struggle for the throne where conspiracies and tricks weren’t very useful.

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The best method was nothing more than a soft knife cutting through the flesh.

If our side is strong, and theirs weak, then naturally, the will to resist fades.

On the other hand, he was also too unfamiliar with the territories beyond the Great Yu Capital.

Since his arrival, Zhao Douan had hardly left the Capital, and he only understood one of the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures—the Capital itself.

He neither understood the local conditions nor the character of the Eight Princes.

The various strange cultivation groups in the Jianghu, like the Magic God Sect, Five Demons Sect, Netherworld Sect, White Clothes Sect...

Even beyond the borders of Great Yu, the mysterious and magnificent lands, intricate powers...

The Gu God Clan, the great Black Heaven Sect... the ancestral home of Western Regions Buddhism... and the many powerful beings... were all just "rumors heard."

How could he possibly offer any advice?

"Let’s not talk about that anymore."

Xu Zhenguan also realized that she had perhaps expected too much of this small member of the imperial guard.

Or rather, she was used to him always being able to help her solve difficult problems, so she had spoken out of habit.

Yet whether it was the threat of the "Eight Princes," the remnants of the Kuangfu Society, or the cultivation world of Jianghu, it was all too remote for him.

"Come, I’ll take you to see something nice."

Xu Zhenguan said with a smile,

"Um, if you still wish to enjoy the view, you may also take a longer look."

A grand treasure, perhaps... Recollecting his thoughts, Zhao Douan knew the Empress was about to reward him, and he could hardly wait, yet his face showed only earnest sincerity:

"In your servant’s eyes, Your Majesty is the most beautiful scenery in the world. Being able to learn from Your Majesty at all times, I am already deeply content."

"..." Xu Zhenguan laughed and cursed at his slick words, and then she turned and walked towards the distance.

Her steps, however, became unintentionally lighter.

This guy really had a way with words...

After a while.

Xu Zhenguan led Zhao Douan to a desolate hall within the Imperial Palace, where only the characters "Training Ground" were inscribed with dynamic strokes.

Upon arrival, eunuchs were already waiting and pulled open the large doors.

Amidst the heavy sound of the doors opening, Zhao Douan saw a vast hall paved with green bricks and at the far end, a humanoid wooden dummy.

Draped upon the wooden dummy was a radiant suit of armor.

Xu Zhenguan spoke softly,

"Go take a look at the reward I’ve chosen for you, this item is called the ’Six Talismans Treasure Armor.’"

This chapter’s a bit light, I’ll try to write more tomorrow to make up for it... running away with my tail between my legs.