The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 281 - 246, I steal from myself.

Inside the Imperial Palace, amidst the Qiumu forest, golden leaves fluttered haphazardly onto the neat stone pavement.

Under the sun, they seemed like burning flames.

Xu Zhenguan stood quietly in the forest, her delicate and beautiful wrist lightly turning the treasure sword inlaid with Coiling Dragon accessories, which she thrust straight into the crevice of the stone pavement with a swish.

She drew out a silk handkerchief and slowly wiped her pale and slender hands, curiously asking,

"Has he made any progress?"

The term "progress" here naturally referred to the case of the mole within Prince Jing Mansion.

Initially, after Zhao Douan joined the Divine Mechanism Camp, Xu Zhenguan had some high expectations for him because of his astonishing performance in the Imperial Court.

Thus, even the bizarre requests such as the dismissal of Tang Ping and others, the Empress calmly granted.

Even when Xue Shence and others entered the palace, she blocked them all.

However, the reports that came back from the Divine Mechanism Camp were all criticisms of Zhao Douan’s indulgence in pleasures.

It seemed he had completely forgotten about the investigation.

Yet, Xu Zhenguan still let things take their course, her curiosity piqued as she wondered what this member of the Little Forbidden Army was really up to.

She had heard in advance about the so-called military drill scheduled for today.

At this moment, witnessing Mo Chou hurrying to report in such a hurried manner, her demeanor and gestures quite unusual,

Naturally, she guessed that Zhao Douan had caused some trouble again, making a breakthrough in the case.

However, Mo Chou who approached closely shook her head and said,

"Mr. Zhao has still not started investigating the case, at least I can see no traces of it."

The Empress’s beautiful eyes showed traces of surprise, puzzledly she asked,

"Then could it be that there was trouble during the military maneuver? Did he clash with someone again?"

Mo Chou couldn’t help but smile wryly and shake her head again, "…no, not at all."

Now, the Empress was truly curious, her beautiful eyebrows slightly knitted in what seemed like an encounter with an interesting puzzle, she laughed lightly and said,

"Let me guess, if it’s unrelated to the case and not a conflict, it couldn’t possibly be some mishap with the drill itself, could it?"

Mo Chou’s face showed an increasingly strange expression as she respectfully said,

"Your Majesty’s eyes penetrate like torches, sharp as a needle in autumn!

The men under reported that today in the drill, Mr. Zhao presented two new types of firearms, combined with a new combat formation for practice, far surpassing the previous Fire Gun...

The officials from the Privy Council and the Minister of War both witnessed it and hastened to send congratulatory messages into the palace…"

She narrated the situation she knew in detail.

Xu Zhenguan was genuinely stunned.

The autumn breeze passed by, lifting the waterfall-like blue-black hair that fell down the back of the white-clothed Empress.

The strands brushed across her pale cheeks, luscious lips, straight nose, and eyebrows like distant mountains...

Her action of wiping her hands quietly halted, and the handkerchief was subconsciously clenched tightly in her pale wet palm.

"You’re saying Zhao Douan asked Gongshu Tianyuan and Chen Gui to cooperate in making these new firearms?"

"Yes."

"Far surpassing the Fire Gun?"

"Yes, according to Master Zhao’s words, the stolen blueprints from Prince Jing Mansion were practically like scrap paper."

"He only provided some ideas?"

"Yes, as told by the head of the Firearms Bureau."

Silence.

At that moment, the Emperor of Great Yu couldn’t help but recall the scene she and Heavenly Master Zhang watched at the Heavenly Master Mansion through a water screen, which Zhao Douan explained to Gongshu Tianyuan.

She suddenly had a strong intuition that the core of this new firearm must also be related to that member of the Little Forbidden Army.

How could he have achieved it?

As described in the Xiuwen Pavilion’s "Golden Three Strategies," it could only be attributed to outrageous talent.

She discovered that she had quite naturally accepted this fact.

Or rather, she had become accustomed to his occasional surprises.

But…

Was this surprise a bit too big?

Permanently resolving the theft of the firearms... Thus, in this recent period, he truly wasn’t wasting time, yet he hadn’t been investigating the mole but was doing something even more important.

"Your Majesty?" Mo Chou’s gentle call brought her back from her reverie.

"Uh…" Xu Zhenguan instinctively responded, then immediately said, "Those firearms blueprints…"

Mo Chou’s gaze grew deeper as she said,

"To prevent leakage, they remain only in the Firearms Bureau and haven’t been presented to the palace yet, nor has the Privy Council intervened."

Then, she talked about the aftermath of the drill.

"Good, very good! Since the new firearms haven’t been completely manufactured yet, let them be fully overseen by the Firearms Bureau!" Even with her astuteness, she couldn’t hide her joy.

In battles between armies, the strength of the victor was indeed crucial.

But looking at the world, whether martial artists or magicians, their absolute numbers were far too scant.

Moreover, even with her cultivation, she couldn’t alone withstand thousands of troops.

From this, the importance of ordinary soldiers’ military formations was further highlighted.

How could she not be overjoyed upon hearing such good news?

"And Zhao Douan, summon him to the palace promptly…"

The Empress said half a sentence and then stopped, realizing the inappropriateness, she thought for a moment and smiled, saying,

"Is Xue Shence planning to hold a celebration banquet for him tonight?"

Mo Chou understood immediately, "Your Majesty is thinking of going in person?"

Xu Zhenguan nodded gently and smiled,

"A low-key visit, no need to alarm too many people. Although the mole has not been caught, with such great merit, how can I not personally congratulate? My lucky general has delivered such a surprise, I shall also give him a surprise."

Mo Chou felt a surge of sourness in her heart, as if she had just bitten into a lemon.

She thought, Her Majesty is about to personally vindicate that man.

...

...

Xiuwen Pavilion.

Scholars busily buried themselves, in the spacious "office," stacks of official documents piled up into mountains.

As new policies gradually unfurled, countless tasks crazily flooded into the newly established Xiuwen Pavilion, forcing the group of scholars to work tirelessly, their eyes dull from exhaustion.

These young officials, however, were also growing at a terrifying rate in the midst of this ordeal.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, the room door was pushed open forcefully.

The autumn wind burst in, lifting sheets of paper on the long desk, rustling like pure white waves.

"What happened to rush in so?"

Han Zhou lifted his head, his swollen eyelids and sagged eye bags, his badges of honor from overwork:

"From where are these documents?"

The clerk who entered was gasping for breath and said,

"They were sent by the Minister of War and are related to the Divine Mechanism Camp."

Swoosh—

The scholars looked over, puzzled,

"The Divine Mechanism Camp? The one Scholar Zhao went to? It wouldn’t be related to Scholar Zhao, would it?"

The clever scholars reacted swiftly.

In a corner of the room, behind a desk, Grandmaster Dong, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes:

"Bring them to me to see."

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

A moment later, the elderly Dong Xuan sat up slowly, rubbing his blurry eyes, as if he no longer recognized the words on it.

...

White Horse Hall, behind the government office.

The autumn wind rustled through the courtyard, and the verdant branches of a large tree began to turn yellow.

Old Director Sun Lianying recently acquired a rocking chair, and he particularly enjoyed napping under the tree, covered with a round straw fan.

"Sir, there is new news from the Divine Mechanism Camp."

A messenger pushed open the small gate and hurried forward.

Sun Lianying didn’t even open his eyes as he softly said, "Speak."

But as the subordinate messenger was halfway through, the old eunuch opened his eyes.

He incessantly clicked his teeth, staring blankly.

He thought: Mr. Zhao, you should be catching thieves, not messing around like this!

...

"Father... Father..."

Within the Ministry of Personnel’s inner hall.

As the six ministries’ office handling all official appointments, this was where Prime Minister Li Yanfu presided.

Usually, at midday, the aging Li Yanfu would rest in the inner courtyard, not to be disturbed by outsiders.

However, today, a figure hurriedly crossed multiple thresholds.

Under the watchful eyes of many officials of the Ministry of Personnel, he walked directly into the inner hall and pushed open the door.

"Young Master" Li Yinglong stepped over the threshold.

Looking at the bed where the current Prime Minister, who had just opened his eyes and was slowly sitting up, his expression subtle:

"Father... I..."

Li Yanfu’s body was slightly hunched, sitting on the bed.

His somewhat disheveled hair hung down, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s.

Directly staring, the Young Master’s voice gradually lowered, before he finally huffed,

"Hastily and panicked, what a sight you are!"

Li Yinglong opened his mouth weakly to argue:

"It was father who instructed his son to keep an eye on Zhao Douan, and to report immediately if there was anything important."

...

Li Yanfu sighed helplessly, tiredly waving his hand:

"Speak, what has that young wolf stirred up now?"

Li Yinglong vividly described it, ending with,

"Originally, Mr. Zhao’s conflicts with the military officer group were intensifying. Xue Shence also had a poor opinion of this man, but it’s said that after today’s drill, Xue Shence personally wanted to celebrate his achievements."

He was quite disappointed, as if hoping that the two sides would clash.

Hoping for a long time, only for a gunshot to sound, and then they shook hands and made peace.

Li Yanfu was silent for a long time, then he let out a long breath, mumbling,

"Could it be that it’s a divine blessing from Your Majesty?"

...

...

Just as the news spread through the Capital like ripples,

Zhao Douan, who had once again made a splash, left the Divine Mechanism Camp and returned to the Imperial Court.

In the Lihua Hall, he met two old acquaintances who were waiting there.

"Well, well, our Master Zhao has returned. Climbing up the ranks but still remembering your old employers, how rare."

Haitang, the resolute female detective with long legs and a high ponytail adorned with a beauty mark under her eye, sneered sarcastically.

She sat in the inner hall’s chair, mimicking Zhao Douan’s posture by crossing her legs.

Across from her, sitting was Zhang Han, known as "Scroll King" of the Imperial Court, with the seven-foot sword lying across the table.

He, too, looked over but took the initiative to stand up, clasping his fists:

"This officer has seen Master Zhao."

"Old Zhang, Old Hai, what’s this, feeling estranged, are we? We’re comrades, I’ve only been away a few days, how is it you don’t recognize me?" Zhao Douan laughed heartily, his manner warm.

Without any airs of a fourth-rank officer.

Old Hai... Haitang, whose origins seemed extraordinary, twitched her lips, extremely resistant to this nickname:

"Don’t, just call me Haitang."

Then, her face turned wary as she watched the grinning Zhao Douan, shifting her legs to another position:

"Spill it, why did Ke Rou ask us to come here? What new pit are you having us jump into this time? Just say it, let us die knowing the cause, don’t put on that fake smile, it frightens me."

Zhang Han also gave an inquiring look.

"How can you think of me this way? When have I ever deceived you?"

Zhao Douan pretended to be heartbroken, throwing himself into the main seat, a picture of innocence.

Haitang scoffed:

"Can you say you haven’t? When investigating the mole, who was it..."

"It’s all in the past, all misunderstandings," Zhao Douan waved his hand, acting wounded.

Then he cheerfully said,

"However, indeed, I have a favor to ask of you both."

Heh... I knew it... Haitang rolled her eyes.

Zhang Han’s face was expressionless, his tone strictly business:

"What is it? To be clear, if it’s not within our duties, we won’t assist."

"Ha ha, don’t worry, it’s definitely within your duties and you’ll earn great merits,"

Zhao Douan grinned earnestly, his hands braced on the thick desk, making sure it was just the three of them in the hall.

Then, facing their skeptical looks, he spoke softly:

"I need you to go to the Firearms Bureau and steal the blueprints for a new type of firearm."

??

Haitang and Zhang Han both stared at him in astonishment, their expressions blank.