The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 333 - 284. Encounter with the Old Heavenly Master again

Lu Ding...

When Zhao Douan's firm voice fell, Xu Zhenguan clearly froze for a moment.

A blush mixed with irritation rose to her icy, snow-like complexion, instinctively wanting to rebuke, "Impudent."

But when she met Zhao Douan's sincere and forthright gaze, the scolding got stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down.

Is he... serious?

Such a thought uncontrollably leaped out.

In Xu Zhenguan's view, the so-called "Your Majesty's Lu Ding" was just another joke from this foul-mouthed fellow.

Strangely enough, if anyone else dared to make such jokes three times in a row, her heart would be filled with extreme disgust.

Yet Zhao Douan had done so repeatedly and she had never truly become angry.

Xu Zhenguan did not know that this was also a sort of "broken windows effect".

From the moment Zhao Douan first boldly confessed and she did not punish him, Mr. Zhao obtained the privilege to be "oily and slick" to a small extent in front of the monarch.

Xu Zhenguan had thought that this was just another one of those times.

But the certainty in Zhao Douan's tone, and his particularly serious eyes, suddenly extinguished the flame of anger in her heart.

"Do you... truly wish to do so?"

Xu Zhenguan asked with a strange expression:

"You must understand, favored by the Dragon Essence, in the future you might not lack the opportunity to ascend to the 'Heavenly Human Realm'. But once you become a Lu Ding, you bury your bright prospects."

Zhao Douan let out a self-deprecating laugh and said,

"This Dragon Essence is the property of the Royal Family, not belonging to me. Without Your Majesty's cultivation over these past months, even if I had some talent, I would lack resources and heritage, and would merely be a figure of the Divine Chapter for all my life, let alone indulge in the current glory and riches?

I am Your Majesty's subject, Your Majesty is my benefactor. It is often said that one should repay even the smallest drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude…

Your Majesty has graced my impoverished self with heavenly rain, I shall offer my utmost loyalty and pour out my wealth to support you in return for Your Majesty's holy kindness."

He bowed slightly, "I earnestly request Your Majesty to allow me to repay your kindness!"

"..."

Xu Zhenguan was rendered silent by his speech, her heart moved and comforted, with a somewhat unclear and indescribable sense of shame...

Creak—

Even the Taia Sword standing on the ground seemed to bend slightly.

Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath, resignedly flicking her sleeve:

"Get up, who wants your gratitude?"

She said irritably:

"I praised you, and you really think you're some great tonic? A mere Divine Chapter Realm, what cultivation level do I possess, why should I covet such meager benefits? Do not bring this up again."

Zhao Douan raised his head, hesitating to say:

"But Your Majesty, this Dragon Essence is stored within my body, how can it be returned without Dual Cultivation... If it is lost..."

Xu Zhenguan turned her head and walked away two steps, speaking over her shoulder in an indifferent tone:

"Although the Dragon Essence is not divine, it is quite close to it. With my cultivation level, I cannot forcibly seize it, nor can anyone else. Let it temporarily reside within you. As long as you do not intentionally release it, outsiders cannot detect it…

Well, I will later apply a seal to obscure your Qi Sea, that should do it. Hmph, a mere Divine Chapter, what you should think about is advancing to the Worldly Realm as soon as possible, and not these crooked paths!"

What Xu Zhenguan did not say was that it would not be very meaningful for her to even attempt to cultivate through him, because Zhao Douan was too weak.

He had just barely sustained the awakening of the Dragon Essence for ten breaths... The time was far too short to be of great benefit to her.

The Dragon Essence was like an engine, and Zhao Douan's cultivation level was the fuel.

The method of cultivation would actually make it difficult for Zhao Douan to progress, causing the Dragon Essence to slip into an even deeper slumber, losing its effectiveness.

Therefore, both logically and emotionally, cultivating through him would be a losing proposition.

Zhao Douan, being so clever, suddenly realized:

"Your Majesty means that only when both parties have comparable cultivation levels, can they be beneficial to each other.

I heard that Your Majesty has not yet stepped into the true Heavenly Human Realm but instead relies on the royal Dragon Qi, comparable to the Heavenly Human.

So Your Majesty is currently at the Great Perfection of the Worldly Realm? If I enter the Worldly Realm, I would be at the same level as Your Majesty and only then could we perform Dual Cultivation?"

In theory, that's correct... Xu Zhenguan was about to nod when she suddenly came to her senses, extremely speechless.

Who was discussing when to perform Dual Cultivation with you?

I was almost led into that pit.

Zhao Douan then suddenly spotted a bug:

If he performed Dual Cultivation with the Empress and she broke through to the Heavenly Human Realm, wouldn't that mean she'd be in a different realm from him, so the result of Dual Cultivation would be that they couldn't cultivate together?

No... Since Dual Cultivation is beneficial to both parties, his own cultivation level would also increase, right?

Moreover, the Heavenly Human Realm is just that, at worst after he steps into the Heavenly Human, they could continue to cultivate together... Then, it would be like a perpetual motion machine...

"Put away your impractical thoughts."

Xu Zhenguan coldly interrupted his trail of thought and said:

"Since you serve as a Tributor to the Royal Family, and have been favored by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, today's performance on stage, I shall keep an account of your misconduct for now, without punishment.

The Dragon Essence will temporarily be housed with you; take good care of it. If you are negligent, I won't spare you. As for today's matter, I will let the news leak, making it appear as though I granted you the method, temporarily controlling the Taia Sword, without hinting towards the Dragon Essence.

Keep your mouth shut tight, and there won't be any leaks. If you speak carelessly and others find out, capturing and slicing you open to take the essence, I can't protect you all the time."

This blunt topic change... Zhao Douan inwardly commented, but respectfully on the surface:

"As commanded, Your Majesty!"

He let out a breath in his heart, understanding that he had safely passed this test today.

...

Seeing that he no longer spoke nonsense, Xu Zhenguan nodded in approval and pointed to the stone wall inside the room:

"Alright, now that we've clarified the situation, you may go and study the second scroll."

Just chatting for the sake of five Silver Coins... Zhao Douan dared not disobey and entered the threshold with all due propriety.

This time, with experience under his belt, he didn't need guidance and simply sat cross-legged on the cushion.

He tried to focus on the mural on the second floor—the irregular carvings on the stone stele—as he visualized it in his mind.

His heart was filled with anticipation... The first "Martial God Map" already contained many mysteries.

He wondered just how mystical the second scroll, which taught the ways of the Divine Chapter Realm, could be.

The wind brushed through the old building.

The sunlight slowly slanted.

Xu Zhenguan did not leave but merely stood outside the door. After about two quarters of an hour, he saw Zhao Douan rise from his meditation inside the room and walk out with a blank look in his eyes.

"Finished?"

"Um... Your Majesty, I'm not quite sure."

Zhao Douan was somewhat confused.

Because during his recent visualization, he had indeed sunk into a kind of "dream."

Yet it was pitch-black inside, and there was nothing at all.

No matter how he tried to explore or call out, he got no response.

After a long time, he finally felt the familiar sense of mental fatigue and naturally emerged from the "visualization."

Xu Zhenguan, however, showed no surprise and calmly said:

"This second picture is called 'Six Chapters Scripture,' and it's different from the first level.

You have just stepped into the Divine Chapter Realm not long ago and have not yet stabilized, so that's why you see nothing but darkness in your visualization. Once you firmly establish yourself, things will naturally change."

Ah, so it's like that?

Xu Zhenguan casually plucked the Taia Sword from the ground and, with a toss, sent it into the air. The sword transformed into a long rainbow, shooting straight back toward the Grand Temple to return to its place.

The Empress's skirt fluttered as she led Zhao Douan out of the armory.

—Bringing him here had two objectives. One was to interrogate him, and the other was to bestow upon him the "Six Chapters Scripture."

Now that both had been achieved, it was natural to leave.

As they left the front courtyard of the armory,

the old eunuch in his python robe gave him a smiling nod as if to say "our household knew there would be no trouble."

Zhao Douan couldn't be bothered with him.

Walking a distance away, Zhao Douan spoke anxiously:

"Your Majesty, am I to stay in the palace tonight?"

"You can go home by yourself," Xu Zhenguan replied indifferently in a way that marked the distinction between monarch and subject.

"Oh..." Zhao Douan's face fell, clearly disappointed.

Xu Zhenguan caught a glimpse of his dejected manner out of the corner of her eye and felt a bit of a headache. She thought for a moment and then said:

"Right, you represented the court and achieved a great victory today. I have already ordered it, there will be a victory banquet in Zhangtai Garden tonight. I will not attend, but the other ministers will be there. Remember to go.

Heh, surely there will be scholars who will take this opportunity to write poems and praises. Just accept them graciously. Those mediocre scholars may not be capable of governing the country, but their ability to spread fame through poetry and essays is not weak; they can help make your name known."

"Your Majesty knows that what I seek is not empty fame..." Zhao Douan said.

Xu Zhenguan ignored him and continued:

"Right, during your recovery period in the palace, I sent Mo Chou with troops to the Divine Dragon Temple. The head of the Precepts Hall has been stripped of his position and exiled to a lesser temple outside the capital. At that time, all the monks who participated in the challenge were demoted, and the Divine Dragon Temple's land bestowed by the court was reduced by a tenth.

The confiscated silver coins will be sent to the eastern part of the city to repair the welfare institutions.

Autumn is here, and winter is not far away. On the third anniversary of my ascension to the throne, I don't want to see children freezing to death before my eyes. They are my subjects, and you, a mere military officer, don't have to worry about helping them."

Zhao Douan paused for a moment, unable to move.

Watching Xu Zhenguan's figure receding into the distance, her white dress trailing behind her, he pursed his lips and felt a sudden warmth in his heart.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

On the other hand, Xu Zhenguan returned to Yangxin Hall. As soon as she arrived, she saw Mo Chou already waiting outside the imperial study.

She seemed anxious, and upon seeing Xu Zhenguan, her eyes lit up eagerly:

"Your Majesty, Mr. Yuan requests an audience!"

...

Shortly later, at the Imperial City gate.

Zhao Douan led his horse out, declining the offer from the palace servants to send him home in a carriage. Instead, he simply borrowed a horse and clopped his way homeward.

After a while, he remembered that his own conspicuous appearance had been recognized by many.

He took out a small spatial scroll from his bosom and retrieved the mask he had confiscated from "Thousand Faces God."

He pressed it to his face, changing his appearance.

Now, as he walked along the streets, indeed no one paid him any mind.

However, having attained the Divine Chapter Realm, he now possessed sharp hearing and eyesight. He could clearly hear the many conversations about the day's magical duel resonating from both sides of the street.

Among these, the name "Yama Zhao" was frequently mentioned.

"Where to next? Head home first? Hmm... Home is probably not peaceful either. At this moment, it must be like a marketplace with people from various government offices coming to visit..."

"It's getting late; why not wait until tonight and go directly to the 'Zhangtai Garden' victory banquet..."

"Oh, right, the Heavenly Master Mansion..."

Zhao Douan suddenly remembered this matter. Old Wang had made an appointment to see him on the platform.

Should he dash off to the Heavenly Master Mansion for a visit?

On impulse, Zhao Douan was about to take action but suddenly fixed his gaze.

Dismounting, he led his horse toward a familiar soup and pancake shop by the roadside ahead, casually tying the horse to a pillar.

He sat down with a swagger, stepping over a long bench and sitting at a nearby table.

He turned to the tall old man already waiting there, tearing at a pancake and sipping soup, and with a grin, he bowed his head and greeted in a low voice:

"I have the honor of meeting the old... gentleman."

Zhang Yan Yi smiled and lifted his head, passing over the prepared bowl of mutton soup:

"Little Zhao, have a bowl of soup first. As the saying goes, 'Across the mountains and waters, we meet.'"