The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Zhao Douan spoke grandiosely, but he understood that this was also Ma Yan's intention.

The reason the other party had sent word that he needed to hold the fort at the Imperial Court was to avoid competing with him for credit.

In that case, he readily agreed, instructed a few precautions, arranged the follow-up matters and commanded someone to make a trip to the White Horse Hall to report to the Old Director on what would follow.

He then mounted his horse and headed straight for the Imperial City.

"Calculating with my fingers, today marks exactly the seventh day since my appointment, completing the hidden mission within a week... Damn, I've become a speedrunner."

Zhao Douan, buoyed by the spring breeze, sped on his horse, using self-deprecating comments to dilute the sadness in his heart.

Suddenly, he had a déjà vu of returning to the main city to find an NPC and turn in a quest after slaying monsters and looting equipment.

...

Imperial Palace.

Due to a temporary lull in the daily quarrels at court, Xu Zhenguan was feeling lazy today and skipped the morning court.

Rarely, she slept until the sun was high in the sky and then steadfastly completed her daily cultivation lessons.

Estimating that there were not many matters she could handle, she opted to start her lunch break early.

The lunch was lavish.

Among the dishes was a pot of soup with succulent slices of fish turned into a creamy delicacy; the Empress herself adjusted the seasoning with her bare hands and scooped it up with a spoon, in quite a good mood.

"Your Majesty."

At that moment, Mo Chou, who had been busy all morning, approached, still displaying a serious and proper demeanor.

The Empress in white gave a smile and invited,

"The timing is perfect, the Imperial Kitchen has improved a new dish today, this fish soup is quite delectable; you should try it too."

Mo Chou quickly declined, indicating that there should be a distinction between sovereign and servant, between superior and subordinate.

Xu Zhenguan shook her head helplessly while eating her fish soup and commented,

"You seem not as relaxed as you were when you were by my side in the past."

Mo Chou replied earnestly,

"Your Majesty is no longer an Imperial Princess, and I am no longer a mere maid."

Xu Zhenguan sighed lightly,

"Yes, we have both changed."

After a pause, as if unwilling to dwell on this, she changed the subject,

"Did you come over because there is something you need to report? Just say it."

Mo Chou hummed in affirmation and said,

"It's not something urgent. Knowing that Your Majesty was resting this morning, I didn't rush to tell you.

Yes, it's about the Imperial Court and the White Horse Hall. I received news that today the Imperial Court issued a confinement order, except for Lihua Hall, apparently involving the arrest of rebels...

In the White Horse Hall, Master Sun, using his authority, has invited Bian Ji, the Buddhist monk from the Divine Dragon Temple, and has yet to send detailed paperwork to explain to the Palace."

Xu Zhenguan paused, her actions of holding the white jade spoon slowing.

Her expression was somewhat peculiar,

"Confinement? Bian Ji was involved as well?"

If viewed separately, the two incidents wouldn't be linked.

After all, they belonged to different government offices, but adding "Zhao Douan" to the mix made it different.

The sudden unusual actions of the Imperial Court and Sun Lianying summoning experts had a "precedent" not too long ago.

That time, two offices had collaborated to capture spies from Prince Jing Mansion on Jiancheng Road.

But this time, the scale was clearly greater.

What had happened?

"Your Majesty, I suspect that these two matters are related to Zhao Douan," Mo Chou said calmly, "His recent actions have been somewhat too conspicuous."

Xu Zhenguan chirped in response, smilingly retorted,

"If it is indeed for arresting rebels, that wouldn't be considered overstepping, right?"

Mo Chou shook her head,

"I'm afraid Master Zhao is trying too hard, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut under the guise of serving Your Majesty, just to flaunt his authority."

The first female official analyzed,

"He's done this before. Initially by coercing Feng Ju to falsely accuse Li Yanfu, the signs were already there.

Now that he has been promoted, he is even less discreet. Asserting authority at Lihua Hall could still be explained, but subsequently arresting fifty-eight officials was clearly intentional.

He had much gentler means to handle those matters.

But he chose the most ostentatious approach, seemingly managing things well, but in reality, he was deliberately showing off the favor he enjoys, in order to intimidate the court."

These words were indeed accurate; Zhao Douan indeed harbored such thoughts.

From this perspective, Mo Chou actually understood his intentions better than many others.

Seeing the Empress remain silent, Mo Chou persevered in advising,

"I know, Your Majesty appreciates his capabilities, and I do not deny them either, but are you perhaps indulging him too much?

When he took office, you sent me to support him. For the previous fifty-eight people, you backed him up, even going as far as to fall out with Princess Yunyang, but what did he do?

Not only did he not show consideration for Your Majesty, letting Your Majesty worry less, he became increasingly arrogant. To secure his achievements and prevent others from usurping them, he cunningly ordered the confinement of the Eight Halls.

Moreover, he frequently exploited his authority to summon protectors from the Heavenly Master Mansion and the Divine Dragon Temple...

The case of Jin Jian was excusable since he volunteered, but this time summoning monk Bian Ji... it's really..."

Xu Zhenguan put down her spoon, interrupting her, saying,

"Mo Chou, your prejudgment against him is too deep, and it has affected your judgment."

After a slight pause, she added,

"Even if he is as you say, arrogant, would Ma Yan and Sun Lianying be so fearful of him that they obey him blindly?"

Mo Chou, feeling rebuked, hurriedly clarified,

"I didn't mean that, I suspect that both Lord Ma and Mr. Sun have been deceived by the narrative concocted by Zhao Douan, like his Lihua Hall capturing rebels today.

But he has just taken office, even if he had obtained some clues from the other Eight Halls, how significant could that be?

To mobilize such an operation?

To summon Bian Ji for protection? Does the capital have rebels that strong?"

"I fear even the spies hidden within the Imperial Decree Department wouldn't go this far."

She blurted out her thoughts in one breath and, seeing that the Empress remained silent, suddenly realized her mistake and knelt down to apologize:

"This servant lost composure for a moment, please punish me, Your Majesty!"

To outsiders, she was known as the "First Lady Official."

In fact, beneath it all, Mo Chou was still that same "maid" who had followed the Third Imperial Princess.

Thus, she always referred to herself as "this servant," never as "this official."

Even though she was intelligent, her style was starkly different from those seasoned veterans in the court.

She remained more like the head maid beside a "young lady," rather than an official.

"Stand up, I would not punish you for this."

Xu Zhenguan sighed softly.

Although, she did not agree with the opinion of her personal lady official that Zhao Douan had always been deceiving people,

she also truly had no explanation for Zhao Douan's intentions.

As Mo Chou had said, did the Kuangfu Society in the capital really have rebels that could alarm the monk Bian Ji?

As for catching the spy, she had only dared to bet with Yuan Li in the Imperial Garden yesterday that it would be resolved within a month.

Thus, when she tried to find a credible explanation for Zhao Douan's actions to change the bias of her personal head maid, she found none.

Of course, as the sovereign, she had no need to explain herself to a servant.

But the Empress was ultimately someone who cherished old attachments.

From this perspective, she indeed was not a ruler who was adept at power, cold and ruthless.

"Let it be, I will have someone inquire about this matter later."

Xu Zhenguan waved her hand gently, and an invisible force helped Mo Chou to rise, saying.

Just then, the hurried footsteps of a young eunuch came from outside:

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Decree Department, the White Horse Governor Zhao Douan requests an audience."

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

The two women in the room were momentarily stunned, Xu Zhenguan smiled and looked at her personal lady official:

"There you go, you can ask him yourself."

Mo Chou did not speak, but she also had expectations, thinking to herself that she would see how he would explain later.

...

After a short while.

Zhao Douan, who had been waiting outside Yangxin Hall for a long time, was led by the young eunuch through the straight corridor to the outside of the dining hall.

He saw a group of Imperial Kitchen staff clearing away the leftover food.

Not... I timed my arrival to coincide with mealtime, but you've finished eating... And I'm still hungry... Zhao Douan opened his mouth in disappointment.

His hope of having lunch with the Empress was dashed.

After the palace attendants dispersed,

Zhao Douan finally saw, inside the room, the Empress whom he hadn't seen for several days, sitting beside a round table.

Next to her was the big chunk of ice, who did not get along with him, standing beside her, fanning the Empress.

This annoying spirit, why is he also here? I hate third wheels the most... Zhao Douan muttered internally, but maintained a respectful demeanor as he greeted:

"This official, greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities." The satiated Empress of Great Yu looked somewhat languid.

Her white casual attire draped softly, and her hair also lacked its usual luster.

On normal days after lunch, she would take off her shoes and rest on the couch in her bedroom, reading a book.

But today, since she was receiving an "external official," she had to be more formal.

Now intrigued, she feigned authority and asked sternly:

"I was about to send for you to come to the palace, yet here you are on your own accord."

Summon me for what... Damn, this damn autocorrect...

What is it that your Majesty would command? Zhao Douan asked curiously.

Xu Zhenguan maintained a stern face, but ultimately she was not truly angry, so her authority did not come through strongly:

"I heard today that you caused quite a stir in the Imperial Decree Department, even alarming the monk Bian Ji from Divine Dragon Temple. Is there any truth to this?"

Bian Ji monk?

Is that the Buddhist name for that monk in white? Sounds familiar... Zhao Douan said:

"It's true, I was just about to report this to Your Majesty after entering the palace."

He paused, then continued:

"This official had a secret meeting with Lord Ma yesterday, and asked Mr. Sun to bring in strong guards... This morning, I led the Lihua Hall, arresting the rebels."

He first explained his actions, the Empress listened quietly, waiting for more.

Mo Chou, holding the court fan, pricked up her ears, anticipating how he would cleverly explain his actions.

Then, Zhao Douan calmly said:

"This operation was a great success. This official, in collaboration with Lord Ma, has successfully rooted out the rebels hidden within the Imperial Decree Department, specifically from Pomegranate Hall and Peach Hall's arrest officer... Both are now imprisoned in Imperial Prison, waiting for Your Majesty's interrogation."

Hmm... Xu Zhenguan listened, first nodding slightly in satisfaction.

Then, only belatedly catching the key phrases from Zhao Douan's overly calm and unexciting description.

Imperial Decree Department, two rebels...

Xu Zhenguan's lazy expression momentarily stiffened:

"Wait, you just said the rebels are..."

Zhao Douan nodded with a smile:

"This official has successfully accomplished his mission, the spies hidden in the Imperial Decree Department have been found."

The Empress immediately woke up, all sleepiness vanished, "spies found," "spies found" echoing in her mind...

"Snap!"

Beside her, Mo Zhaorong's court fan slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, making a sound.

It was as crisp and clear as a slap.