The Empress's No.1 Lackey

In the hot spring palace, the moonlight was bright and charming tonight, casting a dim glow on the scattered bronze lamp posts. The blurry light danced on the swirling steam, creating a dreamlike illusion.

Zhao Douan suspected he was seeing things.

The usual majestic and dignified Emperor of Great Yu, who bore the aura of an emperor, seemed to have shed her "Empress" halo tonight, resembling an ethereal fairy with skin like ice and snow.

Hiding in the pool, he was facing a pair of snow-white, crystal-clear feet, unadorned by silk stockings.

Moist like jade, soft like satin, they resembled two pure and immaculate white lotus blossoms slowly blooming on the surface of a celestial pond.

A few faint blue veins visible on her foot complimented the transparency of her icy skin, making them divine.

Moving his gaze upward, a slender calf disappeared into the mist, Xu Zhenguan ethereal and transcendent, like a fairy emerging from the bath, walking gracefully with the wind.

On her flawless face, her pitch-black eyes gazed down at him without a trace of earthly smoke, a faint red mark between her brows.

She looked less like an earthly ruler and more like a transcendent being from another world.

"Your Maj... Your Majesty..."

Zhao Douan was stunned for a few moments and then looked up respectfully to pay his respects.

He wanted to rise and bow with cupped hands, but immediately realized it was improper, sinking back down with a splash.

"Forgive my body, it's not convenient for me to perform full obeisance..."

"It's fine," Xu Zhenguan spoke with a clear and cold voice, like tinkling spring water.

For some reason, her demeanor tonight was different from usual.

There were fewer expressions on her face, resembling a goddess statue in a temple, seemingly maintaining the cold aloofness of a "Great Cultivator" on purpose to sustain a certain sense of distance.

But as she descended, her slightly curled toes seemed to betray her inner self as the Empress, far from being as indifferent and serene as they appeared.

"Mr. Hai must have told you,"

Xu Zhenguan said,

"Tonight, I will personally bestow the Enlightenment upon you, wash your meridians with 'The Book of Changes,' and rebuild your martial artist foundation."

Zhao Douan slightly bowed, awkwardly placing his hands horizontally, and said,

"Your Majesty's grace, I have no way to repay."

He smiled bitterly and said,

"In fact, I'm a bit apprehensive, overwhelmed by favor, as my meager accomplishments are hardly worthy of such great rewards."

Being a Master, capturing rebels was already within his jurisdiction. No matter how much effort was expended, a note in the assessment book and a reward of some silver taels would actually be enough.

What he had previously hoped for was merely the chance to reenter the Royal Weapon Vault to select some good Magic Artifacts or Pills assisting cultivation

– after all, the pills he got last time had long been used up.

But he never expected the Empress's generosity of this magnitude.

The herbs just now were negligible.

Precious to ordinary people, they were insignificant to the 600-year-old dynasty's foundation.

But the Empress bestowing Enlightenment upon him personally, such an honor, no one else in the world possessed.

Moreover, it involved the protection between men and women...

Of course, Zhao Douan also understood, it was likely his series of stunning performances that sparked the Empress's idea of "increased investment."

He also happened to catch a good time.

The Empress had just ascended the throne, with few direct subordinates.

For someone like him, who was exceptionally loyal and capable, receiving unexpectedly high "nurturing" was understandable.

"Since you know, serve me diligently in the future, and it would mean my efforts were not in vain," Xu Zhenguan said calmly.

Zhao Douan, without false modesty or flattery, earnestly said,

"I will surely devote myself wholeheartedly."

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly, quite satisfied with his response.

Yes... Assuming one ignored the awkward setting between the monarch and subject, and the pile of clothes beside her feet.

"Then... what is to be done next with this Enlightenment?"

Zhao Douan also felt extremely awkward and tried to use formal matters to dilute the strange atmosphere.

Xu Zhenguan said lightly,

"There's a stone by the pool, turn your back and sit over there, expose your upper body above the water, and I will begin acupuncture for you first."

Only then did Zhao Douan notice that in the Empress's sleeve, she held a small cloth bag.

"As you command."

Zhao Douan didn't act coy and immediately groped towards the edge of the hot spring pool.

Indeed, he discovered submerged stone steps on which to sit.

He turned around and gradually pulled his upper body out of the water.

"Splash—"

In the quiet hot spring palace, the sound of water waves resounded.

Accompanying Zhao Douan breaking the water's surface, what was revealed was a tall, robust, and vigorous physique.

Muscle lines were full and smooth, with broad shoulders and a slender waist. Two arms extended to the sides on the pool's bank, proportionately slender, chiseled and refined, with not a trace of excess flesh.

Not muscles sculpted in a gym but a typical build that appeared slim in clothes yet muscular when disrobed.

At this moment, droplets slid down Zhao Douan's back lines, the real presence of a high-cold ethereal fairy, and her breath momentarily disarrayed, slightly lost in thought.

"Your Majesty?"

Zhao Douan obediently sat upright, waited a while, and, noticing no movement behind, quietly called out.

Xu Zhenguan then regained her composure and said lightly, "Do not move."

I did not move... Zhao Douan muttered in his heart.

Because he faced backward and couldn't perceive the movements behind him, his eyes could only look at the water surface.

Yes, fortunately, it was night, and with a bunch of herbs soaking, the entire spring pool was murky, and the water was not clear.

This greatly reduced his sense of shame.

Behind him, the Empress gauged the height, simply sitting cross-legged on the shore, shaking the cloth bag, revealing densely packed silver needles inside.

Her slender jade hands pinched one, rubbed it, and sent Qi Mechanism from her fingertip into the silver needle.

Then, slightly awkwardly and unskillfully, she pierced it into a specific acupuncture point on the man's back.

The silver needle was extremely thin, Zhao Douan only felt a slight pain, and more of a sore numbness and itchiness.

"Your Majesty, may I ask what precisely does Enlightenment entail? I have heard that Enlightenment is often a method of transmitting power by martial artists." He did not forget to learn.

Xu Zhenguan picked up the second silver needle, changed acupuncture points, and inserted it, saying,

"Stop listening to Jianghu tales. In reality, transmitting power by martial artists, while not impossible, is extremely stringent. Both parties not only need to have practiced the same source of cultivation technique but must also have martial arts foundations and highly consistent meridians and acupoints, along with a series of strict conditions for it to be done.

But even if conditions are met, transferring one's power to another results in a significant loss of around seventy to eighty percent of one's cultivation. In the end, only a meager two or three tenths can be gained, and the person transmitting would greatly deplete their lifespan, which is why it rarely happens."

Is that so, finding someone to transmit power to me and achieve great success in one night seems impossible... Zhao Douan thought to himself.

Xu Zhenguan continued,

"Therefore, what is often referred to as Enlightenment is more of a Great Cultivator using their strength to help others clear meridians, organize Qi Mechanism, heal injuries, and strengthen the foundation. At most, it assists in breaking barriers, but this isn't a beneficial thing.

The realm of martial arts achieved through external aid is extremely illusory, there are family disciples who possess only the Martial Arts Realm due to their elders, who use it to advance but it cannot be learned."

While she spoke, the needle work did not stop.

Zhao Douan suddenly realized, thought for a moment, then changed the topic:

"Just now, I saw Your Majesty emerge from the clear pool, have you also bathed? Ah—"

He suddenly grimaced in pain, letting out a cry.

The Empress's hand shook during the needling, an errant Qi hit his meridian directly.

Instantly, his back had a blood-red needle mark.

"... " Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath, pretending to remain composed as she withdrew the silver needle, used a cotton ball from the cloth bag to press against his wound, frowning and said,

"If it hurts, endure it, do not scream."

But... it really hurt... Zhao Douan's face twitched, and he cheekily said,

"Your Majesty, are you worried the sound will travel outside and it wouldn't be good for people to hear?"

Outside the hot spring palace, there were many palace attendants stationed to prevent any unseeing people from barging in and disrupting the Enlightenment.

The Great Yu Empress, with her pure white face, her bristle-like dense eyelashes trembled, said lightly,

"Why should I be worried?"

Zhao Douan replied, "If it spreads, it would affect Your Majesty's reputation."

Xu Zhenguan's lips curled with a hint of sarcastic ridicule, discarding the cotton and resuming needling,

"Reputation? When you were out there using my name, overtly and covertly proclaiming yourself as a Gigolo, did you ever care about my reputation?"

Perhaps because he couldn't see her face while turned, her "transcendent" posture slightly faltered, her demeanor and tone more lively.

Her words were steeped with gritted teeth.

Zhao Douan, being exposed, was extremely embarrassed and said,

"I'm only doing this for Your Majesty's sake... Ah!"

He grimaced again, pain surging as he was intentionally poked!

Deliberately!

This time it was definitely deliberate on her part!

Xu Zhenguan coldly snorted, squinted her eyes and said,

"Enough nonsense, concentrate on sensing your meridians."

Zhao Douan didn't dare speak, closed his mouth, letting the Empress fill his entire back, neck, and head with silver needles.

Like a poor little hedgehog.

And upon seeing this "masterpiece" of hers, the Empress's lips couldn't help but lightly rise, seemingly finding it quite amusing.

As if completing a grand construction, satisfaction filled her heart.

"Your Majesty, how long should the needles remain?" Zhao Douan didn't dare move.

The Empress straightened her face,

"One quarter of an hour, during which time, calm your mind, regulate your breathing, slowly move your Qi and blood, so your body opens up to absorb the medicinal power."

"Oh..." Zhao Douan responded, inhaled and exhaled for a while, suddenly opened his eyes, feeling a little restless, and asked,

"Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered something."

"Speak."

"It's just that..." Zhao Douan's expression was a bit strange,

"Last time, when I was walking with you in the Imperial Garden, Your Majesty mentioned that with your cultivation, your divine consciousness covers the entire palace, needing no eyes to see, nor ears to hear, any slight movement could not escape your perception."

"Yes, what of it?"

Zhao Douan hesitated, "Is that the case now?"

"... "

The Great Yu Empress was silent.

Under the night breeze, a slight flush of shame and anger tinged her cheeks, then spread uncontrollably.

The atmosphere between the two grew awkward.

Suddenly, Xu Zhenguan pinched a silver needle with two fingers again, tossing it casually, and "thud," it pierced Zhao Douan in the waist on the water's surface.

Zhao Douan cried out in pain in response.

A short distance away, in the courtyard, a tulip flower bent by the wind, suddenly toppled.

"Your Majesty, was that really necessary?"

"Shut up! Prepare for the Enlightenment, wash your meridians with 'The Book of Changes'."

The Empress's sleeves brushed, withdrawing one silver needle after another from his back and head, except for the one left in the waist.

After which, Xu Zhenguan's eyes were clear, neither joyful nor sorrowful,

"Later, when I perform enlightenment upon you, you must visualize the Martial God Map and enter cultivation."

"Okay," the previously dispirited Zhao Douan also became serious.

Silently, in his mind, he visualized the "Martial God Map," gradually entering a state of meditation.

Once confirming he had entered meditation, Xu Zhenguan then bit her lips.

Her beautiful hands slowly pressed against his solid back.

A breeze arose, the thirty-six hot spring pools in the palace boiled, and the Heavenly Human Realm's aura permeated the air.