The Empress's No.1 Lackey

June skies, a child's face.

An hour before, he had been admiring the moon from a high building, but now, large raindrops had begun to fall.

"Ah, it's raining," Zhao Douan raised his head, listening to the dense drumming sound overhead, withdrawing his fingers as if jolted from drunkenness by the thunder.

He stood up, glanced at the sobering soup, and ultimately did not dare to drink it, saying,

"I must return home, otherwise, the women at home will worry."

Having said this, he saw that the old man before him was staring absent-mindedly at the table, and silently he sighed in relief.

He strode forward, braving the wind and rain, sprinting towards home.

In no time at all, he had vanished from sight.

In the raining world, every household closed its doors, leaving only the corner where a red lantern swayed.

Zhang Yan Yi quietly gazed at the steaming bowl of soup on the table, next to the crookedly written words "Tao generates one."

As if lost in thought.

He couldn't help but wonder, are there truly people born with innate knowledge in this world?

The talk of taking a disciple was initially a joke, but now, he was somewhat earnest about it… Unfortunately, the Royal Family had monopolized it, and even with his status, it was not good to compete.

Let's see…

"Old Sir, come inside to avoid the rain," said the soup bun shop owner, who had flipped the closed sign and begun moving the outdoor tables and chairs inside.

Zhang Yan Yi regained his composure, lightly brushed the table with his hand, stood up and smiled,

"No need, this old man should also head home."

With that, he placed down a silver coin, his tall and upright figure disappearing into the fierce wind.

His gaze turned towards the direction where Zhao Douan had disappeared, raising his eyebrows as if he had discovered something interesting.

The Old Heavenly Master suddenly gestured through the air, then with both hands in his sleeves, he muttered toward the Heavenly Master Mansion,

"The wind and rain are fierce, let me escort you a short way."

The soup bun shop owner approached the table, looking at the nearly untouched sobering soup, and shook his head,

"Two strange people."

He picked up the bowl and took a cloth to wipe the water stains on the table, then he froze.

On the rotting wooden table, the words "Tao generates one" had sunk three parts deep into the wood and could not be wiped away.

…

In a quiet alleyway on Zhao Douan's essential path home.

Wu Ling, dressed in nighttime attire, with a flower spear tied with cloth strips at his back, hid under the eaves. Above the mask covering his face, his brows furrowed and then relaxed.

As a member of the Kuangfu Society lurking in the Capital, his mission tonight was to assassinate the little darling nurtured by the Empress.

Although the intelligence stated that the opponent's martial prowess had recently improved, Wu Ling still was entirely confident.

After leaving the Bafang Theater, he had come here to wait, not expecting the weather to change in the middle of the night.

But this was even better, as the worse the weather, the fewer the unwarranted strangers.

His only worry was that the Zhao thief would find a place to take shelter from the rain and change his route.

"He's coming!"

Wu Ling's ears slightly moved, his refined eyes flashed with a green light, seemingly able to see through the darkness.

He was spirited, lifted his hand, and drew out the flower spear from behind him with a flick.

With a "hiss" sound, the cloth wrapping the weapon fell off, revealing a chillingly sharp weapon.

Wu Ling stepped into the rain, sprinting along the empty street, his momentum climbing progressively.

His nighttime attire suddenly transformed into the costume of a "martial artist" from the stage, while a painted mask covered his face.

Long feathers extended from the top of his head, parting to either side of his body, with banners fluttering from his neck in the wind.

In the darkness, faint sounds of drums and gongs could be heard, the stage martial artist entering with an air full of killing intent.

However, the next second, just as Wu Ling's momentum was reaching its peak, he looked up in sudden terror.

He felt in the profound night air, a vast and boundless presence, deep like an abyss, spreading forth.

Instantly, he felt like an ant before a tsunami, his body halted, his body like fine sand in the wind, scattered.

Silently, he had turned to ash.

Shortly after, Zhao Douan, brimming with a martial artist's energy, hands covering his head, ran from a distance slightly disheveled.

As he passed over the spot, he looked curiously at the water puddle where a flower spear wrapped in tattered cloth lay, and shook his head,

"Whose belongings are these?"

His boots stepped into the puddle, splashing a large amount of water, sweeping past without stopping.

He was completely unaware of the "battle" that had just taken place.

…

Bafang Theater.

In a certain bedroom, Wu Ling, kneeling on the ground, suddenly looked up and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face as pale as paper!

He bit down on his teeth fiercely to keep from making any noise.

Lifting her head, she saw the "God of Drama" picture on the wall burning and curling up suddenly.

"What power is it, exactly?"

Wu Ling's pupils dilated, her fear immense, like a little animal consumed by a great terror.

"Could someone be protecting him? But who? The Fake Emperor?"

This recently famed actor of the Capital was gasping for air in his fear.

...

Imperial Palace, Yangxin Hall.

After the Empress and Zhao Douan had left for Emperor Tower, the imperial maids began to fill the bath.

Every time the Saint returned from a drunken state, bathing was a ceremonial activity.

This time was no exception.

When Xu Zhenguan had finished her bath and changed into dry underclothes, she returned to her bedroom, utterly exhausted as if she had melted away.

Post-bath, the Empress's long damp hair hung down to her waist, her skin pale and flushed, the day's tension replaced by the relaxation of the night.

Her delicate and exquisitely soft feet stepped on the precious carpet covering the floor as Xu Zhenguan sat in front of the dressing mirror.

An ordinary woman's dressing table was always filled with an array of cosmetics.

But at the Empress's table, there were only simple items like a comb, a bronze mirror, and an eyebrow knife.

However today, there rested a warm-colored porcelain bottle on the table.

"Rose dew..."

Xu Zhenguan lazily picked up the porcelain bottle, unscrewed the stopper, and sniffed lightly at the opening, instantly treated to a heady fragrance of flowers.

The Emperor of Great Yu froze, her eyes brightening a bit.

As an empress, countless perfumes had been presented to the palace.

Yet, such mild and pleasant dew-like substances were truly rare in her experience.

"Can ordinary roses transformed into dew exude such a scent?"she wondered.

Xu Zhenguan didn't know how it had been made, but found it wondrous.

Recalling what Zhao Douan had said, she carefully poured a little "perfume" into her palm and drizzled it over her body.

At that moment, a knocking sound came from the door: "Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan put down the perfume and softly said, "Enter."

Mo Chou, the female official, pushed the door open and seeing her looking usual, she internally sighed in relief:

It seemed the Empress had only had a meal with that deceitful person and had not genuinely been swayed by his sweet words or involved in anything else.

"Your Majesty has summoned me, may I know your commands?" Mo Chou asked.

Xu Zhenguan spoke calmly:

"Mr. Yuan recommended Zhao Douan to join the Imperial Decree Department, temporarily replacing the Master of Lihua Hall. However, the waters of the Imperial Decree Department run deep, and Lihua Hall is even more complex and difficult to tame.

Since Zhao Douan is new, I fear he may find it hard to establish himself, so go and give him a hand, ensure he doesn't lose face on his first day as a representative of Our appointees."

Her words revealed that this Imperial Office Pear Blossom Hall seemed akin to a dragon pond and tiger cave.

Zhao Douan? Acting as the Master in the Imperial Decree Department?!

Mo Chou was stunned, her eyes slightly widening, shocked by his appointment.

Even if it was "temporary," it was still an extraordinary promotion.

Was it because of his role as a pawn in the "Inverted Pei" incident following Mr. Yuan's plan?

Even if he deserved credit, it did not justify such an elevation, not to mention, the role of Master in the Imperial Decree Department was not just any decorative position.

To protect Zhao Douan from standing out too much and becoming a target, Xu Zhenguan and Yuann Li tacitly decided to hide Zhao Douan's real contribution in the "Inverted Pei" operation.

They let it flow with the tide and attributed the plan to Yuann Li, with Zhao Douan merely executing it.

Thus, the "Li Party's" attacks would focus on the main enemy and not too much on Zhao Douan.

Thus, even Mo Zhaorong could not grasp the internal situation and naturally found this appointment difficult to understand.

But, being a close servant of the Emperor, once the Empress had made her decision, even if she did not understand, she would still faithfully carry it out.

This was why she retained her position as the "first female official."

"I obey Your Majesty's decree."

Xu Zhenguan acknowledged with an "Mmm," and yawned tiredly:

"You may leave."

"Yes," Mo Chou replied, about to leave when she suddenly smelled something and said,

"Your Majesty, did you change your perfume today? It smells delightful."

Xu Zhenguan's lips curled slightly, just about to respond, when suddenly, thunder and lightning roared outside.

The Emperor of Great Yu's gaze darted in the distance, her brows lightly furrowing.

Sensing a disturbance in the Heavenly Dao, she was about to scan with her majestic Divine Thoughts when she realized that the traces of Heavenly Dao had dissipated, emitting a familiar sensation.

Xu Zhenguan's brows relaxed, thinking it must be the presence of the Old Heavenly Master, then there was no harm.

However, Heavenly Master Zhang had not shown himself for a long time; perhaps tonight he had some insight, even stirring the heavenly signs…

The Empress felt a subtle anxiety and a growing desire to step into the true "Heavenly Human Realm" soon.