The Empress's No.1 Lackey

That afternoon, the story that occurred within Yellow Court Alley spread like wildfire, as if carried on the wings of countless chess players' words, rapidly becoming a sensation this winter.

The young prodigy from the Western Regions made his debut, sweeping the chess arena. While the grandmasters suffered crushing defeats, an unknown nobleman stepped in, brutally defeating the foreign monk...

This story was inherently legendary, especially coinciding with the arrival of the Western Regions Mission in the Capital. Bored in the winter, the citizens of the Capital eagerly followed the gossip.

By evening, the entire incident had already spawned seven or eight versions, with a rumor that Princess Wen Zhu of the Western Regions was present, adding much color to the story.

Zhao Douan remained secluded at home, pretending it had nothing to do with him.

During dinner, listening to his stepmother and sister's conversation, he noticed that the spread of the news might have had court support.

Indeed, losing should have quieted down, but winning naturally warranted publicity.

"Elder brother, do you know who the nobleman who defeated the Western monk was?"

Zhao Pan, who had increasingly grown into the temperament of a noble lady, asked earnestly.

Zhao Douan teased with a laugh: "Why, are you smitten? Thinking of marriage or something?"

Zhao Pan's eyes flashed with autumnal water as she glared, puffed her cheeks, and angrily turned her head away, kicking the Pekingese dog under the table with her foot in a fit:

"I'm not asking anymore."

You Jinhua looked disappointed, the little Pekingese confused, tucking its tail between its legs and whimpering.

This little incident didn't cause much of a stir in the Zhao family, and the excitement in the Capital didn't last long.

It was soon overshadowed by the news of the Buddhist debating scripture, drawing the attention of countless people who didn't want to miss what could be a historic event.

Zhao Douan, on the other hand, used closed-door cultivation as an excuse and locked himself in his room for two days, studying those piles of scriptures. The lights in his room remained on all night long.

...

In a blink, two days passed, leading to the day of the much-anticipated debating scripture.

In the early morning, just as the day was breaking,

Within the Golden Wind Pavilion, where the Western Regions Mission was staying, the Western monks had already risen, washing and getting dressed in an orderly manner to do their morning lessons.

Wearing red monk robes, with white ivory beads hanging, and with skin dark as an old monkey, the "Holy Monk" held a candlestick with a blue flame burning in his hand.

Stepping cautiously on the creaking staircase, he came to a certain room, and opened the door.

Inside the room, the oil lamp on the table was still burning, and the brazier on the ground had long gone out.

Little monk Dan Che, wrapped in a thick blanket, sat cross-legged on the ground, staring at the chessboard in front of him.

Hearing the sound, he looked up at his master, was momentarily stunned, and then suddenly realized:

"Is it time to set out?"

The Red Sect Master, slightly troubled, pinched his brow:

"Didn't I tell you last night that today is the debating scripture? You have to get up early..."

"That's why I didn't sleep," Dan Che justified himself, then mumbled quietly:

"Besides, it's not me who's debating scripture..."

Before his master could get angry, he quickly changed his tone and praised:

"I've been replaying that chess game these past two days, deeply impressed by the person's brilliant tactics, as if opening a new path for the previously stagnant chess world. If the Chess Dao is also a Dao, then he is enough to be the new Dao patriarch of founding a school. Still don't know that person's identity?"

The Red Sect Master looked at his nearly "chess-obsessed" disciple, sighed, and shook his head:

"Not yet."

Dan Che, a little disappointed, said, "Oh," and then curiously asked:

"Then about the 'Wisdom' you're searching for, is there any clue?"

"...Not yet."

The Red Sect Master, not in a great mood, soon smiled again, "However, today, as Worldly Venerate descends to the mortal world, Wisdom will surely appear."

Dan Che nodded vigorously. In his view, the attention his master paid to the debating scripture was five, while the effort expended in searching for Wisdom was ten.

It was like making dumplings for a vinegar sachet.

"Master, is breakfast ready? I'm hungry." Dan Che stood up, wrapped in his blanket.

The Red Sect Master restrained his smile, "Not yet."

...

Zhao family.

When the east turned fish-belly white, Zhao Douan, rarely, got up early. The family gathered around the table to eat.

You Jinhua, wrapped in a thick cotton dress, breathed onto her hands to warm them. She took steaming white buns from a cloud of thick white steam and handed them to Zhao Douan, quickly pressing her fingers to her earlobes from the heat.

She said, "Da Lang, why did you want to eat buns today?"

"For a good omen."

Zhao Douan picked up a soft, piping hot bun, breaking it open without change in expression, recalling the "bun" idiom he'd heard in a previous life, implying the decapitation of barbarians, though he didn't know if this allegory was true or not.

Zhao Pan ladled out a bowl of egg drop soup with a large wooden spoon, softly hoping:

"Can't we really go watch the excitement?"

Before Da Lang could speak, You Jinhua frowned and reprimanded her daughter:

"Have you forgotten that damned monk intends to kill your big brother? What excitement are you going to watch?"

Zhao Pan, aggrieved, scraped her food: "It's different, they're fighting among themselves..."

Zhao Douan chuckled and said:

"You'd better stay home. I wouldn't mind if you went, but this time the court has issued a ban, only specific invited guests can go there.

Don't forget, Buddhism was just banned not long ago. Allowing both sides to publicly debate scripture this time is already granting clemency, considering the Western Regions' honor. Common folk wanting to gather would be openly defying court orders... Even families of officials are not allowed."

He paused, explaining:

"However, you should be able to see some movement from home. I heard the momentum of the debating scripture would be quite large."

Hmm... That's what was mentioned in the "information" Zhang Yan sent over.

The mother and daughter showed expressions of realization, relieved.

After the meal.

Zhao Douan, who was healing at home and not stepping out, took a step out of the house. After he left, Zhao Pan suddenly realized:

"Mother, didn't elder brother not wear an official robe?"

...

Imperial Palace.

After the sky completely brightened, sunshine spilled onto the majestic palace walls, casting large shadows.

Xu Zhenguan rode a low-profile carriage today, bringing only Mo Chou and a few close attendants. He left the sleeping quarters, meeting with his "aunt" residing within the palace city, heading together to watch the clash between the East and West.

The empress and Princess Wen Zhu, aunt and niece, rode together quietly leaving the palace, heading along the streets near the Divine Dragon Temple.

"Sigh..."

Princess Wen Zhu lifted the curtain of the carriage window, looking at the sides of the street in the morning Capital, where many commoners hurriedly exited incense shops, clutching yellow incense and incense burners under their cotton clothes, some even carefully holding Buddha statues. She frowned:

"Are these all the Buddhist believers in the Capital?"

Xu Zhenguan, without looking, already encompassed all sights outside through divine perception, maintained a calm demeanor:

"Yes. Since the ban on Buddhism decree was issued a while back, prohibiting Buddhist temple incense offerings, business of Buddha statues and incense candles in the city, worshipped at home, has thrived. Buddhist faith has taken root in this land longer than Yu Country's reign, with numerous believers.

The court can prohibit gatherings, reducing large temples' lands and wealth... but it's hard to eradicate faith."

Princess Wen Zhu looked at her niece in surprise, and sighed:

"Your Majesty doesn't seem angry."

Xu Zhenguan smiled:

"What is there to be angry about? These commoners haven't done anything wrong, the Buddhist Worldly Venerate has long existed, naturally, they haven't either; the only ones at fault are certain individuals.

Today's debating scripture, the news has long spread, but these commoners cannot see it in person, so it seems they are preparing to worship and admire it at home."

Princess Wen Zhu stayed silent.

From her perspective, she could see the court's dilemma with Buddhism.

On one hand, needing the Divine Dragon Temple and the Western Regions to balance each other, could only "ban Buddhism," incapable of "eradicating Buddhism," nor could they.

On the other hand, there's fear of the growing powerful influence of the Divine Dragon Temple, not just for cultivation might, but also believers and the many temples rooted in various places.

Including the empress's discreet visit today, it was also the result of choices.

She needed symbolic presence while avoiding public attention, similar to last time's challenge with the Zhengyang School, the difference being that the empress could ignore Zhengyang but must take the Western Regions Ancestral Court seriously.

Before long, the carriage arrived near a pavilion close to the Divine Dragon Temple.

Some distance from the temple itself, the surrounding area of the pavilion had already been cordoned off by the imperial guard, carriages parked all along the nearby streets.

The empress in white led Princess Wen Zhu, ascending the pavilion, where a group of court officials had already gathered and greeted them:

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

In a glance, Li Yanfu, Yuann Li, Xue Shence, and other high-ranking officials were all present.

Further down, Ma Yan, such as the head of the Imperial Court, stood in the corner.

"Everyone, no need for excessive courtesy, be seated," Xu Zhenguan smiled and nodded, glancing around, not seeing Zhao Douan.

Slightly puzzled, surprised that this guy, unlike his usual character, didn't miss such an excitement.

But she didn't ask, instead, she took her seat gracefully, with Princess Wen Zhu arranged to sit in the closest position beside the empress.

The seating within the entire pavilion was also arranged according to the rank of officials.

"This Water Viewing Tower, located at the side of the Divine Dragon Temple and the Jizhao Temple, the winter is cold. The court officials are no match for those practicing monks. Watching from here suffices."

The empress took her seat, holding Princess Wen Zhu's hand, leaving an impression of a close relationship between the sovereign and the aunt and niece court members, explained with a smile.

Princess Wen Zhu was also elegantly dressed, gracefully only second to the empress. Looking up, the distant view truly was the large open space outside the Divine Dragon Temple.

But at the moment, that square was also surrounded by the imperial guard to prevent unauthorized people from entering.

Inside, unknown from when, a huge circular platform had been set up, with stands resembling spectator seats on both sides.

At this time, monks stood in the wind, along with some symbolic courtiers from the Capital.

With this as the center, there were also scholars and officials gathered in distant buildings, watching from afar.

In terms of scale, it was no less than the previous Buddhist Tao competition.

"Let's wait a moment, it should be about time," Xu Zhenguan did not mind coming early, enjoying the opportunity to chat with officials.

At this time, she curiously asked: "Mr. Zhao is not here?"

Li Yanfu, Yuann Li, and other familiar faces heard this and directed their eyes to Lord Ma, the head of the Imperial Court, who stood in clear distinction from the rest.

Ma Yan's slender, stern face twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth, bowed, and said:

"Report to Your Majesty, a message had been sent over before. Master Zhao may still be recuperating from his injuries, perhaps overlooked the hour. Should I send someone to call him?"

"No need," Xu Zhenguan smiled, "No need to rush him."

Princess Wen Zhu beside her said nothing, frowning tightly, increasingly displeased with this unacquainted traitor since arriving in the Capital.

This person... merely a gigolo, had an excessively grand demeanor, with all officials already present, yet this Zhao Douan was still nowhere to be found.

Ma Yan hesitated as if wanting to speak, but eventually said nothing, feeling inexplicably anxious as the direct superior.

Just then, a deep, reverberating bell sounded from within the Divine Dragon Temple, energizing everyone to look towards the distant square, first seeing that the Western Regions Mission had already entered.

—

Pacing chapter, next chapter update before midnight.