The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"Hmm?" Xu Zhenguan snapped back to reality, feeling a moment of panic, and instinctively adjusted his posture slightly.

"Have you finished speaking?"

Zhao Douan stared at the Empress lying across the couch with a peculiar expression, catching an anomaly in her subtle expressions, and nodded honestly.

"I have finished speaking."

He suspected that Zhenbao hadn't been listening carefully at all... Suddenly, he had the feeling that he had nervously reported to the leader, only for the leader not to listen at all...

"Alright then, what you said makes some sense, I'll trust you this time." Xu Zhenguan lightly coughed, trying to cover his panic with a stern face.

Zhao Douan was bewildered, thinking, are girls really so easy to pacify?

He thought it would be difficult, perhaps a cold war... Indeed, Zhenbao was different from those common women, a smart woman would not act foolishly on serious matters.

Xu Zhenguan suppressed his mixed emotions, proactively shifting the topic, and said seriously:

"Today during the Scripture Debate, although you won and gained a great fortune, it will not be easy for them to just let it go."

I want to talk about the great fortune... Zhao Douan muttered, but temporarily suppressed his curiosity about the "Worldly Venerate's blessing", and said:

"Your Majesty, are you saying that East and West Buddhism will retaliate? Struggle? Stir up trouble?"

Xu Zhenguan pondered for a moment and said:

"The Divine Dragon Temple's side is fine; not to mention, in recent days, I have warned Xuan Yin, and with Da Jing Monk still on the run, just your support of Bodhi today is enough to give Xuan Yin a headache for a while.

Your Buddhist law theory is similar to the sudden enlightenment advocated by Bodhi; the Divine Dragon Temple can later promote the theory of sudden enlightenment, painting the Scripture Debate as their victory... The key is the Western Regions."

Zhao Douan frowned, "That Holy Monk from the Western Regions did not seem hostile towards me today."

Xu Zhenguan thought for a moment and said:

"Perhaps they are wary because this is the Yu Country; they dare not be too reckless, especially since the Red Sect Master in the Western Regions is not one who is obsessed with converging the East and West...

In any case, keep a low profile for the next few days here in the Capital; they are unlikely to do anything outrageous.

What I am worried about is that if the Western Region monks fail in the Scripture Debate, they might interfere with next year's trade between the court and the Western Regions, affecting the New Policy market."

Zhao Douan listened seriously.

The Dharma King held supreme power in the Western Regions, far above puppeteers like Princess Wen Zhu.

If Western Regions Buddhism intervened in trade, it would indeed be troublesome.

Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, accompanied by a palace maid reporting:

"Your Majesty, Princess Wen Zhu has entered the palace seeking audience."

Inside the room, the monarch and minister exchanged a glance.

Xu Zhenguan considered for a moment, glanced at the time, and said, "Invite her to the dining hall to have lunch with me."

"Yes."

The palace maid withdrew from outside.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at Zhao Douan and said:

"My aunt must have entered the palace for you at this moment, so you will come with me. Remember to behave appropriately in front of Princess Wen Zhu later."

Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned, unsure, "Appropriate behavior?"

The Empress glared at him with slight annoyance:

"In public, you are my gigolo, remember? Since you managed to debate the Scripture, I can only let the mistake continue. Later, you and I will be a bit more intimate for Princess Wen Zhu's sake."

Displaying intimacy... Zhenbao, you want to let Aunt know you support my Scripture Debate, thus expressing a strong stance, making her believe this debate represents the court's intentions...

This way, Yu Country's strength is showcased, to avoid the Western Regions causing trouble in trade due to pressure from the Red Sect Master...

Zhao Douan quickly organized his thoughts in his mind and nodded,

"I understand."

...

When the gentle-natured Princess Wen Zhu, in her forties, was led to the Empress' dining room by a palace maid,

upon entering the courtyard, she saw the white-clad Empress smiling as she stood in the corridor to welcome her, with a handsome and distinguished man standing beside her.

It was Zhao Douan himself.

"Aunt, you're just in time. The Imperial Kitchen has just prepared lunch, why not join us?" Xu Zhenguan said with a smile.

Returning from the Golden Wind Pavilion, after briefly consoling the defeated monks of the Western Regions, Princess Wen Zhu quickly returned to the Imperial Palace, forcing a smile as she responded, before her gaze moved to Zhao Douan.

Then, she was visibly stunned.

What a handsome man!

At the Scripture Debate, due to the distance, she barely saw Zhao Douan's figure, and his appearance was unclear.

Until now, she finally saw the full appearance of this gigolo.

Indeed, as rumored, this traitor of notoriety and notoriety had a seemingly righteous appearance.

Hmm, and remarkable eloquence...

Princess Wen Zhu felt conflicted, recalling the morning's Scripture Debate, the more she thought about it, the more "fake" it seemed.

In her view, there was no reason for a minister like Zhao Douan to stir up trouble without warning, and even succeed.

Thus, rationally she still believed it was a show arranged by the Empress, and that the so-called content of the Scripture Debate was likely not something Zhao Douan could articulate.

Similar incidents had happened before, and Wen Zhu even suspected that the Empress had secretly allied with the Bodhisattva.

Bodhisattva provided theories, and Zhao Douan recited them, using deception to elevate his authority within the Divine Dragon Temple...

This seemed more reasonable.

As for the shock from ministers like Yuann Li, perhaps some were in the dark, while others, like Yuann Li and other prominent ministers, were performing on cue.

Performing for whom? Naturally, for herself...

With this thought, everything made sense, except for the biggest bug, the Divine Venerate's blessing... she was still puzzled by it.

Hence the haste to enter the palace was to confirm her suspicions.

Suppressing her doubts for now, she exchanged cordial greetings, and followed the monarch and minister into the room. The round table inside was laden with lavish dishes, and the three took their seats as guests and host.

It is worth mentioning that the Empress and her aunt sat facing each other, while Zhao Douan, the "gigolo," naturally sat beside the Empress.

"Today's Scripture Debate... Lord Zhao has indeed opened my eyes."

Princess Wen Zhu looked at Zhao Douan, offering veiled sarcasm:

"At such a young age, never having cultivated Buddhism, yet with such deep accomplishments in Buddhist studies, it truly is astounding."

Zhao Douan felt strangely, looking at the aunt who had recently tried to win him over, and smiled:

"Your Highness flatters me; they are mere shallow opinions, unexpectedly honored with the Worldly Venerate's blessing."

Haha... he acts so naturally, truly an unabashed shameless person... Wen Zhu felt displeased; no matter how good-looking, as long as linked with rumors, it inevitably bred disgust.

"Ahem," the Empress timely cleared her throat, reminding him to mind his identity.

Zhao Douan smiled naturally, skillfully serving dishes to the Empress, personally ladling soup to feed her, conversing cordially with Wen Zhu while publicly displaying affection.

The Empress cooperated greatly, presenting the image of an emperor accustomed to being served by a gigolo.

Even when soup spilled at the corners of her mouth, she allowed Zhao Douan to take out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth carefully... Although it was embarrassing, for some reason, it inexplicably made her feel happy.

Although Wen Zhu was someone with experience, watching the two young ones feeding each other made her extremely uncomfortable, secretly thinking that the traitor named Zhao Douan gained favor through shameless flattery.

She couldn't help but frown slightly, growing more repulsed.

Xu Zhenguan noticed her aunt's unusual expressions, briefly puzzled, thinking perhaps their act was not convincing, revealing a flaw to the experienced aunt.

This made her somewhat anxious; after all, the Empress had never kept a gigolo, nor knew what normal should be.

She could only recall scenes of her late imperial father dining with harem concubines.

Hmm... always being served seemed not to showcase her favor towards the gigolo... With this in mind, the Empress picked up her chopsticks, beginning to serve dishes to Zhao Douan, urging:

"You stop being busy; eat more to replenish your health."

Hiss... Niece surely has been brainwashed by this traitor, for an emperor to treat a gigolo so... without the slightest concealment... being so intimate even in front of herself, what would it be like usually?

Princess Wen Zhu furrowed her brows deeper.

The Empress was momentarily stunned, thinking perhaps she overdid it?

Unable to help feeling anxious, she simply communicated through Secret Transmission, directly sending her voice into Zhao Douan's consciousness:

"Not enough, Aunt seems to have noticed something is off; act more convincingly!"

"..." Zhao Douan was speechless, thinking how to act, his face unchanged, contemplated, and suddenly had an idea.

Seizing the moment as he served dishes, he casually wrapped an arm around the Empress' slender waist, making them sit closer.

!!

Xu Zhenguan didn't expect a large hand to suddenly embrace her soft waist, her body instantly stiffened, eyes slightly widened:

How dare this guy...

"Not here!" Her urgent voice rang in Zhao Douan's consciousness.

Mr. Zhao wore an innocence as if saying, if not here, then... lower?

Just as his hand slid down, he sensed the Empress' body tense, a wave of danger overwhelmed his heart...

He sheepishly withdrew his hand.

"Your Majesty..." Sitting opposite, Princess Wen Zhu finally couldn't bear it anymore, though older, her husband in the Western Regions was only in a "formal" position and had died early, making it hard to endure watching the young ones nuzzling affectionately.

Biting back repeatedly, she interrupted, "The last time I recommended that Mr. Lin, has he been found?"

One must admit, this question from Wen Zhu carried a hint of mischief.

Mentioning Mr. Lin deliberately at this moment was undoubtedly directed at Zhao Douan.

Xu Zhenguan's face changed slightly, setting down his chopsticks heavily, speaking coldly:

"Aunt is very concerned about Mr. Lin; once found, simply send him to Aunt, bring him back to the Western Regions, such talent assisting you in governing the Western Regions shall indeed fulfill its purpose."

While speaking, she subconsciously looked towards Zhao Douan.

She herself didn't realize, for a moment worried, afraid Zhao Douan would misunderstand any relationship with the "Mr. Lin."

However, Zhao Douan's face held neither suspicion nor surprise, only a smile.

Princess Wen Zhu didn't expect such a fierce reaction from her niece.

Just about to make amends, suddenly the sound of a eunuch's voice came from outside:

"Report to Your Majesty, Lord Ma of the Imperial Court sent someone to report, saying the identity of the chess player who defeated the foreign monk has been determined."

All three inside were startled.

Xu Zhenguan didn't expect such a coincidence, thought for a moment, then simply said, "Bring the person over."

Shortly after, an Imperial Court Jinyi appeared at the doorway, respectfully handing over a note:

"Report to Your Majesty, the investigation results of the chess player are all written in this note."

Xu Zhenguan beckoned casually, the note was lifted by a breeze and fell into her hand, the Empress smiled slightly:

"Since Aunt is so concerned about this person, and conveniently the identity has been found, I will let you see."

While speaking, the Empress opened the note, glanced, and then... she paused noticeably.

Seeming surprised, unexpected, with a hint of... as expected.

Moments later, she handed the note to Princess Wen Zhu.

Princess Wen Zhu felt a vague sense of something amiss, but still took the note, slowly opening it, somewhat anticipating which family this Lin Ke belonged to.

However, when she saw the black-and-white words, she froze, her pupils contracted sharply, stunned for a moment, then quickly looked up.

Staring intently at the Empress' gigolo across the table.

Zhao Douan smiled slightly, "Nice to meet you again, Princess."