The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Could it be that all men are like this?

Deep down, she was overjoyed more than anything else. Xu Zhenguan only then had the mind to reflect on the emotional rollercoaster she had been through in just under an hour.

An emperor, supposed to be dignified and indifferent, had her emotions unexpectedly stirred by a mere courtier. When she learned from the palace maid that "Mr. Zhao is dying," her mind went blank.

Rushing to the room, seeing his unconscious, blood-stained fingertips, and the unprovoked surge of anger and regret in her heart... Regretting why she had sent him out, wondering if it was a mistake to have him go out and hone his skills...

And now, this fellow had woken up and was being uncooperative, and the immense relief she felt... These complex emotions seemed to have already crossed the boundaries of ruler and subject.

Just like these past days, she had been vocally concerned about opening the market, but whether it was mostly about the market or the fact that there had been no news from Zhao Douan for quite some time was something even she couldn't clearly say.

However, the determined female emperor paused only for a brief moment in these unclear and indescribable emotions, forcibly cutting off those thoughts and restoring the image of an icy, majestic emperor.

She sneered, "Oh, are you unhappy that I'm awake?"

Zhao Douan protested,

"Where is this coming from, Your Majesty? I am merely... merely... injured and it's inconvenient for me to get up to pay respects..."

Xu Zhenguan sneered with a dangerous smile,

"Oh? Is that so? Then why haven't you let go?"

"..." Zhao Douan sheepishly withdrew his large hand that had been holding the empress's smaller one, "I was just..."

"Enough, the Six Talismans Treasure Armor saved your life, and though you've suffered no fundamental harm, talking too much will deplete your energy, spare us the nonsense. Who injured you? Even Mr. Hai couldn't stop it?"

Xu Zhenguan curtly interrupted his rambling, getting straight to the point, her eyes staring at him with serious scrutiny.

Zhao Douan fell silent for a moment, reining in any jest, trying to rise but finding he truly lacked the strength, and so he lay in bed, speaking earnestly,

"I was just about to report to Your Majesty on the progress at Hu Ting. My colleagues and I, true to our mission, have successfully completed the opening of the market."

A perfect success!

Hearing this news, which should have filled her with extreme joy and pleasure, Xu Zhenguan found she was not as elated as she had anticipated.

She calmly said, "I'm asking who injured you."

Zhao Douan replied helplessly,

"It's a bit complicated. I believe I must explain to you all the antecedents and consequences to enable a correct judgement."

"Then get on with it." Xu Zhenguan lost her patience with his demeanor, clearly wanting to immediately support him, but he was in no hurry.

Ministers in no hurry, but the emperor is anxious, what sort of reasoning is that?

Zhao Douan carefully organized his thoughts before slowly continuing,

"On our way south, there were no accidents until we were just about to disembark. That's when we encountered Xu Jinglong with Duan Shuiliu from Martial Emperor City, who attempted to intercept me..."

He described his experience on the river first, and then went on to recount the series of events after landing, including meeting Prince Jing and Prince Huaian.

The female emperor listened quietly the entire time, without interrupting. After the bit about Prince Huaian, she showed a hint of surprise:

"So, Prince Huaian wants to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight? To see who wins between you and then lend support?"

"Yes," Zhao Douan nodded, speaking seriously, "After grasping his intention, I have been waiting for Prince Jing to make a move, until I went to Yansuo Lake..."

This was the key part. Zhao Douan described it in more detail, including his attempts at fishing, the thoughts he had about bringing the Commandery Princess along with him, and so on.

When she heard about Duan Shuiliu, Qi Yuchun, and the suspected assassins arranged by Prince Jing Mansion to ambush on the lake, Xu Zhenguan's gaze turned sharp as a knife's edge.

Upon hearing that Zhao Douan counter-killed the divine archer but was then taken away by the princess, Xu Zhenguan's expression changed again:

"Princess Lu is a Middle Grade Magician of the Worldly Realm? So, you were injured by her and teleported back? No... no, that's not right, the timing is off..."

She couldn't figure out how Zhao Douan had turned the situation around.

Not until Zhao Douan revealed that Lu Yaner was actually a descendant of the Pei Niannu lineage did the empress show a look of astonishment and realization.

She knew that Zhao Douan had visualized Pei Niannu in the Six Chapters Scripture.

But as for Zhao Douan truly performing a "Divine Descent" with his Middle Grade Divine Chapter cultivation and using the inheritance system to suppress and turn against the princess, the empress was still taken aback.

All of this was beyond imagination. But upon reflection, it all made sense.

"So, not only were you not harmed, but you also turned the princess into a spy for the court?" Xu Zhenguan's expression was extremely odd.

Zhao Douan was quite proud of his own maneuvering:

"Yes. As for the rest, everything went smoothly. After my return, I took those assassins and thoroughly discredited Prince Jing. Prince Huaian acted as promised, and the market opening naturally concluded successfully."

The empress digested the information quietly. She had imagined that Zhao Douan could complete this mission, but she had not expected him to do so exceptionally well.

However, compared to the results of the market opening, she was even more puzzled:

"If that's the case, how did you get injured?"

Logically, after the conclusion of the market opening, with a spy now in place beside Prince Jing, it seemed unreasonable for a second assassination attempt to be organized simply for revenge...

Zhao Douan took a breather before finally revealing his encounter with the ambush by Da Jing Master on the way home.

Yet upon hearing this outcome, despite having made many guesses, the empress was still stunned.

Long Shu Bodhisattva was suspected of joining the battle, stopped by the Little Heavenly Master.

Da Jing Master lying in ambush to attack, Eunuch Hai unable to save in time.

"Divine Dragon Temple... what a Divine Dragon Temple! It was Divine Dragon Temple!?"