The Empress's No.1 Lackey

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How to cater to the superior's intentions? How to be a devoted subordinate?

The primary task was to understand the temperament of the ruler.

However, in the original memory, there was no deep understanding of the Female Emperor's character, only a mind full of yellow scrap.

Zhao Douan could only deduce on his own, cautiously probing, such as the Female Emperor's recent query, which subtly revealed her apprehension towards the Xuan Sect elders.

Since ancient times, imperial power and religious authority, unless vastly different, rarely harmonize, and it seemed Great Yu was no exception.

The meaning of the sentence Zhao Douan copied could be translated as: Governing a great nation is akin to cooking a small fish. Using the "Way" to govern the world, ghosts and gods have no influence.

Here, "Way" referred to the Saint's principles.

And the Emperor was the Saint.

He was engaged in a sophisticated flattery.

Beside the case.

"Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish…" Xu Zhenguan pondered on the sentence for a moment, then said, "This doesn't seem like something you'd say."

Zhao Douan was neither humble nor arrogant, "Presenting aid and relief solutions doesn't seem like something the Prime Minister could offer."

Xu Zhenguan smiled, the sternness on her face softened, her phoenix eyes slightly curved downwards.

In that instant, the ancient halls brightened considerably.

Zhao Douan silently exhaled, he bet correctly!

It seemed the Female Emperor of Great Yu indeed disliked practitioners meddling in worldly affairs.

However, although Xu Zhenguan appreciated the sentence, she was not greatly astonished. Being a well-read female ruler, she was highly knowledgeable, more surprised by this "scandalous boyfriend"… but that was all.

"Speak, why did you come to see me in the palace?" She lightly shifted the topic, placing the pen on the jade pen rack.

Zhao Douan's heart leapt suddenly, putting down the inkstone, he bowed to plead:

"Your sinner humbly reports to Your Majesty…"

He narrated the entire event without excessively beautifying his actions.

As the most powerful woman of Great Yu, she wouldn't be foolish enough to not investigate.

The room was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Zhao Douan finished his report and bowed his head, waiting for the Female Emperor's verdict.

He wasn't sure how much his temporary increase in favor could affect.

Do your best, leave the rest to fate.

He even predicted several reactions from the Female Emperor and prepared plans accordingly.

Yet the anticipated thunderous fury did not arrive, Xu Zhenguan mildly said, "Is that all?"

"…Yes, Your Majesty, I…"

"Withdraw." Xu Zhenguan said, "I am weary."

Zhao Douan's heart sank sharply, he could detect a subtle change in the Female Emperor's voice.

The slight amusement and appreciation were replaced by coldness and distance.

"Still not leaving?" Seeing he remained still, the Female Emperor's voice deepened.

"Your servant… takes his leave." Zhao Douan bowed and withdrew, glancing as he closed the door, at the graceful woman in white and black hair, hands behind her back, gazing out the window.

Outside the window was a lake, with water rippling slightly.

Xu Zhenguan was contemplating something unknown.

Not long after.

The sound of footsteps came from outside, accompanied by palace attendants' respectful address of "Zhao Rong," followed by the sound of the door opening with a creak.

Immediately, another young female official's calm and capable voice sounded:

"Your Majesty, the overseer of the Imperial Court, Ma Yan, along with the Imperial Censor from the Imperial Court of Supervision, are outside, intending to impeach Zhao Douan of the White Horse Hall, claiming he privately released the rebel Zhuang Xiaocheng, fearing collusion…"

"Understood."

"How should it be handled?"

"What do you think should be done?"

"If it were others… an investigation according to law would suffice, but as for Zhao Douan, being Your Majesty's personally appointed pawn, your servant dares not make a rash judgment."

Xu Zhenguan sighed, "A mere idle move, it doesn't matter. I heard his reputation is not great?"

The female official coldly stated:

"Terrible. It's heard this person, relying on rumors from the streets, acts recklessly in the Capital, behaves arrogantly, is unschooled and unskilled, notorious for his evil deeds, inciting public grievance…"

The Female Emperor's mind buzzed with the litany of offenses…

The female official finished her complaint, saying:

"Especially tarnishing Your Majesty's reputation. This time, releasing the rebel, whether colluded or not, will surely lead to the officials of the court passionately impeaching, fearing his death is not enough to quell anger."

Implied meaning, useless, should be killed.

Yet Xu Zhenguan rarely hesitated, the impression Zhao Douan left her resurfacing in her mind, always feeling different from rumors.

Probably a facade put on before herself… in which case should be more reason to kill.

But then…

"Send someone to seek the Supervisor of the White Horse Hall, inquire about his opinion on Zhao Douan, verify if street rumors are true, and ascertain if there's any value, if indeed utterly useless, then hand over to the Imperial Court for handling." Xu Zhenguan decisively decreed.

"Yes."

...

...

On another side, Zhao Douan's face was unpleasant as he walked out of the palace gates.

The Female Emperor didn't offer a clear answer, which to him, was a bad sign.

Like a guillotine hanging high, no one knew when it would fall.

"Next, people from the Imperial Court, and even long-standing resentful officials of the court, would surely swarm. And I am not a real Gigolo, unable to whisper sweet nothings… the situation is dire."

"The Female Emperor's attitude indicated no strong bias in my favor, Great Yu's court politics are complex, as the 'Empress's pretty boy,' I am likely to become a pawn in curbing imperial power by the temple's various forces."

"Even if the accusation doesn't hold, being captured and tortured under interrogation, I can't withstand it."

Zhao Douan dared not gamble on how much his earlier maneuvering could influence the Female Emperor's decisions.

He must find a way to save himself!

As long as the guillotine hasn't truly fallen, there's still a chance to struggle!

Zhao Douan calmly contemplated, attempting to change his line of thinking.

Usually, when faced with wrongful accusations, the conventional approach would be to prove innocence, cry for justice, and gain sympathy.

But the real-world logic does not operate like this.

From the brief contact, Zhao Douan believed the Great Yu Female Emperor was a wise person, and likely could discern he hadn't colluded with the enemy.

This was observable from the counterpart's earlier behavior.

The main reason to kill him was to quell the officials' impeachment, and at most, a means for venting anger.

And from a ruler's perspective:

"As long as the value I provide exceeds the gain from killing me, I will be able to live."

Zhao Douan's thoughts suddenly cleared, historically, crooked officials and traitors were countless, yet the emperor didn't eradicate them largely because these people alive served a greater purpose.

The same logic applied, under the premise he hadn't crossed the red line, as long as he could showcase enough value before the guillotine dropped, there's hope of turning the tables.

Capture Zhuang Xiaocheng back? Unrealistic.

Then only one path remained.

"Merit for redemption." Zhao Douan climbed into the carriage, a resolution formed in his heart. He couldn't rely on the whims of high-level figures deciding his life or death.

He must try to do something.

But how to accrue enough merit in a short time? Zhao Douan was at a loss.

"Sir, back to the government office?" the driver asked.

Zhao Douan's mind stirred, he said solemnly:

"Return. Immediately, at once!"

...

...

The location of the White Horse Hall's government office was not far from the Imperial City.

As a newly established office, its inner structure was simple, with only one "Supervisor," held by an old eunuch dispatched from the palace.

It was said the old eunuch once served the Third Imperial Princess, considered the Female Emperor's trusted confidant.

Besides that, many "envoys" were within the hall, all of equal rank, belonging to no-hierarchical seniority. Any immediate task from the Emperor would be assigned to an envoy.

This position was created by the founding Grand Ancestor Emperor of Great Yu.

It was said that one day, the Grand Ancestor desired to eat fresh lychees, then appointed a "Lychee Envoy" to find a way to send lychees from Lingnan to the Capital.

Because it was a Royal task, it held privileges thus a lucrative position, prompting many high officials and prestigious families to seek to place people there.

Yet for the Female Emperor, selecting envoys was particularly focused on appearance, only good-looking ones could enter, hence rumors that the White Horse Hall was the Female Emperor's reserve harem of male lovers.

Zhao Douan stepped out of the carriage, gave a casual order to feed the horses and clean the carriage to a liveried servant, and headed straight to his officer's office.

"Zhu Kui?" He loudly called, naming his right-hand man.

That was the ugly, fierce clerk who had held him and shook him when he woke up in the bamboo grove.

Memories indicated he had once served at the government office, being quite an experienced old clerk.

However, what welcomed him was not the fawning smile of the black-clad clerk.

It was a man sipping tea in the office, a man in his thirties with handsome features, neatly groomed mustache, and slightly thin lips.

The latter slowly placed down the tea bowl, with a faint smile:

"Lord Zhao, I heard something happened to you? Congratulations."

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P.S.: Thank you to the insider boss for the two thousand reward! Thank you to the lovely Phoenix and old friend Li Shipu for their rewards and support~

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