The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"How do you know, I am the 'Divine Walking in the World'... The 'Holy Monk' of the Western Regions also said this to me, is this a local way of praising people..." Zhao Douan saw that Zhenbao hadn't gotten angry, and his heart strings suddenly relaxed, neutralizing the awkwardness with self-deprecation in his mind.

The study room fell silent for a moment.

The tension between the ruler and minister that was "sword-drawn and bowstring-bent" just now, turned strange once no outsiders were observing, leaving only the two of them.

"Ahem," it was Zhao Douan who eventually broke the silence first, explaining:

"I sincerely request Your Majesty's permission to recount the reason for my fake death deception during the Feng City journey."

Ah yes, he came here to question the wrongdoing... Xu Zhenguan was reminded, and her expression almost faltered.

She forced herself to maintain the emperor's demeanor, simply sat down in Zhao Douan's chair, gazing at him with clear eyes, adopting an 'I'll see how you defend yourself' posture.

Zhao Douan chuckled awkwardly, thought for a moment, then dragged a chair from the corner of the room, tentatively sitting opposite the desk.

While doing this, he always watched Zhenbao's expression. Seeing she merely raised her small eyebrow, acknowledging his breach of etiquette, the corners of Zhao Douan's mouth slowly rose as he began to organize his words mentally.

"Your Majesty, it all started when my group arrived at Marine Road..."

Zhao Douan narrated carefully and slowly, starting from being surrounded by Magistrate Luan's forces in Feng City, and his identity being exposed.

Striving not to overlook any details.

Though Luan Cheng's beforehand report also recorded roughly, it was very brief. Zhao Douan's firsthand account filled in the gaps, making the story vivid and lively.

Xu Zhenguan listened quietly, similar ministerial reports had occurred many times, but each time, this guy in front of her brought fresh surprises.

When hearing the capture attempt led by government officers due to Luan Cheng's misguidance, the Empress shook her head, lamenting that while Magistrate Luan was capable, his strategic wit paled compared to Zhuang Xiaocheng.

Upon learning Zhao Douan commanded troops, flattened Zixiao Taoist Temple, encountered resistance from Lu Zhengchun, and captured him, her eyes were filled with anger, coldly rebuking the "treacherous Taoist" for betraying the late Emperor's grace.

When hearing about Zhao Douan setting "decapitation" traps, engaging in feigned strategies against Zhuang Xiaocheng, ultimately using spies planted earlier to gain trust and locate the main base.

Even though Xu Zhenguan already knew the result, her eyes still lit up, almost praising him.

This kind of strategic contest, the remote duel between players, was indeed spectacular, especially considering the crucial role Yun Xi, whom Zhao Douan had saved from long ago last year, played.

Suddenly it had the sense of a layout spread over a thousand miles...

"Did you start planning after nearly being killed by Zhuang Xiaocheng last year? Otherwise, why hold such a high regard for that female rebel?" Xu Zhenguan asked curiously.

Zhao Douan's internal alarm bell rang, without hesitation, he replied with righteousness:

"Your Majesty, you see clearly! At that time, I considered Yun Xi, this villain, as a disciple of Zhuang Xiaocheng, could possibly be turned, so I imprisoned her separately."

Ridiculous!

If Zhenbao misunderstood him as having other thoughts about Yun Xi, it would be troublesome.

The Empress eyed Zhao with doubt, feigning belief:

"So it seems, Yun Xi indeed made significant contributions, I, with clear rewards and punishments, though she was once a rebel, since repented and captured the traitor herself, I can pardon her crimes."

Zhao Douan was stunned, feeling warmth in his heart.

The decision to pardon Yun Xi, the Empress could completely say after leaving, to show the magnanimity of imperial grace.

Now telling him privately, was to give him this "personal credit."

This showed, the Empress really had no jealousy intent, but it's clear, a dignified ruler, a female emperor recorded gloriously in history, wouldn't care about a female prisoner.

If lacking even this confidence, what would make her a monarch?

"Your Majesty's kindness, the rogue woman will surely be grateful." Zhao Douan sincerely said, then slowly recounted how he sought Pei Niannu's help during critical moments, fabricating the fake death to hide his trail.

After this last part, though the Empress had a vague guess in her heart, she still felt a surge of joy, like a stone dropped into a heart sea, rippling with waves.

Xu Zhenguan subconsciously leaned forward, her eyes shining: "Zhuang Xiaocheng... You truly captured him alive?"

Zhao Douan smiled and replied: "Absolutely."

Even with the emperor's cunning, she couldn't suppress showing joy, if not for decorum, she had the urge to laugh aloud.

Captured him alive!

The rebel leader who caused the entire court headaches, the thorn in her eyes, indeed was caught by him.

And just as promised publicly with Li Yanfu back then, only in three months.

Most of this time was wasted on travel.

If anyone else said this, she'd doubt, but with the miracle worker Zhao Douan, besides surprise, she felt it was "as it should be."

As it should be... When did she have such god-like faith in him?

Not overnight, but from past victories that built this impression in her heart, as if any difficult problem, what others couldn't do, as long as he acted, he could solve them effortlessly, yet upon thinking back, winning was not by luck, nearly inevitable.