The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1136 - 618: The Empress Leaves the Capital, the Imperial Consort Sets Sail
Though I’ve been away for days, my bedroom in the Zhao Mansion remains tidy and spotless, which means Auntie often cleans it.
Zhao Douan rubbed his nose, lifted the quilt, stepped onto the floor, and took a few laps around the room to re-acclimate to his puppet body.
"Hmm... After Gongshu Tianyuan’s modifications, it’s indeed less reliant on the sun. It can still function after being on standby for so many days."
Zhao Douan checked the puppet’s condition, silently giving it a thumbs up.
Pushing open the door, the cold afternoon wind greeted him. Leaving the front line and returning home, Zhao Douan felt a long-awaited peace.
Walking along the corridor, he encountered the maids and servants in the mansion, all bowing in surprise.
"Master."
"Greetings, Master."
Zhao Douan smiled and placed a finger to his lips, signaling them to keep silent.
Following the direction sensed by his divine sense, Zhao Douan passed through the Moon Gate and entered the garden on one side of the mansion.
The winter garden was desolate and monotonous, with only the plum blossoms still in bright bloom.
The courtyard of the Zhao Residence was planted with plum trees, whose dark branches were covered with various blossoms in the cold wind. Yet, as winter was ending, the blooming season was nearly finished, leaving scattered petals on the ground.
You Jinhua and Zhao Pan were enjoying the plum blossoms in the afternoon sunlight.
A pair of women, one big and one small, wore embroidered jackets, one with lush peonies and the other with pink roses.
"Woof... Woof woof..."
The Pekingese dog perked its ears first, turned its head, and stared with wide eyes, barking instinctively as its tail wagged delightedly.
The mother and daughter turned around, their faces lighting up with surprise: "Dalang (Big Brother), you’re back? Weren’t you just at the front line not long ago?"
Zhao Douan approached with a happy grin: "We just won a battle at the front line. I came back to report to His Majesty and have only just returned from the palace."
His tone was understated. He didn’t mention the dangerous battle at Hu Ting, but the mother and daughter naturally understood that victory never came easily.
Zhao Douan squatted down, rubbed the Pekingese’s head, and then sat on a stone bench under the plum tree, casually asking about family matters.
Only at home could he temporarily set aside matters of state and enjoy complete rest.
After chatting for a while, You Jinhua found an excuse to send her daughter away. Then, this gentle and soft-natured woman bit her lip, approached, and crouched slightly beside Zhao Douan, gazing up at her stepson’s face. She couldn’t help but ask, "How long can you stay home this time?"
"Just today. I have to leave again tomorrow."
"Then... you’re going off to fight again, aren’t you?" You Jinhua seemed to perceive the weight between Zhao Douan’s brows.
Though she didn’t know Zhao Douan had resolved to battle Prince Jing at Coastal Road and end the ’Eight Princes’ Rebellion’ in one stroke, allowing the court to fully resist the threat from the Western Regions.
The perceptive woman sensed that Zhao Douan was about to undertake something significant again.
"Isn’t war all about fighting and killing?" Zhao Douan smiled, revealing a grin. "Don’t worry, it’s just a bunch of ragtag troops, not worth mentioning."
Before You Jinhua could say more, Zhao Pan returned inopportunely.
The mischievous girl said, "Mother, there’s a detail you mentioned earlier that I couldn’t... huh?"
You Jinhua quickly stood up, smoothed her dress, and glared at her daughter: "You’re grown up, yet you still need to ask about finding something. Never mind, I’ll do it myself. Go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare a good meal tonight to welcome home Dalang."
"Oh..."
...
...
That evening, Zhao Douan satisfied his appetites in his puppet body, didn’t sleep, and spent the night in the study room pondering battle plans.
As the sky began to lighten.
When Zhao Pan came with the dog to call him for breakfast, she found the room already empty.
...
"Greetings, Junior Guardian Zhao."
At the gates of the imperial palace.
When Zhao Douan arrived with the dawn, the guards were surprised and saluted.
"Is there a morning assembly today?" He stopped and asked.
"Yes, it should’ve just ended now," one guard replied.
Zhao Douan nodded and, under the admiring gaze of the imperial guard, passed through the deep gate tunnel without meeting the officials leaving the assembly.
He headed straight for the Yangxin Hall, but when he reached the Imperial Study Room, the Empress was not there.
The elderly female official replied, "Her Majesty should have returned to the Palace."
Zhao Douan nodded, then turned and went to the Palace, familiar with the route. The palace maid informed and allowed him in advance.
"Creak."
Pushing open the ornate door of the Empress’s chamber, morning light spilled over Zhao Douan’s form, onto the woven carpet inside.
Zhao Douan stepped in, lifted the curtains, and saw a familiar figure in white casual dress, sitting with their back to him in front of a large blue and white porcelain vase, seemingly tending to the plum branches in a flowerbed.
"Your Majesty. I am here," Zhao Douan greeted respectfully.
But the Empress, turned away from him, did not respond.
"Your Majesty?" Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned, lifting his head to sense something peculiar.
Suddenly, a gentle laugh echoed from the adjacent room draped in gauzy curtains.
Zhao Douan turned his head in surprise, his eyes lighting up.
He saw a ’Fairy’ emerging from the room, dressed in a plain white long dress, wearing cloth boots. A bright red silk belt around the waist accentuated her slim figure.
Her cascading black hair tied behind, reached down to the waist, giving her an agile appearance. Her transparent, ethereal face became more defined.
Xu Zhenguan, holding a black sword sheath in her hand, smiled at him: "How about it? Will I be recognized if I venture out like this?"
