The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 202 - 179, the Confucian scholars of Great Yu number in the tens of millions, yet none can rival Zhao Jun alone.

Accompanied by the scholars of the Xiuwen Pavilion making their entrance.

More precisely, it was the words spoken by Han Porridge and his demeanor that were presented before this group of well-known figures in the capital.

The atmosphere, originally somewhat chaotic due to the arrival of the scholars, abruptly fell silent as if someone had been choked.

"Scholar Zhao... What did Han Banshan just say?"

A scholar stood fixed to the spot, muttering to himself.

"Ah, why didn’t Han Banshan pay attention to Xu Hanlin, but instead greeted Zhao Douan?"

From a distance, a lady from some government officer’s family expressed her astonishment.

At this moment, many people doubted their own ears.

Well, perhaps, it was just Han Porridge showing respect to the Zhao thief, the Favored Minister, by greeting him out of courtesy—this was the most reasonable explanation.

But the ensuing conversation ruthlessly shattered their illusions.

"Hehe, it’s not hard to guess, you arrived later than I expected," Zhao Douan said with a slight nod,

"Where is the Grandmaster?"

"Behind us," Han Porridge replied.

At that time, the other scholars also followed and came over.

Guo Jieyuan, a master of finance, always had a smile for everyone, but now his smile was exceptionally genuine and joyful. He hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands,

"Scholar Zhao, thanks to you teaching me that algorithm the other day, I was able to finish my tasks early. I still have some doubts about that method; I would like to seek your guidance later."

Zhao Douan nodded with a smile, "Of course, of course."

Next was the third scholar cupping his hands and greeting, "Scholar Zhao."

Then the fourth.

The fifth...

The first batch of eight young scholars from the Xiuwen Pavilion had recently become hot commodities in the capital, with countless scholars wearing out their thresholds yet failing to meet them.

An aloof bunch.

Yet at this moment, the young scholars, who countless literati in the capital racked their brains to flatter, were now lined up in a queue.

The first thing they did upon entering the banquet garden was to greet Zhao Douan.

Even Wang You, the prideful son of the Minister of Rites who looked down his nose at others, after glancing around at the scene, fell silent for a moment before nodding to Zhao Douan.

It was as if an absurd farce was being played out.

No.

The farce’s protagonist, of course, was not Zhao Douan, but rather the group of scholars who had long harbored plans and had jointly attacked.

Xu Hanlin, who had previously been haughty and domineering, stood frozen in place.

His hands were still in the gesture of greeting, yet no one present looked at him.

But Xu Hanlin had no mind to be angry; he was only shocked, not understanding what had happened.

He even wondered if these scholars were impostors.

Otherwise, how could the most conceited top talent be so polite to an uncultured ruthless official?

That was not ordinary... fear of power, but a kind of...

Respect.

Yes, respect.

But...

How could that be?

Next to him, dressed as a pedantic Confucian and also a Grand Scholar, Chen Zhengru’s expression was hardly better than that of his students.

Each scholar’s greeting struck his heart like a hammer.

Why?

Just because of power?

Just because the surname Zhao belonged to Your Majesty’s Favored Minister?

Was that what made you all bow and scrape?

Overwhelmed with shock, this pedantic Confucian even overlooked the title "Scholar Zhao," and a fire surged in his chest.

He was jealous.

Jealous that people like Han Porridge only talked to Zhao Douan but ignored him.

"The Grandmaster is here!"

Suddenly, someone shouted.

Chen Zhengru looked up and indeed saw, following behind the scholars, an elderly man accompanied by several attendants, arriving unhurriedly.

Dong Xuan was still dressed in his crimson scholar’s robe, with white hair and beard, his eyes sharp.

Though aged, there was an aura of vigor about his stride.

As he approached, his gaze swept around, his brow furrowing.

"Greetings, Dean," Chen Zhengru stepped forward. Dong Xuan helmed the Hanlin Academy, and the two were in a superior-subordinate relationship.

"Chen Zhengru? What are you doing here outside instead of being in the inner court? And what is this all about?"

Grandmaster Dong’s gaze scanned the crowd, clearly sensing something amiss.

His eyes suddenly fixed on his own body, astonished,

"You’re here too?"

"Grandson greets grandfather!" Dong Scholar bowed deeply at that moment, not daring to overstep in any way.

After bowing, he remembered his younger brother and swept his gaze over, spying the sneaky figure attempting to slip away and felt anger rise,

"Third brother! Where are you going? Haven’t you come to greet grandfather?"

Thump... Third Young Master Dong shuddered in fright...

And knelt again.

"Dean, it’s like this, Zhao Douan was spouting nonsense, claiming he would draw his sword to kill the Third Master..." Chen Zhengru saw an opening and twisted the truth.

Wang You broke in with a brimming confidence and displeased tone,

"Grand Scholar Chen, do not believe in baseless rumors."

Following that, he looked towards his grandfather, and with neutral terms, narrated the sequence of events.

At the end, he admitted with shame,

"The youngest brother has erred, and as his elder, I have failed to fulfill my duty of guidance. I earnestly request that Grandfather punishes me."

After hearing the account, Grandmaster Dong’s expression, calm as ancient wells, slowly creased into a squint, seeming to grasp something.

Xu Hanlin’s face slightly changed color, and suddenly he spoke up loudly,

"Grandmaster, even if this matter did indeed stem from the Third Young Master, the fact that Zhao Douan would resort to force, and that he dared to mention your name without the slightest respect, is truly…"

Zhao Douan couldn’t be bothered to listen any further, and directly looked at Dong Xuan, stating calmly,

"Grandmaster, it seems your guess yesterday wasn’t wrong, the public discourse has been raging lately, and indeed, someone is stirring the pot."

Grandmaster Dong let out a sigh.

Suddenly, he looked towards You Jinhua and her mother. This revered court official and prominent literary figure unexpectedly bowed slightly in apology and said,

"My Dong family has failed in teaching its ’child’. To have disturbed the Family Head’s mother and his beloved is truly embarrassing. I shall apologize on his behalf and later send a modest gift to your residence, as a token of my apology."

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan were completely bewildered.

The whole ordeal for them was like a roller coaster ride.

Just a moment ago, they thought disaster was upon them, only for the situation to take an unexpected turn.

When the renowned Han Banshan showed such courtesy and added respect towards their eldest son, the mother and daughter’s minds went blank.

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And now, the Grandmaster of the court was going so far as to lower himself to apologize to them, two common women…

This was something they wouldn’t even dare to dream of.

"Grand... Grandmaster, you are too kind…"

You Jinhua stammered, at a loss for what to do, and cast an appealing gaze toward her stepson.

Zhao Douan smiled and said,

"If the Grandmaster says so, then we shall leave the matter at that."

Grandmaster Dong looked at him gratefully.

Then he turned and coldly looked down at the Third Young Master Dong, who was kneeling on the ground and had completely lost his wits, and scolded,

"Are you not going to leave? Do you plan to continue embarrassing me here?"

"Ah… yes…" The Third Young Master meekly obeyed, showing not the slightest trace of his former arrogance.

"Grandfather… You know Brother Zhao? What was Han Scholar saying about him just now?"

After his brother had scuttled away in disgrace, Wang You slowly regained his composure and asked the question burning in everyone’s mind.

What was the reason for all this?

Wasn’t it widely rumored that Grandmaster Dong loathed this harsh official? Why would he act like this?

Seeing him, Grandmaster Dong’s expression softened momentarily, then he slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over all the scholars present.

His sharp gaze was so daunting that no one dared meet his eyes, all hanging their heads in timidity.

Even Chen Zhengru was left speechless, his mind a blank slate.

"Heh," Grandmaster Dong snorted softly with a complex mix of emotions,

"What an impressive display.

These past few days, I have indeed heard numerous rumors and chatter, which I had no intention of addressing. Yet to my surprise, it has escalated to the point where you brandish my name like a flag, resorting to schemes at an occasion like this.

And even targeting my Dong family’s progeny. Very good, very well indeed."

His tone was calm, but his words sent shivers down the spines of all the scholars who had just participated in the harsh censure.

They realized that after today, they would likely have no standing left in the scholarly community.

Thinking of this, some scholars, in a manner akin to a desperate last stand, raised their heads and asked,

"Why does the Grandmaster hold such reverence for an uneducated and cruel official?"

They couldn’t understand!

They were even more indignant, as many had joined the outcry based on the rumors of Grandmaster Dong’s disdain for Zhao Douan.

Now, they suddenly felt as if they had been stabbed in the back.

Grandmaster Dong laughed in fury,

"A fine question! Today, I’ll tell you why!

The so-called uneducated and cruel official you belittle, as an associate scholar, he participated in the entirety of the court’s new policy formulation, establishing the very framework of the reform. The other scholars merely added flesh to the bones!

Or one might even say that he alone has contributed more than the entire Xiuwen Pavilion!

You wonder why Han Banshan and others hold him in high regard? This is the reason!

This is the uneducated man you mock; this is the martial artist, the government officer you look down upon with disdain!

It is said that scholars kill no one, but slay with their pens. Now you seek to slander our Xiuwen Pavilion’s Scholar Zhao, tell me, what should be my response!"

After a pause, the court’s senior Grandmaster suddenly spat in disdain and shook his head,

"A bunch of flatterers and sycophants."

He turned his head to look at Chen Zhengru and Xu Hanlin and huffed,

"A bunch of craven minions."

Silence.

It was as if, in the outer garden, no sound existed but that of the old Grandmaster’s voice.

Even the monks from the Divine Dragon Temple, tasked with receiving guests, looked at each other in bewilderment, hands clasped in prayer.

Among the years of monastery’s fairs, this had to be the most dramatic one in a century.

And all because of that youth in the pavilion, the one standing with his hands behind his back, calm and collected.

A monk spoke softly in admiration,

"After today, the name Zhao Douan will resound like thunder through the Confucian forests of Great Yu."

The scholars of Great Yu numbered in the millions, yet today, none could rival Zhao Jun alone.