The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 207 - 182, no worries, I will vent your anger for you.

Zhao Douan didn’t want to die.

People say, "once bitten, twice shy," but having once experienced death, he treasured the hard-won life even more.

So, even though he knew that the extraordinarily beautiful woman before him, who possessed both the attributes of a fairy and an emperor, wouldn’t really do anything, he still put on a frightened expression,

"Your servant has been presumptuous, please punish me, Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan’s lacquer-like bright eyes stared at him; she remained silent.

Just staring.

No way... It’s not going to go too far, right? Strangely enough, why was he so bold tonight?

Thinking it over, was it perhaps the tenderness when the Empress was listening to him attentively earlier?

Or was it because she shed her dragon robe and normal attire today, like an ordinary woman beside him under the riverside in this night...?

The atmosphere was set.

"Your Majesty..." Just when Zhao Douan felt a bit nervous in his heart.

He heard the beautiful woman in front of him gently say,

"When outside, don’t call me Your Majesty."

What then? Miss Xu? That doesn’t sound right...

Zhao Douan muttered to himself, suddenly feeling a void in his hand.

The "White Yaksha" mask that he had just taken back was snatched by the Empress, who then gently took off her face veil and put the mask on her face.

In the brief moment she removed her veil, the revealed fairy-like face... was stunningly beautiful.

In the night breeze, a corner of light veil fell from the bridge and drifted slowly across the water’s surface.

"Not to be repeated."

Xu Zhenguan said.

"Ah! I... I remember it," Zhao Douan said blankly, then hurriedly promised.

As for how trustworthy this promise was, only the gods knew.

"Walk with me... walk with me, tonight we shall enjoy the festivities with the people," the Empress stepped forward and walked away.

It was then that Zhao Douan hurriedly put on the "Black Yaksha" mask on his face.

To cover up his appearance and avoid being recognized.

The two masks were not meant to cover the entire face but only the upper half, extending two horns at the top, and stopping at the nose, leaving the mouth and chin exposed.

This design allowed young men and women to wear them while eating street food.

Thus, a black and a white, a male and a female pair of "Yakshas" descended from the bridge and gradually blended into the crowd.

...

Today, the Capital was extremely lively, with people coming and going on the streets and a bustling crowd at the stalls on both sides.

Many people wore all kinds of masks, and among them, the two didn’t stand out at all.

Some merchants also hired people to carry sedan chairs, with sedan chairs bearing paper-mâché figurines of the God of Wealth, figures of longevity...

Playing music and parading through the market, a large group of mask-wearing common folks followed behind—this was the "touring of the gods."

While walking the streets, it wasn’t appropriate to talk, so they didn’t say much meaningful.

Just people bumping into each other, and sometimes, to avoid carriages, they inevitably had to get close.

Since the Empress’s accession, although the Capital’s women dressed and behaved much more boldly, the strict separation of the sexes still remained; walking together was already the limit.

In the world that Zhao Douan was familiar with, it was absolutely impossible for young couples to nibble on each other publicly while strolling the streets.

But human wisdom is interconnected.

Therefore, some young men and women would deliberately crowd into busy areas, creating opportunistic moments of being caught off guard and bumping into each other’s arms.

Whenever this happened, the Empress would turn back, and beneath the mask, her eyes would watch him warily.

Therefore, Zhao Douan could only retreat again and again, pitifully, using his tall and strong body to forcefully carve out space around him, innocently indicating that he was the Empress’s loyal guard and would definitely not take advantage of the situation.

Xu Zhenguan seemed quite satisfied.

Although with her cultivation, just a slight thought would prevent anyone from getting close to her, even in the midst of thousands of troops.

"Your Majesty, would you like something to eat?"

After much difficulty, the two squeezed out from a congested street, and the crowd around them suddenly thinned, revealing a row of food stalls ahead.

Xu Zhenguan looked around and went straight into a noodle shop that was small but clean and elegant.

The shop was busy, but they were in luck as a seat had just become available.

After they sat down, the young owner came over attentively:

"What would you like to order?"

The Empress of Great Yu, accustomed to exotic delicacies, had her choice ready and ordered a bowl of fresh meat wontons.

Then she glanced at him, "And you?"

"I’ll have the same," Zhao Douan said solemnly, adding, "With some coriander."

Coriander, that is, cilantro, in Great Yu, is requested separately, otherwise, it is not added by default.

After the owner left, Zhao Douan asked, "Is that all we’re eating?"

He couldn’t quite figure out how to address her, so he simply omitted the subject.

Xu Zhenguan spoke with a touch of nostalgia:

"I’ve eaten at this store before, but that was years ago. The place had not been renovated as it is now, the signboard was old, and the owner was an old man. Now it seems the son has taken over the family business. Things have changed, people are different."

Zhao Douan then realized that she hadn’t aimlessly taken him around but came here with purpose.

"Years ago... that must’ve been inconvenient for you at the time," Zhao Douan said tentatively.

Unmarried Imperial Princesses lived within the Imperial Palace, and the climate under the Old Emperor wasn’t as open as it is now. As an Imperial Princess, her movements would have been restricted, far from the "freedom" of married royal women.

"Yes," Xu Zhenguan sighed lightly,

"At that time, I was following my brother, the Crown Prince, on an outing. This place, it was he who mentioned it to me. Back then, the ones by my side were Mo Chou and Sun Lianying.

I used to long for casual outings, aspiring for what I couldn’t have. Now... although no one controls me, I no longer have the energy or mood to go out."

Zhao Douan felt that it wasn’t easy to respond, so he simply listened quietly.

Fortunately, the Empress wasn’t really talking to him, but seemed more like reflecting, and laughed lightly:

"Let it be, it’s all in the past."

At this moment, the owner approached with a tray, first placing a bowl of wontons in front of each of them—one with cilantro, one without.

Then, another small dish was brought out, containing a tea egg with a tiny flower on the side, and the server smiled as he said,

"This is a complimentary gift from our shop to the gentleman and lady."

Gentleman and lady… it was a term of respect, not bound by age.

Clearly, the new owner who had inherited his father’s noodle shop had some clever ideas, offering couples who dined in an extra little snack.

It was like a second blossoming of spring.

Xu Zhenguan: "..."

Zhao Douan: (*❦ω❦)

After the server left, Zhao Douan said in a low, innocent voice,

"It’s not my fault this time…"

Xu Zhenguan couldn’t be bothered to quibble with him, nor would she take out her frustrations on the people beneath the Imperial City.

So, the couple quietly started to dig in. Zhao Douan took the opportunity to discreetly push the egg towards her, and the Empress did not stand on ceremony, picking it up with her chopsticks and nibbling on it.

These two "eccentrics" who wouldn’t even take off their masks to eat in the shop soon drew the attention of some patrons.

Xu Zhenguan frowned and pinched a formula with the hand that was below the table; a wave of invisible telekinesis spread out, shielding their little table from view.

It blocked out all outside noise.

"Your Majesty?"

Zhao Douan sensed something was amiss and tentatively spoke.

The Empress continued leisurely spooning soup, portraying the image that there was no need for alarm, and said,

"Regarding today’s events in the Purification Garden, what are your thoughts?"

They were suddenly discussing serious matters…

Zhao Douan thought for a moment and spoke his mind, "Clearly, this was a premeditated attack; the masterminds should be the students and teacher from the Hanlin Academy Scholar Chen Zhengru…"

He shared his speculations and analysis.

Xu Zhenguan nodded and then shook her head:

"Your guess isn’t bad, but the one orchestrating this is not Chen Zhengru."

Zhao Douan was surprised, "You mean…"

"Li Yinglong," Xu Zhenguan calmly uttered the name:

"The son of Li Yanfu, a key figure in personnel appointments within the ’Li Party.’ Your repeated actions lately have finally drawn their attention. And after the Grandmaster cleared your name and sang your praises, Li Yanfu was bound to notice you as well."

Li Yinglong?

The capital’s foremost debauchee, the so-called "Young Master"?

Zhao Douan was familiar with the name, but had no dealings with him.

"Had Li Yanfu not noticed me before?"

Zhao Douan had no concept of the Young Master, but he had a profound impression of his father, having encountered him on the day he arrived.

Xu Zhenguan calmly said:

"Li Yanfu has had a tumultuous career at court for many years, with countless political enemies. How many capable officials has he seen? More than just you.

Besides, by the time one reaches his position, there are already few who can be considered his adversaries. Of course, that was in the past; with the new reforms, it’s a different story."

Should I feel honored… Zhao Douan wasn’t particularly concerned and smiled,

"Well, since I’ve already offended them, owing a lot doesn’t weigh one down."

Xu Zhenguan unexpectedly gazed at him, and seeing that his demeanor was genuine, she asked curiously,

"In this court, is there really no one you fear?"

Zhao Douan paused in his eating, slightly raised his head, and said seriously,

"There is."

"Who?"

"Far away at the horizon, close at hand."

"...You sly dog." The Empress realized he was being slick with his words again.

She decided it was time to teach him a lesson, keeping a straight face.

The chopsticks moved, and she flipped half of a tea egg across like a cannonball, thudding into Zhao Douan’s bowl and splashing soup, which splattered all over his mask.

Zhao Douan was stunned for a moment, then confusedly said,

"Why does Your Majesty reward your servant?"

"..." Xu Zhenguan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry at his shameless act.

Setting down her chopsticks on the table, she said with a smile that was not quite a smile,

"Had I known half a tea egg would suffice, I wouldn’t have arranged all that business."

Zhao Douan, confused, "Your Majesty means..."

Xu Zhenguan slowly stood up.

At that moment, although in plain attire and wearing a somewhat comical mask of a ferocious demoness, she still exuded the dignified presence of royalty:

"For your successful strategies, how could I allow a meritorious official to be insulted without lifting a finger to help?"

"I merely wanted to vent a little on your behalf."

...

...

Meanwhile.

At the Imperial Court, inside the Governor Hall.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Lord Ma Yan, who was not invited today, sat upright in his chair, sliding a list filled with densely packed names gently across the table.

He said to the Master officers on duty,

"Her Majesty is very unhappy with the rumors and gossip among the scholars in the Capital lately. Bring these people in and thoroughly investigate whether they’ve been instigated by the rebels to purposely slander and defame the courtiers?

If you can’t uncover the truth, don’t release them. Understood?"

The Jinyi officers at foot promptly acknowledged his commands, took the list, and rushed out of the Governor Hall.

They looked down at the list and exchanged glances with each other.

Not only had the scholars involved in today’s denunciation of Zhao Douan at the Purification Garden been included, but also those who had not been present yet had been the most virulent in recent days were all on the list.

"Hiss…"

They all understood that tonight, the literary circles would be rocked once again.

Suddenly.

Outside the Imperial Court’s doors, countless Jinyi officers and cavalry swarmed out, bristling with an ominous aura.