The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 702 - 462. Xu Zhenguan: I will vent anger for you (5k)_3

"Once I succeed in this promotion, I can firmly secure the throne. By then, I shall certainly settle accounts with Prince Jing."

Zhao Douan smiled and said, "I sincerely look forward to that day coming quickly, not for personal vendetta, but for the stability of the world."

Xu Zhenguan unexpectedly found that this guy seemed to be sincere in his words.

The Empress nodded her head and suddenly, without reason, asked:

"During this period, with that old nun, have you...?"

"I have remained chaste, Eunuch Hai can vouch for me. That old nun tried to seduce me several times, but I ignored her completely..." Zhao Douan declared righteously.

The Empress blinked and teased, "I can verify that."

Her meaning was to find Eunuch Hai to inquire and confirm.

Zhao Douan was very straightforward; he directly started to untie his belt, making a gesture to take off his pants: "If Your Majesty wants to inspect, then inspect."

"...?" Xu Zhenguan was momentarily stunned, his mind briefly blanked, his face reddened, and he angrily spat out:

"What kind of propriety is this? Who wants to see that of yours..."

At this moment, footsteps were heard again outside the tea room, followed by the door opening with a creak, accompanied by Ning Zechen's deep voice: Forabetterreadingexperience,visitM(VLEMPYR).

"My lord, I heard of your triumphant return, I..."

Governor Ning stepped over the threshold, still maintaining the motion of opening the door, and his facial expression suddenly froze.

His words were stuck in his throat as he blankly stared at the sovereigns in the tea room and the action of Zhao Douan untying (tying) his belt.

A moment of silence.

Governor Ning's forehead broke into cold sweat, swiftly turned around to exit the room, and closed the door with a bang. He immediately kneeled on one knee outside the door and tremblingly said:

"Your servant, Shipping Governor Ning Zechen, did not know the Saint was present, I intruded, startled the Holy Emperor, and deserve to die a thousand times for my crime!"

Inside the room.

Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath, pressed his brow with a headache, and shot a displeased glare at the smiling Zhao Douan, saying helplessly:

"Governor Ning, after learning of your great achievements from Mr. Zhao, there's no need for such formalities, come in and speak."

Ning Zechen, kneeling outside, didn't move and said:

"Your Majesty is overpraising, and so is Lord Zhao's commendation. I... shall not disturb further. Whatever orders Your Majesty has, I will immediately carry them out."

Old Ning, who had experienced the ups and downs of officialdom for many years, knew when to heed the courteous words of a leader and when not to.

He simply loathed how his eyes were not blind.

"..."

Xu Zhenguan sighed lightly, feeling weary and too lazy to explain further, simply saying:

"Very well, in that case, Governor Ning, please assist in notifying the entire prefecture that I have arrived early. Tonight, we shall host a banquet, and I will personally celebrate for Mr. Zhao and Mr. Ning. Remember... to send word to the Shen family and Prince Jing Mansion that attendance is mandatory."

Zhao Douan, fastening his pants, looked at her unexpectedly.

The Empress smiled gently at him and said:

"Since this battle has reached its finale thanks to you, I shall conclude it personally."

...

...

The Empress has arrived in Jianning Prefecture!

This news spread like a whirlwind, reaching the desks of all the notable figures in the prefecture city.

Unsurprisingly, it stirred up a commotion, as no one knew why the Sealing fleet had just entered Jiancheng Road, and yet the Emperor had already left the fleet and arrived ahead of schedule.

Soon, the rumors of abnormal celestial phenomena ten miles outside the city, Zhao Douan returning with people from outside the city, and the matter of a flying sword entering and exiting Prince Jing Mansion, added a layer of enigmatic mystery to the news of the Empress's arrival.

For a time, speculation abounded, with everyone in the city imagining what major event had occurred.

The evening banquet was still arranged in "Jing Garden."

The very place where Zhao Douan had encountered two assassination attempts before.

However, this time, the banquet in Jing Garden was more grandiose and solemn, with all the city's officials, gentry, and nobility present.

Yet, with their status, they could not even meet the Empress face-to-face and were only arranged far away on the outskirts of Jing Garden, just to join in the fun.

Zhao Douan dressed in the uniform of a third-rank Junior Guardian, followed beside the Empress, and also handled some simple social interactions on her behalf.

This, too, sparked a commotion. It was rumored that Mr. Zhao, who was gravely ill and near death, appeared lively and spirited, which was astonishing in itself.

However, some knowledgeable individuals were not surprised and instead looked forward to the night's drama.

When Prince Jing arrived with his heir Xu Jinglong, and Princess Consort Lu Yan'er at Jing Garden, they happened to see the Shen family's convoy parked by the riverbank.

The Old Dowager, with silver-white hair and supporting herself on a Dragon Head Walking Stick, had changed into a luxurious dark green outfit, followed by the maid Miss Hong and her eldest son, the Shen Family Master.

They exchanged glances without extra communication, nodded as a form of greeting.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, they entered Jing Garden to pay respect to the Empress.

"Your servant Xu Wen (Concubine) greets Your Majesty!"

Zhao Douan sat beside the Empress, in the closest position, overlooking the two groups from Prince Jing Mansion and the Shen family, paying their respects outside the pavilion.

The pavilion's dead corner was draped with light gauze curtains, with only a long table arranged in the center. Xu Zhenguan sat upright in the middle, with Zhao Douan and Ning Zechen on either side.

Eunuch Hai and others stood behind.

As for the Bodhisattva... it is worth mentioning that the old nun, upon learning of the Empress's arrival, hastily left a letter and fled... the gist was:

Since Your Majesty has arrived, I bid farewell, heading to the Divine Dragon Temple on Jiancheng Road to receive the inheritance left by Da Jing Master.

As if she was worried that leaving a moment later might invite trouble from the petty-minded Empress, who's prone to jealousy.

Zhao Douan was both amused and helpless, lamenting that the farewell did not even warrant a meeting, just how terrifying Zhenbao was in Bodhi's mind...

"Uncle, please rise. We are all family, no need for such formalities." Xu Zhenguan looked out at Prince Jing with a smile and said.

Prince Jing slowly rose to his feet, his expression respectful:

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty. It was a failure on my part to welcome Your Majesty upon your early arrival."

Xu Zhenguan smiled, his intent profound, and said:

"Is that so? I thought those people outside the city were arranged by you, Uncle, to welcome me."

Prince Jing feigned confusion, "What people does Your Majesty mean?"

Xu Zhenguan smiled lightly, "Nothing much, someone, grant them seats."

A pair of sovereign and vassal, uncle and nephew, who would have gladly killed each other if not for the blood ties, met for the first time in three years, cordial and charmingly poised.

The Old Dowager Shen knelt on the ground and never heard the command from the Empress allowing her to rise, so she remained motionless.

It was as if... she was intentionally or unintentionally ignored.

——

The upcoming Sealing plot marks the end of the second volume, looking forward to the third volume...