The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 146 - 130. Transmit the imperial edict! Upon his first arrival at the Prince Consort’s residence, Princess Yunyang of the royal family has a skill for taming her husband Zhao Douan.

By the riverside.

Seeing Zhao Douan agree so readily, a look of anticipation appeared in the lively eyes of Xu Zhenguan with her typically pale complexion.

"Your Majesty, since that’s the case, your subject shall take your leave."

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Zhao Douan looked eager to rub his hands together, as if he couldn’t wait to go through fire and water for the Empress.

Yet, he didn’t move an inch.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him and said teasingly,

"Are you willing to leave without hearing about the disposition of that aunt of mine?"

Zhao Douan laughed heartily,

"Your subject simply doesn’t wish to see Your Majesty and the Grand Princess harming your kinship."

It was ridiculous. Marquis Xiajiang had been thrown into the dungeon, one foot already on the autumn execution ground, and yet Princess Yunyang hadn’t been embroiled in any mud.

Xu Zhenguan fell silent for a moment and then said,

"Ma Yan has interrogated Marquis Xiajiang, and the trap set against you was his doing, not the handiwork of that aunt of mine. However, tracing back to the beginning, she indeed incited Marquis Xiajiang to become your enemy."

When a woman learns to use her advantages wisely, she often doesn’t need to kill with her own hands.

Zhao Douan thought back to the brief exchange of indifferent looks within the palanquin and thought this woman was no simple character.

Xu Zhenguan suddenly sighed and said,

"Actually, the Grand Princess... she wasn’t always like this... But let’s not talk about that."

It sounded like there was a story there... Come on, spit it out, leaving us hanging is the worst... Zhao Douan’s curiosity was piqued.

But the Emperor would not speak, and as a subject, it was unwise to keep questioning.

Silently calculating in his mind, Zhao Douan decided to later check into Yunyang’s background and said earnestly,

"Your Majesty, please don’t be troubled. After this incident, the Grand Princess will understand Your Majesty’s intentions, and she surely won’t continue…"

The so-called tenderness after accepting a favor.

The Empress had just bestowed a valuable gift, and Princess Yunyang’s attempt to get away with something backfired, Zhao Douan magnanimously indicated he wouldn’t pursue the matter.

Xu Zhenguan shook her head and interrupted him,

"I have made a decision. After this affair, letting her reflect would do her good. Princess Yunyang will be sent to Jizhao Temple later for self-cultivation, which will also cut her ties with those dishonorable characters.

That way, she won’t be able to trouble you anymore."

"Jizhao Temple? The one beside Divine Dragon Temple?" Zhao Douan was stunned for a moment.

He knew the place.

It was a small nunnery near the main Buddhist temple, Divine Dragon Temple.

The nunnery was full of nuns in closed-door cultivation.

Typically, if the Emperor passed away and concubines could no longer stay in the Imperial Palace, they would be sent to Jizhao Temple.

There were also some royal women who, if they committed misdeeds, would be ordered to stay in the nunnery for a period.

It could be for a few months, several years, or even lifelong confinement, accompanied only by ancient Buddhas and blue lamps.

The Empress was actually sending her own aunt to a nunnery for confinement...

Hiss, could this be considered "re-education"?

Well, the key was to cut off her connections with numerous lovers.

Hmm, a "mandatory chastity retreat"?

All kinds of messy thoughts were running through Zhao Douan’s mind.

He felt the punishment was also quite reasonable; after all, she was the aunt, and some face had to be given.

Xu Zhenguan grasped the air, and an imperial decree suddenly appeared in her palm.

She casually tossed it to Zhao Douan,

"The imperial decree is drafted. Take it with you to announce it at the prince consort’s residence."

Ah, this... Zhao Douan glanced at the Empress and vaguely understood something.

Without refusal, he took the imperial decree, responded, turned, and left.

Announcing an imperial decree had a very strict procedure. The recipient at home must bathe and burn incense in advance...

However, after the Empress ascended the throne, she simplified the procedure.

Zhao Douan held the imperial decree, sealed with a twenty-four-chambered red stamp.

He merely needed to bring a team of eunuchs to announce it at the door.

Ordinarily, an external minister could not undertake this task, but he, as a "Royal Tributor" and the "White Horse Governor," could undertake the duty of declaring an imperial decree by the norms of etiquette.

Zhao Douan walked towards Meridian Gate, feeling somewhat expectant.

"Speaking of which, I’ve yet to see the true face of this Grand Princess. I wonder what expression she’ll have when I directly confront her?"

The farce was finally coming to an end.

"Bitch, your official is coming!"

He hurriedly led people out of Meridian Gate, not noticing that a group of people was passing by far away.

...

Elsewhere.

After his loyal dog had left, Xu Zhenguan spent some time alone by the riverbank to calm her emotions.

Then, she returned to the imperial study to deal with governmental affairs.

She had just sat down when a female official reported,

"Your Majesty, Grandmaster Dong’s grandson requests an audience, saying he is here to deliver a list on the Grandmaster’s behalf."

Xu Zhenguan’s beautiful eyes lit up, "Let him in."

"Yes."

In a short while, outside the imperial study, a young man dressed in luxurious robes, around twenty-five or twenty-six, of ordinary appearance and moderate temperament, and slightly restrained in manner, saluted,

"Scholar Dong Da, greets Your Majesty!"

Sitting behind the desk with a regal demeanor, Xu Zhenguan granted permission with a gentle "Hmm" and smiled lightly,

"There’s no need for excessive formalities. Did the Grandmaster send you to deliver a message?"

The current Grandmaster Dong, who had once encountered Zhao Douan at "Qinglian Small House," run by "Little Ya," a girl of ordinary looks and mediocre talent, raised his eyes, appearing slightly nervous and unaccustomed to this setting.

He answered before carefully extracting a folded document from his sleeve and said formally,

"Responding to Your Majesty, my grandfather sent me to deliver the list of scholars for Your Majesty’s review."

A female attendant approached, took the document, and presented it to the Empress.

Xu Zhenguan unfolded it and read. The document listed various names.

These were the names of the "new cabinet" meant to be loyal only to her.

But compared to the "cabinet" that held sway over the government during the Old Emperor’s time, this new "new cabinet" was quite young and inexperienced.

Most of the names on the list were of young scholars with talents, with very few holding significant power.

However, everyone knew that once the new cabinet was established, and the Empress secured her throne,

In ten years or so, those on the list would replace the current ministers and become the new nobility.