The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 408 - 341, Spread of Information

Under the moonlight, crows were still circling overhead.

On the graves of the moonlit cemetery, the former State Preceptor of Great Yu, Master Gu Huo, sat on his own coffin.

He first stared blankly for a moment, then heard the other person's words, shook his head, and said blankly, "I don't know."

"Don't know?" The disheveled man, carrying a sword made of strung copper coins on his back, clicked his tongue in wonder,

"Then it seems that after your death, your Divine Soul wasn't reclaimed by the Death God. Haha, there are quite a few in the Capital who could block the Death God, like that Female Emperor, Zhang Yan Yi, and that almost invisible but incredibly powerful Xuan Yin monk... they could all do it."

Saying this, the leader of one of the three major evil organizations in Jianghu, the Netherworld Sect, spoke,

"I had warned you long ago that going to the Capital was extremely risky. Three Heavenly Persons are crammed into that city. Are you crazy to seek misery there? Who do you think you are? Wu Xiankui of the Cliff of Qing Mountain by the East Sea?"

Master Gu Huo displayed annoyance, coldly sneered, and retorted,

"I, a poor Taoist, am different from you people hiding in the shadows. I, a poor Taoist, aim to achieve great things."

"Mm, mm, right, achieve great things," the Netherworld Sect leader nodded perfunctorily.

Not wanting to argue with this fellow filled with insatiable desire, he sneered,

"Sooner or later, you will be consumed by your own desires. You, an evil cultivator whom everyone wants to hit, insisted on being a State Preceptor. In those days, the Old Emperor lost his mind and gave you two years of convenience, and you should have been satisfied.

You should have left before the Old Emperor's demise to avoid being settled by the newly-appointed Crown Prince.

In the end, you were reluctant to give up the State Preceptor's position, chose to support Xu Jianwen, and got involved in the court intrigue... Died once and still haven't learned your lesson, coming again."

Master Gu Huo, ridiculed, coldly fought back,

"You speak well, but why are you willing to collaborate with the Kuangfu Society? Don't tell this poor Taoist you're just in it for the money. Didn't you also have your eyes on the royal tombs? Greedy for the yin energy accumulated over six hundred years?"

The disheveled Netherworld Sect leader did not argue, smiled,

"What do you plan to do next?"

"Hide and recover," Master Gu Huo did not hide his intent to heal,

"Then find Zhuang Xiaocheng to investigate how this poor Taoist died this time. Hmph, I have noted down this grudge!"

When he uttered this, the old Taoist's face was hideously terrifying, with an attitude of not resting until he killed his enemy.

The man in shabby red turned and walked away, tossing and catching the copper coin in his palm, saying,

"I must remind you, if you die again, even if you can afford the price, I can't guarantee I can pull you back."

Master Gu Huo said nothing, sat on the grave, expressionless.

What he didn't mention was, although he didn't know who killed him,

this time, relying on a faint connection between two Divine Souls, he vaguely sensed something terribly terrifying yet incredibly desirable and greedy on the person who killed him.

"This poor Taoist has set his eyes on you."

The old Taoist looked up at the bright moon and said softly.

...

...

A night passed, darkness receded, and the east showed white again.

When Zhao Douan awoke from his slumber, his first response was searing pain all over his body.

"Hiss... ah..."

He moved slightly, gritted his teeth in pain from the wound, and barely sat up, finding himself still in the warm hall of the sleeping palace.

The tea table and other objects before him had been overturned, as if hit repeatedly by a heavy object.

Looking down, he discovered his clothes torn to rags... his chest covered in scratches, and a strange bruise on his stomach...

"..." Zhao Douan looked dazed, not understanding what happened last night.

"Are you awake?" Suddenly, a cool voice came to his ears.

Xu Zhenguan yawned and walked out from the "inner chamber."

She was still wearing the same gauzy dress, no different from last night before sleep, except a bit tired, seeming to have not slept well.

The Fake Heavenly Realm, still couldn't escape the need for sleep. Although she was always spirited in the past, she would usually sleep at least two hours at night.

But last night... her sleep quality was terrible!

"Your Majesty... Last night, I was..."

Zhao Douan showed a strong desire for knowledge, puzzled by the wounds on his body.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him and said flatly,

"Last night, you lost control of your senses and were quite unruly. I had to intervene."

These elegant words meant "you got hit." Zhao Douan complained, also curious about his madness that would get him beaten like this...

He tried to recall, but memories of last night stopped before he fell asleep.

"I see, thank you, Your Majesty, for intervening!" Zhao Douan stood and saluted, then found both his legs limping.

Being beaten and still having to thank... Xu Zhenguan's mouth twitched, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Though this guy's indomitable spirit last night made one's teeth itch in anger, among the six desires, lacking appetite or greed, only having one desire...

From this angle, he seemed quite dedicated...

"Someone, bring ointment for external injuries, return Mr. Zhao's garments, and send over some food," Xu Zhenguan ordered towards the door.

By now, daylight had brightened, and the doors and windows appeared white.

This unbearable night finally ended, Zhao Douan understood he had survived the "aftermath," with only pure, absorbable "soul power" left in his body.

After slowly assimilating it, it would be time to advance to the Middle Grade of the Divine Chapter.

As for that Death God Statue and Candle Magic Artifact, the Empress had no intention to give him.

Not surprising, for "evil Suppressing Objects," the court always either destroyed or stored them safely to prevent them from drifting outside.

Soon after.

The door of the sleeping palace was pushed open, and accompanied by the chill of an autumn morning and mist, palace maids entered with trays.

Upon witnessing the warm hall, obviously having undergone a "battle," appearing particularly messy, and seeing Zhao Douan's clothes torn to shreds, especially the scratch marks on his chest...

Even though professionally trained, the expressions of these palace maids serving the Empress became extremely subtle.

Perhaps even terrified.

As the sleeping palace's maids, they knew more about the relationship between His Majesty and Mr. Zhao than outsiders.

They mostly understood the so-called "gigolo" never spent the night at the sleeping palace, most likely a pretense.

So seeing this scene left them particularly shocked.

The way they looked at Zhao Douan changed.

So reckless?

The maids' poor imagination couldn't conceive "self-inflicted wounds" as a possibility, instinctively assuming they were His Majesty's doing.

"Mr. Zhao... please change clothes." The maid's voice faltered.

"Put it down, I'll do it myself," Zhao Douan showed a warm smile.

Once the excited group of palace maids exited, the Empress also tactfully retreated to the inner room, leaving Zhao Douan to apply ointment and change back into his original robe.

After tidying himself, he and the Empress ate some food in the room to settle their stomachs. Xu Zhenguan set down her bowl and chopsticks, speaking flatly,

"There's an early court session today. I must go. You may leave on your own."

"I obey," Zhao Douan also put down his bowl and chopsticks.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him with strange eyes and suddenly said,

"It's been a long time since you let Zhuang Xiaocheng go."

Zhao Douan nodded seriously, saying,

"I was just about to report to Your Majesty. Zhuang Xiaocheng hides in Jianghu, with elusive movements. My plan with last night's capture of the rebel party in the Capital was to strike hard and seize the chance to make some arrangements."

Xu Zhenguan looked at him, didn't inquire further, and calmly said,

"Do what you want, delve deep into it; I approve."

These words held heavy weight, signifying the Empress granted him the power to carry out unorthodox actions against the rebels.

Zhao Douan stood up, acknowledged respectfully, then turned and left.

When he pushed open the carved wooden door of the sleeping palace and walked out, the morning air splashed on his face, and the warmth and fragrance lingering on him overnight quickly faded.

At this time, through the numerous palace walls, he heard the chimes from the Meridian Gate.

The ministers were entering the palace.

...

...

When the officials dressed in official robes crossed the Meridian Gate and walked into Taihe Palace, they stood divided on the left and right.

Noticing that His Majesty hadn't promptly arrived today, by the rules, the court session wasn't considered convened without the Empress, allowing them to talk softly.

Thus, the ministers naturally began discussing the "return of the State Preceptor."

It had been a full day since the State Preceptor appeared, but last night's events hadn't spread yet, and people didn't know the State Preceptor was already captured.

However, attention focused on the ordeal of Kong Hanlin and two others from last night, spreading in the Golden Throne Hall.

"Is Kong Hanlin really dead? Hanged himself in the study?"

"I heard even the Deputy General of the Imperial Army went crazy, setting his mansion ablaze with flames reaching the sky. The deputy killed many, was controlled by the Imperial Court's officers, and is said to be awaiting a return to sanity."

"The Divine Officer of the Heavenly Master Mansion, Zhao Shen, reportedly stayed at his private residence and was injured, taken back by the Heavenly Master's disciples overnight, yet seemingly unhurt."

Numerous discussions!

With the dissemination of this news, the expressions on the faces of officials in the hall grew unpleasant, mixed with anxiety and faint fear.

They weren't too afraid of martial arts experts, as they were tangible and could be protected against.

But such eerie Magic was undeniably fearsome, particularly within a night that rendered one dead, one mad, and one injured.

Everyone was in a state of crisis!

Someone sought Ma Yan for verification but found he didn't attend court today.

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Only Yuann Li and Li Yanfu, like the mainstays of their respective factions, remained composed, showcasing great Qi Cultivation Skill, not without inner disturbance.

"Silence! His Majesty arrives!" Suddenly, a eunuch entered shouting at the top of his lungs.

In no time, officials returned to their positions, all fell silent.

After a moment.

Dressed in a dragon robe, wearing a coronet, the Empress ascended the dragon throne. Xu Zhenguan smiled slightly,

"What were you discussing? I could hear it outside."

Yuann Li spoke, "Reporting to Your Majesty, we were discussing how to deal with the Demon Path. The Demon Path harms the country and cannot stay long."

Xu Zhenguan nodded gently in agreement, her gaze sweeping over the gathered officials, saying calmly,

"I was about to tell you, last night, the Imperial Decree Department's Zhao Douan led his subordinates to topple a sub-branch of the Kuangfu Society and confronted the Demon Path, having slain him on the spot."

The court instantly fell silent.

...