The Empress's No.1 Lackey

In the study, the atmosphere was strange.

Zhao Douan felt slightly reserved and surprised as Zhenbao's hand guided his, holding the brush to sketch lines on the paper.

However, his mind was not on painting at all; instead, he was enjoying the strange sensation, feeling joyful.

While it wasn't the first time the emperor and minister held hands, this time was significantly different from the previous occasions.

The most notable point was...

"She's so proactive..."

"Isn't it supposed to be a man teaching a woman to paint, taking advantage to flirt? Oh no, I seem to have received the heroine's script... Ah, but she's the Empress, so it's alright..."

Zhao Douan's mind was filled with complex and chaotic thoughts, all his usual slyness and wit completely gone, leaving him a bit clumsy.

From a perspective he couldn't see, Xu Zhenguan's fair face was slightly flushed as well.

She was also somewhat surprised at her actions today, but perhaps the 'public' status at the Grand Banquet Ceremony made her feel it was time to move forward, to take the initiative in advancing the relationship.

Yes, the never-been-in-love Empress didn't really know what to do, but she thought she should take control.

Yes, as the Empress, she liked being on top—just referring to painting.

Both had their own thoughts, the only common point being that neither focused on the painting itself. Fortunately, with the Empress's foundation, despite one having chaotic thoughts and the other a restless heart, the "self-portrait" sketched on the paper still exuded a unique charm.

"Alright, it's done."

Xu Zhenguan gently exhaled, withdrew her hand, feeling the fragrant sweat trickle down her neck, and somewhat awkwardly said.

"Oh, okay." Zhao Douan then put down the brush, cautiously stood up straight.

"How is this painting?" Xu Zhenguan tilted her mouth into a smile, lifted her chin, signaling to comment on the self-portrait.

There was a hint of flaunting in her manner.

Zhao Douan, in a daze, nodded and said:

"This painting is really... no, Your Majesty is really vivid... no, this painting is so vivid, almost alive, lifelike, yes, lifelike!"

"..." Xu Zhenguan feigned annoyance with an eye roll, too lazy to correct his wording, stood up and said:

"Alright, it's getting late, I will leave first with Zhuang Xiaocheng and also help cover the news of your return to the city. If there is anything, have someone contact through the White Horse Hall, there are inner palace experts near your house as well."

And then she added, "I'll leave this painting for you to ponder."

Zhao Douan respectfully walked over, carefully holding the painting, earnestly said:

"This official will have it mounted by the servants later and hang it in the room to ponder day and night."

Xu Zhenguan made a sound of approval, very satisfied with his attitude, casually picked up the box containing the Grand Tutor from the ground, took two steps, suddenly felt something amiss, turned back and gave him a lingering glance, warning:

"Only to ponder, not for any other use."

"Ah?" Zhao Douan, holding the scroll, looked confused.

Yet the Empress's jade face was already slightly red, recalling something, she carried the box out of the study, using magic, returned to the Imperial Palace.

Tsk tsk, it seems Zhenbao isn't as innocent as imagined... That's right, in ancient times, they married as teenagers, and she's almost thirty... those who understand, understand... Zhao Douan clicked his tongue in wonder, feeling like the aloof fairy suddenly became down-to-earth.

Shaking his head, he carefully stored the portrait, Zhao Douan stepped out of the study, stood in the corridor waiting for a while.

Seeing Gongshu Tianyuan coming over not far away, still holding a "Recording Scroll" in hand, he tossed it over like a hot potato:

"Here's what you wanted, take it take it, tsk... when the Empress looked this way earlier, it scared me to death. Unfortunately, it was only halfway recorded before being 'blocked' by the Empress's cultivation, speaking of which, what did you and the Empress do after interrogating Zhuang Xiaocheng? Why did it take so long to come out?"

The chubby priest's little beady eyes circled around his waist, giving him a knowing look, mouthed:

"Reunited after a short separation, like newlyweds?"

Zhao Douan pulled a long face, thought to himself, you do give me credit, with Zhenbao's personality, the only day something like this would truly happen is on the wedding day, during the night...

"Where did Brother Gongshu's thoughts wander off to? Zhuang Xiaocheng is still inside. The Empress and I were discussing issues regarding the rebels, which cannot be spread outside."

Zhao Douan, with justice, a look of disdain, mocked Gongshu Tianyuan for being too dirty, ashamed to associate with him.

Then he gave a light cough:

"Alright, the Empress and I have agreed, everyone will stay at my house for the time being, and when Magistrate Luan arrives in the capital, I'll personally escort Old Dog Zhuang on his way."

...

...

With intentional concealment, few knew of Zhao Douan's return, and even fewer knew that the already "deceased" Zhuang Xiaocheng had been secretly detained in the inner court of the Imperial Palace.

In the following days, Xu Zhenguan, according to the strategy proposed by Zhao Douan, almost seemed to find fault, using it to knock and weaken the Li Party.

The Li Party, which had been provoked by the "New Policy", reacted like a bristling hedgehog, but faced with the Empress's actions, did not resist.

They didn't even symbolically resist, instead, they threw out certain benefits—this was completely aligned with Zhao Douan's speculated direction.

At the Prime Minister's Mansion, in the courtyard.

"Young Master" Li Yinglong stood under the eaves, cautiously reporting to Li Yanfu, who was wrapped in cotton clothing, practicing "throwing arrows" in the chilly spring breeze:

"...Father, according to your instructions, the people below are tolerating, letting the Empress vent."

"That's right," Li Yanfu, wrapped in a large red loose robe, white jade pendant tied to his chest, his grayed hair hanging down from the temples, watched as the arrow hit the copper pot, clapping his hands and said:

"The Empress is now angry, in the Empress's eyes, if it weren't for this father forcing him, Zhao Douan wouldn't have had to make that coastal trip, leading to his demise. If it were an ordinary woman, facing such a husband-killing enmity, she would have long sought revenge in any way she could, but the Empress is, after all, the Empress, and Zhao Douan, after all, was never the Imperial Consort. The Empress needs to be angry, but won't go too far, and a woman in anger, if provoked, it's unpredictable who will become the sacrifice to the flames of her rage."