The cold, icy tone was crisp like colliding ice cubes, even through the door, it conjured up an image of the Emperor in Zhao Douan's mind.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the urge to urinate, placed his hands on the carved deep red door of the Imperial Study, and gently pushed it open.
This was not his first visit here. The day he entered the palace, it was in this room that he had met the Emperor.
Yangxin Hall was a massive structure, and the Imperial Study was on its western side.
In fact, there wasn't just one "Imperial Study."
Inside the Emperor's bedchamber, several studies shared this title.
Familiarity breeds comfort, and as Zhao Douan stepped over the threshold, he saw a large desk behind which lay piles of old brushes like mountains, and within the white inkstone, the ink was nearly exhausted.
The Emperor of Great Yu sat behind the desk, clad in plain white, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin pale and luminescent, a natural beauty.
Her makeup-free face was as pure as fresh snow under thick lashes, her beautiful eyes complex and unreadable.
"I, Zhao Douan, pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Following protocol, he shouted his greeting, but the door behind him closed by itself.
At the moment the door shut, Xu Zhenguan, with a stern face, feigned anger and said,
"Zhao Douan, do you know your guilt?"
Zhao Douan was stunned, this turn of events was unexpected, numerous chaotic thoughts flashed through his mind, finally converging on one:
Did Yuan Li set me up?!
But it was too late to think, Zhao Douan confusedly said,
"I am slow-witted, please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
And because he was bowing, he didn't see Xu Zhenguan's smiling face:
"Do you not know the crime of deceiving your sovereign? You hid all these actions from Us, if Mr. Yuan hadn't spoken up on your behalf, how long were you planning to deceive Us?"
Is this possible? Zhao Douan was dumbfounded, discerning from the Emperor's tone that she was teasing him.
A foolish subordinate would now panic and try to explain that since the matter was not yet resolved, he didn't dare report hastily to the Saint.
But such a response is too direct; wouldn't a leader understand that?
The clever Zhao Douan immediately prostrated himself:
"Your Majesty, calm your anger, I was arrogant due to your favor and failed to report in time, please punish me!"
Who favored you... Xu Zhenguan seemed to be watching a slippery eel wriggling in front of her, couldn't help but laugh and cry, waved her delicate hand,
"Don't be pretentious, do you really think I am a muddled Emperor who fails to reward merit? Come, grind ink for me."
Saying this, she stood up, picked up the Imperial brush, and unfolded the memorial.
Grinding ink again, I'd rather grind something else... Zhao Douan muttered to himself, skillfully moved next to the Emperor, adding ink to her sleeve.
The meaning of grinding ink was vastly different on these two occasions.
On the day he crossed over, he was merely seen as a servant. Today, however, it signified favor.
Just as he was pouring spring water into the inkstone, the water flowed loudly... Zhao Douan couldn't help but feel an urge to urinate rise, so he had to lift his head and divert his gaze, only to catch a glimpse of the Emperor's graceful neck, so close.
"..."He took a deep breath, refocused on the inkstone, his mind buzzing.
Xu Zhenguan seemed completely unaware, casually reviewing a rather unimportant memorial, she gently sighed and said,
"How long has it been since the Zhuang Xiaocheng case? Just over a month, and you have indeed given me many surprises."
While speaking, she too couldn't help but feel emotional.
Even after repeatedly raising her expectations of Zhao Douan, he continually exceeded them.
Before the Zhuang Xiaocheng case, his image was blurred, merely recommended by Sun Lianying, a handsome soldier.
His reputation was not good, but since he was thrown out as a "pawn" to lure thieves, such arrogance was perhaps a compensation.
After the case, realizing the young soldier's unusual intelligence was a waste, fostering him as a Tributor was also the official start of a trial period.
She had thought it would take Zhao Douan a long time to achieve even modest accomplishments.
Yet unexpectedly, soon after, due to a combination of coincidences, he solved the firearms craftsmen case, uncovered moles, also providing her a chance to strike the court, and set a wide trap.
But then, she only marveled at his good luck, fighting the Zhang brothers with not much impressive to note.
Turned around, and the previously ignored young soldier, now together with Yuan Li, engaged in the significant political strife of "slaying Pei," establishing military merits.
And no longer relying on luck, but genuine skill.
Whether deceiving Pei Kaizhi or turning plots from secret to overt, completing "divide and conquer" strategies, although still immature compared to seasoned courtiers like Yuan Li, the edge of a chess player was emerging.
How had she missed such a capable official in the past... Thankfully, it wasn't too late.
"Your Majesty praises too highly, I merely did some trivial things, the real challenges were solved by Mr. Yuan and many other courtiers."
Zhao Douan was extremely humble.
Xu Zhenguan smiled and said,
"I hear before the Noon Gate, you made Pei Kaizhi spit blood in anger, so this is considered a grave offense against the Pei family of Huai River... involved in this matter, are you also completely at odds with Li Yanfu... are you not afraid?"
Zhao Douan was righteous:
"Under the Emperor's watchful eye in the Capital, what do I have to fear?"
"What about outside the Capital?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly said:
"This land is vast, the Capital is but a small part of it, the Great Yu Dynasty has nine provinces, beyond the borders of Yu Dynasty, there are also mysterious and bizarre places, aren't you afraid of dying if you leave the Capital?"
Zhao Douan suddenly thought of that eighteen-year-old "Chief Eunuch" and understood that the Emperor's words were not in vain.
What good is being a favored figure again? Away from the Capital, with the Emperor far off, all are bold enough to kill. It's nothing but framing others after all.
He pondered for a moment and said, "Then I will just stay crouched in the Capital, cultivate until I'm invincible, and then go out."
Invincible under the heavens... Xu Zhenguan chuckled and teased,
"You, a mere mortal, dare to dream of invincibility? You practice the Grand Ancestor Martial God's heritage, so where are you at now? Have you ever ascended the mountain?"
Zhao Douan looked unconvinced:
"This official has been practicing boxing at the peak of Grand Ancestor Mountain for many days and has also learned to inhale and exhale radiant light."
"Oh?" Xu Zhenguan paused, then suddenly, with a twist of his brush, the large wolf brush in his hand chopped towards Zhao's wrist.
The force was suppressed to the state of a mortal.
Zhao Douan's wrist shone with radiant light upon activation.
A flash of amazement swept through the Emperor's beautiful eyes, and she looked at him deeply, saying:
"I heard you beheaded a Suppressing Object Puppet with a single strike and vanquished the enemy in one go. Seeing you today, it seems you've progressed even further than I expected."
The only one to witness the protective radiant light was Priest Jin Jian, and the young lady was clearly not one to blabber.
The intelligence the Emperor held was the information gathered by her subordinates at the scene, reconstructed, lagging far behind.
What if I said that I've been trekking in the desert with your ancestors for quite a few days, wouldn't you be even more surprised?
Zhao Douan muttered in his heart and seized the opportunity to say:
"Mr. Hai said, this official has good natural talents, and Priest Jin Jian also said, this official's Divine Soul is robust and matches the Martial God's heritage."
Xu Zhenguan glanced at him:
"Avoid arrogance and restlessness. Persevere and perhaps one day, truly ascend to the Worldly Realm."
You underestimate me too much. I am set to become a Martial Arts Immortal... well, at the very least "Heavenly Human Realm" to deceive higher powers... Zhao Douan used sarcasm to divert attention:
"Your Majesty's admonition is accepted."
The Empress seemed to smile slightly; she glanced down subtly, somewhat surprised and wondering:
"Why are your legs trembling?"
"Your Majesty's presence is so majestic, this official's heart quakes, and his legs tremble."
Really making this up... Xu Zhenguan rolled her eyes and waved him off:
"Wait outside; you'll dine in the palace tonight. As for your reward, allow me to consider."
Zhao Douan, as if pardoned, turned and walked out. Just as he crossed the threshold, he heard the Empress's soft voice behind him:
"The latrine is on the right."
Zhao Douan fled in panic.
After a while, a relieved Zhao Douan emerged, feeling refreshed.
That's when he noticed, prior in the conversation, a subtle point from the Empress.
"It's only noon now. Why did she say I would stay for dinner?" Zhao Douan faintly felt something was amiss.
He looked around and found an older female official he was familiar with and voiced his doubt.
"The Empress is keeping you for dinner tonight?"
The older female official's expression turned strange, and she said:
"Tonight is indeed a full moon."
Is there something special? Surely it's not the Empress's period... Zhao Douan skillfully bribed with a silver note:
"Please explain it, sister."
This time, the female official dared not accept but smiled and said:
"You'll know tonight."
Her demeanor and words seemed to show her a bit more respect.
The mystery deepening, Zhao Douan, fraught with uncertainty, waited out the day in a hall of the Imperial Palace.
At noon, food was sent to the Imperial Study, and he received his portion, unable to meet with the Empress.
It was said that after the "dismissal," there were a series of follow-ups; Xu Zhenguan was so busy she barely ate.
As for him, idle and anxious, he simply sat down cross-legged and meditated for cultivation.
Until dusk, when the sky darkened, the white-robed Empress of Great Yu, after taking a bath, summoned him again and smiled, asking:
Zhao Douan nodded honestly.
Xu Zhenguan moved lightly and walked outside, "Follow."
"Wait, Your Majesty, isn't this the way to the dining hall?" the curious Zhao Douan raised his hand and asked.
Under the night sky, a full moon hung high.
Xu Zhenguan gave him a look and said, "Tonight, we're not eating in the palace."
"Then where to?" Zhao Douan was perplexed.
The Empress of Great Yu: "Tonight... I'll take you to see the most beautiful scenery in the Capital."