The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1263 - 672: Four-Person Conspiracy (Part 2)
Seeing the situation, Xu Zhenguan took the initiative to break the awkward silence. She personally picked dishes for You Jinhua and Zhao Pan, elegantly lifted her teacup, and with a smile said, "Mr. Zhao is a pillar of talent to the nation. Those who raised Mr. Zhao have also contributed to the country. I’ve boldly visited tonight without gifts, so I shall use tea instead of wine. I hope Lady Zhao doesn’t mind."
You Jinhua and her daughter, flattered and taken aback, hastily waved their hands. When they saw the Empress raise her neck to sip the tea, You Jinhua’s face was both fearful and smiling. She stammered, only able to look helplessly at her stepson, clearly finding it difficult to navigate the boundaries of the unestablished mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship: "Dalang, what should I do?"
Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned, then let out a helpless laugh.
"Mother... this is utterly embarrassing," Zhao Pan covered her face with her hand.
The meal quickly concluded, and You Jinhua and her daughter left the table with a palpable sense of relief.
Since the Empress did not formally visit, she naturally would not stay the night. As Zhao Douan escorted her out, Xu Zhenguan stood under the lantern, contemplating with a troubled look, "About the ancestor’s matter..."
Zhao Douan smiled warmly, "Your Majesty need not worry, it indeed would be unwise, let’s put it aside."
Xu Zhenguan felt immensely moved, understanding the great risk Zhao Douan would undertake entering the Golden Door. She wanted to speak, but Zhao Douan raised a finger to her lips, shaking his head: "Your Majesty, please return to rest."
"Mm."
Xu Zhenguan swallowed her words, nodded, and pulled the cloak back over her face, then swiftly vanished into the night.
As he watched the Empress leave, Zhao Douan turned back to look at the mother and daughter who had come out after him, casually saying, "I’m going to the government office for a bit, might not return tonight, so no need to leave the door open."
Having said that, he too quickly disappeared down the end of the street.
Only the mother and daughter were left staring at each other wide-eyed.
Feeling like something was off with both Her Majesty and Dalang tonight...
...
...
Heavenly Master Mansion, front gate.
Zhao Douan left the residence, but didn’t head to the government office. Instead, he made his way in a winding path to the Heavenly Master Mansion.
This time, he didn’t knock, but leapt gracefully inside, familiar with his surroundings as he headed towards Zhang Yan Yi’s residence deepest within.
Along the way, he noticed that what was usually a lively Heavenly Master Mansion had become much quieter, encountering only a few people. Nowadays, many priests have rushed to the Xiping Road frontline, leaving behind a smaller number of people who are less skilled in combat, and some apprentices less than priests.
Soon, Zhao Douan arrived at the innermost courtyard, only to find to his surprise that the courtyard gate was open.
Inside the courtyard, the giant banyan tree had more than half its leaves yellowed.
In the night, the leaves of the large banyan faintly glowed, illuminating the entire courtyard.
Under the tree, Zhang Yan Yi, Jin Jian, Li Wushang Dao, and Gongshu Tianyuan were all present, sitting around a table. At that moment, they all turned their heads in unison to look at him.
"You’re here," the Old Heavenly Master opened his eyes, a smile at the corners of his mouth.
Zhao Douan was momentarily stunned, stepped into the courtyard, and asked in curiosity, "You’re all here for...?"
"Waiting for you," Li Wushang Dao languidly half-sat, half-reclined in a bamboo chair, with smooth long legs crossed and one hand absentmindedly playing with a pure gold hairpin in her hair, her emerald eyes sparkling with laughter, "Master said you would come over tonight, so called us all together."
You could even predict this? Zhao Douan was taken aback, warily glancing at Zhang Yan Yi.
The latter spoke calmly, "Rest assured, the old me just knew you’d come tonight, but couldn’t predict the reason."
Goodness, mind reading technique sure is something... Zhao Douan internally mocked, before putting on a smile and boldly walking over, cheerfully saying, "The Heavenly Master really has a divine machine mind. Actually, it’s nothing major, just that the journey to the East Sea has already been reported to Her Majesty, and we’ve also obtained the last code to the Golden Door..."
He briefly explained the action plan devised with the Empress, not needing to hide anything regarding it.
Upon hearing that the Empress would use a secret skill and a puppet body to follow to the north, Zhang Yan Yi was visibly surprised, exclaiming, "And she can control a puppet to independently travel north now? The Royal family indeed has profound resources. Thus is fine, haha, saves the Empress from worrying about old me."
Zhang Yan Yi didn’t mind much about this.
Zhao Douan then reached into his bosom, taking out the Dragon God Grass wrapped in silk, expressing his hope that Zhang Yan Yi could help send it to Xiping Road.
Zhang Yan Yi was not surprised, simply shook his head, "The old me must recover and cannot run an errand, but I have already arranged for it. You can give the Dragon God Grass to this apprentice."
He pointed at the "Demoness" Li Wushang Dao.
Zhao Douan froze for a moment, "You?"
Li Wushang Dao rolled her eyes, cheerfully saying, "What? Lord doesn’t trust me to take it?"
She sighed softly, helplessly saying, "Master has decreed, I must depart tonight, head to Xiping Road, and join Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, and Fourth Junior Brother on the battlefield, while helping you deliver this treasure to Her Majesty along the way."
Only then did Zhao Douan realize, frowning, "Leaving so hastily? Departing tonight?"
Li Wushang Dao raised a hand, pointing to the banyan tree above, now three-fifths yellow, her expression finally turning serious, "Time waits for no one, the situation deteriorating faster than expected."
Zhao Douan also felt a heavy weight in his heart.
He thought his solo operation was fast, but it seemed the enemy was equally so.
"Alright, then I’ll trouble the priest," Zhao Douan earnestly bowed, quickly handing over the Dragon God Grass to her.
Li Wushang Dao took the item and didn’t linger further, immediately stood, picking up a small bundle at her feet, bidding farewell to Master and the others, then briskly walked out of the courtyard.
Not long after, a crane soared skyward, heading straight into the western night.
Zhao Douan watched Li Wushang Dao leave, suddenly feeling a touch of melancholy.
Zhang Yan Yi shot him a glance, "Is there anything else? The old me doesn’t have the time to entertain you."
Zhao Douan drew back his gaze, looking at the three remaining in the courtyard, yes, all were trustworthy comrades. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
He nodded, "Indeed there’s one more thing, I wish to ask the Heavenly Master for help."
"Speak," Zhang Yan Yi casually picked up a palm-sized jade teapot, bringing it to his lips.
His demeanor exuding a big-shot vibe, as if everything was a breeze.
"Oh, it’s nothing major. I wish to ask the Heavenly Master to accompany me to the Imperial Mausoleum and open Grand Ancestor Emperor’s coffin for a look," Zhao Douan nonchalantly said, as if discussing a minor affair.
The small courtyard suddenly fell silent.
Zhang Yan Yi nearly lost grip on the teapot, the old Heavenly Master’s narrow eyes widening.
Jin Jian and Gongshu Tianyuan were both baffled: "What did you say?!"
Zhao Douan had a look of nonchalance, as if saying how could you be so surprised over something so simple. After thinking a moment, he refrained from revealing matters of the Human World, simply saying a hypothesis emerged during his and the Empress’s search for the "code," suspecting the Grand Ancestor Emperor might not have truly died back then, thus wanted to confirm it.
"This..."
The three of them stared wide-eyed at each other.
For a long time.
Zhang Yan Yi slowly put down the jade pot, tentatively asking, "Why ask the old me, an outsider, for this? Why didn’t the Empress personally come?"
Zhao Douan adopted a look for idiots, matter-of-factly saying, "Because we intend to keep it secret from Her Majesty. Otherwise, should the Empress take on the crime of grave-robbing? As subjects, naturally, we must lift burdens off Her Majesty’s shoulders. This matter is serious, and the Empress cannot decide..."
Gongshu Tianyuan gaped, blurting, "So Brother Zhao, you’re doing this behind Her Majesty’s back, to dig... the Imperial Mausoleum?"
Jin Jian seemingly thought of the countless burial treasures within the mausoleum, suddenly gulped, eyes glinting with a rogue light...
Zhao Douan grumbled in displeasure, "Stop the nonsense, just say whether you’ll help or not. If I weren’t merely a martial artist ignorant of magic, I wouldn’t need you."
The three exchanged another look.
After a moment’s pause, Zhang Yan Yi clutched the teapot heavily onto the table, "Let’s go!"
...
