The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"What happened? Why such panic?" Ma Yan got up, frowned, and asked.

Zhou Cang took a couple of breaths before speaking: "This morning's court meeting..."

"Court meeting? Nothing major happened at court today, what has made you so unsettled?" Ma Yan wondered.

Zhou Cang shook his head, accompanied by a gesture of his hand, and said:

"No, not the court meeting... aye, it's the morning court meeting... unimportant! It's urgent news from the Marine Road, Zhao Douan, Junior Guardian Zhao, and Zhuang Xiaocheng all died together, dead!"

Dead... dead... Zhao Douan is dead...

Ma Yan's mind blanked for a moment, staring blankly: "Did you say... what?!"

...

...

Zhao Residence.

Early this morning, Madam You Jinhua pulled her daughter out of bed and ordered the servants to do a thorough cleaning of the mansion.

Well, mainly according to custom, all bedding and bath towels are to be aired in the courtyard.

"Mother, why air bedding in this cold winter?"

Zhao Pan, holding a small Pekingese dog, pouted under the eaves and grumbled.

Before her, the entire courtyard was filled with long bamboo poles, with servants threading between them, placing blankets over them.

You Jinhua was among them commanding, and she came over to poke a finger on her daughter's forehead:

"Rare to have such fine weather, if we don't air the bedding, it'll get damp. Moreover, when your brother returns, he surely would appreciate warm quilts."

"...Why not buy a new one then..." Zhao Pan weakly retorted.

You Jinhua got very upset: "After enjoying a few good days, you forget to manage the household frugally? Is making money that easy for your brother? Doesn't he still have to travel so far for work? Working hard?"

"I didn't mean it that way..." Zhao Pan sighed and was about to turn and leave.

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching cry came from outside the courtyard:

"Madam! Miss, something awful has happened! Dalang is gone! Dalang is gone!"

Everyone in the courtyard was taken aback and looked over, only to see the old steward of the Zhao family stumble in, face tear-streaked, and fall down with a thud.

Beyond the vivid sheets and covers floating around, he cried out the news he had heard.

Zhao Pan froze, the puppy in her arms slid to the ground, whimpering softly, seemingly sensing the shift in atmosphere, tucking its tail in silence.

Brother is gone... gone... The girl's mind buzzed, as if the colorful sheets before her lost their hues, turning black and white.

She turned her head, instinctively looking at her mother, only to find You Jinhua's face pale as paper, collapsing to the ground.

"Mother!"

"Quick, call the doctor!"

The Zhao family was thrown into chaos.

...

...

Heavenly Master Mansion.

In the depths of the small courtyard, the large banyan tree remained lush and green even in winter, with the entire courtyard fragrant with flowers, feeling as if unaffected by the seasons outside.

The imposing figure and sharp features of Old Heavenly Master Zhang Yan Yi sat in a wicker chair, perusing the jade slip of the Heavenly Book in his hand.

Suddenly, his heart stirred; he looked toward the courtyard gate.

A moment later, the gate creaked open on its own, and a priest ran in, respectfully bowing:

"Heavenly Master, news just arrived, Zhao Douan and Zhuang Xiaocheng fell off a cliff at Feng City, Marine Road... bodies unaccounted for..."

Zhang Yan Yi furrowed his brows, showing a puzzled expression.

His right hand slowly covered the jade slip before him, his eyes closed.

Then, the golden characters on the Heavenly Book broke free from the confines of the text, standing and running on the jade slip's flat surface like tiny people, cheering and quarreling, changing places with each other.

The chaotic spectacle lasted a good while before the tiny people-like words found their "new homes," merging into the jade slip.

Instantly, through the rearrangement of the characters, the Heavenly Book turned into a new article, a divination of the incident.

Zhang Yan Yi opened his eyes, glancing at the Heavenly Book text, his eyebrows slightly raised with what seemed a hint of amusement, muttering:

"Slick."

Then, he nonchalantly waved a hand: "Understood."

The reporting priest dared not ask further; as he was about to leave, Old Heavenly Master called him back.

Zhang Yan Yi pondered for a moment, saying: "If His Majesty comes later, tell him I'm asleep, not seeing anyone."

The priest hesitated, then nodded: "By your command."

...

...

Imperial Palace, outside Empress's chambers.

Mo Chou lifted her skirt and hurriedly ran along the long corridor, as female officers along the way paid respect without her pausing.

Upon reaching the chamber's door, she stopped, gently knocked on the door.

"Enter."

On hearing the voice inside, Mo Chou sighed with relief, pushed open the door, and stepped in.

After closing the door, she walked forward a couple of steps, unveiled the curtain blocking the cold wind.

Within the warm small hall, ancient shelves, paintings, bonsai, and greenery adorned every corner.

The Empress had changed out of her dragon robe, reverted to wearing white, her black hair like a waterfall, seated quietly before a tea table, staring in a daze at the exceptionally pruned greenery in the large vase opposite.

Her fair, stunning face was devoid of expression, extremely calm.

Only the slightly red-rimmed eyes betrayed the Empress's inner turmoil beneath the calm surface.

"Your Majesty?" Mo Chou asked cautiously:

"Is your body..."

"I am fine." Xu Zhenguan's voice remained calm, seemingly having recovered from sorrow.

Yet Mo Chou dared not let her guard down, recalling the Empress's distress at the Golden Throne Hall, knowing her previous upset was after the Xuan Sect coup three years ago.

"I've dispatched folks to warn major government offices against spreading rumors about the happenings at Feng City. That urgent report from the military was too brief, its truth uncertain. If it spreads, it might unsettle those with ill intentions..."

Mo Chou said cautiously: "I dared to make such arrangements. If Your Majesty finds it improper..."

"You are considerate."

Xu Zhenguan retracted her gaze, turned to nod at her, revealing a faint smile.

Mo Chou was taken aback, carefully approaching the Empress, tentatively asking:

"Your Majesty, you..."

Xu Zhenguan sensed her intent, softly said:

"Do you think Zhao Douan is someone who would easily perish?"

"Uh..." Mo Chou hesitated and said: "Mr. Zhao, Heaven protects the virtuous. The military may have reported wrong..."

Xu Zhenguan shook her head, her gaze wandering, as if looking southward:

"Before leaving the Capital, I gave him a Teleportation Treasure Bead for protection. If he encountered danger, as long as he crushed it, he could teleport a thousand miles away.

I wonder, as Luan Cheng's letter mentioned, at that Forbidden Mountain Villa, did he have the opportunity to crush the Treasure Bead?

He should have, since... last time leaving the Capital, when attacked by Da Jing Monk, he knew to keep the Teleportation Magic Artifact closely... Such a cowardly man, would he really be completely unprepared?"

Mo Chou froze, finally realizing the Empress was not overwhelmed by sorrow:

"Your Majesty implies... Mr. Zhao is... presumed dead?"

——

PS: Seven thousand word chapter, tomorrow continuing with a large chapter.