The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Fake death?

As she uttered the word, the complex emotions brewing in Mo Chou's heart were also constrained.

Indeed, with the deep and cunning mind of Mr. Zhao, would he die so easily?

"I don't know." Xu Zhenguan paused and gave an unexpected answer.

Yes, she was uncertain.

Even though reason told her that the possibility of fake death existed, it was ultimately just speculation. A thousand miles away, who could know the exact situation?

Perhaps it truly was that there was no chance to deliver a message or was obstructed by Zhuang Xiaocheng's methods, too many possibilities.

"Suppose... let's assume Mr. Zhao truly faked his death, why would he do such a thing? Unless it was to hide his whereabouts...

When he left, he didn't hide, indicating that he wasn't afraid of assassination attempts along the way, but there was a reason he had to hide."

Mo Chou analyzed calmly, with the female chancellor's intelligence rising, she vaguely had a guess, but felt there was no basis, really hard to make a conclusion.

Xu Zhenguan also lacked complete confidence, she thought for a moment and said:

"Whether he died or faked his death. In any case, wait until the escorting rebel convoy arrives at the Capital, and before that, just assume he's truly dead."

Mo Chou's heart moved, understanding the Empress's hidden intention:

If Zhao Douan deliberately faked his death, then they should cooperate, see through it but not say it, to avoid disrupting Zhao Douan's plan.

"I understand." Mo Chou bowed and left, preparing to think about how to cooperate.

Once again, only Xu Zhenguan remained alone in the chamber. She sat quietly in the warm hall, her jade hand slowly brushing against the Rohan bed beside her, recalling the scene of someone sleeping here.

She gazed in a daze.

Did he... truly fake his death? Or was it that she couldn't accept this result and was forcibly seeking a reason?

Xu Zhenguan couldn't tell.

Clearly... not long ago, she had just officially announced their relationship at the Grand Banquet Ceremony before the ministers, but in just two months, news of his death came.

It seemed like fate; men connected to her, whether fathers, brothers, all have died, and the remaining uncles have turned against each other.

"Lonely one... lonely one... is it really the fate of an Emperor to be solitary?"

Xu Zhenguan's fair jade hand clenched inside her sleeve, she suddenly stood up, pushed the door, and walked out of the sleeping palace, transforming into a golden rainbow and leaping out of the Imperial Palace, landing deep within the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Outside the small courtyard, she found the door tightly shut, the entire courtyard caught between "virtual and real", clearly in front of her, yet she couldn't touch or step inside.

"Your Majesty? You've arrived."

Suddenly, a priest walked out not far away, his expression unfazed, under the scrutinizing gaze of the Empress, he calmly said:

"The Heavenly Master has fallen asleep, does not see guests."

Xu Zhenguan raised a brow: "You knew I would come?"

The priest thought for a moment, confirmed the Heavenly Master did not instruct him to hide, and honestly replied:

"Heavenly Master Zhang instructed me to wait here for Your Majesty."

Xu Zhenguan's brows relaxed, seemingly having received an answer, she nodded: "I understand."

Then her figure disappeared, leaving the priest standing in place, lost in thought.

...

...

In no time, the agreed three-month period was nearing its end.

On this day, outside the Capital's docks, on the canal, a small boat was about to dock.

On the deck, Zhao Douan stood with hands behind his back in disguise, facing the early spring wind, looked at the familiar Xiong City ahead, and remarked:

"When leaving, it was harsh winter, now returning, it's vastly different."

Indeed, why ancient travels were said to be distant, for going and returning, the seasons changed.

Haitang came from behind him, the female detective disguised as a heroine, used a disguise method, changed her hairstyle, and visibly relaxed upon seeing Xiong City, her tension eased:

"Finally back, it seems your plan worked."

Zhao Douan also smiled: "Yes. More smoothly than I imagined."

The group set out ahead of Luan Cheng's main force, collectively in disguise, taking shortcuts back to the Capital. Along the way, they were scared but safe, enough to prove his "fake death" arrangement worked, the Kuangfu Society Remnants didn't catch up, a clear evidence.

Now the small team arrived at the Capital, entered the Empress's sphere of influence, completely safe.

"Phew, now I just want to hurry back to the city, have a hot bath, and sleep well." Haitang stretched, smiling.

"The closer to the end, the less you can relax, you know, when the main team relaxes, surely something goes wrong, how's Zhuang Xiaocheng?"

Zhao Douan, with countless experiences from past lives, seriously reminded.

"...Yun Xi is watching him closely, you go see for yourself." Haitang retorted, thinking he made a fuss over nothing.

Zhao Douan turned and glanced at Ji Yue, squatting at the deck corner, staring at the seawater, and Gongshu Tianyuan, smiling and chatting idly with Zhang Han.

Stepped into the cabin.

First he saw Jin Jian lying sprawled out, snoring, resting, the girl's fair face showing fatigue, and a bubble of snot appeared with each breath... completely destroying the beauty persona.

Zhao Douan's mouth twitched, who would have thought the mysterious Jin Jian, asleep like this? Hence why they say travel is the trial that tests whether couples are compatible...

Beside Jin Jian, was Yun Xi, cross-leg seated, meditating, and between the two girls, bound with ropes, thin and bony, Zhuang Xiaocheng.

"Grand Tutor, we're about to enter the city, how about it, have you made up your mind? If you're willing to surrender, I'll risk my reputation and plead for leniency on your behalf to the Empress, how about it?" Zhao Douan asked with a smile.