The Empress's No.1 Lackey

"I just fear those few people from Qingshan won't be peaceful, like that Xiao Ran. Although she doesn't dare anger the Emperor, she clearly harbors resentment due to the 'Xiao family' affairs. Especially as she enters the palace this time, she must see Noble Princess Consort Xiao... It's another trouble. Should we send someone to take Noble Princess Consort Xiao out of the palace to avoid it?"

Xu Zhenguan lightly hummed the Spring God's Rhyme. Today, she was particularly lazy and leisurely. She raised her hand with a flick, and the pink peach blossoms on the ground were swept up by a gust of wind, gathering in her palm:

"If she wants to see, let her. She's a pitiful person too."

Mo Chou hesitated: "The Emperor is benevolent, just..."

"Don't worry. If you can think of these things, Mr. Zhao surely already has thought of them too. Leave these matters for him to mess with." Xu Zhenguan slowly lay down on the soft couch, and before long, gentle snores could be heard.

Mo Chou opened his mouth, lowered his footsteps helplessly, and exited the Imperial Study Room. After closing the door, he couldn't help but sigh, eyes full of suspicion: "What's going on with the Emperor these days..."

"Meow—"

Suddenly, Mo Chou noticed a few palace maids in the distance throwing stones at an orange cat with its tail high up on the roof.

Accompanied by low complaints: "Damn cat, in heat again."

...

...

Martial Arts Hall.

After Eunuch Hai went to rest, Zhao Douan was immediately surrounded by eunuchs upon his return, enjoying the treatment of being the center of attention.

Tributors flattered him with words, making him feel euphoric.

"Enough, enough. The move that came out after taking medicine, if you keep flattering me, I'll get angry." Zhao Douan leisurely sat in the Taishi Chair inside the hall.

Behind him, six eunuchs kneaded his shoulders, massaged his legs, and rubbed his arms.

If not for the inappropriate hour, they would have brought hot water to wash his feet.

Their enthusiastic flattery made Zhao Douan very uncomfortable; the cold and arrogant aura of being an "Inner Palace Expert" shattered completely.

Who would have thought that the mysterious and powerful Imperial Family Tributor would be like this in private?

Well... it's reasonable. After all, Tributors are selected from eunuchs. No matter how strong they are, they still carry the mark of serving others... However, now I somewhat understand why the martial artists of the Imperial Family are not as good as their predecessors. Six hundred years ago, the "Ten Eunuchs" either fought the world with Xu or were strong recruits... over the centuries, peace prevailed, and the Emperor became increasingly useless, unable to suppress the truly rebellious strong ones, naturally taming the Tributors into sheep...

The resulting bad consequence is that even with the support of Imperial Family resources, the Tributors of the Martial Arts Hall are indeed top-notch experts outside.

But compared to Qingshan, they have declined, relying solely on the two-hundred-year-old Hai Chunlin to hold things together, with no successors.

"Has the matter of closely monitoring those three been arranged?" Zhao Douan squinted his eyes and asked, enjoying the massage.

Song Jinxi, with a monkey-like appearance, stood aside and replied, "People have been arranged to keep an eye on them. Is Mr. Zhao worried that Qi Ye won't be reconciled and might do something?"

Zhao Douan shook his head, opened his eyelids, and said, "Keep an eye on Xiao Ran for me."

Xiao Ran?

That woman with a slender sword, who speaks little, and has a cold expression towards everyone?

The Tributors looked at each other in confusion.

...

In the evening, just as the sunset dyed the western sky red and the afterglow was cast on the palace walls.

Xiao Ran put on a bamboo hat, gripped her slender sword, and avoided the heavily protected areas of the Imperial Palace, using secretive body skills to bypass numerous "checkpoints," appearing in a corner of the palace, outside a remote and desolate building.

The heroine raised her face, gazing at the door of the Cold Palace with an iron lock hanging, half of her face hidden in the shadow.

"Aunt..."

——

ps: Accompanied the family to the hospital for re-examination today, will update more words tomorrow.