The First Lackey Under The Empress

The ride-hailing car sped through the neon-lit city, Zhao Du'an lost in thought in the darkness.

Before long, the car stopped by the side of the road, bringing him back to his senses. He opened the door, stepped onto the ground, slammed the door shut, and habitually took out his phone to pay.

Only then did he walk towards the still-open shop—thankfully, it was a big city; otherwise, at this hour, only a few barbecue串 shops would still be open.

The shop wasn't too crowded, Zhao Du'an sat down somewhat awkwardly, ordered a set meal for one, and slowly drank a glass of water, his mind still pondering how to explore this world within the painting.

Just then, the shop door opened again, and a girl in a shirt, trousers, and sandals hurried in.

The sleepy waiter at the cashier let out a soft exclamation, attracting the attention of the customers in the shop.

What a beautiful girl!

Although Xu Zhenguan had changed her style of dress in this world, her appearance was still undeniably outstanding. Even more rare was her temperament.

The temperament cultivated by the royal family over the years, combined with a face that was enough to debut on the spot, gave people a strong sense of 'oppression'.

Regardless of gender, people didn't even dare to make eye contact with her, their hearts pounding, and they would become nervous and flustered when speaking.

The originally lively and noisy shop suddenly quieted down, and the customers stopped talking, looking at her in surprise.

Xu Zhenguan merely frowned slightly, simply ignoring it—as an emperor, she was accustomed to this feeling of being the center of attention everywhere.

"How… how many?" the waiter stammered.

Xu Zhenguan glanced around, walked straight to an empty seat, sat down calmly, and said indifferently:

"One person, order food."

The waiter almost subconsciously handed over the menu… Well, the Empress was very familiar with this shop, having been here more than once, not only because of its proximity or the fact that it was open late at night.

A key factor was that this place didn't require 'scanning a QR code to order'!

Tapping on the menu, Xu Zhenguan quickly ordered a large table of food, and then said in a majestic tone:

"I'm in a hurry, can you be faster?"

"Ah… if it's just you, you can't eat so much…" the waiter kindly reminded.

The Empress frowned slightly: "Can you be faster?"

The waiter inexplicably felt fear and nodded hurriedly, running quickly towards the kitchen.

In this world, the Empress had lost her cultivation and was just an ordinary girl, but she still had beauty and a powerful aura.

Heart-stopping!

Which big star came to eat? Why can't I remember for a moment?

But so beautiful, so elegant, definitely not an ordinary person… The diners had similar thoughts, and some even picked up their phones, seemingly wanting to take a secret photo, but were afraid of being discovered and hesitated.

No one noticed that at the table behind the Empress, Zhao Du'an was completely stunned.

He maintained the posture of holding a water glass, but his mind was buzzing.

Xu Zhenguan? How could it be her? Why is there a Xu Zhenguan in this world?

This doesn't make sense!

His first thought was 'look-alike'. But almost the next second, he dismissed it.

What a joke!

You find me a look-alike with this level of face? Moreover, there's that aura, that look… There's absolutely no way I could be wrong, it's Zhenbao.

But no matter how I think about it, the Old Xu from six hundred years ago couldn't possibly have drawn a future descendant in this world in advance… No, this isn't just a simple resemblance, it's clearly the same person.

That's right, Zhenbao also contemplates 'The Mortal World' during her cultivation, she also enters the painting… So, are we two entering the same painting? This is different from the previous painting settings.

If the previous paintings were all single-player versions, then after leveling up to the fourth level, it became a multi-player version.

In this 'game', she encountered a second online 'player'!

Of course, all of this is just speculation. It's hard to say whether the Zhenbao in front of me is the Empress who happens to be contemplating, and further contact is needed.

Zhao Du'an's thoughts fluctuated, and the shock on his face slowly subsided.

Well, his gaffe did not attract the attention of others, because he was not the only one surprised by the beauty, and his current appearance is also completely unfamiliar to Xu Zhenguan. As long as he doesn't reveal it, the Empress will only treat him as an NPC in this world…

With a flicker in his eyes, Zhao Du'an put down the water glass. He took a deep breath, suddenly stood up, and walked towards Xu Zhenguan.

He wasn't sure how long he could stay here, so he had to seize the time.

His obvious action also attracted the attention of many customers at nearby tables. At a table next to the Empress, sat a young couple. Seeing this, the boy couldn't help but admire him:

You dare to strike up a conversation with a great beauty of this level, brother, you are brave enough.

Many people also showed a look of amusement.

Zhao Du'an ignored the gazes of others, sat down casually in the empty seat opposite the Empress, and smiled:

"Hello, can I join you? You look a bit like a friend of mine."

Puke—

The boy at the next table almost vomited, trying hard to hold back his laughter, his eyes strange, thinking that brother, is this your pick-up line from the 2000s?

People on Douyin have already progressed to drawing portraits for girls, your technique is too poor.

Xu Zhenguan looked at the strange man who suddenly sat in front of her, her eyebrows furrowed subconsciously, her face cold, and said calmly:

"朕… I have no interest in talking to people."

She was a little hungry. Considering that she couldn't stay here for too long, she was now preoccupied with food.

She was used to this kind of situation where strangers struck up conversations. She had been approached several times before when she came in.

She didn't want to waste any time with a group of 'people in the painting'. If she didn't dislike other people's 'leftovers', she would even want to grab a ready-made table of food directly.

As for paying?

These people in the painting seemed to pay with the jade stone in their hands that was used for communication, but her jade magic tool seemed to have a restriction placed on it and could not be used, so she had to eat a free meal.

At worst, when it was time to pay the bill, she would directly disconnect the 'meditation' and leave this painting, and she could 'skip the bill'.

Next time you come in, everything will restart… achieving a perfect freebie.

Okay, being a big eater outside is the same… ordering so much, are you sure you can eat it all? Or just try a bite of everything?

Zhao Du'an complained in his heart, not moving his butt, putting down the water glass with a thick face, and said:

"You seem to have some misunderstandings about me, ha, it doesn't matter, but perhaps you will change your mind next. Well, let me guess your identity, how about that? If I guess wrong, I will leave immediately and never disturb you."

The Empress, who was concentrating on waiting for the food to be served, was expressionless, not responding at all, pretending to be invisible to him.

The boy at the next table was slightly surprised, thinking that this trick was much better, and couldn't help but prick up his ears, wanting to learn the routine.

Zhao Du'an wasn't annoyed either, looking up and down at the Empress's attire, and suddenly said slowly:

"You're not a local, are you? You came from outside, right?"

Outside… this word can be understood as 'outside the painting' or as 'out of town'.

The boy at the next table laughed, thinking that he thought you had some clever tricks, brother. Although this great beauty doesn't talk much, you can hear that her accent is strange.

Well… it's like mixing several tones, and at the same time, it's unfamiliar and not fluent… Huh, could it be Korean?

Otherwise, why isn't her Mandarin fluent enough? It's possible… then this face may not be original… But this appearance is not at all like an internet celebrity, even higher than Liu Yifei… Strange.

Xu Zhenguan didn't know the rich inner drama of the diners next door. She glanced at Zhao Du'an indifferently, without saying a word.

She was not familiar with the Mandarin in this world, not surprisingly.

At this time, the waiter began to bring up portions of fresh meat, fruits and vegetables, bowls, dishes and seasonings, put them on a tray, and asked if he could help with the barbecue.

"I'll do it, thank you," Zhao Du'an said with a smile, taking the barbecue utensils, wanting to send the waiter away.

Xu Zhenguan said coldly: "Leave someone to help with the barbecue."

She was used to being served by palace maids and eunuchs when eating. The person in front of her didn't look like an eunuch, so he should leave a palace maid.

The waiter took back the tongs, glared at Zhao Du'an, and began to operate diligently.

Zhao Douan smiled, not annoyed, and looked at the Empress again: "It seems I guessed right. Hmm, you must have a very noble background and an extraordinary family."

He used the word "noble."

The boy at the next table laughed again, shaking his head and thinking that it was really unoriginal. Although the beautiful woman at the next table was wearing clothes that looked very cheap, her temperament showed that she definitely came from a wealthy or even powerful family… unless you were blind…

Besides, how do you know that these clothes that look like they cost a few dozen yuan, at most one or two hundred, don't actually cost tens of thousands?

The Empress finally looked at him with a slightly serious expression.

The word "noble" made her care a little. Even though she didn't know enough about this world, she knew that the people in this world were far less hierarchical than those in Yu Country, and there were few princes and nobles.

Describing someone as noble… is not a common expression.

“Chī chī—” At this moment, the hot grill sizzled with oil from the fresh meat.

Xu Zhenguan picked up her chopsticks, ready to start eating.

The newest novels are first released at …!

Zhao Douan observed her expression, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and slowly uttered a third sentence:

“Your surname is Xu, right? And your name has three characters.”

Pa ta!

The chopsticks that the Empress had just picked up and hadn't yet gripped tightly suddenly fell on the table, scattering!

Xu Zhenguan, who had always been indifferent, suddenly raised her head, her eyes widening slightly, and for the first time, she really looked at this strange man!

Her surname is Xu!

Why did he guess it?!

Coincidence? No… how is that possible? And she obviously hadn't revealed anything!

This is a bit creepy… especially when combining this with the first two pieces of information he mentioned, especially that sentence "from outside"…

A dignified look appeared on Xu Zhenguan's face, and a hint of murderous intent emerged from her body.

She turned her head, first glanced at the waiter, waved her hand to signal the waiter to leave, and then stared deeply at the stranger in front of her and asked:

“How do you know?”

No way… did he guess right?!

The boy at the next table was stunned and turned his head almost losing his composure, his expression extremely wonderful. He thought, are you two acting me?

Is it a script? Is someone filming? Or is a web celebrity filming a short video?

But why doesn't the male lead have a long camera on his head?

If you two don't know each other, I'll eat the pot!

The boy looked around, searching for hidden cameras. As a result, his girlfriend next to him gave him a death stare, and his expression froze, becoming a coward.

“I said, you look very much like an old friend of mine.” Zhao Douan leaned back on the sofa-like seat back, calm and smiling.

It was not until this time that many people, including Xu Zhenguan, suddenly realized that this man who came to strike up a conversation had never been nervous from beginning to end.

Even when facing the extremely imposing Xu Zhenguan, he appeared extremely relaxed.

This in itself is unusual.

“I don’t know where you know my surname from, but I’m not interested in talking about these boring things with you.” Xu Zhenguan said coldly.

Zhao Douan sighed softly and said with emotion:

“Do you think I’m putting on an act? Actually, the friend I mentioned is not a woman, but a man, well, much older than me. He’s an uncle with the surname Xu.”

He's acting!

“Uncle Xu and I have known each other for a long time. He is not from this city, but from outside. He just became familiar with me after living here for a long time, well… let’s call it a friendship between generations.

Uncle Xu knows some martial arts. He claims to have learned martial arts when he was young. Too few people learn martial arts these days. I didn’t believe it at first, but he later showed me a few moves before I thought he had some skills…

As for bad habits, he does have them, which is alcoholism. He often hides to drink, and also pulls me along, bragging to me about many stories, saying that he used to be a gangster outside when he was young, had a group of brothers, and a very beautiful daughter who was sent abroad to study since childhood…

But an old widower, no one around him believes him, only taking it as drunken rambling…”

Zhao Douan narrated calmly in a tone of reminiscence, as if telling a personal story.

Xu Zhenguan listened quietly. The more she listened, the brighter her eyes became.

The murderous intent on her body quickly subsided, and her attitude towards this stranger became more serious!

Because… the “Uncle Xu” described by this person is very similar to the founding emperor!

Especially some very trivial habits, bad habits… are highly consistent with many records in the daily life records of the founding emperor.

Combined with the fact that the founding emperor was the “creator” of this painting, then it is a matter of course that the founding emperor also came here…

Could it be… this person in front of me is the "guide" on my path of cultivation in this painting?

Once this thought arose, it occupied her mind, and the more Xu Zhenguan thought about it, the more she felt that the possibility was extremely high.

“I have a question,” Xu Zhenguan suddenly interrupted him, staring at him, and asked:

“What is your name?”

Zhao Douan, who was talking eloquently, was stunned for a moment, looked at the Empress with interest, hesitated slightly, crossed his hands with a smile, and said his real name in this world:

“Zhang Hui. Zhang of article, Hui of return.”

Boom—

Xu Zhenguan's mind buzzed, and her eyes suddenly became extremely strange!

She remembered that in the nearby Taiqing Temple, the female temple priest wanted to calculate her marriage fortune and asked her to "draw lots". The result at that time said that her "true destiny" was surnamed "Zhang" and was a civil servant.

“Your job?” she asked again.

Zhao Douan said: “Public servant of the people.”

It matches up—

Xu Zhenguan was stunned for a moment. Could this person be in cahoots with that temple priest, trying to trick her?

This thought flashed through her mind and was quickly rejected by her.

Impossible!

Every time she enters this world, it will "restart". This time, she didn't even go to see that female temple priest, so there is no possibility of collusion.

As for the nonsense about the true son of destiny… the Empress doesn't believe half a word. She already has an appointed royal husband, so how could she be manipulated by a painting? What does it have to do with a fake person in a painting?

It's just nonsense.

Perhaps, this so-called "true son of destiny" is her "plot setting" in this painting.

Well, it's similar to…

When Zhao Douan practiced the "Great Dream Scroll", he would enter a period of six hundred years ago and become a child born in a town, and follow Pei Niannu to practice, undergoing a fake life… In the "Great Dream Scroll", Zhao Douan had a "plot setting identity".

When the Empress practiced the "Great Dream Scroll", she also had an identity in the painting, and also experienced birth, old age, sickness and death…

Considering that "The Human World" is an advanced version of "Great Dream Scroll", and she obviously has an "identity" in this world… then, this Zhang Hui is the "husband" of this identity in this painting?

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly. She felt that her speculation was extremely reasonable and should be the truth.

Therefore, she was no longer angry.

She is the Heavenly Saint outside the painting, how could she be angry with a character in a fake story in the painting? Why care about a mere fake identity?

“Zhang Hui… very good,” Xu Zhenguan nodded, calm and even a little expectant, and asked:

“So, you know my… father? Where is he? Did he leave any information?”

Well, she feels that in the story of this painting, the founding emperor is the role of her father.

This should be the starting point of her path of cultivation in this painting… Hū, as expected, her judgment is correct. Only when she truly becomes a celestial being, not the "pseudo-celestial being" she was at first, can she open up the hidden path of cultivation within this painting…

Xu Zhenguan silently praised her wit.

Zhao Douan looked at Zhenbao's changing expression with a smile.

How could he not guess at this moment that the Empress had judged him to be the "guide", "NPC", in this painting, leading her to cultivate?

Well… what should I do if the Empress mistakenly thinks I am a guide? Waiting online, it's quite urgent.