The First Lackey Under The Empress

Inside the barbecue restaurant, the meat on the grill was constantly burning, but the two people sitting opposite each other were oblivious. Neither of them had any interest in eating a late-night snack.

Zhao Du'an felt it was very strange. This "Human World" was indeed special. When he and the Empress were both in a state of contemplation, they could actually meet here. This was an extremely magical setting in itself.

However, considering the power of the Great Yu Taizu, who infinitely approached the "Human Immortal" in his time, it was not surprising that he possessed some special methods.

And what truly made the current situation delicate was… for some unknown reason, he appeared here as "Chapter Head."

No matter how big Xu Zhenguan's imagination was, it would be difficult for her to imagine this, and under inertial thinking, she regarded him as a "guide" within the painting.

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"So… as of now, she shouldn't have encountered a character similar to a 'guide' in this painting…"

"Well, is this an 'open world'?"

"However, thinking conversely, if Old Xu six hundred years ago could paint the world at the time I transmigrated, and according to Zhenbao's words, before her and me, the imperial family's cultivators throughout the generations, even when contemplating 'Human World,' couldn't see this city…"

"Then, is there a possibility… that this world was deliberately prepared by Old Xu for me and her?"

Hiss… Thinking of this possibility, Zhao Du'an felt a little horrified.

But recalling that he had previously guessed that many things after his transmigration had traces of being "arranged"… this absurd idea may not be impossible.

"If that's really the case, could it be said that in the original design, I was her guide? Just like in the Great Dream Scroll, I was accepted as a disciple by Pei Niannu, who belonged to that world, and in this world, I am a native, and Zhenbao is an outsider…"

"Stop—the more I think about it, the more chaotic it becomes. Wild thoughts without evidence are meaningless. If I want to figure out the truth, I can only continue to interact with Zhenbao… Well, maybe our encounter will trigger something…"

Moreover, he keenly noticed that after he said his name just now, the Empress's expression changed significantly.

But she shouldn't have heard his name.

Zhao Du'an's thoughts flickered, and he made a decision in his heart.

He was prepared to temporarily hide his identity and try to play the role of a guide.

After all, "transmigration" was too difficult to explain, and he was not ready to share this biggest secret with the Empress.

Although… as long as the Empress continues to understand this city, she will eventually reveal her identity one day.

"Heh, it seems Miss Xu has many questions. But don't worry, the night is long, we can chat slowly,"

Zhao Du'an showed an attitude of being in control of the situation, picked up his water glass and took a sip, then asked casually:

"But Miss Xu, you've also heard my name, right?"

Xu Zhenguan frowned, feeling the difficulty of this person in the painting. She said coldly:

"No."

She refused to answer without concealment.

Really heard my name?

Zhao Du'an confirmed his guess and became even more puzzled. A strange thought suddenly arose in his mind:

Could this be Old Xu's arranged "blind date"… It's a pity that I've already hit a home run in reality…

Eh, after I entered here, I lost my cultivation. Zhenbao should be the same. Doesn't that mean that if we cultivate together here, we can bypass the limitations of being drained into medicinal dregs due to the difference in realm?

Well… the premise is that I take the initiative to reveal my identity… Sigh, it's not the right time yet.

As for using this identity to get close, that kind of masked play, he has no interest in it.

Compared to a brief moment of pleasure, he was more concerned with exploring the secrets left by Old Xu in the mural.

"You haven't answered my question. If you continue to beat around the bush, I have no interest in wasting time with you."

Seeing him remain silent, Xu Zhenguan's jade face was frosty, and she urged him coldly.

Her time in this world was limited!

She had no interest in playing dumb riddles with a person in the painting. With her status and personality, even if she lost her power, she was still not someone a person in the painting could manipulate. She wanted to control the dominance.

As expected of you… Zhao Du'an smiled helplessly, but his expression was still calm.

This was the world he was familiar with, and it was also his home field.

"Miss Xu has a short temper, haha, that's good too.

Uncle Xu left a long time ago, and I don't know where he went. Before leaving, he did leave me some things.

He also gave me a time and a place, asking me to come here at that time and take care of a relative for a period of time.

Today I came as promised. It seems Miss Xu is the person I'm waiting for."

Zhao Du'an made up a story, mainly because he believed it whether you believed it or not.

No, I haven't had time to make it up yet… Is this the style of your cultivation in the painting?

Zhao Du'an sighed softly, smiled, thought for a moment, and stood up as well:

"Alright."

The waiter standing not far away saw that the two were about to leave, got up and walked over, surprised:

"Are you two leaving?"

Xu Zhenguan's expression suddenly stiffened, realizing an embarrassing problem, she had no money to pay the bill!

And there was no way to "escape" by ending the meditation. She was immediately stuck in place, unable to move forward or backward. The dignified emperor was actually facing the predicament of not having money to eat. Her pearl-like toes in her sandals were slightly curled up…

"I'll take care of it."

Zhao Du'an's mouth turned up, calmly showing his payment code, and then said to Xu Zhenguan:

"There's no reason to make a guest pay for the meal."

Xu Zhenguan kept a straight face, and her heart was slightly relieved.

Afterwards, the two who had finished paying the bill walked out of the restaurant one after another, leaving behind a large group of diners with shocked, jealous, and regretful faces.

The voices of the two were not loud, so in the eyes of many people, Zhao Du'an went up to strike up a conversation, said a few words, and took the beautiful woman away without even eating…

"Why? If I knew this would work, I could do it too."

I don't know how many people secretly regretted and lamented.

Outside the restaurant.

Zhao Du'an blew the night wind, didn't take a taxi, gestured to a direction in the distance, put his hands in his trouser pockets, and walked along the quiet road.

Xu Zhenguan lagged behind a few steps, staring at him warily, the sandals tapping on the ground, making a crisp "da da" sound.

For some reason, she always felt that this Chapter Head had an unspeakable and unclear strangeness, but although she had lost her cultivation, she could "exit" the meditation at any time, so she was not afraid of any danger.

"Miss Xu doesn't need to be so wary of me. Well, speaking of which, where did Miss Xu come from? How long have you been here? Do you live nearby?"

Zhao Du'an asked casually, trying to find out the situation.

Xu Zhenguan's beautiful eyes contained murderous intent, and she suddenly stopped.

…

…

Kyoto, the Imperial Observatory.

As a court institution established at the beginning of the Yu Kingdom, specializing in recording celestial phenomena and weather, the Imperial Observatory is located in a corner of Kyoto and is a powerless department.

But it has the tallest building in Kyoto… Well, the Great Bell Tower of the Celestial Master's Mansion doesn't count.

The top floor of this building called "Observatory" displays many cumbersome and complex observation instruments.

Not only that, but it is also used to store books and documents. The book walls covering three sides are several feet high, so that several ladders are needed to set up among them to take books.

At this moment, it was afternoon, and wisps of thin clouds in the sky obscured the sunlight, casting large shadows. On this vast top-floor building, several officials of the Qintian Jian, dressed in special attire, were on duty.

Suddenly, several officials stood up at the same time and bowed respectfully towards the entrance on the lower level: "Director!"

An "one-eyed" old man with greying hair, slightly hunched, and already in his twilight years, whose one eye had been damaged from gazing at the stars too many times in his youth and was covered with an eye patch, walked up wearing an official robe and carrying a scroll under his arm.

Beside him was a boy servant of about ten years old.

The old man was the Director of the Qintian Jian, nominally holding the third rank, but without any real power. He was merely a figurehead in terms of etiquette. Moreover, since the time of Emperor Taizu, there had been a strict order prohibiting successive generations of star officials from contacting court officials.

Therefore, even the Xuanmen coup, and the subsequent court upheavals, did not affect the Qintian Jian.

This old man had attended court and entered the palace only a handful of times in recent years, and was a presence who was often forgotten.

The old man waved his hand, dismissing the officials downstairs. He walked with a slow, unsteady gait across the boundary between light and shadow on the ground, and arrived at a huge semicircle protruding from the outer wall of the observation platform, a platform paved with white jade resembling half of an astrolabe.

At night, when the stars twinkled, one could embrace the Milky Way here.

Even on a clear day, when the stars were obscured, one could still observe the celestial phenomena with the help of huge instruments.

"Director, why have you been coming to work in person so often these days? The wind and sun are harsh. There are so many people in the office to command, and your eyes aren't good. Why bother to work so hard?"

After helping the old man sit down, the boy servant plopped down on the edge of the high platform and opened a parasol.

The one-eyed old man stroked the cannon-like instrument fixed on the white jade, and smiled:

"When I was young, starting from when I was your age, I began to observe the stars, during the day and at night. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have lost a perfectly good eye. But to be able to exchange it for a lifetime of peace, wealth, and honor, I don't know how many people would be vying for it."

After a pause, the old man restrained his smile and said:

"When the previous dynasty was overthrown, a great fire destroyed the previous dynasty's astronomical records. After the Qintian Jian was rebuilt, generations of star officials recorded six hundred years of celestial changes, and also摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索摸索