"In the pavilion, no time elapses, and now it is the Ghost Festival."
With a single thought, Xu Zhenguan lightly moved her lotus steps, and with a slight tap forward,
in the next moment, her figure had already disappeared, leaving only Eunuch Hai in his python robe bowing deeply in the ancient courtyard of the armory:
"Welcome Your Majesty's emergence from seclusion."
Garden, within a separate courtyard.
Everyone looked toward the Imperial City.
Suddenly, a streak of golden light approached like a meteor, and the space slightly distorted. The Emperor of Great Yu stepped out and had already arrived here.
Bian Ji clasped his hands together and respectfully bowed:
"This monk greets Your Majesty, welcoming Your Majesty's arrival."
Mo Chou's eyes brightened, and she hurriedly bowed too: "Welcome Your Majesty's emergence from seclusion."
Following her was Yuan Li, who chuckled: "Your subject welcomes Your Majesty..."
Dong Xuan, all the Chief of Staffs, Han Zhou along with other scholars, and even the stunned Li Yinglong, all bowed deeply, calling out their greetings.
Xu Zhenguan graciously accepted and descended slowly, just like a Fairy descending to the mortal world, and smiled saying:
"Ministers, rise. Today coincides with the Ghost Festival; how could I miss the Divine Dragon ritual? How has Master Xuan Yin been recently?"
This statement was a dialogue between imperial power and the Buddhist order,
representing a certain attitude.
Bian Ji respectfully expressed his gratitude:
"The abbot is well, closed off praying and compiling scriptures, thank you for Your Majesty's concern."
Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly.
Similarly to Zhang Yan, Temple Abbot Xuan Yin rarely showed himself, secluded in pursuit of the "Human Immortal Realm."
However, unlike the Daoist headquarters, the Heavenly Master Mansion, which unified the Central Plains, the Divine Dragon Temple was a branch of the main sect in the Western Regions, rooted in Great Yu.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xu Zhenguan then curiously asked:
"Were you all about to go out?"
She found it a bit strange, for the time of the ritual had not yet come.
Everyone exchanged glances, and finally, they all looked toward Grandmaster Dong.
Grandmaster Dong himself had not expected the Empress to emerge today... surely, it was also to not miss the Ullambana Festival, maintaining the relationship between imperial authority and Buddhism.
He immediately said: "This old subject has a matter to report to Your Majesty, concerning the new policy and Zhao Duan."
And what does this have to do with the new policy?
Xu Zhenguan's brow furrowed with worry, wondering if in the days of her seclusion, the Little Forbidden Army had stirred up trouble again, offending Grandmaster Dong?
If the Grandmaster was indeed lodging a complaint, that would be troublesome...
With this thought, the Empress nodded gently and said to Bian Ji:
"Mage, please make yourself at home."
Then, waving her sleeve, in almost an instant, with a cultivation resembling Magic, she and Dong Xuan appeared out of thin air in a quiet meditation room within the Garden's separate courtyard.
"What does the Grandmaster wish to report? Has there been a hitch with the new policy just after ten days?" Xu Zhenguan asked worriedly.
The old man steadied his spirit, and then slowly said:
"Your Majesty, do not misunderstand, not only is there no error in the new policy, but it has also been finalized, the final draft is now within the Xiuwen Pavilion, ready to be reviewed by Your Majesty at any time."
Xu Zhenguan frowned and asked:
"Is it based on Han Zhou's ten strategies?"
She was ultimately dissatisfied with those ten strategies.
The old man shook his head and calmly said:
"We have employed Zhao's Golden Three Strategies."
Xu Zhenguan was stunned.
On the other hand, on the streets of the Capital.
Having declined the considerate offer from Dong to personally escort him, Zhao Douan headed back home with his family in the carriage.
Compared to the anticipation of the trip, the atmosphere on the return was even more vibrant.
You Jinhua and Zhao Pan, eyes wide, marveled at Zhao Douan, as if they did not recognize him.
Their eyes filled with admiration and adoration:
"So, big brother, you really became a scholar?"
"To be precise, I'm a temporary worker, well, a contract position outside the staff," Zhao Douan corrected.
He knew he could never truly enter the Xiuwen Pavilion, dealing with manuscripts all day, nor did he expect this to gain him recognition from scholars.
More than the status of a scholar, what he cared about more was always...
"Huh?" Suddenly, Zhao Douan looked up toward the Imperial Palace.
"What's wrong?" the two women asked.
Zhao Douan shook his head, puzzled:
"It seems I saw a flash of light just now, zooming past."
"There's no light..."
"Big brother is fooling us again... just like before, hiding his scholar status."
"..." Zhao Douan shrugged, if they didn't believe it, perhaps...
he really had seen wrong.
Leaning back against the soft cushions of the carriage, he lazily said: