Chapter 205 Your Majesty is the most beautiful scenery in the world
After saying this, Zhao Duan did not wait for the "young cabinet minister's" reply. He clamped his legs around the horse's belly and rushed towards the palace.
"You clearly can't retaliate against me right now, yet you still come here and make these harsh remarks. You're truly ambitious but lack the talent."
Zhao Duan shook his head and no longer considered him an enemy.
A moment later.
He arrived at the palace, reported according to the rules, and was then led into the palace.
The familiar older female official came over and said with a smile:
"Master Zhao, please follow me. His Majesty is waiting in the garden."
There are many imperial gardens.
But there is only one that is famous for its "flowers".
There are no trees or ponds at all, only a sea of flowers of various colors, crowded together to form a "sea of flowers".
It is said that it was a sudden idea of an emperor at that time to collect all the rare flowers in the world and transplant them into the palace, which led to the creation of this "Back Garden Flower Sea".
When Zhao Duan arrived, he saw from afar a figure standing in a sea of colorful flowers, admiring the flowers.
The older palace maid stopped at the right time and stood on the periphery with other waiters.
Zhao Duan held his head high and chest out, walked along the stone path on the ground called "Flower Path" to the side of the empress.
Xu Zhenguan was in a very good mood today, and her fair and crystal skin was dazzling in the sunlight.
The long skirt that drags on the ground highlights her graceful figure without making her look tacky at all.
Her jet-black hair was loose, she had a delicate nose, lips of just the right thickness, and bright eyes like lacquer under her long eyelashes. She was now quietly admiring the colorful butterflies flying among the flowers.
"His Majesty……"
Zhao Duan was about to speak, but saw her shaking her head imperceptibly.
As if afraid of disturbing the butterflies.
Zhao Duan followed his gaze and found that the two colorful butterflies entangled in the flowers were not ordinary creatures.
Its body is covered with seven colors, and when it flies, the air seems to splash ripples of light.
After a while, the two butterflies flew away, and then the empress's cold voice rang out:
"This butterfly is called the 'City of Seven Days'. If ordinary people stare at it for too long, their minds will be drawn in, and they will fall into a trance and dream, recalling the happiest seven days of their lives.
Therefore, many people try to catch it, but this butterfly cannot be kept in captivity. Once caught, it will go on a hunger strike and die within a week.
They gradually became less common in Dayu. This pair was invited from the Mubei Forest and has lived in the palace for two hundred years.
Zhao Duan was stunned. He knew that strange life existed in this world, but this was his first time to come into such close contact with one.
"Your Majesty said they can't be kept in captivity? How can we bring them back then?"
Xu Zhenguan raised her delicate hand and gently pointed to a cluster of pure black flowers in the distance:
“That’s the lightless flower. The Seven Suns City loves this flower the most, but it’s extremely rare.
After being born, out of more than a thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine will burn due to being bathed in sunlight and gathering heat, leaving only one.
After swallowing it, one becomes immune to fire, and the body remains indestructible for hundreds of years. The royal family expended considerable effort to obtain it, using it to lure the Seven Suns City.
Zhao Duan was amazed and said:
"I was so humble and entangled in the mundane world that I had no idea there were so many magical things in the world."
Xu Zhenguan turned back, looked at him with a smile, and said:
"If you want, I'll give you a reward."
Zhao Duan was flattered:
"I am not fortunate enough to enjoy it... Moreover, I believe that treasures belong to those with virtue."
Xu Zhenguan jokingly asked, "Are you saying you have no moral integrity?"
Zhao Duan said self-deprecatingly:
"Your Majesty, why do you still ask when you already know the answer? Probably not many people in the capital... or even in the world, believe that I have anything to do with 'virtue'."
Xu Zhenguan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said seriously:
“You’ve suffered.”
In the eyes of the empress, Zhao Duan's bad reputation was mostly caused by her.
No... I simply think it's too difficult to whitewash it... Once people form a fixed impression, how easy is it to change it?
He deliberately showed an indifferent smile:
"As long as I can serve His Majesty, this little hardship is nothing."
"..."Xu Zhenguan stepped forward:
"Come walk with me."
…
The two of them strolled in the sea of flowers, and when the wind blew over, all the flowers were captivated by her.
The emperor and his minister first talked about the changes in the court.
Upon learning that the dispute over the new policy had come to an end, Zhao Duan felt relieved and said:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Xu Zhenguan raised his lips slightly, then said calmly:
"It's just the first step on a journey of thousands of miles. Once a decree leaves the court, it must leave the capital, travel to the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures, and reach the people's fields. Even if the government is clean and honest, there will be obstacles in its implementation."
Zhao Duan blinked and asked tentatively:
"Your Majesty, is it the Eighth Prince you're worried about?"
Xu Zhenguan remained silent, which was tantamount to admitting it.
She shouldn't have said these words to a mere military officer.
But after all these things, she no longer took Zhao Duan lightly:
"My uncles are undoubtedly keeping a close eye on this. With their intelligence and their advisors, they'll understand the severity of the new policies with a little thought. Will they let it run its course? Cooperate with the court? Or secretly obstruct it?
As the saying goes, the sky is high and the emperor is far away. My sword can only sweep away the heads of a million people in the capital. Beyond that, it is beyond my reach."
Zhao Duan frowned. He couldn't speak rashly about this topic.
On the one hand, it is almost unsolvable. When it comes to the fight for the throne, any conspiracy or trickery is actually of little use.
The best way is to cut the meat with a soft knife.
When one's side becomes stronger and the other side becomes weaker, the desire to resist and fight will naturally fade.
On the other hand, he was still too unfamiliar with the area outside the capital of Dayu.
Since traveling through time, Zhao Duan has hardly ever left the capital. Among the nine prefectures and eighteen cities of Dayu, he only knows the capital.
He neither understood the conditions in various places nor the personalities of the Eight Kings.
There are all kinds of strange cultivation groups in the world, such as the Fashen Sect, the Wuchang Sect, the Ming Sect, and the Baiyi Sect...
Even outside the territory of Dayu, there are mysterious and magnificent lands and intricate forces.
The Gu God Clan, the Mahakala Sect... the ancestral home of Buddhism in the Western Regions... and many powerful people... are all just "heard of".
How can you offer any advice?
"Let's not talk about this anymore."
Xu Zhenguan also realized that the task he had given to this small imperial guard was a bit too difficult.
Or it is better to say that I am used to it, and the other party can always help me solve problems, so I say it habitually.
But whether it was the threat from the "Eight Kings", the remnants of the Kuangfu Society, or the practice of martial arts, they were all too far away for him.
"Let's go, I'll take you to see something good."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and said:
"Well, if you want to see this scenery again, you can take another look."
Big baby... Zhao Duan regained his composure, knowing that the empress was about to give him a reward. He was impatient, but his face was sincere:
"In my eyes, Your Majesty is the most beautiful scenery in the world. I am completely satisfied to be able to learn from Your Majesty at your side."
"..." Xu Zhenguan cursed with a smile, then turned around and walked away.
His steps, however, became a little lighter without him noticing.
This guy speaks quite nicely...
…
A moment later.
Xu Zhenguan led Zhao Duan to an empty palace in the imperial palace, on which were written only the three characters "Martial Arts Field" in a flamboyant style.
When we arrived, eunuchs were already waiting outside and opened the door.
As the heavy door opened, Zhao Duan saw an empty hall paved with blue bricks and a human-shaped wooden stake in the distance.
On the wooden stake was a piece of glittering and colorful armor.
Xu Zhenguan said softly:
"Go and see the reward I've chosen for you. It's called the 'Six Talisman Armor'."
…
This chapter is a bit watery, I will try to write more tomorrow to make up for it.
(End of this chapter)
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