The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 332 - 283, Your Majesty’s Lu Ding

Atop the mountain... atop the mountain...

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When Xu Zhenguan heard Zhao Douan's response, even though she had been prepared in her heart, she still experienced a moment of stupefaction.

She flipped through the records of the Royal Family's inner treasury. Who, upon their first attempt at cultivating the Martial God Map, was able to stand on the mountain's summit?

She could hardly think of any.

The first thought that came to her was absurdity.

But when she thought again of the Dragon Essence left by her ancestors of the Xu family manifesting in the body of someone in the minor Divine Chapter Realm,

That astonishment and shock transformed into an indescribable emotion.

Regret?

Loss?

Jealousy?

Resentment?

Or rather, was it mostly doubt?

At this moment, it was as if a jar of mixed flavors had toppled over in the Empress's heart, rendering her silent and unable to speak for a while.

Zhao Douan watched Zhenbao's expression cautiously, also feeling a bit apprehensive at this moment. He admitted that there was a gamble in revealing this truth.

But he also wanted to take this opportunity to try to understand the reason for his exceptional affinity with the "Martial God."

Just because he was a transmigrator? Therefore, his Divine Soul is special?

This was certainly an explanation, but Zhao Douan always felt it was somewhat far-fetched.

"Your... Your Majesty?"

Zhao Douan humbly lowered his brows and cautiously probed, trying to ascertain the Empress's mood at the moment.

He even prepared himself for her to be furious and denounce his words as nonsense.

But when Xu Zhenguan came back to her senses, she just stared at him with a meaningful look, silent, until Zhao Douan felt a cold sweat on his back, and then she spoke softly:

"I really must wonder if you are indeed a descendant of our Xu Imperial Family."

Zhao Douan managed a stiff smile: "Your Majesty, do not jest!"

Luckily, Xu Zhenguan did not seriously entertain that speculation, shaking her head and saying:

"But among the royal family, there is no such situation as yours."

Zhao Douan swallowed and said carefully:

"I do have a conjecture."

"Oh?" Xu Zhenguan showed interest, "What conjecture?"

Zhao Douan analyzed seriously:

"Your Majesty, do you think it's possible that a son-in-law could also be considered part of the Xu family?"

Xu Zhenguan: ??

The Empress was initially stunned and did not catch on. Once she grasped the implication, her beautiful eyes glinted with menace, and she spoke coldly:

"Do you wish to die?"

This guy, at a time like this, still slick with his words!

Not satisfied with the advantages gained, he even had the audacity to overstep!

Zhao Douan, greatly alarmed, executed a series of smooth evasive moves:

"Your Majesty's beauty is unparalleled, surpassing all in grace and elegance. If not for meeting atop the mountain of peerless jewels, one would wish to encounter you under the moonlight of the Yao terrace! I was unable to restrain myself and I spoke without thinking!"

Xu Zhenguan, maintaining her composure, listened to this flattery, and her expression softened slightly.

She also savored the phrase "if not for meeting atop the mountain of peerless jewels," wondering where this scoundrel could have copied it from.

If any other official dared to speak so floridly, the Empress would have slapped them with a powerful rebuke long ago.

But Zhao Douan had behaved like this several times already, and she had grown accustomed to it, so she didn't take it seriously enough to be truly angry.

Instead, she subconsciously thought:

Could it be that indeed some remnant spirit of the ancestors is contained within the Dragon Essence?

Seeing the kingdom in jeopardy, the future generations being slaughtered, does it thus favor this Zhao fellow, planning for a great-grandson-in-law...

Pah!

Xu Zhenguan's breathing tightened as she snuffed out these absurd thoughts.

Her expression changed several times, and her gaze towards Zhao Douan turned increasingly unfriendly.

Almost led astray by this fellow!

After much thought, the most likely explanation was still due to destiny...

Suddenly Xu Zhenguan thought of a possibility:

Perhaps the Dragon Essence had been wandering around the Capital, and Zhao Douan, due to his innate potential, intelligence, and wisdom superior to ordinary people, attracted the Dragon Essence to possess him.

Because the Dragon Essence was already within him, later when he cultivated the Martial God Map, he could immediately stand beside the Grand Ancestor Emperor—this explained everything!

After all, the notion of destiny favoring someone does indeed exist.

And Zhao Douan's behavior over the past six months had in every way proved that this man was a hidden dragon, favored by the Dragon Essence, and choosing him as the heir was somewhat justifiable.

After all, no one stipulated that the legacy left by the Grand Ancestor Grandfather could only choose a blood relative.

The heritage of the "Martial God" wasn't dependent on bloodlines or sexual reproduction...

She immediately repeated this possibility, and the more she talked about it, the more she felt it was highly plausible.

"..." Zhao Douan was silent after listening.

He wanted to say that it wasn't like this... the Dragon Essence appeared later, but he was powerless to argue.

After a moment of thought, he ventured: "Your Majesty, I am but a common man, how could I be so favored..."

Xu Zhenguan shook her head and said:

"If we discuss it, when the Grand Ancestor Emperor started to rise, he was merely a martial artist with some talent. At that time, there were many of his contemporaries who were similar to, or even far surpassed, the Grand Ancestor. Later on, it was because he was favored by the destiny of the heavens and earth that he rose to prominence..."

That's not it. The more you talk about it, the more convinced you are—what's going on here... Zhao Douan curiously asked:

"Favored by destiny?" Zhao Douan had flipped through the biography of the Grand Ancestor Emperor and indeed come across such a claim. Some said that after the Grand Ancestor Emperor traveled the world on foot, he had accumulated the imperial destiny.

He wanted to hint around for other answers.

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him, hesitated slightly, and said,

"That is both true and false. There are more detailed records within the Royal Family, generally speaking, the Grand Ancestor Emperor had wandered on foot and stepped into the Mubei Forest. It seems he received some fortuitous opportunity there, which after resulted in a significant increase in his cultivation.

Even more, he gained some additional support from that place which laid the foundation for his subsequent establishment of dominion over the world."

Zhao Douan was taken aback. This was a secret not circulated in the outside world:

"The Mubei Forest?"

Xu Zhenguan seemed to know what he was thinking and shook her head,

"As for specifics, I too do not know. The Grand Ancestor Emperor rarely spoke of this experience during his lifetime, and after six hundred years have passed, many of those events are beyond investigation."

Yet, Zhao Douan recalled the scene in his dream where he stood with Old Xu at the edge of the snowy plains, confronting a powerful life form in the vast forest, and he asked curiously,

"Hasn't the Royal Family investigated this?"

Xu Zhenguan fell silent, seeming reluctant to elaborate, and merely said,

"Beyond the borders of Great Yu, there are mysteries; this isn't something for you to understand at this moment."

Alright... my strength is being looked down upon...

Zhao Douan felt disappointed.

He vaguely guessed that the reason he got along so well with "Old Xu" was likely related to the Mubei Forest.

In fact, he had even speculated whether Old Xu might also be a transmigrator.

But whether from the biographies or from the many details of the history of the Great Yu Dynasty,

he had hardly seen any obvious signs of a "transmigrator."

It was the Empress who, through brainstorming, fancied she found the reason.

Although still feeling some discontent, her expression relaxed somewhat.

"Perhaps, the situation is indeed as Your Majesty has conjectured," Zhao Douan went along with the flow, saying earnestly,

"But neither the Dragon Essence nor the Tai'a should have any connection with me, I ask Your Majesty to take back the Dragon Essence, returning it to its rightful owner."

Xu Zhenguan stared at him, her gaze extraordinarily profound,

"I must be able to take it away, too."

"Ah?" Zhao Douan was bewildered.

Xu Zhenguan pointed at his abdomen with an air of annoyance, saying,

"The Dragon Essence has coiled within your Qi Sea for several days now, drawing nourishment from your energy and now is unwilling to leave."

What she was too embarrassed to say was that the Dragon Essence chose only Zhao Douan and not her.

Even if she were to cut Zhao Douan down, the Dragon Essence would most likely just disappear into the universe, nowhere to be found, waiting for another "host."

As for forcibly confining it... she had attempted that just a moment ago.

But perhaps due to "inheritance suppression," though the Dragon Essence was not very strong, she was helpless against it.

The situation currently was:

To prevent the Dragon Essence from vanishing, the only option was to foster it within Zhao Douan's body.

"How... can this be?" Zhao Douan was also stunned; this was a twist he hadn't anticipated.

Feeling overwhelmed for a while, he thought it over and then ventured to speak again,

"Your Majesty, I have an idea, but I dare not speak unless Your Majesty allows me to."

What dirty thought do you have this time?

Xu Zhenguan eyed him with a derisive smirk, seeing through his underhanded thoughts.

The Empress grinned half mockingly,

"Don't tell me you're thinking of Dual Cultivation."

She actually guessed it... Zhao Douan hurriedly explained,

"I was merely thinking, since the Dragon Essence seems capable of refining the vital energy. If Your Majesty needs it, I wouldn't mind serving as a 'conduit'..."

Such magnanimity...

Xu Zhenguan looked at him mockingly and spoke softly,

"Even if it means your cultivation halts or even if you are drained by me into a mere dregs?"

Zhao Douan abruptly looked up, his expression one of surprise, "Your Majesty, this..."

Xu Zhenguan suddenly let out a light sigh, speaking with helplessness and a weary heart,

"You don't think that so-called Dual Cultivation is just the sort of thing that's on your mind, do you?

Only when cultivation realms are approximately equal can it benefit both parties. If one party is stronger by one or even two Great Realms, then for the weaker party, it becomes akin to being a Lu Ding.

Otherwise, why do you think those Evil Mages in Jianghu would commit such acts as kidnapping Lu Ding?"

I've hit upon an area of ignorance for me... Zhao Douan stuttered,

"But the Bodhisattva in Jizhao Temple said..."

Xu Zhenguan glared at him, scoffing,

"So you actually think the Bodhisattva wanted Dual Cultivation with you out of good intentions?

The Buddhist ways are indeed much better than the Evil Path, but if there's too great a disparity in cultivation realms, even if they don't take your life or deplete you completely, they can stall your cultivation or reverse it.

More importantly, they can drain your potential to nourish the Bodhisattva alone."

Zhao Douan felt a chill of fear, cursing the old woman for harboring ill intentions.

A thought crossed his mind; his acting skills burst forth once again, his face first showing a struggle, and then, as if having made some important decision, he bit his lip and said firmly,

"Your Majesty treats me like a National Scholar, and as such I should repay you in kind. If Your Majesty needs, I am willing to be Your Majesty's Lu Ding!"

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