The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 433 - 357, if you haven’t seen this flower, this flower fades into oblivion with your heart. When you see this flower, its color suddenly becomes clear.

Only then did Zhao Douan rub his face, exhale, and mutter:

"It doesn't seem as difficult as I imagined."

"What?" asked a girl in a light yellow skirt and green jacket beside him, her eyes both admiring and puzzled, "Isn't Zhengyang supposed to discuss scholarship with the Grandmaster the day after tomorrow? Will he still come out tomorrow?"

Zhao Douan smiled without speaking, not answering but simply standing up and leading his sister home, advising:

"Don't speak of today's matter to anyone."

...

The setting sun sank; the Capital welcomed another night.

The city's discussion about the intellectual debate at Mei Garden the day after tomorrow intensified another level, with countless people anticipating the confrontation between the two great Confucian scholars of today.

However, almost no one knew that the debate had already begun in the secluded Bailu Academy without anyone's knowledge.

The night passed without words.

Another day dawned, the final countdown day.

Grandmaster Dong did not rest but still took the opportunity on this final morning to give a lecture at the Imperial College.

At noon, when Dong Xuan, dressed in his Grand Scholar's robe and his temples frosted with age, left the Imperial College for Xiuwen Pavilion, he was instantly surrounded by a group of scholars.

"Grandmaster, here are the documents you asked for..."

"Grandmaster, His Majesty has sent a tonic for nourishing your vital energy..."

"Grandmaster..."

Scholars spoke one after another, setting aside even their desk work — how could learned men not feel anxious and restless?

Dong Xuan sat in the chief seat in his room, his face showing fatigue. He took the tea cup offered by Han Zhou, drank a sip to moisten his dry throat, and then slowly asked:

Follow current novels on freewebnσvel.cѳm.

"How is the public sentiment in the city?"

Wang You, the son of the Minister of Rites, said, "It's fine. There is more support for you."

Dong Xuan glanced at him and sighed, "Only a bit more?"

The others kept silent, all understanding that even with the geographical and human advantages of the Capital, failing to have one-sided public opinion was a dangerous sign.

"Enough of that. How are the preparations for tomorrow's Mei Garden debate?" Grandmaster Dong finally asked in a deep voice, accustomed to seeing many storms.

The room door suddenly opened; the female chancellor, Mo Chou, stepped in and said calmly:

"According to Her Majesty's wishes, neither Her Majesty nor Mr. Yuan, the Prime Minister, nor other senior officials, will attend tomorrow. Mei Garden will be mainly for scholars."

Grandmaster Dong nodded and said, "Very good."

For the court, lacking confidence in tomorrow's debate meant Her Majesty must downplay the event's importance and impact.

As long as the top tier of the court did not participate, it would greatly reduce the impact of the event.

But it goes without saying that although the Empress and others might not personally attend, they would surely be closely watching the venue's updates.

"Stop frowning; it's as if you're hoping for my defeat," Grandmaster Dong looked around at everyone, smiled, and added, "By the way, hasn't Zhao Douan come over today?"

This was changing the subject.

In the past few days, Zhao Douan had visited the Xiuwen Pavilion daily.

"He hasn't arrived today; perhaps he will come back later," Han Zhou forced a smile.

Grandmaster Dong laughed and scolded:

"In the past few lively occurrences, it was always this young fellow stealing the spotlight. If he comes over, I actually want to tell him to take tomorrow's spot and see whether he wants it."

Everyone could not help but laugh, knowing that the Grandmaster was joking to lighten the mood.

"It's a shame; if Scholar Zhao really had devoted himself to studies from a young age with his intelligence, he might have really been able to forge a new path or come up with something novel," someone said.

"To me, Scholar Zhao is more likely to opt for a blunt method, like sending someone to beat up Zhengyang so that he can't come tomorrow."

"Ha ha... That really is something Scholar Zhao might do."

For a moment, the room was filled with cheerful air.

Mo Chou was also brought to laughter, but she turned to look outside at the autumn sky, remembering the day Zhao Douan had seriously flipped through Zhengyang's books with a distracted look.

She couldn't help but think strangely:

"Does he really have no ideas? Letting a great opportunity to please Her Majesty slip by? What is he doing now? He wouldn't really have gone to beat up Zhengyang..."

...

...

Bailu Academy.

Under towering ancient trees and amidst falling yellow leaves.

The second half of the debate, unbeknownst to anyone, quietly began.

This time, the audience was still the three from yesterday; Zhao Pan did not understand but insisted on coming to support her brother.

Lu Cheng and Scholar Song, however, were distinctly different from yesterday

— last night, the master barely slept at all.

After a night passed, Zhengyang looked even more worn out, but he had also reorganized his theories and started debating with Zhao Douan again.

Unfortunately, the counterarguments he had thought up overnight didn't last long once thrown out before Zhao Douan defeated them one by one.