The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 487: Emperor’s single anger, bans Buddhism across the realm (two in one)

"Alright, I'll go..."

With a burst of panicked chaos, palace maids instantly dashed towards the imperial study, while others sought the imperial physician.

The remaining ladies-in-waiting quickly knelt and lifted Zhao Douan who was nearly unconscious and covered in blood, waiting for the Imperial Guard to arrive and transport him to the nearest room.

After a short while,

when the Emperor of Great Yu received the report and hastily made her way guided to the room, the gathered palace maids uniformly saluted, "Your Majesty!"

Xu Zhenguan's usually pale face bore no smile, and she struggled to remain calm, but the overt tension was unmistakable.

"Is Mr. Zhao in the room?"

"Yes, your servants have summoned the physician inside..."

Xu Zhenguan, not waiting for the servant to finish, pushed open the door amid the winter chill.

"Whimper..."

The cold air swirled in behind her, instantly filling the quaint bedroom.

Inside, an elderly physician stood next to the bed, surrounded by several eunuchs and maids, some holding blood-stained rags and others carrying basins filled with bloody water.

"Your Majesty!" Seeing the Empress burst in caused a collective startle.

Xu Zhenguan paid no heed to the group, lifting her robes and swiftly moving to the bedside. After navigating past several figures, she finally saw Zhao Douan lying on the bed.

His clothes had been stripped off, exposing skin that had been wiped clean of blood. While the rest of him was relatively unscathed, his chest was a gory mess, covered in silver needles puncturing various acupuncture points.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the old physician turned to salute.

Xu Zhenguan, her expression cold, stared intently at the unconscious Zhao Douan, "How is he?"

The old doctor expressed relief,

"Your Majesty, please be assured. Mr. Zhao is not in mortal danger and his core is untouched. It's merely external injury. However, it was a close call. If not for the Six Talismans Treasure Armor he wore, which absorbed most of the impact, otherwise..."

Nearby, an eunuch held the "Six Talismans Treasure Armor," now dented inward with a faint imprint of a palm.

Xu Zhenguan silently exhaled, her previously chaotic mind settling with this news.

She walked silently forward, not minding the impropriety of male and female contact, and placed her delicate hand on Zhao Douan's brow.

She then meticulously examined him with her spiritual sense, confirming that his injuries were within the healable range, finally allowing her tense heart to relax.

"Someone fetch the medicinal herbs from the Imperial Palace, both internal and external."

"You all may leave; I shall personally attend to Mr. Zhao's meridians."

"Send out an order to lock down this information. Anyone aware of this incident is to be confined."

With several commands issued by Xu Zhenguan, everyone agreed and respectfully exited the room.

When the door closed, Xu Zhenguan pulled up a stool by the window, held Zhao Douan's hand, and closed her eyes to transfer her energy.

Using her cultivation, she helped mend his disturbed energy.

As waves of energy transferred into him, the silver needles on Zhao Douan's body glowed brightly. Roughly after two quarters, a servant delivered the medicine then withdrew.

They dared not disturb Her Majesty treating Mr. Zhao.

Another quarter passed, and Zhao Douan finally slowly opened his eyes, realizing he was lying in a bed.

The canopy overhead and the aching in his body made him involuntarily grimace and flinch, but his palm felt a soft touch.

As his eyes caught a glimpse of the sitting Dust Immortal by the window, resembling a figure in meditation, the inhalation he intended was forcefully stifled.

Zhenbao?

It's not a dream, it's the living, warm Zhenbao... Zhao Douan silently blinked his large eyes.

He had not truly been unconscious; though his senses were muddled, he vaguely knew he had been carried into the room by a group of eunuchs and maids and thought he had heard the Empress's voice, but he was too dazed to discern reality.

Now seeing her face, unequaled by any other woman, her cold and striking beauty, he was certain:

"Have I successfully transported back to the Capital? Sigh... Luck is on my side, fortunate that I clung to life and stuffed the Transmission Jade inside the Six Talismans Treasure Armor, it saved me at a crucial moment... and, luckily, the assassin didn't deliver a fatal blow to the head..."

"Wait... assassin..."

As his thoughts cleared, memories of being attacked at the dockside came back into focus.

Shadow Guard's reports... a boat with a black canopy... a bald man emerging from the crowd...

"Da Jing Master... Why would Divine Dragon Temple's Da Jing Master ambush me? Isn't Long Shu enough?"

The logic behind their actions baffled Zhao Douan, emanating an air of strangeness.

But...

It didn't matter anymore. The important thing was, he had escaped danger and returned to the safest place—the Imperial Palace of Great Yu, with the Empress beside him.

His shelter against all storms was right next to him.

As these thoughts floated in his mind, he dared not move, afraid to wake the Empress but quietly gazed at her beautiful face.

It was like in his previous life, when tired, he'd lie in bed and watch his pet cat with delight.

"Have you looked your fill?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly spoke, her eyes closed.

"Not yet... Ah, no... Your Majesty, you're awake?"

Zhao Douan was startled, meeting Xu Zhenguan's eyes that seemed both reproachful and amused.

Feeling a bit embarrassed but also oddly proud, he chuckled awkwardly—a rare show of clumsiness.

Xu Zhenguan glared at him, though with no real anger, just exasperated that despite being severely injured, he still found the spirit to banter with her.