The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 503 - 391, Lin Ke: I have met Princess Wen Zhu

"Princess, we're here."

Beside the carriage, the tall female warrior with hair braided loosely and rough, reddish skin scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. Only after ensuring safety did she invite the princess inside to alight.

Princess Wen Zhu, in her forties with a gentle demeanor, dressed modestly today, without any jewelry.

As her shoes crunched on the snowy ground, she squinted into the sunlight to see the charity tent at the end of the road.

"As per your instructions, we purchased coal to distribute among the locals," the female warrior said softly, "without the hands of the government office officials involved."

"Mm." Princess Wen Zhu nodded gently, her gaze filled with sorrow as she looked at the impoverished, thin, and haggard people in front of the tent.

"This year's snow is heavy, and I hear the city's prices are skyrocketing in just a few days. Even the people in the Capital are struggling so much. I dread to think how those in more barren lands manage to endure."

The female warrior grumbled, "The Capital is said to be the most virtuous city, but I think it's not even as good as the Western Regions."

Princess Wen Zhu shook her head and sighed, offering a just perspective.

"The Western Regions may be remote, but they have far fewer people. Governing a tribe is naturally much simpler than managing an empire. However, compared to the winters I remember in the Capital, this one is indeed harsher, likely due to the emptiness of the National Treasury."

The loyal female warrior remarked, "That's what that bunch of officials said, too. They claim that next year, the silver earned will fill up the National Treasury, and everything will turn for the better."

Trading openings...

The long princess with a serene disposition pressed her red lips.

This term had been repeated so often in the past few months that her ears were almost calloused, including in discussions with the court about next year's trade, which also mentioned "trading openings."

"I hear the New Policy and trading openings of Yu Country were solely the work of that Zhao Douan," the female warrior said.

Princess Wen Zhu shook her head and remarked indifferently,

"Nothing but gilding. How could a military officer from the imperial guard, of mere infantry origin, lead such significant matters? It shows how much favor the Emperor granted to this flatterer."

Since entering the city, Princess Wen Zhu began gathering information about the gigolo of the Empress through various channels.

As more information came together, Princess Wen Zhu felt only an absurdity.

Leaving aside the few insider matters known to few outside, the public accomplishments alone—the limelight at the Buddhist Tao competition, promoting new firearms development for the Divine Mechanism Camp, achievements in the Taicang case and the opening of Hu Ting, New Policy planning, defeating the Zhengyang School... the list went on.

If it were just one or two things, it might be reasonable.

But when so many achievements amassed on one person in such a short time, to someone like Princess Wen Zhu who hadn't experienced it firsthand, it seemed utterly absurd.

Based on common sense, Princess Wen Zhu became increasingly convinced that the Empress was too indulgent with this gigolo, trying to gild him by having him associated with every major event and accomplishment.

In this way, it all made sense.

In fact, Princess Wen Zhu's view was the natural truth that a normal person would subconsciously imagine.

Even to this day, among the alleys of the Capital, controversies never ceased over which of Zhao Douan's achievements were genuine and which were gilded.

After all, even the Empress, who was fully aware of each event, found it incredulous when recalling Zhao Douan's deeds over the year.

Let alone outsiders?

Princess Wen Zhu already harbored preconceived notions against Zhao Douan, and the more she learned, the firmer her impression became of him as a "traitor beguiling the monarch."

And her concern grew.

In recent days, she visited the palace several times and had in-depth conversations with the Empress.

As an aunt who married out, Princess Wen Zhu understood her boundaries and wasn't eager to say anything, merely discussing family ties, chatting about everyday matters, and subtly probing.

What Xu Zhenguan revealed in their conversation—the trust in this criminal Zhao Douan, along with a hint of emotion she hid well but which Princess Wen Zhu still caught—left her very worried.

Princess Wen Zhu also considered meeting Zhao Douan, intending to use her elder status in front of the Empress to expose the hypocritical mask of this "yellow-haired boy" confusing her niece.

Unfortunately...

Zhao Douan claimed to be recovering from serious injuries, shutting his door to visitors and not showing his face.

She hadn't found the opportunity.

"Princess, it is said that in previous winters, when hardships struck, monks from the Divine Dragon Temple would give alms to the poor in the city. This year, however, due to the 'Buddhism ban', there's no trace of them," the female warrior said with some sentiment.

Princess Wen Zhu remained silent for a moment and sighed softly.

Regarding the "Buddhism ban," from the perspective of the Western Regions, it was a mixed blessing. The joy lay in the weakening of the Divine Dragon Temple, the worry in whether it signified a decline in the overall influence of Buddhism.

However...

These were matters for the "Holy Monk" and others to consider, and Princess Wen Zhu did not wish to involve herself. From her personal viewpoint, she held no ill will towards the Divine Dragon Temple.

Because, even if for their followers, the monks of the Divine Dragon Temple truly provided disaster relief and alms.

Which was far better than Zhao Douan, who relied on his power to act lawlessly, notorious for his misdeeds.

"In upper-class conflict, it is always the common people who suffer. At least the Buddhists still were willing to help the people, while someone like Zhao Douan only indulged in luxury and likely couldn't even see the hardship right under the Emperor's feet."

Princess Wen Zhu exhaled a puff of white breath and said, "Let's go over, too."

Hearing this, the few attendants beside the carriage quickly lifted several wooden boxes and followed the princess.

Inside the tent, distributing coal were Yu Country people recruited from the Western Regions. Seeing the princess, they wanted to salute but were stopped by Wen Zhu.

In a corner of the tent, she opened a space, revealing wooden boxes cushioned with thick quilts, inside of which were steaming hot buns made with mixed flour.