CHAPTER 1082: CHAPTER 595: ENTERING THE HALL WITH SWORD (PART 1)

This is just the first batch of supplies. Giving too much at once is a curse, not a blessing. And the procurement of supplies must also be based on specific situations.

Zhao Douan nodded, briefly flipped through the pages, and then said:

"Send someone in plain clothes to investigate the source of the recent rumors in the city that His Majesty is going to surrender and cede territory."

Qian Kerou was taken aback and nodded gravely:

"Yes. I will do it right away."

After giving this order, Zhao Douan set off again, and this time, he headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

...

Using the Offering Waist Card, Zhao Douan smoothly passed through the Imperial City and the Palace, entering Yangxin Hall.

Finally, he met the Empress in the familiar Imperial Study Room.

"Have you come?"

Xu Zhenguan, who was reviewing memorials, spoke without lifting her head.

In the warm and bright study room, the brazier and incense burner merged to create a warm fragrance in the air.

The white-clothed Empress, with her hair flowing like a waterfall, moved her slender, white wrist along with the pen.

Zhao Douan removed his mask, pulled a chair to sit in front of her, and talked about the delivery of New Year’s goods to Ning Zechen and other civil servant and military officers on the front line.

Xu Zhenguan set down her pen, listened carefully, and nodded:

"That makes sense. I will order someone to handle it."

Then she looked at Zhao Douan’s expression and said softly:

"Just say what’s on your mind."

Zhao Douan said: "Today, I went to the east of the city..."

He slowly, bit by bit, described everything he heard and saw today.

Unconsciously, Xu Zhenguan also furrowed her brows:

"Do you think someone is spreading such rumors?"

"Perhaps yes, perhaps no," Zhao Douan shook his head and said:

"The peace negotiation is there for all to see, the final result is hard to conceal, so it doesn’t really matter who is spreading what."

Xu Zhenguan stared at him: "You want to know the current trend in the court?"

Seeing Zhao Douan nodding, the Empress lightly sighed and said:

"It’s as expected. After the front lines started fighting, more and more ministers in the court are revealing signs of compromise. I see it all, knowing that some of them must be secretly in contact with Prince Hejian and Yanshan King, but at the same time, some are probably not doing this for personal gain."

Zhao Douan also sighed:

"We foresaw this scene a long time ago, didn’t we?"

The Empress also fell silent.

From a large-scale perspective, temporary compromise might be the lowest-risk way to quell the rebellion.

If not retreated, next year’s situation might become unclear again.

"What are Your Majesty’s thoughts?" Zhao Douan asked.

This question he had asked once before the Peace Negotiation Delegation arrived, and now it was the second time.

Xu Zhenguan’s pitch-black eyes calmly met his, saying:

"I have never changed my mind."

"The enemy is more ruthless than expected; being too rigid leads to breakage."

"Do I have a way out?"

Zhao Douan’s lips curled into a slight smile. He stood up and said, "I understand."

When he finished speaking, he turned around to leave.

Suddenly, the Empress’s voice came from behind:

"Recently... I tried a few more times, but I still can’t crack open the phone’s password."

It’s rare you still remember this matter... Zhao Douan exhaled a breath, turned his head, and smiled: "I have a feeling that I’m close to reaching a high grade in the Human World. Even if it won’t change ’Human World,’ it’s still a step closer to the Heavenly Human Realm."

Thinking about how, after the Heavenly Human Realm, the two’s realms would balance again... the Empress’s cheeks slightly heated. She exhaled and said: "Get out."

"Alright."

...

...

Time continued to pass a little at a time.

The peace talks were still in a difficult tug-of-war, and the latest war reports from the front were continuously affecting the negotiations.

Similarly, as both sides refused to yield an inch, the two armies at the front moved from an initial standoff to a skirmish within a certain range.

Meanwhile, the public opinion in the city became increasingly intense.

Zhao Douan still did not participate in the Ministry of Rites’ negotiations but sat daily in Lihua Hall, reading two documents delivered to his desk by his subordinates—one on the negotiations entering the city and the other an observation of public opinion.

It was the same when he went alone to the Heavenly Master Mansion, accepting Gongshu Tianyuan’s modifications to the substitute.

In this oppressive atmosphere, the New Year’s Day was drawing closer, yet the city lacked the expected festive cheer.

Everyone was watching the final outcome of this negotiation.

Finally, the negotiation reached the scheduled deadline, and according to the latest report, both sides still had not reached an agreement.

Following the procedure, Xu Wenyan and Xu Xueling would again enter the hall to meet the Emperor, which means the final result was finally about to arrive.

...

At dawn, when a ray of sunlight illuminated the eastern sky.

In the courier station, the chubby princely heir Xu Wenyan burned incense and bathed, changing into the splendid clothes identifying his princely status.

Pushing the door open and stepping out of the room, he descended the stairs and saw the courtyard already filled with people. At the forefront was Mr. Feng.

"Your Highness."

Everyone saluted.

Xu Wenyan raised his hand slowly, his face devoid of the silly expression, as he calmly scanned over these faces, saying: "Let’s depart."

In silence.

Xu Wenyan boarded a carriage, heading towards the Imperial Palace under the escort of the entourage.

Inside the carriage.

Mr. Feng looked at the princely heir feigning sleep beside him and softly said: "Your Highness, today the outcome will be revealed, are you..."

Xu Wenyan opened his eyes and smiled:

"Everything will proceed as usual. I know what you worry about, but from my perspective, there is a fair chance of success in this negotiation. The latest news is that the Buddhist Ancestor Court has issued an edict, and come spring, the countries of the Western Regions will further attempt to annex Xiping Road. This news, the Empress is surely also aware of."

He paused and continued:

"Furthermore, there will also be many court ministers in the Golden Throne Hall today arguing for peace talks. Although the Empress may resent it, she ultimately has to consider the bigger picture.

Heh, from the Empress’s past style in handling affairs, she is not without decision-making power in desperate situations, but as long as the situation hasn’t forced her to the brink, she tends to prefer more gentle, stable, and less confrontational methods.

This was the case when resolving the old ministers within the court, and also when dealing with the Eight Princes through open markets... It’s not considered a weakness, but it does reflect the personal style of the Empress.

And currently, the situation is not urgent enough to a desperate extreme, she seems unlikely to decisively break off negotiations."

Mr. Feng listened to the princely heir’s detailed analysis, let out a light breath of relief, and smiled, saying:

"The princely heir sees things clearly."

Xu Wenyan smiled and said:

"This negotiation, ultimately, is not with the officials of the Ministry of Rites, but with the one in the Golden Throne Hall. Once you understand the Empress’s character, many things become easier to handle. The only concern upon coming here was that Zhao Douan..."

Mr. Feng was surprised: "Zhao Douan?"

"Yes," Xu Wenyan’s eyes were profound:

"Although I’ve never met him, looking through his past styles of conduct, despite his appearance of enjoying scheming and being vicious and strategic.

But I can see that he is different from the Empress. Beneath his seemingly meticulous demeanor, he is someone who doesn’t care much about gains and losses. The Empress follows rules, but this man does not. Such a person is the most fearsome, even if retreating may mean victory, he might still overturn the chessboard."

Mr. Feng was again amazed, not expecting the princely heir to see Zhao Douan so clearly, he laughed and said:

"Fortunately, this person is not in the Capital."

Xu Wenyan nodded, lightly exhaled, and said: "Yes, fortunately, this person is not in the Capital."

As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the gate of the Imperial City.

Xu Wenyan got off the carriage and happened to see the team from Yanshan King’s Mansion, led by Xu Xueling, also arriving.

The Bahu County Princess had become much more subdued since Zhao Douan spanked her, and today she didn’t ride her white wolf.

The two sides exchanged glances and an understanding look, proceeding together towards the Imperial Palace.

The morning assembly was about to begin.

...

...

In the workshop of Gongshu Tianyuan within the Heavenly Master Mansion.

As Zhao Douan’s Divine Soul submerged, the transformed substitute opened its eyes.

"How do you feel?" Gongshu Tianyuan eagerly rubbed his hands together, seeming as if to press his large pancake-like face against Zhao Douan’s.

Zhao Douan stood up, moved his body, felt the surging mana stored within the "Qi Sea" of the new substitute, and his brow relaxed:

"Excellent."

Gongshu Tianyuan beamed, admiring his masterpiece:

"With the modifications, this body of yours can now compare to the Divine Chapter Realm, uh, provided the mana within isn’t depleted."

"It’s enough." Zhao Douan said this, raising his hand to pick up the pitch-black cloak and the Imperial Sword set nearby.

He then grabbed the white mask, covering his face.

"Thank you, Brother Gongshu, I must be off."

Gongshu Tianyuan eagerly said:

"Won’t you join me for a meal? Uh, forgot you can’t eat, then perhaps bask in the sun?"

"... No need, I have important matters today." Zhao Douan stepped out.

Important matters? Gongshu Tianyuan was briefly stunned, feeling Brother Zhao was acting oddly today, shook his head, and headed to the dining hall of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

While eating, he called over a priest: "Do you know if there’s anything important happening in the city today?"

The young priest, looking at the disciple of the Heavenly Master who spent all day cooped up in the workshop, oblivious to outside affairs, respectfully saluted:

"Back to senior brother, if you speak of important matters... Uh, today the Peace Negotiation Delegation is to ascend the throne to meet the Emperor, it should count as one."

Gongshu Tianyuan was left stunned.

...

Meanwhile, Zhao Douan, wearing a white mask, clad in a pitch-black cloak, with a sword at his waist.

Walked alone through the snow-covered Capital.

Along Vermilion Bird Street, drawing side glances from those around, heading north all the way.

That was the direction of the Imperial Palace.

——

ps: Please help catch any typos