The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 530 - 403, Sharing the Same Room for the Second Time (6k)

We met again... met again...

In the room, as Zhao Douan said this with a smile, Princess Wen Zhu suddenly felt a buzzing in her mind, and a myriad of conflicting emotions abruptly exploded in her heart.

She slightly parted her lips, eyes wide open, and stammered, "You... Lin Ke... it's you..."

Zhao Douan nodded, appearing exceptionally calm.

Yes, although being unmasked at this pivotal moment was indeed beyond his expectations, he never thought this guise could last long...

Tch, but why did it have to be at this time? Surely Zhenbao had not already investigated thoroughly and arranged this deliberately?

Princess Wen Zhu, unaware of his wild guesses, displayed immense bewilderment on her face, known as the "Holy Mother" of the Western Regions.

The Mr. Lin whom she greatly admired and even considered recommending several times to her niece as a gigolo was actually Zhao Douan before her... How could it be? The two of them were clearly completely different.

At this moment, she even suspected that the Empress had affixed Mr. Lin's identity onto Zhao Douan, but upon careful thought, she knew it was unreliable.

"It was a disguise," Zhao Douan explained calmly before the other could inquire, "I apologize for using a disguising object before, meeting Your Highness the Princess under a false identity."

Princess Wen Zhu stared at him blankly, then suddenly turned to the Empress:

"Was this arranged by Your Majesty?"

Xu Zhenguan pursed her lips and shook her head calmly:

"Aunt, do you think I need to play such tricks?"

Then, she gave Zhao Douan a meaningful look, implying:

We need an explanation.

"..." Zhao Douan took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a chill on his back, and quickly explained:

"This matter is purely accidental. That day, I indeed went to the charity hall in the East City to deliver winter clothing and indeed coincidentally met Your Highness the Princess. However, as I thought my identity would be somewhat sensitive, I did not reveal my real name."

Charity hall... that's right... Princess Wen Zhu suddenly recalled the scene that day at the orphanage where Zhao Douan met with the orphans, something that could not be disguised.

So... this traitor had indeed been disguising himself as "Lin Ke" for a long time to donate in the East City... and the encounter with herself was purely coincidental.

Zhao Douan said helplessly,

"Although it was indeed quite coincidental, it was true. Moreover, if we are to talk about coincidences... wasn't it equally coincidental that the princess took me to Yellow Court Alley?"

Princess Wen Zhu was persuaded.

Only...

It was still hard to believe!

Seeing her fall silent, Zhao Douan seemed to have misunderstood her intentions and smiled, saying:

"After the game that day, the reason I disappeared and never reappeared was not to let the Western Regions Buddhism misunderstand that you deliberately took me there, Princess. Yes, I also think it's best to keep the matter of me being Lin Ke within a small circle—there's no need for it to become widely known."

This statement was somewhat vague, but Princess Wen Zhu understood it.

Suddenly, she was jolted awake from her stupor, realizing the trouble inherent in this situation.

Should the word get out that Zhao Douan was the chess player who defeated Dan Che, her action of taking Zhao Douan to Yellow Court Alley that day would almost certainly be seen by the Western Regions Buddhism as deliberate.

One day playing chess, the next day debating scripture... like a serial drama...

Who would believe it was a coincidence? Not even she would...

And once the Western Regions Buddhism grew suspicious and hostile toward Wen Zhu, her own position, as well as the status of the royal court tribe she controlled in the Western Regions, would consequently deteriorate—the Dharma King of the Western Regions would surely have the power to strip her of her current authority.

At this moment, Zhao Douan initiated the conversation, saying he would conceal his identity, which seemed to be a goodwill gesture, showing he didn't want to implicate Wen Zhu.

But was it not also a form of threat?

If Princess Wen Zhu were to side against him and show no sincerity in the upcoming trade with the Yu Country, Zhao Douan would only need to reveal his identity, prompting the Dharma King to suppress Wen Zhu.

Zhao Douan had not considered this level before, but after realizing this leverage, he immediately understood that he could use this "accident" to pressure Wen Zhu.

—Resolve the trade issue next year, which the Empress was worried about not long ago.

As long as Princess Wen Zhu was willing to do her utmost as a mediator, even if the Red Sect Master harbored a bellyful of resentment, the impact of the failed debate on next year's trade could still be minimized...

All these thoughts occurred in an instant, surprising even Zhao Douan himself.

Unexpectedly, what initially was a guise to test and understand turned into a sharp weapon hanging over Wen Zhu's head, due to a series of fortuitous coincidences.

And when Princess Wen Zhu realized this logic, she was both exasperated and astonished.

Astonished at...

It seemed she had misjudged from the very beginning.

The notorious Zhao Douan from the rumors wasn't the gilded gigolo she speculated, but a truly extraordinary figure.

At the very least, the chess match worthy of being entered into the annals of history was what she witnessed firsthand. Thus, the divine blessing after the debate also had a reasonable explanation, and the exploits recorded in the data, one by one, seemed likely to be true.

Could there really be such a remarkable man in the world?

Indeed, considering her niece's proud nature, if it weren't for a man of this caliber, how could she have been enamored merely by his handsome appearance, and been so tender and intimate with him?

Princess Wen Zhu smiled bitterly.

It turned out that everything was her own wishful thinking as an aunt.

"So... that's how it is," she sighed lightly, putting down the booklet in her hand.

With her inner turmoil resolved, she suddenly found herself feeling disinterested, got up slowly, and enviously glanced at the couple across from her:

"I'm full, I'll take my leave now."