My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

Cheng Zhihai was just such a man.

Well-mannered, content with his lot, and treating the laws of Great Zhou as his own commandments.

It was precisely because of Cheng Zhihai's old-fashioned nature and meticulousness in everything he did that he had been appointed by Emperor Zhou as the Director of the Bureau of the Lamp.

Upon seeing Cheng Zhihai's guarded demeanor, Empress Wang's beautiful face betrayed a hint of surprise.

She hadn't expected that, before she'd even had a chance to speak to Cheng Zhihai, he would already exhibit such a wary attitude.

Empress Wang chuckled lightly, halted her steps, and did not approach Cheng Zhihai further, maintaining a distance of about ten feet.

"Mr. Cheng, I wish to ask you a few questions,"

"Would it be convenient for Mr. Cheng to answer?"

Upon hearing the words of Empress Wang, Cheng Zhihai hesitated for a moment.

After pondering for a while, he slowly nodded.

Empress Wang's lips slightly parted in a faint smile, then she sidestepped, gesturing an invitation to Cheng Zhihai.

"Please, Mr. Cheng, come to my palace for a cup of refreshing tea."

Having said this, Empress Wang did not give Cheng Zhihai the opportunity to react, perhaps even to refuse, but instead headed straight for the side palace.

Cheng Zhihai watched Empress Wang's graceful figure and couldn't quite understand what Empress Wang intended to do.

Suddenly she said she wanted to ask him some questions.

But.

At this point, Cheng Zhihai couldn't quite figure out exactly what kind of question Empress Wang would ask him.

Just as Cheng Zhihai decided to leave,

Empress Wang, who had just reached the entrance of the side palace, spoke softly once more. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

"What's the matter?"

"Would Mr. Cheng, with his Sky-Man realm strength that only deigns to match with Sky-Men, be afraid of me, a woman of no significant powers?"

After pointing this out, Empress Wang's silhouette gradually slid into the side palace.

Hearing these words from Empress Wang, Cheng Zhihai finally ceased his hesitation, slowly stepped forward, and followed Empress Wang's footsteps towards the back of the Imperial Palace.

The residence of Empress Wang was called Guanghua Palace.

As the Empress's palace, the opulence of Guanghua Palace needs no further mention, not to say its breathtaking scenery and perfectly appointed gardens.

Inside and outside the palace complex, numerous palace maids and eunuchs bustled about, busying themselves in service to Empress Wang, the empress consort.

Cheng Zhihai followed Empress Wang to a pavilion in Guanghua Palace and sat down. As soon as he was seated, a palace maid promptly brought tea to the table and skillfully began to prepare it.

The air around them was tinged with the crisp scent of brewing tea.

Cheng Zhihai wasn't much in the mood for tea; his gaze settled on Empress Wang as he pondered the real purpose for which she had called him there.

Empress Wang herself didn't mind the steady gaze of Cheng Zhihai and casually picked up the tea that the palace maid had prepared, sipped it, and smilingly said, "Mrs. Xue's tea is quite good today."

"Mr. Cheng, you should try some too."

Invited by Empress Wang, Cheng Zhihai, as a courtier, naturally could not refuse, so he picked up a tea cup and took a sip.

They sat in silence for a while longer.

Empress Wang could afford to be patient.

But Cheng Zhihai was growing impatient.

Just sitting here drinking tea with Empress Wang didn't seem like much of an issue.

Cheng Zhihai set down the tea cup, his gaze intently fixed on Empress Wang, and asked, "May I ask the Empress, why have you summoned this subject here?"

"If the Empress has any questions, just ask."

"Well, it's not a big matter," Empress Wang said, pausing slightly in her hand movement to lift the tea cup, her expression unchanged, not even looking at Cheng Zhihai but focusing on the clear water rippling in her cup.

"I mainly want to inquire about the Princely Heir's activities today. It is said that the Princely Heir has been promoted to Sky-Man status; is this true or false?"

"Additionally, this Palace also wishes to know the identity of that person beside the Princely Heir. This Palace only knows that he is a Sky-Man, but does not know his name or background."

When Cheng Zhihai heard Empress Wang put forth these questions, he instantly understood that on the surface, Empress Wang was concerned about Cheng Guang's cultivation and the identity of the Sky-Man beside him.

In reality, she was assessing the strength of Duke Zhen's Mansion.

Previously, when Empress Wang had not yet taken over the reins of power on behalf of Emperor Zhou, she had mostly shown a kindly and gentle face towards Duke Zhen's Mansion and Cheng Guang.

She hadn't been much affected by Emperor Zhou.

But.

After Empress Wang took over the power in place of Emperor Zhou, she felt, or rather saw, that she herself, or indeed the whole of Great Zhou, was too constrained by Duke Zhen's Mansion.

The current struggle for the throne, the struggle for imperial power.

The reason it was still fiercely contested was, although largely because Emperor Zhou had suddenly disappeared without leaving any word,

Another more important reason was that Duke Zhen's Mansion had not yet taken a stance.

If Duke Zhen's Mansion were to take a stance, then there would basically be no need for Empress Wang and others to contest it themselves.

The stance of Duke Zhen's Mansion would largely determine who would inherit the throne.

At this moment, Empress Wang's heart was conflicted about touching upon Duke Zhen's Mansion, yet feared that Duke Zhen's Mansion would suddenly publicly voice support for one of the princes.

Thus, whichever prince Duke Zhen's Mansion supported, the newly enthroned prince would necessarily adopt an unprecedented stance towards Duke Zhen's Mansion.

Originally, Empress Wang had no intention of contacting Duke Zhen's Mansion, and it wasn't only her who thought this way; other court officials and Noble Consorts felt the same.

Once they made contact with Duke Zhen's Mansion, even if their own prince became Emperor, their future could be constrained by Duke Zhen's Mansion.