The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1054 - 584: The Betrothal Set Six Hundred Years Ago

In Zhang Hui’s memory, he lived in this world.

Under the night sky, Zhao Douan stood calmly in the orange light, his face serene as he uttered these words.

A sentence he had carefully crafted.

How to explain the matter of his crossing over? Zhao Douan had thought about it long ago.

As early as after the crossing, during his first meal with the Empress in the palace. Back then, his drastic change was already questioned.

Though he cleverly managed to cover it up at that time, Zhao Douan worried that this secret would eventually be exposed, so he questioned himself countless times over the days and nights.

Should he confess to the fact of crossing over? Say he lived in another world, suspected of dying from overwork, and then upon opening his eyes, found himself in this world?

Zhao Douan thought it over repeatedly, believing this was not a good answer.

There are two reasons: Firstly, in a world where extraordinary power and even "resurrection" exist, he doubted whether such an explanation might be likened to an "Outer Heaven Demon," a dangerous act of opposing and separating himself from the people of this world.

Secondly, he himself couldn’t explain the principle behind it all.

Crossing over.

It’s merely a concept in novels, not a phenomenon with theoretical backing.

Based on past-life internet memes, he defined his journey to Great Yu as "crossing over," but does crossing over really exist? What is crossing over? These are mysteries.

Especially as his status and cultivation continuously improved, he increasingly realized that his arrival was no "coincidence."

Whether it was the ambiguous relationship with the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Yu Country,

or the inexplicable recognition by the Western Region Red Sect Master that he was the "World Honored One Incarnation," Wisdom walking the mortal world.

Including Zhang Yan Yi’s inexplicable attitude towards him.

Everything indicated that his arrival could not be explained by a hastily coined concept of "crossing over."

So, he ultimately chose this explanation.

This statement held no secrets; it was the truth, yet in its articulation, it reduced his opposition to this world.

The more critical point was...

The world "In the painting" inherently had some unknown connection with the Yu Country Royal Family.

"I need an explanation," Xu Zhenguan furrowed her brows, seemingly surprised by his answer.

Her gaze sharply fixed on Zhao Douan, without fully understanding.

Zhao Douan, helpless, had to carefully explain again, including how he awoke from a coma in the Southern Suburb Bamboo Forest with two sets of memories in his mind.

And also, the decades of life principles Zhang Hui had in this painted world.

He spoke slowly, and the Empress did not interrupt, her expression varied.

Apparently, to Xu Zhenguan, this was also something quite incredible.

When Zhao Douan finished speaking, Xu Zhenguan furrowed her brows, falling into a long contemplation, as if digesting this information.

Zhao Douan maintained a calm facade, but inside he was a bit anxious, uncertain of how Zhenbao would perceive this matter.

He wasn’t too concerned about his own safety, because regardless of who he was, the experiences of over a year had already bound them together, perhaps even in the negative...

But he cared greatly about the Empress’s view on this matter, as it concerned the nature of their relationship.

"I roughly understand," Xu Zhenguan suddenly lifted her head, ending her contemplation, and said with strange eyes fixed on him, uttering a term: "Mystery of the Womb."

"What?" Zhao Douan was taken aback momentarily.

"Mystery of the Womb," Xu Zhenguan repeated the term, explaining: "In Buddhism, there is this belief, that people speak of reincarnation, and a select few can for various reasons break the Mystery of the Womb and recall experiences from past lives."

Ah this... is that so? Zhao Douan was baffled by her words: "I have not heard of such records..."

Xu Zhenguan gave him a disdainful glance: "How long have you cultivated? Just barely over a year, there’s much you don’t know. Furthermore, the saying of Mystery of the Womb is controversial. Even in Buddhism, there are few records, the most famous being the Moya Practitioner from a thousand years ago, reportedly awakened to the Mystery of the Womb, and some say he was an Immortal reincarnated... Six hundred years ago, the Buddhist Ksitigarbha Dharma King also declared to have awakened memories of a past life."

Zhao Douan, surprised, asked: "Does Your Majesty think I’m like this? That Zhang Hui is my previous life’s memory?"

Xu Zhenguan’s eyes were complicated as she said: "I originally didn’t quite believe it, but..."

She glanced around at the city, amazingly calm as she spoke: "This is a mural left by my Xu Family ancestor six hundred years ago, this cannot be wrong. And your being favored by my ancestor’s Dragon Essence is similarly indisputable. Your cultivation of the Martial God Inheritance, smoother than even mine, is another undeniable fact. The most crucial is that indeed the Imperial Family’s cultivation texts also record the Mystery of the Womb, though not in detail."

This time Zhao Douan was truly stunned, the Empress’s reaction was much calmer than he had expected.

Upon reflection, it’s not surprising; since Xu Zhenguan had long suspected he was Zhang Hui, surely she had also assumed various possibilities and was mentally prepared, so her response wouldn’t be too intense now.

What he truly cared about was...

The Mystery of the Womb...

Wait... could it really be that? Has the Empress guessed incorrectly, or is there truly this possibility?

Zhao Douan suddenly felt a bit uncertain.

It’s important to note, he initially thought he had crossed over due to having read novels that accepted the premise of crossing over in his past life.

But that was just a premise! Not something that truly exists.