Chapter 201: Nine Visits to the Imperial Palace, Newcomers to the Imperial Party’s Small Court Meeting

After a while.

On the first floor of Yunshui Tower, Zhao Duan, who had been upstairs for a long time, walked out under the watchful eyes of Li family servants.

"The master has come out!"

Outside the building, Qian Kerou and the others waiting by the carriage were cheered up and hurriedly stood up to greet him: "Sir..."

"Get in the car." Zhao Duan waved his hand and stepped into the car.

Then, he finally let out a long breath, and his tense muscles relaxed.

The whole person had a vague illusion of exhaustion.

It was obvious that he had just been discussing with Li Yanfu for a while, but the energy he had consumed seemed to be even more excessive than fighting with someone.

Just now in the building, from the outside, he seemed to have the initiative, and even used threats and inducements arrogantly at one point, and finally forced the other party to agree.

But in fact, Zhao Duan was not as relaxed as he appeared.

For some people, you can only feel their elusive aura and oppressive force when you get close to them.

The experience is difficult to describe in words.

Including the end, even Li Yanfu gave in and nodded in agreement to his request.

However, Zhao Duan did not feel too excited.

There's even a faint feeling...

The other party may have already made plans to make concessions, and the previous momentum was just...

The feeling of "acting" him.

"I must be overthinking it. After all, he's just an old sheep, not a 'wolf' like the eight princes headed by Prince Jing."

"Of course, I can't let my guard down. Who knows if Old Deng is deliberately trying to appear weak to the enemy? Could a man who has been the Prime Minister for nearly twenty years really be without fangs and claws?

Is there no ruthless side to him? Damn it, he's not deliberately making me underestimate the enemy, is he?..."

Zhao Duan shook his head and suppressed his messy thoughts.

He knew that, in the final analysis, it was because Li Yanfu was too famous.

Even he had gradually developed a lot of fear towards him.

Therefore, even though this plan tricked the other party, he still didn't dare to really underestimate the other party.

"No matter what, the goal has been achieved."

After reaching a basic agreement, the two negotiated on the specific content of the transaction in the building.

Naturally, there will be some pulling.

He also learned from Li Yanfu that Chen Zhengru was about to take action and launch a public opinion offensive, and he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

In return for the favor, Zhao Duan generously sold Xu Hanlin.

At the same time, he did not forget to rescue Mrs. Lin and her husband. Li Yanfu did not refuse such a small matter.

As for Princess Yuan... since Li Yinglong is fine, she will naturally not be involved.

Since the late emperor was not around, the empress would not be so harsh on this "meritorious official".

Thus, a preliminary agreement was reached.

"Sir, where are we going next?"

Qian Kerou stuck her round face into the carriage. What she actually wanted to ask was whether the task was done.

But she didn't know what her master had done...

"Next," Zhao Duan exhaled slowly, rubbed his eyebrows, and raised the corners of his mouth:

"Go to the north gate and enter the palace."

Zhao Duan was not qualified to negotiate with Li Yanfu in his personal capacity regarding transactions at this level.

Therefore, he had to report to the empress, who would issue some orders to complete this "exchange" between the monarch and his subject.

"Alas, I also want to hide my achievements and fame, but the situation does not allow it."

Zhao Duan said that he definitely did not want to take credit.

…

Yunshui Tower is closer to the north gate of the imperial city.

Zhao Duan’s first stop was Xiuwenguan.

Although he lost his temporary bachelor title in order to avoid the limelight, his status remained.

The imperial guards at the gate allowed this "outsider" to enter the Xiuwen Hall without any obstruction.

"Master Zhao, you're here?"

Inside the museum, in a busy huge "office", scholars gathered here.

Someone at the door said in surprise.

Suddenly, the scholars who were working at their desks looked up and stood up to salute.

He said that Master Zhao had not been here for a long time and he even missed him.

Guo Jieyuan, who looked ordinary and whose name was full of classics, had his eyes lit up. He ran straight over to him and wanted to ask him some difficult mathematical problems.

"Grand Master isn't here? Mo Zhaorong isn't here either?"

Zhao Duan held back the enthusiastic Guo Jieyuan with one hand and looked at Han Zhou curiously.

He originally wanted to ask why His Majesty was not here... Hadn't they heard that he was often here...

The gentle Han Banshan said:

"He was there not long ago, but he was summoned to the palace to discuss something."

"Going into the palace to discuss matters?" Zhao Duan was puzzled.

Han Zhou said "yes" and said:

"This meeting was different from previous ones. His Majesty summoned many ministers from the 'Imperial Party' to meet. It was said that there had been some changes regarding the new policy. We don't know the details."

misfortune?

A gathering of royalist bosses?

Zhao Duan's heart skipped a beat, not knowing what was going on. Could it be that the old fox Li Yanfu had set a trap?

Not daring to delay, he immediately said goodbye and went straight into the palace, fearing that something might go wrong.

"Mr. Zhao..." Guo Jieyuan held the book in frustration, his face full of regret, and asked curiously:

"Is there something urgent about him?"

"I don't know, I guess there is." Han Zhou shook his head.

Everyone in the room was confused and couldn't guess the reason.

…

…

The place where the imperial party gathered was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhao Duan entered the palace with the identity of an envoy from the White Horse Supervisor. Led by a servant, he arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a place he knew well.

"Please wait a moment, sir. I will go and inform His Majesty right away." The young eunuch said with a pleasant face.

Zhao Duan waited patiently for a while before he saw the person return. There was another familiar face beside the young eunuch.

Mo Chou was still dressed in a neutral style, her female official robe was brand new, under the wingless black gauze, she had plum blossom makeup on her eyebrows and a cold face, saying, "No strangers allowed."

"What are you doing here? They're discussing something important inside."

Mo Zhaorong frowned and emphasized.

This is a big deal for me... Zhao Duan remained calm and did not answer. Instead, he asked:

"Your Majesty is discussing matters with the Imperial Party? But what happened to the new policy?"

Mo Chou drooped her brows and said:

"I heard you've been pretty laid back lately, eating, drinking, and hanging out all day. I didn't expect you to be quite well-informed."

No, don’t take advantage of this opportunity to ridicule me... Zhao Duan sighed and was about to ask again.

But Mo Chou turned around and said:

"Come with me. His Majesty asked me to take you there so you can get familiar with the faces. If you have anything else to say, please wait until we finish our meeting.

If it's urgent, tell me and I'll let you know."

Can I go in and listen in, too?

Zhao Duan's heart moved and he said:

"It's not really urgent..."

Mo Chou felt that coming out to meet him would waste time, so she walked quickly.

After a while, the two arrived outside a side hall.

"Remember, don't talk nonsense later. Talk less and watch more..."

Mo Chou gave the reminder out of habit, and then suddenly felt that the words sounded familiar.

kindness……

I think I've told him about this somewhere.

Mo Chou shook her head and put aside her messy thoughts:

"Forget it, you don't need me to teach you."

As she spoke, she knocked on the door gently before slowly pushing it open.

“Squeak—”

At this moment, the setting sun has sunk into the horizon, and the thick dark clouds make the sky a little dim.

There was no lamp in the room and the light was a little dim. This side hall was modeled after the Golden Palace.

But it is more "approachable".

The Empress Xu Zhenguan of Dayu was dressed in casual clothes. She did not have the solemnity and majesty she usually had when attending court, nor did she have the usual fairy-like aloofness.

This time, he had an expressionless face and sat upright on the bright yellow chair in the main seat.

On both sides of her head were two rows of chairs, and in the middle of the chairs was a square table.

At this time, ministers in official robes were standing on the left and right, discussing something intensely, and seemed to be arguing.

When the two came in, several glances were cast at them, each with a different expression.

Zhao Duan entered the hall with his head lowered and his eyes submissive, instantly changing from the domineering "Zhao Jisi" to "Xiao Zhao".

Following Mo Chou lightly, he glanced around and caught sight of a few familiar faces.

Dong Xuan, the current Grand Tutor, is in his eighties and has a face as pale as a chestnut.

The elegant and handsome Imperial Censor Yuan Li, wearing a double-breasted blue robe.

He was once the Minister of Justice, one of the chief judges in the Dali Temple's three-court joint trial.

Well, my cheap senior brother Ma Yan is not here.

It should be due to the special nature of the imperial court, there is really no need to appear in such occasions.

In addition, there are several completely unfamiliar faces with different identities.

One of the gazes concerned Zhao Duan the most. When that gaze came over, he subconsciously reacted with the warning of a mortal high-level warrior.

The muscles tensed, the qi sea tightened, and the hairs all over the body stood up for a moment...

It's like a person in the wild being targeted by a wild beast.

It's not hostility, but an instinctive response from a cultivator to a martial arts expert.

"Besides Zhenbao, are there any martial arts masters here? Yes, this is a gathering of the imperial party leaders, and there are not only civil officials but also military officials..."

Zhao Duan followed the gaze.

In his eyes, he saw a middle-aged man wearing a military officer's robe, with a fair complexion and a short beard under his chin.

The other party seemed to sense his nervousness, and the invisible pressure instantly receded like the tide and disappeared without a trace.

Xu Zhenguan glanced over here and said nothing.

Continue to play the majestic emperor image in front of people.

"You sit here."

Mo Chou pointed to a chair that was temporarily added at the very end and said in a low voice.

Zhao Duan nodded and sat down.

Inside the hall, the discussion that had just been suspended due to his entry resumed.

After listening for a while, Zhao Duan's expression became strange.

Because he discovered that the reason these royal party bosses gathered urgently to discuss was that Chen Zhengru was preparing to launch a public opinion offensive to counterattack the new policy.

…

Update first and then typesetting

(End of this chapter)