"Sister-in-law, you..."
Zhao Zhan gritted his teeth and whispered in Yuan Yun's ear, "I have my own plans, all for the Zhao family. You'll ruin things by doing this."
Yuan Yun said, "Your father and your elder brother are still alive. It's not your place to come up with any plans."
Zhao Zhan said angrily, "What if I force it?"
Yuan Yun leaned forward and put her ear close to Zhao Zhan's, saying, "All the civil and military officials are here. Do you want them to watch me punish you in place of your elder brother?"
Atao stepped forward.
Zhao Zhan immediately stepped back and gestured to Yuan Yun to pause.
Yuan Yun said proudly, "I will do as you say regarding the matter of the Grand Secretary. As for the second matter, I will pretend I did not hear about it."
With that, Yuan Yun turned around and faced the officials, asking, "Does anyone else have anything else to say?"
"It's alright, it ... now..."
"Oh." Yuan Yun turned around again and said to Yuan Wushang, "Your Majesty, since everything is alright, let's adjourn the court. I need to check the memorials you've recently approved."
“Yes, Aunt…” Yuan Wushang quickly stood up and bowed to Yuan Yun.
...
Bang!
The glass wine cup flew out of Zhao Zhan's hand, crashed heavily to the ground, and rolled at Wang Yucen's feet.
Wang Yucen picked up the wine glass, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, and said, "Ah Zhan, you've been getting increasingly irritable lately."
How could I not be furious?
Zhao Zhan plopped down in a chair, crossed his legs, and said, "Who's really in charge in the palace? It's no longer the Yuan family's world. Does she think she's still the eldest princess she used to be?!"
Wang Yucen said, "If my brother finds out about your attitude towards my sister-in-law, he will be angry."
Zhao Zhan's face grew increasingly grim. He said, "Brother is just too good to sister-in-law! He used to indulge her because Yuan Xiu was still alive and needed her to keep the court in check. Now what is she? Brother has so many women; I refuse to believe we can't do without her!"
“But my sister-in-law is Changli’s mother.”
Wang Yucen walked to Zhao Zhan's side, took his hand and said, "Zhan, your sister-in-law's baby is about to be born. Don't upset her recently. If something happens, you can't bear the responsibility."
"Hmph!" Zhao Zhan said with a straight face, "My sisters-in-law are useless; they haven't given my eldest brother a son in all this time. Once Changli has a younger brother, and with my help as his uncle, I don't believe she can still be so domineering!"
At this moment, a servant came in and said, "Young master, there is a Mr. Miao outside who requests an audience."
"Please come in quickly."
Zhao Zhan squeezed Wang Yucen's hand, composed himself, and said, "I have something to discuss. You can go out now."
Wang Yucen nodded and said, "Remember, don't make things difficult for your sister-in-law."
"Um……"
A moment later, a well-dressed middle-aged man and a boy walked in.
"Your humble servant, Miao Donglin, pays his respects to Vice Minister Zhao."
Zhao Zhan smiled and said, "Congratulations, Lord Miao. No one but you is qualified to be the Grand Secretary."
Miao Donglin bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness in promoting me, Vice Minister Zhao."
"Please have a seat, Lord Miao."
After taking his seat, Miao Donglin glanced around and said, "I am already aware of what happened in Tianze Hall. Zhao Zhongcheng, getting rid of Dongfang Jun and Chen Changyun is more important than whether I can become the Grand Secretary."
Zhao Zhan said, "I would love to, but Yuan Yun's influence is too great, and I have no chance to make a move."
Not entirely.
Miao Donglin waved his hand and said, "Right now, all the civil and military officials are siding with the Zhao family. There won't be any disagreements when it comes to external matters, but when it comes to the internal strife within the Zhao family, they are all opportunists. Today Yuan Yun is in a strong position, so they side with Yuan Yun; tomorrow you will have the upper hand, so they will naturally side with you. But the reason they are wavering is simply because Commander Long and the Young Commander haven't returned yet. Once they return, neither you nor Yuan Yun will have any say in the matter."
Zhao Zhan narrowed his eyes, understanding the implication in Miao Donglin's words, and asked, "You mean, you want me to make a move before my father and elder brother return?"
Miao Donglin nodded and said, "Execute first and report later. Once the others are killed, how can Yuan Yun punish you? Don't forget, Your Excellency, you are the one appointed by Commander Long to assist the state. Yuan Yun has no official position."
Zhao Zhan tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, remaining silent.
"My lord, the young marshal has recaptured Guliang in the west, achieving remarkable results. Commander Long has been locked in a stalemate with Yang Qingzhi in the south for a long time, but Cheng Xu's sudden southward advance has brought a turning point to the battle. If you don't make a move now to establish your prestige, who in the world will remember you? In their eyes, the Zhao family father and son are just Zhao Huan and Zhao Cheng, and they don't remember that there was also a Zhao Zhan."
"Lord Miao, are you always so direct?"
Miao Donglin closed his eyes and did not respond.
Zhao Zhan smiled gently and said, "I like it."
Miao Donglin said, "This matter needs to be handled quickly; once the opportunity is missed, it will be gone."
Zhao Zhan stood up and paced around the hall, saying, "My sister-in-law is meticulous and resourceful. After what happened between us at Tianze Palace, she probably had something to prepare for. She has a maid named Atao who is very skilled, and I have no one I can rely on."
Miao Donglin then smiled and looked at the boy who had come with him.
"Haven't you paid your respects to the Grand Chancellor yet?"
Upon hearing this, the young man knelt before Zhao Zhan and said, "This humble subject, Miao Rusong, greets Minister Zhao!"
Zhao Zhan asked doubtfully, "Who is he?"
Miao Donglin said, "His mother, Miao Shaohua, is my sister, and he is my nephew."
Zhao Zhan then asked, "Are you Qi Bainian's son?"
"Yes." Miao Rusong nodded.
Zhao Zhan then carefully examined Miao Rusong, having heard about what had happened to Zhao Cheng in Jiangyang County.
Back then, Zhao Cheng joined forces with Miao Shaohua to bring down Qi Bainian. After Qi Bainian died, Zhao Cheng changed the surname of his only son.
It was this young man.
Miao Rusong was only fifteen years old then, and now he is an eighteen-year-old young man.
Zhao Zhan helped Miao Rusong up, looked at Miao Donglin, and asked, "What can he do?"
Miao Donglin stood up and said, "Your Excellency, this child is still young and his martial arts skills are just beginning. He can't be of much help for the time being, but if Your Excellency needs him, his master can lend you a hand."
Who is his master?
"One hundred caves in the Southern Zhou Dynasty, one hundred true masters in each cave."
Zhao Zhan's face darkened, and he said, "Nan Zhou? You've become an apprentice of someone from Nan Zhou?"
Miao Donglin waved his hand and said, "Your Excellency is unaware that although this Hundred Caves Master is famous in Southern Zhou, he is actually a native of Jing."
"What can he possibly do?"
"Master Baidong was a divine physician who saved countless lives in one hundred caves in Southern Zhou, and was thus known as Master Baidong. In addition to his superb medical skills, he was also a top-notch master at his peak and possessed an extraordinary skill in using hidden weapons."
Miao Donglin said confidently, "Zhao Zhongcheng may not know him, but he must know his senior brother, Yu Beipiao, the Southern Zhou spy who was once captured by your elder brother."
"Yu Beipiao's Yushan broadsword and Baidong Zhenren's lotus thorns are both famous techniques in the Southern Zhou martial arts world."
“I have spoken with him, and he is willing to serve the Grand Chancellor.”
"With his help, Atao is nothing."
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