Chapter 20: Beauty is not good without benefits
There were a large number of people living in the palace, and having people living there meant they needed to eat, drink, defecate and urinate. With these needs, small villages were built around the palace, specializing in the business of palace maids and eunuchs.
Zhao Changning rented a small sedan, a very inconspicuous green one, and went straight to the residence of Prime Minister Gao Yun.
Gao Mansion is only half a mile away from the imperial city, occupying an entire street, and is very easy to find.
The sedan bearers looked a little strange, as it was the first time they had received someone going from this place to Gao's house.
"Miss, are you going to Gao's mansion? It's not an easy place to enter. Even the gatekeepers are very arrogant."
Zhao Changning smiled and took out a piece of silver from his sleeve. "Let's go, hurry up."
The two sedan bearers smiled happily when they saw the silver. "Don't worry, my girl. Our sedan is stable and fast. I guarantee you'll want to ride it again."
The Gao Mansion was indeed difficult to enter. When the doorman saw the sedan chair, he looked at Zhao Changning, but he didn't look down on her. He just looked at her unfamiliar face and asked cautiously, "Miss, who are you?"
Zhao Changning handed over the jade pendant that the emperor had given him. "Give it to your master. He will understand."
The jade pendant was smooth and warm to the touch, and its style did not look like any other item sold outside. The concierge was a knowledgeable man and immediately became more respectful.
"Wait a moment, young lady. I'll report immediately."
Zhao Changning refused the doorman's invitation to go into the Chuihua Gate for tea, and instead stood in the corridor facing the sun, looking at the vermilion lacquer gate of the Gao Mansion and the nanmu plaque, which was given by the emperor a long time ago and is still brand new.
At this time, a horse-drawn carriage rumbled across the bluestone road and stopped in front of Gao's mansion.
"Hurry, hurry, Laixi, move all these things into my garden, and don't damage them..."
The young man in the carriage was talking loudly and jumped out without waiting for the carriage to stop, just in time to meet Zhao Changning face to face.
Zhao Changning felt a flash before his eyes and his heart trembled with fear. The young man in front of him was handsome, with a pair of affectionate peach blossom eyes, lips as red as cinnabar, a straight nose, skin as white as cream, and a body full of perfume. Even the bright and flamboyant red clothes could not cover up this unparalleled face.
What a handsome young man.
The young man seemed not to see her, walked straight past her, and walked happily towards the mansion.
Just then the doorman came back, followed by an old man with a white beard.
"Butler Ding? Why are you out? I don't have that much stuff, so you don't have to come out to greet me in person. Just let those guys go..."
Steward Ding smiled and shook his head when he saw the young man. "Young Master, please come in. I'm here to take this young lady to see the master."
When the young man heard the word "master", he was so scared that his whole body trembled. Then he turned his head to look at Zhao Changning, blinking his peach blossom eyes.
Zhao Changning smiled at him and followed the housekeeper into the house.
The young man suddenly reached out to stop her, leaning closer with a look of curiosity. "Just now I saw you wearing a plain gray outfit, but when I look closely, your skin is truly as white as jade. But how did you get that slap mark? Who is so cruel as to hit a beautiful woman?"
Zhao Changning: “?”
Steward Ding awkwardly pulled the young man back and said, "The old lady is waiting for you in the garden. Come in quickly."
The boy stuck out his tongue mischievously, smiled at Zhao Changning, and then skipped away.
Zhao Changning ignored this episode and followed the butler to see Gao Yun without looking away.
Yujing in early spring is not beautiful. Everything is gray and the tangled grass on the ground is still yellow, but you can vaguely see a few strands of green, indicating that spring is not far away.
After passing through two ceremonial gates and a long corridor hung with straw curtains, we finally saw greenery and arrived at Gao Yun's study.
The housekeeper bowed slightly and said, "Miss, the master is inside."
Zhao Changning nodded, "Thank you, Steward Ding, for leading the way."
Gao Yun's study is surrounded by bamboos. The good thing about this plant is that it does not wither in winter and remains lush green. You can even see bamboo shoots pushing through the soil deep inside.
The door was pushed open silently. Gao Yun seemed to have eyes on his back. He turned around, holding a pen, and asked in a deep voice, "Miss, are you here for something?"
A faint smile appeared on Zhao Changning's calm face. "Lord, you should be able to guess why I'm here."
Some movements in the palace have always been very clear. Either one side finishes singing, or another side takes the stage. These officials know it better than each other.
Gao Yun looked at Zhao Changning silently. A deep vertical wrinkle appeared between his long-furrowed brows. The hard work of state affairs and the violent and difficult old emperor made him old and tired.
"Nothing can be done without profit. Miss, are you coming here at someone's behest or on someone's behalf?"
He had been with Emperor Yong'an and his ministers for many years and had a deep understanding of him. This emperor was a man of deep thoughts.
This woman has always been quietly following the emperor, never showing off. This is her first official appearance, so we must be on guard.
Zhao Changning immediately shook her head to deny it. The old emperor was such a scheming person that he would rather use her as a palace maid than touch her, let alone allow her to speak out.
"Lord, although Changning is a woman, she also knows what is right and wrong. I just feel that someone like Lord Ming who works hard for the people shouldn't be like this."
There was no change on Gao Yun's face. This woman's identity was simply too troublesome.
It was not until this moment that his presbyopic eyes saw the clear slap mark on Zhao Changning's fair cheek, and he was immediately filled with doubts.
Zhao Changning slowly walked to the desk, picked up a wolf hair brush, dipped it in ink, and started writing.
As she wrote, she said, "Your Excellency, there's no need to suspect anything. I came from the Jingshan Palace, and the palace doesn't know about it. The Emperor is surrounded by his children and grandchildren right now, and he can't get away for a while..."
After finishing writing, Zhao Changning put down his wolf hair brush, picked up the paper, blew on it, and continued, "If you believe it, then send someone to this place as soon as possible. If you don't believe it, then don't worry about it. In the future, those ginseng will also be used by Master Ming, and it won't delay the old man."
Gao Yun remained motionless, not even glancing at the paper.
Zhao Changning knew what he was thinking, but ignored him. He just knelt down and said goodbye.
"The palace is busy with affairs. I'm sorry, Changning can't stay any longer. Elder, I'm leaving now."
When Zhao Changning was halfway there, he met the young master of the Gao family. He was holding a piece of royal blue cloth in his hand and was heading towards the study with great interest.
"Hurry, hurry, Lai Xi, hurry up..." The young master stamped his feet anxiously, urging the little follower who was covered with things, "I picked these myself, don't dawdle..."
Zhao Changning looked at the carefree and bright young master and smiled softly.
Gao Yun looked at the woman's slender and straight back through the window and felt a little confused for a moment. The emperor has always been cautious and does not like women to participate in politics. Then he thought of Zhao Changning asking the fourteenth prince about Mingxuan.
Could it be that she is really selfish?
It was a pity for Mingxuan. Gao Yun couldn't help but pick up the paper. After hesitating for a moment, he shouted to the door, "Someone come..."
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