Chapter 110 The Princess Blocks the Road
The temperature in the capital has entered the hottest period of the dog days.
Zhao Duan confirmed this when he was woken up by the heat.
That morning, he opened his eyes, wiped the quilt, and found that his entire back was wet.
"What does it mean to be in a world of ice and fire?" Zhao Duan climbed up cross-legged, sleepy-eyed, and wailed.
Last night, during his meditation practice, Taizu of Dayu led him out of the scorching desert and into the cold snowfield.
Zhao Duan's soul was shivering from the cold, but his body was sweating from the heat. The experience was extremely bittersweet.
"If I could have an air conditioner that doesn't use electricity, I'd be willing to eat and drink the best food and sleep with the Empress..."
Zhao Duan raised his finger and solemnly made a wish to the "Lord of Heaven" in this world.
But it's of no use.
After getting up, dressing and washing up, Mr. Zhao walked to the dining hall with square steps to enjoy his stepmother's loving breakfast.
This morning, there was a beautiful and elegant girl missing from the dinner table.
"Where's Zhao Pan?"
Zhao Duan sat in the main seat and asked questions in confusion.
Eugene Hua gently stood up, personally holding a wooden spoon, and poured him some white rice porridge, and replied:
"Pan'er has a bloated stomach and can't eat this morning."
I hope she’s not angry with me… Zhao Du was at peace with himself, silently shedding tears of sympathy for the girl, and eating happily.
Maybe it's just too hot.
Eugene Hua didn't wear her favorite dark green dress, but changed into a light and breathable long skirt.
Combined with the woman's bun, Zhao Duan was reminded of the beauties in palace dress in Tang Dynasty paintings of ladies.
The clothing fashion in Dayu was open, especially after the empress ascended the throne, the women in the capital began to dress more boldly.
The dress Eugene Hua is wearing is probably similar to the "low-cut dress" of the Tang Dynasty in film and television dramas.
Well, this is the version that wasn’t censored by the mythical beast.
It is quite popular nowadays.
"It's been hot these past few days, let's buy some ice to cool down the family."
Zhao Duan glanced at his stepmother and said.
Eugene hesitated and said:
"Ice is not cheap in Beijing. Dalang is usually in the government office. Even if we buy ice at home, it won't last long."
During this season, ice is stored in cellars during the winter and dug out and sold during the hot season.
There are so many nobles, high-ranking officials, and wealthy people in the capital that ice has always been in short supply.
"Is it very expensive? If there is not enough ice stored, we can use saltpeter." Zhao Duan was stunned and asked.
"Saltpeter?" Eugene Hua looked confused.
It seems unclear how saltpeter and ice are connected.
"Ice is made from saltpeter. Auntie, haven't you heard of it?" Zhao Duan was surprised.
As far as he knew, this ancient method of making ice had already appeared in the late Tang Dynasty and early Song Dynasty.
Although the Dayu Dynasty is difficult to compare with the historical period he is familiar with, its handicraft industry was already quite developed.
He subconsciously thought that similar methods had already spread.
Apart from anything else, time-travel novels have been copied to pieces.
Eugene shook her head and said ashamedly:
"My aunt is just a woman, she doesn't know as much as Dalang."
This is not a question of how much knowledge you have, it is a question of business opportunity...
Zhao Duan never expected that he would have the opportunity to fill in the historical gap, and he immediately said happily:
"Auntie, come closer and listen!"
Eugene Hua came over.
After a while, the stepmother blinked her eyes curiously:
"Is this...really feasible?"
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Auntie, please have someone buy saltpeter and try it at home."
He hadn't verified it either, he had only read the method in a book.
If it really works, I can make a fortune during the hottest days of summer.
Although the fastest way to make money is corruption, Zhao Duan has offended too many people recently.
He also wanted to stay out of the spotlight; it would be very troublesome if he was caught with corruption.
Eugene Hua was skeptical, but still bit her lip and said "hmm".
After all, Dalang is the one who makes the decisions at home.
…
After dinner.
When Zhao Duan walked out of the house, he saw a carriage parked under the big willow tree outside the yard.
The driver was a young man in his early twenties, an attendant clerk of Lihuatang. He was well-dressed and efficient.
He is the "full-time driver" assigned to him by Zhao Duan. His surname is Wang, and Zhao Duan is used to calling him "Xiao Wang".
"grown ups!"
The driver, Xiao Wang, saluted respectfully, then placed a small stool under the carriage and half-opened the curtain.
Zhao Duan got into the car with satisfaction and said lazily:
"Let's go to the government office."
Two days have passed since the traitor was caught.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Yan that day, Zhao Duan went to the imperial court in the afternoon to take care of the funeral arrangements.
It was learned that the remaining six police officers had been released from house arrest and returned to lead the Jinyi Guards from various halls. Using the two traitors as a breakthrough point, they tried to make a concerted effort to expand their victory.
However, Zhao Duan knew very well that one should know when to quit and not have the cake and eat it all alone.
He had already taken the greatest credit, so he didn't try to grab the rest of the soup.
This actually surprised Zhang Han, Haitang and the others, as if they were indebted to him.
In addition, Zhao Duan also had a private chat with Ma Yan and properly handled Zhu Kui's funeral, removing him from the rebel party incident and determining that he died in the line of duty.
As for further follow-up, since the case was transferred to the "Three Law Courts", all Ma Yan could do was to try hard to dig out more information from the two people in Tiechiguan before handing over the prisoners.
Zhao Duan did not intervene.
After the news of the case spread, it caused quite a stir in the officialdom of the capital.
Although Zhao Duan tried his best to take the credit to Ma Yan.
Trying to hide behind the scenes and maintain his image of incompetence.
But smart people have already realized that this "Lihua Jisi" is not simple.
"Alas, it will be difficult to continue using your persona to deceive people in the future."
Zhao Duan sighed deeply, feeling quite regretful.
As the carriage drove on, it soon entered the bustling Suzaku Street.
Zhao Duan closed his eyes and concentrated, but noticed that the carriage suddenly slowed down.
He opened his eyelids and asked through the shaking curtains:
"What's going on? Is the road difficult to walk on?"
I complained in my heart: Even after traveling through time, I still can’t avoid the morning rush hour traffic jam in Beijing…
The voice of the coachman Xiao Wang came:
"Sir, there is a sedan chair on the opposite side blocking us, and it seems to be intentional."
Translation: Their car was pinned.
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows, not taking it lightly.
He immediately sat up straight, gently lifted the car window with his right hand, and stuck half of his head out to look.
On the bustling street, which was wide enough for three ordinary carriages to run side by side, in front of their carriage was a sedan chair carried by six people.
Coming towards me.
The sedan chair was quite large, with dragons and phoenixes painted on it, and a red silk curtain hanging from the top. It was a style that not ordinary people would dare to use.
At this moment, there were six strong sedan bearers carrying the sedan on their shoulders with steady steps, holding the sedan steady.
It is worth mentioning that sedan chairs, which are carried on people's shoulders and are far more comfortable and stable than horse-drawn carriages, had already become popular before the establishment of the Dayu Dynasty.
Officials of the previous dynasty each had a sedan chair, and they would ride in one even if they had to walk a few dozen steps.
When Dayu was founded, Emperor Taizu summarized the lessons of the previous dynasty and promulgated laws requiring people to avoid developing a hedonistic mentality and not striving for progress.
No official in the Dayu Dynasty was allowed to ride in a sedan chair.
Only during very rare special ceremonies is a brief ride in a sedan chair allowed.
Although six hundred years have passed and many places are not strictly governed, officials in the capital still follow the ancient teachings under the feet of the emperor.
Therefore, it was the wealthy and powerful among the people who rode in sedan chairs more often.
But at most two people can carry it, and four people is considered a minority.
A sedan chair carried by six people like this is already against etiquette, not to mention the decorations on the body of the sedan, which subtly indicates that the owner of the sedan is of noble status.
"Make way and see." Zhao Duan said calmly.
"yes!"
The driver, Xiao Wang, adjusted the reins and tried to drive to the side to give way to the other party.
However, the sedan seemed to be deliberately against them.
No matter which direction they go, they move synchronously and stand firmly in front.
This made it difficult for the carriage to move forward.
Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes, having determined that the other party had ill intentions. After a moment's thought, he withdrew his gaze and said:
"Stop the car. Identify yourself and ask about your background."
The coachman Xiao Wang responded and pulled the reins. The carriage stopped and the sedan chair landed steadily on the ground.
"This is the carriage of Lord Zhao from the Imperial Court. May I ask who is in the sedan chair opposite?" Xiao Wang asked.
There was no immediate answer from inside the sedan, but it did vibrate slightly a few times, accompanied by panting sounds, as if there was more than one person inside.
Zhao Duan, who was very sharp-eyed and sharp-eared, suddenly looked strange.
After waiting for a few breaths, one of the sedan chair bearers said:
"This is the sedan chair of the Grand Princess of Yunyang. Envoy Zhao, please come out and speak."
According to the customs of Dayu, the emperor's daughter is called "Princess", his sister is called "Chang Princess", and his aunt is called "Grand Chang Princess".
Princess Yunyang?
Inside the carriage, Zhao Duan's eyes fixed, and he thought to himself:
really!
In the capital, he was not an official, dared to ride in a sedan chair carried by six people, and had a grudge against him.
After much thought, the only possible person is Princess Yunyang, the aunt of the empress, the wife of the prince consort Li Shuping, who has a reputation for being "dissolute".
Before this, after Li Lang was taken out of the imperial prison, Zhao Duan was busy catching the traitor and no longer paid attention to him.
I thought that this matter would be forgotten for the sake of the empress, but the other party was obviously not going to swallow his anger.
"Sir? Look..."
The coachman Xiao Wang asked for instructions through the curtain.
Zhao Duan thought for a moment, raised his hand, grasped the sword in the car, and gently lifted the curtain with the scabbard.
But he did not get off the car, but just sat cross-legged in the car, looking towards the opposite side, and said loudly:
"My name is Zhao Duan. What advice does the Grand Princess have for you?"
At this moment, the surrounding people also gathered to watch, but seeing the situation, it was clear that both parties were not simple people.
There is no need to drive them away, they will just watch from a distance.
There was a car and a sedan, and a large area suddenly became empty around them.
The spacious sedan shook a few more times, and the voices of a man and a woman talking could be faintly heard.
Immediately, a man's hand suddenly stretched out from inside the thick curtain of the sedan chair.
Grabbing a corner of the curtain, he slowly opened half of it.
Zhao Duan's eyelids twitched, and even though he was calm, he couldn't help but be stunned.
It was because the man in the sedan was not the son-in-law Li Shuping.
Instead, he was a man in his thirties or forties, with an exquisite beard and an imposing bearing.
At this moment, her upper body was casually wrapped in a robe, revealing the silk pajamas underneath. She was half-sitting and half-leaning lazily. The spacious carriage was also covered with thick silk bedding.
At this moment, the strange man's other arm seemed to be hugging a woman.
But because only half of the curtain was opened, I couldn't see the whole picture.
Zhao Duan only vaguely saw a woman's fair and delicate hand holding a thin and breathable blanket to cover the man's body.
At the bottom of the lifted curtain, one could vaguely see a pair of long legs of a woman, like a white python, sitting cross-legged.
What is Bairi Xuan...
The corner of Zhao Duan's eye twitched, and before he could even finish his complaint, he heard the driver Xiao Wang beside him exclaim in surprise:
"Marquis Xiajiang!"
…
The new plot has started, but it's a little late.
(End of this chapter)
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