Chapter 121 Killing Game
Xu Zhenguan shook his head.
With her cultivation level, she is still far from reaching the realm of human immortals where "whatever is said will be understood".
Therefore, the empress who was working overtime in the imperial study did not know that her silent arrangements had been discovered by Zhao Duan.
"Knock, knock." There was a sudden knock on the door. Xu Zhenguan simply put down his pen and said:
"Enter."
The door creaked open, and Mo Zhaorong, wearing a female official's robe and a wingless black gauze, walked in and reported:
"Your Majesty, something happened in the Dali Temple."
"Oh?" Xu Zhenguan raised his delicate eyebrows and said, "Speak."
Mo Chou briefly recounted what had happened.
Rarely, there was no exaggeration because the incident involved Zhao Duan.
"So, when Zhao Duan went to arrest someone, the Dali Temple Minister refused, and Ma Yan stepped in and forcibly took him away?" The empress asked in summary.
"yes."
"Yes, I understand."
"...Your Majesty, at tomorrow's morning court session, I'm afraid the Dali Temple Minister will not let this go," Mo Chou calmly analyzed.
"Marquis Xiajiang is nothing, but if the conflict between the Three Judicial Departments and the Imperial Court is not handled properly, it will eventually..."
Xu Zhenguan said calmly:
"I have made a plan and will give them an answer."
Mo Chou was stunned.
She found that the female emperor in front of her had become increasingly powerful recently. She was no longer as cautious as before when dealing with court officials, but had become more decisive and autocratic.
This change probably occurred after Pei Kaizhi was abolished.
This landmark event seemed to have only resulted in the replacement of a minister.
But in fact, it means that the empress's control over the court has reached a new level.
Mo Chou was somewhat happy for her.
In the two years since she ascended the throne, she had witnessed with her own eyes how the "Third Princess" gradually took back the imperial power.
Although there is still a long way to go before we can truly and completely control the court, this is already a welcome trend.
"Yes. I'll withdraw now." Mo Chou bowed and turned to leave.
Xu Zhenguan held the green jade dragon pen holder and suddenly smiled curiously:
"It's rare that you didn't say anything bad about him this time."
"He" obviously refers to Zhao Duan.
Mo Chou paused.
She couldn't help but think of a few days ago when she had made a strong complaint, saying that Zhao Duan was messing around in the imperial court and showing off his power, but she was slapped in the face at the speed of light.
This crushing defeat severely damaged the "female prime minister" and she took two full days to recover.
Learn from the lessons and decide not to make the same mistake again.
But she didn't want to be teased by the empress. She felt embarrassed and ashamed. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:
"Your Majesty should also remind Lord Zhao to be more careful. Addressing him like 'Old Xu' is fine in private, but it is inappropriate for the palace maids to hear it."
After saying that, she said goodbye and disappeared out the door.
Only the white-robed empress was left, clutching a jade pen, sitting behind the desk. A look of confusion gradually emerged on her fairy-like face.
"Old...Xu?"
…
…
Zhao Duan said goodbye to Ma Yan and felt a little warm in his heart when he walked out of the Governor's Hall.
He really never thought that all this was arranged by the empress.
"No wonder my cold-blooded, cheap senior brother agreed so readily, not even fearing the Dali Temple Minister. It turns out he had Zhenbao's instructions behind the scenes..."
"I was just saying, when did my licking skills become so good? Old Ma is so awesome this time... everything makes sense now."
After resolving his doubts, Zhao Duan felt relieved and his steps became lighter.
Don't be fooled by his expression as if he had everything under control when he was in the Dali Temple.
But in reality, provoking a fight between the two yamen...it was really difficult for him, a small police officer.
However, after Ma Yan gave the instructions, he no longer had to worry about the follow-up matters.
"Just wait until tomorrow morning to see if the dust settles."
Zhao Duan called the coachman Xiao Wang and drove home under the cover of night, saying:
"I'm going to the palace tomorrow. I'll probably arrive around the time court is dismissed. Please estimate the time and come pick me up."
After all, it was caused by him. Zhao Duan would feel uneasy if he didn't go and see it with his own eyes.
Especially... there is Princess Yunyang, and I don’t know how the empress will deal with her.
After all, they are aunt and niece. Zhao Duan felt a headache when he thought about it.
"oh oh."
The coachman, Xiao Wang, responded without asking any further questions, and the carriage drove through the streets.
Neither of them noticed that several people in grey robes slowly walked out of a dark alley in the distance and watched the carriage go away.
These people were all wearing veils, and the one in the lead had an indigo ghost mask covering his face.
Surprisingly, it was the "branch leader" sent by the Kuangfu Society to the capital to replace Zhuang Xiaocheng.
"Captain, are you just going to let him go like this?"
Someone asked in a low voice, eager to make a move.
The branch leader, wearing a mask with a ghost face, slowly shook his head.
"Wait a little longer. The conflict between the Imperial Court and the Dali Temple arose so quickly, which was a pleasant surprise.
Don't forget our purpose. Compared to killing a pretty boy, shaking up the court and weakening the pseudo-emperor's control over Dayu are the most important things.
If this person is killed at this time, it will only increase the variables, make the Dali Temple lose its target of hatred, and weaken the hostility between the two sides.
It will also cause everyone in the court to unite against the enemy...which is not a good thing.
He's just a pretty boy. Let him live one more day. When the court is held tomorrow morning and the two yamen confront each other in the Imperial Palace, it would be safer to kill him then."
The other members of the Kuangfu Society were immediately impressed and overwhelmed by the wisdom of the branch leader:
"The captain has foresight, and we will surely accomplish our great task."
Then, a group of people disappeared deep into the dark alley.
After they left, just across the alley entrance, above a century-old willow tree, the air quietly twisted.
A petite girl figure emerged:
He was wearing a black sorcerer's robe with the "Tianshi Mansion" emblem embroidered on it. He had a mysterious temperament, a distracted gaze, and looked a little dazed.
Jin Jian sat silently on the branch of the big willow tree, with a thoughtful look on his little face.
After a moment, she finally did not act rashly.
It simply transformed into a ray of starlight and sped towards the Tianshi Mansion.
…
A moment later.
Jin Jian once again came to the depths of the Tianshi Mansion, outside the quiet, independent courtyard.
When I pushed open the gate, I saw a huge and dense banyan tree with swaying green branches, emitting a bright light that illuminated the entire courtyard.
Under the tree.
Zhang Yan sat on the ground, using the sky as a blanket and the ground as a bed, and seemed to be distracted.
In front of the old Taoist priest, on the low table, there were green jade bamboo slips spread out casually, and a carving knife was thrown next to it.
The extremely precious "Book of Heaven", which had been passed down for thousands of years and continuously revised by generations of Heavenly Masters, had a considerable amount of text erased and new sentences engraved on it.
"Eh? Master, you're revising the book again."
Jin Jian was stunned for a moment and walked over curiously.
It seemed as if the master didn't hear him and ignored him at all, as if he was in a trance, leaving behind only a shell.
She squatted down, stretched her neck, looked at the bamboo slips called "Heavenly Book", and whispered:
"Man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, the Tao follows... nature?"
Jin Jian murmured doubtfully, "What does 'Tao follows nature' mean?"
Zhang Yanyi suddenly spoke up: "Master is thinking about this too."
scare!
Jin Jian was startled and widened his eyes:
"Master, you are not in a trance."
"Yeah. Just thinking about something."
"Hmm...were these new sentences said by your 'young friend'?"
"Yes. When I first heard it, I was amazed and delighted, but I didn't doubt it. But when I came back to revise the book, I felt confused."
Zhang Yan looked at the night sky and said:
"Writing is the best way to think. Before the advent of writing, ancient sages also used conversation to think. There are many mysteries in the world that you may think you understand, but when you put them into words or express them verbally, you will realize that you don't understand."
Jin Jian was confused and said frankly:
"Disciple doesn't understand."
Zhang Yanyi retracted his gaze, smiled, raised his hand and touched Jin Jian's head, saying:
"It's to teach you to write more and think more."
Writing a book is boring... Jin Jian muttered, curiously:
"Is there something Master doesn't understand?"
"That's a lot," Zhang Yanyi smiled gently.
"For example, the word 'Tao'. When I was ten, I thought I understood it. When I was twenty, I realized I didn't. When I was thirty, I thought I had understood it. When I was forty, I realized I hadn't understood it at all... and so on and so forth.
About sixty years ago, I, the master, thoroughly read this sacred book of our sect and thought I had no more doubts.
In the sixty years since then, I haven't had any new insights, but today, I'm shocked to realize that the word "Tao" that I once understood has become unfamiliar again.
There was no disappointment or frustration on the old Taoist's face, but instead his face was rosy and full of longing like a child.
What he didn't say was that he had just communicated with the Way of Heaven and had a vague premonition:
When he completely tore down the "Book of Heaven" in his hand and rebuilt it.
The day when the New Heavenly Book was finalized.
That was the time when he took a further step forward in his practice of the Way of Heaven.
And all this depends on the young man named Zhao... The old Taoist priest was a little distracted.
I wondered how a mortal warrior could so many times utter such exquisite words?
Has there ever been such a person in history?
After much thought, only the Great Yu Taizu who lived six hundred years ago has some similarity.
"Oh, by the way, what do you want from me again?" Zhang Yan came back to his senses.
Jin Jian was reminded and then he remembered why he came.
She hurriedly recounted the "new things" she had just seen, and concluded:
"Master, those rebels seem to be planning to attack Zhao Duan, the messenger from the White Horse Prison. I want to help him."
There is an unwritten rule in the Tianshi Mansion, which is not to interfere in temple disputes.
If the imperial court asks for help in a war, you can help depending on the situation.
However, the Tianshi Mansion will not take the initiative to intervene in the dispute. Even if it discovers the rebels, it will just pretend not to see them.
It is precisely because of the strict adherence to this rule, coupled with its strong confidence, that the Tianshi Mansion has been able to stand for thousands of years, watching the succession of imperial power from generation to generation, remaining unmoved.
"Oh, is that so?" Zhang Yanyi was not surprised at all, smiled and said:
"Then go ahead. It just so happens that I have something else to tell you. Do you have the 'Divine Talisman' that your master gave you for self-defense?"
Jin Jian nodded seriously and patted her belly with her little hand:
"Put it here close to your body."
Zhang Yanyidao:
"If anyone asks you later, just say you gave the talisman to Zhao Duan. Remember?"
Jin Jian was puzzled:
"But the disciple didn't give it to him. It's right here."
He patted his belly again to show that it was well placed and not lost.
"...Master knows. If someone asks, just say this."
"profound."
"Don't forget."
"I know!"
…
Transition chapter, please help fix typos~
(End of this chapter)
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