Chapter 129 The Empress's Mission
In the imperial study.
When the empress said this quietly, Zhao Duan, who was in summer, seemed to feel a hint of autumn.
Mo Chou also realized that His Majesty had made up his mind, so she stopped trying to dissuade him and said respectfully:
"I obey your command and will do it."
Then she turned and left, without a trace of hesitation.
Zhao Duan watched this scene quietly. He could almost imagine what kind of bloody storm would be set off when these four decrees were issued.
The entire capital city will be swept by a massive "anti-rebelion storm", and in the martial arts world outside the capital city, no one knows how many heads will be shed.
The empress raised her sword again, and this time, she was no longer slashing at the court, but at the rats in the darkness.
"Zhao Duan."
When there were only two people left in the imperial study, the empress suddenly called his name.
"I am here!"
Zhao Duan perked up, but saw a figure in white floating out of the door:
"Walk with me."
…
Whenever Xu Zhenguan got angry, he seemed to have the habit of going out to relax.
Zhao Duan still remembered that the last time he reported the "Beijing Camp Firearms Case", it angered the empress, so he went to the garden to relax.
This time was no exception, but the garden I was walking in was no longer the same as last time.
The emperor and his minister turned a corner along the corridor with carved beams and painted buildings.
A river appeared in front of me.
The river is very small and is called "Neiyu River". It is the one that can be seen from the back window of the imperial study.
Xu Zhenguan walked along the river bank, feeling the cool breeze on her face and basking in the shade. The anger in her heart gradually subsided.
"Did I look like a tyrant just now?" she suddenly asked after walking for a while.
Zhao Duan had the experience from last time, so he didn't act like a pervert and only lagged behind Zhen Bao by two steps. He was stunned when he heard the words, but he didn't hesitate:
"If Your Majesty is a tyrant, there will be no good people in the world."
The empress in white smiled.
A breeze blew by, messing up her black hair, which then brushed across her face. She rolled her eyes at him faintly and said self-deprecatingly:
"rhetoric."
But he didn't dwell on this issue too much, and suddenly said:
"Do you have anything else to say about the battle with Gao Li?"
Hiss... This is a meaningful question... Zhao Duan was unsure of the empress's thoughts and asked tentatively, "What does Your Majesty mean?"
Xu Zhenguan looked into the distance and said calmly:
"Although Gao Li's martial arts path was cut off in the past, he was no weakling in the Divine Chapter Realm. Yet, he was killed by a divine command talisman...
That talisman probably has the power of the 'worldly' realm. A magic of this level, and within the city... Even if I were in the Golden Throne Hall at the time, I shouldn't have been unaware of it."
Huh... You scared me. I thought you figured out that the "Divine Talisman" was not given by the golden tablet.
Zhao Duan breathed a sigh of relief, his face showing admiration:
"Your Majesty is very perceptive. I was just about to report..."
As he spoke, he reached into his bosom, took out a palm-sized scroll of magical instruments made of green jade and silver silk cloth, and presented it with both hands.
Xu Zhenguan raised his hand and the scroll flew into her hand.
The empress listened to his explanation, casually unfolded the scroll, and said with a look of sudden realization:
"The Taixu Painting Scroll... So this is it. No wonder it can evade my perception."
Zhao Duan asked curiously:
"Your Majesty knows this thing?"
Xu Zhenguan stroked the scroll, a complex expression in his beautiful eyes:
"Of course I know. This thing was originally a treasure of the palace."
What? Zhao Duan was shocked.
Xu Zhenguan looked reminiscent and said:
"This item is from the Imperial Palace Armory. The late Emperor gave it to my second brother during a palace gathering. It's been ages since I last saw it, and I never expected it to return to the palace."
The second prince’s things?
Zhao Duan was greatly surprised. After a little thought, he guessed:
The second prince must have given it to someone in order to gain power and build connections.
After the "Xuanmen Coup", the second prince's supporters fled and formed the "Kuangfu Society". The person who holds this scroll is probably a "high-ranking official" in the Kuangfu Society.
This time Gao Li went to the capital to take up his post. Because he shouldered an important responsibility, he was given this treasure to facilitate his work.
Or, it is possible that the Second Prince gave it to Gao Li personally, and it was such generosity that impressed Gao Li.
"Priest Jin Jian said that this item is sealed and cannot be used by outsiders." Zhao Duan asked tentatively.
Xu Zhenguan glanced at him with her beautiful eyes, as if she had seen through his little thoughts, and nodded:
"That's true. Even looking at the entire world, the number of talismans containing inner space is extremely small.
What's more, such an array that can trap the enemy and conceal fluctuations is even rarer. Even if it is placed in the Tianshi Mansion, Shenlong Temple, or even the imperial palace armory, it can be ranked at the top in terms of rarity.
This one thing is worth as much as a small city."
So valuable?
Zhao Duan's breathing quickened.
Xu Zhenguan also had some feelings:
"Given Gao Li's cultivation and status, it's impossible for him to possess such a thing. There won't be many of them in the Kuangfu Society either."
The implication is that a small fry like Zhao Duan is not worthy of it.
Zhao Duan looked pitiful, but forced a smile:
"Since it is so precious, it should be taken back to the palace. It is inappropriate to keep it with me."
The tea smells...
Xu Zhenguan felt slightly amused and shook his head. His delicate hand suddenly flicked across the scroll, which shimmered with light. He then casually tossed it to Zhao Duan and said,
"I have already broken the seal. This item is precious and should not be left outside. However, considering your contribution in eliminating the rebels, I will temporarily... leave it with you.
You can ask Eunuch Hai for instructions on how to use it, but if you don't leave the capital, you probably won't have the chance to use it. You can use it as a storage device."
Storage magic tool?
Isn't that the standard for the protagonist of a time-travel novel... Zhao Duan was overjoyed:
"Your Majesty's grace is so great that I have no way to repay you."
Although it was nominally "loaned" to him, he was well acquainted with the practice of misusing public property for personal gain.
The empress glanced at him and suddenly said:
"Speaking of which, you were working for the court and encountered danger, yet you still asked the Heavenly Master's Palace for help... This was my negligence. You can take this."
Her fair and slender hand suddenly fell on her waist.
She took off a purple waist jade from her belt. It was quite delicate, a woman's jade pendant, with a golden tassel hanging from the bottom. She threw it to him.
"This waist jade was given to me by my mother for self-defense when I was a princess. It's called the 'Teleportation Jade'. If you're ever faced with a life-or-death crisis, you only need to crush it to teleport away...
However, with my current level of cultivation, it is no longer useful. I only keep it as an ornament. Today, I will simply use it for self-defense."
And a surprise...
Zhao Duan subconsciously reached out to grab it, and was stunned when he felt the warmth of the purple waist jade and the faint body fragrance.
At this moment, compared to the "practical value" of the waist jade, he was more concerned about the meaning behind it.
Based on past life experience, being able to obtain the Empress's personal belongings means:
Now he can truly be considered a favorite of the "king".
In his left hand is a scroll of "Taixu Painting Scroll" and in his right hand is a piece of "Transmitting Jade".
He had obtained two treasures today that could drive all the practitioners in the world crazy.
Well, it’s hard to say about Ma Yan, but at least the police officers from the other nine branches never received such treatment.
"His Majesty……"
Zhao Duan was moved and said:
"This... is too precious. I cannot repay you for my humble contribution..."
I added a sentence in my heart:
If it really doesn't work, I can only give myself to you.
Xu Zhenguan glanced at him and suddenly said:
"I won't give you the treasure for free. I really have something to entrust to you."
...I was moved in vain... Zhao Duan said seriously:
"Your Majesty has entrusted me with this task, and even if I were to die a hundred times, I would not refuse."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and said:
"You don't need to die. I just want you to investigate someone thoroughly and find enough evidence to incriminate him."
Huh...biting people, I'm good at this...Zhao Duan was curious:
"May I ask which traitor it is?"
The Empress calmly said a name:
"Minister of the Dali Temple, Minister Zhou."
Zhao Duan was really stunned.
His first thought was that Zhenbao was not going to... Although he and Lao Zhou had some unpleasant experiences, he would not strip someone of their official robes...
Even the petty-minded Zhao Duan felt that this was a bit too vindictive.
But the next second, he dismissed this obviously wrong answer, and many clues flashed through his mind.
He suddenly asked:
"The Dali Temple Minister and Your Majesty are not on the same page? Your Majesty wants to replace him with someone more obedient?"
This is not difficult to guess. Not to mention Zhou Cheng's ambiguous relationship with the "Li Party", the fact that he confronted the imperial court representing the empress is enough to prove it.
But Zhao Duan still felt something was wrong.
His instinct told him that there must be a deeper reason behind the empress's sudden attack on the Supreme Court Minister.
Xu Zhenguan was silent for a moment, without giving a direct answer, but simply said:
"You just need to answer me whether you can do it."
How can a man say no?
Zhao Duan weighed the scroll and waist jade in his hand, thought for a moment, and said:
“It takes time.”
"Here, is one month enough?"
'We need manpower'
"Ma Yan will fully cooperate with you. If you need anything else, just tell Sun Lianying."
"In that case..." Zhao Duan took a deep breath and said with a smile:
"Your Majesty, I obey your order!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
