Chapter 143 Zhao Duan: Mr. Zhou, we meet again
"Catch someone?"
Inside the Lihua Hall, the four subordinates were all stunned, but they didn't say much and just turned around to make preparations.
Only Zhao Du was left standing in the courtyard, looking up at the lush pear trees, thinking that since plans could not keep up with changes, he would have to try a different approach.
"Oh, you want to use Wang Shan to deal with me? Then we'll see if you have what it takes, Old Deng."
…
In the early morning, when the sun rose high in the sky, the whole capital city became bustling again.
However, for restaurants, the morning is often the quietest time.
However, early this morning, Hele Tower, located on the south bank of Hunhe River in Nancheng, was booked out by a big shot.
The Dali Temple Minister, wearing a crimson official robe, a black gauze hat, and with deep "chuan"-shaped wrinkles on his brows, sat alone at a square table on the second floor.
With his hands folded in front of him, he admired the river view outside the window while using his right hand to stroke a fiery red pigeon egg-sized precious jadeite on the fingers of his left hand.
After a while, heavy footsteps approached on the stairs. Zhou Cheng, whose hair and beard had turned slightly gray, turned his head and saw a fat figure with an indifferent expression:
"Commander Wang, long time no see."
The person who went up the stairs was the middle-aged man in his forties that Zhao Duan saw through the magic mirror.
Wang Shan, who was fat and looked like he had albinism, with few whiskers under his chin and slightly red eyes, suddenly forced a bright smile on his face.
He took a few steps forward and sighed:
"Tingwei Zhou, you are embarrassing me. What commander? I am just a commoner now. How can I be worthy of your invitation to a banquet?"
He said this, but he did not tremble with fear like a commoner seeing a third-rank official.
Zhou Cheng seemed to smile, but he also felt a little complicated.
When the previous emperor was alive, the eunuch Wang Zhen was extremely powerful. As his adopted son, Wang Shan was someone Zhou Cheng had to make an effort to make friends with.
But a coup in the Xuanmen sect changed everything, and the situation changed.
Seeing the person he used to want to please now groveling at him, Zhou Cheng felt three parts proud and seven parts lamenting the impermanence of life.
Then, I felt a little bit like meeting an old friend again.
Waving his hand for Wang Shan to take a seat, Zhou Cheng smiled and pointed at a steamed river fish on the table, saying:
"I requested this especially for you. I wonder if it still suits your taste after all these years. I still remember that you have a special liking for the fish from Hele Tower."
Wang Shan, once a loyal eunuch and now a commoner doing business, was flattered but did not dare to pick up his chopsticks:
"It's rare that Lord Zhou still remembers me. However, I don't think that the Lord summoned me today because he was thinking of the past and came to reminisce with me."
Although Wang Shan was still rich and powerful, he was well-known in the playboy circle.
But there was already a huge difference between him and the Dali Temple Minister in front of him.
He was very clear about this, so since the empress ascended the throne and his adoptive father fell, Wang Shan never took the initiative to look for Zhou Cheng to avoid embarrassing himself.
If nothing unexpected happens, although the two sides were once "close" and lived in the same capital, they would never meet again in this life.
So, when he suddenly received a handwritten letter from Zhou Cheng yesterday, inviting him to a banquet today, Wang Shan was nervous and confused.
He was anxious for several hours because of this and could only vent his anger on his concubine to relieve his anxiety.
I attended the banquet as scheduled this morning. I put on a smile on my face, but I was actually very nervous. Naturally, I had no mood to greet or reminisce about the past.
Zhou Cheng knew his thoughts clearly and smiled:
"Well, let's get straight to the point. I've come looking for you this time, not for anything else, but for one person."
"who?"
"Zhao Duan." Zhou Cheng said:
"You should know about the incident a few days ago when this man disrupted my Dali Temple? And I heard that you have some friendship with him."
Wang Shan's heart skipped a beat, but he smiled:
"You are joking, sir. When Zhao Duan was in power, I did consider making friends with him, but he was ungrateful, so we never had any contact again."
Zhou Cheng said:
"Is that all? I heard that he was once invited to your home, treated very well, and even given a woman to serve him."
Wang Shan complained, "I did invite him to a family dinner, but that was only that one time. As for the woman he sent..."
He stopped talking halfway, his red eyes suddenly shrank, and he vaguely realized the intention of this lackey of his former adoptive father to find him today.
Zhou Cheng picked up his chopsticks and picked up a piece of fish. With his other hand, he lifted his drooping sleeve and personally handed it to Wang Shan's bowl:
"How's the woman you sent?"
Wang Shan was flattered. He glanced at the fish in the bowl, shook his head and smiled bitterly:
“Speaking of this, it left a deep impression on me.
That day, I almost got him drunk and took him to the bedroom I had arranged for him in my house. I also threw one of my favorite concubines in there for him to enjoy.
I originally thought that even if he didn't move, since he was already drunk, I could always succeed if I took the initiative, but in the end..."
At this point, even this experienced and powerful son of an eunuch had a look of astonishment:
"As a result, Zhao Duan actually tied up his concubine with a belt, threw her aside, and slept alone all night.
The next day, after sobering up, he became cold towards me and angrily accused me of trying to harm him, saying that he only had the saint in his heart and that heaven and earth could bear witness to his actions.
It was obvious that Wang Shan still remembered this incident vividly.
He couldn't understand how there could be such a cautious man in the world who could control himself in such a situation.
Across the square table, Zhou Cheng was also stunned.
This was somewhat different from what he expected.
But he had already mastered the skill of concealing his emotions, and even the action of picking up the food did not pause for a moment. He said calmly:
"Oh? How can you be sure he never touched that woman?"
"Of course..." Wang Shan was about to answer.
But Zhou Cheng said calmly, "Think about it carefully before you speak."
Wang Shan suddenly came to his senses, glanced at him, and changed his words:
"My Lord, I have not confirmed it. It is just the concubine's one-sided statement."
Many things don't need to be made too obvious.
Based on the tacit understanding between the two of them when they worked together, Wang Shan had already guessed what Zhou Cheng was thinking.
The other party came here obviously to find evidence from him to deal with Zhao Duan.
Just like Wang Shan had deliberately set a trap and sent women to Zhao Duan, it was also to get something on him so as to tie down the empress's lover.
Unfortunately, he failed and did not have the evidence Zhou Cheng needed.
But for the Dali Temple Chief Justice, who is accustomed to favoritism and abuse of power and is good at manipulating the law, evidence can be fabricated out of nothing.
Of course, fabricating stories out of thin air can only be used against small people, but cannot deceive the empress's eyes.
Therefore, Zhou Cheng needs Wang Shan's cooperation and a suitable handle that can withstand scrutiny.
Wang Shan was of course certain that Zhao Duan did not touch the concubine.
Not only because of what the concubine said, but also because he had personally verified it, and after Zhao Duan left, he saw with his own eyes that the concubine was tied up like a dumpling.
But outsiders don’t know.
Like Qin Qu, he only remembered how Zhao Duan looked when he went in and when he came out.
The servants, maids, and housekeepers of the Wang family, as well as those who attended the banquet that day, can testify that Zhao Duan did sleep at the Wang family.
The only ones who knew the truth were Wang Shan and the concubine, so this matter could be made into a big deal.
For example, is there a possibility to put it another way:
After Zhao Duan sobered up, he found out that he had slept with his concubine, but he was afraid that the empress would find out and thus lose favor, so he threatened and intimidated the concubine, saying that he did not touch her?
Wang Shan understood Zhou Cheng's meaning, so he chose to cooperate.
Although he didn't want to offend Zhao Duan, he had no choice.
"So, when it comes to a woman's innocence, how can we not check it carefully?"
Zhou Cheng picked up a piece of tofu with his chopsticks and placed it over the ceramic bowl, letting the wind from the Hun River cool it off.
"Where is that woman now? I want to see her."
Bah, you want her to be a witness and accuse Zhao...
Wang Shan looked embarrassed and whispered:
"After Zhao Duan left that day, I drove her out, and she died not long after."
The truth is:
When Wang Shan learned that his trap had failed and was scolded by Zhao Duan, he was furious and took out all his anger on the beautiful concubine.
Then they beat him to death, and when they saw that he was dying, they ordered his men to throw him out.
Zhou Cheng looked calm, put the tofu into his mouth and chewed it, nodded slightly, and said:
"A perfectly healthy person was found dead just like that. I'm afraid someone must have silenced him. How can the Dali Temple not intervene in such a matter of life and death?"
The implication is that even after death, one can still write an article:
After Zhao Duan threatened and intimidated his concubine, he was worried that she would tell others, so he silenced her. This was reasonable and logical.
As the saying goes, there is no evidence after death. Even if the empress sends people to investigate, as long as Wang Shan insists on his death, no matter how the investigation is done, it will be extremely unfavorable to Zhao Duan's testimony.
As an emperor, he does not need solid evidence.
As long as the fabricated lies are true enough to make the empress suspicious, it is enough.
As long as the empress no longer favors Zhao Duan, Zhou Cheng believes that there will be no obstacles in his way of crushing this ant who provoked him.
Wang Shan saw through this murderous situation and felt a chill all over his body.
The deadly knives on the battlefield are visible, but the insidious knives in the court are hard to guard against.
But it was equally deadly. What a cruel Zhou Cheng, what a cruel knife.
"Your Excellency, it must be Zhao Duan who murdered the witnesses to silence them. He truly has no regard for the law."
Wang Shan was furious and showed through his actions that he was willing to cooperate.
Firstly, he already had some issues with Zhao Duan. Secondly, he couldn't bear the consequences of rejecting Zhou Cheng.
Sensible... Zhou Cheng laughed out loud:
"Today I finally understand how you gained the favor of the eunuch. Come, have a drink."
Wang Shan smiled, raised his glass, and thought about how to benefit from this deal.
But just as the two of them were clinking glasses and celebrating.
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves like thunder came from outside the restaurant!
This was accompanied by a cry of terror, the sound of fighting with swords, and screams.
The two of them were stunned and looked towards the stairs at the same time.
Then, a handsome and tall figure was seen walking up to the second floor slowly and steadily, followed by a large group of ferocious-looking Lihuatang brocade-clothed officials.
Zhao Duan had a smile on his face:
"It's so lively. Hey, Master Zhou is here too? What a coincidence. We meet again."
…
P.S.: One thing that has been confusing the author lately is that this chapter clearly doesn't have any spam, and some sentences have even been deleted and some plot points have been omitted, but why is there only enough space in the entire chapter to write about the conspiracy dialogue between two supporting characters...
(End of this chapter)
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