Chapter 203 Letter from My Mother's Family
The setting sun gradually sank into the horizon, and the light in the room gradually dimmed.
However, in Xu Zhenguan's eyes, the little imperial guards standing in front of him with their heads bowed seemed to be glowing.
It's hard to describe how she feels at the moment.
Are you surprised? Of course I am.
The stalemate among the civil and military officials in the court, and the dangerous situation where the entire imperial party's top leadership was helpless, were actually resolved by Zhao Duan in such a dramatic way...
Anyone who has witnessed this would be rightly surprised.
Even though Zhao Duan had surprised her again and again in the past few months, it was still the same.
But at this moment, compared to astonishment and surprise, Xu Zhenguan felt more of an indescribable emotion.
What she cared about was not how amazing Zhao Duan's operation was.
Even the prime minister had to give in to this newborn wolf cub.
But...
He didn't need to do these things, and I didn't give him any "tasks".
Yet he did it anyway.
When all eyes were focused on the battle between the gods in the court, and they ignored him.
When I told him clearly to stay out of the spotlight and not to bring trouble upon himself.
This little imperial guard who had repeatedly surprised him was taking a huge risk and completely offending the Li Party and even the entire aristocratic family of Dayu.
Once again, this heavy gift was given to me when I needed help the most.
To make a contribution?
Xu Zhenguan didn't think so.
The many contributions Zhao Duan had made before were already enough, and there was no need to wade into this muddy water.
For revenge? To vent his personal grievances against Li Yinglong?
Outsiders might think so, believing that he is vindictive.
But the empress knew that the young imperial guard in front of her was a truly smart man, and one who didn't care about being scolded.
Otherwise, he would not have been defaming himself for more than a year. The most important thing is that even if he really wanted to retaliate, there are completely less risky ways to do it, rather than at this critical juncture.
So, all possibilities are ruled out.
There is only one answer.
"For me..."
Xu Zhenguan bit his plump lips, and his heart beat inappropriately.
Suddenly I remembered the scene when the other party boldly "confessed" to me.
The mood became very subtle.
Zhao Duan was also in a very awkward mood, because he lowered his head and waited for the empress's answer for a long time.
This made him a little nervous.
...Is this going to happen?...Is he really going to be punished? Or is there something wrong with my operation? As Zhao Duan was lost in thought, he finally heard the sound of a fairy:
"You...are thoughtful."
Done!
Zhao Duan's heart suddenly dropped to the ground, and then his hands felt lighter.
A fragrant breeze blew by, and the empress took the paper from his hand.
When the item was handed over, the fingertips of the two seemed to intersect for a moment, but it seemed like an illusion.
Zhao Duan raised his head and happened to meet the empress's eyes.
The last rays of the setting sun were reflected in Xu Zhenguan's phoenix eyes, like two burning fires that were about to burn through the dark night.
He stared blankly, and Xu Zhenguan, who rarely did so, did not scold him. Instead, he lowered his head and began to read the text.
The air fell into silence.
The only sounds in my ears were the crisp sound of papers turning and the sound of the melting sunset.
"very good."
Xu Zhenguan raised his head, read the entries, and took the initiative to break the slightly weird atmosphere in the room.
A smile appeared on her face for the first time in a while.
as if……
Feeling relieved.
It was as if a difficult battle had finally reached the moment of the final charge.
"I have agreed to all the conditions you have negotiated and will arrange them immediately. As for your plot against Princess Yuan, although it is detrimental to the royal family, considering your loyalty, I will not pursue it this time." Xu Zhenguan said.
Zhao Duan flattered him at the right time:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Xu Zhenguan's eyes rolled and his tone suddenly changed:
"However, the death penalty may be avoided, but the punishment of life cannot be escaped. As a punishment, you must go back home and rest well tonight, and enter the palace tomorrow."
After a pause, she deliberately put on a stern face, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly:
"Last time you proposed new policies, I stripped you of your Bachelor's title. Now that you have made such a contribution, I cannot treat a meritorious official unfairly. Tomorrow, you will enter the palace and receive benefits."
No need... I already got the "reward" from the Yuanzu Temple last time... Zhao Duan muttered with a serious expression:
"In fact, I can also stay in the palace and accompany Your Majesty. This is the greatest reward."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and glanced between his legs:
"Stay by my side? If you want to become a eunuch, that's not impossible."
What a vicious woman... Zhao Duan subconsciously clamped his legs together and said seriously:
"I'll take my leave now!"
After saying that, he ran away as if he was really afraid of being hit.
The empress couldn't help laughing, and watched him run away, murmuring:
"coward……"
Then, he calmed down his emotions and regained his composure as an emperor.
The agreement reached between Zhao Duan and Li Yanfu was not just verbal. The empress had to send out some signals and make some performances.
"Someone come."
Outside, a female official stood respectfully.
"Send...never mind, call Mo Chou over."
…
In the side hall.
A group of officials from the imperial party sat there waiting, the atmosphere solemn but also strange and anxious.
His Majesty and Zhao Duan left for a long time, and then Mo Zhaorong was also called away.
They were the only ones left, waiting here alone.
"Grand Master, how long are we going to wait like this? I'm afraid His Majesty..." someone asked.
Dong Xuan was very calm: "Just be patient."
Another official smiled bitterly:
"You are quite patient, do you really believe what Zhao Duan just said?
Taking a step back, even if he really has a way to curb Chen Zhengru, it is only a temporary solution. The fundamental problem is that the new policy is difficult to pass in the court, and how to win over another one-third of the people..."
At this moment, the palace door suddenly opened.
The ministers sat upright, but the empress was nowhere to be seen.
Only one female official said respectfully:
"His Majesty has said that it is getting late. You gentlemen should go back and rest. We will discuss the details at the morning court tomorrow."
Everyone looked at each other.
I wonder what urgent matter Your Majesty has.
Are you just going to ignore Chen Zhengru's affairs? Or...
"Did that kid really do it?" Yuan Li muttered softly and frowned again.
His intuition told him that what Zhao Duan did might not be limited to Chen Zhengru.
"It's impossible that even Li Yanfu can be dealt with."
He shook his head, dismissing the idea of this nonsense.
He stood up and walked out first. Xue Shence, who was sitting there, also stood up and followed the others out.
He just looked in the direction where Zhao Duan had left before, with inexplicable emotions flashing in his eyes.
…
…
Evening, Zhao's house.
When Zhao Duan returned home from the palace, it was already dark.
The lights in the dining hall were on, and his stepmother and sister were waiting for him to eat together.
He was a little absent-minded during dinner.
Although he has done everything he can, he still feels uneasy until things are completely settled.
Will Li Yanfu abide by the agreement?
Can this transaction be established?
All of this will have to wait until tomorrow morning to be confirmed.
As for what reward the empress would give him when he entered the palace tomorrow, it was also a matter of speculation...
Of course, the chance of having to stay with the patient in bed was very slim, and Zhao Duan felt that he was dreaming.
"Brother, is there something on your mind?"
Zhao Pan ate his meal in small sips and noticed that he was absent-minded, so he asked curiously.
So...the girl is also sharp-eyed.
"Nothing," Zhao Duan came back to his senses and said casually:
"I just feel that my home is still a bit far from the government office. Even if I had a car, it would take up a lot of time to commute there every day. It would be great if we could move in."
move place?
Hearing this, both mother and daughter pricked up their ears.
Now we live in the house left by Zhao's father.
Although it is acceptable, it is still a bit far away.
"It'll cost a lot of money to move to a new house," Zhao Pan said with a bitter face. "Even if it's a smaller one, but we want to move it in closer to the palace, it'll cost several thousand taels more."
Zhao Duan was not very keen on corruption, and the biggest savings in his family was still the little money he had obtained before.
Obviously not enough.
"Let's talk about it later. I haven't thought about it yet."
Zhao Duan said this, but he was thinking in his heart that he could find Jin Jian to share the dividends in a few days.
After accumulating for so long, it should be a windfall.
With this interruption, he suddenly realized that Eugene was unusually quiet tonight, unlike usual.
He looked at his stepmother and saw that she was holding the chopsticks and had not eaten much of the rice in the bowl.
"Auntie, do you have something on your mind?"
Zhao Duan used Zhao Pan's words to deal with her mother.
Eugene was suddenly asked and was speechless for a moment. She hesitated and lowered her head, avoiding her stepson's gaze, and whispered:
“Nothing… nothing…”
You are being dishonest... Zhao Duan frowned:
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't hesitate."
Eugene Hua was a woman with a delicate personality. Hearing his bad tone, she quickly raised her head with an embarrassed look on her face.
"Auntie... I received a letter during the day from my aunt's uncle, saying he was coming to Beijing and would visit..."
Zhao Duan was stunned.
Eugene Hua’s family?
This was completely unfamiliar to him.
Zhao Pan was also stunned, and the girl was equally confused.
She was born and raised in the capital and had no memory of her mother's family.
"I vaguely remember my father saying that my aunt was from Xipingdao and also came from a wealthy family."
Zhao Duan dug out the few fragments of memories he had.
A big part of the reason why Zhao's father took over the wife and daughter of his comrade who died in battle was because he was attracted by Eugene Hua's appearance and temperament.
Although Eugene Hua was only the wife of a soldier, she was well-educated and had a good method in managing household affairs, which was obviously not something that an ordinary civilian's child could bring up.
According to Zhao's father, she was a young lady from some local clan family.
Later, somehow, it was picked up by a fellow soldier passing through Xiping Road and brought back to the capital. There was obviously a story behind it.
Eugene Hua came to Beijing when she was a teenager. More than ten years have passed now, and she has never had any contact with her family.
Now it suddenly appears...
Eugene Hua faced the inquiring gazes of her stepson and daughter, sighed softly, and nodded slightly, as if bringing back bad memories.
"My ancestors are from the Xiping You family, a prominent family that has been passed down for hundreds of years. However, I am not from the main branch of the You family. I am only the legitimate daughter of the eldest son of a side branch."
(End of this chapter)
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