Chapter 204 I Hate Threats Most in My Life
The legitimate daughter of Xiping Youshi... Zhao Duan looked surprised.
It was as if for the first time, I truly looked at my stepmother in a new light.
Eugene Hua's story is not complicated. Although this branch of her family is not as powerful as the main branch of the Eu family, it is also a force in the local area.
He is considered a hero in the martial arts world and has many business interests. His stepmother's grandfather is also a martial artist with connections in both the black and white worlds.
Eugene Hua's father was originally the "head of the family" who inherited this branch of the family, but because he went out one year, he was involved in a dispute in the martial arts world.
He seemed to have been injured by a sorcerer from the "Fashen Sect". He returned home dying and passed away soon after.
Eugene Hua is the second child in the eldest house. She has an older brother who is also missing.
The family power was vacant for a while, and the second branch took advantage of the situation, namely Eugene Hua's second uncle, who took over the power of the head of the family.
After the second branch came to power, they checked the family business in the name of auditing the accounts and found many "evidences" of Eugene Hua's father's crimes.
They made a big fuss about this, constantly suppressing the eldest son's family and depriving them of their property.
The eldest son's widowed mother, who had lost the support of her man, was unable to fight back.
Eugene Hua's mother was already weak, and due to the consecutive bad news about her husband and eldest son, she fell ill and passed away soon after.
For a time, in the huge eldest house, only Eugene Hua, who was just a girl at that time, was left. She lived a very hard life and was often bullied by the clan.
At this time, the army happened to be withdrawing back to the capital, and a team stayed at You's house.
Eugene Hua has wanted to escape from her family for a long time, and happened to be in love with a soldier.
The second uncle, who was the head of the family at that time, generously let Eugene Hua go and married her off.
So she came to the capital and later remarried into the Zhao family.
"mother……"
After listening to the story, Zhao Pan's eyes sparkled with tears. She felt the same way and was heartbroken.
Zhao Duan suddenly understood and finally understood why a soldier could marry the well-educated and well-mannered You Erjie.
At the same time, I suddenly understood why my stepmother had always been so submissive and docile towards me...
Once bitten by a snake, you will be afraid of ropes for ten years.
She had personally experienced the miserable situation of having no male support at home.
"So, does Auntie have a grudge against the elders in the family? If so, how about I punish them?"
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"I'll find a reason to throw you into the Imperial Prison. If you don't die, I'll peel off a layer of skin to vent your anger."
Eugene was startled, and hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head, trying to persuade him:
"Don't be like this, Dalang!"
After a pause, she smiled bitterly:
"We are all family after all. Many years have passed. Besides, my second uncle wasn't mean to me back then and he took care of me."
Take care?
Zhao Duan didn't believe it.
Marrying the only daughter of the deceased eldest brother to a soldier is also called taking care of him?
Or get rid of the burden?
But he didn't say anything, after all, he was an elder in his stepmother's family.
As a time traveler, he lacks empathy for the clan affection of this era and cannot understand why Eugene Hua still cares about her relatives.
"Well, for your sake, I won't make things difficult for them. Since they've come to visit the capital, I'll give them a good reception."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"After all, Auntie is from my Zhao family. I can't let you lose face in front of your family."
Eugene Hua breathed a sigh of relief, bit her lip, her eyes twinkling, deeply moved by her stepson's thoughtfulness.
Zhao Pan frowned and thought:
The uncles and elders who hadn't been heard from for more than ten years suddenly came to visit, probably because they were looking for the glory and wealth of my eldest brother.
…
…
No words were spoken that night.
At dawn the next day, when it was still light, all the officials in the capital woke up, washed and dressed, and went out to court.
Outside the Meridian Gate.
When the court officials arrived, they stood in groups clearly separated from each other.
Because of the continuous battles for the new policy in recent days, anger and fatigue have accumulated.
Especially the censors, who were the main force in the court quarrels, many of them had their voices hoarse.
But... many people noticed that the members of Li's faction were particularly silent and listless today.
Full of doubts, the bell rang and the ministers entered the hall.
The eunuch whipped the mirror-clear floor of the Golden Palace with his whip.
The empress sat on the dragon throne, which meant the beginning of today's battle.
However, the fierce competition that many people expected did not occur.
Today, officials from Li's faction are listless, responding weakly, and showing signs of loosening their stance.
Seeing this, the imperial party advanced with great force, while the Li party had no intention of fighting at all.
After only a brief symbolic resistance, the army was completely defeated.
Some even staged a drama of "sudden repentance" and "enlightenment" in the temple.
He said that after repeated thinking, he realized that the three policies were beneficial to the country and should be implemented, which would be a benevolent policy.
With someone taking the lead, Li Party officials defected one after another.
Although the remaining officials tried their best to resist, they were already a minority.
The imperial party swept away their gloom and became more and more powerful. The empress took the opportunity to make the final decision.
This protracted war came to an end in this way.
After the court was dismissed, Dong Xuan and others still couldn't believe it, so they stayed together to meet the empress alone and ask what had happened.
The empress was very secretive about the details and only said that someone persuaded Li Yanfu.
Who is it?
The smiling face of Zhao Duan at yesterday's court meeting appeared in the minds of the bigwigs of the imperial party at the same time.
My mind was in a daze.
"It's him again..." The Minister of Justice was distracted.
"How did that guy do it?" Yuan Li was also puzzled.
"Talented people emerge in every generation. Haha, it seems that we are old after all." Dong Xuan stroked his beard and shook his head with emotion.
Xue Shence, who was taciturn and had a temperament that was incompatible with this group of civil officials, stood in the vast square of the Meridian Gate, which was once stained with blood.
He squinted his eyes, looked at the long white jade steps, and walked away.
He is a warrior, and he appreciates the commander-in-chief in battle formations more. Taking a step back, he should be a martial arts genius.
As a practicing martial artist, Zhao Duan is immersed in conspiracies and intrigues all day long. Perhaps he does have extraordinary means and can be a capable official.
But it is impossible to achieve anything in martial arts.
The way of a warrior is purity.
In this case, no matter how smart or skillful someone is, they will not be in his eyes.
"To lose the greater for the sake of the smaller, to abandon self-cultivation in order to manipulate power, is truly unwise, and is nothing more than another foolish person."
…
After the court was dismissed.
The news that the Li Party had defected and the new policy had come to an end at the morning court today swept through the streets and alleys of the capital like a whirlwind.
It is conceivable that this will top the list of topics discussed by scholars and officials at gatherings today.
at the same time.
A rumor that Li's party had defected and that the young cabinet minister had entered the Pear Blossom Hall yesterday spread like wildfire.
Some people speculated that the thief Zhao had resorted to some sinister tactics again, while others said that they had witnessed Zhao Duan meeting with the prime minister yesterday.
"Sir, everyone outside is discussing the unexpected events that occurred in the court today. Some are even saying that Envoy Zhao was involved. This is truly unacceptable. These people are becoming increasingly unreasonable, blaming Envoy Zhao for everything."
At the Baima Prison, a messenger reported to the old supervisor.
He complained, but in reality he was envious and tempted.
"Let a bunch of mediocre people talk." Sun Lianying sat in the courtyard, waved his hand and drove them away.
A complex expression emerged on that calm face, and he murmured softly:
"This kid really got tormented by him... I see, that's how it is..."
At this moment, the old driver had already connected Zhao Duan's thoughts in his mind, and he could not help but feel emotional.
"How could the Zhao family give birth to such a monster?"
Sun Lianying rubbed her cheeks and glanced towards the storeroom where she stored her wine. Suddenly, she felt a little worried:
"Don't forget to ask His Majesty for some wine, brat..."
…
Li Mansion.
The back door creaked open.
Mrs. Lin, dressed in plain white, stepped out from the threshold, followed by the old nanny who had escorted her out.
"Madam Lin, my Lord has asked me to come and pick you up. I'll take you to the government office for the time being and meet you later."
Outside the door, a carriage was parked.
The car curtain opened, revealing Qian Kerou's round face.
Last night, Li Yinglong failed to return home. Madam Lin stayed up all night and did not receive any news until dawn.
It was sent by the Prime Minister, who asked him to send the "Sixth Madam" away.
Also handed to her was a "divorce letter" to dissolve the relationship between her and her concubine, as well as her own "indenture".
Mrs. Lin was very excited at this time and could not help but said:
"Master Zhao..."
Qian Kerou stretched out her hand and pulled her into the carriage first. After the carriage started moving, she smiled and said:
"My lord has to go to the palace this morning to report to His Majesty, so he will be delayed for some time. Don't worry, although my lord's reputation...is not very good, he has always been very good to his own people.
I promised you, I won't go back on my word. Oh, and this is the 'interest' you'll get first."
As she spoke, Qian Kerou took out a contract.
Mrs. Lin was stunned for a moment and found that it was the household registration change of the government office.
Her original slave status had been changed to a commoner of her native place, which meant that she was now a "free person".
Madam Lin bit her lips, her eyes reddened, and she clutched her bond tightly in her hand until it was torn to pieces.
It was thrown out of the window and crushed to the ground by the wheels.
It’s like saying goodbye to a life.
At this time, the carriage passed through an intersection, and happened to see an extremely luxurious carriage with servants leading the way coming from the side.
Inside the car.
It was actually the Princess Yuan.
The Princess Yuan, who had been frightened all night, also stayed awake all night and was in a state of exhaustion.
I have thought countless times about the possible ways of dying.
But this morning, a lady-in-waiting from the palace arrived and simply asked her to return to the palace, and told her:
"During the past few days since you came out to visit your parents, Your Majesty has never left the Yuan Mansion. You should tell everyone the same thing. Remember?"
So, Princess Yuan understood.
He realized that he had been through the gates of hell and returned to the world of the living.
As for Li Yinglong... Princess Yuan sneered, tore open her sleeves, and threw half of her sleeves out of the car window. The sleeves were blown by the wind and fell to the ground.
It symbolizes her dead love.
After dreaming for so many years, she finally woke up.
What parents, what old emperor, what Li Lang, they are all the same stuff.
From now on, she will live for herself.
Two carriages passed each other, and the breeze lifted the curtains.
Two women who looked very similar but had different experiences passed each other by without even looking at each other.
It's like the intersection of two completely different lives.
In a sense, it was their "joint efforts" that pushed this ancient empire forward and took a big step towards a bright future.
But they knew nothing about it.
The sinister man standing behind them and dominating everything was also on his way to the palace when he met someone.
…
Zhao Duan rode on a tall horse, overlooking the sedan chair that was slowly stopping in front of him.
The sedan chair bearer lifted the curtain, revealing the "young cabinet minister" sitting inside. He had feminine features, deep eye sockets, was nearly forty years old, and had an expressionless face.
"You're out? How does it feel to spend the night in the imperial court?"
Zhao Duan was a little surprised that he could meet him by chance, and asked with a smile.
Inside the sedan chair, Li Yinglong stared at him calmly, stared at him intently, stared at him hard.
No rage, no cursing, no questioning.
He only said slowly: "I will remember you."
This sentence seems to imply a fight to the death.
Zhao Duan seemed to be indifferent and just smiled:
"Is this a threat?"
Li Yinglong did not answer, but just closed his eyes.
The sedan chair was slowly lifted up and Zhao Duan shook the reins.
A sedan chair and a horse.
It's like two swordsmen meeting on a narrow road on a bridge.
"laugh--"
The sound of the wind being cut was hidden by the clatter of horse hooves.
The two sides passed each other without any conflict.
Until the two of them walked towards each other for a while, the distance between the horse and the sedan chair was more than a hundred steps.
Sudden.
"boom!!"
With a deafening roar, the surface of the valuable sedan chair, which was made of fine wood and painted red, suddenly cracked into countless fine cracks.
Then, the fibers inside were shattered by some force.
Dust and smoke rose up, and the sedan bearers fell to the ground in fear, dropping the sedans on all sides, and then...
Torn into pieces!
The flying wooden planks of the sedan shattered into pieces of broken wood chips. Li Yinglong sat stupidly and stiffly in the almost torn apart sedan, his eyes wide open with a horrified expression.
far away.
A dark golden light suddenly penetrated back into Zhao Duan's sleeves. He took back the flying knife and pulled the reins.
He was riding on his horse, without even turning his head, but his voice reached the ears of the young elder clearly from a hundred steps away:
"I hate threats the most."
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(End of this chapter)
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