Chapter 226 Arrival at Tianshi Mansion
The next day, early morning.
In the room, Zhao Duan stood in front of a full-length mirror, tidying up his appearance. After his collar and clothes were properly adjusted, he nodded with satisfaction.
"Okay."
He left home and rode his horse to the palace instead of taking a carriage.
After arriving at the Imperial City, I asked someone to inform them. Soon the guard came back and said:
"Your Majesty will be out shortly, please wait."
So Zhao Duan stood at the gate of the imperial city and waited for more than half an hour before he saw a huge procession of carriages coming out of the palace in the distance.
"I knew it. I'd wait at least an hour for a woman to leave..."
Zhao Duan sighed and enjoyed it.
Today’s visit to the Tianshi Mansion is not a grand event.
Therefore, the emperor's carriage was of average size, with only about fifty or sixty people accompanying him.
The carriage drove out of the gate and stopped. A palace maid came with a message, asking "Master Zhao" to get in the carriage and meet the emperor.
Riding with the Empress is a great honor for any minister.
But Zhao Duan has had three experiences in just a few months.
…
…
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"
Zhao Duan got into the extra spacious carriage and performed the etiquette obediently - the most taboo for a favored minister is to be arrogant. The more favored he is, the less he can act presumptuous in front of his leader.
"Please sit down. You and I are the king and the subject. No need for formalities."
The sound of jade beads rolling down a silver plate struck my heart.
After Zhao Duan thanked him, he looked up cautiously, and then his eyes lit up.
Today, the empress changed her clothes. It was not the emperor's dragon robe, nor the ordinary clothes in the palace, but she was dressed more like a Taoist monk.
The inside is white, and the outside is covered with a green robe, similar in style to a Taoist robe.
Her clothes were open, half of her three thousand black hair hung down her waist, and the other half was tied into a bun on top of her head, casually fixed with a jade hairpin.
She wears no makeup, and her face is plain, but her complexion makes any beautiful woman in the world feel ashamed. The empress, who calls herself a mediocre woman, has a fair and translucent face.
There was a red cinnabar dot between her eyebrows, making her look like a jade statue.
The fairy with clear eyes glanced at him, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, which made Zhao Duan lose his focus for a moment.
"Is there anything on my face?" Xu Zhenguan said with a half-smile.
Zhao Duan finally realized his impoliteness and said sincerely:
"Your Majesty shames all the flowers."
"...Heh," Xu Zhenguan felt that he should put on a stern face, but he really wasn't angry at all. Thinking of the meritorious service this guy had done yesterday, he just snorted.
"Smooth talk."
Just smooth talk? Zhao Duan blinked, realizing that the empress was indeed in a good mood today.
No one even scolded him.
Still a little uncomfortable...
Sitting on the embroidered cushion on the side of the carriage, Zhao Duan's thoughts were racing, wondering whether he should be bolder. It was always better for a man to take the initiative.
Then the empress spoke calmly:
"I heard from Eunuch Hai about yesterday's events. You played a very important role."
Zhao Duan quickly came back to his senses and said seriously:
"Your Excellency, I am truly honored. I was only doing my duty, yet Your Majesty secretly dispatched Eunuch Hai to protect my safety. I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay you. I will sacrifice my life for Your Majesty, devoting myself to your service, fearing I will never be able to repay your kindness."
Even though Xu Zhenguan was used to seeing ministers fawning over him, he still found it a bit overwhelming.
She tilted her head slightly, changed her posture, and said reservedly:
"That's not necessary... I'm just curious how you knew the location of that thief."
Here we come!
Sure enough, I was asked this question, and I thought I could get away with it... How should I answer?
It's inappropriate to tell the truth. As the saying goes, a loyal minister never serves two masters. Although my relationship with Lao Wang is purely a business one, I can't resist women's imagination...
What if they think I'm playing both sides and colluding with the Tianshi Mansion and the royal family at the same time? That would be terrible... Zhao Duan's thoughts raced.
There was almost no hesitation in his mouth, and he immediately answered:
"I asked Priest Jin Jian for help."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and said jokingly:
"Jin Jian is willing to help you? This is against the rules."
Oops, this question is a trap... If I answer it wrong, everything will be lost... Zhao Duan's brain was working rapidly, and he said calmly:
"Your Majesty, are you aware that I recently purchased a new house?"
“I’ve heard a little bit about it.”
"Your Majesty, do you know how I came to have such a large sum of money?"
Xu Zhenguan half-closed his beautiful eyes and said lightly, "I don't like riddles."
“…”
Zhao Duan asked and answered himself frankly:
"I usually like to tinker with small things. I accidentally discovered a way to make ice a while ago, and I sold it to the Priest Jin Jian. I made a lot of money and was able to buy a house to be closer to Your Majesty.
It is precisely because of our business dealings that Priest Jin Jian has been so helpful to me..."
Xu Zhenguan listened quietly. She had actually known about the business between Zhao Duan and Tianshi Mansion for a long time.
But at this moment, hearing his honest answer, I was still very satisfied.
The empress knew that Jin Jian was a money-grubber by nature. Zhao Duan helped her make a fortune, and it was reasonable for the girl to repay him.
She nodded slightly, smiling:
"Last time you made that floral perfume, and this time you know how to make ice. You're quite versatile."
Phew… The topic of death is finally over… Zhao Duan exhaled silently and said:
"This is just a trivial trick, a peculiar and cunning one, not worth mentioning."
With a thought in mind, he took the initiative to change the subject:
"As for the success of the business, it was mainly due to the efforts of Gongshu Tianyuan."
"Oh? The fifth disciple of Master Zhang Tianshi?"
Xu Zhenguan was indeed diverted from the topic, and a look of realization appeared on his face. "It's him, no wonder."
Zhao Duan raised his head and asked curiously:
"Your Majesty knows him?"
The empress said "yes", and seeing that her little guards didn't quite understand, she explained casually:
"Gongshu Tianyuan cultivates the 'God of Craftsmanship' lineage and can craft magical weapons and magical treasures. He is extremely talented.
He just stays in his workshop all year round and rarely goes out...
Well, the scroll you used earlier that recorded the sound and images was made by this person... but he wasn't the original creator."
Oh shit… He was the one who made the Peeping Scroll?
Zhao Duan was surprised.
The Empress sighed and said:
“However, it is difficult to achieve great success in this line of work. To advance in cultivation, one must forge groundbreaking artifacts in order to advance. Therefore, this person is most concerned about your so-called unique skills and tricks.
However, although advancement is difficult, if one day one truly reaches a higher realm, one can be called a national treasure. Ha, a master craftsman who can create top-grade magical instruments and divine weapons is someone that even the royal family would want to befriend. "
As he said this, he glanced at him meaningfully, the meaning was obvious:
If you can make friends with them, it will be beneficial to you and not harmful.
Is that so? That little fat guy still has potential... Zhao Duan was in high spirits and said seriously:
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty."
Xu Zhenguan raised the corner of his mouth and wanted to say:
Although Gongshu Tianyuan is a genius, he has a rather arrogant personality. Even if you try to make friends with him, he will look down on you.
After all, this kind of "technical talent" only cares about technology, never cares about power, and looks down on it.
Just relying on the ability to make ice is not enough to make the disciple of the Heavenly Master look at Zhao Duan differently.
but……
Never mind, there's no need to discourage subordinates' enthusiasm.
However, the empress didn't know that Zhao Du'an had already used a simple blueprint of the principle of light transmission of glasses to make the arrogant descendant of the god of craftsman suffer for three days and three nights without sleep, and was exhausted.
"We are almost at the Tianshi Mansion. Please follow me in and don't talk nonsense. If you are lucky enough, you may even see Tianshi Zhang in person today."
Xu Zhenguan raised his eyes, looked outside the carriage, and saw the gate of Tianshi Mansion which had appeared, and said lightly.
The legendary Zhang Tianshi? The living immortal from Dayu?
Zhao Duan looked expectant.
(End of this chapter)
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