Chapter 287 Late Night Message
Imperial Palace.
The twinkling lights melt the night.
In stark contrast to the bustling and noisy Zhangtai, this palace city is always quiet and majestic.
"Your Majesty, Lord Yuan has been sent out." Mo Chou walked slowly to the door of the imperial study, stopped outside, and reported softly to the empress who was standing at the door, looking out into the dark night.
Xu Zhenguan said "hmm" softly, his expression solemn and tired.
"Your Majesty is worried about the Taicang Silver Mine?"
Mo Chou spoke softly, more like she was waiting for the empress to make a decision than asking.
Xu Zhen looked at the night and said:
"The Great Yu Dynasty has never had a moment of peace, and I, the emperor, have never had a moment of leisure either."
Mo Chou listened to the empress's sigh and felt distressed for a moment. She comforted him:
"Your Majesty, this matter has not been verified yet and may not be true..."
Xu Zhenguan raised his hand to stop her from speaking, turned around, smiled, and said:
"There's no need to say these words. From the day the New Deal was launched, I already anticipated that there would be numerous obstacles.
It's not surprising that something happened in Taicang. Compared to the situation in the past few years, isn't it much better now? "
Mo Chou breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, if you think so, I feel relieved. But how should we deal with the Taicang issue?
This matter, speaking of the larger issues, involves the New Deal and cannot be neglected. Especially if it is truly as serious as the letter claims, we should send an imperial censor to investigate as soon as possible."
Xu Zhenguan hesitated for a moment, as if weighing something, and did not respond immediately.
At this moment, a young eunuch suddenly came running from a distance, holding a lantern in his hand.
The two women stopped talking and looked over in confusion. They waited for the eunuch to stop and then said:
"Your Majesty, the banquet at Zhangtai Garden is almost over. The Grand Tutor has sent a messenger to deliver a message to reassure Your Majesty."
Xu Zhenguan was surprised and asked, "Grand Master, you are so thoughtful. Did anything go wrong at the banquet tonight?"
The eunuch shook his head: "No, everything went smoothly. It is said that at the poetry gathering later, the princess won the applause of the whole audience..."
Xu Zhenguan was not surprised at all. He temporarily suppressed the news from Taicang and said with interest:
"Has Jun Ling written any good poems again?"
The eunuch said with shame:
"I don't know. If your Majesty wants to hear it, I will send someone to find out."
Xu Zhenguan waved his hand and smiled:
"There's no need to make such a big fuss, but, Grand Master, are you just here to report safety?"
"No, the Grand Tutor sent me a poem. It's said that it was written by Zhao Du'an, Lord Zhao, while drunk at the end of the banquet. The Grand Tutor said Your Majesty might be interested, so he sent it to you for your review."
As the eunuch spoke, he pulled out a folded piece of poem without a single wrinkle from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Zhao Duan's poems?
That guy can write poetry?
Mo Chou was stunned for a moment and expressed her doubt out of habit, but after being slapped in the face so many times, she had learned her lesson.
His...poetry?
A hint of surprise appeared on Xu Zhenguan's pale face. He thought that the poem that was personally sent by the Grand Tutor must be special.
I couldn't help but feel curious, and I raised my hand, and the ink and paper floated into my hand.
Xu Zhenguan unfolded the paper with his bare hands and looked down.
The first thing I saw was the calligraphy that wasn't very pretty, it was even a bit ugly. I frowned and laughed in my heart:
It really is that guy's work.
However, when she read the words clearly, the slight mockery was replaced by the unbridled talent and emotion that leaped off the page:
Tonight I am in the capital of the Yu Dynasty, sleeping among the prostitutes and drinking with the princes and nobles.
The "flowers and willows" here do not refer to places with fireworks, but to the singing girls and dancers at banquets, who are like fresh flowers or willows swaying in the wind.
The five marquises and seven nobles are imaginary numbers, referring to princes, nobles and important officials in the court.
The next sentence is, in front of the heroes, with a dignified demeanor, how could you be willing to lag behind others in your elegance?
The first half of the sentence undoubtedly describes the daytime battle with Tian Hai. The second half alludes to the literary gathering tonight, where his poetry and prose are still as elegant as anyone else's.
Xu Zhenguan was slightly distracted.
Through these two lines of poetry, she seemed to witness with her own eyes how Zhao Duan was surrounded by the dignitaries of the capital and congratulated at the banquet tonight, with fireworks, boiling oil, and beautiful flowers.
How could he not be willing to fall behind others? He drank alone, watching with cold eyes the talented officials writing poems and essays, and his younger sister Xu Junling overshadowing them. Finally, he stood up leisurely and wrote poems while drunk.
"So proud?"
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she was not disgusted, because the glory and splendor today were all earned by that guy himself.
His eyes moved down and his lips moved.
"The emperor is beautiful and I am young, I ride a horse in Zhangtai with a golden whip."
After reading this sentence, Xu Zhenguan was stunned, and then an indescribable feeling of shame and anger surged in his heart.
The Emperor's Beauty...
"What did this guy write?"
"When did I become his lover? This is just nonsense!"
"What golden whip... Riding a horse to Zhangtai is fine, but where did the golden whip come from? It's simply..."
"It's insulting."
In the night, Mo Chou, who was standing next to her, seemed to see a red cloud appear on the empress's cheek for no reason, and she was surprised.
There are countless talented people in the capital, and in recent years, countless more have presented poems and essays in praise of His Majesty, but she has never seen His Majesty like this.
"What on earth did this thief write?"
Mo Chou tried her best to suppress the urge to steal a peek.
At this time, the empress had finished reading the last sentence and sent the article to the Golden Palace, where she listened to songs and watched dances and stayed at the luxurious and precious tortoiseshell banquet.
The second half of the sentence describes the grandness of the banquet, but as for the first half...
Could it be that this poem has really been delivered to the palace and into my hands?
No wonder the Grand Tutor ordered someone to send it over...
Because this poem already expressed the intention of sending the article to the palace.
So, he wrote it to me on purpose?
Xu Zhenguan was a little distracted.
"Your Majesty?" After a long time, Mo Chou couldn't help but call softly.
Xu Zhenguan finally came to her senses, and the blush on her face faded. She said "yes" indifferently, put the white paper with the poem into her sleeve, and said to the eunuch:
"Tell the Grand Master that I know."
Then, looking at Mo Chou who looked curious, he said:
"Leave the palace immediately and deliver my oral instructions..."
After a while, the empress left the bewildered female chancellor and walked alone, with a stern face, straight to her bedroom, humming in her heart as she walked:
"Dare to tease me with poetry? Wait and see how I punish you."
…
…
Outside the Zhao Mansion.
"Da Lang is back!"
The old steward of the Zhao family pushed open the door and ordered the servants to welcome the drunk Zhao Duan in.
Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan were still awake, so they came out to check on him. Seeing that he had just drunk too much, they felt relieved.
The stepmother ordered someone to make some sobering soup and then sent him back to his room.
The lights are dim.
Zhao Duan, who had taken off his coat and was only wearing pajamas, drank a bowl of hangover soup. He felt a little calmer and lay on the bed, feeling nervous:
"I wonder if Zhenbao can understand my poem..."
"Haha, based on my life experience, the more feudal the place, the more restrained the way of expressing passion should be... For example, 'The moon is so beautiful tonight', or writing a 'love letter'..."
"High-end flirting is all about class, not some 'nights thinking of you'..."
"Well, Zhenbao should be able to see it tomorrow. I performed so well today, and I added this poem. I don't believe I can't pry open the door to your heart..."
Alas, what a pity! In my previous life, I followed a male leader and didn’t put in the effort to learn this skill. I regret not having learned enough when I needed it, and I’m still not good at it…”
Just as he was daydreaming.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door:
"Master, there's someone outside our house looking for us. They say they're from the palace."
Zhao Duan turned over and got up with a suspicious look on his face. He wondered if the poem had already been sent to the palace?
Could it be that Zhenbao was moved by my persistent offensive for half a year and decided to summon me to the palace to sleep with her?
Oh my god...it happened so suddenly and I was completely unprepared!
Zhao Duan, who was a little excited due to the alcohol, said hurriedly:
"Hurry up and invite them over. Don't disturb my aunt and sister!"
…
Not long.
Zhao Duan, dressed neatly and sprayed with homemade perfume, arrived at the inner hall with two heavy treasure bags on his waist and saw Mo Chou waiting there.
"Mo Zhaorong? Why is it you?" Zhao Duan was surprised.
The female prime minister, dressed in a female official's robe and a black gauze hat, with a neutral and beautiful appearance, sat in the Zhao family's hall and sneered:
"Who else do you think it is?"
"..." Zhao Duan said eagerly:
"Zhao Rong came to my house late at night, but what urgent matter does Your Majesty have to ask me?"
Big Ice Tuozi's icy face was obviously stunned for a moment, and he looked at him suspiciously:
"How do you know?"
She waved her hand, signaling the palace guards at the door to close the door and keep out any outsiders.
When there were only two people left in the hall, Mo Chou sat upright in the mahogany chair and said in a cold voice:
"Your Majesty has a verbal order, Zhao Duan will receive it."
Is it so formal? Shouldn't this kind of thing be done quietly, without firing a shot?
Zhao Duan was extremely surprised, but he still stood in the room, bowed his head respectfully, and regarded Mo Chou as the empress, and said with a cupped hand:
"Minister, where is Zhao Du?"
Mo Chou sat in the hall, looking down at her rival, with a smile on her face, and said in the tone of an empress:
"Today, the Metropolitan Censorate has received a letter of accusation that the Taicang Silver Mine is suspected of corruption and theft of state power. I am deeply concerned and am ordering Zhao Duan, the White Horse Emissary, as an imperial envoy. He is to gather personnel and rush to the Taicang Silver Mine within three days to investigate the corruption. I decree this!"
Zhao Duan was stunned.
"Zhao Duan, why don't you accept my order? Are you going to disobey me?"
Mo Chou could hardly suppress the smile on her face. It was a rare opportunity for her to take advantage of the power of others and show off in front of Zhao.
No... what about the promise to enter the palace to sleep with me? I've been preparing so much for the palace during the day, and I've been going to so much trouble copying poems at night...
Zhao Duan looked up blankly, his whole body looking like a purple eggplant hit by frost:
"Your Majesty...I accept your order."
After saying this, the role-playing of delivering the imperial edict in the room ended. Mo Chou was beaten back to her original form, and said with a lingering feeling:
"Congratulations, Lord Zhao, on your reappointment. Please depart as soon as possible. Although the Taicang Silver Mine is not far from the capital, the round trip will still take time."
Zhao Duan still couldn't believe it and asked:
"Excuse me, Zhaorong, why did His Majesty suddenly assign me this case? This late at night..."
Normally, even if there is a case for him, he should wait until daytime, right?
Bringing glory to the royal family in the morning, and facing off against the task in the evening...
Even cattle and horses are not exploited like this.
The icy beauty Mo Zhaorong glanced at him and said with a smile:
"Oh, His Majesty originally didn't plan to let you go, but the Grand Tutor gave His Majesty the poem you wrote, and after His Majesty read it, he decided it was you."
…
Happy Chinese Valentine's Day, fellow book lovers! Single author Kawenka is dying...
(End of this chapter)
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