Chapter 391 Zhao Duan: I am Link, and I have met Princess Wenzhu
"Princess, this is it."
Next to the carriage, a tall female warrior with braided hair and rough, red skin scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. After making sure it was safe, she asked the princess to get out of the carriage.
Princess Wenzhu, who is over 40 years old and has a gentle demeanor, dressed quite low-key today, with no jewelry on her body or hair.
At this moment, my shoes were stepping on the crunching snow, my eyes were facing the sunlight, and I saw the charity shed at the intersection ahead.
"We purchased coal as you instructed and distributed it to the people here," the female warrior said softly, "without passing through the hands of government officials."
"Yes." Princess Wenzhu nodded gently, looking at the poor people in front of the shed, whose clothes were either thin or tattered, and who were thin and haggard, with a look of pity in her eyes:
"The snow is heavy this year. I heard that prices in the city have skyrocketed in the past few days. Those in the capital are having such a hard time. I can't imagine how hard it is for those in the poorer areas."
The female warrior muttered, "They say the capital is the best city, but I think it's not as good as the Western Regions."
Princess Wenzhu shook her head and sighed, saying impartially:
"Although the Western Regions are remote, the population is much smaller. Ruling a tribe is naturally much simpler and easier than ruling an entire dynasty. However, it is indeed more difficult than the winters in the capital that I remember. This is probably due to the empty treasury of the imperial court."
The loyal female warrior said, "That's what the officials all said. They also said that by next year, the silver they start earning will fill the treasury, and everything will be fine."
Opening...
The gentle eldest princess pursed her red lips.
She had heard this word so many times in recent months that her ears were almost callused. This included the items related to "opening the market" in the current negotiations with the court about next year's trade.
"It is said that the new policies and opening of the market in Yu State were all promoted by Zhao Duan." said the female warrior.
Princess Wenzhu shook her head and said calmly:
"It's just gilding. How can a military officer who came from the Imperial Guards be in charge of such a major event? This shows how much favor Your Majesty has for this sycophant."
Since entering the city, Princess Wenzhu has been trying to find out information about the Empress's lover through various channels.
As various news came together, Princess Wenzhu felt that everything was absurd.
Let’s not talk about the things about eliminating treacherous officials, which are not well known to the outside world.
Just the ones that are made public include the limelight in the Buddhist-Taoist competition, the promotion of the research and development of new firearms by the Shenjiying, the achievements in the Taicang case and the opening of the Huting market, the planning of the new policy, the defeat of the Zhengyang School... and so on.
If it's just one or two, it's reasonable.
But when so many achievements were concentrated on one person in just half a year, it was too absurd for Princess Wenzhu, who was not an eyewitness.
Based on common sense, Wenzhu became more and more certain that the empress was too fond of this lover, and in order to gild his reputation, she tried to let Zhao Duan take credit for every major event and achievement.
That way, everything makes sense.
In fact, Princess Wenzhu’s view is the truth that normal people would subconsciously imagine.
Even to this day, the controversy in Beijing about which of Zhao Duan's achievements are real and which are gilded has never stopped.
After all, even the empress, who knew everything completely, would find it incredible whenever she recalled what Zhao Duan had done this year.
Not to mention outsiders?
Wenzhu already had a stereotyped prejudice against Zhao Duan. The more information she learned, the stronger her impression of him as a "treacherous minister who deceived the king" became.
The more worried I am.
In the past few days, she entered the palace several times and had several in-depth conversations with the empress.
As a married aunt, Wenzhu knew her limits and did not rush to say anything. She just talked about family affection, chatted about family matters, and made indirect suggestions.
The trust Xu Zhenguan revealed in the conversation in terms of his trust in the traitor Zhao Duan, and the hint of affection that was well hidden but still caught by her, made her very worried.
Wenzhu also thought about meeting Zhao Duan, and in front of the empress as an elder, expose the hypocrisy of this "yellow-haired" who bewitched her niece.
pity……
Zhao Duan closed his door to visitors and never showed up in public, citing the excuse of recuperating from a serious injury.
Haven't found the opportunity yet.
"Princess, I heard that in previous years, when the winter was bitterly cold, the monks of Shenlong Temple would give alms to the poor in the city. But this year, due to the 'ban on Buddhism,' they have disappeared." The female warrior said with some emotion.
Princess Wenzhu was silent for a moment and sighed softly.
Regarding the "ban on Buddhism", the Western Regions have mixed feelings. They are happy that the Shenlong Temple has been weakened, but they are worried about whether this means that the overall influence of Buddhism has declined.
but……
These are all things that the "holy monk" and others need to consider. Wenzhu does not want to get involved. From her personal perspective, she has no ill feelings towards Shenlong Temple.
Because even if it is for the believers, the monks of Shenlong Temple are genuine in their disaster relief efforts.
It's much better than Zhao Duan, who relies on power to do evil and has a bad reputation.
"When the upper echelons fight, the common people suffer in the end. The Buddhist sect is still willing to provide relief to the common people, but those powerful and corrupt officials like Zhao Duan only know how to enjoy wealth and glory. I'm afraid they can't even see the suffering of the emperor."
Princess Wenzhu exhaled a breath of white air and said, "Let's go over there too."
Hearing this, several other attendants beside the carriage hurriedly carried several wooden boxes and followed behind the princess.
The people distributing coal in this shed were people from the State of Yu recruited from the Western Regions. When they saw the princess, they wanted to salute her, but Wenzhu raised her hand to stop them.
She made an extra space in the corner of the shed and opened a wooden box. Inside was a bunch of steaming mixed flour buns wrapped in a thick quilt.
Order was given that only children were allowed to come and receive it.
"Steamed bun!"
The crowd suddenly became noisy and the team became a little chaotic.
Fortunately, the female warrior led people to maintain order, and soon one poor child after another came to get steamed buns, holding a winnowing basket filled with black coal.
Princess Wenzhu did not shy away from distributing the food herself with her well-maintained hands.
The common people did not know her identity and only thought that she was a female member of the family of a kind-hearted master in the city. They kept saying auspicious words such as "May the madam be blessed and live a long life."
Her eyes were gentle as she saw a skinny little girl, about waist-high, about five or six years old, struggling to lift the dustpan filled with coal with her bamboo-like hands. Because she was too short, she had to use her head to look at it as she came to the table in the shed.
Wenzhu frowned, puzzled as to why such a young child came out. A servant of the Yu people beside her explained in a low voice:
"This kid's mother is sick. There's no one else at home. She said she hasn't had a fever for a few days and has been out picking up donkey dung to burn..."
Princess Wenzhu felt sad and lovingly stroked the little girl's dirty face with her white and tender hands, but the little girl was so scared that she took several steps back and almost dropped the dustpan in her hand.
"Oh." Princess Wenzhu sighed, took a few extra steamed buns and put them in the winnowing basket, and secretly stuffed a string of big coins into the coal.
I watched the little girl endure her hunger and run home with the steamed bun in her arms.
This beautiful woman, who was known as the "Saint" and "Goddess" in the Western Regions, had a sad look in her eyes. She handed over the distribution work to others, walked out and called a few followers.
"Princess, are you going back now?" asked the female warrior.
Wenzhu shook her head and said, "Let's go to the nearby pharmacy and buy some cold medicine."
The female warrior and other guards looked at the princess they respected with reverence as they walked towards the shop two streets away.
Not long after the group walked out, they heard shouting, crying, and begging coming from an alley!
"What's going on?"
Princess Wenzhu felt uneasy, and she moved lightly towards the alley, where her vision suddenly opened up.
In this main street and alley, several gangsters dressed as thugs were waiting for the opportunity without knowing when.
Stop the poor people who have received relief and are returning home.
The ruffians were not like ordinary thugs. They wore similar green cotton-padded jackets with a red flower embroidered on their shoulders. They were big and strong, holding sticks in their hands, with ruddy faces and ferocious expressions.
He was a member of the Red Flower Society, the largest gang in Beijing.
At this moment, under the command of the leading thug, a group of ruffians were beating and snatching the coal and steamed buns.
The thin woman and the old man were beaten until they curled up into a ball, wailing and begging for mercy.
The little girl, who was about five or six years old, wanted to slip away from the corner, but was kicked by a tall ruffian. She screamed "Ah" and was kicked away for a distance.
The dustpan in his hand fell.
The already cold steamed buns were rolling all over the ground, and black coal was scattered on the snowy ground.
"Haha, you little brat still want to run away? Grandpa asked you to hand it over, don't you understand?"
The scoundrel sneered, looked at the buns scattered on the ground, picked up one, took a bite, and said with a smile:
"It's still warm."
Another tall and thin ruffian with sharp eyes picked up a bunch of big coins from the ground in surprise:
"Master Wen, this brat has money in his winnowing basket!"
The leader, who was sitting with his arms folded, had his eyes light up and turned to look at the little girl who had just gotten up:
"It was probably given by those outsiders who distributed charcoal. Go and search her to see if she still has it!"
The dirty and skinny little girl struggled to get up, her expression dazed, as if she was frightened silly. Her eyes were fixed on the steamed buns, and she cried softly.
The scoundrel who ran towards Big Foot and tried to strip her clothes for money seemed not to notice at all.
"Princess! These people deserve to be killed!"
The tall female warrior who saw this scene from afar was furious. Her right hand had already reached under the hem of her robe and grasped the hilt of the scimitar.
Another warrior held her down and quickly reminded her in a low voice: "This is the Yu Kingdom!"
The implication was that as a member of the Western Regions delegation, if he resorted to violence in the capital of the Yu State, even if it was just beating up a few thugs, it would most likely turn into a "diplomatic incident."
Some people made a big fuss about it.
Princess Wenzhu had already spoken: "Go and drive these away..."
However, before they could finish their sentence, everyone suddenly heard a sharp sound of breaking through the air!
It was almost instinctive. The female warrior who was about to rush out to attack immediately returned to defend, and several Western warriors surrounded the princess!
Then they noticed that a stone as big as an egg came whizzing from the other direction of the street and hit the alley like a cannonball.
In a flash, it hit the big man in the chest.
"ah!!"
As expected, the man bent over like a shrimp, his facial features twisted and hideous, and he fell backwards with his head tilted back, saliva flying.
The back of his head hit the hard ground with a bang, and he fainted. Blood spurted out of his chest, and stones were embedded in his chest and abdomen!
“Whoosh!”
“Swoosh!”
And immediately afterwards, two more figures rushed into the alley. They were Hou Ren Meng and Chen Juan, who were dressed as servants!
The two martial artists did not use their skills, but only used their fists and feet. In the blink of an eye, they knocked a group of gang members to the ground.
"Ah...we are Red Flower..."
The leader, "Master Wen," came to his senses and stammered half a sentence before a young man who had walked up from the alley said calmly, "Slap your mouth."
"Yes, sir!"
Hou Renmeng laughed fiercely and slapped him in the face.
"Master Wen" was beaten so hard that he turned 180 degrees on the spot. His eyes went black, his right cheek swelled up, and he fell to the ground with a thud. He then knelt down and begged for mercy in a familiar manner.
"Sir, please spare me... please spare me..."
Chen Juan silently kicked him again, knocking him down with a puff.
Zhao Duan, who had disguised himself, stepped on the dirty snow in the alley with his exquisite boots. Qian Kerou, dressed as a maid, squatted down beside him, checked the little girl's injuries, breathed a sigh of relief, and nodded to her master:
"Nothing serious."
Zhao Duan said "yes" expressionlessly and said, "You all can go."
At this moment, a group of poor people who were huddled on the ground suddenly woke up from their dreams and kowtowed:
"Thank you, Master!"
Then, not daring to stay, he quickly picked up his dustpan and left as if escaping.
Qian Kerou squatted down and helped the little girl pick up the scattered coal with two colleagues.
All this happened very quickly. When Zhao Duan turned around with a cold face, he looked at Princess Wenzhu who was slowly walking towards him with several Western warriors.
At first glance, it’s a bit stunning!
Zhao Duan originally thought that an old princess in her forties, especially living in a place like the Western Regions, must have aged a long time ago.
But the appearance of Princess Wenzhu in front of him was much better than expected. She was gentle yet dignified, although her skin was indeed not as delicate as the noble ladies in the capital and was a little rough.
But her religious aura, almost like that of a "saint" or "mother-in-law", combined with the exotic customs she had acquired from living in the Western Regions for a long time, gave her a demeanor that was beyond the reach of the noble ladies in Beijing.
If compared with Yunyang, who is of the same generation.
Princess Yunyang simply takes good care of herself and shows few signs of aging.
Princess Wenzhu, however, has transformed her age into a unique temperament, which reminds people of kumis or butter tea from the Western Regions.
At the same time, Princess Wenzhu also looked at the strange man in front of her with curiosity.
Although his appearance is ordinary and it is obvious that he comes from a wealthy family, his every move and gesture is very different from those of the pampered children of the powerful or the sons of wealthy merchants.
He has the gentleness of a scholar, but his every move reveals a fierce and decisive spirit.
More importantly, it is the indescribable temperament of a superior that has been developed by holding power for a long time.
"We are merchants from other places who are providing aid to the local people. We heard about the commotion here and came to take a look."
Princess Wenzhu smiled softly and asked the guards to lower their guard before she took the initiative to reveal her identity.
Zhao Duan blinked, also bowed, and introduced himself:
"My surname is Lin, and my given name is Ke. I'm from the capital. I was passing by here and heard the cries, so I came here."
"Mr. Lin acted out of righteousness, which shows how many heroes there are in the capital." Princess Wenzhu smiled gently.
She was not a person who put on airs. Having lived in the Western Regions for a long time, she did not like the scholars in the capital. Instead, she admired the chivalrous man like Mr. Lin.
Moreover, if it weren't for this Young Master Lin, even if she was a princess, if the people from the Western Regions started a war in the capital, it would be troublesome if they were targeted by someone with ulterior motives.
Zhao Duan felt quite strange in his heart. This was very different from what he had expected when meeting Zhen Bao's aunt.
The main thing is that he didn't expect to encounter such a thing... It's a godsend opportunity.
"Madam, you are too kind. It is rare that you have the heart to provide relief, but instead you allow these scoundrels to ruin the reputation of our Great Yu capital. How despicable."
Zhao Duan speaks righteously and plays the role of a chivalrous young man.
He changed the subject and said seriously:
"However, although your madam is kind-hearted, I have something to say. It is inappropriate for you to distribute charcoal in the street. This is not the way to do charity."
Thanks to book friend: Zhang Xiubiao for the reward of 500 coins!
(End of this chapter)
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