Chapter 410: Zhao Duan: How much is Duke Cao's face worth? (5k)
Who is the drunkard? Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then blurted out:
"You mean Lang Eighteen? He was captured? What happened?"
Faced with Zhao Duan's three consecutive questions, the female sorceress with severe social anxiety opened her mouth, as if she didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Zhao Duan took a deep breath and saw Jin Yi chasing after him outside the door. He frowned slightly, stood up and dragged her in, then drove away the pursuers outside the door: "Come in and talk slowly."
Well, running out in the cold winter, her wet long skirt was frozen hard, like a layer of armor.
Ji Yue murmured "Oh" softly, and the white pupils hidden behind her black hair glanced at Ma Yan warily, and hid behind Zhao Duan...
"...Just tell me."
Zhao Duan felt the urge to hold his forehead: "Didn't you go back to Houhu after returning to Beijing last time?"
Ji Yue nodded timidly and gave a brief description of the matter.
After the meeting at Huting, she and Lang Shiba did return to Houhu to recuperate.
But today, a team of military masters suddenly visited Houhu. Due to the promulgation of the "New Deal", the Yellow Book Library was gradually abandoned, and the guards of Houhu were much lax. In addition, Ji Yue was sleeping at the bottom of the lake in the middle of winter, and his senses were dulled by the ice.
When she heard the sound of fighting on the lake, she broke through the ice and found that Lang Shiba, who was still injured on the island, had been captured.
"An expert in the army?" Zhao Duan caught the key words.
Jiyue nodded weakly, put her toes together, and explained in a low voice:
"The other party has the military tiger talisman and waist badge. The island's treasurer calls him the Duke of Anguo, so I dare not act on my own. But I don't feel like he was sent by His Majesty... I don't know who to contact about this, so I came to you."
Zhao Duan and Ma Yan looked at each other and saw the solemnity and suspicion in each other's eyes.
"Are you sure it's the Duke of Anguo? The one stationed in Jubei City in the north?"
Ma Yan stared at Ji Yue and asked urgently.
Ji Yue curled up silently and hid behind Zhao - she intuitively sensed that she could not afford to offend the other party.
"She doesn't know him. But she must have heard it wrong. It must be him." Zhao Duan defended him.
Ma Yan shook his head and said:
"Duke Anguo Cao Mao is indeed on his way back to the capital, but according to the itinerary he was sent back to us, he shouldn't be back for another few days. How could this be..."
Zhao Duan said quietly:
"Duke Tang was supposed to be at the west city gate, but he took a detour. There's something fishy about this."
He turned to look at Ji Yue: "Do you know where those people took Lang Shiba?"
Ji Yue whispered, "The Imperial Palace. I secretly followed behind and saw the direction to the palace."
Zhao Duan pondered for a moment and said:
"Well, you stay here for now. Don't move around, Brother. I'll trouble you to look after her for now... Well, just leave her alone in a room where no one can disturb her. I'll talk to you when I come back."
This matter was too strange, he had to figure it out, otherwise he would not be at ease.
Ma Yan nodded: "Don't worry, I will take good care of her."
No, senior brother, there is something wrong with your line... Zhao Duan couldn't suppress the urge to complain, so he patted his butt and got up to leave.
…
…
After leaving the imperial court, Zhao Duan rode his horse straight to the imperial palace and had a smooth journey.
It was not until he entered the imperial city and expressed his desire to see the empress that a young eunuch went to inform him.
After a while, Zhao Duan, who was anxiously waiting in the leeward side of the palace wall, was surprised to see a familiar figure walking towards him.
A female official's robe, a wingless black gauze, and plum blossom makeup...it was her old love rival, Da Bingtuozi.
"What do you want to do with His Majesty?"
Mo Chou walked closer and looked him up and down with suspicious eyes, full of vigilance.
Zhao Duan rolled his eyes and wanted to say something like, "Why are you, a little maid, interfering in the affairs between me and His Majesty?" But he held back.
"It's urgent."
Mo Chou's face was stern, resembling the female salesperson at the service hall window in her previous life. She said without emotion, "Your Majesty is meeting with Duke Cao, so it's not convenient."
What Ji Yue said was true... Zhao Duan stared at her: "I got the news that An Guogong Cao Mao broke into Houhu without permission and led the masters in the army to capture the masters that His Majesty kept in Houhu."
Mo Chou's expression changed slightly. The palace maid glanced around, then suddenly tugged at his sleeve, took a few quick steps, and walked to a more secluded place at the foot of the wall, staring at him.
"You know?"
Zhao Duan said angrily, "Don't play dumb. What's going on?"
Mo Chou pursed her lips and explained:
"Duke Cao entered the city suddenly. He must have left the group returning to the capital and returned to the capital with only a small group of elite soldiers.
He suddenly entered the palace and reported to His Majesty that he had successfully arrested the 'Blood Blade of the North', who had been convicted of murder in Jubei City and had fled and disappeared... You arrived a step too late, and now Lang Shiba has been taken to the Ministry of Justice for trial, and I'm afraid he will not escape death."
Zhao Duan was stunned, and suddenly recalled the fight with Prince Jing on the official ship.
During this time, Eunuch Hai had told him about Lang Shiba's origins -
He was a master in Jubei City. Later, he was wanted and fled to the south. When he was seriously injured and on the verge of death, he was rescued by the prince. He changed his name and hid in Houhu Lake.
And Cao Mao was the commander of the border army defending the northern city.
Seeing that he was puzzled, Mo Chou said:
"Lang Shiba's true identity is a wanted criminal who defected from Jubei City. Duke Cao somehow learned of his whereabouts in Houhu Lake. This raid was likely premeditated, designed to catch Lang Shiba off guard.
After the arrest, he brought his men into the palace in a high-profile manner, not giving Your Majesty any time to react... Duke Cao kept saying that the wanted criminal was hiding in Houhu and would be brought to justice... Your Majesty, due to the constraints of national law, could only nod.
No... something is wrong. Since Lang Shiba is hiding in the Royal Back Lake, even if Duke Cao is dumb, he can figure out that this person's anonymity is closely related to the Royal Family...
Yet they still chose to raid and arrest him, causing such a drama that was almost like forcing the emperor to abdicate...
Could it be that Cao Mao is so ruthless that he would rather offend the emperor than punish him? I heard that this Duke doesn't have a good reputation...
Zhao Duan asked seriously, "Why? Why would Duke Cao do this?"
Mo Chou glanced at him and explained in a low voice:
"Lang Shiba killed many of his fellow soldiers in Jubei City. It is said that one of Duke Cao's sons was killed while trying to track down Lang Shiba."
Ah, this... Zhao Duan choked. This was something he didn't expect.
If this is the case, it perfectly explains why Duke Cao did this... After learning that the murderer who killed his son was hiding in the capital, even though he knew that the murderer might have been adopted by the royal family as a thug, he still chose to fight back and pretended not to know.
Anyway, the person has been arrested and tried according to the law... The empress has no choice.
But……
"That's not right. This doesn't make sense. Eunuch Hai said it himself that the Crown Prince saved Lang Shiba. If the Crown Prince saved someone, he would definitely investigate thoroughly. Knowing that Lang Shiba had killed the Duke's son, even if he sympathized with his plight, would he be willing to risk offending the dead Duke Cao just out of sympathy to save him?"
Zhao Duan's brows were furrowed in wrinkles, and his mind was filled with thoughts:
"Also, Lang Shiba had been hiding for many years, so how did Cao Mao happen to find him? Unless..."
Zhao Duan's eyes narrowed:
"Prince Jing! Could it be Prince Jing? Lang Shiba's only appearance this year was when he followed me to the lake pavilion. During that time, he clashed with Prince Jing, and Lang Shiba attacked twice. Many of the people under Prince Jing's command have military experience, so it's not surprising that they recognized the famous Northern Blood Blade...
The eight princes are of the same blood. If Prince Jing leaks the information and deliberately leaks it to Cao Mao...he will use it to provoke a conflict between Duke Cao and the court..."
Seeing him suddenly silent, Mo Chou couldn't help but nudge him with her elbow: "What are you thinking about?"
"Well, nothing." Zhao Duan came back to his senses and asked carefully:
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
Mo Chou shook her head:
"I don't know. But I think His Majesty will be displeased. But the murder committed by Lang Shiba is real, and Duke Cao's anger is also real..."
What this means is that from the empress's point of view, from the perspective of the overall situation, sacrificing Lang Shiba is undoubtedly the most reasonable thing to do.
Anyway, they were just the death warriors raised by the prince, and were not rescued by the empress. Lang Shiba lived for several more years in Houhu, which was considered a few years of life gained for free.
Anyone who can ascend the throne and become emperor, even if he has tender feelings for a few people in his heart, will inevitably be cold and ruthless to the outside world.
Moreover, taking a step back, even if the empress wanted to be partial, the matter was already out in the open, and she could not openly disregard the law.
"In other words, Lang Shiba is going to die?" Zhao Duan said in a declarative sentence.
Mo Chou nodded gently. She took a closer look at her rival, and her voice softened inexplicably.
"Actually, this has nothing to do with you."
Zhao Duan was silent.
Yes, this matter does not seem to have much to do with him. Duke Cao is not coming for him, nor is he going for the empress.
Lang Shiba was originally an insignificant assassin. From any perspective, there was no need for the bigwigs in the capital to offend Duke Cao for the sake of a assassin.
Perhaps, except Ji Yue, no one cares about this matter at all.
No, I'm afraid Ji Yue might not even care... otherwise she wouldn't have taken no action at all and watched him being arrested. She just felt uneasy and came to find me.
As long as the man is beheaded according to the law, the anger of a duke can be appeased, which is the most correct option no matter how you look at it.
After all, he is just a small person.
"I understand." Zhao Duan nodded and walked out of the city gate. "No need to tell His Majesty that I was here."
"Hey..." Mo Chou subconsciously stretched out her hand and grabbed the air, but ultimately failed to touch his sleeve.
The female official watched the lonely figure of this annoying guy leave, and a strange and indescribable emotion arose in her heart. She shook her head, curled her lips, and muttered, "Hypocrisy."
I thought this guy came for Lang Shiba, but after hearing the whole story, didn't he decisively withdraw and not want to be involved in anything?
Oh, politicians.
Although... I am the same... hypocritical.
…
Outside the deep archway of the imperial city, a crimson gate inlaid with thick door nails stood open.
The armored guards on both sides saw Zhao Duan coming out of the palace.
He greeted her with a smile, "Sir, your horse."
"Yeah." Zhao Duan said perfunctorily, jumped on the horse, shook the reins, and steered the horse along the main road away from the palace, returning to the imperial court.
He had only walked halfway when he caught sight of a wine shop on the side of the road and suddenly tightened the reins.
He dismounted, walked to the shop, bought two large jars of the strongest wine, and packed a large bag of meat and vegetables nearby, wrapped in oil paper.
Zhao Duan rode his horse towards the Ministry of Justice prison.
Soon, the black and gray prison building came into view, looking particularly bleak and cold in the winter.
"Envoy Zhao? Oh, what brings you here?"
At the entrance of the Ministry of Justice prison, a middle-aged man in a crimson official robe came to greet them with a smile. Judging from the pattern embroidered on his chest, he was the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice after Pei Kaizhi's downfall.
An official of this rank would not normally appear in the Ministry of Justice's prison.
"Haha, why did Minister Huang come out to blow the cold wind instead of sitting in the office?" Zhao Duan dismounted and joked with a smile.
The two were not familiar with each other, but they were both in the officialdom, and given his current status, they naturally knew each other.
Minister Huang laughed heartily and said,
"We are loyal to Your Majesty, so why should we care about a few hardships? I didn't know that Envoy Zhao was here. This is..."
Zhao Duan patted the wine jars hanging on both sides of the saddle and said with a smile:
"I heard that the guard who accompanied me south before committed a crime and was thrown into prison. I came to take a look."
Minister Huang's face twitched, and he said in embarrassment: "Your Excellency, you..."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Don't worry, Master Huang. I'm just visiting the prison. I can test the wine and meat. They won't kill anyone. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame."
Because of the life and death incident between Gao Lian and County Magistrate Wang Chu in prison, the Ministry of Justice has been in a state of panic in recent months.
Minister Huang waved his hands hurriedly:
"Your Excellency, you're joking. For your sake, I can send you a bed, not to mention wine and meat. What's the problem? It's not that I'm inflexible, but..."
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows: "Just?"
Before the latter could speak, the two standing in the prison yard heard a strange and deep voice coming from the prison entrance:
"However, Duke Cao has issued an order stating that the suspect is extremely cunning and possesses considerable martial arts skills. To prevent his escape, this general has been ordered to remain here and strictly prohibit any visitation."
Zhao Duan looked over Minister Huang's shoulder and saw a young man slowly walking out of the darkness through the deep doorway of the prison.
He was wearing dark armor and had a sword hanging from his waist. His appearance was not outstanding, except for his extremely thick eyebrows, which almost looked like they were drawn on his face with an ink pen.
As soon as he took a step out, Zhao Duan's muscles tensed up and he became instinctively alert!
He's a master! A martial arts master!
A military general who is definitely not inferior to the female general Tang Zhao!
The two people's eyes collided in the air, and there was a sound like the collision of metal.
A bean-sized bead of sweat quietly rolled down Minister Huang's forehead, and he groaned in his heart.
As a minister, he was an important official in the court. Anyone who met him in the capital would be in awe of him. However, he happened to be caught between King Zhao and Duke Cao.
In his heart, he had already cursed the Minister of Justice seven or eight times for pretending to be stupid and throwing this mess to him.
He still managed a smile and introduced the two parties:
"Haha, this is Envoy Zhao. He's the only one in the capital, so I guess there's no need for an introduction."
"This man is also very famous. He is Cao Kedi, the deputy general of Jubei City and the most trusted adopted son of Anguo Duke Cao Mao."
Jubeicheng deputy general?
According to the information, who was the rising star among the generals in the Jubei City Border Army under Cao Mao?
Zhao Duan still had a smile on his face:
"So you're Lieutenant General Cao. I've heard of your great name for a long time. Just now you said that the Duke ordered you to guard the prisoners here?"
Cao Kedi, clad in dark armor, looked him up and down carefully, his eyes full of meaning. He smiled and said, "Empress Zhao's reputation is well known even in the North. I wonder which prisoner you wish to visit? As long as it's not the 'Blood Blade of the North,' you're welcome."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"That's all right. Deputy General Cao, please be busy. Minister Huang, please lead the way for me to meet the prisoner Lang Shiba."
Cao Ke Di took a step to the side, blocking the way ahead, and frowned: "Did Envoy Zhao not hear clearly?"
Zhao Duan was surprised:
"I heard you clearly. The person you're guarding is 'Northern Blood Blade'. What does that have to do with Lang Shiba, the person I visited in prison?"
"..." Cao Kedi's forehead was bulging with veins, stunned by Zhao Duan's shamelessness. He slowly put away his smile and said, "My Lord, please don't embarrass me."
Zhao Duan smiled and looked at him:
"Who in the capital doesn't know that I've always been kind to others? I treat my friends with a warmth and harmony like the spring breeze."
After a pause, he smiled and said, "However, if it is an enemy, it should be as cold and cruel as winter."
Cao Kedi said calmly, "I have no intention of becoming your enemy, and I believe that Envoy Zhao will not deny the Duke's dignity."
The two men confronted each other, neither giving in.
The wind in the Ministry of Justice's prison was as cold as a blade, as if it could cut people.
"You two...don't be angry..."
Minister Huang's heart skipped a beat and he tried to smooth things over, but he, a high-ranking minister, was ignored by the two men.
Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes, moved his wrists with both hands, making a "click-click" sound, and sneered:
"How much is Duke Cao's face worth on the scale?"
How much is face worth?!
It’s over! Minister Huang’s heart sank to the bottom of the valley.
Upon hearing this, Cao Ke Di's expression suddenly changed, as if he was enraged. He climbed up the hilt of the sword at his waist with his right hand, and the sword in the sheath came out an inch with a "clang" sound!
"How dare you! How dare you be so rude to the Duke!"
Woo woo—a cold wind blew from the ground. In the gray-black courtyard, wisps of invisible and intangible energy were as dense as a spider web, crisscrossing and spreading with the two of them as the center.
The faces of several jailers in the distance changed. They felt difficulty breathing and their faces were burning with pain, as if the air would tear bloody wounds on them if they dared to move forward.
Minister Huang felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave, his legs felt as if they were filled with lead and he could not move.
As a mortal, he was so weak facing the Qi struggle of a warrior in the Divine Chapter Realm that he seemed to be torn to pieces in an instant.
However, just when the two sides were about to clash, suddenly, a hearty laugh broke the atmosphere in the courtyard!
Laughter came from outside the compound, without any trace of worldly air.
There is not even a trace of a cultivator.
But Zhao Duan and Cao Kedi were both startled at the same time, their nerves tensed, and their eyes looked towards the courtyard gate.
It was because the two of them didn't notice someone coming outside the yard!
Without noticing!
Who is it?
"Haha, Envoy Zhao, my lord has had a hard time finding you."
Duke? Duke again?
While Zhao Duan was in a daze, he suddenly saw a figure with a slightly hunched back and a limp in one leg slowly walking towards the gray-black gate of the Ministry of Justice prison.
He was dressed in expensive clothes, had no weapons on him, and dressed in an elegant manner. At first glance, he looked like a rich man.
But the moment he stepped into the yard, the lingering and ubiquitous dense energy was violently torn off by an iron hand.
So strong!
A warrior of the worldly realm! And not just any ordinary worldly realm!
Zhao Duan quickly judged in his heart that the man had a good cultivation level, and the strong military aura that could not be concealed was even stronger than that of Cao Ke Di.
Thinking about his self-proclaimed "Duke" and his appearance... Zhao Duanfu was so moved that he blurted out, "Duke Tang?"
The Duke of Zhenguo, Master Tang!
He appeared here without any warning, and from the tone of his voice he seemed to be looking for me.
Duke Tang smiled, like a wealthy man pretending to be refined, and ignored the confrontation in the courtyard. His eyes fell on Zhao Duan, and he walked over with a smile and said:
"After my daughter and my son returned home, they explained the whole story to me. I then realized the misunderstanding that had led to my daughter's trespassing into the Pear Blossom Hall. I really shouldn't have done that. I also heard that Envoy Zhao had disciplined that fool who didn't know how to judge people for me in the Divine Machine Camp.
I thought I should invite Envoy Zhao to my house for a simple meal and apologize in person, but I didn't expect to find him everywhere. After finally chasing him here, it seems I've arrived at an inopportune time."
You came to have dinner with me? So approachable?
It's not like the rumors say the Duke of Zhenguo is very protective of his subordinates... Yes, they only say he is protective and overbearing, but they don't say he is difficult to get along with...
Zhao Duan was extremely surprised. Although he was stunned, he smiled and bowed with his graceful demeanor. "It's just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. I don't want to trouble the Duke to come in person. I don't deserve it."
Duke Tang smiled and finished the greetings before turning his head and glancing at Cao Ke Di.
With just this one glance, Cao Ke Di felt the energy in his body surge violently, and his face turned red, which was caused by the churning of energy and blood.
He was horrified. He never thought that this Duke of Zhenguo was so domineering.
"Cao Mao's adopted son? Not bad, but unfortunately, he followed the wrong person."
Duke Tang's eyes were indifferent, as if he could see through the young man in dark armor inside and out in just one breath.
The tone of voice carried the unquestionable power of someone who had long held a high position:
"Go back and tell Cao Mao that the capital is not his Jubei City, and the Ministry of Justice is not his military prison. This is the emperor's feet, and we must be reasonable."
Pause:
"What is reason?"
Duke Tang's smile was devoid of any worldly air, but the words he uttered were like a heavy hammer, hitting Cao Ke Di so hard that he saw stars and retreated step by step.
He pointed at himself and smiled:
"I am stronger than Cao Mao, and I am right."
Thanks to book friend Zhang Xiubiao for his 500-point reward support
(End of this chapter)
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