Chapter 455 The Prince Arrives (5k)
The wind blew through the white paper lanterns hanging in the mourning hall.
At this moment, the light in the courtyard dimmed along with the word "gift".
A gift is naturally meant to celebrate and congratulate, but giving it to a family who is holding a funeral is like saying, "Good death!"
"Zhao Duan! You are going too far!" A man who was in charge of the third branch of the Shen family suddenly yelled in anger in the crowd, pointing his finger at him and shaking with anger.
"How dare you, little boy..." An elderly man in the tribe had his beard trembling.
"You are not welcome here!" someone else echoed loudly.
As the head of a powerful family, the Shen family was a local tyrant, but they still had a fear and awe of the rising star Zhao Shaobao.
But Zhao Duan pointed at their noses and scolded them, which immediately made these people with strong sense of clan honor and disgrace extremely angry.
The old lady with a stern and harsh face and gray eyes also had a gloomy expression. She slammed the dragon-headed cane in her hand into the ground, making a "bang" sound, and the tribesmen who were shouting and cursing shut up at the same time.
Then the old man who was almost like the "Empress Dowager" said in a deep voice:
"Zhao Shaobao, has my Shen family ever offended you?"
Zhao Duan said calmly:
"Why do you ask such questions when you already know the answer? Yesterday, I sent a letter from the Governor, inviting the Shen family to come and meet me. I waited all night, but didn't see a single person. Today, I came in person, and you sent a servant to stop me. Tell me, is this considered an offense?"
The old lady's expression remained unchanged. She turned to her eldest son beside her and asked, "Is this true?"
The nominal clan leader also pretended to be confused, called the servants to ask questions in a low voice for a while, then came back and said:
"Mother, the concierge did receive a letter yesterday, but because it was late, he didn't deliver it. As for the housekeeper's intervention, it was just according to the rules."
"Haha, what a good rule," the secretary Qian Kerou assisted again:
"What is the status of my master? He only needs to inform the emperor before entering the palace to meet the emperor. Your Shen family is more prestigious than the palace."
Hey, Xiaorou, you’re quite powerful today, give you more credit... Zhao Duan nodded in appreciation.
When Old Lady Shen heard this, she also frowned and said coldly:
"Where is the butler?"
"Dead." Zhao Wuji, who was standing at the edge of the crowd holding a crescent-shaped sword, spoke.
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"My men were a bit rough in their work and accidentally caused a death. I don't think the old lady would mind."
"...I, your servant, do not know the rules of etiquette and have acted recklessly and inappropriately. I will not blame you for cleaning up the mess for me." The old lady showed no anger and said calmly:
"Where is the porter who received the letter but did not present it? Bring him here."
"yes."
Soon, a servant was brought over, fell to his knees on the ground, and begged for mercy loudly.
The old lady didn't even look at him and said, "You didn't do your job well. Break your legs and throw you out as a punishment."
"yes!"
A security guard at the house swung a stick and hit him.
"Wait a moment……"
Zhao Duan raised his hand to stop him, but he heard a "crack" and the servant's legs were broken. He screamed and fainted.
He was carried away quickly, as skillfully as if he had rehearsed it.
Or similar things have happened countless times in large families, and everyone is used to it.
The old lady suddenly smiled and said:
"I'm sure Young Master Zhao won't mind if I punish my servant. Are you satisfied with this?"
Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes and looked at the frail, old, silver-haired old lady with a much more serious look.
After a moment, he laughed heartily:
"Since the old lady has expressed her views in this way, it would be my fault if I were to pursue this matter further."
The old lady looked calm and composed, and suddenly said:
"Now that this matter has been exposed, I still have something to ask for the Young Protector's help."
"Oh? You want my help?" Zhao Duan showed a strange expression: "I'd like to hear the details."
The old lady had a sad look in her eyes, and pointed her dragon-headed cane at the dark coffin in the mourning hall:
"My grandson went to the capital for a trip last year and has been ill ever since returning home. A renowned doctor diagnosed him as having been attacked by a martial arts master, who inflicted a cold poison on him. Calculating the date, he was attacked while in the capital.
Unfortunately, my Shen family is based in Jianning Prefecture and is not very familiar with the capital. Therefore, I would like to ask Envoy Zhao to help investigate what kind of vicious person is the one who ruined my grandson's life.
Zhao Duan was "shocked":
"Is this really true? Oh my! As the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court, I'm supposed to protect the people of the capital. I've failed in my duty. Could this be the work of a rebel group?"
Then, without waiting for the Shen family to react, he suddenly slapped his head, as if remembering something, and turned to look at the worshiper Song Jinxi behind him:
"Come to think of it, what is this cold poison?"
Song Jinxi understood and explained with a smile:
"Your Excellency, you may not know that this cold poison is not something that ordinary warriors can master. Instead, one must practice a special Yin-Cold Palm technique.
However, the bridge that cut off someone's life didn't kill them instantly, but instead they survived by crossing several states and falling ill only after returning home. To be able to time the onset of illness so precisely, without a single error, one must be an expert in assassination, and only someone at least at the Divine Chapter or above could do that."
Zhao Duan asked curiously, "Who in the capital can do this?"
Song Jinxi said seriously:
"Although there are many hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the capital, I can think of only one person who is capable of doing this."
"who?"
"It's me." The young eunuch pointed at himself and smiled.
Zhao Duan uttered an "Ah" and looked at the old lady helplessly:
"Unfortunately, I can't help you. It seems this killer is hiding quite well."
No one present is stupid.
The two of them sang in unison, performing almost a double act, and almost slapped the answer "The person who killed your grandson is right in front of you" in the faces of the Shen family.
Old Lady Shen's hand, gripping the dragon-headed cane, turned pale from exertion. Her blood surged, and her body swayed slightly. She hurriedly asked Miss Hong, the eldest maid, beside her, to support her.
"Old lady... calm down."
All the members of the Shen family flushed red in the face, staring at Zhao Duan and Song Jinxi with murderous eyes.
insult!
ridicule!
provocative!
The Shen family has stood in Jianning for nearly three hundred years, prospering unwaveringly. How noble is that? To say they have "lived as long as the country" is a bit of an exaggeration, but they are indeed an extremely prestigious and respected existence.
How many years has it been since anyone dared to attack so cruelly and face to face?
If Zhao Duan had not been surrounded by many experts and his identity was not too sensitive, they would have taken action long ago.
"I'm fine... I'm fine..."
The old lady was so angry that her vision turned black. She took two breaths and finally regained her composure. She glanced at Song Jinxi with a cold gaze, then looked back at Mr. Zhao who was looking concerned.
"Since it's so hard to find, then... I won't bother you with the trouble. Today... I'm not feeling well, and I haven't entertained you well enough. You've seen me, and I've given you gifts, so it's time..."
She's still holding the situation together.
Zhao Duan said seriously, "I see. I'm sorry for interrupting you. Now, I'll finish my business and leave."
Business? What else do you have to do?
Zhao Duan sighed and said with great sorrow:
"Yesterday, when I entered the city, I ran into He Xiaolou from the Cao Gang..."
He briefly mentioned the kidnapping of the Governor's family, then immediately changed the subject:
"He Xiaolou confessed that the person behind the kidnapping was the head of the Shen family!"
He raised his hand and pointed at the middle-aged man in mourning clothes with a look of surprise on his face.
He said in a deep voice: "Therefore, I came here today to ask Master Shen and I to go back to the yamen to investigate thoroughly!
Alas, I was concerned about the Shen family's reputation and didn't want to come here to arrest someone. However, I gave you an opportunity last night, but the head of the Shen family didn't seize it...
Kidnapping and threatening a second-rank official of the imperial court is a serious crime punishable by confiscation of property and beheading. As an envoy appointed by the Emperor, how can I condone this? Come, take Master Shen with me!"
The people in Lihua Hall and Wugong Hall were ready to capture the person.
This turn of events caught the Shen family off guard and gave them a strong sense of absurdity.
"etc!"
The old lady stepped forward excitedly, standing in front of her eldest son, and said in disbelief:
"Master Zhao! Don't go too far! What does the situation of Governor Ning's family have to do with my Shen family? How can my Shen family, with all its status, associate with a mere Cao Gang scoundrel?"
At this moment, she even suspected that Zhao Duan was the one who directed and acted out the incident himself, finding an excuse to frame her.
But something doesn’t feel right…
Zhao Duan said coldly, "Whether it matters or not, we'll have to wait until the trial to find out. Does the old lady intend to openly defy the law?"
After a pause, he stepped forward, walked in front of the old man, smiled, bowed his head, and placed the end of the dragon-headed cane on his forehead with two fingers.
At close range, he looked into the old lady's gray, cloudy eyes and chuckled softly:
"Or, could you try to use this cane bestowed upon you by the late Emperor to beat this treacherous minister of mine? Perhaps you can stop him."
The old lady clutched her cane in both hands and said in a trembling voice:
"Do you really think that I dare not hit you?"
Zhao Duan's smile grew wider: "I'll bear it, come on."
The old lady was shaking with anger, but the cane in her hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the direction of the gate: "His Royal Highness Prince Jing has arrived!"
A shout broke the tense atmosphere.
Xu Jinglong is here?
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, turned around and looked back, and saw a young man wearing gorgeous clothes, with a falcon on his shoulder, followed by a large number of servants. He looked about 60% similar to Prince Jing, walking towards him arrogantly.
Old acquaintance.
The "loser" who disregards ethics and covets Zhenbao's body, Prince Jing!
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
The Shen family members were the first to react and spoke up.
Xu Jinglong strode over, full of pride and a smile on his face:
"No need to be so polite. This prince has come here today to pay tribute to Brother Shen and to visit the old lady on behalf of my father... It seems that I have come at an unfortunate time. Oh, isn't this Master Xiao Zhao? When did you come to Jianning Mansion? This prince didn't even know."
Bah... You don't know, I ate the coffin in the mourning hall... Zhao Duan complained in his heart and said sarcastically:
"Ever since we parted at the lake pavilion, I've missed you dearly. But why are you here to pay your respects empty-handed? I even bought a gift."
Xu Jinglong's smile froze.
Of course, he didn't come here by chance, but he had been keeping an eye on Zhao Duan since yesterday.
As a result, early in the morning, when he learned that Zhao Duan had left the city, he hurriedly took people to chase him. How could he have time to buy things?
However, Xu Jinglong reacted quickly and said unhappily:
"This prince and Brother Shen were good friends in their lifetime. We had a deep bond. Wouldn't giving gifts tarnish that friendship? Wait, what's the gift you sent?"
He's kind of down.
"Yes, what else can we do?" Zhao Duan said confidently.
Xu Jinglong: "No..."
"It's just in time that His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived," the old lady coughed a few times and interrupted the two of them. The old woman had a sad face and immediately told them about Zhao Duan's arrest.
Xu Jinglong was "horrified" and said unhappily:
"Lord Zhao, what you did is wrong, isn't it? How many nobles have the Shen family produced throughout their history? What a prestigious family! How can you slander them with just a few words from a Cao Gang scoundrel? Even if you want to investigate, you should have solid evidence before arresting them. How can you arrest someone based solely on testimony?"
Zhao Duan looked at the loser for a moment, then suddenly walked a little closer:
"What does the prince mean?"
Xu Jinglong was calm and unafraid: "Please go back, Master Zhao. This prince is here and will not let you take anyone away."
A strange smile appeared on Zhao Duan's lips:
"What if I insist on taking it? Can you stop me? Just because you're a defeated general? Or is Broken Water Flow hiding somewhere around here?"
Xu Jinglong's expression changed slightly: "This is Jiancheng Road, not the capital."
"You said something similar last time, don't you remember it, Prince?" Zhao Duan moved closer.
Xu Jinglong subconsciously took a step back, then realized that he was showing his weakness. He was annoyed and simply stepped in front of the Shen family, sneering:
"Lord Zhao is so powerful. Fine, if you want to arrest someone, it would be best if you take this prince along with you."
Zhao Duan's eyes flickered, and he was about to speak when suddenly a voice came from outside the door:
"The Governor of the Grand Canal has arrived!"
On the outskirts of the crowd, Ning Zechen, who had hurriedly put on his official robe and arrived on horseback with several personal followers, walked in breathlessly.
Seeing the three parties confronting each other in the mourning hall, my scalp couldn't help but tingle.
"Governor Ning? How come you have time to come here?" Zhao Duan smiled.
Don’t you have any idea why I came here... Ning Zechen didn’t want to talk.
He was alone in Jianning Prefecture like a nail, and the reason he could stand firm and continue to promote the new policies was all due to his courage and flexible response.
As a "pragmatic and capable minister", Governor Ning does not have the so-called integrity of the great scholars in the court, but he does not mind "going with the flow" and making appropriate concessions in order to achieve his goals when appropriate.
Only those useless and empty talkers would naively believe that local problems can be solved as long as the military force is strong enough or there is a sense of justice.
Only those who do practical things understand the correct way to deal with complex situations.
"Governor Ning has arrived just in time," Xu Jinglong said with a smile on his face.
"Master Zhao said that your wife and daughter were kidnapped by He Xiaolou of the Cao Gang, and they also said that the Shen family was the mastermind. Is this true?"
Ning Zechen was silent for a moment and said:
"It has not been investigated yet, there may be doubts about the Shen family."
The old lady narrowed her eyes and said:
"So, the Governor is here to arrest my son and interrogate him in prison?"
Ning Zechen shook his head and said, "We haven't investigated it yet, so we should be cautious and not just arrest people randomly."
After saying this, he turned around and bowed to Zhao Duan, saying apologetically:
"When the envoy first arrived at Jianning Mansion yesterday, he learned that my wife and daughter had suffered. He was filled with righteous indignation and, with a sense of impartiality, wished to inquire with Patriarch Shen. This was done with impartiality, but there may have been misunderstandings... This is, after all, the Second Young Master's funeral hall. I hope the envoy will give Ning some respect..."
Qian Kerou was unhappy: "You are so ungrateful. My master..."
"Xiaorou."
Zhao Duan interrupted her, smiled, looked around at the Shen family and the people in Prince Jing's Mansion, and said:
"Since the Governor has pleaded for mercy, we will let it go for now. However... this is a serious case, and Governor Ning, understanding the overall situation and considering the overall situation, may not want to delve into it. However, I will investigate further. In the meantime, I hope that Master Shen will not leave Jianning Mansion and be available for summons at any time."
After a pause, he suddenly walked up to Xu Jinglong. The two of them were very close. He seemed to be brushing the dust off his shoulders. His lips were close to the prince's ear and he whispered softly:
"I know that it was Prince Jing's Mansion who gave He Xiaolou the order, right?"
Xu Jinglong's eyelids twitched, but he remained calm:
"Lord Zhao's imagination is as amazing as ever."
Zhao Duan laughed, turned around and waved: "Let's go!"
Immediately, he led a group of his men away in a mighty manner.
The old lady closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said calmly:
"You guys should go clean up the house too."
"yes."
The Shen family members left in response, and not a single one stayed.
Seeing this, Xu Jinglong dismissed his men and said, "You also go and see Zhao Duan off."
Only the old lady and Xu Jinglong and his party were left outside the mourning hall.
The silver-haired old woman stared at the prince with her gray eyes and said:
"It was Prince Jing's Mansion that did it, right?"
Xu Jinglong asked in surprise, "Why does the old lady say that?"
The old woman snorted coldly and said quietly:
"In the entire Jianning Prefecture, the only one who can assign He Xiaolou to do something like this is my Shen family and Prince Jing."
Xu Jinglong smiled:
"No matter what the old lady thinks, this matter has nothing to do with the palace. But...in fact, it doesn't matter who did it, right?
Even if this incident hadn't happened, Zhao Duan would have found another excuse to exploit. You should have seen that this person had no intention of getting along with us this time. It's either him or us who will die."
The old lady said, "What does the prince want to say?"
Xu Jinglong said seriously:
"My father meant that if the Shen family is unable to deal with the thieves Lang Zhao, my Prince Jing's Mansion can lend a helping hand."
The old lady pondered for a moment, then turned and walked into the mourning hall: "Thank you, Your Majesty, on my behalf. My Shen family can handle this matter on their own."
How can we get the help from Prince Jing's Mansion for free?
Xu Jinglong was not in a hurry and said with a smile:
"That's fine, but the gate of the palace is always open to the Shen family. If you need help, just send a message."
After a pause, he added: "That Zhao Duan is not someone who can be easily dealt with."
The old lady closed her eyes, facing the coffin and the incense candles, clasped her hands together, and said calmly, "Don't worry about it, my lord."
Humph... the old man won't cry until he sees the coffin... Xu Jinglong shook his head and turned away.
Only the white lanterns in the mourning hall were left fluttering.
…
…
Zhao Duan and his party left the Shen family house and returned to the city.
The Bodhisattva was squeezed out of the carriage. Governor Ning sat in the carriage, looking at Zhao Duan, who was distracted with his chin in his hand, and hesitated to speak: "Envoy..."
"Governor Ning, there is no need to say more. I understand that you are also well-intentioned." Zhao Duan waved his hand and didn't care.
"...What are you thinking about, sir?" Ning Zechen asked.
Zhao Duan said quietly:
"I'm wondering when the Shen family will send someone to kill me and how they will kill me."
Ning Zechen was stunned for a moment: "No way, the envoy is a favorite of His Majesty, how dare they..."
Zhao Duan shook his head and looked at the governor with a smile:
"Want to make a bet?"
…
Typos should be corrected first and then replaced
(End of this chapter)
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