Chapter 509: Second Senior Sister Arrives
Zhenbao went crazy.
Zhao Duan escaped a long distance and came to a conclusion after confirming that Taia Sword did not catch up with him.
"Huff...Huff..." In the Imperial Garden, he hunched his back slightly, leaned on his knees, and panted heavily. His mind raced, and he turned his head to look in the direction of the Yangxin Palace, muttering softly:
"Why does it smell like vinegar..."
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Duan sneaked back to the Yangxin Palace again. He was careful not to step into the building. He just poked his head out from near the doorpost and waved to the familiar older female official who was leaving after changing shifts.
The older female official was stunned for a moment, hesitated slightly, and walked over:
"Master Zhao, I'm sorry we can't let you in..."
"I know," Zhao Duan crouched behind a red-painted wooden pillar, stretching his neck to confirm that there was no movement in the direction of the empress, before skillfully thrusting the banknote over.
"May I ask why Your Majesty is angry?"
The older female official was startled and instinctively refused, but she could not resist Zhao Duan's strong pressure and had to accept it reluctantly. After looking around and confirming that no one was paying attention, she whispered:
"Everything went smoothly during His Majesty's meeting with the Xiao Family Master. After sending him away, he ordered that you not be allowed to enter. I was outside and vaguely heard His Majesty seem to be blaming you for being too concerned about the Xiao Family Master."
Zhao Duan said seriously, "How could there be anything between me and a widow?"
The older female official said:
"As the saying goes, a widow's door is full of gossip. Could you have met with her in private? And allowed her to do business with the emperor? Now, not only has he rescued her from danger, but he has also recommended the Xiao family to the palace to meet the emperor. Your Excellency is impartial and selfless, but outsiders may not see it that way."
Zhao Duan opened his mouth, unable to refute.
No matter in the past or present life, being slandered is an extremely disgusting method.
The older palace maid seemed to smile and said comfortingly:
"Your Excellency, there's no need to worry. If His Majesty were truly angry, you wouldn't have simply been driven away and barred from entering. Besides, with His Majesty's intelligence, he can naturally distinguish right from wrong. It's just... these men and women are always unreasonable."
This sentence is almost explicit.
The implication is: The empress's current behavior does not mean that she really thinks that Zhao Duan has any ambiguous relationship with the widow.
But being sensible does not mean not caring.
Put yourself in her shoes. If the empress had a secret meeting with another man, and repeatedly helped him and saved him from danger... even if everything was done out of public interest, Zhao Duan would still be extremely unhappy.
In particular, Zhao Duan knew very well that Xiao Dong'er might have some feelings towards him.
Inside the Qingzhou rebel camp, there was something wrong with the widow's eyes, and with the empress's keen insight, she was very likely to have noticed this.
so……
"Is Your Majesty jealous?" Zhao Duan smacked his lips, feeling inexplicably happy.
The first female emperor in Dayu's history, fighting for her own favor... is probably the ultimate fantasy of all men in the world.
Others just thought about it, but Zhao Duan did it.
"I didn't say that," the older maid said cautiously, and walked away. After two steps, she suddenly hesitated and said, "If Master Zhao is interested, why not try to coax him?"
I understand... Zhao Duan smiled and bowed: "Thank you, sister."
The older palace maid was flattered and left quickly.
However, Zhao Duan, who was adept at handling affairs in the court and had a meticulous mind, lacked experience in coaxing women. He thought about it and turned into the imperial garden.
Not long after, he slipped back with a large bouquet of flowers in his hand. Instead of going through the main gate, he jumped and bypassed the not-so-tight defense.
Arriving outside the Imperial Study, with a shy smile on his face:
"Your Majesty, I have gathered the most beautiful flowers in the palace and wanted to give them to you. However, none of these flowers, despite their splendor, can compare to your Majesty's... Ouch!"
A strong wind.
After a while, Zhao Duan, who had thrown away the bouquet of flowers and fled from the Yangxin Palace in panic again, grinned, stretched his neck and shouted:
"Your Majesty! Please calm down first. I will be waiting in the palace."
After saying this, Zhao Duan slipped away and rushed towards the Martial Arts Hall while the female officials covered their mouths and giggled.
He planned to go to Lao Hai's place to rest for a while and wait for Zhenbao to calm down. As for showing his affection by basking in the sun... he was not that stupid.
Arrived at the Martial Arts Hall.
He found a seat in the inner hall as if he was familiar with the place, and chatted with the returning eunuch Hai about their experiences during this period.
Eunuch Hai was quite curious about his experience with the empress in Baihua Village and listened with great interest.
The other eunuchs in attendance also gathered around with great interest to listen to Zhao Duan's talk.
"...I'm telling you, you didn't see it then. After I defeated the little monk Tianhai, that group of people showed no respect for martial ethics and joined forces to attack me. At that moment, the sky and the earth changed color, and Her Majesty..."
Zhao Duan was speaking excitedly when suddenly a guard rushed in from outside the door:
"Zhao Shaobao, someone from your family has sent a letter saying that a friend of yours is visiting their home. Please go back as soon as possible."
A friend? A guest at my house? Zhao Duan was surprised.
…
…
A little earlier.
On Zhuque Street, inside a Jiangnan stir-fry shop.
Jin Jian, Gongshu Tianyuan, and Yuxiu sat at the square table, watching the waiter place the food on the table.
"The dishes are ready, please come in, three guests."
All three of them were dusty and hungry, not wearing priestly robes, and their expressions were different.
Jin Jian sat on the stool in a daze, his two short legs dangling gently in the air, his hands supporting the sides of the stool, trying hard to keep himself from losing balance.
She wore a pair of ground crystal glasses on her nose, but her eyes were almost narrowed into a line. Her head was hesitating with sleepiness. If she wasn't so hungry, she would have wanted to fall asleep on the street.
Gongshu Tianyuan stared at the delicacies on the table, his Adam's apple rolled down, and his fat hands rubbed repeatedly on the gray robe in front of him. The large bamboo tube behind him was placed at his feet, and the hemp rope on the bamboo tube hung loosely.
He looked at the delicious dishes and the bowl of white rice in front of him, turned his head and said flatteringly:
"Second Senior Sister, can we start eating now?"
The woman, who looked to be in her thirties, wore a loose and elegant gray Taoist robe with pure white sleeves. She wore a golden rope-like belt around her waist and carried a jade dagger across her body.
It was Yuxiu, the second disciple of the old Taoist priest who had taken action in the battle of Baihua Village!
She sits upright with her sleeves tied around her waist. Although she is tired from the journey, she is calm and natural. Although she is in a busy city, she gives people a sense of tranquility.
"Didn't Master teach you to recite rituals before meals to express gratitude to the 'God of Food'?" Yu Xiu glanced at him indifferently.
The fat boy Gongshu Tianyuan laughed awkwardly: "We...we..."
He had already returned these codes of conduct to the old Taoist priest.
"Forget it, let's eat." Yuxiu sighed softly, picked up the bowl and picked up the wooden chopsticks:
"We will return to the capital today. After dinner, you can go back to the Tianshi Mansion first. I will go take care of some other things."
Gongshu Tianyuan said "Oh" perfunctorily, pounced on the rice like a starving ghost, and swallowed the rice in big mouthfuls.
Jin Jian, who was almost falling down from his sleep, suddenly woke up, and started moving his chopsticks so fast that he almost lost his sight, and ate frantically.
Compared with the two men's rough eating habits, Yuxiu's manners were elegant and her expression was calm, she looked like a Taoist nun.
After the storm swept away everything.
Gongshu Tianyuan and Jin Jian, who had each devoured five bowls of rice, rubbed their swollen bellies and collapsed contentedly into their chairs, burping. "After sleeping in the open, I finally had a good meal."
After the battle in Baihua Village, Zhong Pan left alone to practice, and the three returned to Beijing to report to the Heavenly Master.
But the three of them were only at the worldly level, and their speed could not catch up with the empress. They hurried as fast as they could, and had to eat and sleep simply on the road.
Yuxiu slowly put down her chopsticks, wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, piled the twelfth empty bowl high beside her, and called the waiter with a frightened look to come over to settle the bill.
She immediately stood up, her slender waist still swaying as she walked out:
"I'll go ahead and return to the Tianshi Mansion later."
Jin Jian: zzzZZZ…
Gongshu Tianyuan: "Where are you going, Senior Sister?"
Yuxiu: "Meet someone."
She walked all the way to the north of the capital, in an alley where dignitaries gathered, and stopped under the lintel with a golden plaque inscribed with "Zhao Mansion".
Raise your hand and knock on the door.
"Squeak."
The courtyard door opened a crack, and the old steward looked at the young Taoist nun who appeared outside the door with uncertainty. Although she was unfamiliar, she had an extraordinary demeanor.
"Master, who are you looking for?"
Yuxiu's eyebrows and eyes were as calm as spring water: "Is this Zhao Duan's residence?"
"Exactly. Taoist priest, you're looking for my young master? Do you have an appointment?"
Yuxiu reached into her bosom with two fingers, took out a token, and threw it to the old steward:
"If he is here, I will go see him. If he is not here, I will wait here."
The old steward subconsciously took the token thrown to him with both hands. After seeing the words "Tianshi Mansion", he was slightly startled. When he looked up again, he was shocked to find that the jade sleeves were gone.
There were footsteps behind me.
The old steward turned around and saw the Taoist nun with a green jade short sword hanging from her waist, floating into the Zhao family's backyard like a wisp of light smoke.
"Could it be that he is the young master's friend?"
…
…
Imperial study.
When Xu Zhenguan put down the slender brush in her hand, closed the last letter that required her personal imperial approval, and looked up, she found that the sun was already setting.
The summer sun shines through the west window, and dust particles float in the beams.
She pinched her brows, thinking that so much time had passed, and that guy didn't break into the imperial study again this afternoon.
I feel a little uncomfortable for some reason. Why don’t you come here anymore?
There was no anger on her face, but her mood was certainly not good. At this time, the empress calmed down and reflected on her reaction in the afternoon, which was somewhat "out of control".
It’s not my style...Xu Zhenguan, Xu Zhenguan, given your habits, how could you get angry over such a trivial matter?
Just because it was him?
The empress was quietly distracted, with two little people fighting in her mind. One of them said that it was enough and it was time to lower her posture and give both sides a way out.
A villain said, "No way. I am the emperor. If he doesn't come, wouldn't it be embarrassing if I take the initiative to find him?"
After struggling for a while, the rational villain finally won. Xu Zhenguan stood up and walked out, dragging her long skirt.
When I opened the door, the sun was already setting. The palace maids in the corridor outside the door hurriedly saluted: "Your Majesty."
The Empress said "Hmm" and looked down at the bunch of flowers that had fallen to the ground. They must have wilted a bit from the sun. The corners of her mouth rose slightly and she said:
"Where is Zhao Shaobao?"
A female official said, "They should be in the Wugong Hall. Does Your Majesty want to summon them?"
"No need. I'm tired. I'd like to go over and talk to Eunuch Hai."
Xu Zhenguan was stubborn and refused to admit it. He felt that he was a little too angry before, so he decided to take the initiative and coax him.
After taking a few steps forward, she stopped again:
"Put the flowers on the ground in the study and plant them in a vase to take care of them. Don't waste anything."
"yes."
Watching the empress leave, the female officials exchanged glances and smiled secretly.
When Xu Zhenguan walked all the way to the Wugong Hall, the sun had set a little. When she stepped into the hall amid the respectful welcome of the worshippers, she did not see Zhao Duan.
"Zhao Qing is not here?" She raised her eyebrows.
Eunuch Hai, wearing a bright red python robe, appeared slowly and mysteriously, and said with a smile:
"He was originally there, but someone suddenly came to look for him at home and said he had something to do, so he had to go back first. When he left, he said he would come back after finishing his business."
Going home?
"What's the urgent matter in his family?" the empress was curious.
Eunuch Hai gathered his sleeves together, looking as if it was none of his business: "I don't know about that."
The empress pondered for a moment, feeling somewhat uneasy. However, considering that both parties had already proposed marriage, there was no need to be formal. She turned around and ordered, "Prepare the carriage, a light one, and a small entourage. I need to leave the palace for a while."
The woman's intuition told her that it was necessary to go to Zhao's house.
…
…
When Zhao Duan rode his horse and hurried back to the gate of Zhao Mansion from the palace, he saw the old steward guarding outside the door himself.
Seeing him, her eyes lit up: "Da Lang, you are back."
The triumphant return of the Shenji Camp was widely publicized during the day, and all the Zhao family members knew that Zhao Duan had returned victorious and was reporting to the palace.
"Well. What exactly happened? The servant who went to the palace to report the news was not clear." Zhao Duan asked.
The old steward explained:
"It was a Taoist nun from the Tianshi Mansion who said she was looking for you. She didn't seem like a simple person. When asked who she was, she refused to answer and just sat in the house. The mistress was unsure of her origins and didn't dare to act rashly, fearing that she would delay Dalang's business. That's why she sent people to the palace to look for you."
A Taoist nun from the Tianshi Mansion? A priest, right? Zhao Duan was stunned. He tried hard to recall, but he couldn't imagine that he knew such a person.
The only female priestess he was familiar with from the Tianshi Mansion was a golden tablet.
But the person who came was obviously not that person.
"I'll go in and take a look." Zhao Duan thought about it and decided to meet first.
Stepping into the courtyard, Zhao Duan soon arrived at the main hall in the inner courtyard used to receive guests.
At this moment, the sun is setting in the west, the temperature is hot in midsummer, and the doors and windows are open.
He saw at a glance that there were three women sitting in the inner hall.
The two of them, one big and one small, are naturally Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan.
The mother and daughter were sitting on the same side. When they heard the voice, they turned their heads and looked over, their eyes lighting up: "Da Lang (Big Brother) is back!"
Yuxiu noticed it earlier, but opened her eyes slowly and looked at Zhao Duan later than anyone else.
Their eyes met, and both of them looked at each other with curiosity and scrutiny.
The two had not met before the battle in Baihua Village, so this was their first meeting.
Yuxiu's eyes brightened up a bit, and she was stunned by Zhao Duan's appearance.
However, her focus soon shifted to the level of cultivation. She was surprised to find that this warrior, who had clearly broken through to the worldly realm a few days ago, had a rather restrained aura and did not appear frivolous. Moreover, he gave her a subtle sense of threat.
It seemed that this "newcomer in the world" had the power to hurt her.
Even if it was only a threat of minor injuries, it was enough to surprise the second disciple of the Heavenly Master who had been in the sect for a long time.
Zhao Duan was also startled. He was very sure that he had never seen the Taoist priest in front of him before, but his martial artist's intuition told him that this female Taoist priest, who looked only about thirty years old, was extremely dangerous.
He had once felt a similar feeling from Senior Brother Qingshan, Duan Shuiliu.
"Are you that Zhao Duan?" Yuxiu stood up, her voice as calm as flowing water.
Listening to it, one suddenly feels as if one is not in the capital, but in a valley and in the breeze.
"It's me." Zhao Duan bowed, "Who are you?"
Yuxiu calmly introduced herself: "Second disciple of Master Zhang, 'Green Jade Sword' Yuxiu."
(End of this chapter)
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