Chapter 622: Shopping with the Empress Again (Seeking monthly tickets at the end of the month)
“Clatter…”
The sails fluttered, and the warship cut through the waves.
Since the day when the Drunken Sword Immortal was forced to retreat by the Empress, there has been no more obstruction, and the fleet Zhao Duan is on has a smooth journey.
This day, we finally arrived at the territory of Daluo Island.
Inside the cabin.
Zhao Duan gently knocked on the door of the compartment with the back of his hand. Seeing that there was no movement inside, he opened the sliding door with his hand, revealing a small room inside.
Inside the room, the empress, dressed in a white dress with a red silk ribbon tied around her waist, sat cross-legged and solemn, the mask on her face tightly fitting. She seemed unaware of his entry.
"Your Majesty?" Zhao Duan called softly.
After confirming that there was no movement, he walked forward stealthily, faced the empress's body, pondered for a moment, and slowly stretched out his hand.
A moment later.
Xu Zhenguan, whose soul had left his body, opened his eyes and was dazed for a moment.
Obviously, her soul had just returned to her body from the capital.
Zhao Duan put on a smile and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, we are honored to come!"
The empress stared at him with a gloomy look, the mask covering the slight embarrassment on her cheeks:
"I told you to wake up, but I didn't tell you to wake up like this."
"Ah?" Zhao Duan pretended to be confused:
"Didn't His Majesty say that as long as His Majesty's body is touched, His Majesty would be able to sense it and come back even if he was far away in the capital?"
After saying this, he pretended to be enlightened and slapped his head:
"I see. I'll give you a foot massage next time, right?"
Empress: “…”
Staring at the grinning Zhao Duan, she wasn't really angry at all. She was more concerned with maintaining her dignity as an emperor.
He turned his head away, held his forehead and spat, "Whatever you want."
Then he stood up, stretched his waist, and said lazily:
"Fortunately, nothing's happening in the capital right now. What's up? Have you arrived yet?"
Zhao Duan nodded and put away his frivolous attitude:
"We'll be docking soon."
…
After a while, Zhao Duan and the "female priest" walked out of the cabin one after another. As soon as they stepped onto the deck, they heard noisy sounds.
On the broad river, the huge island that seemed far away is now right in front of you. Looking down from a high vantage point, you can see a somewhat deserted pier.
At this moment, Tang Ping was directing the soldiers to slowly lower the sails and move towards the dock.
Soldiers lowered the ship's "gangway".
Then, a group of people led by Zhao Duan walked onto the dock from the warship in a mighty procession.
I saw that there was already a group of people waiting at the dock, but they were not from Prince Chen's Mansion, but a group of locals wearing silk clothes.
The first one, a thin middle-aged man with a smell of money and wealth, came forward to greet them and bowed.
"I, Guo Zhun, follow the orders of Prince Huai to welcome the Governor."
This Guo Zhun was a wealthy local businessman on Daluo Island and also a member of the Huai'an Palace.
Since the news of Prince Huai'an's surrender to the court had spread, there was no need to conceal it. The businessman named Guo Zhun brought his family, employees, and a large group of nearly a hundred people to welcome him.
Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction and ordered Tang Ping to lead the rest of the Shenjiying soldiers to continue staying at the dock, using the warships as camp to rest, and at the same time to meet the main force of the Shenjiying behind.
He only brought a few dozen elite soldiers, as well as Jin Jian and others. Under Guo Zhun's earnest guidance, they took a carriage, left the dock, and headed towards the center of Daluo Island, the mansion that Guo Zhun had carried behind him.
They didn't walk fast along the way. Zhao Duan and the empress rode in the same car and lifted the curtain to appreciate the scenery outside.
Once you enter Daluo Island, the climate becomes noticeably moister and warmer, as if you've returned to spring and summer.
The closer you get to the center of the island, the more prosperous the buildings around you become. Some streets are lined with shops, and many people and merchants come and go.
"Now the world is in chaos and war is raging, but there is still such a peaceful place." Zhao Duan exclaimed in amazement.
In the past few months, he has traveled frequently to various places. Whether it was Linfeng, Huaishui, Yunfu... or even the capital, they were all shrouded in dark clouds and the atmosphere was tense.
But on this Daluo Island, there is peace and tranquility, as if the war in the outside world does not exist.
Xu Zhenguan said with a gentle look:
"Although King Chen rebelled, he blockaded Binhai for nearly a year, actually protecting the people in this area... This is indeed his nature."
Zhao Duan said calmly:
"If Prince Chen is sensible and follows Prince Huai'an's lead in surrendering, the best outcome will be. If he remains stubborn, I will have no choice but to destroy the peace here myself."
Xu Zhenguan did not object, but changed the subject and jokingly said:
"Do you know why this place is called Daluo Island?"
Zhao Duan said suspiciously, "I don't know."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and explained:
"The most famous place here is Yutou Mountain, and at the foot of Yutou Mountain is Dongxuan Lake.
According to legend, Dongxuan Lake once reflected Daluo Mountain, the residence of gods, hence the name Daluo Island.
However, I have never been here before. I have only heard the palace teachers talk about it many times. If the highest peak in Jiancheng Dao is Luoshan, then the one with the most abundant spiritual energy in Binhai Dao should be Yutoushan.
Shouldn’t it be Qingshan?
Oh, that bunch of crude warriors don’t care about the terrain and feng shui when they practice, that’s fine… Zhao Duan complained in his heart, and his eyes passed through the car window, and he finally saw the "Yutou Mountain" rising from the ground in the distance.
At first he just admired it as a view, but gradually, as the carriage moved forward and the angle changed, Zhao Duan stared at the mountain that looked a bit like a big "steamed bun" and was stunned.
"What's wrong?" The empress looked at him suspiciously.
"No way... no way... is it so weird?"
Zhao Duan looked as if he had seen a ghost. He met the Empress's eyes and explained:
"Didn't I kill Guhuo Zhenren again at Yansuo Lake? At that time, I saw another treasure trove of his from his memories. It seems... it's right here."
ah?!
The Empress was also stunned at this moment, and with a strange look in her eyes, she asked, "Just like... that time in Baihua Village?"
"kindness!"
“…”
Inside the swaying carriage, the king and his minister looked at each other, and both saw the disbelief in each other's eyes.
Is there such a coincidence in the world?
Last time, when the king and his ministers were in trouble in Baihua Village, Zhao Duan accidentally discovered the first treasure house of Guhuo Zhenren.
As a result, this time, the king and his ministers traveled the Jianghu for the second time and encountered the second...
Even vernacular novels wouldn't dare write something like this, there's no such thing as a coincidence...
"His Majesty."
"kindness?"
"You are really my lucky star!" Zhao Duan said seriously, his eyes shining.
The decisive battle with Prince Jing is not far away. At this time, it is absolutely amazing to persuade Lao Tie to assist again...
However, if you think about it carefully, this is not entirely a coincidence, because the Kuangfu Society was originally rooted in Binhai Road, and Yutou Mountain is a famous mountain with extremely suitable feng shui, so it seems reasonable for Guhuo to choose this place.
"Find a chance to go and have a look." The empress's eyes sparkled, and she was quite interested in opening the treasure chest.
Anyway, with a celestial being like her around, there is no need to be afraid of any traps.
As the thought arose, at this moment, the king and his minister no longer had any interest in enjoying the scenery. Their only thoughts were on finding an opportunity to obtain the treasure.
What is a brace? This is it.
At this time, the entire carriage team had already passed the downtown area, and the king and his ministers did not notice that in the distance, in a corner of the noisy streets.
A figure wearing a conical hat that covered most of his face, wearing a plain robe, and carrying a long stick wrapped in cloth slung diagonally behind him was quietly watching the convoy leave.
The sunlight fell on the little monk Tianhai, casting a twisted shadow on the ground.
He slowly raised his head, and beneath his hat were dark eyes.
"Zhao Duan..."
The young monk Tianhai murmured softly.
After he set out from the Huai River, he could not find the exact whereabouts of Prince Jing due to the lack of intelligence network, but he learned about Zhao Duan's massive eastward expedition.
Therefore, I simply went to Daluo Island first.
"Here comes Zhao Duan, Prince Jing Xu Wen won't be far behind. I just need to wait a little longer, wait a little longer..."
Tianhai muttered to himself, and at this moment, a shop owner next to him cursed at him unhappily:
"Are you going to buy it or not? If not, don't stand there blocking me from receiving customers!"
The only survivor of the battle in Baihua Village was defeated in a second. The young monk said "Oh oh" twice in panic, chanted "Amitabha", then lowered the brim of his hat and quickly disappeared into the depths of the alley.
…
…
The mansion that Guo Zhun arranged for Zhao Duan and his party to stay in was quite grand.
A large area of classical buildings with white walls and black tiles is pleasing to the eye.
After Zhao Du'an moved into the house, the servants arranged by Guo Zhun immediately served him delicious food and even arranged singing and dancing for him, but Zhao Du'an righteously refused.
In the courtyard, after Zhao Duan had eaten and drunk his fill, he dismissed the rest of the people and waited for Song Jinxi who had hurried over.
"grown ups!"
Song Jinxi was dressed like a servant and was very inconspicuous. He bowed politely.
Zhao Duan stood by the pond, holding a blue and white porcelain fish food jar in his hand. He threw fish food into the pond and asked calmly, "What's going on?"
Song Jinxi set out earlier than him and arrived at Daluo Island secretly a few days ago. He was accompanied by a group of shadow guards.
"Reporting to you, my lord, I have found the information you asked me to gather. Prince Jing and his entourage went to Qingshan first and are suspected of having received assistance from many Qingshan warriors. Now they are returning from the east, and judging by the time, they are not far from Daluo Island.
As for Prince Chen, he arrived at Daluo Island a few days earlier and is now on the island. Prince Chen's fleet of ships is scattered across the river to the east and north of the island. However, since arriving, Prince Chen has done nothing, refused to see anyone, and simply stayed in his house all day, Song Jinxi said.
Zhao Duan asked curiously, "Did he meet Prince Jing?"
Song Jinxi said happily, "No. At least our intelligence network didn't find that the two had ever met, but the correspondence between the two sides did not stop."
"Yeah," Zhao Duan nodded, not surprised. In his opinion, if Prince Huai'an was an active fence-sitter, then Prince Chen was a passive vacillator.
"Where is Princess Chen?" he suddenly asked.
Song Jinxi said: "Princess Chen lives with Prince Chen and rarely goes out."
Zhao Duan thought for a moment and said, "I went to the island today with such fanfare, but Prince Chen's Mansion didn't react?"
"No." Song Jinxi shook his head.
"Hmph," Zhao Duan placed the blue and white porcelain fish food jar heavily on the rockery stone beside him and said with his hands behind his back:
"Another ignorant one."
Song Jinxi rolled his eyes and said, "Sir, should we just rush over..."
Zhao Duan thought about it, then shook his head and said:
"No rush. We just arrived today and are exhausted from the journey. If King Chen doesn't show up, then forget about him. You guys go and continue to monitor him. Haha, it's not us who are anxious now, it's them."
"Yes." Song Jinxi's figure squirmed and disappeared into a shadow, and soon squirmed away.
Wait for him to disappear.
Xu Zhenguan came out of the room and said calmly:
"It seems that Prince Chen does not want to see either you or Xu Wen."
Zhao Duan stared at the fish fighting each other in the pond. His eyes fell on a small goldfish that was squeezed out of the school due to its small size and thus avoided the bloody fight. He said:
"If they want to have the best of both worlds, it depends on whether they have enough weight and intelligence."
After saying this, he turned around and smiled:
"Your Majesty, let's put all that aside. Would you mind my going shopping with you?"
…
shop!
Guo Zhun, Jin Jian and others could not have imagined that it was such a critical situation, when countless eyes were staring at them openly and secretly.
Zhao Duan actually took the mysterious female priest with him and went out shopping.
The center of Daluo Island is indeed prosperous. After hundreds of years of nurturing, a huge "commercial street" has been created on this island.
In modern times, it is undoubtedly CBD.
It was still early in the morning, so Zhao Duan bought a gray wolf mask and put it on his head. He and the empress swaggered into the most prosperous streets on the island.
It feels like a conspiracy...
Not only are the people here unaware of the coming storm from the outside world, but they also lack the perception of war and react slowly.
The people here were actually going about their daily lives, and there were quite a few tourists from other places wandering around, making it quite lively.
"When was the last time you went shopping?"
Zhao Duan walked in the crowd and glanced sideways at the empress. He vaguely remembered that it was when he first entered the Xiuwen Academy and proposed new policies and strategies. After the empress came out of seclusion, the two of them also strolled in the night market of the capital.
As they thought about it, the two people squeezed in the crowd got closer.
Zhao Duan suddenly reached out and grabbed the empress's delicate and smooth little hand.
Xu Zhenguan was stunned for a moment. The man in the white fox mask stared at him with gentle eyes, and then he let him lead the way, like a lone boat in the dense and crowded crowd.
But the ambiguous time is always short. When the king and his minister were reluctant to part, they passed through the most crowded crowd, but at the same time, they tacitly let go of their hands and kept a certain distance.
——In public, one must keep a distance to avoid having others guess the true identity of the “female worshipper”.
However, the king and his minister had no interest in choosing from the dazzling array of goods in the shops on both sides of the street.
Besides, their real purpose was not sightseeing, but to find an opportunity to open the treasure chest in Yutou Mountain.
However, there is no need to rush.
It’s not easy to get out for a walk, so you should cherish the time to relax.
Suddenly, the king and his minister were attracted by a chess club in front of them. There were many people gathered there. When they walked in, they saw that they were gambling on chess.
"You two guests, please take your seats."
The waiter was sharp-eyed and saw that the two were either rich or noble, so he hurriedly and eagerly led them to sit down.
Zhao Duan took a look and saw two chess players playing against each other in the hall of the chess club. Many people were gathered around and betting on who would win or lose.
It is a more elegant "boxing ring".
In the private rooms, many guests were drinking tea and eating cakes while playing games.
The empress was somewhat interested in this scene. She looked at it for a few more times, smiled and asked in a low voice:
"What do you think of these people's chess skills?"
Zhao Duan glanced at the two chess players fighting in the hall and curled his lips: "That's it..."
Suddenly, he stopped, and the king and his ministers looked towards the door at the same time.
I saw a luxurious carriage stopped at the gate of the chess club.
The servants pushed through the crowd, the carriage curtain opened, and a noble lady with a graceful appearance but a veil covering her face walked in slowly, holding a raccoon cat in her arms.
He looked around and walked straight towards the king and his ministers.
"Can I sit here?" Princess Chen asked with a smile, her eyes curved into crescents.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
