Chapter 68 Zhao Duan: What is your face worth?
The rain was dripping, and the sound of an old man wearing a straw raincoat and fishing on the shore was deep and powerful.
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows and smiled.
What an ignorant servant... It's hard to say that the other party's provocation is not a warning.
Perhaps he was expressing his dissatisfaction with Zhao Duan for inviting him to meet him through his fourth daughter.
Or maybe, he has the intention of trying to warn, testing, or something else.
unimportant.
What's important is that he is standing here now, and the other party has given him a decent way out.
And if he had continued to choose to swallow his anger, the treatment he would receive now might be very different.
"I've heard that the Huaishui Pei family has a strict family tradition and strict family management. Seeing it today, I can see that their reputation is well-deserved." Zhao Duan exclaimed.
Pei Kaizhi seemed not to notice the sting in his words and said:
"The wind is strong and the rain is heavy. Please change into a straw raincoat."
Behind him, servants came forward to serve him respectfully.
When Zhao Duan also put on a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, the Pei family guards retreated three feet in unison.
In this way, all conversations today will not be heard by any third person.
"Since you are afraid of wind and rain, why do you have to go out in the rain?"
Zhao Duan was very open and actually sat down on the empty bamboo chair:
"I heard that after a heavy rain, it's a good time to fish."
Sitting at this angle, he finally saw Pei Kaizhi's face clearly.
He was about sixty years old, with white hair and beard, not tall, and between his brows there was the aura of someone who had long held a high position. His appearance vaguely resembled Pei Si Niang.
Tsk, this wave is against Tiangang.
Pei Kaizhi laughed and said:
"Envoy Zhao is certainly not good at fishing, nor has he ever lived in an area with abundant lakes and marshes."
"What do you mean?"
"I was born in the land of plenty in the south of the Yangtze River, and I've known since childhood that if you wait until after the rain to set out, the best spots will have already been taken."
Zhao Duan's eyes flashed and he smiled:
"Is that so? I am glad to learn from you."
Pei Kaizhi asked, "Do you know why people say it's good to fish on rainy days?"
Zhao Duan: "Please teach me."
Pei Kaizhi looked at the breeze on the river and the calm water with his old eyes.
He raised his finger and pointed, speaking with the air of a seasoned angler:
"Fish need to breathe underwater, and they are extremely sensitive to water temperature. This varies depending on the season, the intensity of the rain, and before, during, or after the rain. If the water is lush and weedy, the water will be warm and stuffy, and the fish won't be comfortable with it, so they'll gather in open areas without weeds..."
Zhao Duan listened quietly. This scene was undoubtedly strange.
One party came with the intention of fighting and setting a trap.
One party did not know the details and responded cautiously with a bit of anger.
But they only talked about their fishing experience, but Zhao Duan seemed to enjoy it and was not anxious or anxious at all.
It was quite like he would not mention it unless Minister Pei spoke.
Finally, perhaps because of his old age and frailty, he could not stand the cold wind.
Pei Kaizhi coughed and changed the subject:
"If we compare the current imperial court to this pool of water, it would be quite appropriate."
Zhao Duan said: "Oh?"
Pei Kaizhi tightened his collar, as if afraid of the wind, and said:
"The joy and anger of a sage are like torrential rain and warm sunshine. We, the officials, are like the fish, big and small, underwater. When the rain is heavy and the wind is strong, the fish become panicked and alert. You never know which one will get confused and take the bait, becoming the soul in the pot."
The meaning of this statement is obvious:
Recently, Xu Zhenguan has been angry, the ministers are frightened, and the court is in turmoil. Officials can only avoid disaster by being extremely cautious.
Zhao Duan was unsure whether the other party had guessed something or was deliberately deceiving him, so he cautiously did not respond and said:
"Thunder, lightning, rain, and dew are all grace from the emperor. I don't understand anything too complicated. I only know that loyalty to His Majesty is the right thing to do."
Thunder, lightning, rain, and dew are all grace from the Lord...
Pei Kaizhi chewed over these eight words again and again, looking at Zhao Duan with a hint of surprise.
Not just this sentence.
From Zhao Duan's response to his intimidation today to his conversation with him now, neither humble nor arrogant, everything is different from the rumors.
However, he didn't know that this was all the result of Zhao Duan's deliberate performance.
Before setting off, Zhao Duan thought about how he should meet the other party.
Maintain the domineering and arrogant villain character?
If he were facing Pei Si Niang, he could do the same.
But Zhao Duan did not think that his acting skills were enough to deceive a powerful minister who had been immersed in the officialdom for many years.
Therefore, the original character will make the other party alert, and he can only be his true self.
And appropriately hide the true purpose under a hypocritical face.
"Now I know that there is a reason why you can please the saint." Pei Kaizhi smiled.
No, you know nothing... I have many advantages, such as early success... Zhao Duan used complaints to relieve the pressure of facing the scrutiny of a powerful official.
Pei Kaizhi changed the subject:
"However, to be honest, this storm in the court is also related to you."
After a pause, his gray-brown eyes looked over:
"I've learned about your actions recently. While there's a lot of luck involved, you're far more scheming and calculating than the playboy people imagine you to be."
The implication is: Stop pretending, I have investigated you thoroughly.
really!
This old man hasn't seen me for a few days. He is secretly investigating... Zhao Duan was not surprised and said calmly:
"Cunning tactics... that's not a nice word."
Pei Kaizhi raised his eyebrows and said, "Or else?"
Zhao Duan is righteous and shamelessly plagiarizes Qi Ting's lines:
“I just wanted to improve so badly.”
Pei Kaizhi was stunned, then burst into laughter, his hair shaking under his hat, as if he had heard something interesting.
At this moment, he was finally sure that the person in front of him was not a cause for concern.
Yuan Li was secretly targeting him, and Pei Kaizhi had already noticed it.
Li Yanfu had issued an order earlier, asking the members of the Li Party to keep a low profile and not to create trouble at this critical juncture so as to give the empress an advantage.
Therefore, facing Zhao Duan's sudden request for a visit, Pei Kaizhi had to be careful.
Of course he could choose not to see her.
But since the other party went to great lengths to find his daughter, it means he probably has something important to tell him.
After weighing the risks of possibly missing out on some important matters and meeting with Zhao Duan, he chose the latter.
Before this, he carefully investigated the pretty boy under the empress's skirt and was surprised to find that this person might be different from the rumors.
But that's... that's all.
Yes, that's all!
As in the eyes of Xu Zhenguan and Yuan Li, Zhao Duan's previous actions were just small-scale actions.
Apart from the accidental involvement of Prince Jing's Mansion, the rest of the means were, after all, just some petty cleverness that was not worthy of being displayed on the public.
The level of people who deal with them is limited to small fry like the Zhang brothers.
Even the key clue to solve the case was provided by a prostitute...
Combined with the process of solving the case, he extorted money and led the Jinyi army to break into the house for revenge.
Therefore, Pei Kaizhi's evaluation of him was just "a greedy villain with some clever tricks and schemes."
But he still wasn't reassured.
After several attempts, it was indeed found that Zhao Duan was calmer and more determined than expected.
But the overall impression is the same.
Even if Zhao Duan really endured the body search by the guards, he would still look up to them.
But Zhao Duan chose to take action, which was a sign of cowardice.
A young man who can't control his anger and emotions is barely capable of deep fakery.
And a notorious pretty boy who, in order to "get ahead", is crazy about climbing up the ladder, bullies others, is greedy and lustful, and has a bad reputation, naturally has no reason to be a threat to oneself.
Of course, if Pei Kaizhi knew that Zhao Duan had been in the same car with Yuan Li, he might have thought very differently.
But Lu Liang, who was not on good terms with his father-in-law, harbored hatred and secretly harbored resentment towards him, never told anyone about this humiliating incident.
It was even more impossible for Pei Si Niang to tell Lu Liang that Zhao Duan had found her and met with Pei Kaizhi in private.
The family should have been sharing intelligence, but a strange "information gap" appeared.
Therefore, in Pei Kai's eyes, he greatly relaxed his vigilance against Zhao Duan.
However, little did they know that all this was taken into consideration in the plan of the Empress's lackeys.
…
"What are you laughing at, Minister?" Zhao Duan asked curiously.
Pei Kaizhi restrained his smile, looked at him with a half-smile, and said:
"I laughed. It turns out you and Lu Liang are the same kind of people."
Zhao Duan was silent for a moment, but did not refute. He said:
"Minister, please speak frankly."
Pei Kaizhi, who thought he had seen through the other party, also lost interest in the conversation. He turned his head to look at the fishing rod in the river and said calmly:
"Si Niang has already told me your intentions. Lu Liang has offended you, and it's only natural that you would seek revenge. But you shouldn't have tried to bring bad luck upon Si Niang and upset her. If she's unhappy, then I'm unhappy too."
Zhao Duan said "Oh?"
"so?"
Pei Kaizhi said calmly:
"But since ancient times, it is better to resolve an embarrassment than to create one. Since you are someone His Majesty admires, I naturally have to give you some face. Moreover, since you have come to me, I am sure you will not be willing to do so unless I give you an explanation."
He paused, as if pondering.
Pei Kaizhi finally said in a tone that was almost like a verdict:
“How about this, I’ll order Lu Liang to come to your house and apologize to you.
In addition, the teahouse you saw when you came here today, and the batch of high-quality elixirs in Yaozhitang, are all considered as apology for my son-in-law's offense against you.
Oh, the income from a high-end teahouse and the medicinal herbs that are very beneficial to your martial arts practice, this condition is definitely generous enough.
If you are still not satisfied, wait for some time, when the political situation is stable, I can help you and get you a good job.
In this case, you can also consider my kindness and let the matter with Lu Liang go, how about that?"
The tone is casual and unfocused, and the attitude is almost charitable.
But Pei Kaizhi was certain that the other party would agree.
Because whether it is face or benefits, he gives enough.
On the contrary, he gained nothing and incurred the wrath of a vice minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Pei Kaizhi believed that no one would refuse.
However, Zhao Duan's expression looked a little strange.
Then, gradually, the corners of his mouth rose, and for the first time since their meeting today, his fangs and claws were truly exposed.
"Is that so? It's indeed very generous, and it seems unreasonable to refuse." Zhao Duan laughed and said, "But..."
"But what?" Pei Kaizhi frowned.
Zhao Duan raised the corner of his mouth, cold and arrogant:
"But what is your face worth?!"
(End of this chapter)
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