Chapter 74 The Chess Player on the Watchtower
"Mr. Yuan, you are so kind."
In the flower hall, Zhao Duan was flattered when he heard this comment, "It's just luck."
The leader of the "Qingliu Party" who controlled the Censorate shook his head:
"Is it luck? It's not luck."
Beneath his seemingly calm face was uncontrollable surprise and admiration.
Was what Zhao Duan achieved just luck?
At first glance, it seems that the need to deal with Minister Pei just happened to be met with Wu Lang's leverage, which was too much of a coincidence.
But if you think about it carefully, if Zhao Duan hadn't spent a year making himself notorious, he would not have been truly accepted by the playboy circle.
How could I have the chance to meet Pei Wulang?
Be trusted by the other party?
He had been laying the groundwork for over a year before he had the evidence that seemed "within his grasp" today. How could this be attributed to luck?
Of course, what Yuan Li really appreciated was Zhao Duan’s entire “divide and conquer” strategy.
It may seem simple, but in reality it is like dancing on the edge of a knife.
If his acting skills were even slightly flawed, and he showed weakness, and failed to deceive Pei Kaizhi, everything would be wasted.
But he did it anyway. It only took him a few days, and in a place where no one knew, he bit Pei Kaizhi so hard that he was bleeding.
Especially Zhao Duan’s last sentence, about Lu Liang’s “conspiracy turning into an open conspiracy”, was even more to the taste of this powerful official.
Conspiracies and tricks will never be exposed.
Only the ability to make good use of open strategies is the essential quality of a top chess player.
Yuan Li herself did not realize that, to a certain extent, she had placed Zhao Du in the position of a "chess player" like herself.
Chess player or chess piece, only one word difference, but it makes a world of difference.
What he had never expected was that the casual move he made on a whim that day would bring him such a generous gift just a few days later.
"Where is Luliang?" Yuan Li asked.
"It has been handed over to the steward of the mansion for custody."
"Very good," Yuan Li stood up and paced in the flower hall, as if thinking. After a moment, he said:
"I will take care of what happens next. You can go back and wait for the result. If Pei Kaizhi causes trouble for you, I will stop him for you.
If all goes well, there might be something exciting to watch in the next few days. When the dust settles, I will personally bring you to ask for your praise."
Up to now, Empress Xu Zhenguan still knows nothing about this.
"It all depends on Lord Yuan."
Zhao Duan stood up and bowed, not worried that the dignified Imperial Censor would take away his credit.
As for the subsequent struggle, his level is too low, and rashly getting involved would be tantamount to seeking death.
That was a fight unique to real big shots. He didn't want to die, so it was better to stay alive.
The two of them didn't waste any more time talking, and Yuan Li went to see Lu Liang.
Zhao Duan left Yuan's mansion, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he waited on the roof of a distant house.
Soon after, officials swarmed out, murderous intent spreading everywhere.
"yawn."
Zhao Duan stretched himself, jumped off the roof, floated on the horse's back like a falling leaf, and patted the horse's buttocks:
"Go home and sleep!"
…
…
The next morning, after Zhao Duan went to the yamen, he heard two things.
First, someone accidentally saw Pei Kaizhi visiting Li Yanfu last night.
Second, Lu Liang disappeared, and the people involved were very secretive about the incident.
Pei Kaizhi did not come to cause trouble for him. It was not known whether he was stopped by Yuan Li or was too busy to take care of himself.
In the next few days, a major event happened in the court.
One morning, the missing Lü Liang suddenly appeared in court and in the Golden Palace, he reported and impeached his "former father-in-law", the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Pei Kaizhi, on ten charges including cheating in the imperial examination, corruption and murder.
And produce relevant files and evidence as thick as books.
For a time, it caused a sensation in the court. Pei Kaizhi refuted it in person, Li Yanfu questioned it severely, and Yuan Li strongly supported his censor.
Empress Xu Zhenguan was furious and ordered the temporary arrest of Pei Kaizhi and twelve people involved in the case.
Yuan Li was ordered to take the lead, Ma Yan to carry out the work, and the Dali Temple to supervise, to jointly try this old case which happened more than ten years ago.
The government and the public were shocked.
The entire officialdom in the capital was either trembling in fear or entering into a melon-eating mode.
The morning court sessions in the next few days were even more exciting.
The "Li Party" headed by Li Yanfu began to counterattack, questioning the authenticity of the evidence and throwing out black material about political opponents.
In one day, Lu Liang’s negative news spread throughout the streets and alleys of Beijing, and the image of “celebrity censor” that he had painstakingly built up in the past collapsed.
A rat crossing the street will be chased away by everyone.
On the second day, twenty-one censors from the Censorate jointly submitted a letter of impeachment, which was so powerful that it triggered a round-the-clock war, and the court meeting became a battlefield for both sides.
Li Yanfu and Yuan Li personally took action, and the students of the Imperial College stopped attending classes and instead discussed state affairs in various literary gatherings and restaurants.
There was a lot of verbal sparring and endless arguments.
"Brother, even in the Imperial Music Bureau, when they are surrounded by beautiful women, they are not talking about poetry, talent, or romance, but this drama of 'the father-in-law and the son-in-law's feud'. It is truly wonderful."
Qin Qu, who was short and thin, with a wretched appearance and a folding fan slanted behind his satin collar, was amazed.
He was half-squatting, licking his face and leaning on a flight of stairs in an awkward posture.
This is an abandoned watchtower.
During wartime, it was used as a lookout for the Imperial Guards, and it had a good view overlooking a large area of the surrounding streets.
Outside the watchtower, there is a winding wooden staircase.
Qin Qu raised his face with a flattering smile, and looked with his small eyes at Zhao Duan who was standing high up and leaning against the railing.
Zhao Duan held half a watermelon in his hand and ate it with a spoon, occasionally spitting out the seeds.
The watermelon seeds fell on Qin Qu's face and turned into pockmarks.
"Really?" he replied casually.
In the field of vision, there are continuous stretches of green tile roofs.
In the sunlight, it reflects the azure light, like a sea.
It reminded him of Jiang Wen’s movie “Hidden Man”, in which Eddie Peng was seen riding a bicycle on the rooftop of Beijing looking for a woman.
"Yes, yes," Qin Qu said with a smile:
"Even Wang You, Young Master Dong San and the others are paying attention to this matter."
Zhao Duan knew that the two people he was talking about were the two most famous playboys in Beijing.
The former is the son of the Minister of Rites, and the Wang family is a prominent family ranked very high in Dayu.
The latter is the third grandson of the current "Grand Tutor Dong". He is extremely domineering and is considered the most arrogant playboy in the Beijing circle.
He fears neither heaven nor earth, and only listens to his elder brother "Dong Da".
The number one playboy in the previous term was the current "Little Cabinet Master", the son of Prime Minister Li Yanfu.
However, the young cabinet minister has long since left the circle of young scholars and is now an important figure in the "Li Party".
"Oh, so what?"
Zhao Duan ate watermelon with his eyes narrowed, his gaze drifting towards the tallest "watchtower" at the end of the continuous roof, near the direction of the imperial palace.
It is also the building second only to the "Big Bell Tower" of Tianshi Mansion in height.
I thought: If I stand there, I might be able to overlook half of the capital.
“Ah, this…”
Qin Qu was speechless and laughed dryly:
"I'm going to talk to my brother. I heard that the matter is almost settled. His Majesty will probably make the final decision at the court tomorrow morning."
Zhao Duan said calmly:
"Can we participate in the political struggles between top officials and powerful figures?"
Qin Qu nodded frantically and said with some envy:
"I don't know when we can get into that circle."
But he didn't know that the person who delivered the first blow in this major event that swept the entire officialdom was Zhao Duan, who was standing above his head and watching the show.
"Pah." Zhao Duan casually put half a watermelon on Qin Qu's head and jumped up:
"I'm back at the government office."
Qin Qu, with his watermelon-shaped head and face covered in red soup, murmured:
"Brother, if you want to make progress, there's no need to rush."
…
On the way to Baima Prison, Zhao Duan bought two jars of osmanthus wine and a large bag of meat and vegetables.
Some time ago, he learned that the old supervisor came to see him, but left disappointed, thinking it was probably a misunderstanding.
He didn't plan to explain until the matter was settled to avoid unnecessary complications.
But since this long-lasting storm will come to an end tomorrow morning.
He didn't mind finding someone to eat with while waiting, sharing the unknown joy, and waiting to go to the palace to receive the reward tomorrow - provided that the "Behead Pei" operation was successful.
I haven't seen the Empress for a long time, and I miss her a lot.
However, when Zhao Duan, carrying wine and food, walked into the back hall with a smile as the sun was setting, Sun Lianying threw a book at his head:
“Get out!”
…
The transition chapter will be released tomorrow. Honestly, this kind of transition chapter has a slower pace, which isn't great for catching up, but I still quite like it. And thanks everyone for the compliments yesterday. I took a look at the catching up today, and it's starting to rise again...
Thanks for the support of Sanfen Xiaomuyu Baishang
(End of this chapter)
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