Chapter 76 Zhao Duan: The temple is a deep place, you can’t control it
Ma Yan was stunned, not only because of the title of "senior brother", but also because of Yuan Li's iconic carriage.
Zhao Duan? Yuan Li?
There is no reason for these two people, who are completely opposite in terms of status and reputation, to have any intersection.
"Yes," Zhao Duan smiled as warm as the spring breeze and tried to get closer:
"I didn't expect to meet my senior brother here by chance."
Ma Yan frowned:
"I don't remember when I had a junior brother like you, the Envoy."
Zhao Duan laughed and said:
"You and I are both worshippers of the Imperial City, our guide is Eunuch Hai, and our mentor is Emperor Taizu. Isn't it natural for us to be from the same school?"
Ma Yan was stunned for a moment, then looked at him strangely, without responding, but remained silent:
"Did Sun Lianying tell you?"
Not many people know his identity as a worshipper, and one of them is surnamed Sun.
"The Chief Supervisor said that the Governor is extremely loyal, and I admire him very much." Zhao Duan looked admiring.
“…” Ma Yan felt inexplicably uncomfortable all over, as if he was stuck with a piece of taffy and couldn’t get rid of it or break free.
Others did not dare to get close to Ma Yan. After all, "Ma Yanwang" was notorious and the notorious Zhao Duan did not care.
He only knows that if you want to make a living, you need to have more connections and more paths.
Although the Empress is a powerful figure, she is too far away from the mortal world and is not as intimidating as Ma Yanwang.
As they talked, the two walked side by side towards the Golden Palace.
At this moment, the sky was just getting light, the morning mist was floating, and there were few people in the palace gate square.
This is a square that can accommodate thousands of imperial guards. During a coup in the past, tens of thousands of corpses were found and the blood dyed the ground red. It took three days of flushing with clean water to barely wash it clean.
In the distance, towering palaces are scattered around, and long white jade steps extend all the way down along the entrance of the Golden Throne Hall.
Looking up from below, I feel awe in my heart.
Looking down from above, people are as small as dust.
"Brother, are you here for Pei Kaizhi?"
Zhao Duan, with his sleeves rolled up, stood in the square and chatted.
Ma Yan was a man of few words, but he couldn't stand the annoying buzzing of flies beside him, so he said "hmm" and then said disdainfully:
"Your Excellency, please address me by my official title."
How stingy... Zhao Duan curled his lips:
"I heard that the court meetings these past few days have been very exciting, but in the end, Lord Yuan came out on top. Master...Does the Governor know the inside story?"
Ma Yan's face was stern: "I don't know."
Zhao Duan, an e-person, is in high spirits and eager to perform:
"Aren't you curious about why I'm here?"
Ma Yan glanced at him and looked away:
"Not curious."
No, you can’t have a good chat now… Zhao Duan complained, can people just pretend to be nice?
Spoil the fun!
He was about to fight again when he heard the sound of the Meridian Gate bell. Ma Yan said solemnly, "He's out."
Zhao Duan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a sharp singing of "hello" amidst the mighty bell sounds. The door of the Golden Palace was wide open and the officials in the court poured out.
The court is dismissed.
There are many ministers participating in the court meeting today, hundreds of people, and the crimson official robes are extremely eye-catching.
There is also a patch of green in the red, which is exclusive to censors.
At this moment, the crowd was walking down the white jade steps in a silent and quiet atmosphere.
The court officials were divided into two groups in the middle. One group was headed by Yuan Li, the blue-robed censor, who held his head high and chest out, and his demeanor was impressive.
The other force is the "Li Party", which has more people, but the atmosphere is depressing and heavy.
The leader was an old man wearing a dark red official robe and a black gauze hat. His temples were like hedgehog skin and his eyebrows were like purple stone edges. He had a fierce look and was extremely majestic.
The slightly messy stubble spread up along both cheeks and intersected with the temples.
This made Zhao Duan inexplicably think of Sima Yi in his later years played by Wu Xiubo.
Prime Minister of Dayu, Li Yanfu!
This was the second time Zhao Duan had seen this "prime minister of the current dynasty". Last time, Li Yanfu passed by him without even turning his eyes.
That was the most silent contempt ever described by Mr. Lu Xun.
This time still.
Zhao Duan and Ma Yanru stood like pillars on a stone bridge against the flow of people, letting all the officials flow past them.
When Li Yanfu walked past the two of them, an invisible majesty made Zhao Duan's breathing become stagnation.
Those who hold great power can make martial artists feel pressured just by their aura.
Yuan Li fell behind, and Lu Liang was not here.
Behind all the officials of the "Li Party" came Pei Kaizhi, who finally arrived late.
Zhao Duan was shocked. After not seeing him for a few days, the once powerful Minister of Justice seemed to have aged ten years. His energy and spirit were drained, his hair was withered, and his face was haggard.
At this moment, his official robe had been stripped off, leaving him only in a plain white undergarment. In the cold morning mist, he staggered, looking distraught and shivering.
In a daze, he walked forward instinctively without even looking at the road, and bumped straight into Zhao Duan.
Pei Kaizhi only raised his head when he noticed a shadow blocking his way. His bloodshot eyes suddenly lit up, and he was filled with the fierceness of a desperate old wolf. He stopped, his fingers trembling.
"It's you!"
Zhao Duan, who looked radiant and in stark contrast, smiled and nodded:
"My Lord, we meet again."
Pei Kaizhi was refreshed upon seeing his enemy. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his face was cold and violent.
"I spent all day hunting geese, and finally got my eye pecked by a goose. And I was deceived by a villain like you. But don't be so complacent. Do you think that just because you're doing things for others, you're entitled to see me laugh? You're just a pawn, are you worthy enough?"
It seemed that he didn't know that all this was the work of Zhao Duan, and only thought that he was being plotted by Yuan Li.
Zhao Duan is just a tool to carry out Yuan Li's plan.
I just don’t accept this… Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows, glanced at Yuan Li, and saw the big blue-clothed woman smile and nod.
He walked straight ahead and came close to Pei Kaizhi.
He put his hand on the old man's shoulder, pulled him closer, and smiled softly:
"The Minister's eyes are truly dim and dim. He has already lost everything, yet he is still at a loss and cannot find the real enemy."
Pei Kaizhi's expression changed slightly: "What do you mean?"
Zhao Duan said with a smile:
"Do you think I'm just a pawn following Lord Yuan's orders? No. In fact, Lord Yuan has no idea that the entire plot to alienate Lü Liang was orchestrated by Zhao alone...
Oh, you think you're losing to Lord Yuan, so you're still honorable? No, you can't even defeat a mere pawn like me...
Haha, that day when you were fishing on the Jinjiang River embankment, you acted so mysterious and profound that I almost frightened you. I thought you were so cunning and scheming...
Since you have no ability, why are you, an old dog, pretending to be a big shot?"
He patted Pei Kaizhi's shoulder gently and added the final blow:
"Peizi, listen to Brother Zhao's advice. The political world is treacherous and you can't handle it. Go home and retire. I'll take care of the high office, the generous salary, the beautiful wife, and the children. I'm not afraid of deep waters. I'm young and can handle it."
Pei Kaizhi's old eyes widened as he stared at him intently. His face turned pale and his whole body trembled violently. He was so angry that he suddenly cursed:
"Zhao thief! Even if I become a ghost in my next life, I will not let you go!!!"
Immediately, he spurted out blood and fainted from anger!
On the steps, Yuan Li had a subtle expression.
Beside him, Ma Yan was stunned. With his martial arts hearing ability, he heard the entire conversation between the two.
In the distance, many officials who had already left suddenly turned back and saw this dramatic scene in shock.
Li Yanfu also stopped and turned his head for the first time. In his eyes, which were as calm and cold as a deep pool, someone's figure was reflected.
"Zhao...Duan..."
(End of this chapter)
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