Chapter 78 The Empress Summons
In the imperial study.
When Yuan Li said this, Xu Zhenguan was stunned, and his eyes were blank for a moment.
I suspect I heard it wrong.
The first to strike? Zhao Duan?
Both words are understandable, but when put together, they become obscure and difficult to understand.
How could he be involved in the "Beheading Pei" case? Why did Yuan Li know about it and tell him?
Mysteries came one after another, confusing the empress.
"Mr. Yuan, please speak more clearly." Xu Zhenguan opened his red lips slightly, and even his smile faded briefly.
"I don't remember him having anything to do with this."
Yuan Li smiled and said:
"This is a long story, and in fact, it was far beyond my expectations. It all started on the day that Envoy Zhao came to the Imperial Garden to report on the 'firearms craftsman' case."
Then, Yuan Li calmly narrated the incident.
It starts with how he suddenly became curious about Zhao Duan and invited him to ride with him, how he encountered Lu Liang's house being stolen, and how he arranged a casual chess move.
Until Zhao Duan tied up Lu Liang and came to his house late at night to tell him the details of the plan.
Yuan Li has a talent for storytelling.
It is clear that he has not experienced it personally, but when he tells it, it is vivid and the picture is overwhelming.
The empress listened quietly the whole time without saying a word, as if immersed in the story.
"When Envoy Zhao explained the whole story to me, I was also greatly surprised. I still had doubts in my heart. It was not until I met with Lu Liang later that I was convinced."
Yuan Li sighed:
"Then, we will use this as a breakthrough point to tear open Pei Kaizhi's golden body and defeat him in one fell swoop. Your Majesty will know all of this."
In the imperial study, the story ended.
But the empress didn't come back to her senses for a moment, as if she was distracted.
"Your Majesty?" After a long time, Yuan Li called tentatively.
"Oh." Xu Zhenguan suddenly came back to his senses and realized that he had lost his composure for a moment, but it was clearly not a big deal.
But really...
"Unexpected." The Queen of Dayu uttered these four words in a complicated tone.
If Yuan Li hadn't told her, she would never have believed it and would have thought it was a novelist's fabrication.
But such an incredible thing happened right under our noses, and the fuse that ignited the massive party struggle was actually Zhao Duan.
How could she not be shocked?
At this moment, she suddenly remembered her last conversation with Mochou. She had jokingly asked what would happen if Zhao Duan did it.
I don't want my words to become a proverb.
The little guy who had just been making small moves had accidentally caused a big incident.
Therefore, there is an explanation for Pei Kaizhi's vomiting blood and fainting - when he was defeated, he saw the enemy who had personally brought him into the game, and the enemy was showing off his power and arrogance whom he had looked down upon in the past. How could he not be angry?
"Where is he now?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly asked, having realized that Zhao Duan's entry into the palace today must have been Yuan Li's doing.
Speaking of which, even at this moment, the empress still found it incredible that Zhao Duan could actually be involved with Yuan Li.
They are clearly two completely different people.
"He is waiting outside. Your Majesty wants to meet him?" Yuan Li asked.
Xu Zhenguan nodded, raised his eyebrows, and resumed his sagely demeanor:
"Xuan."
She wanted to personally interrogate this little imperial guard who had repeatedly given her surprises.
…
…
Just as the empress met Zhao Duan.
As the officials left the court, the final outcome of this protracted party struggle spread throughout the capital.
Pei Kaizhi fell!
The emperor personally wrote the inscription when he was executed in the autumn. The "Li Party" lost a pillar. Although the roots were not damaged, the bones were broken.
Another "interesting thing" that happened outside the Meridian Gate also spread through word of mouth.
"Pei Kaizhi was so angry that he vomited blood because Zhao Duan blocked his way?"
"Zhao Duan suspected of using internal energy to injure the former Minister of Justice, causing him to be seriously injured on the spot? Was this instructed by the Saint?"
"I've heard that Lü Liang's ex-wife, Pei Laogou's fourth daughter, has a complicated relationship with Zhao Duan. The reason why Pei Laogou was betrayed by his former son-in-law is due to the complicated emotions among Lü, Pei, and Zhao!"
"Yes, I also heard that the reason why Lu Liang impeached the thief Zhao was because the saint stole his love..."
In restaurants and teahouses, low-level officials and scholars competed to speculate, and the versions of the story became increasingly outrageous and bizarre.
However, in the real circles of power and influence, the statements spread are closer to the "truth".
"It's said that the reason Lord Yuan was able to incite Lü Liang to rebel and turn against his father-in-law was because he used Zhao Du'an to carry out his scheme... Perhaps he was attracted by Zhao Du'an's reputation and was easily able to gain Pei Kaizhi's trust... This is why he was cursed at the Meridian Gate..."
The rear yamen of Baima Prison.
Sun Lianying, who woke up from a hangover, wrapped in a loose robe, listened to the report from his subordinates.
Because they did not understand the inside story, except for a few people, most people made groundless assumptions and thought that the plan to sow discord between the father-in-law and the son-in-law was a plan made by Yuan Li.
Zhao Duan is only responsible for execution.
This guess was consistent with common sense. After all, it was understandable that a simple person might be a bit clever, but how could he be so smart? To plot against Pei Kaizhi on his own?
In the courtyard, the sunlight cuts through the branches and leaves of the old locust tree, falling on the surface of the stone table with mottled spots.
"Sir?" the messenger who reported called softly.
Sun Lianying said unhappily, "I have good ears, I'm listening."
After scolding him, he asked as if to confirm, "So, Zhao Duan has been working for Yuan Li these days?"
"I think so."
"Is that so..." Sun Lianying suddenly understood and asked, "Did he enter the palace with Ma Yan?"
"It is said so."
The old eunuch said "Yes" and waved his hand to tell him to leave. After a while, he called for a carriage and went to the imperial court.
Not long after, the two old friends met in the back hall of the imperial court. Ma Yan was a little surprised by Sun Lianying's arrival and sneered:
"I was just about to look for you, but you showed up."
Sun Lianying, with his temples gray and the appearance of an old man, was stunned for a moment:
"What do you want from me?"
Ma Yan had a blank expression on his face: "You taught Zhao Duan to try to establish a relationship with me, and even ask me about it?"
???
After Sun Lianying understood the inside story, she was at a loss whether to laugh or cry:
"We gave that sly fellow a pound of drug last night, and he said some drunken things, but it's nothing serious. Who would have thought..."
He sighed and said quietly:
"Our family has been deceived by him for a long time. Only today did we find out that he was working for Yuan Li, carrying out a plan to sow discord..."
Ma Yan had a thin, cold face, with rough eyebrows raised, and suddenly said:
"It seems that you have really been deceived by him."
"What do you mean?"
"The plan of sowing discord has nothing to do with Mr. Yuan. It was done by him alone. Otherwise, why would Pei Kaizhi be so ashamed and angry?" Ma Yan revealed the truth.
Sun Lianying was stunned.
…
…
Tianshi Mansion.
Outside the deepest courtyard, Jin Jian came in with her sleeves fluttering like a ghost, and the priests along the way ignored her.
"Master, I just watched an interesting play. It was that Zhao Duan again..."
The girl with a mysterious temperament and an ethereal voice never knocked on the door.
Walk straight through the wooden door and step into the courtyard.
But I found that the lounge chair under the banyan tree was empty.
"Master is not here? Where did he go?"
Jin Jian's eyes froze for a moment, and it took him several breaths to react. He looked up at the big banyan tree with emerald green branches and an extraordinary origin.
The branches and leaves of the banyan tree rustled, and the wind passed through them, as if whispering.
"Master is out?" Jin Jian tilted his head, thinking that this was really strange.
…
The Imperial Palace, outside the Imperial Study.
Zhao Duan drank too much water in the morning, and his bladder was swollen. He was thinking about whether to go to the toilet first when he saw Yuan Qingyi floating in:
"His Majesty wishes to see you."
It’s not convenient for me now… Zhao Duan opened his mouth, and under the other party’s encouraging eyes, he gritted his teeth and walked to the door of the imperial study:
"Your Majesty, the White Horse Supervisor Zhao Duan comes to see you."
From inside the room, a cold and majestic female voice came: "Come in."
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(End of this chapter)
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