Chapter 435 Zhao Duan’s “Resurrection” (5k)
There was a weird atmosphere in the study room.
Zhao Duan looked a little cautious and surprised, feeling Zhenbao's hand pulling his own hand, holding a brush to draw lines on the paper.
However, his mind was not on painting at all, but on feeling the strange touch and feeling happy.
Although this is not the first time that the monarch and his ministers have "held hands", compared with the past few times, the nature of this time is very different.
The most significant point is...
"She is so proactive..."
"No, in a normal script, shouldn't a man teach a woman to draw and take advantage of the opportunity? Oops, I seem to have got the heroine script... Oh, the other party is the empress, so that's okay..."
The thoughts in Zhao Duan's mind were chaotic and complicated, and the cleverness and slickness of the past were all gone at this moment. Getting a little clumsy.
From a perspective that he couldn't see, Xu Zhenguan's fair face was also slightly hot.
She was also a little surprised by her actions today, but it was probably the "disclosure" of a certain identity at the banquet that made her think that she should try to move forward and take the initiative to advance the relationship.
Well, the female emperor who had never been in a relationship didn't know what to do, but she felt that she had to take the initiative.
Well, as a queen, I like to be on it - just painting.
The two of them had their own thoughts, but the only thing they had in common was that neither of them focused on the painting itself. Fortunately, with the support of the empress, even if one thought was complex and one was distracted, the "self-portrait" finally sketched on the paper still had great charm. .
"Okay, that's it."
Xu Zhenguan breathed out gently, retracted his hand, felt the fragrant sweat on his neck, and said a little awkwardly.
"Oh, oh oh." Zhao Duan put down his brush and stood up straight carefully.
"How do you like this painting?" Xu Zhenguan raised the corners of his mouth and raised his chin to comment on this self-portrait.
Quite a bit of a show-off mentality.
Zhao Duan was confused and nodded:
"This painting is so white... No, Your Majesty is so vivid... No, this painting is so vivid, as if it has come alive, lifelike, yes, lifelike!"
"..." Xu Zhenguan rolled his eyes in feigned annoyance, not bothering to correct his wording. He stood up and said:
"Okay, it's getting late. I'll take Zhuang Xiaocheng and leave first. I will also help you cover up the news of your return to the city. If anything happens, ask someone to contact you through the White Horse Prison. There are also experts in the field near your home."
< br>
Then he said: "I'll leave this painting to you to figure it out."
Zhao Duan walked over respectfully, held the drawing paper in both hands, and said seriously:
"When I turned around, I ordered my servants to frame it and hang it in my room day and night to ponder it."
Xu Zhenguan said "yes" and was very satisfied with his attitude. He picked up the box containing the Taifu on the ground and took two steps. Suddenly he felt something was wrong. He turned his head and glanced at him quietly and warned:
"You can only speculate, don't use it for other purposes."
"Ah?" Zhao Duan held the scroll in his hands, looking confused.
The empress's face turned slightly red, and she remembered something. She carried the box out of the study, controlled the magic, and returned to the palace.
Tsk tsk, it seems that Zhenbao is not as innocent as imagined... That's right, the ancients married when they were teenagers, and she has been running for three years... She understands everything... Zhao Duan clicked his tongue and was amazed, feeling like a cold fairy. Feeling grounded.
Shaking his head and putting the portrait away carefully, Zhao Duan walked out of the study and stood in the corridor and waited for a while.
I saw Gongshu Tianyuan walking over not far away, holding a "recording scroll" in his hand, and threw it to him like a hot potato:
"I'll give you what you want. Tsk... When His Majesty looked towards me just now, I was scared to death. Unfortunately, halfway through the recording, the room was 'shielded' by His Majesty's cultivation. Speaking of which, you What did you do after you interrogated Zhuang Xiaocheng with His Majesty? "
The little fat priest's little eyes wandered around his waist, giving him a look that every man could understand, and mouthed:
"A little separation is better than a wedding?"
Zhao Duan frowned and said in his heart that you really think highly of me. With Zhenbao's character, he would only really take that step on the wedding day or the bridal chamber...
"Brother Gongshu, where are you thinking? Zhuang Xiaocheng is still in the house. Your Majesty is discussing with me the situation of rebelling against the party. It is not convenient for people to leave."
Zhao Duan was righteous and scornful, mocking Gongshu Tianyuan for being too dirty and ashamed to be associated with him.
Then he coughed lightly:
"Okay, I have discussed it with His Majesty. We will stay at my house temporarily. When Magistrate Luan arrives in Beijing, we will personally send Mr. Zhuang Old Dog on his way."
……
……
Under the deliberate concealment, few people knew about Zhao Duan's return, let alone that the "dead" Zhuang Xiaocheng had been secretly detained in the palace.
In the next few days, Xu Zhenguan followed the strategy proposed by Zhao Duan, almost looking for trouble, to beat and weaken Li Dang.
Li Dang, who was already stimulated by the "New Deal" and was like a hairy hedgehog, tacitly refused to resist when faced with the empress's attack.
There was no even symbolic resistance, and certain benefits were thrown out - this is completely consistent with the direction Zhao Duan speculated.
Prime Minister's Mansion, in the courtyard.
"Xiao Ge Lao" Li Yinglong stood under the eaves and carefully reported to Li Yanfu, who was wrapped in cotton clothes, holding an arrow in the cold spring breeze, and practicing "pot throwing":
"...Father, according to your instructions, everyone below is tolerant and allows Your Majesty to vent his anger."
"That's right," Li Yanfu was wrapped in a bright red loose robe, with a white jade pendant tied on his chest. His white hair fell from his temples. He clapped his hands and said when he saw the arrow hitting the copper pot:
< br>
"Your Majesty is angry now. In your eyes, if it were not for the pressure of his father, Zhao Duan would not have had to go to the seaside and die. If she were an ordinary woman, she would not know how to retaliate fiercely in the face of such revenge for killing her husband.< br>
But His Majesty is Your Majesty after all, and Zhao Duan is not the royal husband who is marrying after all. His Majesty needs to be angry, but not too much. And if a woman is angry, if she provokes him, she is guaranteed to become a victim of anger. ”
Li Yinglong smiled and said:
"What my father said is that the people below also understand this truth and are very well-behaved."
He is in a good mood, or in other words, the entire Li Party is in a happy mood recently.
With the help of Kuang Fushe, the great enemy Zhao Duan was eradicated, which not only released a breath of bad breath, but also calmed the accumulated emotions within the party.
Li Yinglong said:
"It's just that at this juncture, regarding the official positions of the New Deal officials, especially the Governor of Water Transport on Jiancheng Road, we still..."
Li Yanfu gave him a cold look:
"Don't interfere. The appointment and dismissal of New Deal officials are watched by countless people from top to bottom. The rest of the place is fine. The Jiancheng Road is too dangerous and we can't touch it. Do you understand?"
Li Yinglong nodded reluctantly: "I understand."
"Yes," Li Yanfu nodded with satisfaction, picked up an arrow again, and said:
"It's time for the traitors escorted by Luan Cheng to enter the city. This calamity will not be over until your majesty kills these traitors and gets rid of the evil spirit in his heart. It's hard to do activities in winter. Let's wait until the spring breeze blows."< br>
……
Jizhao nunnery.
In the lonely courtyard, beside the pond planted with lotus, Prajna Bodhisattva stood quietly holding a jade purification vase.
A pair of almost transparent eyes stared at the melting ice in the pond and the fish swimming below, and said:
"Why do you have the time to come here?"
Beside the pond, Monk Bianji, dressed in white with red lips and white teeth, smiled calmly and said:
"Given the Bodhisattva's current status in Shenlong Temple, and the various matters in the temple, isn't it natural for me to come and inform you?"
After debating the sutras, Zhao Duan's sudden enlightenment of Buddhism attracted the arrival of the "World Honored One", and the wind of Zen suddenly blew up in Shenlong Temple.
As the representative of Prajna Bodhisattva, it was easy for the disciples of the sect who originally belonged to the Great Purification Master to come to seek refuge with him.
Today, in Shenlong Temple, Abbot Xuanyin is still the largest, followed by Prajna and Nagarjuna, each leading a force.
It's a bit like "Three Kingdoms Struggle for Hegemony".
However, although Prajna was promoted as the leader, he still showed little interest in factional fighting, and he still lived in Jizhao Temple.
"Hey, if you have any business, just tell me."
Prajna Bodhisattva's graceful and plump figure is reflected on the water, and his voice is lazy and deep.
She has been like this since the news of Zhao Duan's death came back.
Bianji said: "There is news from the temple in the east. People are sent from Qingshan Mountain in the East China Sea to deliver the war letter to the court for the coming year."
Prajna became slightly interested, turned around and stared at him with beautiful eyebrows, and suddenly said:
"War letter? Yes, I almost forgot... In the past, the Taizu of the Yu State imitated the Buddhist and Taoist fighting methods, and established a tradition of fighting with the Qingshan sect of martial arts, just after the Buddhist and Taoist fighting methods."
Bian Ji smiled and said:
"To be precise, it will be the beginning of next year. According to tradition, the two sides must write a letter of challenge within a year before the war.
The last time they had a fight, the royal family sent Hai Chunlin to replace the royal family members at that time. They went to Qingshan to attend the appointment and managed to deal with it reluctantly.
But this time, Wu Xiankui would not be happy to be fooled. This time, His Majesty in the palace would not be able to escape. ”
Prajna's brows were lazy: "You seem to be very happy."
Bian Ji smiled and said:
"Why can't I, a Buddhist, be happy when I have the opportunity to see the excitement of the royal family? Or is Prajna Bodhisattva still feeling sorry for Zhao Duan? Because he helped you in the debate? Or is it true that Bodhisattva has taken a fancy to his furnace? ?”
Prajna's eyebrows suddenly turned cold: "Get out."
"Bang!!"
A burst of mana collided and exploded in the silent courtyard. Water columns rose up in the pond, frightening the fish away.
Bianji "dengdengdengdeng" took a few steps back, his face turned red, and the monk's robe covering his body was torn into pieces.
Anger appeared on his face, but he quickly calmed down and said with a smile:
"The poor monk will no longer disturb the Bodhisattva's rest."
He turned around and left the courtyard, flicking his sleeves and slowly walking towards the gate of Jizhao'an.
Halfway through, he stopped and raised his eyebrows slightly:
"The eldest princess of Yunyang?"
Because the weather was getting warmer, Princess Yunyang, wearing a monk's robe that she had modified and cut with scissors, was basking in the sun in the courtyard. She stood in front of him and looked at the master with red lips and white teeth. She smiled and said: "I, no one is talking here." , I am very lonely, and I have many difficulties in studying Buddhism. It has been a long time since the Master came here. Would you like to give me some advice? "
Study Buddhism?
Bianji's brows slightly stretched, and he looked at Yunyang dressed as a nun. The appearance of Prajna Bodhisattva suddenly appeared in his mind, and the images of the two women slowly overlapped:
"This..."
Yunyang smiled and pulled his sleeves and walked towards the meditation room:
"I'm just asking for Buddhist teachings. Master Bianji will definitely not refuse."
"...Okay."
……
……
"Wow——"
When the spring breeze melted the ice on the rivers, the ground thawed, and the rivers wrinkled, the official ship escorting the rebels finally slowly arrived at the capital pier.
on deck.
The prefect Luan Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the city gate with General Yuanji who was wearing armor and carrying a war hammer, and he breathed a sigh of relief at the same time:
"Finally here."
Magistrate Luan smiled at Yuan Ji and said:
"Disembark later. According to the rules, officers and soldiers from other places are not allowed to transfer orders or enter the city. If you want to go back to the capital camp, the military attache will come and lead you to the capital camp to settle down. I will lead the prisoners into the city, so I have to say goodbye to the general for a while. .”
Yuanji, who was like a mountain of meat, had a worried face:
"After the prefect enters the city, I am afraid that I will face His Majesty's thunderous wrath. I..."
No... you don't know the truth at all. Master Zhao should have entered the city by this time. Well, I hope there is no accident... Magistrate Luan smiled and did not explain.
Yuanji was immediately impressed.
Lang Shiba, who also walked onto the deck, silently held the wine gourd, raised his head to drink, wiped the corners of his mouth, and let the spring breeze blow on his face, which was a bit boring.
When the group got off the boat, people from the Beijing camp were there to pick them up.
Yuanji and other local soldiers and horses were led away, and the rebels on the ship were loaded into cars by the imperial guards from the Beijing camp who were waiting here, and taken into the city together with the prefect Luan.
In the prison car, Lin Yuebai silently looked at the growing Xiongcheng, looking thin and withered.
Kou Qichi's lips trembled in the same prison car:
"Sister, we are going to die soon, right?"
Lin Yuebai smiled sadly, hugged his younger brother who had a different surname but his blood was thicker than water, and said with relief:
"There will probably be some torture. During the torture, you don't have to carry it. You can just say whatever you ask."
Seeing her brother's unyielding look, she shook her head bitterly:
"Don't worry, the Taifu is dead, and the information you and I tell you is worthless. If you suffer less, you will have the strength to walk on the road to hell."
On the prison car, many members of the Kuangfu Society were either fearful, relieved, numb, or dismissive.
There are various reactions, but everyone knows that there is absolutely no way for them to survive
——Only because the Zhao thief died, the court would definitely kill all of them to vent the anger of the false emperor.
What happened next was not beyond everyone's expectations. The prisoners were escorted into the prison by the imperial guards.
Luan Cheng took a shower and changed clothes, and went to the palace in person, but was blocked. Someone in the palace told him that His Majesty hoped that he would come to the palace tomorrow morning.
Luan Cheng was thoughtful and agreed happily.
That night, the news that rebel prisoners were escorted to Beijing caused a sensation in the entire capital. The last time such a large number of rebel prisoners was arrested was after the Xuanmen Coup.
At the same time, the so-called coffins containing the "dismembered bodies" of Zhao Duan, Zhuang Xiaocheng and others in the convoy were also sent to different places.
Among them, the coffin that attracted the most attention was undoubtedly the coffin of "Zhao Shaobao", which was brought into the Zhao Mansion. Many people tried to go to express their condolences, but were blocked by the concierge.
"My mistress at home is very sad. I don't see any guests in the house today. I hope you can forgive her." Uncle Zhao, dressed in mourning clothes, explained to the guests.
Everyone expressed their understanding and left one after another.
And only separated by a wall, Zhao Duan was sitting in the courtyard, eating rare fruits stored in the cellar, and waving his hands with an unlucky face:
"Carry the coffin to the woodshed and chop it to light the fire."
The mother and daughter Eugene Hua, who were wearing mourning clothes next to them, looked at each other, wanting to laugh but feeling it was inappropriate.
"Brother, how long will this scene last? Now that the coffins are back, if we don't do anything big next, it will arouse suspicion." Zhao Pan asked cautiously.
Eugene Flower also pricked up his ears.
"And our coffin..." Haitang and Zhang Han also walked over quietly.
Zhao Duan took a bite of the apple and said with a smile:
"Okay, we won't perform the show until tomorrow when we go to court, how about that?"
He threw the clean apple core to the Pekingese, stretched out and rubbed his face:
"The play is almost over now, we...it's time to 'resurrection'."
……
A night of silence.
In the early morning of the next day, the ministers arrived at the Meridian Gate early and prepared to go to court.
It's just that the protagonists today are not Li Yanfu, Yuan Li and other important officials, but Luan Cheng, the fifth-rank prefect among the crowd.
Countless eyes were focused on him, and the ministers were whispering. Some expressed sympathy, while others looked at the joke.
But the only thing they had in common was that no one took the initiative to talk to him.
Everyone knows that this powerful local magistrate may not be able to leave the palace today.
I'm afraid this official robe will also be stripped off.
There is a rebel general group under the rule, which is a huge dereliction of duty. The most important thing is that Zhao Shaobao is dead.
The credit for catching the rebels undoubtedly belongs to the dead Zhao Duan.
The blame for Zhao Duan's death can only fall on Luan Cheng, who is still alive.
"It's a pity that Prefect Luan doesn't know whether he can escape the death penalty..."
"Alas, even if the death penalty is avoided, the consequences of being exiled to the army and being sent to the army must be unavoidable..."
Whisper.
Only Luan Cheng stood in the wind with an expressionless face.
finally.
With bells ringing.
The ministers entered the palace.
After a prelude of the monarch and his ministers, the empress sitting on the dragon throne looked down at the ministers in the palace:
"Luan Cheng, the prefect of Binhai Road, stepped forward to reply."
Luan Cheng stepped out from the crowd, walked to the front respectfully, took out the memorial from his sleeve, held it in both hands, and began to narrate the process loudly.
The content of the story is almost the same as the first part of the secret letter from the past few days, and the part about successfully escorting the prisoners to Beijing was also added at the end.
But interested people were surprised to find that Luan Cheng's report actually skipped the core paragraph in which Zhao Duan and Zhuang Xiaocheng died together.
Something's wrong!
There's a problem!
Where are the fools among the princes in the court? They all realized something was wrong and didn't understand what had happened.
"Very good," Xu Zhenguan nodded gently on the dragon chair. There was no anger or blame in his tone, but a bit of appreciation.
Immediately, before the officials could react, the empress said calmly:
"Luan Qing assisted Zhao Shaobao in capturing the thieves, and the post of Binhai Road Inspector happened to be vacant. Is Luan Qing interested in taking on this important task?"
Got promoted? Aren't they going to be beheaded or exiled? Why is it not blamed for such a serious crime, but rewarded with a higher official position?
The ministers were confused.
Luan Cheng was overjoyed: "I... I am willing to do your best for Your Majesty! However, I dare not take credit. All the credit for capturing the thief this time belongs to Zhao Shaobao, and I only have a small contribution..."
The empress was quite satisfied with his attitude. When she saw that the ministers were already in commotion, she slightly raised the corners of her mouth and said, "What I say makes sense. In that case, I declare Zhao Shaobao's presence!"
boom!
Like a depth charge falling, all the officials in the palace were stunned. Almost at the same time as the empress' words were spoken, the guards guarding the door opened the palace door.
"Zazaza——"
With the sound of the heavy door opening, the spring light shone into the hall from the outside. Several figures stood outside the hall, the first of which was a figure that was very familiar to everyone in the court.
Zhao Duan, wearing the robe of a young bailiff, stepped across the threshold, his boots stepping on the spotless Jinluan Hall.
His eyes swept across the dull faces, and he smiled slightly:
"Your Majesty, Zhao Duan, see you!"
There was silence.
(End of chapter)