Chapter 435 Zhao Duan's "Resurrection" (5k)
In the study, there was a weird atmosphere.
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 obvious point is...
"She is so proactive..."
"No, a normal script shouldn't involve a man teaching a woman to draw and taking advantage of the opportunity? Oops, I think I got it The heroine's script...Oh, the other party is the empress, so that's okay..."
Zhao Duan's thoughts were complicated, and the cleverness and slickness of the past were all gone at this moment. Getting a little clumsy.
From the 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, whom she had never talked to before, didn’t know what to do, but she felt that she had to take the initiative.
Well, as the queen, I like to be on it - just painting.
The two of them have their own thoughts, but the only thing they have in common is that they don’t put their thoughts on the painting itself. Fortunately, with the support of the empress’s skills, even if one thought is complex and one is distracted, the final sketch on the paper is " "Self-Portrait" is still very impressive.
“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 turned the page in a feint. He rolled his eyes and didn't bother to correct his wording. He stood up and said:
"Okay, it's getting late. I'm taking Zhuang Xiaocheng leaves first and 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."
He added: "This painting will be left to you. You try 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 the 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 left. Two steps forward, Suddenly feeling that something was wrong, he turned around and glanced at him quietly, warning:
"You can only speculate, don't use it for other purposes."
"Huh?" Zhao Duan held the scroll and looked at him. Lu was at a loss.
The empress' face was already reddish. She remembered something, carried the box out of the study, mastered 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 for a short while.
Seeing Gongshu Tianyuan walking over not far away, holding a "recording scroll" in his hand, he threw it to him like a hot potato:
"I'll give you what you want. Here you go, tut... When His Majesty looked over at me just now, I was so scared that I only recorded half of it. , the room was 'shielded' by Your Majesty. Speaking of which, what did you do after you and Your Majesty interrogated Zhuang Xiaocheng?"
The little fat priest's eyes were slyly staring at him? He twisted his waist, gave a look that every man would understand, and mouthed:
"A breakup 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... …
“Public transmission Brother, where did you go? Zhuang Xiaocheng is still in the house. Your Majesty is discussing with me the situation of rebelling against the party. It is not convenient to leave."
Zhao Duan was righteous and contemptuous, mocking Gongshu Tianyuan for being too dirty. Dirty, shameful and in company.
Then he coughed lightly:
"Okay, I have discussed it with His Majesty. Everyone will stay at my house temporarily. When Magistrate Luan arrives in Beijing, I will personally send Old Gou Zhuang on his way."
...
… ...
With deliberate concealment, few people knew about Zhao Duan's return, and even less knew 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.
Without even symbolic resistance, certain benefits were thrown out - this is completely consistent with the direction Zhao Duan speculated.
Xiang Guo 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:
< b r> "Your Majesty is angry now. In His Majesty's eyes, if it were not for his father who forced him to do so, Zhao Duan would not have had to go to the seaside to die. If she were an ordinary woman, she would not know how ferocious she could be in the face of such revenge for killing her husband. Revenge.
But your Majesty is your Majesty after all, and Zhao Duan is not the royal husband after all. Your Majesty needs to be angry, but not too much, and if a woman is angry, she is not allowed to do it. I have become a victim of anger."
Li Yinglong smiled and said:
"What my father said is that the people below also understand this 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 Fu She, 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 position 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 know."
"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 disaster will not be over until His Majesty kills these traitors and gets rid of his bad temper." , It’s not easy to do activities in winter. Let’s wait until the spring breeze blows.”
……
Jizhao nunnery.
In the lonely courtyard, beside the pond planted with lotus, Prajna Bodhisattva stands 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, it is not natural for me to come and inform you about the affairs in the temple."
After the self-debate, Zhao Duan's sudden enlightenment Buddhist teachings attracted the arrival of the "World Honored One". In Shenlong Temple, the wind of Zen suddenly blew up.
As the representative of Prajna Bodhisattva, it was effortless for the disciples 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 Bodhisattva, each leading a force.
It kind of means "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.
"Oh, if you have anything to do, 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.
Bian Ji said: "There is news from the temple in the east, and people are sent from Qingshan Mountain in the East China Sea to deliver a letter of war to the court for the coming year."
Prajna became slightly interested, turned to stare at him with beautiful eyebrows, and suddenly said:
"War letter? Yes, I almost forgot... In the past, the Taizu of the Yu Kingdom imitated Buddhism and Taoism in fighting, and inherited the martial arts from the Qingshan sect. The tradition of making a fight was established, just after the Buddhist and Taoist fight."
Bian Ji smiled. 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 one year before the war.
The last time the war was made, the royal family offered sacrifices. Hai Chunlin replaced the members of the royal family at that time and went to Qingshan for the appointment, barely coping with it
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. "
Bianji 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 it that Prajna Bodhisattva still feels sorry for Zhao Duan? Because he helped you in the debate? Or is it that the Bodhisattva really took a fancy to his cauldron? "
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 stepped back a few steps, his face flushed, 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, she stopped and raised her eyebrows slightly:
"The eldest princess of Yunyang?"
Because the weather was getting warmer, she used scissors to improve her clothes. Tailored monk's robes, Princess Yunyang basking in the sun in the courtyard stood in his way In front of him, he looked at the Master with red lips and white teeth and said with a smile: "No one talks to me here. I am very lonely. I also have many difficulties in studying Buddhism. It has been a long time since the Master came here. Are you willing to give me some advice?"
Study Buddhism?
Bianji's brows slightly stretched, and he looked at Yunyang dressed as a nun. In his mind, the appearance of Prajna Bodhisattva suddenly appeared, and the images of the two women slowly overlapped:
"This..."< br>
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--"
The spring breeze melted the ice in the river, and the earth When the ice 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 breathed a sigh of relief at the same time:
"We are finally here."
< br>Prefect Luan smiled at Yuanji and said:
"Get off the ship later. According to the rules, officers and soldiers from other places are not allowed to transfer orders and are not allowed to 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 this is necessary Farewell to the general.”
Yuanji, who was like a mountain of meat, was full of worry:
"After the magistrate 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. At this time Mr. Zhao should have entered the city long ago. 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 Magistrate Luan.
In the prison car, Lin Yuebai looked at the growing Xiongcheng in silence, 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 miserably, hugged his younger brother, who had a different surname but whose blood was thicker than water, and said with relief:
"There will probably be more torture. During the torture, you don't have to carry it. Just ask whatever you want." What to say.”
Seeing her brother’s unyielding look, she felt bitter. Se shook his head:
"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 Zhao Thief is dead, the court will definitely kill them all to vent their hypocrisy. The emperor's wrath.
What happened next was not beyond everyone’s expectations. The prisoners were escorted into the prison by the imperial guards.
Luan Cheng then took a shower and changed clothes, and went to the palace in person, but was blocked. People in the palace told him that His Majesty hoped that he would enter 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.
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 they were all blocked by the concierge.
"My mistress at home is very sad. I don't see any guests in the house today, so 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, chop it and 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 have to be played? 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 until the court tomorrow, how about it?"
He 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' .”
……
No words for a night.
The next morning, the ministers arrived at the Meridian Gate early and prepared to go to court.
The protagonist today is not Li Yanfu, Yuan Li and other high-ranking officials, but Luan Cheng, the fifth-rank prefect among the crowd.
Countless eyes focused on him, and the ministers whispered, 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 completely today.
I am afraid that this official robe will also be stripped off.
There is a rebellion against the party under the rule. This 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.
"Unfortunately, Prefect Luan doesn't know whether he can escape the death penalty..."
"Alas, even if he is exempted from the death penalty, he must not be able to escape the consequences of being exiled to the army..."
Whispers.
Only Luan Cheng stood in the wind, expressionless.
finally.
With the sound of the bell.
The ministers entered the palace.
After the prelude of the emperor and his ministers, the empress, who was sitting on the dragon throne, looked down at the ministers in the palace:
"Luan Cheng, the prefect of Binhai Road, stepped forward to give a 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 last paragraph also adds the paragraph about the smooth escort of the prisoners to Beijing.
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 is wrong!
There is 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 throne. There was no anger or blame in his tone, but a bit of appreciation.
Immediately, before the ministers could react, the empress said calmly:
"Luan Qing assisted Zhao Shaobao in capturing the thieves. It just so happened that the post of Binhai Road Inspector was vacant. Is Luan Qing interested in taking on this important task? ?”
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 a commotion, she raised the corners of her mouth slightly and said, "My dear, what you said makes sense. In that case, I declare Zhao Shaobao to visit!"
Boom!
Like a depth bomb 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 door.
"Zhazaza——"
With the sound of the heavy door opening, the spring light shone into the hall from the outside. Several figures stood outside the hall, leading one, which made everyone in the court familiar.
Zhao Duan, wearing the robe of a Shaobao official, 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 this chapter)