Chapter 361 The Empress Visits
"Well, I'm back." Zhao Duan took off his robe with a smile, threw it to the running girl, then turned to the old housekeeper and solemnly ordered:
"Keep the door tightly closed. Someone may come to the door next. Please stop them all. Well, except those from the palace or the imperial office."
The girl wearing a goose yellow dress and a green vest was stunned for a moment, with a strange expression:
"Brother, are you causing trouble again?"
This scene of hiding behind closed doors... reminds me of Zhao Duan's glorious record of frequently causing big troubles, and it's hard not to think about it.
What's more, Zhao Pan witnessed the debate between Zhao Duan and Zhengyang as a witness.
"What does it mean to cause trouble? I am doing this for the imperial court, right?"
Zhao Duan raised his hand wordlessly, scalped her, and walked into the inner hall with a carefree look.
At this time, my aunt Eugene Hua also heard the sound and rushed over. She was also shocked when she saw the servants closing the door and guarding tightly.
The mother and daughter surrounded Zhao Duan and asked.
Zhao Duan then briefly described what happened in the plum garden.
Hearing the mother and daughter being stunned for a while, Zhao Pan was surprised that Zhengyang was conquered by his eldest brother. He showed his courage and directly admitted defeat.
Eugene Flower’s emotional feedback is more realistic:
"What? That great Confucian from the south, will he recognize you as his master in public?"
Although Eugene Hua has joined the ranks of ladies from wealthy families in the capital based on the wealth of her mother and son, she still does not have enough experience.
I don't know the pros and cons, I just find it weird.
Zhao Duan crossed his legs, enjoying the top service of his aunt's shoulders in the inner hall, and said with a sad face:
"Yeah, it's not a big trouble."
Then he smiled again and said nonchalantly: "Maybe this is the trouble of becoming famous."
The mother and daughter, who could not get out of the door, looked at each other blankly and couldn't quite understand.
However, Eugene Flower was used to his stepson doing big things, so he was very calm.
He just ordered the kitchen to serve the food, and ordered him to buy ingredients and cook a good meal in the evening to celebrate Da Lang's great achievement again.
…
After lunch.
In your own room.
Zhao Duan threw himself hard on the bed and raised his head to sort out his thoughts:
"Well, today's fight was unexpected, but it was generally a successful counterattack. This crisis has been resolved... I just don't know how Zhengyang will face Prince Mu after returning to Yunfu... Well, it's none of my business. ”
"It's easy to break a mountain, but it's hard to break a heart... Is it such a coincidence that Zhengyang can say such a thing? Tsk tsk, if I hadn't intervened, maybe this person would have been able to tinker with his own skills and become a great Yu in his lifetime. Version of Wang Yangming..."
"After today, I will provoke another wave of hatred among the scholars... Well, after Zhengyang leaves, we can clean up another wave of scholars with evil thoughts in the center of the capital according to the recorded list..."
"Hey, I wonder how Xu Zudi will react when he finds out what happened today. The Eight Kings...especially Prince Jing, are probably paying attention too, right?"
"At this time, Zhenbao should also have learned the news, but it's a pity that he couldn't see it in person.
But it’s not a big problem. Emotional matters need to be properly stretched. It’s not good for me to take the initiative to report. It’s better to wait for her to come to the palace and think about it. What are the benefits? "
With his thoughts spinning around, Zhao Duan looked inwards again and felt a dull pain between his eyebrows.
He asked Ma Yan, who said that this was a sign that he was about to advance to the middle realm of the Divine Chapter.
After devouring Master Bewitching, his promotion time was indeed greatly shortened.
"You can't drift. There's no point in arguing with scholars. You still have to increase your strength."
Zhao Duan closed his eyes and entered into practice again.
…
When I opened my eyes again, it was already evening.
Zhao Duan finished his practice and walked out of the room. He learned that several groups of people came to the door in the afternoon, but they were not very important people, so he blocked them all.
"Is no one coming from the palace?" Zhao Duan couldn't help but ask.
Got a negative answer.
He was not surprised, thinking that Zhenbao would definitely have to take care of his successor, and he might be announced to the palace at night.
In late autumn, the sky gets dark much earlier. When the sun sinks below the horizon, the Zhao family hangs up lanterns and Zhao Duan walks into the dining hall.
He saw that the maid had filled a large table with sumptuous dishes to celebrate his great success today.
Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan were already sitting at the table. Her stepmother dressed more conservatively in autumn, and her appearance became more and more graceful and graceful as a lady.
After inviting his stepson to take a seat, the three of them faced a large table of dishes. Eugene looked at him with emotion and sighed:
"Everything is good at home now, but there are still a few people and it's not lively enough."
In the past, it didn't look like a small family.
But now compared to other mansions, the Zhao family is indeed a bit deserted.
Ordinarily, at Zhao Duan's age and status, he should have married a wife or even taken a concubine, and it would not be a surprise to have children.
However, due to the special rumors between Zhao Duan and the empress, there was no such thing as "pressing marriage" in the Zhao family, and no one had ever come to Zhao Duan's house to propose marriage to Zhao Duan.
It's quite embarrassing...
"I think it's good. If there are too many people, it will be troublesome." Zhao Duan, who was an only child in his previous life, said with a smile.
Eugene Hua was about to say something when suddenly the sound of horse hooves could be heard faintly outside the courtyard, accompanied by a knock on the door.
The old housekeeper hurriedly ran along the atrium and said:
"Dalang, someone is coming from the palace." He's finally here!
Zhao Duan perked up, put down his bowls and chopsticks, and said, "I'll go take a look."
Immediately, he stepped outside. The sky was now blue and dark, and there were only two large lanterns hanging at the two ends of the Zhao Mansion plaque.
When Zhao Duan walked out of the door, he saw a low-key and luxurious carriage parked, followed by only three or five plainclothes guards.
"But Miss Mo?" Zhao Duan asked with a smile.
The guess is that Mochou came to find him.
However, as the car curtain was raised, a familiar figure walked down. Zhao Duan's expression froze and he said in surprise:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
Xu Zhenguan was wrapped in a dark cloak, covering her beautiful body, with only one head exposed. Three thousand blue hairs were tied behind her head and fixed with a jade-inlaid crown.
On the bright white face, the eyebrows and eyes are particularly clear.
She smiled and said: "Why, aren't you very disappointed, Mochou?"
No... Zhao Duan was greatly surprised. He shook his head hurriedly and explained:
"I was just surprised. I didn't expect that His Majesty, who is ninety-five years old and has a body of ten thousand gold, would come to this humble residence..."
Xu Zhenguan looked at him with a smile and said, "I'm already here, why don't you invite me to come in and sit down?"
Ah... you really want to come in?
Aren't you taking me into the palace?
Zhao Duan's heart was pounding. It should be noted that this was the first time that the empress had stepped onto the threshold of the Zhao family.
He could clearly be summoned to the palace, but he chose to come to the Zhao family... the meaning is completely different.
"Please..." Zhao Duan breathed softly, turned around and led the way, and at the same time winked at the old steward near the screen wall inside the door:
"Your Majesty is here, go and call the people in the mansion to greet you!"
The old housekeeper was stunned, his eyes widened. He was stunned for three breaths before he came to his senses, his old face turned red.
With his status, how could he expect to witness the arrival of the emperor with his own eyes?
And it was a very unexpected visit without any notice!
After a while, the entire Zhao Mansion was in a sensation.
Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan led several maids and servants in the mansion to welcome him out with great excitement.
In the courtyard, he could clearly see the female emperor following Zhao Duan. Although she was wrapped in a cloak, her demeanor and appearance were far beyond those she had ever seen in her life.
"Your Majesty... the daughter of the people kneels down to welcome Your Majesty!"
Eugene Flower's voice was trembling.
How could the Zhao family's mistress, who had just adapted to her status as a noble lady, have the slightest bit of psychological preparation?
As soon as his legs became weak, he knelt down.
He didn't forget to pull Zhao Pan, who was hit by the empress's beauty, who had not recovered yet.
The rest of the servants of the Zhao family even knelt down and did not dare to raise their eyes to look at Xu Zhenguan, for fear that they would have their eyes gouged out by a big shot due to rudeness, as described in the market storybook.
Xu Zhenguan looked calm, not at all surprised by this scene, but he smiled as brightly as a flower. He hurriedly bent down and stretched out his hand to pull Eugene and his daughter up, and said with a gentle smile:
"No need to be polite, I took the liberty of visiting today. It seems that I disturbed the master's family. You two are the aunt and sister Zhao Qing mentioned."
Eugene Hua had never seen such a scene before. She was shaking nervously and hurriedly said yes, looking at Zhao Duan for help.
Zhao Pan was bolder and stared at Xu Zhenguan's face that looked like a fairy under the moon, with no flaws at all, and suddenly felt ashamed of himself.
She blushed nervously.
It's not that she has other thoughts like Mo Chou, but it's not just men who like beauties in the world, women like them even more.
Although Zhao Pan had heard many rumors about the empress in the palace in the past, he had never seen her with his own eyes like today.
"Pan'er! Don't be rude!" Eugene Hua said hurriedly.
Xu Zhenguan smiled gently: "No problem, are you Zhao Pan? You are indeed as old as a lotus."
Zhao Duan stepped forward to relieve the siege:
"Have you had your Majesty's meal? The simple meal at my house has just been served, and I have not yet touched my chopsticks."
Xu Zhenguan glanced at him with a smile, nodded and said:
"Then I'll give your Zhao family a meal."
Your Majesty wants to have dinner at my house?
Mother and daughter Eugene Hua woke up in a daze, and hurriedly asked the servants to get the best unused dishes and chopsticks in the house, and to bring in new chairs.
The guards led by the empress were waiting outside the door and did not come in.
And in the blink of an eye, around the round table in the Zhao family's inner hall, at the main seat of the sumptuous dining table, we learned more about the empress who wore a cloak, a moon-white uniform, a strong aura, and a graceful appearance.
"What are you all standing for? Sit down together, sit down and eat together."
Xu Zhenguan acted like a master, smiling and inviting several people to take their seats.
Zhao Duan was in a strange mood and took the lead to sit next to the empress. He smiled at his stepmother and sister and said:
"Your Majesty has said, let's all sit down and eat together."
Eugene Hua and Zhao Pan looked at each other. The two women's eyes were strange. At the same time, they remembered the rumors about the ambiguity between Zhao Duan and the empress.
Therefore, if the empress really has that kind of relationship with her eldest husband, then wouldn't it be considered a dinner together today...
Family dinner?
Thinking of this, the Zhao family's mother and daughter couldn't sit still.
(End of chapter)