Chapter 49 Report to Your Majesty, the firearm case was solved last night
That night, because it was too late and he had to report to his superiors, Zhao Duan did not go home, but spent the night in the White Horse Prison.
The next morning, when Zhao Duan opened his eyelids, it was already bright.
He washed carefully, put on his official robe in front of the mirror, and picked up a sandalwood sachet. Looking at the handsome face in the bronze mirror, the corners of his mouth slightly raised:
"Done!"
When meeting the Empress, you have to pay attention to your image.
"It's a pity that the sachet has a mediocre taste. How was perfume invented in time-travel novels? The Empress should like it..."
With random thoughts running around, he ordered the boy to bring him some food and simply took a bite.
When he walked out of the Yamen, he saw Zhou Cang in brocade clothes waiting by the car.
"Your Majesty, I have prepared my chariot." Zhou Cangdui smiled.
Zhao Duan deliberately said "I don't care what comes out in the trial" last night, which meant that he only wanted to take credit for solving the case and arresting people.
Leave the Zhang family brothers to Ma Du Gong, and whatever materials you dig out will be considered as imperial edicts.
It is a very "smart" operation of giving favors.
Ma Yan understood the idea and reciprocated the favor.
Therefore, he will not accompany him when he enters the palace this time, in order to avoid competing with Zhao Duan for credit. Only one official from a hundred households will be sent to create a sense of participation.
I went to the Zhaoyamen all night to torture the Zhang brothers. Last night, the jailer of the Zhaoyamen heard screams that lasted all night long.
Ha... I hope you can dig out something, Lao Ma. Anyway, this information from the "Privy Council" belongs to me... Zhao Duan has no shame in intercepting Hu.
…
…
The two of them rushed towards the palace, not in a hurry.
Xu Zhenguan had a strict schedule. After the morning court session, he would review memorials or chat privately with ministers. He would not be disturbed unless it was an urgent matter.
It was already morning when Zhao Duan arrived at the imperial city.
Zhou Cang was ordered to wait outside, and he followed the leading eunuch alone into the palace for the third time.
I thought I would be arranged to wait in the side hall.
But he didn't expect that not long after the message was passed, the elderly female official he was familiar with came over with a smile: "Envoy, your Majesty, please come over."
The status has been significantly improved, and there is no need to queue up to enter the server.
Zhao Duan was flattered, thanked him, and then became curious:
"Your Majesty is not busy at this time? Should I go to the imperial study?"
The older female officer smiled and said:
"His Majesty is conversing with Mr. Yuan in the Imperial Garden. Since he has called you over, I don't think there will be any delay in coming."
Mr. Yuan?
Zhao Duan was startled and blurted out: "The current imperial censor?"
The elder palace maid smiled and said: "Otherwise, who else is Mr. Yuan in Dayu?"
Yuan Li!
Zhao Duan was very familiar with this name.
Currently, two groups are confronting each other in the court. One is headed by Li Yanfu, and behind them are the Jiangnan nobles, who are also the courtiers of the old emperor's generation.
On the other side is the "Qingliu Party" headed by Yuan Li, the imperial censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
With Yanguan as the foundation, he attracted a large number of non-Jiangnan scholars.
After the empress ascended the throne, she single-handedly guided and guided the rise of a new generation of giants in the court.
As the "party leader", Yuan Li was a first-class official, and he was a big shot like Li Yanfu, who would make the Yu Dynasty tremble three times if he stomped his feet.
But he is different from the wily and powerful Li Yanfu.
Yuan Li's reputation is much better, especially among scholars, and he is highly respected.
He served as the examiner of the imperial examination for many times, and his "disciples" were all over the states.
Zhao Duan remembered that after "he" gained power, he once wanted to visit Mr. Yuan, but the invitation was handed over and nothing happened.
I was angry for a while because of this, but now that I think about it, it was simply because the original owner had a lack of brains and didn't know what he was worth.
"Mr. Yuan is here today?"
Zhao Duan was surprised and felt strong curiosity in his heart.
Well, after all, according to the camp classification, if Li Yanfu is his enemy, then Yuan Jishi cannot be considered an ally, but he is definitely someone who can show his goodwill.
Bah, bah, bah... Why am I thinking so much about licking, where has the backbone of the time traveler gone... Zhao Duan straightened up.
While talking, the two arrived at the Royal Garden.
In midsummer, the garden is lush with pavilions, flowing water and rockeries, and clusters of precious flowers and trees transplanted from all over the world.
The growth is gratifying.
The winding stone path is long, and every few dozen meters, there is a waiter standing. The fragrance of flowers is fragrant, and the kingfisher is singing softly.
Zhao Duan walked curiously, and after a while, a pavilion appeared in front of him.
A pavilion stood by the pond, and was served by a famous beauty in palace attire, her chest white and dazzling.
In the pavilion, two figures were sitting facing each other playing chess.
The person on the left is none other than Xu Zhenguan, the empress of Dayu. She has not been seen for several days. The empress’ fairy beauty has not changed. She is dressed in white and has green silk hair, and her appearance is beyond the pale.
The person on the right is wearing a sky blue double-breasted robe and an official hat. He is about fifty years old. He is elegant and handsome, with deep eyes that contain the vicissitudes of time. Even though the years have passed and the appearance has declined, it is still like an old wine, fragrant and mellow.
"His Majesty……"
When the older female officer was about to speak, Zhao Duan suddenly raised his hand to interrupt and shook his head.
With the empress's cultivation level, she would have noticed his arrival early without any special knowledge.
"Give it to me."
Zhao Duan caught a glimpse of a palace maid approaching with a tea set in her hand, raised her hand to take it, a white towel was placed on the palm of her hand, and the precious purple clay teapot was heated to just the right temperature.
Zhao Duan stepped into the pavilion, walked around to the two people playing chess, and poured tea carefully with slow and familiar movements.
In his previous life, the leader he followed was very fond of traditional culture, tea ceremony, calligraphy, Go, Chinese painting...etc.
He also loves reading history books. He keeps a copy of "The Fifteen Years of Wanli" on his desk all year round. This is not just a show, but he really likes it.
Zhao Duan is a motivated person, whether he is influenced by what he hears or sees, or he studies deliberately.
In short, after several years of experience, I don’t say how deeply I have studied this type of knowledge, but at least I have covered a wide range of topics.
In addition, the "later generations" have broadened their horizons, and famous chess records can be found everywhere.
At this moment, he glanced at the chess game, where the black and white stones were intertwined, and he could see that the two players were very good at chess.
It's a pity that people in this era pay attention to a "gentleman's style" when playing chess and are upright.
Therefore, the study of chess skills is also in the direction of the big picture, but the art of fighting and winning is not deeply studied.
Therefore, Zhao Duan, who had been tortured by Alpha Dog, couldn't help but feel boring when he glanced away.
If it were him, he would have already pushed.
"despair."
Xu Zhenguan didn't seem to notice his arrival. He didn't squint his eyes and casually dropped a key and said: "...So, Mr. Yuan thinks that the salt and iron of Jiancheng Road should be moved this year?"
Oh, obviously, it was fake for the two of them to play chess, but it was real for them to discuss state affairs.
Before that, some topics should have been discussed.
Zhao Duan stepped in midway and was confused and lacked understanding of the context.
"Your Majesty has already made up his mind, why do you have to ask me what I think."
Yuan Li said with a smile, thought for a moment, and then thought about it.
Xu Zhenguan sighed:
"The matter of salt and iron is of great importance. The built road has been prosperous since ancient times and trade has developed. There have been no natural disasters in the past two years. However, the tax revenue collected from the national treasury is not satisfactory. If no one is causing trouble, I will not believe it."
Isn't it...all we talk about is this kind of big thing? Should I retreat... Zhao Duan blinked.
But since the empress called him over instead of asking him to wait, it should mean that she didn't care what he heard.
Moreover, the words "Chengdao"... also concerned him.
Yuan Li was silent for a moment and said, "Your Majesty is still worried about Prince Jing?"
Xu Zhenguan's beautiful eyes were filled with sadness, and she said: "How can I feel at ease when a tiger is lying on the bed? Just like in this game of chess with me, my uncle seems to be harmless to humans and animals and is blindly defensive, but in fact it is just like your chess game, Mr. Yuan. The road is turbulent and hidden.”
The doctor in Qingyi said:
"But in the end, His Majesty has the upper hand in the situation, so I can only spend a lot of time and make a few calculations."
"A dike of a thousand miles is destroyed by an ant nest. If too many are taken away, the building will collapse." The Empress sighed.
"But your Majesty cannot be ruthless. After all, there are wolves around. If you fight early, you may overturn the chessboard to people outside the chess game. Just like a person who has just recovered from a serious illness, if he is given strong medicine, he may die, so he must recover slowly. "
"What Mr. Yuan said is true, but in this case, I will become the defensive party." Xu Zhenguan looked gloomy.
"Your Majesty is still worried about the firearms craftsman?" Yuan Li hesitated and asked:
"Isn't it left to Ma Yan to investigate?"
Xu Zhenguan snorted and looked unhappy:
"It's just a fool's errand. I've called him back and ordered him to investigate again."
During the conversation, it seemed that he had already guessed that it was related to Prince Jing, but there was no evidence.
In other words, according to the meaning of the conversation between the two just now, the empress actually doesn't care whether there is evidence.
After all, she has a deep conflict with the "Eight Kings", and sooner or later she will always be in trouble. When it comes time to take action, isn't it easy to get a name?
What really bothers her is not knowing who the "ant" is hiding in the "thousand-mile embankment" of the court.
Where is it hidden?
Yuan Li sighed softly:
"I'm afraid it's difficult. Ma Yan always works hard. Since he can't find it, he must have tried his best. No matter how hard he checks, he will find nothing."
Xu Zhenguan dropped the chess piece in his hand, looked depressed, and said bitterly:
"How come I don't know this truth..."
At this time, Zhao Duan, who was standing nearby pretending to be transparent, couldn't help it anymore.
He coughed to attract the attention of the two big men.
The empress's beautiful eyebrows furrowed, and she finally turned to look at him:
"If you have anything to say, just say it."
Zhao Duan took a deep breath, first saluted the two of them, and then said seriously:
"Your Majesty, the case of the firearms maker was solved last night!"
(End of chapter)