Chapter 56 Yuan Li’s Bewitchment
"No...no...I..."
At this moment, Lu Liang, who was known for his "fast talking", was incoherent for a moment.
The scene that happened in front of me was really too magical.
The recent spring breeze and the daydream about revenge on Zhao Duan seemed to be ruthlessly shattered by the jade Ruyi that was poked out.
What's deeper is the sudden surge of fear.
Ironically speaking, when Zhao Duan's identity was revealed to be the empress, Lu Liang was not afraid at all.
Since direct remonstrance without punishment is a rule established by Taizu, no matter how much he criticizes Zhao Duan, as long as he uses the word "reason", he will not be punished.
Especially not long after Xu Zhenguan took the throne, she was surrounded by wolves, and the empress did not dare to punish officials indiscriminately.
But when he discovered that Zhao Duan's new identity was "a distinguished guest of Mr. Yuan's throne", he felt fearful.
The empress cannot kill officials, but the imperial censor can.
Especially, when he does something wrong and is caught by the other party, like now.
"Why is Censor Lu so incoherent?"
Zhao Duan said calmly: "I just heard you mention that I had an affair with the female thief, and I also threatened officials. I am also curious where these rumors come from. If you don't tell the relevant people now, Bring him here and confront him publicly?"
Next to him, Yuan Li smiled leisurely and said:
"I just want to be a witness."
Confrontation? How can it be!
Lu Liang shuddered. The arrest document was false, and the affair was just based on imagination. This cannot be concealed.
He immediately realized that there was no point in resisting with sophistry, and he knelt down and said: "Since Ambassador Zhao said this, he must have misunderstood the rumors because of his humble position."
After finishing his words, before the two of them could react, Lu Liang turned around angrily and gave an order to the officer beside the prison car: "Send the prisoner back to the government office immediately, everything remains as usual, no delay!"
The caliber changed too quickly, like a tornado, blowing away a group of officials...
They stood far away and could not hear clearly the conversation beside the car.
I only saw Lu Yushi being summoned for questioning. After a few words, the order was reversed.
"Master Lu, didn't you say that you want to use female thieves for Zhao..." The official who had just flattered him hesitated.
Lu Liang's face darkened and he said loudly: "I was deceived by rumors and almost mistakenly accused Zhao Jun of being a person. Now that it has been clarified, why don't you send him back!?"
One second he was scolding loudly, and the next second he was slapped in the face at the speed of light.
The people around him didn't keep up with Lu Liang's rhythm, and looked at each other for a while.
The officials did not dare to disobey and immediately changed the direction of the prison car.
Yun Xi was stunned for a few breaths before she understood what happened.
It seems that this dog officer was scolded by Zhao Thief, and he is... okay?
She felt a mixture of emotions, including happiness, joy, self-blame, anger, and loss... Yun Xi suddenly realized that she didn't seem that brave after all.
Afraid of death, living an ignoble existence.
And the care she received from Zhao Duan became more and more serious.
Intense shame welled up in her heart, and Yun Xi stood on tiptoe, trying to shout out the lines she had rehearsed countless times in prison to refute Zhao Duan's views.
"Woo...Woo!!"
Yun Xi was stunned for a moment, her eyes red with anger, and she had completely forgotten the fact that there was a ball of saliva in her mouth.
Zhao Duan and Yun Xi faced each other in the second round and got KO.
…
The prison car drove away, accompanied by the girl's unwilling whimpering.
Lu Liang bowed and ran back to the car, with a look of shame on his face:
"Please punish me, Mr. Yuan."
However, Da Qingyi, who was holding the jade Ruyi, looked at Zhao Duan and said:
"You decide how to punish him."
Zhao Duan was neither humble nor arrogant: "It all depends on Duke Yuan."
What a joke, I want to take off his official robe directly, but you definitely don’t agree... Zhao Duan slandered.
Knowing that this mistake alone is not enough to deal with the other party, and Lu Liang's response measures are perfect.
Yuan Li smiled and casually ordered: "Because of your fault, the people have suffered from the harsh sun, and you are punished to stand there until sunset. Do you accept it?"
Lu Liang took a deep breath:
"Humble job... be convinced!"
Yuan Li laughed, lowered the curtains, and the four carriages set off on the road again, as if this was really just a chance encounter.
Only the prison cars leaving were left, and the people who were about to disperse were left behind.
And the iron-mouthed censor stood motionless under the cool sun like a nail, with his hands bowed in a gesture of apology.
It is conceivable that after today, Lu Liang's reputation will be greatly damaged.
And all of this is just a casual word from the imperial censor.
…………
In the carriage, the excitement fades away.
Zhao Duan finally couldn't help but said:
"Mr. Yuan, what happened today is no accident."
It was really hard for him to accept that the other party was so fond of his script just because of their relationship in the imperial garden.
Unless the other party is a seductress... Thinking of this possibility, Zhao Duan shuddered and silently sat further away, his eyes alert to protect his anus.
Yuan Li: "..."
Zhao Duan "..."
a long time.
Yuan Li finally lost his temper and left Yu Ruyi behind:
"If I wanted to trap you, why would I go to such great lengths?"
That's not necessarily the case... Zhao Du'an Gou's group is highly wary of unwarranted kindness.
There was a sense of relief on his face, and he said worriedly: "I am just worried that if word of what happened today spreads, it will affect your reputation."
The elegant and easy-going powerful minister revealed his domineering side:
"Who will spread the word?"
He said this once at the gate of the imperial city, and this was the second time.
When I first listened to it, I didn't know what it meant. But when I listened to it again, I already understood the meaning of the music. It seemed to him that Lu Liang would never dare to talk nonsense.
After a pause, Yuan Li added lightly:
"What's more, I have never cared about the so-called reputation. This is the case when I was young, and it is still the case today. Those who pursue fame will be burdened by fame and eventually lose their reputation. Those who do practical things, even if they are not understood by outsiders for a while, will wait until everyone in the world understands them. If you really make a profit, you will be praised and praised, so why ask for it from outside?”
Zhao Duan said sincerely:
"In Mr. Yuan's state of mind, it's better for me to be far away."
Yuan Li suddenly laughed and said:
"With your bad reputation today, if the prodigal son turns around, it will be far easier to gain a good reputation than Lu Liang."
I know that all a bad guy needs to do to become a Buddha is put down his butcher knife... Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"I think a bad reputation is sometimes more useful."
The reason why he maintains the original character's character to the outside world is largely due to the advantages of the bad character character.
Yuan Li smiled, and the two looked at each other and smiled.
The two people, who have vastly different identities and opposite reputations, have developed some kind of mutual recognition because they don't care about the word "reputation".
It's like smelling out similar people in a crowd. It has nothing to do with external things such as identity. Lu Liang has been unable to understand this for the rest of his life.
Just laugh.
Yuan Li suddenly asked: "Do you think my punishment to Lu Liang is too light?"
Zhao Duan shook his head sternly:
"Mr. Yuan and I are not relatives, so I am very grateful for your willingness to help protect him."
Yuan Li smiled and said:
"So, you are still not satisfied. Want to deal with him? Just like you did to bring down the Zhang family?"
Zhao Duan nodded calmly: "I think so."
When the Manchu Dynasty was impeached, Lu Liang was the vanguard, and now that they want to trick him, Ni Bodhisattva is also very angry, not to mention Zhao Duan.
"What are you going to do?"
"I haven't thought of it yet, let's catch him first."
"Lü Liang cherishes his reputation very much. There are small mistakes, but they don't mean much. It's difficult to dig out dirty information." Yuan Li shook his head.
Zhao Duan blinked: "What can Mr. Yuan teach you?"
Da Qingyi said calmly: "If you want to cut off the twigs, you can cut off the main trunk."
Zhao Duan smiled bitterly: "You are joking. Behind Lu Liang is the entire Li Party. I can't chew it with my teeth."
Yuan Li shook his head and said:
"If I don't want you to deal with Li Yanfu, do you know why Lu Liang can do things under the banner of the Ministry of Punishment? It's just because his wife is the fourth daughter of Pei Shilang, the Minister of Punishment."
Minister of Justice!
A third-grade official, the next step up is to become a minister.
Although he is not as good as Yuan Li, to Zhao Duan, he is already a powerful figure that he does not dare to offend.
"What do you mean..." Zhao Duan breathed slightly.
Yuan Li smiled and said:
"Since you want to make meritorious deeds, instead of staring at small fish and shrimps, why not try to fight for a big one?"
After a pause, he said leisurely:
"Take a bite of the servant's meat, do you... dare to do it?"
(End of chapter)