Chapter 132 Investigating Zhao Duan
Feeling relieved!
Zhao Duan felt refreshed after being slapped. He ignored the eldest princess sitting on the mat behind him and walked out.
Although the suggestion of "let Li Langniang apologize personally" was quite exciting, it was such an obvious big hole that even if he was blind, he knew not to step on it.
"Squeak."
Raising his hand to push open the door, Zhao Duan walked out and saw the consort Li Shuping pacing beside a red wooden pillar in the corridor, looking anxious.
Perhaps he was attracted by Zhao Duan's laughter. He looked over, his expression changed, he lowered his head and looked away.
"Gone."
Zhao Duan shook his head and was too lazy to talk nonsense with him. With a wave of his hand, he led the two eunuchs back to recover.
The remaining eunuchs remained silent as they supervised the implementation of the decree.
Today at the latest, they must take the eldest princess to the nunnery.
"Yunyang, what did the man named Zhao say to you alone?"
After the consort Li Shuping and others left, he breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly entered the room, and then froze.
I only saw my wife sitting sideways on the mat, holding a pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks.
He hid the beaten side of his face on the other side, his red gauze skirt was messy, his shoes were taken off aside, and he remained silent.
When Li Shuping saw this, he was stunned for a moment, breathing quickly:
"He treats you..."
Thinking of something that might have happened to the lonely man and woman in the room just now, while he was angry, a strange excitement grew in his heart.
Yunyang sneered, turned around, and looked at him with disappointment and contempt:
"Trash."
Li Shuping enjoys it as sweet as a cake.
…
…
Zhao Duan left the Prince Consort's Mansion and did not return to the palace.
He handed over his hands to the two father-in-laws, drew his horse and rushed towards Tianshi Mansion.
On the way there, he saw five waves of imperial troops passing through the long street with murderous intent, and the atmosphere in the capital also changed.
Obviously, the empress' decree has been issued, and the capital has entered a new round of sweeps against rebels.
"The new helmsman died within a few days of taking office. I believe that no matter how crazy the people in Kuangfu Society are, they should be careful and dormant. At least until the next appointment is made at the headquarters, these rats in the gutter will not jump around again."
"By the way... I also have a traitor in my hands, I almost forgot."
Zhao Duan thought of Yun Xi, the female disciple abandoned by Zhuang Xiaocheng who had been in prison for several days.
A few days ago, after Zhao Duan gained a foothold in the imperial office, he ordered Yun Xi to be escorted from the imperial prison to the imperial prison.
In order to prevent Lu Liang from robbing people from happening again.
Although Keren moved to his own territory, Zhao Duan never paid attention to him.
"Haha, if the little girl knew that the new helmsman was killed by me again, I don't know what her expression would be."
Zhao Duan shook his head, "Forget it, we'll talk about it later."
I've been too busy recently to pay her a visit.
Tianshi Mansion is an independent building complex, surrounded by square walls in a circle, and inside is a Taoist temple-like building.
The most eye-catching thing is the big clock placed on the tall building in the center.
Every time it rings, the heavy bells can be heard outside the city
——He heard the bell on the day he traveled through time, but this was his first time here.
There are Taoists guarding the main entrance. Those who are not wearing priest robes are not practitioners, but are servants in the Tianshi Mansion.
After Zhao Duan reported his name politely, the Taoist gave him a surprised look:
"Your Majesty, wait a moment, I will go and report."
After a while, Jin Jian yawned, as if he had just gotten out of bed, and floated out like a ghost:
"Yawn~ Are you here?"
No...it's almost noon...Zhao Duan opened his mouth, thinking of himself who stayed up late in his previous life.
He went to bed at four o'clock and got up at seven o'clock. The king of hell praised him for his good health.
"The priest takes a step to speak."
Zhao Duan signaled that there was an outsider and wanted to go in and talk.
The girl with pale skin, delicate face, and unfocused eyes shook her head and said:
"Except for special circumstances, Tianshi Mansion prohibits outsiders from entering."
Then he waved his hand, and there was a faint flash of light:
"Okay, our conversation won't be heard."
Am I not special? It turns out that in your heart, I am just an ordinary outsider... Zhao Duan complained in his heart, felt disappointed, and raised his hands in an upright manner:
"I was in a hurry before, so I came here to thank the priest for helping to cover it up."
What he was referring to was the matter of the divine talisman.
Jin Jian raised her little hand to cover her mouth:
"Yawn~ You're welcome, I was also asked to do so."
Zhao Duan suddenly realized:
"Is it that very tall official? Speaking of which, he came to see me many times. Was it introduced by the priest Jin Jian? Is he familiar with you?"
Jin Jian looked at him strangely, said "yes" without comment, and said:
"Quite familiar."
really! Zhao Duan confirmed his guess and asked curiously: "Dare you ask his name?"
Jin Jian was silent for a moment and said, "His surname is Wang."
Old Wang... If you have time, you can ask someone to find out which powerful official in the Tianshi Mansion is named Wang... Zhao Duan wrote it down and said politely:
"I would like to ask the priest to send you a message, saying that I accept his love this time and will not charge for the sentence I sent him last time. If you still want it in the future, you can come to me and exchange it for a talisman or something like that. Great favor…”
Jin Jian: "...Okay. Is there anything else? I'm going to bed if it's okay, yawn~"
Zhao Duan was heartbroken and suddenly said: "By the way, I remember that our Tianshi Mansion also operates many industries, shops and so on."
Places like Tianshi Mansion and Shenlong Temple have stood for many years. It requires a lot of resources to support so many priests who are not engaged in production.
Selling elixirs, wound medicines and the like only account for a small part.
Most of the working capital depends on their respective industries, such as a large number of acres of land, shops, etc.
Jin Jian nodded cutely:
"Yes."
Zhao Duan took out the ice-making formula from his pocket, explained it, and said: "I don't know whether the priest, or Old Wang...cough, Wang Sanguan is interested in buying my formula, and using it with the help of the Heavenly Master You can definitely make a lot of money by selling it in the government’s shops.”
Zhao Duan's move had two intentions.
First, make money.
Tianshi Mansion has a complete sales system, and it has a large amount of cheap saltpeter for refining elixirs.
Second, you can use business cooperation to deepen your relationship with Lao Wang and Jin Jian.
He even thought that he would rather earn less and give more profits to the other party, but also maintain this network of contacts.
Especially, the girl in front of me is a disciple of the legendary Heavenly Master.
If things get better, wouldn't it be a huge profit if I take advantage of the Heavenly Master?
A mere Lao Wang can produce such good things, let alone the legendary Zhang Tianshi.
make money!
Jin Jian's eyes lit up, she was no longer sleepy, and her divergent gaze became focused.
She likes money. This has been clearly demonstrated since the case of Prince Jing's Mansion. She said suspiciously:
"Can saltpeter really make ice?"
Zhao Duan patted his chest:
"If it's true, I won't be able to stop you from coming to me."
Jin Jian stared at the formula eagerly:
"How much does this cost?"
Zhao Duan silently calculated the approximate profit he could earn, and stretched out his index finger.
After thinking for a while, he put his thumb up again, made an "eight" sign, and said:
"The fixed price is ten thousand taels of silver. I'll give you a friendly price of eight thousand taels and take the formula."
Jin Jian trembled in fright, took a big step back, waved his hands repeatedly and said:
"I don't have that much money!"
ah? Are the disciples of the great Celestial Master so poor?
I've already lost a lot of money and made a huge profit... Zhao Duan said:
"How many do you have?"
Jin Jian lowered his head and plucked the purse at his waist with ten stubby fingers. Then he raised his head carefully and said with some guilt: "Eighty taels, okay?"
Farewell!
Zhao Duan took a deep breath, resisted the urge to run away, and said:
"I have another way, which is to invest in technology shares... You don't need to spend money to buy. When the money is sold, the dividends will be distributed in proportion."
Hearing that there was no need for money, Jin Jian was very satisfied and showed a pure smile: "Then it's settled! Don't worry, I won't treat you badly. Each of us will get half of the money we make."
Sigh... this silly boy, you obviously make more money with the fixed price, but you insist on giving me money... Zhao Duan nodded with tears:
"By the way, if something happens to me in the future, how can I contact you? Will I come to you?"
Making money is second, getting contact information in the name of business is the real thing.
Jin Jian did not doubt that he was there and handed him a short yellow incense stick:
"As long as you are in the capital, light this incense and I will come. But you'd better come to me at night. I have to catch up on my sleep during the day. It's slow... yawn~"
…
Deep inside the Tianshi Mansion, in the small courtyard.
When Jin Jian came back with a yawn, her expression was excited:
"Master, I've made an agreement with him."
Under the big banyan tree, Zhang Yanyi was lying on a wicker chair, holding a cattail leaf fan in his hand:
"Very good."
Jin Jian asked curiously: "But why didn't you tell him your true identity? How did you know him? Master, didn't you go behind my back and look for him secretly?"
The girl was a little suspicious. The new "little friend" the master mentioned was Zhao Duan!
But she had no evidence, and how could a mortal warrior say something that could be included in the "Book of Heaven"?
She scratched her head and couldn’t figure it out.
The tall, white-haired and rosy-faced Heavenly Master smiled and said leisurely:
"The secret must not be revealed."
"Hey, forget it if you don't say it."
Jin Jiankan's eyelids were twitching and she was yawning repeatedly. She paid little attention to things other than cultivation and making money.
Zhang Yanyi asked curiously: "By the way, what are you so happy about?"
Jin Jian took out the formula, explained it, and then thought about it: "Master, what do you think about me asking my senior brother to cooperate and sell ice together?"
Zhang Yan was stunned for a while and laughed:
"Okay, but when you make money, just don't feel bad about paying the dividends."
Jin Jian was confused, thinking how much money she could make by selling ice cubes. Zhao Duan dared to ask for 8,000 taels, so she wouldn't be fooled.
…
…
That night.
News about the conflict between Dali Temple and Zhaoyamen in the court today, and the fate of Marquis Xia Jiang and Princess Yunyang, spread wildly in the official circles of the capital.
For a time, countless people were discussing it.
No one thought that the Holy One would be so partial that he would throw his own aunt into a nunnery to be with the Ancient Buddha of Qingdeng for the sake of a male favorite.
As for Xia Jianghou, when his evil deeds were exposed, everyone was furious, and many people secretly cursed him for a good death.
But more eyes are still focused on the royal gossip.
Zhao Duan was at ease instead.
As for the fact that the rebel leader drank blood, it was not known to the public because not many people knew about it.
Instead, the Empress's series of thunderous methods made people feel a faint cold current in the dog days.
However, the killings in the arena are not a strong feeling for most people in Beijing.
What is even less known is that on this night, another drama was taking place in the residence of Zhou Cheng, the minister of Dali Temple.
"Sir, are you looking for me?"
Zhou Zhai, in a main room.
He Zheng, the Prime Minister of Dali Temple, closed the door and respectfully saluted his superior who was sitting on Huanghuali Taishi's chair.
Last night, after he was knocked unconscious by Zhao Duan, it was already dawn when he woke up.
There were no serious injuries on his body. Compared to the superficial injuries, the loss of face in public was even more unbearable for him.
I took leave and stayed at home for the whole day, but I didn't expect to be called in the evening.
At this moment, the middle-aged civil servant wearing a green robe, with a bruised nose and swollen face, slowly raised his head and looked up curiously.
I saw the Minister of Dali Temple, who was about sixty years old, with a Chinese-character face and deep eyebrow lines with the character "Chuan", wearing casual home clothes and playing with a vase in his hand.
Next to him, there were two opened precious boxes on the coffee table, padded with soft silk.
One of them is empty, and another vase is displayed in the other box.
"Is the injury feeling better?"
Zhou Cheng asked in a calm tone, but his eyes were always glued to the extremely precious blue and white porcelain vase from the previous dynasty.
He Zheng said respectfully:
"My lord, I am thinking about you. I am in good condition. I have asked a doctor to take a look."
"That's good." Zhou Cheng said calmly:
"Just in time, I have an errand that I'm going to leave to you."
He Zheng was surprised: "What do you dare to ask, and I actually asked you to personally entrust it to me?"
Zhou Cheng's tone was calm, but what he said surprised He Sicheng.
"I want you to check the evidence of Zhao Duan's crime. It's disrespectful to come and go. This time, our Dali Temple has lost all face. If we don't do something, how will we teach all the officials to see it? Where is the majesty?"
Investigate Zhao Duan!
He Zheng was taken aback, why:
My lord, the person named Zhao is a popular person around your majesty and is deeply loved. The Marquis of Xia Jiang is not far away from death. Even Princess Yunyang They were all sent to a nunnery, and we..."
Zhou Cheng paused, then slowly turned his head, looking down at him with a pair of turbid old eyes, calmly saying:
"Are you afraid?"
"No!" He Zheng said solemnly:
"How come I don't want to overthrow him when I'm humiliated by Zhao in public? It's just that your Majesty..."
Zhou Cheng looked calm and said: "The reason why this person has been so unscrupulous recently is just relying on the saint's favor. However, he has done these things and has already made all the princes in the court unhappy. In other words, as long as he falls out of favor in front of the saint , it will be easy to get rid of him."
Falling out of favor?
He Zheng was curious: "Sir, do you have any ideas?"
Zhou Cheng glanced at him angrily and said:
"If I had evidence, would I still need you? But there is a way.
This man has been hanging around in the capital for more than a year, and I don't believe it. He has never touched another woman. Hehe, a young man who has become powerful once has entered the world of flowers. How can he control it? "
He Zheng's eyes lit up:
"My lord, what you are saying is that despite the appearance of someone named Zhao who is not a womanizer, has no nostalgia for fireworks and willow alleys, and only admires saints, secretly he must be with other people." The woman is having an affair.
With the temper of our Majesty, once he finds out that Zhao Duan is messing around behind his back, he will definitely lose his favor. By then, he will not be able to survive without any support. "
Zhou Cheng smiled and nodded:
"That's why I'm teaching you to investigate. As long as you find evidence, that's the day the little thief will die."
He Zheng was overjoyed: "I understand, and I will start investigating tomorrow."
Zhou Cheng nodded with satisfaction: "Remember to stay hidden so that he doesn't notice."
"Yes, are you going to resign now?"
"Wait a minute. Take these scattered pieces out and throw them away."
Zhou Cheng suddenly stopped him, and then looked at the green-robed civil servant in astonishment.
As soon as he let go, the extremely precious blue and white porcelain vase in his hand, sent by someone unknown, fell to the ground.
With a "pop" sound, it fell to pieces.
"Sir, this..." He Zheng looked heartbroken:
"If your Majesty read it correctly, this is a tribute from the previous dynasty, right? There are only two twins from this kiln in the world, and now one of them has been destroyed. What a pity?"
Zhou Cheng smiled, and this corrupt official who had taken a lot of bribes in private shook his head.
Pointing to the remaining bottle on the table, he said: "These two bottles are indeed rare, and they are the only two treasures in the world. However, you have to know that rare things are more valuable, and I ruined one." Only, the remaining one is the real unique one."
He Zheng was stunned and suddenly said:
"Your Majesty, I have received a lesson from you."
Zhou Cheng laughed and waved his hand:
"Go. Remember, do it properly. I don't want to see Zhao Duan survive this autumn."
Thanks to Jiu Miao for the 500-point reward!
(End of this chapter)