Chapter 143 Zhao Duan: Mr. Zhou, we meet again
"Arrest people?"
In Lihuatang, the four subordinates were all stunned, but they didn't say anything more and just turned to make preparations.
Zhao Duan was left standing in the courtyard, looking up at the dense pear trees, thinking that since the plan could not keep up with the changes, he had to change his approach.
"Ha, you want to use Wang Shan against me? Then we have to see if you, Lao Deng, have this ability."
…
In the early morning, when the sun rose high in the sky, the whole capital became lively and noisy again.
For restaurants, the morning is often the quietest time.
However, this morning, Hele Building, located on the south bank of the Hun River in Nancheng, received a reservation from a big shot.
Wearing a red crimson official robe, a black gauze on his head, and a deep "Chuan" pattern on his brow, the Dali Temple Minister sat alone at a square table on the second floor.
He folded his hands in front of him, admiring the scenery on the river outside the window, while using his right hand to rub a precious jadeite the size of a fiery red dove egg on the fingers of his left hand.
After a while, there were heavy footsteps approaching on the stairs. Zhou Cheng, whose beard and hair had turned slightly white, turned his head and saw a fat figure with a calm expression: "Commander Wang, long time no see."
The person who climbed the stairs was the middle-aged man in his forties that Zhao Duan saw through the magical mirror.
Wang Shan, who was puffy and fat, as if he had albinism, with few beards under his chin and slightly red eyes, suddenly had a bright smile on his face.
He took a few steps forward and sighed: "Zhou Tingwei has defeated me. What kind of commander? I am just a commoner now. How can I be worthy of Lord Tingwei's invitation to a banquet?"
He said this, but there was no fear or trembling in the common people when they saw a third-grade official.
Zhou Cheng seemed to smile, but also felt a little complicated.
When the late emperor was there, Wang Zhen, the eunuch in charge, was extremely powerful. As his adopted son, Wang Shan was also the person Zhou Cheng needed to work hard to make friends with.
But a Xuanmen coup changed everything, and everything changed.
Seeing that the person he used to please was now groveling, Zhou Cheng was partly proud and partly lamented the impermanence of the world.
Then, a little feeling of reunion with old friends arose in my heart.
After waving his hand and ordering Wang Shan to take a seat, Zhou Cheng smiled, pointed at a steamed river fish on the table, and said: "I asked for it especially for you. I don't know if it's still the same after a few years. I still remember that you are very fond of He. I have a special liking for fish in Lelou.”
Wang Shan, who was once a loyal dog of eunuchs and now works as a commoner in business, was flattered but did not dare to use his chopsticks:
"It's rare that Mr. Zhou still remembers it. However, when Mr. Zhou summoned me today, he probably remembered the past and came here specifically to reminisce about the past."
Although Wang Shan was still rich and noble, he was still considered respectable even though he was hanging around in the dandy circle.
But he was already completely different from the Dali Temple Qing in front of him.
He knew this very well, so since the empress ascended the throne and his adoptive father fell, Wang Shan never took the initiative to find Zhou Cheng, so as to avoid asking for trouble.
If there is no accident, although the two parties were once "intimate" and lived in the same capital, they would never see each other again in this life.
Therefore, when he suddenly received a handwritten letter from Zhou Cheng yesterday, inviting him to a banquet today, Wang Shan was worried and confused.
I was anxious about this for several hours, and I could only vent my ravages on my concubine to relieve my anxiety.
I went to the banquet as promised this morning. I was smiling on the surface, but in fact I was worried. Naturally, I had no intention of catching up with old friends.
Zhou Cheng had a clear understanding of his thoughts and smiled: "Forget it, let's get straight to the point. I'm looking for you this time, not for anything else, but for one person."
"who?"
"Zhao Du'an." Zhou Cheng said:
"You should know that this man ran into my Dali Temple Yamen a few days ago, right? And I heard that you have some friendship with him."
Wang Shan's heart skipped a beat, but he said with a smile: "My lord, you are joking. When Zhao Duan became powerful, I did think about making friends with him, but he didn't know how to praise me, so I had nothing to do with him. Intersected.”
Zhou Cheng said: "Is that just that? I heard that he was invited to your home and was treated well. He even sent a woman to serve you."
Wang Shan yelled at Qu: "I did treat him to a family dinner, but it was only that one time. As for the woman..."
Halfway through his words, he suddenly paused, and his red eyes suddenly shrank, vaguely aware of the intention of this former adoptive father's lackey to find him today.
Zhou Cheng picked up his chopsticks and picked out a piece of fish. With his other hand, he picked up the hanging cuff and handed it to Wang Shan's bowl:
"How is the woman you sent?"
Wang Shan was flattered, glanced at the fish in the bowl, shook his head and smiled bitterly:
“When I talk about this, I remember it deeply.
That day, I almost got him drunk and led him to the bedroom arranged in my home. I also left a concubine that I loved very much in there for him to enjoy.
I thought that even if he didn't move, but since he was drunk, the concubine would be able to do it if he took the initiative, but in the end..."
At this point, even the adopted son of Quan Huan, who was used to seeing the wind and rain, looked like he had seen a ghost: "As a result, Zhao Duan tied up the concubine with a belt and threw it aside. , and slept all night by himself.
After sobering up the next day, he treated me coldly and angrily accused me of trying to harm him. He said that there was only one saint in his heart, from whom heaven and earth could learn. "
Obviously, Wang Shan still remembers this incident.
He couldn't understand how there could be such a cautious man in the world who could endure such a situation.
Across the square table, Zhou Cheng was also startled.
This was somewhat different from what he expected.
But he has already developed the ability to hide his emotions and anger, and even the action of picking up vegetables did not stop for a short while, and then said with a normal expression:
"Oh? How can you be sure that he has never touched that woman?"
"Of course..." Wang Shan was about to answer. But Zhou Cheng said calmly: "I want to talk more carefully."
Wang Shan suddenly woke up, glanced at him, and changed his words: "My lord, I would like to remind you that I have never confirmed it. It is just the concubine's one-sided statement."
Many things don't need to be made obvious.
With the tacit understanding between the two of them having worked together before, Wang Shan had already guessed what Zhou Cheng was thinking.
The other party came here, obviously looking for evidence to deal with Zhao Duan.
Just like when Wang Shan deliberately set up a trap and sent a woman to Zhao Duan, it was also to get his handle and tie up the face of the empress.
Unfortunately, he failed and did not have the evidence Zhou Cheng needed.
But for the Minister of Dali Temple who was accustomed to bending the law for personal gain and was good at playing with the law, evidence could be made out of nothing.
Of course, fabricating things out of thin air can only deal with small people, but cannot deceive the eyes of the empress.
Therefore, Zhou Cheng needs Wang Shan's cooperation and a suitable handle that can withstand inspection.
Of course Wang Shan was sure that Zhao Duan did not touch the concubine.
Not only because of what the concubine said, but also because he had personally tested it, and after Zhao Duan left, he saw with his own eyes how the concubine was tied into a rice dumpling.
But outsiders don’t know.
For example, Qin Qiu only remembered Zhao Duan's appearance after he entered and came out.
The servants, maids, and servants of the Wang family, and even the people who accompanied him at the banquet that day, can prove that Zhao Duan did sleep in the Wang family.
Only Wang Shan and the concubine know the truth, so this matter can make a big fuss.
For example, is there a possibility, another way of saying it:
After Zhao Duan woke up from alcohol, he found that he had slept with his concubine, but he was afraid that the empress would find out about it, so he fell out of favor, so he threatened and intimidated his concubine, saying Didn't touch her?
Wang Shan understood what Zhou Cheng meant, so he chose to cooperate.
Although he didn't want to offend Zhao Duan, he had no choice.
"So, how can we not check carefully when it concerns a woman's innocence?"
Zhou Cheng held the chopsticks, picked up a piece of tofu, hung it on the pottery bowl, and let the wind of the Hun River blow it away and said, "Where is that woman now? I want to see her."
Bah, you want her to be a witness and bite someone named Zhao...
Wang Shan looked embarrassed and whispered:
"After Zhao Duan left that day, I kicked her out and she died soon after."
The truth is:
When Wang Shan learned that the trap failed and was scolded by Zhao Duan, he was extremely angry and vented all his violence and anger on the beautiful concubine.
Later, he was beaten to death. When he saw that he would not survive, he ordered others to throw him out.
Zhou Cheng looked calm, put the tofu in his mouth, chewed it, nodded slightly, and said:
"A good-looking person died as soon as he said he would die. I am afraid someone will silence him. How can I, the Dali Temple, not take care of such a life-threatening matter?"
The implication is that even if you are dead, you can make a fuss:
After Zhao Duan threatened and intimidated his concubine, he was worried that she would tell her, so he silenced her, which is reasonable.
As the so-called death has no evidence, even if the empress sends people to investigate, as long as Wang Shan is killed in one bite, then no matter how the investigation is conducted, it will be extremely unfavorable testimony for Zhao Duan.
And as an emperor, you don't need solid evidence.
As long as the lie fabricated is true enough to make the Empress suspicious, that is enough.
As long as the empress no longer favors Zhao Duan, Zhou Cheng believes that there will be no obstacle to him squeezing this provoking ant to death.
Wang Shan saw through this killing situation and couldn't help but feel chills all over his body.
You can see the murderous knives on the battlefield, but you can't guard against the insidious knives in the court.
But it was equally fatal, Zhou Cheng was so cruel, what a cruel blow.
"Your Majesty, it is clear to me that Zhao Duan must have killed people and silenced them. He really has no law."
Wang Shan was furious and showed with actions that he was willing to cooperate.
When he came, he already had some issues with Zhao Duan. Secondly, he couldn't bear the consequences of rejecting Zhou Cheng.
Sensible... Zhou Cheng laughed loudly:
"I finally know today how you gained the favor of the prince. Come, have a drink."
Wang Shandui smiled, raised his glass, and thought about how to get benefits from this deal.
But just as the two of them clinked glasses and celebrated with each other.
Suddenly, the thunderous sound of horse hooves was heard outside the restaurant!
Accompanied by a burst of frightened shouts, the sound of fighting with swords, and accompanied by screams.
The two of them were stunned and looked toward the stairs at the same time.
Then, a handsome and tall figure was seen, stepping up to the second floor slowly and slowly, followed by a large group of menacing and handsome officials from Lihuatang.
Zhao Duan had a smile on his face:
"It's so lively. Hey, Mr. Zhou is here too? What a coincidence. We meet again."
…
ps: The author is very confused recently. This chapter is obviously not full of water, and even deleted some sentences and omitted some plots, but why is there only enough room for a whole chapter to contain the conspiracy dialogue between two supporting characters...
(End of chapter)