Chapter 152: Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission. Zhou Cheng and his followers have been captured.
"Ta-ta-ta."
Horse hooves beat on the spacious bluestone road. Zhao Duan arrived at the foot of the imperial city in high spirits.
The gatekeepers subconsciously stepped forward to stop them. When they saw the person on the horse, they looked like they had seen a ghost:
"Zhao... Zhao Jun? Shouldn't you be here..."
He wanted to say, shouldn't you be in jail?
Or being tried in court, why would he suddenly appear here, perfectly fine and not looking like a criminal at all?
Escaped from prison? Absurd thoughts arise...
"Haha, don't talk nonsense. I have important matters to report to Your Majesty. Get out of the way quickly."
Zhao Duan didn't bother to explain, so he gave the other party a slap in the face and went into the city with a false face.
It's a pity that the imperial city is easy to enter, but they were stopped at the gate of the palace city.
He had to be patient and wait for someone to pass the message. Zhao Duan was not in a hurry and took his horse to wait. The palace guards guarding the gate looked at him frequently, wondering what he was thinking.
At this moment, a carriage came out of the open doorway in the distance. Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment and asked curiously: "Who is that coming out?"
Foreign ministers are not allowed to ride in the palace.
But if it were said that they were concubines left by the old emperor in the palace, or female officials traveling, the carriages did not look like them.
The soldier guarding the gate explained: "This morning, Master Dong came to the palace to have an audience. This will happen. Your Majesty took pity on the Master's old age and difficulty in walking, so he specially allowed you to ride in the palace."
Master Dong?
One of the "Three Masters", the bachelor in charge of the Hanlin Academy?
The great scholar of the time who almost became in-laws with Xue Lin's family?
Zhao Duan was slightly surprised.
The Hanlin Academy was a place for talent cultivation. At that time, academicians were almost the reserve force of the "prime minister".
However, it evolved later and is now decoupled from the cabinet, but the status of Grand Master Dong cannot be underestimated.
Although his power is not great, his reputation is extremely high. He is the leading figure in the literary world of Dayu today. His interpretation of saints' classics is a must-read for imperial examination students. Many of his articles and poems are well-known to every household.
It can be said that he is the first person in the world to guard the "culture" of the Yu Dynasty.
Some people even say that Grand Master Dong may be granted the title of "Less Sage" in literature and Taoism...
However, after the Xuanmen coup, his reputation was greatly damaged because he supported the empress's ascension to the throne.
He was criticized by many literati. The capital city was fine, but in the territory of the "Eight Kings" far away from the center of the court, he received a lot of criticism.
Ke Rao has mixed praise and praise, but even those who curse him admit to looking up to his achievements in literature and education.
At this moment, the carriage has driven into the entrance. Zhao Duan leads the horse aside in a polite manner and bids farewell to him.
——It is better not to provoke such a great scholar who is famous all over the world.
However, the carriage stopped suddenly, and a servant of the Dong family came over:
"But Ambassador Zhao? The Grand Master invites you."
ah? I?
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment.
In his memory, he had never had any interaction with the other party.
In fact, Zhao Duan had no contact with the entire circle of scholars in Dayu...
What is this Dong Daru doing to me... Zhao Duan stepped forward blankly and came to the carriage, only to see that the curtain had been opened.
An octogenarian old man with gray hair sat upright. He had the aura of a Confucian scholar. He wore a bright red bachelor's robe, had a square face, and sharp old eyes.
It seems that he is examining this famous empress who has risen to fame.
"My subordinate, Zhao Duan, has met the Grand Master." Zhao Duan saluted.
Grand Master Dong's expression showed no joy or anger, his demeanor was calm, and he said slowly:
"No need to be polite. I'm here today. I heard His Majesty talk about you and he spoke highly of you. I happened to meet you and wanted to see you."
Zhao Duan cautiously said:
“For a small amount of merit, I was praised by His Majesty, and my subordinates were frightened.”
Grand Master Dong said "En" and was quite satisfied with his attitude, and said: "Don't be too modest. I have heard about what you have done these days. Although the methods are a little extraordinary, at such an age, it is worthy of a reputation." 'Capable official'."
Zhao Duan didn't say a word and waited for the next sentence.
Based on his experience, he knew that when big shots start like this, they often show off their ambitions first.
Next, there is probably a "but".
As expected, Grand Master Dong praised him a few words first, and then changed the subject: "But... he relies on power and disregards his reputation. He may be a general, but he cannot be handsome.
Since you were born as a soldier in the army, and now you are serving in the imperial government, you also know that since ancient times, all famous generals have both civil and military skills...
If you concentrate on martial arts and practice wholeheartedly, I won't say anything.
Along the way to the pinnacle of martial arts, one can become a master or a great master. You can go to the army to fight and gain experience, or you can go to the martial arts world to travel.
But... since you have gone all the way to becoming an official, you should know how to advance and retreat, and read more.
Although swords are good, they are indispensable for serving as an official and governing the country, but what we really need to rely on is literary talent. That being said, you can think about it for yourself. "
After saying that, the bachelor closed his eyes, the servant lowered the curtain, and the carriage rolled toward the outside of the palace.
Zhao Duan was left standing there, confused at first, and then deep in thought.
This senseless remark sounds like an elder admonishing the younger, asking him to study more so that he can go higher.
But if you think about it carefully, the real meaning revealed between the lines is more like a warning.
Warn him:
In the court, most of the people who really reach high places are literati.
Although there are mysterious and powerful forces in this world, governing a country is not what force is good at after all. Ruling the people, laws, etiquette, enlightenment, farming, commerce...
From the strategy of governing a country to dividing the interests of a village or a county, they all relied on literati.
Zhao Duan was born as a warrior and did not join the army, so he could not follow the route of the Privy Council or the Ministry of War.
When it comes to the top, it's nothing more than Ma Yan's position.
"Are you reminding me not to have delusional thoughts and try to become a 'powerful eunuch' like the eunuch Wang Zhen just because he was appreciated by His Majesty?
Well, to put it in another sentence that I am familiar with, it is to warn me that I must clearly define my position..."
Zhao Duan looked strange.
He wanted to say something, Grand Master, you may have misunderstood something. I never thought about pursuing a career as a powerful official...
Today's meritorious services and promotions are just to continuously accumulate the confidence to defend yourself when you are still weak.
It doesn't mean that he really wants to become a famous minister and shine in a certain position.
If I have to talk about goals, one is martial arts practice and I want to see another scene.
For example, being a "God of War" or something...
One is the Empress of Strategy… Well, from this perspective, it’s not surprising that Grand Master Dong misunderstood him.
After all, Zhao Duan's current performance is indeed moving in the direction of becoming the empress' favorite.
In history, there are many examples of him evolving from a favorite to a traitor.
As for the other thing he wanted to say:
"I've read a lot, but you still think I'm uneducated and don't understand the stuff of literati..."
Zhao Duan was helpless.
Yuan Li was like this, and so was Master Dong.
"Forget it, just do whatever you want." Zhao Duan was too lazy to explain.
…
…
Imperial Garden, inside the pavilion.
"Your Majesty, Master Zhao is here."
Following the female official's report, Xu Zhenguan smiled and greeted him in.
After a while, Zhao Duan, who was tall and handsome, dressed in the robe of a police officer, stepped forward:
"Your Majesty, come and return."
Immediately, I heard the empress' cold voice with a smile:
"Come and sit."
Her voice is very recognizable.
It's not the softness of a woman from the south of the Yangtze River, nor the toughness of a woman from the north. When she speaks in a deep voice, she is so majestic that one cannot even think of blasphemy.
Like this moment, when you are in a good mood, a simple sentence is like a pair of invisible hands, getting into people's ears and caressing their hearts.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Duan bowed and took his seat.
Sitting down where Grand Master Dong had just been, he raised his head and saw clearly the white-clothed empress' face without any flaws at a close distance.
Xu Zhenguan's hair was covered with black hair hanging casually, and there was no jewelry on her body.
Under her nose, her lips were plump, and above her, her eyes were like stars in the night sky.
At this moment, she was smiling and being stared at by him, but she was not as shy as an ordinary woman. Instead, she pointed at the chessboard:
"Are you going to talk to me about a game?"
Zhao Duan came back to his senses and realized that he had just lost his composure, so he hurriedly said respectfully:
"I obey."
So, in the Midsummer Pavilion, the monarch and his ministers began to quietly place the chess pieces.
It's just that their minds were obviously not on the chessboard, and their moves followed the rules, without any surprises, and they took more than a dozen steps.
Xu Zhenguancai smiled and teased:
"Just now the eunuch returned to the palace to report, and I knew that you were probably coming."
Zhao Duan pretended not to hear the joke and said seriously:
"Although others have reported it, Zhou Cheng's case is a task assigned by His Majesty. I was ordered by the emperor, so I should come to return my order."
Xu Zhenguan was quite satisfied with this. Since he already knew the process, he just asked:
"I originally thought that if everything went well, you would be able to get rid of the slander, but now it seems that you have been released in court?"
Zhao Duan looked serious:
"Gong Yuan and the Minister of Punishment enforce the law impartially, and with His Majesty watching, they will naturally not let loyal ministers be wronged."
Xu Zhenguan smiled, even though he was already familiar with his glib words, but he so brazenly called himself a "loyal minister" and praised everyone in one sentence... or...
She asked knowingly:
"Oh? So, Zhou Cheng tried to obstruct it?"
This follow-up was not included in the little eunuch's report.
Zhao Duan nodded, then shook his head:
"He tried, but failed."
At this time, the empress did not know the true meaning of this "failure".
As she made her move, she said:
“It’s good to fail.
However, your method has made me very satisfied. You have entered the situation personally and used the grudge between the two of you to trick Zhou Cheng into plotting against you... Even if the picture scroll is slightly insufficient as evidence, it can still make a fuss.
But I don’t understand how you came up with this idea. Could it be that you secretly revealed this information to him? Lure him into taking the bait?
But with Zhou Cheng's caution, did you really hide it?
Hehe, I’m going to find him later and ask for clarification. "
She was a little confused.
After all, with Pei Kaizhi's example in mind, Zhou Cheng didn't pay enough attention to Zhao Duan, which was really unexpected.
Zhao Duan said calmly: "I'm afraid that he will no longer be able to come to see Your Majesty."
"Oh? Why?" Xu Zhenguan's beautiful eyes were surprised and she raised her beautiful eyebrows.
Zhao Duan picked up a black stone, pressed it on the chessboard, and said:
"Because, with the help of an old case thirteen years ago, I obtained enough evidence that Zhou Cheng was corrupt and perverted the law, enough to kill him ten times, and announced it in court. Mr. Yuan and the Minister of Punishment accepted the case.
Due to the seriousness of the case, Zhou Cheng and many officials from Dali Temple have been arrested...
I am here to report this matter to Your Majesty. That Zhou Cheng is definitely dead. "
Xu Zhenguan picked up a white piece, suddenly let it go, and fell back into the chess box with a soft "pop" sound.
The smile on her lips froze, and she looked blankly at Zhao Duan opposite:
"You...say it again?!"
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(End of this chapter)