Chapter 203 Letter from Mother’s Family
The setting sun gradually sank into the horizon, and the light in the room gradually dimmed.
However, in Xu Zhenguan's eyes, the little Imperial Guard standing with bowed head in front of him seemed to be shining.
It's hard to describe her mood at the moment.
Surprised? Of course there is.
The civil and military stalemate in the entire dynasty, and the dangerous situation in which the entire imperial party's senior officials were helpless, were actually solved by Zhao Duan in such a dramatic way.
Anyone who has experienced this will be rightly surprised.
Even if Zhao Duan had surprised her again and again in the past few months, it was still the same.
But at this moment, Xu Zhenguan's heart felt more inexplicable than shock and surprise.
What she cares about is not how amazing Zhao Duan's operation is.
The dignified Prime Minister actually gave in in front of this newborn wolf cub.
But...
He didn't need to do these things, and he didn't give him any "tasks".
Yet he did it anyway.
When all eyes were focused on the battle of gods in the court, they ignored him.
When I told him clearly to avoid the limelight and not to get burned.
This small imperial guard who has repeatedly surprised himself has taken huge risks and completely offended Li Dang, and even the entire wealthy family of Dayu.
Once again, when I needed help the most, I handed over this heavy gift.
For meritorious service?
Xu Zhenguan doesn’t think so.
The many achievements Zhao Duan has made before are enough, and there is no need to wade into this muddy water.
For revenge? Vent your personal anger with Li Yinglong?
Outsiders may think this way, thinking that he will retaliate for his anger.
But the empress knew that the little imperial guard in front of her was a truly smart man, and he didn't care about the scolding.
Otherwise, he would not have been desecrating himself for more than a year. The most important thing is that even if he really wants to take revenge, there is a less risky way, not at the cusp of this storm.
So, all possibilities are ruled out.
There is only one answer.
"For me..."
Xu Zhenguan bit her plump lips, and her heart beat untimely.
Suddenly he remembered the scene when the other party boldly "confessed" to him.
The mood became very subtle.
Zhao Duan was also in a very subtle mood, because he lowered his head and could not wait for the empress's answer.
This made him a little nervous.
...It’s not going to turn over, right... Do you really want to be punished? Or is there something wrong with my operation? While he was thinking wildly, Zhao Duan finally heard the fairy voice:
"You...are interested."
That’s it!
Zhao Duan's heart suddenly fell to the ground, and then he felt a light movement in his hand.
The fragrant breeze blew by, and the empress took the paper in his hand.
When the items were handed over, the two people's fingertips seemed to intersect for a moment, which was also like an illusion.
Zhao Duan raised his head and met the empress's eyes.
The last afterglow of the setting sun was reflected in Xu Zhenguan's phoenix eyes, as if two burning fires were about to burn through the dark night.
He stared blankly, but Xu Zhenguan rarely scolded him, but just lowered his head to read the words.
The air fell into silence.
The only sounds in my ears were the crisp sound of pages being turned over, and the sound of the setting sun melting.
"very good."
Xu Zhenguan raised his head, finished reading the entries, and took the initiative to break the slightly weird atmosphere in the room.
Her face showed a smile for the first time in a while.
as if……
Relieved.
It seems that a difficult battle has finally reached the moment of final charge.
"I agree to all the terms you negotiated and will make arrangements immediately. As for your plot to plot against Concubine Yuan, although it harms the royal family, you are loyal to me, so I won't pursue it this time." Xu Zhenguan said.
Zhao Duan flattered him at the right time:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
Xu Zhenguan rolled his eyes and suddenly his tone changed:
"However, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped. I will punish you to go back tonight and have a good rest, and then enter the palace tomorrow."
After a pause, she deliberately raised her face and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised: "Last time you offered a new deal, but you were stripped of your bachelor's title. It's not good for me to do this again this time. I'm sorry to you. It's your benefit to enter the palace tomorrow."
No need... I already got the "reward" from Yuanzu Temple last time... Zhao Duan muttered with a serious expression:
"Actually, I can also stay in the palace and stay with His Majesty. This is the greatest reward."
Xu Zhenguan smiled half-heartedly and glanced between his legs:
"Stay with me? If you want to become a eunuch, it's not impossible."
What a cruel woman... Zhao Duan subconsciously clamped his legs together and said seriously: "I will take my leave now!"
After saying that, he ran away as if he was really afraid of being caught.
The empress couldn't help laughing, watching him run away, and murmured:
"coward……"
Then, he calmed down his emotions and regained his composure.
The agreement reached by Zhao Duan and Li Yanfu was not just verbal. The empress had to send out some signals and make some performances.
"Someone's coming."
Outside, a female official stood respectfully.
"That's it...just call Mochou."
…
In the side hall.
A group of officials from the imperial party sat and waited, the atmosphere solemn and filled with weirdness and anxiety.
His Majesty and Zhao Duan left for a long time, and then Mo Zhaorong was also called away. They are the only ones left, waiting here alone.
"Master, how long can we wait like this? I'm afraid it's not His Majesty's side..." someone asked.
Dong Xuan was very calm: "Be patient and don't be impatient."
Another official smiled bitterly:
“You are calm, do you really believe what Zhao Duan just said?
Step back, even if he really has a way to contain Chen Zhengru, he will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. , the fundamental problem is that it is difficult for the New Deal to pass in the court, or how to win over one-third of the people..."
At this time, the palace door suddenly opened.
The ministers were sitting at attention, but the empress was nowhere to be seen.
Only one female officer was seen saying respectfully:
"Your Majesty said, it's getting late. My lords, please go back and rest first. The details will be discussed in court tomorrow morning."
Everyone looked at each other.
I wonder what urgent matter your Majesty has.
Just ignore Chen Zhengru’s affairs? Or should I say...
"Did that kid really do it?" Yuan Li muttered softly and frowned again.
His intuition told him that what Zhao Duan did might not be limited to Chen Zhengru.
"There's no way even Li Yanfu can handle it."
He shook his head to dismiss this nonsense.
He stood up and walked out first. Xue Shence, who was sitting in the seat, also stood up and followed the others out.
He just looked in the direction that Zhao Duan left before, with inexplicable emotions flashing in his eyes.
…
…
Evening, Zhao family.
When Zhao Duan returned home from the palace, it was already dark.
In the dining hall, the lights were brightly lit, and his stepmother and sister were waiting for him to eat together.
During dinner, he was a little distracted.
Although he has done everything he can, things are still not reassuring until the dust is completely settled.
Will Li Yanfu abide by the agreement?
Can this transaction be established?
These will have to wait until tomorrow morning to determine.
As for the reward the empress will give him when he enters the palace tomorrow, it also arouses people's imagination...
Of course, the chance of staying with him in bed was very slim. Zhao Duan felt that he was thinking nonsense.
"Brother, is there something on your mind?"
Zhao Pan was eating his meal in small bites, and noticed that he was absent-minded, so he asked curiously.
So...the girl is also very sharp-eyed.
"It's nothing," Zhao Duan came back to his senses and said casually:
"I just feel that my home is still far away from the Yamen. Even if I have a car, it will take a lot of time to come and go every day. It would be nice if I could move closer."
move place?
Hearing this sentence, the mother and daughter pricked up their ears at the same time.
The house he lives in now is still the house left by Zhao's father.
Although it's not bad, the location is still far away.
"It costs a lot of money to change the house." Zhao Pan said with a bitter face, "Even if we change to a smaller house, but it has to be moved further in, closer to the palace, it will still be several thousand taels larger."
Zhao Duan is not very fond of corruption. The biggest savings of his family are still the little money they got before.
Apparently not enough.
"Besides, I haven't thought about it yet."
Zhao Duan said, but he thought in his heart that in a few days, he could find Jin Jian to share the dividends.
After accumulating it for so long, it should be a windfall.
As soon as this meeting was interrupted, he suddenly realized that the Eugene Flower was particularly quiet tonight, which was different from the past.
He looked at his stepmother and saw the plump and beautiful woman holding her chopsticks and not eating much of the rice in the bowl.
"Auntie, is there something on your mind?"
Zhao Duan used Zhao Pan's words to deal with his mother.
Eugene Hua was asked unexpectedly and was speechless for a moment. He hesitated and did not dare to speak. He lowered his head to avoid his stepson's sight and whispered:
"No...nothing..."
You're being dishonest... Zhao Duan made a serious face:
"Say what you have to say and don't be hesitant."
Eugene Hua was a little girl, so when he heard his bad tone, she hurriedly raised her head with a troubled expression on her face: "Auntie... received a letter during the day, from her uncle, saying that she wanted to Come to Beijing and drop by for a visit..."
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment.
Eugene Flower’s natal family?
This was completely unfamiliar to him.
Zhao Pan was also stunned for a moment, and the girl was equally confused.
She was born and raised in the capital and has no memory of her mother's family at all.
"I vaguely remember that my father said back then that my aunt was from a wealthy family in Xiping Road."
Zhao Duan dug up the only fragmentary memories.
Back then, the main reason why Father Zhao took over the wife and daughter of his comrade who died in the battle was because he was attracted by Eugene Hua's appearance and temperament.
Although Eugene was only the wife of soldier Qiu Ba, she was well-educated and well-organized in managing household affairs, which was obviously not something ordinary civilian children could develop.
According to Zhao's father, she is also a young lady from a clan somewhere.
Later, for some reason, I picked up the leak for a colleague passing by Xiping Road and brought it back to the capital. There is obviously a story in it.
It has been more than ten years since Eugene came to Beijing as a girl, and he has never had any contact with his parents' family during this period.
Now it suddenly appears...
Facing the probing gazes of her stepson and daughter, Eugene sighed softly, as if it brought back bad memories, and nodded gently:
"The You clan of Xiping is my ancestor, and one from over there. It’s a great family that has been passed down for hundreds of years, but I am not the main lineage of the You family, I am just the legitimate daughter of the head of a branch family.”
Thanks for the 1,000-point reward for making me cute, and the 500-point reward for 2024...1762.
(End of this chapter)