Chapter 410 Zhao Duan: How much is Cao Guogong’s face worth? (5k)
Who is the drunkard? Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then blurted out:
"You mean Lang Shiba? He was taken away? What happened?"
Facing Zhao Duan's third company Asking a question, the sorceress who was deeply afraid of society opened her mouth, as if she didn't know how to answer.
Zhao Duan took a deep breath and saw Jin Yi chasing her outside the door. He frowned slightly, stood up and pulled her in, then drove away the pursuers outside the door: "Come in and speak slowly."
Well, she rushed out in the cold winter, and her wet dress was stiff with the cold, like a layer of armor.
Ji Yue whispered "Oh", her white pupils hidden behind her black hair looked at Ma Yan warily, and she hid behind Zhao Duan...
"...Don't worry. "That's right."
Zhao Duan asked impulsively: "After returning to Beijing last time, didn't you go back to Houhu?"
Ji Yue nodded timidly and briefly described the matter. Fan.
After the meeting at the Lake Pavilion, she and Lang Shiba did return to Houhu to recuperate.
But today, a group of military experts suddenly visited Houhu. Due to the promulgation of the "New Deal", Huangceku was gradually abandoned, and the guards of Houhu were much lax. In addition, they were hiding at the bottom of the lake in the cold winter. Sleeping, across the ice, my senses are dull.
When she heard the sound of fighting on the lake, she broke out of the ice and found that Lang Shiba, who was still injured on the island, had been captured.
"A master in the military?" Zhao Duan captured the keyword.
Ji Yue weakly nodded her head, put her toes together, and explained in a low voice:
"The other party has the tiger talisman and waist badge in the army. The treasurer on the island calls him An Guogong. I don't dare to take action without permission. But it doesn't feel like he is sent by your majesty... I don't know who to call for this matter, so I just come to him. You."
Zhao Duan and Ma Yan looked at each other and saw the solemnity and suspicion in each other's eyes.
"Are you sure you are An Guogong? The one stationed in Jubei City in the north?"
Ma Yan stared at Jiyue and asked, his tone urgent.
Ji Yue silently huddled up and stayed behind someone Zhao - she intuitively felt that she could not afford to offend him.
"She doesn't know her. But she can't hear her wrong. It must be her." Zhao Duan replied protectively.
Ma Yan shook his head and said:
"Anguo Gong Cao Mao is indeed on his way back to Beijing, but according to the itinerary sent back, he should not be back until a few days later. How could it be..."
Zhao Duan said quietly:
"Tang Guogong was also supposed to appear at the west gate, didn't he take a detour? There may be something fishy about this matter."
He turned to look at Ji Yue: "Do you know where those people took Lang Shiba to?"
Ji Yue said softly: "Imperial Palace, I secretly followed behind to see the direction to the palace. "
Zhao Duan pondered for a moment and said:
"In this case, you stay here first. Don't move around, senior brother, please take care of her for the time being... Well, just leave her alone in a certain room without being disturbed. Wait until I come back."
< br>This matter is too weird, he must figure it out, otherwise he will not feel at ease.
Ma Yan nodded: "You can go with peace of mind, I will take good care of her."
No, senior brother, your line is somewhat wrong... Zhao Duan couldn't resist the urge to complain and patted his butt. Get up and leave.
……
……
After leaving Zhaoyamen, Zhao Duan rode straight to the palace, traveling smoothly along the way.
Until he entered the imperial city and expressed his desire to see the empress, a young eunuch went to inform him.
After a while, Zhao Duan, who was waiting anxiously in the lee of the palace wall, was surprised to see a familiar figure walking towards him.
The female official robe, wingless black gauze, plum blossom makeup... is surprisingly her old love rival Da Bingtuozi.
"What are you doing here to see His Majesty?"
Mochou walked closer and looked at him suspiciously, full of vigilance.
Zhao Duan rolled his eyes and wanted to say something about the matter between His Majesty and I. Why did a big maid like you get involved in it, but he held it back:
"It's urgent."
Mo Chou With a straight face, she looked exactly like the saleswoman at the window of the office hall in her previous life, and said without emotion: "Your Majesty is meeting with Duke Cao, it's inconvenient."
What Jiyue said is true... Zhao Duan stares Looking at her: "I got news that Duke An Guo, Cao Mao, broke into Houhu without authorization and led the military masters to jointly arrest the masters that your Majesty kept in Houhu."
Mo Chou's face changed slightly. This man in the palace The eldest maid glanced left and right, suddenly pulled his sleeve, walked a few steps quickly, went to a more secluded wall, and stared at him:
"You know?"
Zhao Duan said angrily: "Stop playing riddles, what's going on?"
Mochou pursed her lips and explained:
"Cao Guogong entered the city suddenly. He should have separated from the team returning to Beijing, and only brought a small group of elites to return to Beijing in advance.
He entered the palace unexpectedly and reported to His Majesty that he had successfully arrested the former The "Northland Blood Knife" who committed murders in Jubeicheng and escaped without a trace... You are a step too late. Now Nalang Shiba has been taken to the prison of the Ministry of Justice and is preparing for trial. I am afraid he will die. "
Zhao Duan was stunned, and suddenly recalled in his mind the fight with Prince Jing on the official ship.
In the meantime, Eunuch Hai once told him the origin of Lang Shiba——
He was a master in Jubei City. He was wanted and fled south. He was rescued by the prince when he was seriously injured and on the verge of death. , changed his name and surnamed and hid in Houhu.
And Cao Mao was the commander-in-chief of the border army in Jubeicheng.
Seeing his confusion, Mochou said:
"Lang Shiba's true identity is a wanted criminal who defected from Jubeicheng. Somehow, Cao Guogong found out that he was hiding in Houhu. This raid was probably premeditated, just to catch Lang Shiba off guard.< br>
After the arrest, he led the people into the palace in a high profile, without giving His Majesty any time to react... Cao Guogong kept saying that the wanted criminal was hiding in Houhu, and now he must be dealt with strictly... His Majesty could only nod because of the national law. "
No...something's wrong. Since Lang Shiba is hiding in the royal back lake, no matter how stupid Cao Guogong is, he can still think of this person's anonymity and his connection with the royal family...
But he still chose to make a surprise arrest, causing such a scene that almost forced the palace...
This Cao Mao could not be selfless and would rather offend the emperor than be punished...I heard that, This prince’s reputation is not good...
Zhao Duan said seriously: "Why? Why did Cao Guogong do this?"
Mo Chou glanced at him and explained in a low voice:
"Lang Shiba killed him in Jubei City back then. Many comrades in the army, it is said that one of Cao Guogong's sons was killed because of the pursuit of Lang Shiba. "
Ah... Zhao Duan choked, this was something he didn't expect.
If this is the case, it perfectly explains why Duke Cao Guo did this... Knowing that the murderer of his son was hiding in the capital, even though he knew that he might be adopted by the royal family as a thug, he still chose hard steel and pretended have no idea.
Anyway, if the person is arrested and tried according to law... the empress has nothing to do.
But...
"No, that doesn't make sense. Eunuch Hai personally said that Lang Shiba was saved by the prince. When the prince saves people, he will definitely investigate clearly, knowing that Lang Shiba was killed. Even if you sympathize with the son of the Duke of Cao, you are willing to risk offending Duke Cao to save people just because of your sympathy?"
Zhao Duan frowned and thought in his heart:< br>
"Also, Lang Shiba has been lurking for many years, how come Cao Mao happened to find him? Unless..."
Zhao Duan's eyes narrowed:
"Prince Jing! Could it be Prince Jing? The only time Lang Shiba appeared this year was when he followed me to Huting. At that time, he had a conflict with Prince Jing. After two attacks, most of the people under Prince Jing's palace also had military experience. It was not surprising to recognize the famous Northland Blood Sword...
Eight Kings Together I am very angry. If King Jing leaked the information and deliberately leaked the news to Cao Mao... in order to provoke a conflict between Cao Guogong and the court..."
Seeing his sudden silence, Mo Chou couldn't help but use her elbow to pull him: "You What are you thinking about?”
“Well, it’s nothing,” Zhao Duan came back to his senses and asked carefully:
"What does your Majesty mean?"
Mochou shook his head:
"I don't know. But I think your Majesty must be displeased. But the murder committed by Lang Shiba is true. , Cao Guogong’s anger is also real..."
The implication is that from the empress’s standpoint, from the overall perspective, it is undoubtedly the most reasonable to sacrifice Langshiba.
Anyway, he was just a dead soldier raised by the prince, not saved by the empress. Lang Shiba lived for several more years in Houhu, and he had already lost a few years of his life in vain.
A person who can ascend the throne and claim the title of emperor, even if he has tenderness for a few people in his heart, must be indifferent to the outside world.
Besides, taking a step back, even if the empress wants to be partial, the matter has been made clear, and she cannot blatantly regard the law as nothing.
"In other words, Lang Shiba is going to die?" Zhao Duan said in a declarative sentence.
Mochou nodded slightly. She took a closer look at the love rival in front of her, and her voice softened a little for no reason:
"Actually, this matter has nothing to do with you."
Zhao Duan was silent.
Yes, this matter does not seem to have much to do with him. Duke Cao Guo did not come to him, nor did he come to the empress.
Lang Shiba is an insignificant dead soldier. From any point of view, there is no need for the big shots in the capital to offend Cao Guogong for a dead soldier.
Maybe, except Jiyue, no one cares about this matter at all.
No, I'm afraid Jiyue may not care... Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken no action at all. Seeing him being arrested, she just felt uneasy and came to find her.
As long as this person is beheaded according to the law, the anger of a prince can be appeased. No matter how you look at it, it is the most correct option.
After all, he is just a small person.
"I understand." Zhao Duan nodded and walked out of the city gate, "There is no need to tell Your Majesty that I have been here."
"Hey..." Mochou subconsciously stretched out his hand, I scratched my head in the air, but it didn't touch his sleeve after all.
The female official watched the lonely figure of the guy who annoyed her leave with a strange and indescribable emotion in her heart. She shook her head, curled her lips and muttered: "Hypocrisy."
I thought this guy was here just for Lang Shiba, but after hearing the whole story, didn’t he still decisively withdraw, not wanting to be tainted even a little bit?
Oh, politicians.
Although... I am the same... hypocritical.
......
Outside the deep entrance of the imperial city, the crimson door inlaid with thick door nails is open.
The armored imperial troops guarding both sides saw Zhao Duan coming from the palace.
He greeted with a busy smile: "Your Majesty, your horse." "Yes." Zhao Duan said casually, got on the horse, shook the reins, and rode the horse along the main road away from the palace and toward the imperial office. direction return.
Only halfway through, he caught a glimpse of a liquor store on the side of the road and suddenly tightened the reins.
Dismounted, walked to the shop, bought two large jars of the strongest wine, and packed a large package of meat and vegetables nearby, wrapped in oil paper.
Zhao Duan rode towards the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.
Not long after, the black and gray prison building came into view, especially bleak and cold in the cold winter.
"Shijun Zhao? Ouch, what brought you here?"
At the door of the prison of the Ministry of Justice, a middle-aged man wearing a crimson official robe greeted him with a smile. Judging from the pattern embroidered on the chest, it is clearly the newly appointed minister of punishment after Pei Kaizhi's fall.
A high-ranking official of this kind would never appear in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.
"Haha, Huang Shilang is not sitting in the official office, why did he come out to blow the cold wind?" Zhao Duan got off his horse and joked with a smile.
The two of them were not close friends, but they were both in the officialdom. With his current status, it was natural for them to know each other.
Huang Shilang laughed, cupped his hands and said:
"We are loyal to your majesty, why do we care about a little bit of wind and frost? I don't know that Zhao Jun is here, this is..."
Zhao Du'an patted the wine jars hanging on both sides of the saddle, and said with a smile:
"I heard that the guard who followed me south committed a crime and went to prison. Come and take a look. ”
Huang Shilang's face twitched, why: "Your Majesty, you..."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Master Huang, there is no need to embarrass you, I am just visiting the prison, and I have nothing to do with wine and meat. If something happens, it will be mine.”
Because Gao Lian and the county magistrate Wang Chu were born and died in prison, the Ministry of Punishment has been in a state of turmoil in the past few months.
Huang Shilang hurriedly waved his hand:
"The envoy was joking. To save your face, let alone some wine and meat, I just brought the bed in. What's the problem? It's not that I'm not accommodating, it's just..."
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows: " Just?"
Before the latter could speak, the two people standing in the front yard of the prison heard a strange and deep voice coming from the entrance of the prison:
"It's just, Duke Cao has an order. The suspect is extremely cunning and has good martial arts skills. To prevent him from escaping, I have ordered the general to stay here and strictly prohibit anyone from visiting him."
Zhao Duan looked over Huang Shilang's shoulder. I saw a young man slowly walking out of the darkness in the deep doorway of the prison.
He was wearing dark armor, with a sword hanging from his waist. His appearance was not outstanding, except for his eyebrows, which were so thick that they were almost painted on his face with ink.
As soon as he stepped out, Zhao Duan's muscles tensed up and he became instinctively vigilant!
He is a master! Martial arts master!
A military general who is definitely not inferior to the female general Tang Zhao!
The two people's eyes collided in the air, as if there was a sound of gold and iron clashing.
A bead of sweat as big as a soybean rolled out quietly on Huang Shilang's forehead, and he cried in his heart.
As a minister, he was also an important minister in the court. Whoever encountered disrespect in the capital was sandwiched between Zhao Yanwang and Cao Guogong.
I was already ready to scold the Minister of the Ministry of Justice for pretending to be stupid and leaving this matter to him seven or eight times.
But there was still a smile on his face, and he introduced both parties:
"Haha, this is Zhao Jun, the only one in the capital, I guess no introduction is needed."
< br>
"This man is also famous. He is the deputy general of Jubeicheng, Cao Keene, and the most trusted adopted son of An Guogong Cao Mao."
Deputy general of Jubeicheng?
In the data, who is the rising star in the border army of Jubeicheng under Cao Mao?
Zhao Duan still had a smile on his face:
"It turns out to be Deputy General Cao. I have heard about his name for a long time. Just now you said that the Duke ordered you to guard the prisoners here?"
< br>
Cao Kedi, who was wearing dark armor, looked at him carefully up and down, his eyes were quite meaningful, and he smiled: "I have also heard about the reputation of Ambassador Zhao in the North. I wonder which prisoner the ambassador wants to visit? As long as it's not that one" "Beidi Xue Dao', please do it."
Zhao Duan said with a smile:
"That's good. Vice General Cao is busy. Mr. Huang, could you please lead the way for me?" Seeing the prisoner Lang Shiba."
Cao Kedi took a step to block the way forward and frowned: "Didn't Master Zhao hear clearly?"
Zhao Duan said in surprise:
"I heard you clearly. What you are guarding is the 'Beidi Blood Knife'. What does it have to do with Lang Shiba, whom I visited in prison?" Shocked by his shamelessness, he slowly put away his smile: "Please don't try to embarrass me."
Zhao Duan smiled and looked at him:
"Who is it in the capital?" People don’t know, I have always been kind to others, and treated my friends as harmoniously as a spring breeze?”
He paused and said with a smile, “But if he is an enemy, he should be as cold as winter.”
Cao Kedi said calmly: "I have no intention of being your enemy, and I believe that Zhao Shijun will not deny the dignity of the country."
The two faced each other and refused to give in to each other.
The wind in the Penal Department Prison was as cold as a razor blade, as if it could cut people.
"You two...don't be angry..."
Huang Shilang's heart skipped a beat and he tried to mediate the situation, but the dignified minister was ignored by the two of them.
Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes, moved his wrists with both hands, and made a "click-click" sound with his joints, and sneered:
"How many kilograms or taels does Mr. Cao Guo's face cost on the scale?"
Face How much is it worth? !
It’s over! Huang Shilang's heart sank to the bottom.
When Cao Kedi heard this, his expression suddenly changed, as if he was irritated. He put his right hand on the handle of the knife at his waist, and the knife in the sheath made a "clang" sound, and he unsheathed it an inch!
"How brave! You are so rude to the Duke!"
Woo--a cold wind started blowing from the ground. In the gray-black courtyard, traces of invisible and qualityless energy were as dense as a spider web, with the two people in the center. Staggered spread.
The expressions of the jailers in the distance changed. They felt their breathing was difficult and their faces were burning with pain. It seemed that if they dared to step forward, the Qi in the air would tear out bloody wounds.
Huang Shilang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his legs were filled with lead and he could not move.
As a mortal, he was so weak that he seemed to be torn to pieces in an instant when faced with the energy struggle of a warrior in the Divine Chapter Realm.
However, just when the two sides were about to get into trouble, suddenly, a hearty laughter broke the atmosphere in the courtyard!
Laughter came from outside the courtyard without any smoke or smoke.
There is not even the slightest trace of a practitioner.
But Zhao Duan and Cao Kedi were startled at the same time, tensed their nerves, and looked toward the courtyard gate.
Because, neither of them noticed anyone coming outside the hospital just now!
No clue!
Who is it?
“Haha, Ambassador Zhao, it’s so hard for my prince to find you.”
My prince? The Duke again?
While stunned, Zhao Duan suddenly saw a slightly hunched figure with one leg lame walking slowly outside the gray-black door of the Penal Department Prison.
He was wearing expensive clothes, without a single weapon on his body, and he was dressed in an arty manner. He suddenly looked like a rich man.
But the moment he stepped into the courtyard, the dense air that lingered everywhere seemed to be violently torn apart by an iron hand.
So strong!
A warrior in the worldly realm! And it’s not an ordinary worldly realm!
Zhao Duan quickly judged in his heart that the man was of good cultivation, and the strong military aura that could not be concealed on his body was stronger than that of Cao Kedi.
Thinking back to his self-proclaimed "gong" and his appearance... Zhao Du was so happy that he blurted out: "Tang Guo Gong?"
Zhen Guo Gong, Tang Master!
He appeared here without any warning, and his tone was still looking for him.
Tang Guogong smiled like an arty rich man, turning a blind eye to the confrontation in the courtyard. His eyes fell on Zhao Duan, he walked over with a smile and said:
"The little girl and Quanzi came back The queen told me the whole story, and I realized the misunderstanding, which caused my daughter to break into Lihuatang without permission. It was really inappropriate. I also heard that Ambassador Zhao disciplined the idiot who didn’t understand people for me in the Shenji camp. .
I thought that I should invite Mr. Zhao to have a casual meal at my house and apologize in person. I didn't want to look for him and disappear. I finally chased him, but it seemed that he came by accident. ”
You came to me for dinner? So approachable?
It’s not that the rumored Duke Zhen Guo is protective of his shortcomings... Yes, he only said that he was protective of his shortcomings and overbearing, but he didn’t say that he was difficult to get along with...
Zhao Duan was extremely surprised. Although he was stunned, he still smiled and handed it over with a smile: "It's just a trivial matter, it's not worth mentioning. I don't want to trouble the Duke to come and look for it in person. I don't deserve it." "
Tang Guogong smiled, and after finishing the greetings, he turned his eyes and glanced at Cao Kedi.
With just this glance, Cao Kedi felt the Qi in his body surge violently, and his face suddenly turned red, which was caused by the churning of Qi and blood.
His eyes were horrified. He never thought that the Duke of Zhen was so domineering inside?
"Cao Mao's adopted son? Not bad, but unfortunately, he is with the wrong person."
Tang Guogong's eyes were indifferent, as if he covered the young man in dark armor with his breath, See it all.
There is no doubt in the tone that someone who has been in the upper position for a long time and is in charge of power:
"Go back and tell Cao Mao that the capital is not his Beicheng, and the Ministry of Punishment is not his military prison. This is the emperor's feet. You must be reasonable."
Paused:
"What is Reason?"
Tang Guogong's smile was not full of fireworks, but the sentences he spat out were like heavy hammers, which made Cao Ke's enemies retreat with stars in their eyes.
He pointed at himself and smiled:
"I am better than Cao Mao, so I am right."
Thanks to book friend Zhang Xiubiao for his 500-point reward and support
(End of chapter)