The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 13 Zhao Duan’s Real Goal
Inside the Wupeng boat.

After Feng Ju asked, Zhao Duan did not respond immediately. Instead, he slowly picked up the teapot, poured a cup of Maofeng tea for the other party, and said:

"You and I have never met before. What else could you want to ask Master Feng to do?"

Feng Ju still pretended to be stupid and frowned:

"If you have something to say, please speak directly."

As a veteran official, he would never admit that he had bribed someone. As the saying goes:
It can only be understood but cannot be expressed in words.

The so-called "guessing" or "understanding" is essentially a means of shirking responsibility.

In his previous life, Zhao Duan saw the short video "The Ming Dynasty 1566" and had a deep memory of the scene where Jiajing struck the chimes:

When the ministers were discussing state affairs, Emperor Jiajing was nowhere to be seen, hiding behind curtains. The emperor's agreement with the decision was not expressed verbally but in writing, and the only way to "hint" it was through the sound of striking ritual instruments.

In this way, if it is successful, it will be the emperor's credit, and if it is ruined... haha, it was not me who asked you to do it, it was all your ministers' mess!

This is a perfect example of shirking responsibility!
Feng Ju has been an official for many years, and the habit of pretending to be stupid is ingrained in his bones.

Zhao Duan poured himself some tea, put the teapot back, and said with a smile:
"On this Hun River, there is only one boat, you and I, and the words we talk about come out of your mouth and enter my ears. There is no need to be so vigilant."

Huh... Are magic scrolls vegetarian? There are many officials in history books who were filmed and recorded for their conversations and thus fell from power?
Feng Ju secretly complained but remained unmoved.

"Well, let me tell you," Zhao Duan sighed softly and said helplessly:

"The chief has asked the county magistrate of Ning'an to help me get him back from the Ministry of Justice..."

"Your Excellency, be careful with your words!" Feng Ju interrupted in a righteous manner:
"Although I have some friendship with the county magistrate of Ning'an, I have asked him for something before, so I cannot speak carelessly!"

Old Feng has been in the officialdom for many years, and all he has relied on is the word "submissive".

An old hand... Zhao Duan said with a smile:

"But when I boarded the ship just now and said that you wanted Wang Xian to come to me for help, the person in charge immediately revealed my identity."

Feng Ju's face changed slightly, realizing that he had been caught off guard and had been exposed.

It’s not that he is not cautious, it’s that the enemy is too cunning!
Zhao Duan smiled and comforted:

"Master, don't be so nervous. I have no ill intentions in inviting you today. Besides, I have already accepted the deposit. You and I are in the same boat, aren't we?"

Perhaps it was because of this sentence that Feng Ju's expression eased a little, but he was still very frugal with his words:
"What exactly does the envoy want to say?"

Zhao Duan said:
"The director is in the Ministry of Personnel and is well-informed. He should have heard about my impeachment."

Feng Ju's heart skipped a beat, thinking that maybe his worries had come true. This Zhao guy saw that the situation was not right and did not want to get into trouble at this juncture, so he came to him and wanted to renege on his promise to rescue the person in person?
But didn't that bastard Wang Xian say that everything was fine? Could there be a sudden change?

"I have indeed heard of it." Feng Ju imagined it wildly, but his expression did not change.

After a pause, he added tentatively:
"However, at this critical moment, the envoy still has the leisure to sit by the stove and make tea. It seems that he is sitting on the Diaoyutai."

Crazy temptation from Lao Feng...

Zhao Duan chuckled, showing no sign of worry at all:

"Your Majesty has shown me great favor. How can those cynical censors slander me with just a few words?"

It doesn't seem fake... Yes, with such a good appearance and being a martial artist, he has enough strength. It's reasonable for His Majesty to be reluctant... Feng Ju was not surprised and smiled:

"In that case, we should congratulate you for surviving this disaster."

As he spoke, he raised the glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.

This action also represents a change in attitude.

A bunch of old guys who change their attitude according to the situation... Zhao Duan smiled, took a sip of tea, and then sighed:
"But even so, Your Majesty cannot be biased in an open manner. There must be a way out to silence those who intend to attack me."

Feng Ju hesitated and said:
"Can I help you? But my literary selection department..."

He was puzzled and thought that it was not my turn to find someone, and my authority had nothing to do with it.

Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"Master, you are too modest. We really have to rely on Lord Feng for this matter."

Feng Ju's heart suddenly lifted: "This official?" Zhao Duan said "Yes", stared at him, and said seriously:

"I need to establish a great enough merit. I think it's a good idea to report the officials for bribery and interference in the judiciary. What do you think?"

???

A string of question marks slowly floated above Feng Ju's head. At first he was unable to react, or rather, he found it hard to believe.

After a moment, seeing that Zhao Duan's expression was not joking, the old scholar stood up suddenly as if a cat's tail had been stepped on, and said in a sharp voice:
"Are you crazy?! You want to drag me down with you? Aren't you afraid of yourself..."

He got stuck halfway through his speech because he realized that the other party was not afraid at all.

It was just a deposit, and no real work was done. The empress turned a blind eye, and the guillotine could not chop off the other party's head.

Have no fear.

He was the one who slept next to the empress, maybe even rode on her, but who am I? !

He felt dizzy and the whole ship was shaking. He realized that he was going to be sold. He was a little confused for a moment, with anger, fear, regret... all kinds of emotions surging.

However, Zhao Duan's next words pulled him back from hell to the human world:
"Master Feng, please don't be so angry. I only said I was reporting the ministers, but I didn't say I was reporting you."

What do you mean? Not me? Feng Ju was stunned.

Zhao Duan remained calm, playing with the teacup, and said quietly:

"Master Feng, do you think that even if you sell your official position, you can shut up the civil and military officials?"

Yes... Feng Ju was suddenly awakened and his rationality returned.

Being a director of the Ministry of Literature may sound impressive, but in reality he means nothing in the government.

It was just an unsuccessful attempt to bribe someone to rescue him. Even if the credit was given to Zhao Duan, it was insignificant compared to the crime of letting the rebel leader go.

In other words, even if he was sold out, or even the small circle behind him was sold out as well, it might not be enough for Zhao Duan to redeem himself!

This is also the reason why Baima Sijian said "it's meaningless" when he learned of Zhao Duan's intention last night.

The old supervisor knew very well that this achievement was not enough.

Because this impeachment against Zhao Duan is not just about letting the rebels go, nor is it just about ruining his reputation.

More importantly, when the Censorate came to an end, it probably meant that this matter had become a small local battlefield in the game between imperial power and court officials.

Faced with the fight between these giants, the greatest value of Zhao Duan, a small pawn, is to become a discarded piece.

How could Zhao Duan not understand the danger of this situation?

Isn't it clear that just reporting Feng Ju and the one in the Ministry of Justice's jail is not enough merit for the empress to resist the pressure from the court officials and protect him?
Therefore, his real purpose was never to sell Feng Ju, but to someone else.

"What do you mean by that, sir?"

Inside the black-sailed boat.

After Feng Ju figured out the situation, he carefully sat down again, looking extremely timid.

After all, his life and property were in the hands of the person in front of him, so he couldn't help but be timid.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Feng Ju gritted his teeth and spoke frankly.

Zhao Duan really appreciated the other party's statement. It is simple to talk to smart people.

However, his next words made Feng Ju, who had just crawled back to the world from hell, change his expression completely.

"Me?"

Zhao Duan smiled gently and said softly:
"I want you to report the current prime minister, Li Yanfu."

(End of this chapter)