The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 18 Confused Zhu Kui

Xu Zhenguan looked at Zhao Duan quietly.

At this moment, the female emperor who ascended the throne as a woman had a calm expression on her face, but she was actually quite surprised in her heart.

The memorial that Zhao Duan handed her was beyond her expectations.

As an empress, although she had no time to pay attention to Zhao Duan, but through the narration of the female official Mo Chou the day before yesterday, she already knew the performance of this "fake lover" she had chosen.

Not surprising.

It was normal for a small imperial guard to be surrounded by flowers and beauties and feel elated once he gained power. She had seen many people like him.

Including the memorial submitted later by the White Horse Supervisor, it only mentioned that Zhao Duan had good intentions.

But there is no mention of his talents.

This was in stark contrast to Zhao Duan's stunning performance when he was grinding ink for her the day before yesterday, as well as his current methods.

An official from the Ministry of Personnel reported himself that his bribery was secretly instigated by the prime minister of the time... The empress didn't quite believe it.

She respects Li Yanfu's intelligence.

Is it a false accusation? Is it a accusation? But what is the purpose?
And, most importantly, how did Zhao Duan force Feng Ju to do such an extraordinary thing?
Xu Zhenguan thought for a moment. As smart as she was, she quickly understood Zhao Duan's actions and vaguely guessed Zhao Duan's real purpose.

Give her a good knife to show her own value and seek her own favor.

But is this kind of insight and means really something that this rumored unlearned guy can possess?
Or is there someone with great power behind the scenes giving advice?
For example, the old eunuch in Baima Prison?
Xu Zhenguan admitted that he began to be interested in this "fake lover".

Of course, the most important thing is that she likes the gift given to her by the other party very much.

The matter of "changing rice to mulberry" was the battlefield where Li Yanfu and her were secretly playing against each other.

There are rules in the temple. Even if she has a very high level of cultivation and a noble status, she still needs to follow these rules of the game.

With Feng Ju's report, Xu Zhenguan could seize on this trivial matter and make a big fuss about it.

……

Inside the palace.

Everyone who was observing the empress's words and expressions also vaguely sensed the change in the atmosphere through her expression.

Ma Yan was the first to sense it. As a martial arts master, he was more sensitive to changes in other people's aura.

I couldn't help but wonder what was written on the memorial submitted by Zhao Duan?
Why did Your Majesty look at this for so long?
He suddenly realized that things might be changing.

The contempt on Lu Liang's face faded, and he felt uneasy. He vaguely sensed that something might change, so he shouted loudly:

"Your Majesty, this thief is very cunning and is trying to get away with it by taking small credit. I think he should be put in jail immediately... In particular, the fact that he privately interrogated the female rebels should also be investigated..."

Zhang Changshuo also jumped out impatiently and echoed:
"What Censor Lu said is absolutely right. I think..."

"enough!"

Suddenly, a cold and slightly impatient rebuke came from the Dragon Throne, immediately silencing the two.

Xu Zhenguan, dressed in white as white as snow, looked dignified and cold as a glance at the crowd, and made the final decision with a sharp gaze:
"I already know about this matter and have made my own judgment. There is no need to say more. I am tired today, so please leave."

Golden words!

In an instant, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed to varying degrees.

They are all smart people, how could they not hear the meaning behind the empress's words?
He said "I will make the final decision", but in fact he was just raising it high and then letting it go lightly, blatantly trying to protect and favor Zhao Duan!
Especially the four words "no need to talk about it again", which means that the empress does not want to hear any more words of impeachment. It can be predicted that this matter will gradually fade away until no one mentions it again.

why?
In the end what happened?
Didn’t Zhao Duan lose the emperor’s favor?

If you want to be partial, why confront? If you want to punish, why protect?
Luliang's goat beard was shaking, he stood there in a daze, a mouthful of words stuck in his throat, his eyes full of disbelief and intense frustration.

There is a kind of anger of being played.

He didn't understand why something that was seemingly a sure thing suddenly turned around?

What did Zhao Duan write in his memorial?
"Your Majesty," Lu Liang opened his mouth and squeezed out a sentence, "If you rule like this, I'm afraid that all the civil and military officials in the court..."

Xu Zhenguan stood up and glanced at him coldly:

"Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Lu Liang's breath was choked and cold sweat ran down his face:

"No...don't dare."

"Then withdraw," Xu Zhenguan said, and suddenly looked at the distraught Zhang Changshuo with cold eyes, and said:
"Zhang Changshuo falsely accused his colleagues and should have been severely punished. However, considering that this was his first offense and that he was acting in the public interest, he was only sentenced to three days of confinement to reflect on his mistakes."

boom!
Zhang Changshuo looked as if struck by lightning and his face turned pale.

Reflecting on his mistakes behind closed doors may seem insignificant, but the signal it sends that the empress dislikes him is the greatest punishment.

Especially since he came here with great expectations, but at this moment, not only was Zhao Duan unharmed, but he himself left a bad impression on the empress.

The attempt to steal a chicken ends up with a loss of the rice... The clown turned out to be himself... Hey, it even rhymes!
Xu Zhenguan walked out of the side hall accompanied by the palace servants. When he passed by Zhao Duan, he paused for a moment and said:

"Zhao Duan?"

"The minister is here."

"It's getting late. Please stay in the palace and have dinner with me."

"Hey!" Zhang Changshuo next to him seemed to be hit by an arrow in the chest. He stepped back several steps and looked at Zhao Duan in disbelief.

Your Majesty not only saved Zhao the thief despite the pressure from the whole court, but even invited him to have dinner with you?!

There is an old saying that goes "When you are well fed and warm, you will think about that..."

He simply couldn't imagine what the two would do after dinner!
Zhang Changshuo felt his eyes go dark.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

As everyone saluted in unison, Xu Zhenguan's figure disappeared into the distance.

The chief eunuch Ma Yan, who was wearing a flying fish suit, had a white face and no beard, and was moody, stood up, took a deep look at the pretty boy beside him, and said:

"Congratulations."

The impression Zhao Duan gave him today was quite unexpected.

I feel a little relieved at this moment... Fortunately, he only passed the buck from beginning to end and did not make any other criticisms.

Isn't it... congratulations should be done with a smile? Why are you so sullen and ferocious? Zhao Duan was relieved at the moment, and he said with a smile:
"Thank you, Governor..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ma Yan turned and left.

It was obvious that they had no good feelings towards such a notorious person.

"..." Zhao Duan looked at the remaining two people again.

Lu Liang had a blank expression on his face and turned away without saying a word. He was anxious to report the matter to the prime minister.

He is just a pioneer, the real players in the game are the bigwigs on both sides.

As for Zhang Changshuo, he didn't even utter a harsh word, but followed the censor Lu Liang and left in disgrace.

This made Zhao Duan quite disappointed, and he thought to himself, is this love rival so vulnerable?
Is this a complete loss of fighting spirit?
"Sir, please follow me to the flower hall and wait until His Majesty summons you later."

The elderly female official who had accepted bribes from Zhao Duan's banknotes the day before yesterday came over and said with a smile.

Zhao Duan bowed his hands and thanked him: "Thank you, sister."

At the same time, his heartstrings tightened again, knowing that the matter was not over yet, and the empress obviously wanted to interrogate him alone.

After all, this series of actions was too different from the original character of "Zhao Duan" for the empress to fail to notice.

That is, he must give a perfect explanation.

Otherwise, he will still be doomed.

"I hope there is no reincarnation through possession of another's body in this world's cultivation system..." Zhao Duan prayed silently.

……

……

On the other hand, with the end of this "questioning" that attracted the attention of the entire capital, the final result blew out of the palace like a whirlwind.

Palace entrance.

Zhu Kui stood beside the carriage, feeling uneasy, like a family member waiting outside the college entrance examination hall. He looked into the deep doorway frequently, expecting to see Zhao Duan.

Although he was almost certain that even if Zhao Duan didn't die this time, he would be badly beaten, Zhu Kui still held out a glimmer of hope.

After all, he followed Zhao Duan completely and completed the entire operation.

Although I don't know the inside story, it doesn't stop me from having fantasies.

It's not that he is loyal, but he is Zhao Duan's trusted henchman and is too deeply bound to him. Once Zhao Duan falls, he, a small pawn, will inevitably be affected.

Your life and property depend on it.

Before entering the palace this morning, Zhu Kui had even written a suicide note, instructing his family about his funeral arrangements.

It's not an exaggeration. He has simply witnessed too many bloody storms in feudal dynasties.

at last.

Someone came out of the doorway, and Zhu Kui was alerted. He looked carefully, but he only saw Ma Yan, Lu Liang and Zhang Changshuo coming out one after another.

"The master couldn't come out..."

Zhu Kui's heart sank completely, and he felt cold all over. He guessed that Zhao Duan was in great danger and was chopped to death in the palace by the angry empress.

In his panic, he didn't even notice Zhang Changshuo's Sima face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"This Heavenly Official," Zhu Kui put on a flattering smile, walked quickly to the eunuch who came out to see someone off, and took out a silver ingot and handed it to him familiarly:
"May I ask why my envoy couldn't come out?"

The eunuch recognized him as Zhao Duan's servant and quickly handed the silver back to him, saying:
"Absolutely not."

It's over! They don't even dare to accept the money, how serious a sin is this?
Zhu Kui's heart was sealed with cement and his smile froze.

However, the next second, the eunuch smiled warmly:

"Envoy Zhao was invited by His Majesty to dine in the palace, and he asked me to tell you something. You don't have to wait for him."

Thank you Li Shipu for your support again~Thank you everyone who voted

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(End of this chapter)