The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 37 Beauty Trap

Delivering firearms to Prince Jing's Mansion... The moment Zhao Duan heard this, lightning struck his mind.

Many royal princes of the Dayu Dynasty were enfeoffed according to local regulations.

Of course, it is not a backward model of dividing the country's territory into pieces and assigning them to clans for management.

Instead, he was only given part of the property and land, which was equivalent to a gentry of extremely high standards. The administrative and military affairs of the place were still under the jurisdiction of the imperial court.

Today, there are eight powerful princes scattered across the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures of Dayu, collectively known as the "Eight Kings".

Among them, the one who is recognized as the most powerful in the "Jiancheng Dao" located in the wealthy southern region is Prince Jing.

After the Xuanmen coup, Xu Zhenguan ascended the throne and became emperor. The Eight Princes remained silent at first, but then they sent congratulatory messages one after another, recognizing the empress's throne.

On the surface, everything seems to be at peace.

But this is not the case.

The kings have been managing the local areas for many years and have deep roots. Most importantly, they are all "clan relatives" and have the possibility of nominally inheriting the throne.

Therefore, the relationship between the empress and the eight princes became "ambiguous"...

As a niece, the empress wanted to reduce the power of her uncles and consolidate her position.

However, since the foundation is not stable, we cannot start for the time being and can only proceed step by step.

It is not known whether there are any "ambitious" people among the Eight Princes who want to seize the throne, but it is true that each of them is worried that the Empress's knife will fall on them.

In addition, there are rumors that the remnants of the Second Prince's "Kuangfu Society" are active in various places but cannot be eradicated.

It is because there is the support of the Eight Kings behind him...

Of course, there is no evidence, just rumors.

……

"Do you know what you are talking about?!"

In the warm room, Zhao Duan asked in a deep voice.

Xiaoya had been crying for a long time, and now she shivered and whimpered:

"What I said is all true, I dare not lie..."

Then, she choked up and gave a brief description of what happened.

Zhang Changji did have the habit of talking in his sleep, but each time he spoke, he would only speak a few intermittent and vague words.

Originally, even if Xiaoya heard it, it would be difficult for her to form a complete association.

But the soldier came so often...

There is a lot of talking in sleep, even if it is just one or two words each time, but when connected together, the amount of information is huge.

According to Xiaoya, it was Zhang Changji who was suspected of secretly contacting people from Prince Jing's Mansion and helped them secretly transfer a group of firearms craftsmen and some finished firearms to the south.

"As far as I know, according to the law, Prince Jing's Mansion is allowed to have private armies, but the maximum number is 800 people, and that also includes logistics personnel..."

"Firearms are military supplies controlled by the imperial court. Firearms craftsmen are hereditary and are prohibited from moving. The Beijing Camp is in charge of firearms manufacturing... Zhang Changji works in the Beijing Camp and has the power and authority."

Zhao Duan's thoughts were turning, his face showing both excitement and worry.

What makes me excited is that I caught a big fish with just one try, but what worries me is... the level of this matter is beyond my expectations.

"If it's true...what did Prince Jing's Mansion want to do by secretly stealing the firearms manufacturing technology? It's terrifying to think about it!
Also, is a low-ranking lieutenant like Zhang Changji capable of accomplishing this task alone?

Are there higher-level officials lurking in the court behind him?

The vortex between the empress and the eight kings is no less dangerous than the factional struggles in the temple!

It would be very dangerous for ordinary people to get involved!"

"But...high risk also means high reward!"

Zhao Duan's heart beat faster and he quickly made a decision.

Looking at Xiaoya, who was slumped in front of him, with her clothes in disarray and her makeup smudged by tears, he said calmly:
"Very good. The information you provided is very valuable. Anything else?"

"That's all, only these." Xiaoya was uneasy, her eyes like a frightened deer, she bit her lips and said:
"My lord, I am truly innocent."

"I believe you," Zhao Duan said with a pleasant face.

"You have done a great deed in this matter. Remember, you must keep your mouth shut about today's conversation with me, including my arrival. When I bring Zhang Changji to justice, you will certainly get some benefits."

Xiaoya breathed a sigh of relief and smiled:
"I am a very tight-lipped servant. I dare not accept any benefits. I only ask for mercy from you, sir." You just betrayed someone and you tell me you are tight-lipped... Zhao Duan was too tired to complain.

But he did believe that the other party would not speak nonsense.

Unless you want to die.

"Okay, I'll keep you safe." Zhao Duan said.

Xiaoya was overjoyed, and quickly crawled to his side, her slippery hands moving around unruly:

"Then I will help you undress."

Ahem... Zhao Duan bowed slightly and stood up, saying seriously:

"This case is of great importance. I cannot afford to waste time. I will leave now."

If the case is true, and the court subsequently verifies the case and traces it back to here, and learns that a certain Zhao spent the night here, I wonder how the empress will view him.

Zhao Duan is a man with ambitious goals and will not make the mistake of losing the big picture for the small!

Xiaoya looked resentful, but she still didn't give up. She felt uneasy if she didn't sleep with Zhao Duan, so she said hurriedly:
"I have some new toys here that you will surely like."

"What?" Zhao Duan stopped and curiosity killed the cat.

Xiaoya stood up, smiling, and walked gracefully to the inner room behind the screen. She took something out of the closet and said:

"My Lord, do you know why the two Zhang brothers are so attached to me?"

"Why?" Zhao Duan saw the shadow of a woman changing clothes through the screen and felt that the difficulty of controlling the gun increased sharply.

"Just because I know what they want."

As she spoke, Xiaoya walked out from behind the screen, with a new hairstyle and clothes:

Her white clothes were as white as snow, her black hair was like a waterfall, she wore a gilded phoenix crown on her head, and held a blank "memorial" in her hand, pretending to be dignified and cold.

The same cosplay as the Empress Xu Zhenguan of Dayu!

Xiaoya said calmly:
"Mr. Zhao, why don't you bow to me? Are you trying to deceive the emperor?"

Zhao Duan was stunned!
……

……

Outside Qinglian Hutong.

In the darkness, Zhu Kui leaned against the carriage, waiting boredly, his eyes occasionally glancing towards the entrance of the alley.

"Why hasn't the master come out yet... is he really asleep?"

Not long ago, he witnessed with his own eyes a group of guests walking out one after another. He knew that the literary gathering must be over, but there was no sign of Zhao Duan.

Just as Zhu Kui was thinking about this, he saw a figure running back hurriedly in the alley.

"Sir, you are out?" Zhu Kui was cheered up and jumped off the carriage to greet him.

"I almost couldn't get out." Zhao Duan had a complicated expression and shook his head. The heat on his body was gradually soothed by the cool night air.

Zhu Kui was surprised: "With your determination, sir, you almost lost?"

Old Zhu has followed Zhao Duan for a year. Apart from other things, he still admires Zhao Duan's determination to love the empress purely and not touch any other women.

Because you have no idea how fresh the stuff inside is... Zhao Duan complained in his heart.

He finally understood why even the hypocrite Zhang Changshuo couldn't resist it.

She really understands!

In the past life, there was a classic question:
Why is it that there is no shortage of beautiful women around big shots, but beauty traps still work on them?

The highly-rated answer said that the beauty trap is never about entertaining people with beauty, but about conquering their hearts.

What you think is a honey trap: The big star Liu Yifei seduces you

The real beauty trap: Sixteen-year-old Zhao Linger hugged your arm and called you "Brother Xiaoyao"

"Stop talking nonsense," Zhao Duan got into the carriage, exhaled deeply, calmed down, looked at the time, and said:

"Go to the Yamen."

The incident that the Zhang brothers were involved in was too big, so he had to find someone to share the risk.

Thanks to Li Shipu for the 100 rewards~
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(End of this chapter)