The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 53 Who Stole My Yunxi

Yuan Li!

When Zhao Duan saw clearly the face of the person sitting in the car, he was stunned.

Then he suddenly realized the true meaning of the words "We can talk in detail later when we are free" that the censor had said before leaving in the Imperial Garden.

A person who was of the rank of three dukes and nine ministers, and who could shake Dayu with just a stomp of his feet, actually condescended to wait for him at the entrance of the imperial city.

Zhao Duan felt no honor, only vigilance.

"Mr. Yuan...are you waiting for someone?" He pretended to be surprised and bowed to test the answer.

The lady in blue in the car smiled:

"No need to guess, I'm waiting for you. The palace is very big, it's hard for you to walk on foot, come up and talk."

It turned out that he wanted to give him a ride.

So, the reason why Zhou Cang disappeared was because he was driven away by Yuan Li? Zhao Duan became more and more panicked.

He looked flattered, then a little embarrassed:

"Thank you, Lord Yuan, for your kindness. However... I have a bad reputation. If I were to ride with Lord Yuan, it would be bad if it got out."

"Who will spread it?" Yuan Li asked with a smile.

A servant standing beside the carriage also laughed:

"If you refuse again, wouldn't that be an insult to my master?"

This big hat you put on me is really scary... Zhao Duan's expression froze. He didn't dare to refuse. He lifted the hem of his robe and carefully got into the carriage.

It was Zhao Duan’s first time riding in a four-horse carriage. One word to describe it: huge!

It can almost accommodate several people having sex in the car.

Inside the spacious carriage, a low table is placed in the middle with a three-legged incense burner on it. There is a secret hidden in a secret compartment underneath, and cushioned seats are provided around it, which can accommodate several people for a small gathering.

Zhao Duan was anxious and sat opposite Yuan Li. When the curtains were lowered and the carriage was heading out of the palace, he took the lead in breaking the deadlock:

"I wonder what instructions Lord Yuan has for me?"

He won't feel at ease until he gets to the bottom of it!

Yuan Li folded his wide sleeves, put down the jade ruyi in his hand, and said:

"Don't be nervous, I'm just a little interested in you."

I'm not a woman, what interest do you have in me... Zhao Duan complained, embarrassed:

"I am notorious. Compared with Lord Yuan, I am a far cry from him..."

Yuan Li interrupted: "My judgment of people is always very accurate."

? Zhao Duan slowly typed a question mark.

I only heard the Imperial Censor in front of me say leisurely:

"So, from the first glimpse I got in the garden, I knew that you are definitely not as bad as the rumors outside say."

Oh, just brag... If you had seen me ten days or half a month earlier, you would have understood what it means to have a unified personality and character.

Zhao Duan climbs along the pole:

"Mr. Yuan, you are too kind. I have admired you for a long time."

The man in blue clothes said "Oh" and said casually:
"Have you heard my story?"

No, but your face is full of stories... Zhao Duan took over the topic in his heart and showed respect:
“Who in the world doesn’t know you?”

He had indeed heard Yuan Li's story.

It is said that he was originally from the Yuan clan in Xipingdao.

The Xiping Yuan family is a prominent family, and in every dynasty there are people who have served as officials in the court.

When Yuan Li was young, he showed talent far beyond his peers, but he did not like a career in politics. He just wanted to travel around with his friends and live a bohemian life. The master of the family often lamented and felt sorry for him.

If things had gone according to normal course, he could have ended his life as a wealthy young man.

However, accidents happen. The Yuan family's generation had a poor cultural heritage, and officials who came out of it died one after another, until there was no one left in the court. The biggest pillar of such a large clan was only a county magistrate.

In three to five years, it will be on the decline and will be withered.

At this critical moment, Yuan Li changed his image of a playboy, went to Beijing that year, took the imperial examination for the first time, and won the top spot.

Then, in just a few years, he used his superb skills to rise at rocket-like speed. Not only did he revive the Yuan family of Xiping, but he also succeeded in his own bet and became one of the top powerful officials.

His experience is legendary, and he is a template for the male protagonist of a cool novel. This is also the reason why he is highly respected by many readers:

This experience is really a treat for scholars.

"Who in the world doesn't know you..."

At the low table, Yuan Li was startled, savored the words, and suddenly said:

"This sentence is quite bold, but unfortunately it is scattered. If it could be pieced together into a complete poem, it might be a masterpiece."

The whole poem? I have it… Zhao Duan muttered.

He was not expressing this deliberately. In fact, many famous lines from ancient poems and verses from his previous life had already seeped into his spoken language and he would blurt them out without paying attention.

He hesitated for a moment and didn't respond.

When ancient people wrote poems, if they had no relevant experience and wrote verses about things they had never experienced, they would inevitably be questioned.

Although it can be attributed to "talent", it is ultimately too deliberate.

"I came up with this sentence by chance, but I haven't been able to complete it yet." Zhao Duan said.

Yuan Li was not surprised. Even fools can have moments of inspiration, but true poetic talent never relies on these.

The carriage rumbled out of the palace.

Driving on the spacious streets of the capital, the car was stable. After the two of them exclaimed about business to each other for a while, Yuan Li finally asked.

How Zhao Duan solved the case of the firearms maker.

And even earlier, how to get out of the case of letting Zhuang Xiaocheng go.

Zhao Duan kept the empress's teachings in mind and did not hide anything - even the top secrets were known to others, so there was no need to hide some details.

The other party's questions made Zhao Duan feel a little relieved. Yuan Li was a person who liked to have idle conversations and pursue interesting things.

Although he is in a high position, his nature is hard to change. His gossipy heart is aroused, so he comes to me to ask questions and satisfy his curiosity... Although it is a bit far-fetched, it is a reason after all.

After listening to Zhao Duan’s story, Yuan Li also found his operations in the two cases quite interesting.

Yeah, it's just fun.

After all, with the level Zhao Duan was involved in and these trivial tricks were nothing compared to this top powerful official.

At this time, the carriage also arrived near the government office.

"This is what happened." Zhao Duan said with a dry mouth.

Yuan Li was about to make a comment when he suddenly heard a faint noise coming from outside.

The government office is located in a quiet area and is not a bustling neighborhood.

"What happened outside?" The man in blue frowned and asked.

After a while, a servant reported back:

"Sir, the censor Lu Liang is parading a female prisoner here, attracting many people to watch. It seems that the female prisoner is a member of the Kuangfu Society. She was previously detained in the government jail and is called 'Yunxi'."

Yunxi!

Inside the carriage, Zhao Duan was stunned, and the image of the tenacious big bear girl tied to the cross in the cell emerged in his mind.

The severely brainwashed female disciple who was abandoned by Zhuang Xiaocheng when he ran away.

It is also an important clue for him to track down the whereabouts of "Zhuang Xiaocheng".

She has been kept in the government office since the last interrogation. Zhao Duan has been busy dealing with the Zhang brothers these days and has not had time to interrogate her.

But at this moment, he was taken away without knowing anything?!

And...the name "Luliang" was also familiar to him.

It was he who was the main force behind his impeachment last time. He had joined forces with Zhang Changshuo in front of the empress to put him to death. He was an imperial censor under the command of "Li Yanfu".

Later, because of the privileges of the censors, he was exempted from death.

Zhao Duan thought that he would have nothing to do with the other party anymore, but he didn't expect to meet him again here.

I have instructed the government not to allow Yunxi to be interrogated by others. Why was she taken away by Lu Liang?
I am also responsible for the KPI of arresting Zhuang Xiaocheng before the end of the year. Yunxi is the key clue... I cannot afford to lose...

Zhao Duan's face suddenly turned gloomy.

The lady in blue caught a glimpse of his expression, looked towards the carriage curtain, and said expressionlessly:
"Ask Lu Liang to come over."

(End of this chapter)