The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 61 Obtaining New Intelligence

same night.

Jin Jian was like a ghost, patrolling over the capital city. Her clothes were translucent, and no one noticed her presence as she passed by.

Under the night sky, the Tianshi Mansion is brightly lit, with buildings radiating in a circle around the iconic bell tower.

At the deepest part, there is a quiet courtyard that is rarely disturbed.

A lush banyan tree swayed with green strips, and a faint glow was cast.

Jin Jian walked through the courtyard gate and looked up at the rocking chair placed under the tree.

Lying leisurely on the rocking chair was the old Taoist priest, one of the few most powerful people in the world.

He was tall and straight, with a long beard and eyebrows, narrow eyes, a gentle face, and a black priest robe hanging softly.

"Are you back?" Zhang Yan asked lazily.

Jin Jian was very excited and bowed his hands in disciple's greeting:

"The problem that has troubled my disciples for a long time has been solved."

"Oh?"

"If one's spirit is naturally strong enough, then it is possible to resist the spell. Such people are extremely rare, but they do exist."

"Really... That Zhao Duan is such an oddball?"

Jin Jian was shocked: "Master, how did you know that the question that I was curious about was about him?"

Zhang Yanyi smiled and said:

"Otherwise, how can I be your teacher and take charge of the Tianshi Mansion?"

"Yes..." Jin Jian was convinced.

She had heard about the power of Master Zhang Tian when she was very young, but even today, she still feels that her master's magical power is like the deep ocean, with no end in sight.

"Master, what are you looking at? Aren't you bored lying here all the time?" Jin Jian asked like a curious baby.

"Observe the sky." Zhang Yanyi said.

Jin Jian looked up at the deep starry sky, the Milky Way hanging in the sky, and wondered:
"But there's nothing in the sky."

Zhang Yanyi asked in a gentle voice: "Jin Jianer, do you still remember the source of your great power?"

Jin Jian said as if endorsing a book:

"The opening chapter of the introductory text says that the beginning of spiritual practice was not the worship of gods by the ancients in the ignorant era, but the first time the first sage looked up at the starry sky."

After saying this, the girl suddenly realized:
"Master, are you imitating the ancient sages? But your magical power has already surpassed that of the ancient sages by a long time."

"Learning never ends, don't underestimate our ancestors," said Zhang Yanyi.

Jin Jian said "Oh", not quite understanding.

She majored in the gods of the stars and the moon, and was very familiar with the night sky, but she really couldn't see any tricks.

When Jin Jian left, the banyan tree swayed, and a mysterious face appeared on the treetop:

"It's too early to tell her this."

Some words can only be understood after reaching a certain level. The theory of spiritual practice has developed to perfection.

Zhang Yanyi said:

"Great Ancestor of Dayu highly praised the practice of ancient methods. I did not agree with it in the past, but in recent years I have found that it has its merits."

The big banyan tree did not respond, but said:
"Is Zhao Duan really just a powerful innate soul?"

"It's hard to say." Zhang Yan showed a rare hesitation.

The banyan tree face was surprised.

I wondered what in this world could be that even Zhang Tianshi couldn't see clearly?
The old Taoist priest with long beard, long eyebrows and narrow eyes relaxed his brows and suddenly said:

"You'll have to take a closer look."

Jin Jianer was right. It was indeed a bit boring to sit here all day. So... let's go and see that strange little guy.

……

The government office, the prison.

In a clean, separate cell.

Yunxi bent her legs, hugged her knees, sat on the wooden bed, and looked up at the only three "品"-shaped ventilation holes on the wall.

Moonlight like a veil came in through the hole, illuminating her pretty face.

The girl recalled her experiences during the day. After taking a walk around, she was taken back to the cage and had no idea what happened to Lu Liang afterwards.

For a while, Shinobu thinks more and more angry, and takes a step back and thinks more and more losses.

Yunxi suddenly got up, walked to the railing, and slapped it frantically:

"Here comes someone!"

A jailer was startled and came over, frowning: "What are you shouting?"

Yunxi stared at him: "I want to see Zhao Duan!"

The jailer sneered: "Empress Zhao is such an honorable person, and you can see him just because you want to?"

Yunxi choked, thought for a moment, and said:
"It's okay if he doesn't want to come. Give me a pen and paper and I'll write him a letter about the clues in the case."

Clues to the case... The jailer was shocked and dared not neglect it.

Knowing that this female thief was involved with the Kuangfu Society, and thinking of the opportunity to please Zhao Duan, he nodded immediately and went to find paper, pen and sealing wax.

He didn't dare to snoop on the content of such fatal information.

……

……

The next morning, Baima Prison.

When Zhao Duan arrived at the yamen, his colleagues welcomed him warmly. Everyone had a smile on their face and congratulated him.

The news of the Zhang family's downfall had spread in the official circles of the capital yesterday. Because it involved "firearms", it attracted much attention.

Although on the surface, it was the imperial court that solved the case, but those who were interested found out that Zhao Duan was also involved after a little investigation.

Of course, the vast majority are based on stereotypes.

I just thought that Zhao Duan was lucky enough to get the clue and get a share of the pie.

Little did they know that he was also the one who led the process of solving the case.

Zhao Duan was happy to see this trend of public opinion.

"The fame belongs to you, and the benefits belong to me." This was the signal Zhao Duan conveyed to Ma Yan.

Ma Yan readily agreed.

At the same time, Zhou Cang privately revealed to Zhao Du'an that in order to thank the envoy for his generosity, he would give special "care" to the Zhang brothers in the imperial prison.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will be tortured to death in prison before being executed or exiled.

In addition, according to gossip, Privy Councilor Xue Shence entered the palace yesterday.

After he came out, he immediately set about reorganizing the Privy Council, including the Ministry of War, and there was a panic for a while.

"Your Excellency doesn't look very energetic. Could it be that you were too tired from handling the case yesterday? You should rest well at home. If you have any instructions, just let me know."

Just entered the duty room.

Zhu Kui, an old official with a face full of flesh, dark complexion and rough appearance, came forward with a flattering smile.

As an ordinary person, Lao Zhu was unable to participate in yesterday's action.

He almost had his job as the "horse stirrup puller" snatched away by Zhou Cang, and he suddenly felt a sense of crisis and became doubly diligent.

"How dare I complain of being tired of sharing your majesty's worries?"

Zhao Duan sat down in the hall, looking righteous.

Crazy complaints in my heart:

I crossed the desert in Wushentu last night, and when I woke up, I felt mentally exhausted.

After Taizu said the word "watch the sky", no matter how he tried, he ignored him.

Instead, after imitating the other person's meditation and gazing at the sky, he vaguely felt his spirit and soul agitated, but because he had only practiced for one day, the effect was not yet obvious.

"I don't know how long I have to walk in the desert... before I can learn the second martial art."

Zhao Duan pondered:

"Too much is as bad as too little. Too much is too much. The glow is still far from covering the whole body. You need to practice diligently...

If Dayu Taizu can really communicate, perhaps establishing a conversation with him and obtaining information is the greatest value of the Martial God Map. "

Shaking his head and putting the matter aside, Zhao Duan asked:
"I'm not in this section, what do you have to report?"

He wanted to take in more information and find inspiration to deal with Minister Pei.

"some!"

Zhu Kui was shocked and began to report his work.

They were all odds and ends. Finally, he took out a letter:
"Last night, the jailer of the government jail sent me a letter saying it was from the female thief. It involves the details of the case, so I dare not open it lightly. Please take a look, Your Excellency."

The clue sent by Yunxi?
Zhao Duan was stunned.

The first thought was, could it be that the female thief was rescued by me yesterday, and she was influenced and enlightened, so she decided to turn from evil to good and sell out the clues about the "Kuangfu Society".

Immediately, it was dispelled.

He was daydreaming...With doubt in his heart, he took the wax-sealed envelope and Zhu Kui left sensibly.

"Thorn-"

Zhao Duan lowered his eyes and read, his expression becoming strange.

The letter did not contain any information related to the Kuangfu Society, but rather a piece of dirty secrets about the censor "Lu Liang":
Lu Liang was born in the south of the Yangtze River. He had great talent since childhood, but he failed in many examinations.

When he was feeling disheartened, he realized that it was because he was chosen by the fourth daughter of Minister Pei, but he righteously refused, which offended Mrs. Pei, and that was why he was suppressed by the imperial examination examiners and failed the exam.

The fourth daughter of the Pei family still did not give up on Lu Liang, and sent someone to tell him that as long as he "nods", she would help him rise to the top.

Otherwise, you will never pass the exam even if you study hard until you are old.

Failing the exams several times had bent the high-spirited Lu Liang's backbone. On a rainy night, the once talented man from the south of the Yangtze River climbed the gate of the Pei family mansion alone with an umbrella.

Not long after, Lu Liang got engaged to Pei's fourth daughter. Then, the imperial examination results were announced and he ranked third.

From then on, Lu Liang rose to prominence and became the iron-tongued censor he is today.

The story is not over yet.

According to Yunxi, although Lu Liang was humble and submissive, he hated his wife in his heart.

On the surface, he is a henpecked husband. Since getting married, he has had no status at home.

He had been feeling depressed for a long time, and one day he indulged himself in lust and enjoyed a weak woman "presented" by someone else. However, he was too violent and strangled the woman to death on the bed.

Later, Pei Si Niang knew about this matter.

This famous "fierce wife" in the capital was furious and went to find her father, Minister Pei, and asked for a divorce.

But at that time Lu Liang already had a position and was useful to Minister Pei, so he was rejected.

At the same time, Lu Liang was also beaten by his father-in-law.

From then on, the Luliang couple, who were considered "loving" by outsiders, became completely estranged in spirit.

……

In the duty room.

After reading the entire intelligence, Zhao Duan exclaimed in his heart, "Wow!", his curiosity was greatly satisfied.

I am 80% sure about the authenticity of the letter.

The intelligence system of Kuangfu Society must be quite good. It is reasonable for Yunxi to want to take revenge on Lu Liang after he was paraded through the streets yesterday.

"If you're sleepy, someone will send you a pillow." Zhao Duan flicked the letter paper with his fingers, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

After biting open the golden body of Minister Pei, he found it.

(End of this chapter)