The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 62: The First Step to Overthrow the Villain

How to break through a strong fortress?
Historical experience tells Zhao Duan that he needs to start from within.

Three elements can be extracted from Yunxi's intelligence:
1. The fourth wife of the Pei family wanted to get rid of her husband, but she had not been able to do so.

2. Lu Liang and his father-in-law are not on good terms with each other, and they are just using each other. Lu Liang hates the Pei family, but is reluctant to get rid of it.

3. Lu Liang and Pei Shilang knew each other’s dirty laundry.

The key is the last one.

"Lu Liang was known for his integrity, but he not only accepted 'bribes', but also accidentally killed someone, which was enough to ruin his future."

"Minister Pei is one of the core figures in the 'Li Party', second only to Li Yanfu. He has been in the political arena for many years, and even Yuan Li couldn't find his flaws. This shows that he is extremely cautious and does things without any loopholes, but people always make mistakes...

He has interfered with the imperial examination results of Lu Liang many times... Ha, if the crime of manipulating the imperial examination is proven, it will be easy to depose him."

Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes and thought secretly:

“Unfortunately, although there is a direction, the actual implementation is still difficult.

First of all, it is not practical to investigate the imperial examination itself. It happened more than ten years ago, which is too long ago and difficult to trace.

Moreover, Minister Pei cannot be so stupid as to leave any evidence until now. Even if there is any, it must be erased."

"So, the ideal situation is that Lu Liang can come forward to expose and report this matter... But this is more difficult...

Lu Liang was willing to endure humiliation in order to become an official, which shows that he had a strong desire for advancement.

Moreover, he is deeply bound to Pei Shilang, and they are both members of the "Li Party". They are grasshoppers on the same rope, and it is impossible for him to self-destruct and perish together with his father-in-law..."

"As for Pei Si Niang, even though she hates her husband, she can't possibly betray the entire family for the sake of her father..."

Zhao Duan was in a dilemma.

The opportunity came, and yet it seemed as if it had not come.

Tathagata.

It is no wonder that Yuan Li was at a loss as to where to start for a while. Among the big men who have been able to stand in the court for many years, there are no simple people.

"Think about it carefully! There is definitely something to be done with this information...but something is missing." Zhao Duan frowned and thought hard.

While he was madly squeezing his brain cells, Zhu Kui came back:
"Sir, Qin Qu greets you."

Qin Qiu?

Zhao Duan was startled, and the original owner's memories emerged under stress.

In my mind, I pictured a thin, squinty-eyed, always-smiling, servile person.

Qin Qu, one of the original owner's cronies, was also a rare gem in the circle of friends of the powerful and wealthy young men in the capital.

He was not born into a noble family, and the reason he was able to get into the "Beijing circle" was because he fawned over and curryed favor with Princess Yunyang's husband, and was recruited as his henchman.

Later, in order to curry favor with Wang You, the son of the Minister of Rites, she turned around and distanced herself from her husband. She was an example of being ungrateful and bullying the weak, and was therefore despised by many children of the powerful.

Of course, he is not completely useless. He has beautiful calligraphy, is proficient in poetry and songs, and has a basic understanding of spear and martial arts.

When Zhao Duan first started to gain power, Qin Qiu came to him and flattered him to the point of ecstasy.

He also led the original owner into the circle of power and wealth, broadening his horizons. It can be said that Qin Qu was 50% responsible for the original owner's notoriety.

However, after Zhao Duan got into trouble, the other party disappeared out of thin air.

Now, the news that Zhao Duan solved the firearms case and was rewarded by the saint spread, and this opportunistic villain came here just in case.

"Let him in." Zhao Du'an thought for a moment and decided to meet him.

……

After a while, a pretended hearty laughter came from outside the hall.

Then, Qin Qiu, who was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, short and thin, with small, bright eyes, came in laughing.

He was clearly dressed like a scholar, but his clothes were too big for him, making him look shabby.

"Brother Zhao! You've missed Qu'er so much..."

As soon as Qin Qiu stepped in, her smile turned into tears. She almost crawled to him and grabbed his hand tightly, refusing to let go.

He was crying and sobbing, and his facial expressions were so exaggerated and hypocritical that no one in the Beijing circle could match him.

Zhao Duan pulled his hand back in disgust. He had seen many flatterers, but this was the only one that was disgusting:
"Oh? If you want to see me, why haven't I seen you for so many days?"

Qin Qu had a sad face, and slapped himself twice in annoyance, with great force, before saying:
"I fell down some time ago and was recovering at home. I didn't know that you, brother, were framed by villains. When I recovered and came out, I found out that so many big things had happened in such a short period of time, and that you had made great contributions... If I had known earlier, I would have been willing to give up my leg and come out earlier to clear my brother's name! Fortunately, good people will be blessed by heaven." Then, his eyes showed a vicious look:

"I have long disliked the Zhang brothers, but I was afraid of their elders and could not take action. Now that the tree has fallen, the monkeys have scattered. Qu'er has been eyeing the women of his family. If you want to enjoy them, leave it to me!"

Zhao Duan's expression suddenly turned cold: "Female relatives?"

Qin Qu, who tried his best to please, unexpectedly hit the horse's leg. He was stunned for a moment, then he remembered that Zhao Duan was infatuated with the empress and disdained other women.

Not long ago, the women of the Zhao family were also nearly bullied...

He slapped himself twice, his cheeks swollen and red, and he apologized:
"Qiu'er is wrong, please punish me, brother!"

Zhao Duan smiled:
"I'm not as ignorant as you, my dear brother. I'm here to apologize and congratulate you, so why do you come here empty-handed?"

Damn it... Isn't it just for benefits?
Qin Qu cursed in his heart, but looked humble and flattering:
"Bring it, bring it."

As he spoke, he fished out a crumpled five hundred taels silver note from his bosom and offered it to the Buddha:

"Pei Wulang owes you money in Huibai Garden. Pay him back three hundred taels first. I will round up the amount and buy some wine for my brother."

Zhao Duan stared at the banknote and his pupils suddenly contracted!
The memory has become blurred and the stress emerges.

Pei Wulang... Hinoki Garden... Silver note... IOU...

He finally remembered where the silver in the money box in his bedroom had gone!
The process is not complicated:

Two months ago, the original owner took Qin Qu to a private "casino" for fun. The casino was located in the north of the city and was called Cypress Garden.

It is worth mentioning that in Dayu, gambling is strictly prohibited by the "Dayu Law". As early as the founding of the country, Dayu Taizu formulated strict laws.

Gambling games were cracked down on, and a Daoxiao Tower was even built north of "Bai Shi Bridge" in the capital.

All those who were not doing their jobs but were gambling and playing games were imprisoned in the building, which was euphemistically called "Xiaoyao Prison".

If an official gambles, the civil official will be dismissed and become a civilian, and the military official will not only be dismissed, but also be required to "bring their own dry food to perform the duties", which means to bring their own dry food to perform the duties...

Those who refuse to change their ways despite repeated admonitions may even have their hands cut off.

Today, although law enforcement is not as good as it was at the beginning of the country, gambling has spread everywhere, but it is still a shameful thing under the nose of the emperor in the capital.

Therefore, casinos are extremely secretive and are mostly hidden in private residences.

Zhao Duan met many playboys in Cypress Garden.

One of them is Pei Wulang, the fifth son of Minister Pei of the Ministry of Justice and the younger brother of Lu Liang’s wife!

Later, Zhao Duan became addicted to gambling and lost most of his savings. He also lent some of it to his "gambling friend" Pei Wulang.

And sign a promissory note.

Qin Qu acts as the "guarantor".

"No wonder... the money I had been greedy for for so long suddenly disappeared..."

Zhao Duan felt mixed emotions, feeling both disappointed and surprised.

The sad thing is that the money lost can probably not be recovered.

The surprise was... he had remembered that Pei Wulang's IOU was hidden in the mezzanine of his study.

"Gambling is prohibited in Dayu. If the evidence of Pei Wulang's gambling is handed over to the Censorate, even Minister Pei will not be able to protect his own son..."

"From the fact that Minister Pei is willing to choose a son-in-law for his daughter and interfere in the imperial examination, it can be seen that this Minister cares deeply about family affection..."

"In this way, I have a small handle on him... Of course, it is impossible to shake Minister Pei's position with just this. If we fall out, the worst that can happen is that he will give up his son...

There is no one who is merciful when playing politics..."

"But if I can use this 'little handle' properly, it may be of great value."

At this moment, the information provided by Yun Xi and the evidence handed over by Qin Qiu were pieced together, forming a slightly risky but vaguely feasible plan in Zhao Duan's mind -

The plan to overthrow Minister Pei succeeds!

"Brother Zhao?"

Qin Qu held the banknotes in both hands. Seeing Zhao Duan's uncertain face, he couldn't help but feel uneasy and called out carefully.

The next second, Zhao Duan's face was filled with smiles. He put the banknotes into his arms, put his arm around Qin Qu's shoulders, and laughed:
"You are really my lucky star."

Thanks: Xicheng Xuejilang for the 100-coin reward~
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(End of this chapter)