The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 65 Making the Deal
What exactly does Zhao Duan want to do?
The answer is actually very simple.

It was through getting in touch with Pei Si Niang that he was able to have a private meeting with the Minister of Justice, a third-rank official behind her.

There are some things that he has to say to the other person in person to be more effective.

However, given Zhao Duan's reputation and the disparity in status between the two parties, it would be almost impossible to do so by following the normal visiting process.

His visiting card will be thrown into the trash can and never see the light of day.

Of course, in addition to this, another very important point is:

Only through Pei Si Niang can Minister Pei relax his vigilance to the greatest extent.

As for testing the authenticity of Yunxi's information, this method is also the most effective.

Both Minister Pei and Lu Liang are old foxes, and any temptation from Zhao Duan will make them alert.

But the "naive" girl raised at home is much easier to deal with.

……

"You want to see my father?"

Pei Si Niang, who was wearing a double-breasted long dress with floral patterns and a woman's bun, raised her eyebrows.

I was quite surprised by Zhao Duan’s answer.

In the teahouse box.

Zhao Duan smiled and said:

"I have a grudge against Lu Liang and want to cause trouble for him, but my ability is not enough to do this."

Pei Si Niang raised her chin, somewhat proudly:

"Because my father wouldn't allow it."

The energy that a powerful minister can exert is something Zhao Duan cannot contend with.

Zhao Duan admitted frankly:
"Yes, so if you want to deal with Lu Liang, you must first convince your father. This is also the reason why I came to you and wanted to meet him."

The lady of the vase asked doubtfully:
"Are you sure you can convince my father to give up on him?"

Having said this, she no longer concealed her desire to get rid of Lu Liang.

Zhao Duan smiled and said:

"Everything depends on human effort. Besides, even if I can't do it, what loss will it have for you?"

Pei Si Niang frowned and thought for a moment, and was convinced by this sentence.

From her point of view, if Zhao Duan could accomplish it, it would be a great relief for her.

If it fails, there is no loss, so it is a good deal.

But the vase lady also had her own wit, and said suspiciously:

"Do you have something in your possession? Also, how can you be sure that I will help you? Just because he has another woman outside?"

"Some words don't work once they're spoken." Zhao Duan laughed and avoided giving an answer:

"As for why you are so sure..."

He sighed softly and gave an unexpected answer:

"Because I understand women's minds, I sent people to check on you. After talking with you just now, I am more certain of this."

Pei Si Niang stared at him blankly, and suddenly exclaimed:
"No wonder you are valued by the saint and taken as his concubine."

She believed it.

As a woman, she knew that the empress would not be intimate with a man simply for the sake of appearance.

As everyone knows, Zhao Duan doesn't have much talent, so the only explanation is that he really understands women's minds.

"Then... Madam agreed?"

Zhao Duan's well-proportioned and slender fingers played with the exquisite cups.

Pei Si Niang suddenly smiled, and in an instant she was full of charm:
"Does this count as begging me? Then you have to give something."

Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows: "What does Madam want?"

At this moment, the music on the stage outside the building suddenly became mellow.

In the room, a lady with a face as bright as the moon and a charm as good as that of a young girl suddenly stood up.

A delicate hand unbuttoned the top button on her collar, opening her collar and wiggling her hips.

It fluttered like a dandelion in the wind, or a plump peony, and fell on Zhao Duan.

With one hand hooking around his neck, he deftly placed the Bodhi button into Zhao Duan's palm with the other hand.

Gently draw circles.

Pei Si Niang smiled like a flower, with a look of hatred and pleasure of revenge in her eyes:
"Don't you want to take revenge on Lu Liang right now?"

Here? That’s not good… Zhao Duan was also a little surprised.

According to the information, Pei Si Niang was actually a very well-behaved woman, and had nothing to do with the word frivolous.

Even at this moment, she seemed to be in control of the situation, but the stiffness and unnaturalness of her waist revealed that she was actually very nervous.

She didn't like the villain in front of her, but was blinded by hatred. As a lady from a noble family, Miss Xiaoya, who had completely entered the sea business, was at ease, while the fourth lady of the Pei family was just an ugly imitator.

"Madam, why do you have to humiliate yourself?" Zhao Duan sighed softly.

Pei Si Niang said bitterly:

"Why can he do it, but I can't?"

It is true that people who are in love are easily impulsive... Zhao Duan didn't want to anger this angry Hedong Lion.

He smiled casually, pointed to the outside of the house, and said softly:

"Walls have ears. I don't want to send someone to kill the Minister in some alley without even meeting him."

"Are you afraid?"

Pei Si Niang's pretty face changed slightly, and she realized that she had not thought enough.

Although the maidservant who came with her as a dowry outside the door had been with her for many years, she was the head of the family after all, so there was no guarantee that she would inform the family.

"Afraid?" Zhao Duan chuckled, imitating the evil and madness of the Dragon King in the skit, and whispered in his ear:
"I just want to take revenge more thoroughly. When Lu Liang is thrown into prison, we can watch him from behind bars. Isn't that better?"

Pei Si Niang's beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment,

I didn't expect you to be this kind of person.

I feel a little bit of anticipation for some reason.

……

After watching him leave the box, he was the only one left in the room.

Zhao Duan picked up the cold tea and drank it all in one gulp to extinguish the anger in his heart.

The villain look on his face was gone, and his eyes were calm.

Not to mention that for the sake of the empress, even the original owner was able to keep herself clean, so Zhao Duan would not lose the big picture for the small.

This woman's identity alone is a disaster that he cannot get involved in. Otherwise, when Minister Pei falls, he will be implicated in such a trivial matter, which will make him a laughing stock.

Everything that just happened was just a show.

"Dong dong."

There was a knock on the door, and Zhu Kui stepped in and said:

"Sir, Madam Lu has gone back."

"Yeah." Zhao Duan nodded.

For the first time, he looked out the window and down.

The old general on the stage was holding a sword, his eyes wide open, and he raised his sword and slashed at the young man and the female actor on the stage.

"Tsk, even though I've traveled through time, I'm still not cut out for watching operas. I might as well go to the Jiaofangsi and watch the dancers shake their butts."

Zhao Duan laughed at himself and shook his head, but still waited patiently until the show was over.

Only then, accompanied by Zhu Kui, did he leave through a separate passage.

"Sir, where are we going next?"

Zhu Kui gripped the whip skillfully and acted as the coachman.

The old clerk vaguely smelled a familiar plot and felt that his master was going to cause trouble again. He felt nervous but also a little excited.

"What's next..."

Zhao Duan stretched his old waist in the carriage, yawned, and said lazily:

"Go home."

A successful hunter must have enough patience. Once the fish hook is thrown, he may face a long wait, but the hand holding the rod must never waver.

……

Bafang Theater, backstage.

When a play ended, there was thunderous applause from the other side of the curtain.

On this side of the curtain, the actors left the stage one by one in an orderly manner and took off their costumes.

“You sang well today.”

The owner of the theater, wearing a satin shirt, a soft hat and an emerald ring on his thumb, came backstage, found the popular young actor in the crowd, and praised him with a smile.

This handsome young man with feminine appearance, who was spotted by Pei Si Niang and came to Beijing at the beginning of the year, and became famous in the Bafang Theater, smiled shyly:
"Thanks to the guests for coming."

The class owner smiled and said:

"With your skills, if you continue like this, within a year, you will be able to firmly establish yourself as one of the top three actors in the theater. Who knows, you may even become the next top actor in the capital. It's amazing that you are such a good actor at your age."

The handsome young man in the costume smiled, but there was no pride in his expression.

Suddenly asked:
"Master, I wonder who is the distinguished guest in Yunshui Pavilion today? It seems that he hardly looked at the stage from beginning to end."

"Oh, that guy... is someone you don't want to mess with..."

After listening to the introduction of the class owner, a sharp look suddenly flashed in my eyes, and there was a very subtle fluctuation of a sorcerer on my body, which flashed by:
"So, you are the Zhao Duan that Master Zhuang mentioned?"

(End of this chapter)