The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 68 Zhao Duan: What is your face?
The rain was falling, and the sound of an old man wearing a straw raincoat and fishing on the shore was deep and powerful.

Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows and smiled.

What a ignorant servant! It is hard to say that the other party's making things difficult for him is not just a show of force.

Perhaps he was expressing his dissatisfaction with Zhao Duan for inviting him to meet him through his fourth daughter.

Or maybe he wanted to warn, test, or do something else.

unimportant.

The important thing is that he is standing here now, and the other party has given him a fairly acceptable step.

And if he had continued to choose to swallow his anger, the treatment he would have received now might have been very different.

"I've heard that the Huaishui Pei family has a strict family tradition and strict family management. After seeing it today, I find that the reputation is well-deserved." Zhao Duan exclaimed.

Pei Kaizhi seemed not to notice the sting in his words and said:
"The wind is strong and the rain is heavy. Please change into a raincoat."

Behind him, servants came forward to serve him respectfully.

When Zhao Du'an also put on a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, the Pei family guards retreated three feet in unison.

In this way, all conversations today will not be heard by any third person.

"Since you are afraid of wind and rain, why do you have to go out in the rain?"

Zhao Duan was very open and actually sat down on the empty bamboo chair:

"I heard people say that after a heavy rain, it's a good time to go fishing."

Sitting at this angle, he finally saw Pei Kaizhi's face clearly.

He was about sixty years old, with white hair and beard, not tall, and between his brows there was the aura of someone who had long held a high position. His appearance vaguely resembled that of Pei Si Niang.

Tsk, this wave is really against Tiangang.

Pei Kaizhi laughed and said:
"Envoy Zhao must not be good at fishing, and he has never lived in a place with rich lakes and swamps."

"how do I say this?"

"I was born in the land of plenty in the south of the Yangtze River. I've known since I was a kid that if I waited until after the rain to leave, the good nests would have been taken by others."

Zhao Duan's eyes flashed and he smiled:

"Is that so? I am glad to learn from your advice."

Pei Kaizhi asked: "Do you know why people say it's good to go fishing on rainy days?"

Zhao Duan: "Please enlighten me."

Pei Kaizhi's old eyes looked at the breeze on the river and the calm water.

He raised his finger and pointed, speaking with the look of an experienced fishing expert:

"Fish need to breathe underwater, and they are most sensitive to water temperature. They are sensitive to water temperature in different seasons, different rain intensity, before, during, and after... If the water plants are lush, the water will be warm and stuffy, and the fish will not feel comfortable, so they will gather in open areas without grass..."

Zhao Duan listened quietly. This scene was undoubtedly strange.

One party came with the intention of fighting and setting a trap.

One party didn't know the details and responded cautiously with a bit of anger.

But they only talked about their fishing experience, but Zhao Duan seemed to enjoy it and was not anxious or restless at all.

It was quite like he would not mention it unless Minister Pei spoke up.

Finally, perhaps because of his old age and frailty, he could not stand the excessive cold wind.

Pei Kaizhi coughed and changed the subject:

"If we compare the current imperial court to this pool of water, it would be quite appropriate."

Zhao Duan said: "Oh?"

Pei Kaizhi tightened his collar, as if afraid of the wind, and said:
"The joy and anger of a sage are like torrential rain and warm sunshine. We, as officials, are like the fish in the water. When the rain is heavy and the wind is strong, the fish will panic and be alert. You can't be sure which one will lose its mind and take the bait, becoming the dead soul in the pot."

The meaning of these words is obvious:
Recently, Xu Zhenguan has been angry, the ministers are terrified, and the court is in turmoil. Officials can only avoid disaster by being extremely cautious.

Zhao Duan was unsure whether the other party had guessed something or was deliberately trying to trick him, so he cautiously did not respond and said:

"Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor. I don't understand anything too complicated. I only know that being loyal to His Majesty is the right thing to do."

Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the Lord...

Pei Kaizhi chewed over these eight words again and again, looking at Zhao Duan with a little surprise.

Not just this sentence.

From Zhao Duan's response to his intimidation today to his conversation with him now, neither humble nor arrogant, it was all different from the rumors.

However, he didn't know that this was all the result of Zhao Duan's deliberate performance.

Before setting off, Zhao Duan thought about how he should meet the other party.

Maintain the domineering and arrogant villain character?

If he were facing Pei Si Niang, he could do the same.

But Zhao Duan did not think that his acting skills were enough to deceive a powerful minister who had been immersed in the officialdom for many years.

Therefore, the original character will make the other party alert, and he can only be his true self.

And appropriately hide the true purpose under a hypocritical face.

"Now I know that there is a reason why you can please the saint." Pei Kaizhi smiled.

No, you know nothing... I have many advantages, such as early success... Zhao Duan used complaining to relieve the pressure of facing the scrutiny of a powerful official.

Pei Kaizhi changed the subject:
"However, to be honest, this storm in the court is also related to you."

After a pause, his gray-brown eyes looked over:

"I've learned about what you've been doing these days. Although there's a lot of luck involved, you're much more scheming than the dude people think you are."

The implication is: Stop pretending, I have investigated you thoroughly.

really!

This old Deng hasn't seen me for a few days. He is investigating secretly... Zhao Duan was not surprised and said calmly: "Scheming... This word is not nice."

Pei Kaizhi raised his eyebrows and said, "Otherwise?"

Zhao Duan is righteous and shamelessly plagiarizes Qi Ting's lines:
“I just wanted to improve so badly.”

Pei Kaizhi was stunned, then burst into laughter, his hair shaking under his hat, as if he had heard something interesting.

At this moment, he was finally sure that the person in front of him was not a cause for concern.

Pei Kaizhi had already noticed that Yuan Li was secretly targeting him.

Li Yanfu had issued an order earlier, asking the members of the Li Party to keep a low profile and not create trouble at this juncture so as to give the empress something to hold against them.

Therefore, facing Zhao Duan's sudden request for a visit, Pei Kaizhi had to be careful.

Of course he could choose not to see her.

But since the other party went to so much trouble to find his daughter, it means that he probably has something important to tell him.

Considering the risk of missing out on something important and meeting with Zhao Duan, he chose the latter.

Prior to this, he had carefully investigated this pretty boy under the empress's skirt and was surprised to find that this person might be different from the rumors.

But...that's all.

Yes, that's all!

As in the eyes of Xu Zhenguan and Yuan Li, Zhao Duan's previous operations were just small-scale operations.

Apart from the accidental involvement of Prince Jing's Mansion, the rest of the means were, after all, just some petty clever tricks that were not worthy of being shown on the public eye.

The level of people who can deal with him is limited to small fry like the Zhang brothers.

Even the key clue to solve the case was provided by a prostitute...

Combined with the process of solving the case, he extorted money and led the Jinyi police to break into the house for revenge.

Therefore, Pei Kaizhi's evaluation of him was just "a greedy villain with some clever tricks and schemes."

But he still wasn't reassured.

After several attempts, it was found that Zhao Duan was indeed calmer and more determined than expected.

But the general impression is the same.

Even if Zhao Duan really endured the body search by the guards, he would still look up to them.

But Zhao Duan chose to take action, which was a sign of cowardice.

A young man who cannot control his anger and emotions can hardly perform a deep fake.

It is natural that a notorious pretty boy who, in order to "advance himself", is madly trying to climb up the social ladder, bullies others, is greedy and lustful, and has a bad reputation would pose a threat to himself.

Of course, if Pei Kaizhi knew that Zhao Duan had been in the same car with Yuan Li, he might have thought very differently.

However, Lu Liang, who was not on good terms with his father-in-law, harbored hatred and secretly harbored resentment towards him, and never told anyone about this humiliating incident.

It was even more impossible for Pei Si Niang to tell Lu Liang that Zhao Duan had found her and met with Pei Kaizhi in private.

The family should have been sharing intelligence, but a strange "information gap" occurred.

Therefore, in Pei Kaizhi's eyes, he greatly relaxed his vigilance against Zhao Duan.

However, little did they know that all this was taken into consideration in the plan of the Empress's lackeys.

……

"What are you laughing at, Minister?" Zhao Duan asked curiously.

Pei Kaizhi restrained his smile, looked at him with a half-smile, and said:

"I laughed. It turns out that you and Lu Liang are the same kind of people."

Zhao Duan was silent for a moment, but did not refute. He said:
"Minister, just speak frankly."

Pei Kaizhi, who thought he had seen through the other party, also lost interest in the conversation. He turned his head to look at the fishing rod in the river and said calmly:
"Si Niang has already told me your purpose. Lu Liang has offended you, and it is only natural for you to seek revenge, but you shouldn't go looking for trouble with Si Niang and make her unhappy. If she is unhappy, then I will be unhappy too."

Zhao Duan said "Oh?"
"so?"

Pei Kaizhi said calmly:

"But since ancient times, it is better to resolve an antagonism than to create one. Since you are someone His Majesty admires, I naturally have to give you some face. Moreover, since you have come to me, I am sure you will not be willing to do so if I do not give you an explanation."

He paused, as if pondering.

Pei Kaizhi finally said in a tone that was almost like a verdict:
“Well, I’ll order Lu Liang to come to your house and apologize to you.

In addition, the teahouse you saw when you came here today, and the batch of top-grade elixirs in Yaozhitang, are all considered as apology for the offense committed by my son-in-law against you.

Oh, the income of a high-end teahouse and medicinal herbs that are very beneficial to your martial arts practice, this condition is definitely generous enough.

If you are still not satisfied, wait until some time has passed and the political situation is stable, and I can help you get a lucrative position.

In this case, you can also give me some face and let the matter with Lu Liang go, how about that?"

The tone is casual and unfocused, and the attitude is almost almsgiving.

But Pei Kaizhi was certain that the other party would agree.

Because whether it was face or benefits, he gave enough.

On the contrary, he gained nothing and incurred the wrath of a vice minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Pei Kaizhi believed that no one would refuse.

However, Zhao Duan's expression looked a little strange.

Then gradually, the corners of his mouth rose, and for the first time since their meeting today, his fangs and claws were truly revealed.

"Is that so? It's indeed very generous, and it seems unreasonable to refuse." Zhao Duan laughed and said, "But..."

"But what?" Pei Kaizhi frowned.

Zhao Duan raised the corner of his mouth, cold and arrogant:
"But what is your face worth?!"

(End of this chapter)