The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 71 Zhao Duan’s “Chess Game”

"It's me. No need to shout so loudly." Zhao Duan picked his ears.

The jailer behind him considerately brought a chair for him, then respectfully retreated, leaving only the two of them separated by the cell door.

"It's you! You're setting me up!"

After the initial shock, Lu Liang seemed to understand something and became furious.

The two of them became enemies not long ago, and today he became a prisoner. No one would believe it if there was no causal relationship.

"So what, you bit me?"

Zhao Duan folded his hands and smiled provocatively.

The green-robed censor took a deep breath, regained his senses, and said coldly:
"I am an honest official, how can I allow you to accuse me?"

"Really?" Zhao Duan sneered:
"The woman you strangled to death on the bed might not have agreed."

Before entering the cell, Pei Kaizhi's men had contacted him.

The crime used to arrest Lu Liang this time was the past event that Yun Xi had mentioned.

Friends who often kill people know that it is easy to kill someone but difficult to dispose of the body... Pei Kaizhi had covered up this matter at the beginning.

But it also left a handle in the hands of the father-in-law.

Lu Liang's pupils contracted, and he was unsure for a moment where the other party had dug out the few pieces of his dark history.

"You're curious? How do I know?"

Zhao Duan smiled, as if he knew what he was thinking, and sighed softly:

"This matter is indeed a secret, but in this world, if more than two people know it, it is no longer a secret. When the censor's wife told me, I was also very surprised. Who would have thought that the 'iron-tongued censor' who is famous in Dayu is such a ruthless person."

"Fourth Lady!?" Lu Liang couldn't believe it:
"How could she be with you..."

Zhao Duan looked at him as if he was an idiot:
"Of course I slept with her. Loving someone is like raising flowers. If you don't water them, someone else will... By the way, Madam Lu tastes really good."

hum!
Lu Liang felt as if he had been hit by a stick. His head was buzzing, his face was visibly red, and the veins on his neck were bulging. He stared at him intently, gritting his teeth:

"Bitch!"

I don’t know whether he was scolding Zhao or Pei.

It's ironic that even though he had cheated on her a long time ago and hated Pei Si Niang more than he loved her, it was still an unbearable humiliation to be accused by his enemy in front of him.

and……

How could this bitch be so stupid?

Seeking the skin of a tiger?

Aren't you afraid of implicating the Pei family by betraying yourself?
Lu Liang was angry about being cheated on, and almost cried because of his wife's stupid behavior.

Fortunately... there is still my father-in-law.

Lu Liang's nails pierced into his flesh, using the pain to stay awake and think quickly.

Since he was in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, it meant that his father-in-law had intervened. Zhao Duan appeared here, probably because he had smelled the scent and followed him.

No one paid attention to him before, and there was a reasonable explanation. His father-in-law had to avoid suspicion to prevent being blamed by the Zhao thief.

"Are you still fantasizing that Pei Kaizhi will rescue you?"

Zhao Duan mercilessly exposed his thoughts:
"He has already abandoned you. Otherwise, without his evidence, Si Niang would have no basis for her claims, right?"

Don't call her Si Niang... Lu Liang had no expression on his face:
"You think I will believe it?"

It's ridiculous!

At the beginning, Si Niang cried and complained many times, but Pei Kaizhi still forcibly protected him, let alone now?
Would you be afraid of a mere pretty boy?

Zhao Duan smiled and said:

"I know what you are thinking. Pei Kaizhi really doesn't care about me, but he will give face to Mr. Yuan."

Yuan Li?

Lu Liang was shocked and confused, not understanding what this had to do with Yuan Li.

Zhao Duan smiled:
"You still remember that day when I was riding with Lord Yuan. Today, I will teach you a lesson. Lord Yuan has evidence that Wulang of the Pei family participated in a gambling game, and he wants to use it to exchange some chess pieces with Pei Kaizhi, and you are one of the chess pieces that were replaced."

Five thunder strikes!

This short sentence contained so much information that it almost burst the Iron-Mouthed Censor's mind.

With his intelligence, he immediately understood the logic:

Gambling is a crime that can be made into a big deal, but it is not enough to threaten Pei Kaizhi.

Yuan Li was an enemy of the "Li Party", so it was not surprising that he obtained this evidence. However, since it was tasteless and a pity to throw it away, he used it to exchange benefits with Pei Kaizhi.

Lu Liang was in the Censorate but his heart was with the "Li Party". For Yuan Li, he was a very uncomfortable thorn.

It just so happened that it was well known that Pei Kaizhi doted on his youngest son. In order to protect his son, he agreed to let Yuan Li depose him.

This matter needed someone to do it, and it happened that Zhao Duan entered the palace that day, and he happened to be the right person, so he discussed the matter with him.

The logical chain is clear, complete and impeccable.

Lu Liang felt as if a basin of freezing cold water was poured down on him, chilling him to the bone, but he didn't notice that the corner of Zhao Duan's mouth rose.

Haha, he believed it!

What Zhao Duan said was half true and half false. If he didn't mention Yuan Li, with Lu Liang's vigilance, he would definitely make associations.

If there is any suspicion that this is a trap, the plan is likely to fail.

Therefore, Zhao Duan must take the initiative to fill the loopholes.

In this way, the nature of this matter is no longer a conspiracy.

It was just an ordinary game between the bigwigs in the court.

Lu Liang had seen similar games many times, but this time, he became a pawn sacrificed for the overall situation. "You... are talking nonsense!"

Lu Liang's fingers turned white as he gripped the railing, looking fierce but weak:

"Nonsense!"

He still had two hopes in his heart.

First, these are all Zhao Duan’s one-sided words. Second, even if Pei Kaizhi gave up on him, he would still find a roundabout way to save him in order not to disappoint his subordinates.

At worst, we can help him avoid the spotlight temporarily, demote him to a lower position, and wait for an opportunity to be transferred back.

Zhao Duan sneered, suddenly turned his head and shouted:
"Fourth Lady, your husband said he doesn't believe it."

The door to the far corridor opened.

A charming lady in a long red dress came over with a cruel smile on her pretty face:

"Your Excellency, why are you wasting time talking to this tortoise? It's a beautiful day, and I've specially changed into a festive dress."

As he spoke, he spread his arms and slowly turned around in the prison corridor.

In the firelight, her skirt fluttered, looking gorgeous and charming.

Lu Liang's eyes turned red, and he banged against the solid railing, helpless and furious:
"You bitch, you hurt me! You two bastards, you must die a horrible death!"

Pei Si Niang glanced at him with disdain, and the hatred that had been pent up for many years burst out.

She thought she would be very pleased and curse out loud, but for some reason, she just felt ridiculous:
"I was blind at the time, how could I look up to you?"

Zhao Duan stood up slowly and put his arms around Si Niang's plump waist:

"He doesn't deserve it."

Pei Si Niang fell softly on him, and said "yeah" softly, her breath was as sweet as orchid, and she looked embarrassed:

"Right here?"

When the time came, she became a little scared.

Zhao Duan laughed loudly and led her out:

"It's still early. I've asked for some wine and food. Let's celebrate and have a drink first."

After a pause, he looked towards the prisoner's cell, smiling:
"After I have eaten and drunk enough, I will come to see you with Si Niang. Don't worry, we are outside and will come back in the evening."

"Traitor! What are you going to do!? What are you going to do?"

Lu Liang banged the railing frantically, thinking of a possibility.

……

End of corridor.

Zhu Kui was waiting, with a head of the Ministry of Justice beside him and several prison guards behind him.

When Zhao Duan walked out, he had already separated from Si Niang tacitly and kept a proper distance.

"Your Majesty."

"lady."

Zhao Duan said "yes" and smiled:

"Today, I have eliminated another traitor for Your Majesty. I am very happy. I have already ordered some wine and food. I am going to reward you with Miss Pei. Please come and enjoy the feast."

"This..." Everyone in the Ministry of Justice looked at each other, and the chief declined:
"You are too polite, sir. We will enforce the law impartially, no need to..."

Zhao Duan's face darkened: "Are you not giving me face?"

The head of the Ministry of Justice choked.

Pei Kaizhi told him to keep an eye on Lu Liang, try his best to satisfy Zhao Duan, and report if there was anything. Other than that, he did not tell him anything else.

Pei Si Niang was so overjoyed when she was called "Miss" that she immediately put on a stern face:

"Your Excellency has been running around for my Pei family and hasn't even had a good meal. I'd like you to eat and drink together, but you're not willing?"

Since the Minister's daughter had spoken, the person in charge did not dare to refuse.

It’s just a meal, what could go wrong?

It’s just…Miss, your husband is locked up inside and not being fed, and you are out celebrating with Zhao Duan dressed like this…

Everyone in the Ministry of Justice felt that their three views had collapsed and that your circle was really in chaos.

Well done... Zhao Duan praised it highly and ordered:

"Zhu Kui, why don't you go and urge for the wine and food? Remember to order the best and most aged wine."

Zhu Kui understood what he meant and gave him a look that said "everything has been arranged":

"I will go and urge them right away."

……

night.

Inside the "B" prison.

Lu Liang lay on the cold floor of the cell, relying on the dim light of the fire, unable to fall asleep.

Thinking of the couple drinking outside and coming over in the evening, he became furious.

But more than that, there are worries about the future.

He still didn't think that Pei Kaizhi would completely abandon him.

I firmly believe that once the Zhao thief leaves, my father-in-law's men will come and have a detailed talk with him.

In a daze, he heard the noise of drinking outside gradually dying down, the door to the corridor opened, and there were scattered footsteps coming in.

(End of this chapter)