The Empress's First Running Dog

Chapter 78 The Empress Summons
In the imperial study room.

When Yuan Li said this, Xu Zhenguan was stunned, and his eyes were blank for a moment.

I suspect I heard it wrong.

The first knife? Zhao Duan?

Both words are understandable, but when put together, they become obscure and difficult to understand.

How could he be involved in the "Beheading Pei" case? Why did Yuan Li know about it and tell him?

Mysteries came one after another, confusing the empress.

"Mr. Yuan, please speak more clearly." Xu Zhenguan opened his red lips slightly, and even his smile was temporarily restrained:
"I don't remember him having anything to do with this."

Yuan Li smiled and said:
"This is a long story. In fact, it was beyond my expectation. It all started on the day when Envoy Zhao came to the Imperial Garden to report the case of the 'firearms craftsman'."

Then, Yuan Li calmly narrated the incident.

It starts with how he suddenly became curious about Zhao Duan and invited him to ride with him, how he encountered Lu Liang's robbing home, and how he arranged a move of chess.

Until Zhao Duan tied up Lu Liang and came to his house late at night to tell him the details of the plan.

Yuan Li has a talent for storytelling.

It is clear that he did not experience it personally, but when he spoke of it, it was so vivid and the picture was overwhelming.

The empress listened quietly the whole time without saying a word, as if she was immersed in the story.

"When Envoy Zhao explained the whole story to me, I was also very surprised. I still had doubts in my heart until I met Lu Liang later, and then I was convinced."

Yuan Li said with emotion:
"Then, we will use this as a breakthrough point to tear open Pei Kaizhi's golden body and defeat him in one fell swoop. Your Majesty knows all this."

Inside the imperial study, the story ended.

But the empress didn't come back to her senses for a moment, as if she was distracted.

"Your Majesty?" After a long time, Yuan Li called tentatively.

"Oh." Xu Zhenguan suddenly came back to his senses and realized that he had lost his composure for a moment, but it was obviously not a big deal.

But really...

"Unexpected." Empress Dayu uttered these four words with a complicated tone.

If Yuan Li hadn't told her, she would never have believed it and would have thought it was made up by a novelist.

But such an incredible thing happened right under our noses, and the fuse that ignited the massive party struggle was actually Zhao Duan.

How could she not be shocked?

At this moment, she suddenly remembered the last conversation with Mochou. She had jokingly asked what would happen if Zhao Duan did it.

I don't want my words to become a proverb.

The little guy who had been doing minor things before, accidentally caused a big incident.

Therefore, there is an explanation for Pei Kaizhi's vomiting blood and fainting - when he was defeated, he saw the enemy who had brought him into the game with his own hands, and the enemy was showing off his power and he used to look down on him. How could he not be angry?
"Where is he now?" Xu Zhenguan suddenly asked. He had already realized that Zhao Duan's entry into the palace today must have been Yuan Li's doing.

Speaking of which, even at this moment, the empress still found it incredible that Zhao Duan could actually get involved with Yuan Li.

They are clearly two completely different types of people.

"He is waiting outside. Your Majesty wants to meet him?" Yuan Li asked.

Xu Zhenguan nodded, raised his eyebrows, and resumed his saintly demeanor:
"Xuan."

She wanted to personally interrogate this little imperial guard who had given her surprises time and time again.

……

……

Just as the empress met Zhao Duan.

As the officials left the court, the final outcome of this protracted party struggle spread throughout the capital.

Pei Kaizhi fell!

After the autumn, the emperor executed him and wrote the inscription with his own hand: "Li Party" lost a pillar. Although the roots were not damaged, the bones were broken.

Another "interesting thing" that happened outside the Meridian Gate also spread through word of mouth.

"Pei Kaizhi was so angry that he vomited blood because Zhao Duan blocked his way?"

"Zhao Duan suspected that he used his internal energy to injure the former vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, causing him to be seriously injured on the spot? Was it instructed by the saint?"

"I've heard that Lü Liang's ex-wife, Pei Laogou's fourth daughter, has a complicated relationship with Zhao Duan. The reason why Pei Laogou was betrayed by his ex-son-in-law is due to the complicated emotions among Lü, Pei, and Zhao!"

"Yes, I also heard that the reason why Lu Liang impeached Zhao the thief was because the saint stole his love..."

In restaurants and teahouses, low-level officials and scholars vied with each other in guessing, and versions of the story became increasingly outrageous and bizarre.

However, in the truly powerful circles, the statements spread are closer to the "truth."

"It is said that the reason why Lord Yuan was able to instigate Lu Liang to rebel and bite his father-in-law was that he used Zhao Du'an to do things for him and execute the plan... Maybe he was attracted by his reputation and could easily win Pei Kaizhi's trust... This caused the Wumen Gate to curse..." The back court of the Baima Prison.

Sun Lianying, who had just woken up from a hangover, wrapped himself in a loose robe and listened to reports from his subordinates.

As they did not know the inside story, except for a few people, most people made groundless assumptions and believed that the plan to alienate the father-in-law and son-in-law was a plan made by Yuan Li.

Zhao Duan is only responsible for execution.

This guess is consistent with cognition. After all, it is understandable that a useless person might be a little clever, but how could he be so smart? To plot against Pei Kaizhi alone?

In the courtyard, the sunlight cuts through the branches and leaves of the old locust tree, falling on the surface of the stone table with mottled spots.

"Sir?" the messenger who came to report called softly.

Sun Lianying said unhappily: "I have good ears, I am listening."

After scolding him, he asked as if to confirm, "So, Zhao Duan has been working for Yuan Li these days?"

"I think so."

"Is that so..." Sun Lianying suddenly understood something and asked, "Did he enter the palace with Ma Yan?"

"It is said to be."

The old eunuch said "hmm" and waved his hand to order him to leave. After a while, he called for a carriage and went to the imperial court.

Not long after, the two old friends met in the back hall of the imperial court. Ma Yan was a little surprised by Sun Lianying's arrival, and sneered:

"I was just about to look for you, but you showed up."

Sun Lianying, who had gray hair on his temples and looked like an old man, was stunned:
"What do you want from me?"

Ma Yan had a blank expression on his face: "Why did you ask Zhao Duan to try to establish a relationship with me, and even ask me about it?"

???

After Sun Lianying learned the truth, she was at a loss whether to laugh or cry:
"We gave that sly fellow a pound of drug last night, and he said some drunken words, but it's nothing serious. Who would have thought..."

He sighed and said faintly:
"We have been deceived by him for a long time. Today we know that he is working for Yuan Li and is carrying out the plan of alienation..."

Ma Yan had a thin, cold face, with rough eyebrows raised, and suddenly said:

"It seems that you have really been deceived by him."

"what for?"

"The plan of sowing discord had nothing to do with Mr. Yuan. It was done by him alone. Otherwise, how could Pei Kaizhi be so ashamed and angry?" Ma Yan revealed the truth.

Sun Lianying was stunned.

……

……

Tianshi Mansion.

Outside the deepest courtyard, Jin Jian came in with fluttering sleeves like a ghost, and the priests along the way ignored her.

"Master, I just watched an interesting play. It was that Zhao Duan again..."

The girl with a mysterious temperament and an ethereal voice never knocked on the door.

Walk straight through the wooden door and step into the courtyard.

But I found that the lounge chair under the banyan tree was empty.

"Master is not here? Where did he go?"

Jin Jian's eyes froze for a moment, and it took him several breaths to react. He looked up at the big banyan tree with emerald green branches and an extraordinary origin.

The banyan tree's branches and leaves rustled, and the wind seemed to whisper as it passed through them.

"Master is out?" Jin Jian tilted his head, thinking that this was really strange.

……

The Imperial Palace, outside the Imperial Study.

Zhao Duan drank too much water in the morning, and his bladder was swollen. He was thinking whether to go to the toilet first, when he saw Yuan Qingyi floating in:

"Your Majesty wants to see you."

It’s not convenient for me now… Zhao Duan opened his mouth, and under the encouraging eyes of the other party, he gritted his teeth and came to the door of the imperial study:

"Your Majesty, the White Horse Supervisor Zhao Duan is here to see you."

Inside the house, a cold and majestic female voice came: "Come in."

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(End of this chapter)