Chapter 118 We are all adults, who cares about the rules?
Chapter 118 We are all adults, who cares about the rules?
"What did you say?!" Xia Jianghou was almost speechless and was highly skeptical about the news.
Princess Yunyang also pursed her red lips.
The servant said anxiously: "He is indeed here..."
He relayed the news again and it was accurate.
Xia Jianghou's handsome face turned pale, indicating that he was irritated.
"Okay, okay, it's just as the rumors say. How brave!"
As a marquis who has always been proud of his "aristocratic" status, he has a natural sense of superiority over commoners like Zhao Duan who have climbed up from the bottom by relying on their looks.
With the support of the entire noble group, he has always maintained a cold-eyed and indifferent attitude towards the disputes in the court.
Even though the notorious Zhao Yamen had a strong deterrent effect on the officials of Dayu, it rarely took action against nobles.
Therefore, even though he knew that "Master Meng" had been arrested, Marquis Xia Jiang still did not think that Zhao Duan would dare to touch him.
What’s more...it’s just a police station.
Where did they get the power to arrest him?
"My Lord, calm down."
Princess Yunyang spoke at the right moment:
"He made such a big move, Ma Yan must know about it."
"Princess, what you mean is... he got Ma Yan's tacit approval? Indulge him?" Xia Jianghou couldn't believe it.
Princess Yunyang said faintly:
"I can't guess for sure about this kind of thing, but if he really came with the order from Ma Yan to arrest you, and if the Marquis resists the arrest in an impulsive manner, it will be a big trouble."
Xia Jianghou calmed down instantly.
Yes!
Zhao Duan is a treacherous and cunning villain. Although he is arrogant and domineering, he is not stupid.
They made such a big fuss and arrested me beyond their authority. Is there really no basis for this?
Is this a setup? Is he deliberately trying to lure me into fighting back?
"What the princess said makes a lot of sense!"
He nodded and frowned:
"But can I still surrender?"
Princess Yunyang said nothing, but just silently played with the empty wine cup in her hand.
Sure enough, Xia Jianghou didn't really ask her, but was trying to find a way out.
As a man, you always have to save face. Many times, the so-called anger is just pretending to show off to others.
Seeing the princess handing him the steps, he slid down the pole and said thoughtfully:
"If the man surnamed Zhao is trying to provoke me on purpose, I am afraid that if I resist, I will really fall into his trap. That's all..."
Xia Jianghou ordered the servant:
"Prepare the car and go to Dali Temple."
Then he turned to the woman behind him and bowed regretfully:
"Princess, I will go take care of the aftermath and come back to find you."
"Haha, My Lord, just go and do your work." Princess Yunyang smiled.
After watching him leave in a hurry, she slowly put down the wine cup.
Beneath her jet-black hair, a thoughtful look appeared on her foxy face.
At this moment, the last ray of afterglow in the sky outside the building fell. She exhaled lightly, twisted her waist and stood up, stuffed her bare feet into her embroidered shoes, and walked down the restaurant.
He got on his luxurious sedan chair and said:
"Go home."
Six people lifted up the sedan chair and returned to the Prince Consort's residence.
Princess Yunyang looked through the shaking curtain of the sedan chair at a group of startled birds at the end of the long street and sighed softly:
"What a cruel person... Haha, I have to stay out of the spotlight too."
……
……
After a while, a group of cavalry in brocade clothes rushed to the end of the long street.
Sitting on the tall horse in the lead, Zhao Duan pulled the reins and looked at the "empty house" in front of him, raising his eyebrows:
"Go and ask."
Behind him, Shen Juan jumped off his horse, ran into the restaurant, and returned after a while:
"Your Excellency, they have already fled. The two of them parted ways after drinking. Princess Yunyang should be returning home. As for Marquis Xiajiang..."
"explain."
"The waiter at the restaurant said that before Marquis Xia Jiang left, he told him that if you come later, he will tell you that he is waiting for you at the Dali Temple."
Dali Temple! ?
Zhao Duan's heart moved. Obviously, Xia Jianghou had learned the news in advance and avoided fighting.
But he took the initiative to tell everyone where he was going, which was obviously a silent provocation.
"Sir," Zheng Laojiu whispered behind him:
"The other party is confident and fearless. I'm afraid they are well prepared. We..."
"Old Zheng," Zhao Duan said calmly while sitting on his horse:
"You know my style."
Zheng Laojiu shut his mouth.
Hou Renmeng's eyes lit up, he uttered a "hey" and scolded with a smile:
"I have never tried to arrest anyone in Dali Temple."
Zhao Duan pulled the reins:
"Let's go. They have invited us. If we don't go and show our respect, wouldn't that be a disrespect to the Marquis?"
……
As the only one of the three judicial offices with complete and independent authority to investigate, arrest and judge cases, the Dali Temple is located in the southwest of the capital.
It is not far from the Ministry of Justice Prison.
The last time Zhao Duan came here, he set a trap for Lu Liang and also staged a fake "committing a crime in front of the husband" with Pei Siniang.
When Lihuatang's group arrived at the main gate of the Dali Temple, it was already dark.
At the entrance of the yamen, a plaque hangs high above the towering stone beasts guarding the yamen.
The big red lanterns are hung high, which is very magnificent.
Even the steps are higher than those of other government offices, highlighting the ruthlessness of the law.
"Zhao Duan, the police officer of Lihua Hall, is here to arrest the suspect. Tell Xia Jianghou to get out."
Zhao Duan was not polite at all and gave orders to the clerk guarding the gate.
The clerk was also startled and didn't understand what was going on. He turned around and went in to report it.
After a while, a familiar middle-aged civil servant in a green robe and with a righteous look walked out, followed by a group of petty officials carrying guns and sticks.
Dali Temple Secretary, He Zheng!
It was the guy who had a confrontation with Shen Juan in the morning, and was slapped in the face by Zhao Duan in public. "Haha, Zhao Jisi, we meet again."
He Sicheng had a fake smile on his face, and he looked extremely jealous when he met his enemy.
Zhao Duan also laughed:
"Is there no one in the Dali Temple? Why do I keep running into you wherever I go?"
He Sicheng had a cold face, too lazy to argue with him, and said:
"Why is Zhao Jisi coming here so aggressively? Is he going to trample our Dali Temple?"
It’s not impossible... Zhao Duan said with a smile:
"My court received a report that Xia Jianghou was involved in a major case that violated the law. I came here in person to ask him to go back and cooperate with the investigation, but I didn't expect to learn that he had come to your court...
Oh, don't say he's not here, that would be meaningless, can He Sicheng do you a favor? Call him out, I won't make things difficult for you today."
He Sicheng said calmly:
"Marquis Xiajiang is indeed here, but unfortunately, you are a step too late."
"Oh?" Zhao Duan was surprised.
He Sicheng said calmly:
"My Dali Temple is also investigating a case involving the Red Flower Society. Today we have some clues. It is suspected to be related to Xia Jianghou, so we detained him.
The interrogation of the Red Flower Society gang revealed a major case involving the so-called "Mr. Meng" who secretly kidnapped the family members of officials...
The Lord Temple Minister has learned about this and has personally investigated the case. The case is currently under investigation. Zhao Jisi should go back first. According to the law and regulations, wait until we have finished the investigation here before sending the person over."
When these words were spoken, everyone in Lihua Hall was stunned.
The Dali Temple took the lead and arrested the person?
Is this also a case involving the Red Flower Society?
Even Feng Lianlian’s matter is involved?
However, in He Zheng's description, he characterized it as the personal behavior of "Meng Ye".
Zhao Duan's heart suddenly sank.
He really didn't expect that Xia Jianghou would play this trick.
He did not choose to fight to the bitter end, or to use his noble status to pressure others and deny his guilt.
Instead, he took the initiative to hand himself over to the Dali Temple.
Just happened to be arrested one step ahead? Nonsense!
It must be that Marquis Xia Jiang was in collusion with the people from the Dali Temple.
After this operation, the case fell under the jurisdiction of the Dali Temple.
As for the final trial result of the case, the power to determine whether Feng Lianlian was kidnapped will be led by the Dali Temple, rather than the Imperial Court.
"...I have to admit that I underestimated him a bit." Zhao Duan sighed softly.
He Zheng pretended not to understand, looked arrogant, and said:
"Everyone, please come back."
The situation is reversed.
In the morning, people from the Dali Temple came to snatch Zhao Duan's men, but he fought back on the grounds that it was against the rules.
At night, it was Zhao Duan who came to rob the Dali Temple's people. This time, it was He Zheng's turn to confront him in the name of "rules".
Zhao Duan didn't move, and neither did the troublemakers from Lihuatang behind him.
There was a subtle change in the atmosphere.
He Zheng narrowed his eyes:
"What do you mean, Zhao Jisi? This time everything is done according to the rules. Are you going to beat someone up again?"
There was a sneer in his tone.
Although there is still a huge gap in military strength between the two sides.
But the territory has changed.
A conflict between people from two yamen in the private residence of a rebel and a conflict in the Sanfashi Yamen are two completely different things.
He Zheng didn't believe that Zhao Duan dared to take action here.
It’s not that he underestimated Zhao Duan’s courage.
But in his opinion, there are better ways to catch people, such as going to the empress, or playing by the rules of the game in officialdom.
From any perspective, fighting is the worst option.
Since Mr. Zhao is a smart man, he should understand the principle of retreating in order to advance.
"You may have thought of one thing wrong." However, Zhao Duan shook his head slightly.
He Zheng frowned: "What did I think was wrong?"
Zhao Duan suddenly turned over and dismounted, and everyone in Lihua Hall behind him also dismounted at the same time.
There was a certain majesty in the uniform movements.
Zhao Duan took a step forward and climbed the stairs. The men in brocade clothes behind him followed him, like a rising tide, engulfing the reefs.
He Zheng's eyelids twitched wildly, his body subconsciously frightened, and he wanted to retreat.
But he held back and stood proudly.
It's like the image of a hero who is upright and unyielding in the face of evil forces.
Zhao Duan stopped in front of him, the two were only an inch apart, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly:
"This is a notification, not a discussion."
He Zheng widened his eyes: "You are going to do..."
"Peng—"
The next second, Zhao Duan's palm had gently pressed towards him, and the inverted galaxy taught by Taizu himself reappeared in the world in the most peaceful posture.
The wind blows.
The civil servant in green robe was like a leaf, lifted by the wind, flying lightly backwards and falling directly into the flower bed.
The group of strong officials holding sticks behind him were all blown down, like ears of wheat prostrating themselves before a hurricane.
There were exclamations.
Not only the other party, but even the officials of Lihua Hall were shocked by their master's decisiveness.
Zhao Duan slowly withdrew his hand, stepped over the threshold of the Dali Temple, and the big red lantern above his head slowly lowered.
"Tsk, we are all adults, who would tell you the rules? You are so childish."
Thanks to godess-moon for the 1500 points reward!
(End of this chapter)