Chapter 153 Recommending Talents
Chapter 153 Recommending Talents
Let me say it again, it’s not that I didn’t hear it clearly, but I want to confirm it again.
Zhao Duan was very familiar with this. He remembered that the last time it was also in this pavilion, and the person sitting in his position was Yuan Li.
He was only fit to stand aside and serve them tea and water.
But this time, the one sitting here is already myself.
"Yes, sir..." He repeated the original words calmly.
This time, the empress confirmed it.
She pursed her lips, and subconsciously suppressed all outward emotions because of the emperor's instinct to conceal his feelings.
But the surprise that arose in my heart could not be faked.
"The eunuch who just returned to the palace did not mention this matter."
She calmed herself down, fished out the missing chess piece from the chess box, and held it in her palm.
It seems to give me some sense of control.
Zhao Duan said:
"Because that father-in-law passed away early. In fact, if it wasn't for the coincidence that the evidence I was waiting for just happened to arrive, I wouldn't be able to do this today."
Xu Zhenguan said: "I want to know the cause and effect."
Zhao Duan had already prepared a draft in mind, and he had already delivered it in court.
He immediately told the story in detail, starting from the descendants of the Xue family at the beginning, all the way to how he accidentally confronted Zhou Cheng who was investigating him because of a person called "Wang Shan", and then he simply went with the flow and completed this combo, defeating Zhou Cheng in one fell swoop.
The story was very long and the empress listened very attentively.
When she listened to stories, her crystal clear ears would tilt forward slightly and her eyes would not blink.
Occasionally he would interrupt suddenly to ask for some details.
There was even no delay in the two players taking turns to make moves.
"That's probably what happened,"
After a long while, Zhao Duan finished his story:
"My two colleagues have worked very hard in this matter, and Lord Yuan has made great contributions. Without them, I alone would not be able to accomplish this."
He even remembered to ask for credit together, which was a muscle instinct he had developed from writing articles in his previous life.
It’s actually like this… It’s actually possible to be like this… It’s actually possible to be like this…
Xu Zhenguan had a lot of thoughts in his mind.
He was surprised at Zhao Duan's methods, but also angry at the crimes Zhou Cheng had committed in the past.
At first, when she gave orders to Zhao Duan, she said to find evidence of the crime.
But I didn't expect that it would involve such a big old case.
Not only was it unexpected, but Zhao Duan could start from this angle and pretend to be building a plank road to trick Zhou Cheng into this trap.
After all, who would have thought that his voluntary imprisonment was a "game within a game"?
Not to mention Zhou Cheng, even she, who knew the situation in advance, thought that the "Su Hongyu" case was a trap set by Zhao Duan in order to complete his mission.
This trap was already very clever and was enough to satisfy her.
But until now, when everything was revealed, she realized that she thought Zhao Duan was on the third floor, but in fact he was on the fifth floor...
The Su Hongyu case was just a feint to cover up the real killer move...
I can only say one thing, it was not unfair for Zhou Cheng to lose!
Furthermore, she had never imagined that the "Nine Ministers" who were responsible for judicial justice and the ministers entrusted by the late emperor to take care of the young emperor would dare to commit such a serious crime of deceiving the emperor!
If we say that Xu Zhenguan started to deal with Zhou Cheng purely out of political necessity, he also felt somewhat guilty towards this regent.
Now, after learning about what Zhou Cheng had done in the past, he was filled with only anger.
"What a daredevil! What a deceitful man!"
Xu Zhenguan could not hide her anger, her face was covered with frost, she stood up, as if she was in the throne room:
"Such a treacherous person is still alive today, causing officials like Xue Lin to suffer injustice for ten years after their death!"
When the palace ladies nearby saw this, they were terrified and didn't know why the emperor was angry.
"Your Majesty, calm down," Zhao Duan stood up and advised:
"The late emperor was deceived by Wang Zhen in the past, which led to this miscarriage of justice. Your Majesty has only been on the throne for a short time, so it is not surprising that you have not realized the true face of Zhou Cheng."
His words were still too euphemistic. In fact, the old emperor was stupid and incompetent.
When he was in power, he relied on eunuchs. His power was diluted by the cabinet headed by Li Yanfu, and eight princes were allowed to become more powerful.
After his death, his two sons fought each other and brothers killed each other... Even if his daughter ascended the throne, she would still leave behind a mess...
Absolutely amazing.
"No need to say more, Zhao Qing," the empress shook her head, suppressed her anger, and said murderously:
"You did a great job this time. Now that Prime Minister Zhou has been captured, Lord Yuan must have rushed to the palace.
If Xue Lin's case is uncovered, it will involve a lot of people... Humph, in my opinion, the Dali Temple is probably rotten from top to bottom, and they should all be arrested and investigated!"
Zhao Duan thought about it and suddenly said:
"I think there are good officials in the Dali Temple. For example, there is a judge named Lu Zhi, who seems to be quite good."
Xu Zhen looked at him and said in surprise:
"The minor official who submitted a memorial to impeach you? I remember that you arrested fifty-eight people last time, but he was the only one who didn't bribe you."
The implication is: Isn’t this your enemy?
Hey, are you paying so much attention to me? You know all these details... Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"If you are an honest and upright official, you should not be implicated."
"Even if I have a grudge against you?"
"Oh, I do have some tolerance for others."
Xu Zhenguan didn't say anything. The look in her beautiful eyes when she looked at him became even more different, as if she was looking at him with new eyes again:
"I understand. You stay in the palace first. I will call you to speak after I have dealt with these matters."
As he said this, perhaps he was thinking of the last time when he left Zhao Du'an in the palace, and the two of them were in Tangquan Palace, receiving acupuncture with silver needles.
When the empress turned around, a blush seemed to pass across her fair cheeks, which was fleeting.
……
……
Just as Zhao Duan entered the palace, full of anticipation, waiting for the empress to summon him again.
The results of the joint trial of the three courts also spread like ripples in the capital. The Zhao family.
"Madam, Miss, we can't enter the Dali Temple at all. Not to mention entering, we will be driven away if we get close. Didn't the female official surnamed Qian say that she would come to our house to deliver a letter after the trial is over?"
In the inner courtyard, the old housekeeper tried earnestly to stop the mistress from going out.
Nearby, the rest of the Zhao family servants also gathered here, looking sad and the atmosphere was depressing.
After a few days, Eugene Hua looked much more haggard.
His eyes were bloodshot, a sign of insomnia all day long.
Beside her, Zhao Pan, who was supporting her, had a pointed jaw that seemed to have become thinner.
The girl's face was also gloomy, and her autumn-water eyes were filled with deep worry. At this time, she also advised:
"Mom, the manager is right. If there is any progress, my brother's subordinates will definitely come to report it."
Eugene murmured with her bloodless lips:
"But I am really worried. What if something really happens to your elder brother?..."
There were tears in the beautiful woman's eyes and her expression was sad.
A few days ago, after learning that Zhao Duan was arrested, You Jinhua plucked up the courage and went to Lihuatang in Zhaoya.
However, we only know that Zhao Duan will not be tortured in prison.
As to whether it can come out and what the outcome will be, no one knows.
As rumors spread, public opinion became increasingly unfavorable. Eugene Hua cried all day at home, Zhao Pan was also depressed, and the entire Zhao family was in a panic.
"Mom, no, he was fine last time, and he will definitely be fine this time."
What Zhao Pan was talking about was the Zhuang Xiaocheng case. The girl took out the sachets that the mother and daughter had sewn together from her arms and forced a smile:
"It will definitely be fine. We haven't even given him a gift yet..."
At this time, the sound of horse hooves was heard outside the house. The family looked up hurriedly. Eugene Hua couldn't wait and trotted to the door with her daughter.
Qian Kerou got off the horse with a smile on her round face. Without waiting for the mother and daughter to ask, she announced the good news:
"Lord Zhao has been cleared of all charges. He was framed and has now been released without charge!"
Eugene Hua widened her beautiful eyes: "Really?"
Zhao Pan's breathing quickened, and the girl's whole appearance brightened.
Qian Kerou smiled and said:
"Of course, not only that, the Lord has also sued the Dali Temple Minister who framed him. Now everyone outside is talking about this matter."
The Zhao family servants looked at each other in bewilderment, and the gloom was gone.
……
……
In Dongcheng, in an alley with a big willow tree.
The private school only lasted half a day today, and the children dispersed at noon.
"Miss, the car is ready, let's leave the city now."
Uncle Fu locked the door and spoke to Xue Xuan who was sitting in the yard.
She did not wear the female scholar's robe today, but changed into a white skirt. In the bamboo baskets at her feet were prepared incense, candles, and paper money.
The bookish, weak, thin-skinned young lady came back to reality from her distraction, holding a jar of wine.
He said "yes", went out with Uncle Fu, got on the donkey cart, and headed out of the city.
Today is Xue Lin’s memorial day.
It is also the memorial day for the innocent souls who were beheaded together in the autumn beheading incident thirteen years ago.
"Miss, I heard this morning that today seems to be the day that Zhao Duan will be tried."
Uncle Fu was driving the donkey cart and suddenly said.
Xue Xuan was dressed in mourning clothes, holding a wine jar and sitting on a cart.
——A carriage with a carriage was an expensive item, so she could only borrow a donkey-drawn cart from her neighbor to go out of the city and visit the grave in the suburbs.
After Zhao Duan came to her house that day, she was really nervous for a long time, but within two days, she learned that Zhao Duan was in prison.
The presiding judge seemed to be Zhou Cheng, the man who had falsely accused and murdered his father.
Xue Xuan still doesn't understand why Zhao Duan asked those questions.
But I vaguely felt that there was some hidden connection with his imprisonment.
Maybe it was those dirty court struggles... Xue Xuan thought.
Maybe it was because all the trials were held by three courts and Zhou Cheng was the presiding judge... She inexplicably felt a trace of sympathy for that devilish Zhao Duan who threatened her with her child's life to get her to speak.
Of course, it was only a slight feeling. Xue Xuan only felt disgust and fear towards a notorious traitor and bully like Zhao Duan.
"People outside say that Zhao Duan is dead. In this way, he won't bother the young lady anymore." Uncle Fu waved the whip and gently whipped the little donkey.
Xue Xuan held the wine jar and said softly:
"Uncle Fu, do you think that charge of raping and murdering a woman is true or false?"
Uncle Fu was surprised and said, "Miss, you think it's not true? But the rumors outside are very detailed."
Xue Xuan shook his head and said:
"I don't know either. With that person's bad reputation, it shouldn't be surprising for him to do something like this, but... the presiding judge is Zhou Cheng, so I can't say for sure."
Uncle Fu remained silent. Knowing that she was thinking about the unjust case of that year, he sighed softly.
This is a topic he has tried hard to avoid mentioning over the years. After all, it happened so many years ago.
A few days ago, Zhao Duan came to ask, and he still had a glimmer of hope in his heart, thinking that perhaps this old injustice could be vindicated one day.
But now... that Zhao Jisi can't even protect himself, so... that's it.
"Gee!" Uncle Fu whipped the horse.
Suddenly, a group of officials were seen rushing towards the street from a distance. The two leading them looked very familiar.
The other party ran straight to the donkey cart and forced the master and servant to stop, and then, under the nervous and frightened gaze of Xue Xuan and Uncle Fu.
Haitang stepped past Zhang Han and said to them with a smile:
"We meet again. Well, Zhao Jisi asked me to say hello to you on his behalf."
(End of this chapter)