Chapter 364: I Request to Go to War
Chapter 364: I Request to Go to War ( words)
Since ancient times, the words of emperors have been golden. Xu Zhenguan's seemingly joking words are not a joke.
When the news that "Your Majesty will stay in the mansion tonight" spread, the mother and daughter who ran to the yard for the second time to hide were stunned.
At first I was stunned, then I felt nervous, panic, and a little bit...uneasy.
"This is totally unprepared. I don't know if Your Majesty can stay in the main room if it is temporarily vacated..."
As the mistress, Eugene Hua was in a dilemma.
It stands to reason that when the emperor stays, he must stay in the most honorable room in the palace according to etiquette, which is the master's bedroom, but this is not appropriate.
As for the guest rooms, the Zhao family naturally has more than one, but why would Your Majesty stay in a guest room?
"No need to go to such trouble. I can just stay in Zhao Qing's courtyard for a while." Xu Zhenguan made the decision with a smile.
This statement once again shocked the mother and daughter. They looked at each other, with some strange speculation in their eyes.
"Hehe, there are two rooms in my yard. Find some clean bedding and send it over." Zhao Duan came to the rescue.
His attitude in front of the empress was habitually pompous and humble, which was a dog-licking attitude to the outside world, but in fact, the monarch and his subjects knew very well that this was not the truth.
How could Lord Zhao, who is very capable in handling affairs outside, be so spineless in front of a beautiful woman?
How could a dignified empress not notice some traces of performance from her subjects?
Adults see things but don’t say them out loud. Often, the interaction between the two of them is based on some kind of tacit understanding.
Just as the empress said she wanted to stay, it was undoubtedly ambiguous, but Zhao Duan became much more serious and made proper arrangements, without even imagining any sex scenes.
……
Soon, the room was cleaned and Xu Zhenguan went to the courtyard where Zhao Duan was, which was separated by a hanging flower gate.
"Your Majesty," Zhao Duan held a lamp and knocked on the antique door.
Seeing the White-robed Empress standing in her bedroom, she looked through a pile of papers on her desk with interest, on which she had practiced calligraphy and drawing in her spare time:
"The room next door has been cleaned up. If you want to take a bath, shall I ask the servants to move the tub over there?"
Xu Zhenguan automatically ignored the second half of his suggestion about bathing. He picked up the paper on the table with his delicate fingers and looked at the black and white words on it, such as:
The poems such as "Sitting up in shock from his dying illness, he continues to talk and laugh for another year", "Although the old woman's strength has declined, the waves shake the city of Yueyang", "He looks up to the sky and laughs loudly, no one knows that the lychees are coming"... have extremely strange expressions.
She could see that these were all good sentences when taken individually, but when put together they looked weird.
When she saw the two lines of the poem "I and the general took off our battle robes and spent the warm spring night in the hibiscus tent", she turned her head with an unfriendly look and said lightly:
"Is this Zhao Qing's new work?"
Danger... Danger... Danger...
Zhao Duan took a deep breath, walked over with a smile, and said calmly:
"It's just that I made some random sketches while practicing calligraphy. Your Majesty, please forgive me for making fun of you."
Having said that, he quickly put away the weird poems and pretended nothing had happened.
"Humph."
Xu Zhenguan was in a good mood today and was too lazy to argue with this meritorious official, so he said nothing.
Zhao Duan quietly packed up the four treasures of the study and said:
"Your Majesty did not return home at night. If it gets out, people outside will spread the news again."
Xu Zhenguan said indifferently:
"If I cared about some gossip, I would have been unable to sit on the throne long ago."
After a pause, she smiled and said, "Besides, do you still care about some rumors?"
Zhao Duan smiled bitterly. Why did the empress stay at Zhao's house tonight? Was it because she was worried that Prajna would come back?
Maybe that’s a factor, but that’s not the core reason.
In his opinion, Zhenbao did it on purpose for show.
It is conceivable that as soon as tonight is over, the rumors about Zhao Duan's "face-lover" in the capital tomorrow will be solidified once again. In the past, the real powerful officials did not believe in his identity as a face-lover at all, knowing it was fake.
The Empress's stay tonight is sending out a very important signal:
Zhao Duan was indeed on the waiting list for the empress's future husband.
This signal is important, very important.
After all, there is more than one favorite of the empress... Mo Zhaorong is also a favorite, and so is Sun Lianying... Otherwise, do you really think that a supervisor of the White Horse Prison can summon people from the Tianshi Mansion and the Shenlong Temple at will?
In fact, Sun Lianying was the "window" that represented the empress in communicating with the two major spiritual forces.
Therefore, whether it is a favorite or a popular person, he is not the only one.
But the concubine is different.
Since Xu Zhenguan ascended the throne, he has never had any relationship with any man, Zhao Duan is the only one.
If the empress could finally secure the throne, she would definitely have her own bloodline heirs to continue the family line, although from a legal point of view, it would still be more in accordance with etiquette to adopt a child from a branch of the royal family.
But...what if?
Things in this world are always unpredictable. If Zhao Duan really becomes the "Empress's Consort" in the future and has children with the Empress, then his status will suddenly become a "relative by marriage"...
Although it is far away, people can't help but make the association.
In short, this will once again increase the weight of Zhao Duan and even the entire Zhao family in the Dayu Dynasty.
It is not an obvious promotion or reward, but this invisible "reward" will undoubtedly increase Zhao Duan's power.
"Let's talk about what happened today."
Xu Zhenguan broke the silence and said seriously:
"From today on, you will also become enemies with King Mu."
"And Prince Heng, Xu Zudi probably hates me very much." Zhao Duan smiled.
"Is it because of Princess Yunyang? Or because of the conflict between you and him?" Xu Zhenguan was curious.
Zhao Duan shook his head and said seriously: "Because of the Xiao family."
?
The empress was stunned.
Zhao Duan then calmly told him about Madam Xiao's secret surrender to him.
Xu Zhenguan just learned about this. After hearing this, his eyes lit up and he raised his eyebrows:
"So you told her that you wanted her to attend the future Lake Pavilion meeting? And gave the Xiao family the status of an imperial merchant?"
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"I don't have the ability to make a decision with just one word. I can only make empty promises first. It depends on your majesty's opinion."
Xu Zhenguan pondered:
"What do you want to do? Wait, you arranged for her to go to the lake pavilion... Hey, do you agree to go there?"
During our last night talk, Xu Zhenguan said that the court would soon "open for business" and the location would be set at Huting.
Such a major event requires a person of sufficient weight to represent the empress and play a supervisory role to prevent the government offices below from messing around.
"I have thought about this for some time. Since I was the one who planned the new policy and the opening of the market, I understand it best. It is indeed my responsibility to shoulder this burden." Zhao Duan said righteously.
Muttering in my heart:
I would go there even if it is just to obtain the magical treasure "Black Turtle Seal".
The magical weapon that even Emperor Taizu could not obtain must be extremely precious.
The "Smoke-locked Lake" is hidden in the lake pavilion. Since Zhao Duan has obtained the clue from the Guhuo Zhenren, there is no reason for him not to take it.
Xu Zhenguan stared at his smiling face in a daze, feeling a little surprised and absent-minded.
After a moment, the White-robed Empress said seriously:
"Prince Jing is not far away from the market this time, and he may go there in person and try to stop it."
The implication is that Prince Jing and Zhao Duan have a deep hatred, so this trip is dangerous.
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"I have been in spiritual communication with Prince Jing for a long time, and I really want to see his style. As for the danger, didn't your majesty say that if a practitioner wants to become truly powerful, he must leave his comfort zone and face the trials and tribulations? I feel that in a few days, I should be able to step into the middle level of the divine chapter."
However, the middle-grade Divine Chapter was still vulnerable to the strong men of the worldly realm in the Jianghu... Xu Zhenguan looked at him quietly and said:
"Are you serious? Have you thought about it?"
"Think about it."
"……it is good."
Xu Zhenguan's eyes were complicated. He said the word "OK" and suddenly smiled:
"Since you are so courageous, how could I really let you go alone? Hai Gongsheng can go with you."
Lao Hai is coming too? Zhao Duan's eyes lit up.
Xu Zhenguan continued: "Not only him, follow me."
As she spoke, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhao Duan's wrist.
Before the latter could come to his senses, he only felt a flash before his eyes, and then he disappeared from the room and appeared in the night sky of the capital.
The night breeze is blowing.
Zhao Duan appeared out of nowhere in the sky, with a fairy-like female emperor beside him.
There was wind swirling under the feet of the two men, lifting them up.
Ride the wind!
There is such a spell in the Martial God Path? Zhao Duan was surprised: "Your Majesty, you want to..."
"Shut up."
Xu Zhenguan identified the direction, dragged his loyal lackey, and rolled up a strong wind barrier around his figure. Suddenly, he whizzed out like a cannonball and rushed towards the north of the city like a meteor.
How fast is a strong person in the realm of heaven and man?
Zhao Duan felt it clearly, and before long, he looked down and saw himself crossing the city wall and arriving above the "Hou Lake" in the north of the city.
This was not the first time he came here. The last time was when he came with Mochou to inspect the "Yellow Book Library".
Under the cover of night, the entire Houhu Lake was very quiet, with only sporadic lights on the five islands in the center.
"Crash..."
The empress pulled Zhao Duan down and hovered over the lake. The strong wind caused by the landing rolled up layers of waves.
Accompanied by a powerful aura of the heavenly realm, it spread in all directions with the two of them as the center.
"Crash..."
The sound of water suddenly became intense. The entire Houhu Lake was pitch black in the night. Only with the help of the light of the stars and the moon above could one see the scenery and the rippling water.
Zhao Duan saw the lake water in the distance bulge out and then break. He suddenly realized, "Your Majesty, are you looking for the lake god and the strange man on the island?"
The last time he came here, he learned that there was a "lake god" hidden under the Houhu Lake, and there was a crazy man in the two-story gray building on the island, who was a prisoner guarding the Houhu Yellow Book Library.
However, the Yellow Book Library had lost most of its meaning now, and these two royal guards were almost forgotten by him.
"boom!"
The water surface in the distance suddenly exploded, and under the moonlight, the figure of a woman covered in wet clothes rose from the bottom of the lake.
She had wet long hair, her face was bloodless, and her eyes were pure white with no pupils visible. Under her blood-red clothes, her hands and feet were bound with dark black shackles.
The long chain seemed to have no end, extending into the cold lake.
The white-eyed woman known as the "Goddess of Houhu Lake" came rolling in with the waves. She did not swim but almost glided on the water.
"Wang Wang Wang..."
Suddenly, there was fierce barking of dogs from the distant island. Zhao Duan looked and saw a man walking on the waves under the moonlight, carrying a huge green gourd on his back!
He was dressed shabbily in just a single piece of clothing, and his long black hair covered one eye and half of his face.
The man had a knife tied loosely around his waist. In the blink of an eye, he was rushing over the water, almost making a sound of breaking through the air.
Xu Zhenguan and Zhao Duan stood in the air, overlooking the man and woman who were kneeling on the water below:
"His Majesty……"
Xu Zhenguan was noble and majestic. He looked down at the two powerful men who were obviously very skilled in cultivation and explained to Zhao Duan:
"This sorcerer is called Ji Yue, he specializes in water spirits and is from the East China Sea. This swordsman is called Lang Shiba, he is a warrior from the North."
Ji Yue... Lang Shiba... What weird names...
Zhao Duan complained, blinking his eyes: "Your Majesty sent them to protect me?"
Xu Zhen looked at the sorcerer and warrior kneeling on the water and said indifferently:
"If he had an accident, you two wouldn't have to live."
The white-eyed sorceress Jiyue and the northern swordsman Lang Shiba's shoulders trembled slightly, bearing the overwhelming pressure of the Heaven Realm:
"I obey the order!"
……
Tianshi Mansion.
In the small courtyard where a big banyan tree was planted, Jin Jian walked in with brisk steps, humming an unknown tune.
He said happily: "Master, I heard something new, that Zhengyang actually worshipped Zhao Duan as his master."
Jin Jian realized it belatedly and did not wait for the follow-up question as she wished. She pushed her glasses on the bridge of her nose and saw the old Taoist priest writing a letter under the banyan tree.
"Hey, Master, who are you writing to?" Jin Jian was very surprised. He sneaked over to take a look, but he only caught a glimpse of the name revealed when the letter was closed:
"Ah, for the eldest brother?"
Zhang Yan, who was tall and had narrow features, opened the envelope and said with a smile, "Yes."
The eldest brother of the Tianshi Mansion, known as the "Little Tianshi", has been wandering in the human world for many years and rarely returns to Beijing.
He is also a strong candidate to be the next Heavenly Master. It is said that he has unfathomable cultivation and has already entered the great perfection of the worldly realm. He is desperately searching for an opportunity to be promoted to a celestial being.
He is a first-rate strong man below the four celestial beings.
"Is there anything you need from senior brother?" Jin Jian asked.
Zhang Yanyi smiled and did not answer. He just threw the letter casually and it flew into the night sky.
He was immediately grabbed by a giant green hand descending from the sky and disappeared without a trace.
“Be prepared.”
……
……
Jiancheng Road, Prince Jing’s Palace.
On the same night, there was a palace courtyard that was extremely large and majestic, with countless secret guards hiding in the dark to guard it.
Prince Jing, who has an elegant appearance and has three circles of 108 extremely rare Bodhi beads wrapped around his arms, looks up at the moon.
He looks like he is in his forties, but his graying temples reveal that he is a little older than he looks.
He has a handsome face and outstanding demeanor.
Suddenly, a nobleman came hurriedly from a distance. His appearance was 70% similar to Prince Jing, and his body was filled with the noble air that came from mountains of gold and seas of silver. It was Prince Jing's eldest son Xu Jinglong.
It was also during the old emperor's reign that the Crown Prince went to the capital to propose marriage and tried to marry the third princess, Xu Zhenguan, but failed.
"Father, the news has been confirmed. The court has set a date. The market will be opened in Huting next month and merchants and nobles are invited to attend." Xu Jinglong said respectfully.
Prince Jing Xu Wen withdrew his gaze from the bright moon in the sky and said calmly:
"What do the others say?"
The Crown Prince Xu Jinglong reported:
"Except for the King of Huai'an, everyone has agreed to send their trusted aides to Huting. When the market opens this time, they will follow your orders and advance and retreat together."
"Humph, a fence-sitter." Prince Jing snorted, but he was not surprised, and said:
"They all said they would only send trusted people over? What about Yunfu?"
Xu Jinglong said: "Prince Mu said the journey is long and difficult."
"Obviously, you don't want to be the first to come forward," Xu Wen sneered, but he didn't care:
"Forget it. Mr. Zhengyang has already arrived in the capital. Even if we can't accomplish anything big, we can at least create some momentum. We will also have more bargaining chips for the next meeting at the lake pavilion."
Xu Jinglong smiled and said:
"Father, if you go to Huting in person this time, you will surely be victorious. But I don't know who my sister will send to monitor. It would be best if she is willing to send Zhao Duan."
Prince Jing glanced at his son and said, "You seem to care about him a lot."
The Crown Prince Xu Jinglong had a sinister look in his eyes:
"Father knows about this. If it weren't inappropriate, I would have gone to the capital to meet this pretty boy. Besides, according to intelligence, this guy has repeatedly ruined our plans. He really deserves to die."
Prince Jing laughed loudly and said, "I'm afraid this person doesn't have the courage to leave the capital."
He waved his hand and sent the prince away.
After everyone left, a beautiful woman slowly emerged from the darkness. She was wearing the clothes of a princess, but her face was covered with an ancient and mysterious silver mask.
Princess Jing asked, "Are you sure you want to go to the lake pavilion?"
Xu Wen nodded, looked at his nominal princess, but in fact the powerful sorcerer who was protecting him, and said, "You have to go with me too."
Princess Jing was not surprised, but a little lazy:
"Are you still afraid of being assassinated?"
Xu Wen shook his head and said calmly:
"This king may want you to kill someone."
Princess Jing, who was wearing a silver mask and was actually a sorcerer from the Pei Niannu lineage passed down six hundred years ago, sighed softly, turned around and left without saying anything.
She had no intention of getting involved in the fighting and intrigue among the royal family, but she still needed to rely on Xu Wen.
Xu Wen's cheek twitched and he said in a deep voice:
"This king said that he would find Pei Niannu's mantle."
Princess Jing did not respond and disappeared in the palace.
Xu Wen's face was gloomy, and he clenched his fists with a little force, with a sneer on his face:
"When I find the mantle of the former number one sorceress, I will make you my slave."
He knew that as long as he mastered the inheritance, he could make this silver-armored sorceress submit to him and become her servant.
……
Huai River Road, Huai'an Palace.
Princess Xu Junling led her maid and walked along the corridor to the study in the mansion.
She took the tray from the maid and said softly to the brightly lit study:
"Father, the lotus seed soup is ready."
Then she pushed the door open and walked in, her bright eyes looking at her father who was sitting behind the table, with a sturdy build, wearing silk clothes, with six rings on his ten fingers, always smiling, but able to gain a foothold in the Huai River Road where many noble families lived.
That is the famous "political fence-sitter" King Huai'an.
"Haha, my daughter really knows how to care for others. She is not as heartless as your brother." King Huai'an said with a smile.
Xu Junling chuckled and walked over obediently with a sweet smile:
"Brother is going to do something big. Hey, has the opening agenda been set?"
She glanced at the paperwork on the desk.
Prince Huai'an said "yeah" and sighed, "I'm going to have a headache."
The imperial court was originally located on the edge of the Huai River, and he, the King of Huai'an, became one of the factors that most affected the effectiveness of the imperial court's opening of the market.
Xu Junling's beautiful eyes flickered, and she wondered who the court would send this time. Would it be him?
……
……
Beijing, Zhao family.
Zhao Pan sneakily opened the door and walked in. Eugene Hua, who was waiting in the room, asked nervously:
"How's it going? Did you hear any noise in your brother's yard?"
Zhao Pan, who was assigned by his mother to eavesdrop on the wall, looked unhappy. He shook his head and said:
"No. There was no sound at all."
Eugene Hua heaved a long sigh of relief, patted her chest, and smiled as if relieved:
"It seems that it is just to stay, nothing else."
Zhao Pan said with a wooden face:
"I heard that powerful monks can set up soundproof barriers. The courtyard was eerily quiet, without even the sound of insects."
Eugene Hua: “…”
Zhao Pan: “…”
-
A 5,000-word chapter. I will have to sort out the details of the follow-up tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)