Chapter 454 Send a gift
Chapter 454 Send a gift (5k)
The next day, early morning.
Zhao Duan got up, washed, and after having a simple breakfast with his entourage, he ordered a car to be prepared and prepared to go to the Shen family to pay his respects in person.
Eunuch Hai and others were not surprised at this order. Knowing "King Zhao's" style very well, they knew that after the Shen family gave up the option of seeking peace in person last night, they only had one way left.
The carriage left the inn and Zhao Duan bought a flower basket on the street. He smiled and said:
"You can't go to pay your respects empty-handed."
Prajna Bodhisattva, who insisted on riding in the same carriage with him, smiled sweetly:
"I can pray for the second son of the Shen family to be reborn."
You are quite ambitious... Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows, thinking that if a woman takes the initiative, it is really not that difficult to pursue her... There is no such thing as a slow-moving type.
Ignoring the female Bodhisattva who was staring at him, Zhao Duan closed his eyes and recalled the information about the Shen family that he had read last night.
The real head of the Shen family, the old lady, is also a legendary woman. She is a bit similar to Madam Xiao of Qingzhou, but the power transition is smoother and she lives long enough.
If the Shen family is likened to the local emperor, then the old lady is the empress dowager like Cixi in her old age.
But he has been hiding in a large mansion for many years, secretly controlling a powerful family, so no one knows what his personality is like.
"I gave them a chance last night, but no one came. This is clearly a lack of respect for me as a Beijing official. Isn't this also a tough attitude?"
"Unfortunately, you probably thought that I had the same personality as Governor Ning. Congratulations, you guessed wrong."
……
The main residence of the Shen family is not in the crowded and chaotic city area, and it takes more than an hour to get there.
When Zhao Duan arrived, the sun was already high in the sky. The main residence of the Shen family was actually a large southern garden covering a large area.
From a distance, you can see the roofs intertwined and the buildings and houses arranged in an orderly manner.
There were white lanterns hanging at the gate, paper money was scattered on the ground, and white silk was hung. There were many carriages and horses outside, and it seemed that they all came to pay their respects.
With the Shen family's hundreds of years of heritage, such a grand ceremony was held, and all the prominent people from all over the country, as long as they could come, came to pay their respects.
This is why the funeral has to last so long.
The arrival of Zhao Duan's entourage immediately attracted the attention of the gatekeeper:
"Who is coming?"
Zhao Duan lazily leaned in the car, too lazy to go out, and said to Shen Juan outside the car window:
"Go ahead and tell me. This is your family after all."
Shen Juan, one of the "Four Pear Blossoms" of Pear Blossom Hall, chuckled and muttered:
"My family has nothing to do with them."
The man walked forward and explained his purpose to the servant: Envoy Zhao from the capital heard the news of Mr. Shen's death and came to express condolences.
The servant did not dare to delay and immediately ran in to report. A moment later, the Shen Mansion's chief steward came out.
The so-called seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister, the chief steward is in charge of all affairs in the main branch of the Shen family. In Jiancheng Road, his power is more than the seventh rank? The county magistrate has to bow his head when he sees him.
Moreover, because of his identity as the "chief steward", he is the chief steward of the household servants inside the house, but once he leaves the house, he becomes a guest of honor who can run rampant in Jianning Mansion and no one dares to underestimate him. His power and status are much greater than many of the Shen family's children.
He often interacted with literati from the south of the Yangtze River, and was a dilettante. The moustache at the corners of his lips was so exquisite that it almost looked like it was painted with a brush.
"Is the person coming here the White Horse Prisoner of the capital, Envoy Zhao?"
The chief steward stood on the steps, looking down at Shen Juan. After getting a positive answer, he put his hands behind his back and said calmly:
"To come and pay your respects, you must submit your business card at least three days in advance before you can enter. Since you are a Beijing official, you can give me one day's grace. Submit your business card to me and come back tomorrow."
As soon as the words fell, not only the captains of Lihua Hall headed by Shen Juan.
Even Tang Jinzhong and other worshippers in the Martial Arts Hall had gloomy expressions!
So majestic!
No one dared to stop Lord Zhao from entering the palace. The Shen family mansion has more rules than the imperial palace.
The chief steward sneered when he saw this. He had received instructions from his master not to be nice to this Envoy Zhao.
This is Jianning Prefecture, the emperor is far away and the sky is high. Even the Prime Minister Li Yanfu, when he returned to the south, was very polite to his old lady, let alone a favored concubine?
A dragon crossing the river? So what?
Shen Juan took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and walked back to the carriage: "Sir, what should we do?"
inside the carriage.
Zhao Duan smiled, and suddenly looked at the female Bodhisattva sitting cross-legged in the car: "According to the Bodhisattva's opinion, what should I do?"
Prajna Bodhisattva's pair of "wisdom eyes" quietly examined him, a ray of light flashed across his translucent eyes, and he smiled:
"Your heart tells me that you want to kill someone."
"The Bodhisattva is indeed a pair of wise eyes of Buddhism, and can really see through people's hearts." Zhao Duan laughed, his face sarcastic, and ordered outside the car window:
"Didn't you hear? The Bodhisattva in the Shenlong Temple said, kill people."
Shen Juan perked up, grinned, put his hand on the hilt of the sword, turned around and rushed towards the door. He took a few steps up the stairs and the long sword came out of the sheath with a "clang"!
He said in a deep voice: "What dares to block the way!"
When the chief steward saw the other party drawing his sword and walking up the stairs, he realized that something was wrong, but he still held on, guessing that he was just trying to scare him and didn't dare to really use the sword.
It was not until he saw the murderous intent in Shen Juan's eyes that he was shocked and turned around to run, but his legs felt like they were filled with lead and he could not move!
"puff!"
Shen Juan stabbed the chief steward, who was no less powerful than a sixth-rank official, through the heart, kicked the corpse forward, and said:
"What are you waiting for? Why don't you break the door for me, sir?!"
At the command, a group of Lihuatang Jinyi soldiers reacted first and drew their swords in unison. The two gatekeepers were so scared that they turned around and ran away, shouting for help.
Hou Ren spat on his hand, and the sword energy came out like a piece of silk. With a "bang", the heavy door was chopped into pieces.
The other Jinyi soldiers were not willing to be outdone. They drew their swords and slashed at the middle gate of the Shen family. In the blink of an eye, they almost tore down the entire gate.
The palace attendants who saw this were amazed and thought that it was more fun to be working outside.
"Buddha, would you please get off the car with me?" Zhao Duan invited with a smile.
Prajna Bodhisattva said seriously: "Buddha has mercy on me. Lord Zhao has committed the sin of killing in vain. I am afraid..."
Zhao Duan curled his lips and got out of the car first:
"Do you think I haven't checked the information? This chief steward has killed more innocent people than I have. This is called eliminating harm for the people, which is better than building a seven-story pagoda."
That's called "saving a life is better than making a life..."
Prajna Bodhisattva wanted to correct it, but then he thought of Zhao Duan's superiority in debates over Eastern and Western Buddhism, and felt powerless.
……
……
Scroll the timeline forward.
Earlier, the Caoyun Yamen.
Governor Ning got up a little late after spending the whole night with his wife.
He wore casual clothes and walked into the study room in the yamen. He ate the slightly cold breakfast sent from the kitchen while waiting for Master Wen to come in.
"Governor, you're looking for me." Wen Liang, dressed as a counselor, walked into the room and asked with a bow.
Ning Zechen was in a good mood, his face was flushed, and he smiled while eating a meat bun:
"I came back in a hurry last night and didn't have time to talk to you in detail. Have you prepared the documents I taught you to prepare for Envoy Zhao to review?"
Master Wen nodded and said, "It's already been prepared."
Ning Zechen nodded in satisfaction. This advisor and friend who had followed him for ten years was always flawless in his work and rarely made mistakes in what he had been asked to do.
"Very good, please go to the inn where Lord Zhao is staying and invite him over. It is not convenient to send the confidential documents in the government office to him..."
Governor Ning paused and changed his words:
"Well, I'll go there myself later."
In terms of official rank, he, a second-rank official, is higher than Zhao Shaobao's "third-rank".
What's more, he was an official with real power, not an honorary title like Shao Bao.
But on the one hand, Zhao Duan saved his wife and daughter, and on the other hand, he was an envoy working for His Majesty after all, so Governor Ning felt he had to be polite.
Master Wen shook his head and said:
"No need, I've already asked him. Envoy Zhao is not here, he said he went out of town."
"Out of the city?" Governor Ning was stunned, and had a bad feeling in his heart: "Where did he go?"
"He said he was going to the Shen family to pay his respects to Master Shen." Wen Liang answered in a particularly gentle tone.
!!!
Governor Ning suddenly remembered something and asked in a trembling voice, "By the way, did the Shen family…"
"The Shen family never went to see Envoy Zhao."
"Oh no!" Governor Ning dropped the meat bun in his hand. His face changed drastically and he immediately changed his clothes:
"Ready your horse!"
Although reason told him that Zhao Duan would not do anything extreme.
But for some reason, he suddenly felt a little panicked.
……
……
Zhao Duan and Pusa got out of the car and walked inside with guards including Shanghai Gonggong, Lang Shiba, Ji Yue and others.
The people from the Pear Blossom Hall and the Martial Arts Hall cleared the way ahead. The guards from the Shen family who came to resist after hearing the news could not hold out for more than a round before being knocked to the ground. In the ancient garden, there were green ancient willows planted everywhere, and the pond was full of lotus leaves. At the end of the path paved with bluestone slabs and pebbles, there were pavilions with flying eaves and corners, large houses with hollow doors and windows, and rockery and flower ponds. Together, they formed a graceful southern garden.
Zhao Duan walked forward for a while and suddenly found that his subordinates who were leading the way in front of him stopped.
He walked forward doubtfully, and when everyone dispersed, he saw a man blocking the way in front of him. Several men in brocade clothes covered their chests and retreated step by step, saying:
"My lord, he is a master!"
Zhao Duan looked up and saw a man who was about thirty years old. He was wearing a sky-blue martial arts training suit and had a white silk wrapped around his head.
He has a tall and handsome figure and good looks, but his dark stubble makes his originally handsome and feminine face look a bit rough.
He stood in place, holding in his right hand a crescent-shaped sword that was a head taller than him!
The golden handle at the end stood on the ground, and the heavy blade drew a sharp arc.
"The strongest martial artist of this generation of the Shen family, a martial artist in the worldly realm, Shen Wuji."
When Zhao Duan saw the other party holding the crescent-shaped sword, corresponding information emerged in his mind.
The Jianning Shen family has hundreds of years of history. In addition to the fact that every generation has a large number of family members holding various official positions in the court, the family has been able to stand firm and naturally has no lack of cultivation foundation.
Shen Wuji is the strong man raised by this generation of the family. He has an arrogant and proud personality, but he also has the confidence to be arrogant. He showed extraordinary talent at a young age. The Shen family spent a lot of money to invite masters from all walks of life to teach him. They invited at least five masters from Qingshan alone.
As a warrior raised by his family, Shen Wuji stubbornly prefers heavy weapons such as the crescent-shaped sword that are more suitable for military generals.
Whenever he fought with others, he rarely held back, and killed countless practitioners by falling down and hacking them to death.
He is one of the martial arts masters in the world, different from the Qingshan lineage.
"Envoy Zhao relied on his military force to break into the Shen family's gate and even killed people. What is his intention?" Shen Wuji raised his eyebrows and asked in a cold voice.
Zhao Duan said calmly: "You are not worthy to talk to me, go back and call someone who can make the decision."
Shen Wuji's eyes were filled with anger, and he sneered:
"I heard that you defeated Qingshan Xiaoran in the palace. But you can't block my sword."
No, the news spread so quickly? Could it be that I have become famous in the martial arts world? Zhao Duan was very surprised.
A little bit happy...
As for Shen Wuji's words, he did not refute them. What nonsense! The other person was one major realm higher than him. Unless he was cheating, there was no way he could stop him.
But... I'm not stupid. With so many experts around me, who would challenge you in a one-on-one duel... Zhao Duan smiled and pointed to his left and right:
"This is the sea worshiper of the palace. You must have heard of him. This is the Prajna Bodhisattva of the Shenlong Temple. You must have heard of him too. So, are you sure you want to try to stop a chariot with a mantis arm?"
Prajna Bodhisattva glanced at him and said quietly:
"I am a layman and do not participate in court affairs."
After a pause, she added, "But if Envoy Zhao agrees to one of my requests, I can naturally do it with reluctance."
"..." Zhao Duan took a deep breath, pointed at Lang Shiba and Ji Yue, and said again:
"Are you sure you want to stop a car with your bare hands?"
Prajna: “…”
Lang Shiba and Ji Yue, who were distracted in the back, looked up blankly. They didn't expect that they would still be needed.
Shen Wuji frowned, not recognizing the two unknown masters suppressed in the back lake of the capital. With flames dancing in his eyes, he stared at Eunuch Hai and said solemnly:
"I have heard of the great name of Da Nei Hai Chunlin since I was a child, and I have wanted to ask Eunuch Hai for advice countless times. I didn't expect to get my wish today. I still hope that Eunuch Hai can teach me a thing or two."
The old eunuch in a dragon robe with silver hair looked drowsy. He raised his eyelids and said self-deprecatingly:
"It seems that our family has been gone for too long and has grown old, so any junior dares to challenge us."
Those who go up the mountain laugh at the gods who come down the mountain...
Zhao Duan suddenly remembered this sentence. In the past hundred years, Eunuch Hai, who was in his prime, fought a fatal battle with the previous Lord of Qingcheng City and was knocked down from the pseudo-celestial realm. Now, due to the decline of his blood and energy, he has fallen to a level similar to Duan Shuiliu.
And now, even Shen Wuji dares to challenge him.
"Be bold!"
Suddenly, the taciturn Tang Jinzhong took a brisk step and walked out of the crowd.
This silent and rock-hard worshipper took a step forward, with strands of energy rising from his body. Behind him, a two-meter-tall phantom of a Buddha general, wearing heavy armor and covering his entire body, slowly condensed.
Shen Wuji's pupils narrowed. He didn't expect that this was also a strong man in the world. He twisted his wrist almost as if under stress, and the blue bricks under his feet shattered with a snap, breaking the spider web cracks.
Waves of illusory flames followed the crescent-shaped sword and swirled around the tip of the sword.
"Wait a minute!"
Just as the two sides were about to start, a clear voice broke the atmosphere of confrontation.
Zhao Duan was curious and saw that in the depths of the garden, a maid with a gait that was no different from that of a court etiquette waiter came out and said calmly, "The old lady said that Lord Zhao should come into the courtyard."
Shen Wuji extinguished the flame somewhat unwillingly.
Tang Jinzhong turned his head and looked at Zhao Duan.
"Oh, put it away. People have said so, and I have to respect the elders, right?" Zhao Duan smiled and waved his hand.
Tang Jinzhong retreated back to the team.
Zhao Duan glanced at the information about the woman named "Red Girl" who was the personal maid of the old lady of the Shen family, and said with a smile:
"Lead the way."
The red girl made a "please" gesture, turned around, and led the way gracefully.
……
After going deep into the garden and walking for a few minutes, Miss Hong led the group to the compound where the mourning hall was located.
This courtyard is extremely spacious, but it is decorated in a desolate and gloomy manner. In the center facing north, there is a mourning hall.
White silk was hanging, and mourning couplets with white characters on a black background were hung on the pillars. In the center of the hall, there was a coffin made of the finest black wood.
There were still candles burning on the altar inside.
The mourning hall was crowded with Shen family members, both men and women, but no children, all wearing white silk on their heads.
The leaders of each family all returned to attend the funeral, which shows the status of Mr. Shen in the old lady's heart.
When Zhao Duan and his party stepped into the courtyard, they saw this group of Shen family members waiting quietly and looking at him.
In the center of the crowd stood two people, one of whom was a tall, dignified and elegant man in his fifties.
It turned out to be the current head of the Shen family, the father of the deceased "Second Master Shen".
Next to this nominal head of the family, the real core of the family is an old woman who is much shorter and only reaches the head of the family's shoulders.
The old woman's face was full of wrinkles, and she looked cold and stern instead of kind.
Her silver hair was tied up in a bun, and she wore no precious jewelry, only a simple wooden hairpin to hold it in place.
She was wearing a pure black mourning dress of excellent texture, and holding a dragon-headed cane in her right hand!
The smooth surface of the cane is coiled with a dragon's body, and on the top is a proud dragon head, which is majestic and intimidating!
According to the etiquette of the Yu Kingdom, people other than the royal family are not allowed to use dragon shapes, except for "royal weapons"!
Emperors of all dynasties would reward "imperial weapons" to ministers with outstanding contributions. In theory, they had the power to "strike the tyrants above and the treacherous ministers below."
The old lady of the Shen family was once granted a title and was allowed to hold a dragon-headed cane.
"The Crown Prince's Guard, Lord Zhao, the White Horse Emissary, has arrived!"
Qian Kerou felt that she could not lose, so she deliberately opened her voice and acted as a human megaphone.
Along with this shout, the old lady of the Shen family's eyes also became deep:
"So it's Zhao Shaobao himself. What can I do for you?"
Ke Rou, you really make me proud... If anyone says that you don’t understand the ways of the world again, I will be angry with him... Zhao Duan looked at the secretary with appreciation and received a sweet smile from the latter.
Zhao Duan smiled brightly:
"Lady Shen, I was deeply saddened to hear that the Second Young Master had unfortunately passed away due to illness, so I took the liberty to come to your house to offer my condolences. Someone, please give me the small gift I have prepared!"
The young secretary Qian Kerou obediently picked up the cheapest paper flower basket that Zhao Duan had bought on the road, spending only a few dozen coins.
Under the murderous gazes of the Shen family, he held it in both hands and handed it to the old lady.
This is undoubtedly a humiliation.
However, the silver-haired old lady just nodded.
The nominal head of the family next to him then accepted the cheap and almost insulting flower basket and placed it on the side of the mourning hall.
The old lady, who was leaning on a dragon-headed cane, stared at Zhao Duan with her grey eyes:
"Young Master, you are so thoughtful. I will accept this gift on behalf of my grandson."
Zhao Duan smiled warmly, leaned forward slightly, and said:
"The old lady hasn't asked yet what gift I gave her."
What kind of gift? Of course it was a gift of condolence…In the mourning hall, dozens of people from the Shen family frowned.
Not knowing why he said that, the old lady narrowed her eyes and said, "Oh? What gift did the young guard send?"
Zhao Duan smiled brightly and uttered two words softly:
"Congratulations."
The Shen family members all changed color immediately.
……
Correct typos first and then correct them
(End of this chapter)