Chapter 456: Continuous Assassinations

Chapter 456: Continuous Assassinations

Chapter 456: Continuous Assassinations
"Bet on whether the Shen family will assassinate the envoy?"

Inside the shaking carriage, the Governor of the Grand Canal was stunned for a moment and asked hesitantly.

Zhao Duan lazily leaned on the cushion and murmured softly, "To be precise, I wonder if I will be assassinated."

Would the Shen family dare to kill him? Zhao Duan was not entirely sure.

In this era when imperial power had never extended to the countryside, it is difficult to understand the power of local "clan" unless you were there.

The promotion of the new policy is in fundamental conflict with the interests of the Shen family, not to mention the death of "Master Shen" that stands in the way.

In Zhao Duan's opinion, the biggest obstacle to the Shen family taking action is not his identity as "Grand Guardian".

He still remembered that a long time ago, the old eunuch had told him that during the previous emperor's time, there was a story about a eunuch who was very popular in the palace and was beheaded by the local people after he went out of the palace to purchase goods.

The biggest obstacle may be the many powerful guards around Zhao Duan.

In addition, what he did not make clear to Governor Ning was: Even if the Shen family did not take action, would Prince Jing's Mansion be at peace?
Prince Jing’s Mansion can put the blame on the Shen family once, so why can’t it happen a second time?

However, the Governor of the Grand Canal Transport Bureau was unable to think of these higher-level struggles due to his limited vision.

"Haha, maybe I'm overthinking it," Zhao Duan smiled and broke the solemn atmosphere: "By the way, has the news of my entry into the city spread yet?"

Seeing him change the subject, Governor Ning forced a smile:

"The prominent figures in Jianning Prefecture have all known that His Majesty will hold a Fengshan ceremony in Luoyang a long time ago. When they learned that the envoy was here under the order of the Emperor to prepare for the Fengshan ceremony, who would dare to neglect it?"

Throughout the dynasties, Fengshan was always a very grand event.

When the empress is enthroned, more than just Prince Jing and the Shen family are affected.
"Now, throughout Jianning Prefecture, and even in the two Jiangnan regions, countless people are eagerly waiting to meet His Excellency and make contributions in the Fengshan ceremony," said Governor Ning.

Zhao Duan thought about it and nodded:

"In this case, we can save time by meeting everyone one by one. Please arrange for me to meet with the gentry, wealthy people, and officials of various yamen in Jianning Prefecture tonight. This will also facilitate the preparations for the ceremony later."

Governor Ning agreed straightforwardly: "Okay."

……

The group returned to Jianning Prefecture and went straight to the Grain Transport Office. For the rest of the afternoon, Zhao Duan looked through case files in the office to learn about the progress of local new policies, official vacancies, and other situations.

As for the conflict with the Shen family, few people knew about it because all parties tacitly covered it up.

Nearing evening, Governor Ning brought back news that everything had been arranged. A welcoming banquet was scheduled for that evening at "Jingyuan". People from all walks of life in the city would gather together to pay homage to the great god "Zhao Duan" and also to try to seek a job in the Fengshan ceremony.

Zhao Duan nodded happily, and at dusk, he took a group of guards and went to Jingyuan with Governor Ning.

……

The so-called "Scenic Garden" is a river section where buildings, stone bridges, gardens and water veins are intertwined.

It is not a closed manor, but the most lively place in Jianning Prefecture at night. Lights are always on on both sides of the river. On the piece of land that protrudes from the Jinxiu River that flows through the city, pavilions and towers stand beside the water.

It’s a bit like the ancient version of “The Bund”.

When Zhao Duan arrived, the sky was getting dark. The quaint buildings were all lit up, the red shadows of lanterns were reflected in the river, and on the colorful flower boats decorated on the river, the city's famous singing girls and dancers were already in place.

The stringed instruments and orchestra, accompanied by unique southern tunes, create a very atmospheric atmosphere.

"There are so many people." Qian Kerou walked behind Zhao Duan, her eyes wide open in amazement.

Zhao Duan joked, "You look like you haven't seen the world, but Yanzhi Alley in the capital is not bad."

The secretary felt aggrieved: "I don't go to a brothel to listen to music. This is our first time meeting."

Yes, Xiaorou is an honest child. She clocks in and out at regular times and never fools around. In comparison, Hou Renmeng and Shen Juan, the two sultry troublemakers, are whispering and commenting on which dancer has a more perky butt.

"Haha, everyone in Jianning Prefecture is extremely encouraged by the arrival of Envoy Zhao..." a local celebrity greeted him flatteringly.

"Sir Zhao, it's me. We've met in the capital." A wealthy businessman greeted him with surprise.

"Your Excellency..."

"Zhao Shaobao..."

In Jingyuan, in addition to the walking waiters, celebrities from all walks of life had already gathered. When they saw the main person coming, they all came over enthusiastically.

The palace and the Shen family may not give face to Zhao Duan, but others dare not offend them. At least they have to be respectful on the surface.

With a smile on his face, Zhao Duan was surrounded by a group of important figures in the city and was led to the table, during which some formal greetings were inevitable.

However, today was a "welcoming banquet", and both sides tacitly did not mention the Fengshan event.

Governor Ning smiled and introduced the people present to Zhao Duan one by one. Zhao Duan then compared the unfamiliar faces, some flattering, some enthusiastic, some forcing a smile, and some secretly wary, with the information he had read in the afternoon.

The scene was extremely harmonious and friendly.

Only no one from Prince Jing's Mansion and the Shen family was present.

This undoubtedly sends a certain signal.

After a lively moment, the banquet began and the prepared song and dance performance officially started.

Although waitresses dressed in cool clothes held expensive utensils and placed the delicacies in front of him, Zhao Duan did not rush to pick up his chopsticks.

Among the masters of the palace, a eunuch suddenly stood up, took out a special magic weapon, a silver needle, and checked the food in front of Zhao Duan one by one.

After trying several dishes in a row, the eunuch's eyes suddenly narrowed as the silver needle was pulled out of a bowl of soup. He put the silver needle stained with soup into his mouth, smacked it, and whispered to Zhao Duan:
"Sir, it is a colorless and tasteless 'entrance poison' that is enough to kill ordinary God Realm realms."

Then you dare to try it? Oh, you are an expert in poisons, and you have developed immunity to all poisons. It's okay then... Zhao Duan calmly ordered: "Go check it out, don't make any noise."

Tang Jinzhong and Song Jinxi stood up in unison and walked towards the kitchen. After a while, they returned and said calmly:

"As soon as we entered, someone swallowed poison and died."

Zhao Duan nodded and said, "Sit down and watch the show."

Then he turned his head and looked at Governor Ning, who was sitting next to him with a stiff expression, and smiled:

"What's wrong, Governor? Eat, don't worry, every dish we eat has been checked by the palace's poison expert."

Governor Ning stared blankly at Zhao Duan, who was calm and unperturbed by the assassination.

He turned his head and looked at the calm appearance of the guards around him, including Eunuch Hai, Prajna Bodhisattva and others. He felt a little dazed and had a strong sense of unreality:

"Sir, if I heard correctly, someone just poisoned you to death."

"Yes, didn't I tell the governor? The assassination attempt against me will come soon." Zhao Duan looked as if he was used to it.

Governor Ning opened his mouth and suddenly looked at Qian Kerou, who looked the youngest and most immature among the people at the table:

"Aren't you surprised?"

The round-faced secretary glanced at him and said confidently:

"When has my master not encountered assassination attempts every time he went out? Even in the capital, he encountered them occasionally. What's so surprising about that?"

The others nodded, looking as if it was a matter of course.

“……” The Governor of the Grand Canal closed his mouth, put down his chopsticks silently, and decided not to eat a single bite of food tonight.

The singing and dancing before my eyes also seemed strange.

Fortunately, this table was the main seat, some distance away from the other celebrities at the banquet in Jingyuan. To outsiders, it seemed that Zhao Duan had just ordered his men to go out, and no one knew that a poisoning had just occurred here.

"it is good……"

Zhao Duan was sitting cross-legged lazily when he suddenly cheered loudly. It turned out that a song and dance had just ended on the huge deck of the flower boat floating on the water.

In the center of many beautiful women wearing local characteristic gauze clothes, there was a woman wearing a light pink gauze skirt, with snow-white skin, a jeweled gold hairpin on her head, and outstanding appearance and singing and dancing. She was the most famous courtesan in Jianning Prefecture.

It is said that she has never been touched by anyone since her debut, and the ticket for a meeting with her for tea alone has been sold for five hundred taels per ticket... and that's for the last row.

At this moment, the famous courtesan lady in Jianchengdao finished her song, gently threw the guqin in her hand, jumped into the water, and stirred up a cloud of waves.

Then, accompanied by the sound of splashing water and continuous drumbeats, Zhao Duan sat cross-legged in the center of the pavilion, leaning over the river. He looked down, and when the drumbeats ended, the river suddenly burst into waves, and a figure broke through the water.

At this moment, streams of energy were as dense as a net, blocking the surroundings, but Zhao Duan just held a wine cup with his fingers and smiled indifferently.

Looking down at the water, the courtesan was soaking wet, her clothes almost hiding her fair and smooth figure, and emerged like a white carp. Her wet black hair hung down, and in her red lips was a plump and lush rose that shouldn't grow in this season. She tilted her head back, holding onto the edge of the pavilion with both hands, and looked into the eyes of Zhao Duan, who was looking down at her and listening to the music.

"Don't panic, it's just a woman."

Zhao Duan smiled indifferently, but ignored the courtesan who was waiting to be salvaged from the water. He drank the wine cup in his hand, which drew cheers and applause from dozens of gentry in the city.

The banquet lasted until very late, and the guests gradually dispersed. Jingyuan had already arranged bedrooms for Zhao Duan and his party, so they could stay there.

Governor Ning took the initiative to say goodbye and leave because his wife and daughter were waiting for him in the yamen and it was not convenient for him to get involved with other women.

"Everyone, be alert and be careful."

The drunken Zhao Duan said this, turned around and staggered towards the most distinguished bedroom on the bank of Jingyuan River under the resentful gaze of Prajna Bodhisattva.

……

When he pushed open the door and walked into the room covered with expensive carpets and lit by four bright lights, his originally drunken eyes suddenly became clear, without showing the slightest sign of drunkenness.

He waited for a moment with his hands behind his back. The room was silent except for the burning of the candle in the lampshade and the sound of ripples on the river surface caused by the wind outside.

No...there's also...the sound of breathing.

Zhao Duan took a step and walked to the bedside. Through the veil, he vaguely saw a figure lying on his bed.

He raised his hand and lifted the gauze curtain, and what he saw was a slender curve of a woman lying on her side. The most famous courtesan in the city, who was no less famous than anyone in the capital, was only wearing a gauze skirt and sleeping on her side.

From bottom to top, there are the snow-white lotus feet, the firm round buttocks, the hair that seems messy but is actually orderly, and the beautiful "back chest" under the neck.

Zhao Duan asked with interest: "Are you an assassin too?"

The eyelashes of the courtesan who was sleeping on her side trembled slightly and her breathing became a little disordered.

Zhao Duan smiled and said:

"Food and sex are human nature. You know that I have many experts around me and it is meaningless to kill them by force. So you change your strategy. First you start with food and then with sex... You are willing to spend time and effort. Don't pretend to sleep. Your breathing rhythm has already betrayed you."

The oiran remained motionless.

Zhao Duan sighed softly, walked slowly to the bedside, sat down lovingly with her, and said:

"Let me think about it. Where did you hide the murder weapon? Was it a sharp hairpin in your hair, or a deadly poison between your teeth? It can't be..."

With every possibility he mentioned, the nerves of the courtesan who was lying on her side pretending to be asleep became more tense.

Finally, she couldn't stand the invisible pressure anymore, opened her eyes, covered her face and cried:
"Please kill me, sir."

Surrendering now? Yes, a female assassin who obviously had no trace of martial arts training and no reason to be a master of magic...

Except for the time between the bed and the time when I was most relaxed, there was a chance for her to succeed in the assassination. As long as a high-level Divine Chapter like me was prepared, she would definitely not be able to succeed in the sneak attack...

Zhao Duan smiled as his mind turned, and suddenly, without any warning, he knocked the woman unconscious with a knife!

When the oiran fell down in shock, her hands that were covering her face dropped down, revealing a thin metal tube that she was holding between her teeth, ready to fire poison gas.

“No creativity.”

Zhao Duan muttered, stood up, pushed the door open and walked out of the room, complaining to the old eunuch in a python robe guarding the door:

"Father-in-law, you are really doing your duty by keeping an eye on me."

Eunuch Hai gathered his sleeves, snorted, and said:
"His Majesty has said that we should keep an eye on you and make sure you don't get swallowed by that witch."

Am I that kind of person? I am devoted to Zhen Bao, and heaven and earth can bear witness to that. I would not touch an old nun in her 50s, let alone an inexplicable courtesan... Zhao Duan had a hurt expression on his face, and then frowned and said:

"Father-in-law, I feel like something is wrong."

"What's wrong? Didn't you expect that they would come to assassinate you? You even guessed what method they might use." Eunuch Hai asked curiously.

Zhao Duan said seriously:

“Don’t you think that these two assassinations were too easy? Although it seems that there were indeed opportunities to kill me, whether it was the poison that was enough to kill a Divine Chapter Realm, or the female assassin who was used as a death squad… they all cost a lot of money, and only the top forces in Jianning Prefecture could arrange it so quickly… but…”

He said seriously, "It's still too 'simple'. Didn't the person who made the move expect that I would be extra cautious these days? Why were they so eager to act? They couldn't even wait a day?"

Eunuch Hai thought for a moment and said:
"Perhaps the other party guessed your thoughts, so he is betting against you and betting that you will be relaxed today."

"No, that doesn't make sense." Zhao Duan frowned and shook his head.

"I believe that the other party is not stupid enough to think that this level of assassination can really hurt me... I am not Ning Zechen..."

Suddenly, Zhao Duan was stunned, and a flash of inspiration flashed through his mind.

He suddenly raised his head, his expression changed slightly:
"Oh no, I know who their target is!"

……

……

Late at night on the street, Ning Zechen rode in a horse-drawn carriage and stopped outside the gate of the Caoyun Yamen.

In the darkness of night, the two lonely lights at the gate of the yamen looked a little desolate. The old gatekeeper of the yamen heard the noise, rubbed his eyes, got up and opened the door, and said in surprise:
"Governor, you're back?"

"What are you talking about? Do I look like someone who doesn't come home at night?" Governor Ning, who was born as a son-in-law, said righteously.

The old concierge didn't dare to say a word, thinking that when the madam was not in town, you wouldn't have spoken so firmly.

The door opened, the carriage entered the yard, and was pulled to the stable by the gateman.

Ning Zechen walked into the back court, the courtyard where he lived, and found that the lights in the house were still on, and there was a faint shadow of a woman imprinted on the window.

Madam Ning heard the noise, stood up and opened the door. The demure and dignified woman breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her husband coming back: "You're back?"

"Well, I'm back."

"Where is Lord Zhao?"

"I stayed at Jingyuan... Is my daughter asleep?"

"Fell asleep."

As the couple was talking, Mrs. Ning helped the governor take off his outer robe and fetched water for washing feet, which made Ning Zechen flattered.

After talking for a while, Ning Zechen asked his wife to go to the bedroom to sleep, saying that he still needed to look through some official documents. He then put on a single layer of clothes and thought about what happened today in the study:
Zhao Duan arrested the Shen family... Prince Jing arrived... The food in Jingyuan was poisoned at night...

"Why are they so bold? Are they trying to rebel? Your Majesty will be visiting Jiancheng Road soon... How dare they do this at this critical moment..."

Ning Zechen paced back and forth, unable to figure it out.

Suddenly, he heard the faint sound of tiles breaking in the yard.

He was stunned, a warning sign arose in his heart, he drew the sword from the weapon rack, pushed the door and walked out of the study.

In the courtyard, the night was as cool as water, and the light of the stars and the moon was shining. Ning Zechen stood in the courtyard with a sword in his hand, looking around. Seeing that there was nothing unusual, he breathed a sigh of relief and said self-deprecatingly:
"You scare yourself..."

However, just as he was about to turn around and go back to the house, four killers who blended into the night suddenly jumped out from the dark corner!

Silently, like a poisonous snake, it lies dormant for a long time, just to launch a fatal blow at the moment when its prey relaxes!
"who?"

Ning Zechen suddenly turned around and swung his sword down on the head. With a "clang" sound, the sword tip collided with the dagger of an assassin and knocked him back.

However, another dagger pierced into his back with a "puff" sound.

Governor Ning felt a piercing pain, and all his strength seemed to be lost at this moment.

He widened his eyes, swung his sword with all his might, and forced back another assassin from the side. He stepped back several steps and shouted loudly:
"There are assassins!!"

(End of this chapter)