Chapter 1346: The Duel

Teresa was stunned, looking at this Longyan in disbelief.

Hearing Liu Zheng's words, the Duke of Lorraine raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a mocking smile.

Franz laughed out loud without the slightest concealment: "Did I hear that right?"

"Respected Longyan, you say you want to help the Archduchess of Austria, Teresa, do what?"

Franz scrutinized Liu Zheng with extreme mockery, his laughter not hiding his derision in the slightest; looking at Liu Zheng now, he felt as if he were looking at a clown.

Xie Chan, however, turned serious, looking at Liu Zheng.

Others might not know, but in her heart, she understood that Liu Zheng dared to say such things because he had absolute certainty.

Someone who had become the Chief Minister of Longyan in less than six years; now, the entire Longyan was under his command.

Xie Chan watched Franz jumping around on Liu Zheng's head as if looking at a fool.

She really didn't know if Franz knew an ancient Longyan saying: Breaking ground on the head of Tai Sui is courting death!

The Duke of Lorraine laughed twice, looking at Liu Sheng with irony; he had originally thought Liu Sheng was a smart man, but he hadn't expected him to be just a fellow who only knew how to talk big.

"Liu Sheng, regarding the affairs of this country, you, a Longyan merchant, had better not think about interfering," the Duke of Lorraine said mockingly.

Count Austin frowned; he knew what abilities this Longyan before him had, but at most, he was just a great artist and a Longyan merchant.

Saying he wanted to help Archduchess Teresa in Austria sounded like a joke.

"Mr. Liu Sheng, you had better hurry back to Austria immediately..."

"Yes, yes, yes, hurry up and get lost," Franz clamored: "Be careful, if I catch you again one day, when Teresa is at home taking care of the child, no one will be able to save you."

Liu Zheng glanced at Franz and gave a laugh.

Bang!

Raising his fist, he suddenly attacked; before Franz could even react, he took a punch to the face, and immediately, blood flowed from his nose.

"Ah!" Franz screamed in pain, not expecting Liu Sheng to suddenly make a move.

And it was right in front of his grandfather; how could this be tolerated!

"You, you dare hit me!" Franz roared.

The Duke of Lorraine was stunned for a moment; only after hearing his grandson's roar did he come to his senses. Seeing Franz's nose bridge sunken and blood flowing, he was instantly furious.

Teresa felt a warmth in her heart, not expecting Liu Sheng to hit someone for her sake.

Count Austin was taken aback, not having anticipated that Liu Zheng would be so tough, hitting Franz right under the nose of the Duke of Lorraine.

"Someone, arrest him for me!" the Duke of Lorraine shouted angrily.

A squad of soldiers quickly rushed in, about to seize Liu Zheng, but there was no fear on Liu Zheng's face.

He stared at the Duke of Lorraine and said indifferently: "I want to challenge Franz to a duel!"

A duel.

The means by which Austrian Nobles resolve disputes; it is not permitted to refuse.

"Hmph, a duel? You are not worthy! Daring to hit a Noble is a capital offense!" the Duke of Lorraine roared.

"Take him away!"

Just at this moment, Teresa suddenly spoke.

"Duke of Lorraine, not long ago I already conferred upon Liu Sheng the title of Baron of our Austria; he is already a Noble of our Austria."

"A duel between Nobles cannot be refused; this rule, you know," Teresa smiled faintly.

Count Austin also reacted and hurriedly said: "That's right, a duel between Nobles cannot be refused."

Count Austin smiled with his old face, leaned in toward the Duke of Lorraine, and said: "Duke, you also know I love hosting parties; if you refuse, I cannot guarantee that this matter won't get out."

Hearing these words, the Duke of Lorraine's face turned dark; an Old Aristocrat like him valued reputation above all else.

The Duke of Lorraine glared fiercely at Teresa and Count Austin, knowing in his heart that he had no way to refuse this duel.

He looked at Franz again, who was still covering his nose, crying and wailing, and felt some despair in his heart.

To think that your grandfather has been a hero his whole life, how did I produce such a thing as you.

Crying over such a small injury?

"Franz!" the Duke of Lorraine shouted angrily.

Franz was there covering his nose: "Wuwuwu..."

"Franz!"

"Wuwuwu..."

The Duke of Lorraine, in a fit of rage, grabbed Franz by the hair and hauled him up; looking at his tear-streaked face, he felt even angrier.

"The duel, will you agree or not!"

As soon as Franz heard the word 'duel', and then looked at Liu Sheng, remembering the times he had been beaten up by Liu Zheng, he absolutely did not want to agree to this duel.

"I refuse..."

The Duke of Lorraine's expression changed, and he threatened Franz with his eyes.

Franz understood his grandfather's meaning in a second and had to say helplessly: "I accept."

"Very well, ten days from now, I and you, Franz."

"We shall decide life and death, and determine the victor!" Liu Zheng said coldly.

The Duke of Lorraine's eyes lit up, and he said: "Good, ten days later, see you at the arena!"

"As long as I win, Teresa's affairs must be decided by her herself; as for your bullshit 'maintaining rule', don't even think about forcing it onto a woman!" Liu Zheng said coldly.

Hearing these words, Teresa felt a warmth in her heart.

"Hmph!" The Duke of Lorraine snorted coldly, ignored Liu Zheng, and took Franz to look at Teresa.

"Teresa, don't forget that you are still the Archduchess of Austria, and don't forget who gave you this status!"

Teresa stared at the Duke of Lorraine with a face as cold as frost and said: "Duke of Lorraine, don't you forget either, it was you who begged me to be the Archduchess of Austria."

"My ability to become the Archduchess of Austria has absolutely nothing to do with that good-for-nothing grandson of yours."

The Duke of Lorraine's expression changed and he was about to speak, but was silenced by Teresa's next sentence.

"If I am unhappy, it is not impossible for me to give up this position."

"Franz can go back, and I will move out; very well, Duke of Lorraine, go back and discuss a strategy."

Teresa smiled lightly and said indifferently, "With the ability of that good-for-nothing grandson of yours, a duel with Liu Zheng would result in a certain loss!"

"Hmph! Let's go, Franz!" The Duke of Lorraine was left speechless by the rebuttal and left the place in a huff.

Liu Zheng watched the suddenly explosive Teresa with a hint of admiration, waiting until the Duke of Lorraine had walked far away.

Liu Zheng asked curiously, "You don't really want to give up the position of Archduchess of Austria, do you?"

Hearing this, Teresa gave a bitter smile; she had poured too much effort into Austria, and for the sake of the legitimacy of the Holy Roman Empire in Austria, she had not hesitated to launch a great war.

Opposing Longyan and Prussia.

Prussia was not to be feared, but Longyan was a nation that Austria did not want to provoke at present.

Although she cursed the Longyan Chief Minister, Liu Zheng, as a troublemaker every day, she actually admired him somewhat, having heard that it only took Liu Zheng five years to develop Longyan into what it was today.

"Archduchess of Austria..." To be honest, Teresa did not really want to give up this position, as she had poured too much effort into it.

She looked into Liu Zheng's eyes and said earnestly, "If possible, I would actually like to meet the Longyan Chief Minister, Liu Zheng, and ask him what he would do if he were facing such a situation."

Liu Zheng's heart skipped a beat.