Chapter 1370: A Life-or-Death Decision

At this moment, Austria, Vienna.

It was the second day after Liu Zheng received word that Xie Chan had been safely sent out of the city and had returned to his Dragon Flame Army.

Tomorrow, he would have a life-or-death duel with Franz.

At this time, a plain-looking horse carriage was wrapped in black curtains, dark and opaque.

The person sitting inside the horse carriage vaguely heard insults coming from the street.

"The Duke of Lorraine is truly a piece of trash; for the sake of that scourge of Vienna, he actually destroyed the fairness of the duel and sent assassins to kill."

"To be able to do such a shameful thing, he is simply the disgrace of the nobility."

"His grandson is incompetent in that regard, yet he keeps a mistress and even dares to strike our Grand Duke Theresa; I really hope he dies soon."

The Austrians on the street were discussing the most powerful duke in Austria, the Duke of Lorraine, and his grandson's bad deeds without the slightest restraint.

The guards on the street did not stop them either.

Because the people spreading this were Count Austin and the newly emerged great artist of Vienna, Yousefu.

Count Austin stood guard on the side, while Yousefu was there using the melodies of his songs to spread these matters.

This added even more authenticity to these events.

The Duke of Lorraine originally wanted to issue an order, but if he directly ordered their arrest, it would confirm that he had a guilty conscience.

But if he didn't arrest them, he would have to endure the songs and stories composed by these great artists and let them curse endlessly!

The person sitting in the carriage flickered their eyes upon hearing this.

With a soft chuckle, having experienced such things, the Duke of Lorraine's notoriety could be said to be known to all; if he wanted to issue any political decrees in Austria in the future...

These masses would likely not accept them, and might even raise the flag of rebellion.

This move is brilliant; the Duke of Lorraine's reputation is completely ruined.

However...

Thinking of this, the person in the carriage sighed: "He is still the most powerful duke in Austria."

As long as the Lorraine Family does not fall.

A ruined reputation will not hinder the transition of power.

Just at this moment, a voice sounded from outside the carriage.

"We have arrived."

The person inside the carriage responded, stepped out of the carriage, and her face was covered.

"Only one hour; I can only help you up to this point. As for the General..."

"I know, I will explain it clearly to Grandfather, don't you worry."

She looked at the familiar yet strange building and knocked on the door.

She had been here before, but she hadn't stayed long.

"Who is it?"

Liu Zheng opened the door and was stunned when he saw the visitor, feeling slightly taken aback; although the other party was covering her face, he recognized who she was at a glance.

"You..."

"Why, are you surprised? Won't you invite me in first?" The person smiled lightly, her beautiful eyes revealing a unique expression: "Baron..."

Liu Zheng instantly came back to his senses and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, please come in."

Before she stepped inside in her leather boots, she turned her head and instructed the person who had come with her: "You all stay outside and keep watch; I will come out in an hour."

That person did not respond, but just stood quietly at the doorway, taking it as a tacit agreement.

Walking into the house, she looked at everything here with curiosity like a young girl: "Liu Sheng, your place is actually quite nice."

Liu Zheng laughed, bowed slightly, and said calmly: "Miss Theresa, your arrival makes my humble dwelling shine."

"You saw through me." Theresa revealed an awkward smile and took off the veil covering her face.

The moment her face was revealed, Liu Zheng was startled.

It was not that he had never seen Theresa's face before, but at that time, Theresa's temperament was graceful, luxurious, and domineering.

She was the high and mighty Grand Duke of Austria, the person in power in this country.

But now...

Theresa's attire in this brown outfit looked exactly like a girl next door, an innocent and lively young lady.

There was not a trace of her usual luxurious temperament.

This was the first time he had seen Theresa like this.

Liu Zheng watched, somewhat dazed.

"Liu Sheng, do you know why I came to find you?"

Hearing this pleasant voice, Liu Zheng suddenly came back to his senses and shook his head blankly.

He didn't even know how Theresa had managed to get out.

According to what he understood, Theresa had been placed under house arrest and could only be released if he won the duel.

Therefore, to ensure Theresa's safety, Liu Zheng had spread word in Vienna about what the Duke of Lorraine had done, making them afraid to act rashly.

"Do you know, I originally only needed to discuss it with Grandfather Victor to sneak out and find you without anyone knowing."

"But ever since the Duke of Lorraine's scandal was exposed, the place where I was under house arrest has been surrounded by people from morning till night."

"It made Grandfather Victor so worried that he was terrified I would be threatened, so he strictly forbade me from coming to find you!"

"Do you know how much effort I spent to come find you?" Theresa said with quite a bit of resentment.

Liu Zheng rubbed his nose and gave an awkward laugh.

He had not expected things to turn out like this, so he immediately looked at his nose and focused his mind, remaining silent.

Teresa snorted, remembering what Grandfather Victor had told her: for her sake, Liu Sheng would rather die than leave, insisting on staying to complete this duel that was certain to end in death.

Thinking of Liu Sheng's duel with Franz, she could not help but feel worried.

"Liu Sheng, why won't you leave, and why are you still going to duel Franz?"

"Do you not know that you might... die?"

Liu Sheng's face was calm; that fellow Franz was probably still lying in bed right now.

"It doesn't matter, Franz is nothing to fear."

Teresa furrowed her beautiful brows and sighed: "If Franz duels you, you will definitely win, but Franz will absolutely not duel you."

"The Duke of Lorraine will definitely find a body double for Franz, and when that happens, you will be in danger."

Hearing this, Liu Zheng's face broke into a smile; he was actually afraid that Franz wouldn't play any tricks.

As long as Franz played tricks, once it was exposed, the Duke of Lorraine would be completely disgraced, and if he left Vienna immediately at that time, the Lorraine Family would suffer a total collapse in their reputation.

By that time, the Lorraine Family would no longer pose any threat to Teresa.

As long as Teresa was willing, she could completely rule Austria without the Lorraine Family getting in the way.

"You're still laughing!" Teresa stamped her feet in anxiety.

She did not understand why this Longyan was so indifferent to his own life and death.

She looked into Liu Sheng's eyes, gentle and moving, and suddenly thought of the fact that Liu Sheng already had a wife, her heart becoming incomparably complex.

"Liu Sheng, you should just leave; it's not worth it for my sake."

Teresa turned around, tears welling up in her eyes, constantly telling herself that she could not think of Liu Sheng, for he was a man with a wife.

But at this moment, Liu Zheng suddenly hugged Teresa gently from behind and said softly: "I will not just leave like this."

"I haven't yet fulfilled the promise I made to you."