Chapter 273: A Great Dilemma

Chen Ruoshi?

Liu Zheng was shaken to his core.

That instantaneous feeling reminded him of this woman who was once the number one daughter of Liangzhou. The Chen Ruoshi of the past had been arrogant and peerless, the dream lover of countless men.

And now...

Chen Ping has fallen into ruin, his entire clan to be executed!

How could Chen Ruoshi possibly escape that?

Over these past few days, news of Chen Ruoshi being on the run had spread throughout all of Liangzhou. Because of public outrage, Chen Ruoshi bore the brunt of it. Many people had spontaneously organized to search for this daughter of a traitor, and an atmosphere where everyone felt entitled to kill her had been created. Portraits of Chen Ruoshi were posted everywhere.

When Liu Zheng first received the news, he had also asked others to keep an eye out for her.

Fortunately, the plague in Dunhuang had just subsided, and social order was still gradually recovering, so people had not yet noticed.

Is she in Dunhuang?

Liu Zheng's heart skipped a beat.

"Young Master, what is wrong?"

Chang Shuwen saw the unusual look on Liu Zheng's face and asked.

Liu Zheng shook his head and did not speak.

Under these circumstances, with the whole city watching, it would be no surprise if Chen Ruoshi were to be skinned and dismembered in public if she appeared. But immediately after, Liu Zheng also began to worry...

As a modern man, he had always insisted that crimes should not implicate one's family.

Chen Ping committed treason and was guilty, but Chen Ruoshi had not... Moreover, in Liu Zheng's eyes, Chen Ruoshi actually had a simple personality and a kind heart; she had been well-protected by Chen Ping and had no malicious intentions.

To be beheaded because of her father's crimes.

Liu Zheng felt that it was quite unjust.

But there was no Method.

This is the feudal dynasty, feudal society, feudal system, and feudal law.

Amidst the crowd, Chen Ruoshi also seemed to sense Liu Zheng's gaze. Her mood at this moment was undoubtedly the most complex.

At this time, Liu Zheng was high-spirited and unrivaled in his glory.

He was about to become the Crown Prince of a King of a Different Surname...

But what about her?

Veiled, she could have actually fled Dunhuang long ago, but she stayed here just to take one last look at Liu Zheng, just one more look...

The Chen Ruoshi of today...

What was left for her in this world? Her parents were about to be beheaded...

All that past glory had just vanished like that.

That peaceful and affluent life, everything that people envied.

It felt as if, at this moment.

She had no desire to live.

She only wanted to look at Liu Zheng one more time, and then return to Liangzhou to await the imperial court's judgment.

She would not flee, and she did not want to flee.

However...

Just as Liu Zheng turned his head to gaze at her, she felt a bit panicked. In this panic, she did not notice that her veil had been caught by a basket carried by a farmer next to her due to the crowding. As she lowered her head and retreated in terror, the veil was ripped off.

"Ah!"

She could not help but cry out, hurriedly covering her face.

However, it was already too late...

This cry made the surrounding people look over with concern; after all, this Red-clothed Fairy had been quite popular in Dunhuang city recently. Everyone knew that a Red-clothed Fairy had recently appeared in Dunhuang, kind-hearted, here to spread love and peace in the world, and so on.

However...

With this look.

The people in the area around Chen Ruoshi all froze.

They looked at Chen Ruoshi's face, and then the portrait on the wanted poster flashed through their minds.

"Chen Ruoshi!"

"It's her!"

"She is the daughter of the traitor!"

"Seize her!"

One person roared, and the whole scene descended into chaos.

Chen Ruoshi retreated in terror, covering her face, tears streaming down her cheeks under the pressure of the crowd, shaking her head frantically.

"It's her!"

"It really is her!"

"Good, so much for the Red-clothed Fairy, it's all a lie!"

"She is Chen Ping's daughter, the daughter of the traitor!"

"Burn her!"

"Beat her to death!"

The crowd was instantly in turmoil.

Chen Ruoshi felt miserable inside, clutching her head in helplessness, curling her whole body into a ball.

"Stop!"

Liu Zheng quickly discovered the situation here and galloped over on horseback.

Many children had already spat fiercely on Chen Ruoshi's face; at this moment, Chen Ruoshi was covered in saliva, footprints, and dust, hiding in a corner, in a state of utter wretchedness.

"No, no..."

Hearing Liu Zheng's voice, Chen Ruoshi wanted even less for him to see her in this wretched state, covering her face as she screamed and wailed.

Liu Zheng felt a pang of pain in his heart and dismounted to walk over.

"Young Master, she is the daughter of a traitor to the state!"

"Young Master, she is a wanted criminal, everyone has the right to punish her!"

"Young Master..."

Liu Zheng grew angry: "All of you, move aside! If she has committed a crime, the laws of the state will surely punish her; it is not for us to kill her!"

Seeing Liu Zheng so angry, the crowd hurriedly scattered; no one dared to offend the dignity of Governor Liu. Liu Zheng saw the trembling Chen Ruoshi, took a deep breath, took off his own coat, covered her with it, helped her up by her delicate body, and whispered, "Let's go."

"I, I, I..."

Chen Ruoshi burst into unrestrained tears.

The people who had been extremely angry just moments ago, seeing Governor Liu act this way, all retreated.

"Young Master..."

Chang Shuwen also rushed over, and seeing this scene, he reminded Liu Zheng.

"No need to say more!"

Liu Zheng knew they would surely try to persuade him; since Chen Ruoshi had already appeared, she should be escorted back to Liangzhou to await the imperial court's judgment...

But...

How could Liu Zheng allow such a thing to happen!

"Say no more..."

Jiang Xuan nudged Chang Shuwen and gave a secret, knowing smile; in reality, many people had heard the story between Liu Zheng and Chen Ruoshi... touching her bottom, writing a few poems, and then Chen Ping nearly killing the Liu father and son, only to be saved by Chen Ruoshi. The love, hate, and grievances between them had long since spread throughout the Longyan Dynasty.

It was a subject of much discussion.

Jiang Xuan had been thinking just before... if this Chen Ruoshi could escape from here, it would be a happy ending for all.

However, now...

She was actually still in Dunhuang, still helping to fight the epidemic here—she truly had a big heart.

Chen Ruoshi was the daughter of a traitor to the state, condemned by all under heaven. The Emperor himself was coming to Liangzhou; if a criminal's daughter were missed, many people would likely suffer for it.

Therefore.

This was now a bit difficult to handle.

He knew Liu Zheng's character: he repaid kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity; he would certainly not be willing to hand this Chen Ruoshi over to the imperial court...

Send her to the Western Regions?

That was indeed a Method.

However, the Silk Road to the Western Regions and the Hexi Corridor were not easy to travel right now; if any mishap occurred on the road, it would certainly not align with Liu Zheng's original intention...

Then what should be done?

Jiang Xuan felt a headache coming on.

"Don't come over, don't come over, I beg you, don't come over!"

Liu Zheng sent Chen Ruoshi into a room, and soon Chen Ruoshi wailed and locked the door.

Outside the door, Liu Zheng said softly, "Miss Chen..."

"No, I am no longer any Miss Chen, no longer... I am just the daughter of a criminal, the daughter of a traitor to the state. Please, don't come in, don't talk to me!"

Chen Ruoshi wept, crying heart-rendingly: "Send me back to Liangzhou, I deserve this, I deserve this!"

"I should be executed by slow slicing, slow slicing!"

Liu Zheng said with a pained heart: "Miss Chen, rest assured, since you saved my father and me back then, today, I will not let anything happen to you!"

"Stay here in peace, leave the rest to me to handle."

After saying this, Liu Zheng nodded to the maidservant beside him and then turned to leave.

Chen Ruoshi sat on the ground in misery.

Is it like this?

Is it only because I saved his life, right?

But...

Even so...

Just this one sentence.

He is still that Governor Liu whom all the women in the world are infatuated with, isn't he?

This is who he is.

This is the real him.

Chen Ruoshi sat on the ground, hugging herself, and gave a sorrowful smile.

"Young Master, absolutely not!"

"Young Master, this..."

"My son!"

Back at the manor, a group of people looked at Liu Zheng anxiously.

Liu Zheng actually wanted to protect Chen Ruoshi!

How can this be!

Qingyang Shuo also frowned and said, "Young Master, Chen Ruoshi is a wanted criminal, the focus of the world, and the masses are calling for her execution. The Emperor even personally went to Liangzhou to order her beheading. Today's events must have already spread throughout the world; rumors can be as terrifying as a tiger, and public opinion is to be feared!"

"Indeed!"

"Young Master, you must think carefully!"

The others also chimed in one after another.

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly: "Sir, how could I not understand your meaning? But back in Liangzhou, when Chen Ping plotted to kill me, it was Chen Ruoshi who saved us from the fire. How can I not repay a life-saving grace? If she had escaped, it would be one thing, but since she appeared in Dunhuang today, if I, Liu Zheng, were to kick someone while they are down, how would the people of the world view me?"

"This..."

The group looked at each other in dismay.

Liu Zheng's words also made sense.

People in ancient times still placed great importance on the spirit of chivalry. Haven't you seen that whether it was during the Three Kingdoms period or later dynasties, many who killed for their mothers or for their confidants were not criticized, but rather praised? Even if they were wanted, after becoming wanderers, they would still be accepted by others and served with fine wine and meat.

This was also considered a fine tale.

Nowadays, Liu Zheng's reputation as a virtuous man has spread throughout the world. But if he were to disregard a life-saving grace, it would also be brought up against him.

Therefore...

Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have always been difficult to reconcile.

Chen Ruoshi.

Instantly became a major dilemma.

They looked at one another.

For a moment, no one had a Method.

Seeing Qingyang Shuo's expression suddenly shift, Liu Zheng asked with great joy: "Sir, do you have a way to satisfy both sides?"

【Author's Note】

Thanks to 1534 for the "Bullish" tip, and thanks to Wang Ping for the New Year red envelope, thank you.