Chapter 64: Two Women Clash

And who is this?

Zheng Yue Ru had just been thinking that this Young Master Liu had such a resounding reputation in Liangzhou, with so many female confidantes that it was "too much to look at"... and suddenly, here comes a woman in red, beautiful as a celestial being, with a fiery temper. Judging by her attire and bearing, she must come from a wealthy background; she is certainly not comparable to those women of the dust.

Sure enough.

As soon as Chen Ruoshi arrived, the bystanders exclaimed one after another, calling her the eldest daughter of the Chen family, the Prefect's daughter.

Liu Dahao was now addicted to crying; while wiping away tears, he wailed: "The Prefect's eldest daughter... what kind of sin has my Liu family committed? You come and judge this for us!"

"This, this, this... Old Man Liu, is he alright?"

Seeing Liu Zheng with his head tilted, appearing as if he were in a coma, Chen Ruoshi, who had just been speaking rudely, became gentle and lovely again.

Zheng Yue Ru's delicate body trembled, a slight bitterness rising in her heart. No wonder this Brother Liu, upon arriving in Yinzhou, didn't even look at Shen Manqing, turning a deaf ear to her expressions of affection; it turned out that even the Prefect's own daughter was so enamored with him...

Without realizing it, Zheng Yue Ru assumed a defensive posture, walking on Liu Zheng's side.

Sure enough, as soon as Chen Ruoshi saw Zheng Yue Ru, her willow eyebrows immediately stood on end, and she demanded sharply: "Who are you? Why are you walking so close to this dead ghost?"

Zheng Yue Ru retorted with a cold sneer: "And who are you? By what right do you ask me?"

Several men beside Chen Ruoshi shouted: "Audacious! You have seen the Prefect's daughter, why do you not pay your respects?"

The bystanders discussed it heatedly, thinking this woman from out of town was going to suffer for daring to exchange harsh words with the Prefect's daughter.

Zheng Yue Ru gave a light laugh, took a golden sachet from her waist, and said proudly: "I am Zheng Yue Ru, granted the title of 'Liang Merchant' by the Empress herself. Walking the world, I hold the equivalent of an official status. Should I fear you, a mere daughter of a Prefect?"

The crowd was in an uproar.

Chen Ruoshi's expression also changed slightly.

This title of "Liang Merchant" was, of course, not a true government position, but because Empress Zheng wanted to protect her own Zheng Family and grant them small favors, people across the world still gave her quite a bit of face. With the Empress backing her, it was indeed equivalent to an official status; even a Prefect would have to show some respect upon seeing it. Zheng Yue Ru traveled for business year-round, and wearing this item made things much more convenient.

"You, you, you..."

Chen Ruoshi was quite unconvinced and snorted coldly: "A mere merchant..."

Zheng Yue Ru, not knowing why, simply did not want to lose to the woman before her, and snorted coldly: "Miss Chen, be careful that disaster does not come from your mouth!"

Chen Ruoshi snorted coldly, knowing that the Empress would soon return to Liangzhou to visit her relatives; if she said any more, it might bring trouble to her father. She glared fiercely at Zheng Yue Ru, her focus returning to Liu Zheng, and she asked with concern: "Old Man Liu, quickly send Liu Zheng to a medical clinic! I will go and invite the best physician to treat him!"

Liu Dahao naturally would not agree, insisting on taking Liu Zheng to the Liangzhou Prefecture first to demand justice.

Now things were lively. As the capital city, Liangzhou's atmosphere was naturally much more open than other places. There were many powerful clans, dignitaries, and wealthy people on the streets, and the commoners followed along to join in the excitement. Listening to Liu Dahao's wailing along the way, they heard that this Young Master Liu had been assassinated by thieves because he had made the Yinzhou Prefecture's financial revenue and expenditure public?

Suddenly, the people were all enraged.

"How unreasonable!"

"Where is the Heavenly Principle? The Liu family's young master is innocent; why has he suffered such slaughter?"

"Sigh, I said it before, offending the powerful is too extreme..."

"The Liangzhou Prefecture is taking action—could it be that they have a guilty conscience?"

In a short time, thousands of people had gathered around Liu Dahao, all speaking up for this father and son of the Liu family. To say they were truly indignant for the "state of the world" would not be entirely accurate; many were likely just joining the fun. But people always have a herd mentality; emotions spread from one to another, and after some deliberate embellishment, the saying "three men make a tiger" took hold. By the time it reached the last person, that person's emotional volatility often exceeded that of those before them.

The road was filled with clamor and indignation.

At this moment, the Prefect, Chen Ping, had already arrived at the entrance with a group of officials. Seeing this situation, his face turned green.

Liu Dahao threw himself to the ground and wailed: "Prefect, you must grant my Yinzhou Prefecture justice! Even if I, Liu Dahao, have been an improper official, it should be handled according to the law. How could you assassinate us on the road?"

"That's right!"

"The Liangzhou Prefecture openly assassinating an official—what kind of order is this!"

"Lord Chen, what kind of logic is this?"

Chen Ping's face was dark, and he suppressed his anger. This Liu Dahao was afraid the world wouldn't be in chaos, pinning the crime on the Liangzhou Prefecture without a word, leaving him unable to argue. He could only say coldly: "County Marquis Liu holds an official status; you should speak only the truth!"

Liu Dahao looked at him coldly: "What, does your lordship think I am framing you?"

While speaking, Qin Zhangfeng stood out from the side, scattered a pile of weapons and Crossbow Bolts wrapped in cloth from his arms onto the ground, and snorted coldly: "Lord Chen, I'm afraid no one can imitate the weapons of the Liangzhou Prefecture, right? These are the weapons we found in the hands of the assassins who attacked us that day!"

The entire scene was in an instant state of chaos. At this moment, Liu Zheng, appearing to have suffered a great grievance, sat up from the stretcher, glared at Chen Ping, and suddenly shouted: "So your lordship is the type of person who dares to do it but dares not admit it! If my, Liu Zheng's, mere life can die for public justice, then so be it!"

Having finished speaking, he pulled out the half-broken Crossbow Bolt that was stuck in his chest with one hand.

"Ah!"

"Don't!"

"Young Master Liu!"

With a *ding* sound!

That Crossbow Bolt was indeed a specialized one from the Liangzhou Prefecture!

The crowd's expressions changed one after another. The weapons of the Liangzhou Prefecture were all crafted by specialized personnel and bore unique marks, making them very difficult to forge.

Looking at Liu Zheng again, blood was pouring out, and the scene was tragic. Liu Zheng's face was pale, but in the eyes of others, the Liu Zheng of this moment possessed the grit of a Liangzhou man, no longer comparable to the playboy he once was. Immediately, the crowd's emotions surged.

"This, this, this..."

Chen Ping was also stunned by this turn of events.

Chen Ruoshi looked coldly at her father and said miserably: "Father, is this true?"

Chen Ping said angrily: "Absolutely impossible! Would the Liangzhou Prefecture do such a sordid thing?"

The crowd still did not buy it.

Even those County Marquises and State Marquises who had come to report on their duties shook their heads one after another upon seeing this situation.

"My lord, this matter is truly too excessive."

"How can this make us feel at ease serving in Liangzhou?"

"That's right, if there is an issue, discuss the issue; if there is reason, discuss the reason. The dignified Liangzhou Prefecture actually resorting to assassination..."

"All of you, shut up!"

Chen Ping knew that it was impossible to follow the original plan to make things difficult for Liu Dahao today. He could only say coldly: "This matter must have a hidden cause. County Marquis Liu, rest assured, the Liangzhou Prefecture will certainly investigate strictly and give you an explanation! Counselor Luo?"

"This subordinate is here!"

"Arrange for County Marquis Liu and his party to stay at the Post House, serve them well, and protect their safety!"

"Yes!"

The crowd still wanted to make a scene, but after all, they did not dare to truly confront the Liangzhou Prefecture, so they could only clamor for a while longer before dispersing one after another.

"Hahahaha, look at that old thief Chen's face, satisfying, truly satisfying!"

Back at the Post House, Liu Dahao could no longer hold back, slapping his thigh and laughing out loud.

Zheng Yue Ru glared at him, then looked at Liu Zheng with concern: "Brother Liu, are you truly alright?"

At these words, Liu Dahao finally realized that for his sake, his son was the one who had truly sacrificed the most, and he looked over as well.

Liu Zheng chuckled and shook his head: "It wasn't deep to begin with, and since I couldn't let a physician from the Liangzhou Prefecture treat me and expose my fresh injury from today, I could only go through with that performance."

The physician nearby nodded, and the group finally felt at ease.

Zheng Yue Ru still rolled her eyes at Liu Zheng: "Regardless, you must not be so reckless next time!"

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly: "Is there any better method? That Chen Ping had already prepared the list of charges waiting for us; according to that old thief's nature, if Dad didn't die, he would at least have been skinned alive!"

Liu Dahao nodded in deep agreement.

Zheng Yue Ru also sighed slightly.

Liangzhou City was indeed a dragon's pool and tiger's den at this moment; if Liu Zheng wanted to pass this hurdle, he had to act with caution at every step.

"Young Master, that Miss Chen is still waiting for you outside!"

Jiang Xuan gave a sly smile.

Liu Zheng looked depressed, while Zheng Yue Ru glared coldly, causing Jiang Xuan to shrink his head in fear and stop speaking.

"Tell her I have already retired for the night."

Liu Zheng waved his hand, and Jiang Xuan ran out to handle it.

"The Liangzhou Prefecture is definitely not the one who assassinated us, so who could it be?"

Liu Zheng fell back into deep thought; he glanced at Zheng Yue Ru, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Zheng Yue Ru was startled: "Brother Liu, why do you look at me like that?"

Meanwhile, at the Liangzhou Prefecture.

"Preposterous, absolutely preposterous! Where is the credibility of our Liangzhou Prefecture today?"

Chen Ping was furious.

"My Lord, this matter is suspicious. I have heard a little about the Liu family father and son being assassinated, and it does not seem fake."

"Indeed, it must be someone else acting through our Liangzhou Prefecture's hands; it is truly vicious!"

A group of advisors analyzed.

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Ping's eyes as he gritted his teeth: "I have thought of this too. Could it be the work of the Baiya Army? But for a mere son of a Yinzhou County Marquis, they wouldn't be that wary."

"Indeed, who could it be?"

"Investigate, keep investigating for me, investigate strictly!"

Liu Zheng feigned relaxation and laughed loudly: "I was thinking, I originally intended to return to Liangzhou with strength, but today's incident can be considered utterly pathetic!"

Zheng Yue Ru glared at him: "With such a grand display, how can you call it pathetic?"

Liu Zheng said: "But this is also good; I can use my injury as an excuse to hide in the Post House and get busy with our affairs!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yue Ru's face brightened: "That's right, the Top Courtesan Competition is in three days. Does Brother Liu have any ideas?"

In truth, this was Liu Zheng's real purpose for coming to Liangzhou—he wanted to rely on this Top Courtesan Competition to build the reputation of his Soap and Perfume. This, in fact, was not a simple matter. As mentioned before, if you want to sell soap, having soap alone is not enough; you must instill the concepts of "bad breath" and "body odor" into people! The scenes in those transmigration novels where soap appears and shocks the world, with everyone scrambling to buy it, are purely bragging.

People in this era struggle just to be well-fed, so for this kind of higher-level life enjoyment, it is something they can easily do without.

In this case, who would buy it?

How can one form large-scale dumping and make money?

These are all things Liu Zheng needs to find a method for.

"Packaging!"

Liu Zheng chuckled.

Zheng Yue Ru leaned in to listen again; every time she discussed these things with Liu Zheng, she benefited greatly.

"Product tier packaging strategy, do you understand?"

Liu Zheng tapped the table.

Zheng Yue Ru listened carefully.

And Jiang Xuan had already taken out paper and pen, honestly waiting for Liu Zheng's teaching.