mtl008 Chapter 257 Talents Defeat Mother
Chapter 257 Talents Defeat Mother
When Jiang Changle came out of the space again, he changed into a blue men's suit, put on a high ponytail on his head, and made his facial features look tougher.
Holding a painted fan, he instantly turned into an elegant young wolf, no, a young man.
Well, if you put on an exquisite silver-white mask, it will look even more mysterious.
A white horse appeared in the space. This noble young man stunned the people on the road.
The West Market was in turmoil. Even after that group of officers and soldiers left, beastmen continued to flock there. After all, they had nowhere to go, and females were rare. Most of the beastmen were old, weak, sick, and disabled.
Jiang Changle rode a white horse and took the middle road this time. No one dared to stop her or cause trouble, allowing her to quickly and smoothly find the Lu family's shop.
After handing the horse over to the waiter at the door, she went to the shopkeeper and asked, "Boss, are the shoes I ordered ready?"
A young, deep male voice rang out in the store, as if it were a heavenly sound. Customers in the store turned around, imagining the face beneath the silver mask.
The shop owners were all confused. When did their shop start accepting custom orders? The shoe workshop was far away in Beijing, which was not convenient at all.
However, to be the manager of the Lu family caravan, he must be experienced and capable. "Sir, please show me your token. I'd like to see when it was custom-made."
"Okay."
Jiang Changle took out Lu Xingyuan's identity token, and the boss' pupils shrank after just one glance.
"Sir, your shoes are indeed ready. Please come with me to the inner room to try them on and see if they fit you properly."
The boss bent slightly and led Jiang Changle to the backyard.
"Who is that person? I have never seen him in Liuqi County." When has such a prominent figure appeared in Liuqi County? They knew the local forces very well.
"Maybe he's from Kyoto~" Something happened to the county lord's family, the dynasty would definitely send people to investigate, and it's really rare to see a male in a high position at such a young age.
For a moment, the females in the store became more active.
In the backyard, the shop owner lifted his clothes and knelt down towards Jiang Changle, "Young Master, why are you here?"
Now the little princess of the Lu family is the beastly husband of the fourth princess and has given birth to four children. She has a bright future. These small shopkeepers feel honored to serve the Lu family, and at the same time they dare not neglect their noble master.
Jiang Changle took off his mask and smiled with curved eyebrows, "I am Xingyan's wife."
Jiang Changle used her mask to hold up the shopkeeper's kneeling hands, but as soon as she finished her words, the shopkeeper fell to the ground.
"Father-in-law, Princess?" Smoke was rising from the Chen family's ancestral tomb? He actually witnessed the Fourth Princess's day with his own eyes?
The owner of the shoe store is called Chen Hong, who is about forty years old. He has been in charge of the business in six cities and three counties for the Lu family since Lu's mother's time.
"Yes, I am a princess, not a eunuch. Manager Chen, there is no need to be so polite. Please sit down and talk."
Chen Hong's heart was beating wildly. He got up and sat down on the chair obediently. "Hey, hey, okay~"
But that's not right. The distinguished guest is still standing. He jumped up and said, "Princess, please sit down. Please sit down."
The corners of Jiang Changle's mouth twitched, "Am I scary?" She sat casually on a chair beside her.
Shopkeeper Chen took several deep breaths and finally suppressed his excited and trembling body.
"You are not scary, but you are respectable. I admire Your Highness."
It is said that 90% of the Jiang family's products are made by Her Royal Highness the Princess. Is there anyone in the world smarter than the Fourth Princess?
Anyway, Manager Chen has met all kinds of people, but no one can compare to Jiang Changle.
"Thank you. I think I'm pretty good too."
Shopkeeper Chen laughed so hard that he was silly. The princess was so easy-going and had no airs at all, but she made people want to respect her even more.
"Hey, Princess, wait a moment. I'll make tea for you." He wanted to make it himself, using the best tea sets and tea leaves that he had hidden away.
"No need, Manager Chen, please sit down. I have something urgent to ask you." If we delay any longer, it will be dark.
Shopkeeper Chen immediately thought of the situation in the sixth and seventh counties. His heart tightened and he immediately looked outside vigilantly. He even ran over and closed the door.
"Princess, if you ask, I will tell you everything I know." Shopkeeper Chen certainly did not dare to sit on the same level with the princess, so he bowed and waited for orders.
"What's going on in County 67? Have you heard anything?"
Shopkeeper Chen frowned. In addition to doing business, the Lu family also paid attention to collecting information.
But everyone knows that the Lu family and the Fourth Princess are close, so naturally some things are deliberately avoided by the Lu family.
"I only know that the war outside the city is real. It started as early as after the snow melted after the New Year. People in our Lu family saw those soldiers with their own eyes. They spoke fluent Western languages and had Westernized appearances.
It was also at that time that the Zhou family army was stationed in six or seven counties to garrison, but they charged expensive protection fees to the citizens for entering the city.
Because of this matter, the county lady quarreled with Zhou's army for a long time, and was finally framed and beheaded in public. Now the county lady's head is still hanging on the city wall.
Alas, fate plays tricks on us. Princess Zhao is actually a very good official and has done a lot of practical things for the citizens.
Princess, you may not know that our six or seven counties had the lowest death toll from the snowstorm last year. It wasn't because of anything the Second Princess did on her fiefdom, it was all thanks to County Master Zhao's family.
Especially her youngest son has put in a lot of effort, and the young boy's talent is better than his mother's.
It's a pity that he was dragged to the city gate some time ago, and I'm afraid he is in great danger.
All the females of the Zhao family were sent to the army. They weren't sent to fight on the battlefield, but to be used by the soldiers... well, princess, you should know that, right?
The fourth princess came from the army, so she must know more about what goes on in the army.
"Hmm~" Jiang Changle also knew that the females of the Zhao family would probably be sent to be reproductive tools, which would be even worse than being military prostitutes.
"Who's in charge of the government office now?"
"Zhou Fugui, he has been managing six or seven counties for the Second Princess for a long time. He is also the Deputy County Master, appointed by the Second Princess herself.
The two county ladies have always been at odds with each other, and Zhou Fugui probably contributed to the downfall of the Zhao family.
There's another strange thing: starting a year ago, adult females have been mysteriously disappearing in six or seven counties within a hundred miles, and their whereabouts have yet to be found."
Shopkeeper Chen wondered if County Master Zhao had discovered something, and that this was related to Zhou Fugui, so when the Zhou army entered the city, Zhou Fugui took advantage of the situation and killed County Master Zhao.
Jiang Changle pounded the table in thought, "Those females were captured by the Zhou family army and used to give birth. I don't know how many are still alive now? And I don't know what they'll do with the babies they gave birth to~"
Before Jiang Changle left, Lu's mother gave her a list, stating which people in the Lu family were trustworthy and useful, including Chen Hong.
So after Jiang Changle saw Chen Hong's portrait, he told the whole story. After all, Manager Chen did not hide anything.
Shopkeeper Chen gasped at Jiang Changle's words, "Oh my God! What on earth do the Zhou family want to do?"
He suddenly thought of the Gu corpses from Jiusan County that he had heard about not long ago, and the undead army.
Females in six or seven counties started going missing a year ago. How many babies have they given birth to since then?
For a moment, Shopkeeper Chen felt terrified.
"What does the Zhou family want to do? Just check and you'll know. I don't think it's a good thing, and it should be very dangerous.
The first key person we know now is Zhou Fugui. Tell me where he lives.
In addition, someone from the Zhao family has already gone to rescue Mr. Zhao and the female members of the Zhao family. The specific situation is still unknown. Manager Chen, please be prepared to receive them. In this case, we will need a secret place to live. Do you have any recommendations?
We showed our identities at the city gate and said we were doing business with the Lu family. To avoid any trouble, we shouldn't get too close to Manager Chen.
Finally, where is the Zhou family army stationed? There should be a place where innocent women and babies are imprisoned. I also want to go explore it.
There are quite a lot of things happening, and as time goes on, their actions will become bigger and bigger. Jiang Changle doesn't want to implicate Manager Chen.
Shopkeeper Chen understood and was very touched. Her Royal Highness the Princess was such a kind person. Even if he didn't have a house, he would still find a place to live.
"Yes, yes, yes. I have a few private houses in the city. They're not occupied yet and no one knows about them. I'll give you the keys in a moment."
However, he cannot lead the way, otherwise others will know that a powerful force has contacted him, which will hinder Her Royal Highness the Princess's future actions.
"As for the Zhou family's army, I actually know about it. We once delivered shoes to their doorstep.
Before guarding six or seven counties, the Zhou army was stationed in a valley a hundred miles west of the city.
Now there is a group living in the north of the city. According to the amount of food consumed, there are about 50,000 people. Together with the local troops outside the six or seven counties, there are more than 80,000 people.
Your Highness, how many people are you bringing this time? How big a house do I need? How much supplies do I need?
Although the princess did not intend to let him take risks, there were not many opportunities to serve the princess. Who could be sure that he could not fight for a future for himself?
The Lu family's wages are very high, but the Jiang family may be promising an official position. They have been preparing for many years, so it is impossible for Manager Chen to not have capable people around him. Besides, wealth and honor are sought in danger, and these businessmen have always been very bold.
Shopkeeper Chen's blood boiled. He had a premonition that this time he would be able to make it big. If he worked hard and followed the princess forward, he would see a brighter dawn.
But Jiang Changle only held up three fingers, "Three people, including myself."
But they can fight against ten thousand or even more people at once, really.
Shopkeeper Chen obviously didn't believe it and was dumbfounded. After a long while, he said with difficulty, "Three, three?"
Three people against an army of 80,000? Is the princess serious? Shopkeeper Chen's legs suddenly felt weak and he had difficulty breathing.
"Well, we are outnumbered, but we can outsmart them."
Jiang Changle has already figured out how to divide Zhou's army. Can having a child help her get promoted and make money?
You're overthinking it. Everyone is just an experimental subject of the Zhou family, and they have been controlled early on. If they take any inappropriate action, they will be poisoned to death.
Just imagine, those who can hand over 10,000 silver coins to serve as sowing soldiers are definitely not the lowest-level soldiers, regardless of their status and strength. If the middle-level forces in the army rebel, how chaotic will the Zhou family army be?
Jiang Changle was eager to get involved.
Shopkeeper Chen took a deep breath and wiped his face fiercely. Based on past experience, he had to trust the Fourth Princess, so he did it.
"I'll get the key to your house. It's in the civilian area of Osmanthus Alley in the south of the city. There are only three rooms. My wife takes care of it every day. The environment is clean and quiet, and it won't attract other people's attention.
I'll have the grocery store waiter deliver the supplies later, Your Highness, just go in and rest assured.
Zhou Fugui's house was across from the government office, and the largest house there belonged to him. The military camp in the north of the city was at the northern end of the main street.
Your Highness, do you have any other questions? " Shopkeeper Chen turned and went to look for the key in the cabinet next to him.
The princess's time is precious, and she certainly doesn't want to waste it in his little shop.
"No more. If Generals Jinxing and Shuixing come looking for us, please let them know the address of our courtyard. Thank you."
Jiang Changle bowed politely. After all, Manager Chen was just a friendly sponsor, not her direct subordinate.
"Your Highness, wait a minute, your shoes~" It was agreed at the beginning that shoes should be ordered, so it was certainly not appropriate for Jiang Changle to go out empty-handed.
Shopkeeper Chen took out a pair of black leather boots inlaid with gold, which looked very exquisite and valuable.
"This is something we improved in our store. In the six or seven counties here, the poor are extremely poor, but there are also many wealthy people. Ordinary rubber-soled shoes no longer meet their needs.
The last batch of improved high-quality shoes has sold out. Princess, please try them." Talking about business, Shopkeeper Chen suddenly became talkative.
You know, he was the only one who did something like improving shoes, and his sales volume ranked first in the Lu family caravan, so he was very proud of it.
"Haha, Manager Chen is so talented!" Jiang Changle didn't hesitate and took off her shoes to try them on. The size was very suitable and the style was also what she liked.
"Thank you very much. I'll be leaving now. I'll come back if I need anything."
"Okay, sir, take care." Shopkeeper Chen bent over and escorted Jiang Changle out.
However, when he glanced at the customers in the shop, he whispered to Jiang Changle, "That fat lady is Zhou Fugui's daughter."
Jiang Changle paused, and suddenly took off the mask she had just put on, revealing her fair and handsome face in an instant.
When Shopkeeper Chen saw this, his heart skipped a beat. What on earth did the princess want to do?
I've already said that she's Zhou Fugui's daughter, she can't be~
Jiang Changle hung the mask around his waist, and tapped his shoes with a look of great satisfaction.
"It fits perfectly. Thank you, shopkeeper." Jiang Changle said, and handed a huge ingot of gold to shopkeeper Chen.
"Well, as long as the customer is satisfied, please wait a moment, I will give you the change." Shopkeeper Chen went to find the money happily.
This ingot of gold was a reward from the princess, he must keep it well!
"No need, the extra money is yours." He is handsome and rich, even though he is a little petite, but which woman can not love him?
Sure enough, Miss Zhou, who was estimated to be about 1.9 meters tall and weighed about 200 pounds, looked shy. Suddenly, her legs went weak and she fell onto Jiang Changle.
"Hey, girl, be careful. Are you okay?" Jiang Changle held the person steadily. Her posture seemed very relaxed, showing her strength.
This made Miss Zhou even more satisfied. "I'm fine now. Thank you for saving my life, sir. What's your name?"
Jiang Changle shook his head and laughed casually, "Hahaha, it's just a small favor, I don't deserve your thanks. I'm just a homeless person, my name is not worth mentioning~"
She quickly opened the fan in her hand and waved it elegantly. Just as she was about to go out, she was stopped by Miss Zhou again.
"Sir, your fan is so beautiful. Can you tell me where you bought it? I want a fan too, and it's so hot out here."
If one move doesn't work, try another. There was a fiery light flashing in Miss Zhou's eyes, which showed her determination to win Jiang Changle.