Chapter 002: Provoking Him

  "Please be more polite to the young lady of our house." Yuer, the maid, stepped forward and said: "Our master is Yellow Quan, the Yellow Master who was personally invited by Governor Zhang to come to Chengdu. If you dare to bully Miss, Governor Zhang will not let you off." This woman was none other than Huang Yue, Yellow Quan's sister.

  "Hahaha." Zhao Sui heard Yun'er introduce herself, and instead of being afraid, he burst out laughing: "I thought it was someone else, but it's just a small official from Langzhong. You think the governor will intimidate me? Ha! The governor has to listen to my brother, without my brother, the governor is just a stone lion at the gate, unable to move. Go back and tell Huang Quan that I'll come to propose tomorrow, maybe the governor will even attend our wedding banquet, hahaha!"

  Zhao Sui burst out laughing, while Huang Yue and Yun'er both had fearful expressions. Liu Zhang's face turned iron-green as he slammed his fist on the table, giving a signal to several plainclothes guards nearby. Wang Lei was also furious, thinking that the Zhao family was too arrogant and didn't put their lord in their eyes. However, seeing Liu Zhang's extreme anger, Wang Lei feared that he would act impulsively and hastily advised: "My lord, please don't get angry for now. This Zhao Sui is a nobody, but his brother has control over powerful troops. My lord should go back and question him, and then mete out a suitable punishment."

  "'Punishing the light and warning the heavy?' Liu Zhang sneered: 'Wang Lei, do you know why I transferred you to my side?'"

  Wang Lei was taken aback and replied: "I don't know." In fact, this was also what Wang Lei wanted to know.

  Liu Zhang's face turned iron-green as he said loudly: "Because I thought you could speak up for justice, not avoiding personal life and death, not fearing power and influence. Now Zhao has already ridden on the head of this official, shitting and pissing, but you let me punish lightly and warn severely. Wang Lü, you really disappoint me."

  Liu Zhang stood up and went downstairs, Wang Lei was stunned for a while behind him. Liu Zhang scolded him severely, and Wang Lei felt ashamed. In fact, he was capable of not being afraid of power, but since he had just followed Liu Zhang, the impression Liu Zhang gave him before was that of weakness and incompetence. So it was natural for him to think in line with Liu Zhang's character, but he didn't expect Liu Zhang to be so fierce and efficient, and this time he really misjudged him.

  Several close guards, having received Liu Zhang's instructions, walked up to Zhao Yi and said: "Young Master Zhao, riding a horse on the street is against the law. This young lady's brother is also someone invited by Governor of the state to come to Chengdu. You should spare people when you can, let this young lady go."

  Because they knew Zhao's identity, the leader of the Imperial Guard didn't dare to offend him. He only felt that today's Liu Zhang was very different from before, and he forced himself to stand up and confront him, fearing that Zhao would get angry, so he spoke extremely politely.

  "Hey, isn't this Wang Xiu, the county lieutenant? You've been following Governor Zhou around for a long time, have you gained some experience? What business do you have interfering in my affairs? I'm taking a concubine, it doesn't violate any laws or regulations, what does Governor Zhou have to do with it? Let me tell you, I've already decided to marry this little girl, even if Governor Zhou comes himself, I'll still say the same thing. Little girl, just accept your fate."

  Zhao Su looked at Huang Yue with a smug expression, Wang Xu saw that Zhao Su had no intention of backing down and was afraid of really offending the Zhao family, so he didn't know what to say. Huang Yue saw this situation and couldn't help but mutter: "This governor is really a coward, it's a pity that brother was excited for a whole night, if I had known earlier, I would have advised brother not to come, associating with these petty people, who knows how much more humiliation we will suffer in the future."

  "Yes, Governor Liu is indeed a coward." Liu Zhang happened to be coming out of the teahouse and heard Huang Yue's words. The two words "coward" made Liu Zhang grit his teeth with anger, vowing in his heart that he would never let others use these two words on himself again.

  Huang Yue glanced at Liu Zhang, feeling that he was a kindred spirit. She continued: "I would never marry someone like him. I'll persuade my brother to leave Chengdu tonight. If that cowardly Governor of Yi Province still wants to recruit people, I'll advise my brother to leave Yi Province as well. Following such a lord, I think it's not worth it for my brother."

  Every word of Huang Yue was engraved in Liu Zhang's heart, and Liu Zhang nodded heavily, took two steps forward, didn't look at Zhao Hua at all, but sternly asked Wang Xi: "Wang Duwei, I want to ask you a question, are you my personal guard or his?"

  Wang Xiu had never seen Liu Zhang look so serious before and was startled. He hastily replied, "Of course they are the lord's personal guards."

  "What's with the humble tone towards Zhao? I ordered you to come out and enforce the law on my behalf, but you seem to be begging him instead. Are you slapping me in the face?" Liu Zhang bellowed, his voice like thunder. Wang Xie couldn't help but tremble all over, and Liu Zhang reached out to grab his collar, his low, cold voice sending shivers down his spine: "Remember, you only have one master. Tell me now, are you listening to me or him?"

  Liu Zhang's face and tone frightened Wang Xi, who was stunned for a second before cupping his hands in salute: "Wang Xi vows to die loyal to my lord."

  "Alright." Liu Zhang patted Wang Xiu's shoulder, and Wang Xiu slightly calmed down. Liu Zhang turned to face Zhao Hui, who finally recognized the plainclothes man as the Governor. With a smile, he stepped forward and said: "Zhao Hui greets the Honorable Governor, I didn't expect the Governor to be here, I was rude, but fortunately, I was just thinking of taking Huang Quan's sister as my concubine, would you please do me the honor of being the matchmaker?"

  "He is the Provincial Governor?" Huang Yue was also shocked, recalling her previous words, thinking that she had offended the Provincial Governor. This timid Provincial Governor seemed to fear the Zhao family's power, could it be that she would really have to marry Zhao Su as a concubine this time?

  Liu Zhang smiled at Zhao Shuo, and Zhao Shuo felt a chill, but Liu Zhang had always been weak-willed, so Zhao Shuo thought it was just his imagination. Liu Zhang then turned to Huang Yue and said: "Miss Huang, are you willing to marry Zhao Shuo?"

  Huang Yue knew that today's disaster was big, but how could she be willing to submit to Zhao Sui and the like? She might as well go all out and loudly said: "I would rather die than marry, Governor Zhou, if you want to force me, you might as well kill me directly."

  "The little girl dares to be rude to Governor Liu, come and bind her for me. I'll deal with your brother's crime later." As soon as Zhao Yi saw Huang Yue offending Liu Zhang, he immediately took advantage of the situation and tried to seize Huang Yue. When Huang Yue heard that she would implicate Huang Quan, she couldn't help but feel a wave of panic in her heart.

  Liu Zhang turned around and said to Zhao Yi: "Zhao, you're quite domineering, aren't you? Come on in."

  Wang Xie immediately stepped forward.

  Liu Zhang said in a cold voice: "Zhao Su galloped on the street, lawless and unbridled, forcibly seizing good family women, offending this official, unforgivable crime, immediately arrest him."

  "Yes." At this time, Wang Xu no longer hesitated and beckoned with his hand. Several personal guards immediately stepped forward to seize Zhao Hua. Zhao Hua seemed to have misheard and only reacted when he was apprehended, shouting loudly: "Governor, you must be mistaken! My brother is the Eastern Expedition General, a meritorious official who has assisted you. Are you not afraid that treating the relatives of meritorious officials in this way will chill the hearts of officials and soldiers?"

  "Adding another threat to the lord." Liu Zhang walked forward, his voice low and solemn as he said to Zhao Yun: "We'll settle the accounts in the back tent later, such as one or two silver coins for each egg."

  Liu Zhang finished speaking and took his personal guards back to the mansion, Wang Lei carefully followed behind, Huang Yue and Ya Tou Yun Er looked at Liu Zhang in surprise as he walked away.

  "Your Excellency, today's matter, Zhao Yi's crime is unforgivable, but Your Excellency should consider Zhao Wei's reaction." Wang Lei reminded in a low voice.

  "What reaction? At most, it's just a rebellion, and this official can catch them all at once." Liu Zhang dared to arrest Zhao Tuo, he had already thought of this step. Now that Zhao Wei's power is great, pulling one hair will move the whole body. However, if we let Zhao Wei's party continue to be arrogant, it will lead to endless troubles in the future. It's better to provoke Zhao Wei and eliminate the Zhao family at once, so as to consolidate his own authority. Otherwise, not to mention conquering the world, even a position of governor of a state would be difficult to maintain.

  "Immediately invite Huang Quan into the mansion." Liu Zhang ordered.