The news that the Prince of Zhenbei was presiding over the trial spread throughout Jiangnan. The only ones who were unhappy were the relatives of the perpetrators, since blood ties still exist.
Since that's the case, they will definitely investigate Huo Xiaolong and his group's background thoroughly. They can find out with just a few inquiries that this group came from a brothel.
People in the border town are used to this, but people in Jiangnan are not.
Where in the border town are there brothels that still engage in such lewd activities? Before, the madams of the brothels all followed the example of the pleasure quarters, putting together beauty treatments, food and drinks, performances, songs and dances. Isn't that better than earning that dirty money?
Today, Long'er is discussing military pay with merchants in Jiangnan. Liu Xu and Ruyi are sitting below Long'er, listening quietly to the merchants' quotations.
Suddenly there was a commotion outside the door, and Madam Liu ran in, babbling incoherently.
In just a few days, she had turned completely white-haired and lost a lot of weight. Whether the servants failed to stop her or she was afraid of Master Liu behind her, the woman just walked straight in.
The stray strands of hair betrayed the fact that she hadn't had a good time these past few days. Madam Liu's voice was shrill as she pointed at the willow catkins and shouted.
"You, a prostitute from a brothel, dare to sit here?"
"You dare to challenge me?"
"You bitch!"
"You should be drowned in a pig cage! How dare you use your status as a prostitute to swindle my Liu family's private treasury!"
The surrounding merchants all thought Madam Liu had gone mad. After all, her son had just died, and the Liu family's private treasury had fallen into Liu Xu's hands. Anyone would have been upset if it were in her hands.
Several people summoned servants, intending to drag Madam Liu away.
Only then did Master Liu slowly speak from behind.
"Ruoxi, your father didn't know you'd ended up in... a brothel... then you..."
They both knew in their hearts that they dared not provoke the Prince of Zhenbei. Logically speaking, the Prince of Zhenbei had grown up in a brothel since he was four years old. These two dared not say such things in public. But their swords were aimed at Liu Xu, which was for the meager income she had at home.
The merchants turned to look at Liu Xu, as if waiting for her explanation.
Liu Xu stood up and asked in confusion.
"I was indeed sold into a brothel, so what?"
“I was sold into this place, not because I wanted to, didn’t you hear me? My stepmother sold me into this place.”
Madam Liu seemed to be prepared to fight to the death, her sharp fingernails pointing at Liu Xu.
"So you dared to come back after ending up in a brothel? And you still dared to keep the Liu family's private treasury in your hands after ending up in a brothel?"
"I personally ordered you to be sold into a brothel, how dare you come back?"
Liu Xu glared at her, then said
"Why wouldn't I dare? Just because I became a prostitute? Just because I lost my innocence? I'm the victim, how dare you swagger and accuse me in front of me? Or do you simply not respect the Prince of Zhenbei?"
"So you admit that you sold the eldest daughter of the Liu family?" Huo Xiaolong said to Madam Liu, bowing slightly.
Upon hearing this, the woman knelt on the ground and then replied...
"I was blinded by money for a time, but... but a woman from a brothel should never inherit the Liu family, Your Highness, please see this clearly."
Hearing this, Long'er smiled and then said...
"Someone, make her sign the document."
"Everyone here has heard it. It was Madam Liu who personally sold her eldest daughter into a brothel. There are witnesses and physical evidence. She has been thrown into prison to await her fate."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Cao obeyed the order, stepped forward, grabbed Madam Liu by the collar, and dragged her out.
Master Liu stepped forward, as if to say something, but the young woman stood up and asked the merchants.
"Are women not allowed to inherit family businesses here?"
"In response to Your Highness, there is no such rule. There have always been many female merchants in Jiangnan. However, given Miss Liu's background... in our area, she would have to commit suicide to prove her innocence and show the world that she did not enter the brothel voluntarily."
Why should she prove anything to you?
Huo Xiaolong turned around, her eyes fierce as she stared at the crowd. The merchants were too frightened to utter a sound. Then she spoke to Master Liu.
"Your own daughter was sold into a brothel by your second wife. It's one thing that you don't help her seek justice, but now you're even bringing the perpetrators to reopen her wounds. Even if Master Liu achieves his goal, he won't be able to make a living in Jiangnan in the future."
Indeed, although the merchants present were all old-fashioned and kept saying that women from Jiangnan were virtuous and proper, not one of them could find a liking for Master Liu.
How can you do business with someone who doesn't care about his own daughter being harmed like this?
It doesn't seem reliable.
"It's not just willow catkins, I myself grew up in a brothel."
"But everyone, I am now the King of Zhenbei, I am the one who has recovered the grasslands, and I am the one who has improved the lives of the people in the border town. Indeed, many people have helped me in this endeavor."
"But now it is I who stand above you, and you look up to me."
"Rules are always set by those in power."
"I don't like the rules here, please change them."
The young woman, dressed in a python robe, stood at the head of the table, tapping her fingers lightly twice. Her gaze fell upon the bright and dazzling morning sun.
Huo Xiaolong made it clear to the group of merchants that she would be unhappy if anyone died because of a woman's innocence.
If you're unhappy, you'll hold someone accountable, and in that case, it's not unreasonable to pay with your life.
Today, she simply told them that she was going to change these rules and let the merchants spread the word. As for how to change them and what the changes would look like, she would still have to work on the woman.
Looking at his daughter standing behind the Prince of Zhenbei, Master Liu realized that this move had failed.
He slunk away like a rat crossing the street, leaving no trace and becoming an eyesore.
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