Chapter 44: Beggar Gang Leader in Action

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Beggar Gang Leader in Action

"Liu Laoer, you cursed scoundrel!"

Walking down the street, while still a long distance away from the Liu family’s estate, Su Han heard a shrew’s deafening roar.

"What are you yelling for? Haven’t things stopped short of the worst-case scenario?"

Looking from afar, Liu Laoer stood in front of the Liu Residence with an impatient expression as Lady Liu tore at his clothes. If it weren’t for the fear of public backlash, Su Han suspected he would have slapped Lady Liu so hard she would go flying.

"Ha! Stopped short of the worst-case scenario?" Lady Liu seemed to possess the full potential of a fishwife. Hearing Liu Laoer’s words, she did not let the matter rest. Instead, her voice grew several notches louder. It was as if she was terrified others wouldn’t hear her.

"Liu Laoer, I told you ages ago that this so-called Liu Ming was nothing but a scammer! What disciple of a Major Sect from the Central State would travel to Lingzhou all alone? Why would they ignore so many prominent clans and lower themselves to partner with your Liu Residence?

"But what about you?

"You were completely bewitched, Liu Laoer! You claimed his cultivation was so profound that you couldn’t fathom his depths.

"You claimed he saw through your realm at a glance and could even point out the hidden flaws in your cultivation!

"You claimed he was a Major Sect disciple, and by clinging to this golden ticket, you would soar to greatness!

"To attach yourself to this Major Sect, you threw away all shame. You were even willing to give away your own biological daughter!

"I advised you time and again, but you stubbornly insisted on having your way, convinced he was your chance to leap over the dragon gate.

"And what was the result?

"Where is that powerful backer of yours from the Major Sect?

"Where is this Lord Liu, who was supposedly a True Disciple of the Sumeru Sect from the Central State?

"Why did he vanish into thin air the moment you woke up?

"Why is it that after giving away so much gold, silver, Spirit Medicine, and Spirit Stones, all you’re left with is an empty courtyard?"

Lady Liu shouted as she grabbed Liu Laoer’s collar. Her narration was incredibly detailed, as if she feared onlookers wouldn’t understand the full context of the incident.

"You... you ignorant woman! Is this the kind of thing you should be airing in public? You might have no shame, but don’t you care about your daughter’s reputation?"

Faced with Lady Liu’s clamoring, Liu Laoer’s face flushed red with anger. He cast a cautious glance at the growing crowd, then turned back to glare at Lady Liu, looking thoroughly exasperated.

"Reputation? What reputation is left to care about? Our lives are about to be forfeit, and you’re still worrying about a reputation?!" Lady Liu countered, as if struck in a sore spot.

"It’s all because you were blind and couldn’t read people! Blinded by greed, you gave that scammer the perfect opening.

"To curry favor with that fraud, your son even offended the manager of the Natural Residence!

"Is the Natural Residence something a lowly Liu Residence can afford to provoke? They have Prince Jing’s Residence backing them! They could crush the entire Liu Family a hundred times over with their little finger!

"Now that scammer caused trouble, washed his hands of the mess, and bolted! All the consequences are falling on our Liu Residence!

"You aren’t afraid of dying? If you aren’t afraid of dying, then go die yourself, Liu Laoer! Why drag my poor, innocent children down with you?"

As Liu Laoer and Lady Liu argued, the entire sequence of events was clearly outlined for the spectating crowd.

Upon hearing that the Liu family had actually offended the manager of the Natural Residence, a few shrewd individuals in the crowd—those who knew the Natural Residence was a property of Prince Jing’s Residence—watched the argument escalate. Seeing Lady Liu and Elder Liu desperately trying to ensure all of Lingzhou City heard them, meaningful smiles curled the corners of their mouths.

They say dirty laundry should not be aired in public. Yet this married couple was not only exposing their family shame for all to see, but doing so at the complete expense of their unwed daughter’s reputation.

Such painstaking efforts truly made a few clever onlookers secretly sigh in admiration.

Off to the side, standing in the crowd and watching Liu Laoer and Lady Liu’s grand performance, Su Xiao’Er was dumbfounded. "Are... are these two insane?"

"Insane?" Su Han glanced at Su Xiao’Er and couldn’t help but shake his head. "No, they’re quite cunning."

Su Xiao’Er turned back, looking at Su Han in confusion.

"You witnessed with your own eyes when Liu San caused trouble at the Natural Residence yesterday. Did you know the context behind it?"

Su Xiao’Er nodded. "Of course I did. Even now, I was still wondering what kind of backing Liu San had to make him arrogant enough to cause trouble at the Natural Residence. However, after hearing Lady Liu’s words today, I finally understand. So it was because they thought they had latched onto the powerful backing of a Major Sect disciple from the Central State."

Su Han nodded. "You know the context, but what if you didn’t? What would you think if you only heard this Lady Liu’s words?"

"What would I think?" Su Xiao’Er pondered for a moment. "Lady Liu claimed that their family was scammed by a fraud, and their son, Liu San, even offended the manager of the Natural Residence because of that scammer."

"Exactly," Su Han agreed. "So... today, this matter will spread throughout all of Lingzhou City within a single day as the Liu family’s dirty laundry is exposed. By then, everyone will know the Liu family provoked the Natural Residence.

"However, everyone will only know that the Liu family might have offended a certain manager of the Natural Residence, but they won’t know the truth behind the conflict.

"At that time... if we make a move against the Liu family, how do you think the hundreds of thousands of residents in Lingzhou City will view Prince Jing’s Residence?"

Su Xiao’Er froze, a look of fury surfacing on his face. "These bastards... they’re scheming against us?"

Su Han chuckled softly and shook his head. "No, it’s an open scheme."

He sighed somewhat helplessly. "This is the helplessness of being born into the royal family. While enjoying royal privileges, you must also bear royal responsibilities.

"To silence the people is harder than damming a raging river."

With a sigh, Su Han turned around and led Su Xiao’Er out of the crowd.

"Crown Prince, are we really going to let the Liu family outsmart us like this?"

Su Han shook his head silently and simply continued walking forward with Su Xiao’Er.

Su Xiao’Er followed quietly behind him. Thinking about how Liu Laoer and Lady Liu had thrown away all their dignity just to avoid being punished by Prince Jing’s Residence, he couldn’t help but want to turn back and slaughter every last soul in the Liu Residence.

However, he also knew that if he did, the reputation of Prince Jing’s Residence in Lingzhou City would plummet.

Even if he wiped out the Liu Residence in secret, given today’s public spectacle, everyone would immediately suspect Prince Jing’s Residence.

Leaving aside the fact that ordinary commoners didn’t know the exact details of who was right or wrong, even if they knew Liu San was the one causing trouble at the Natural Residence, annihilating the Liu family would undoubtedly plant a seed of resentment in the hearts of Lingzhou’s citizens and major clans.

Domineering! Lacking magnanimity!

If the Liu family’s second son offended a manager of the Natural Residence today and brought annihilation upon his entire clan, then what about tomorrow?

Who could guarantee they would never offend anyone in their lifetime? Who could guarantee the person they offended wouldn’t have ties to Prince Jing’s Residence?

With the precedent of the Liu Residence, who could guarantee they wouldn’t be the next Liu Residence?

Annihilations of major clans happened occasionally, but such matters were never brought out into the open, so they naturally didn’t cause massive uproar.

Yet no one expected the Liu family of Lingzhou City to be this kind of trash, shamelessly tossing aside all their dignity just to eke out a meager existence.

The more Su Xiao’Er thought about it, the more disgusted he felt. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Crown Prince?" Looking up, Su Xiao’Er froze in surprise. "Crown Prince, this isn’t the way back to the Prince’s Residence."

Ahead of him, Su Han nodded. "Yes, we aren’t going back."

Su Xiao’Er was stunned. "Then we are...?"

Su Han stopped and pointed forward. "Wu Dalang’s House is this way, isn’t it?"

Su Xiao’Er nodded. "It is, but..."

Su Han nodded again, not bothering to explain, and walked straight toward Wu Dalang’s House. Truthfully, the minor incident that happened at the Natural Residence yesterday was something he genuinely hadn’t planned on pursuing. However...

Half an hour later.

The only beggar in Lingzhou City—and the leader of the Beggar Gang, the number one gang in the world and the ultimate home for all beggars in Jiuzhou—Hong Qigong, appeared in front of the main gates of the Liu Residence.

*PS: My stockpile of drafts wasn’t robbed today, so you don’t need to hand over your recommendation tickets as ransom to the robbers. Just give them to me, and I’ll keep them safe for you.*

*Also, this is the second update of the day. I might have to go out all day on Saturday and am not sure if there will be a third update, so I’m releasing two Chapters at once.*