Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 15

15: With the Lady

Wang Shichang only stiffened for a moment before his smile immediately took on a hint of grievance. “Why would the Marquis say such a thing?”

If it weren’t for knowing about the Seven Mile Fragrance incident beforehand, just looking at this smiling face, Jiang Ci would have really thought he was a good person.

Jiang Ci also smiled at him. “Weren’t you and the gong striker putting on a show for everyone just now?”

Wang Shichang replied, “The Marquis misunderstands. I have never met this gentleman before today; this is our first encounter.”

“First encounter, yet you trust him so much?” Jiang Ci said. “Boss Wang, aren’t you also a merchant? Why not stand by your fellow merchant?”

Fellow merchant?

Could it be that the Marquis of Dingyuan really came specifically for Huang Fu?

Wang Shichang smiled. “The Marquis is unaware, but this matter is indeed Huang Fu’s fault. My actions are meant to help her see the error of her ways and return to the right path.”

Jiang Ci said, “What a ‘return to the right path.’ With just a few words, you’ve pinned the blame on her without even giving her a chance to explain. The troublemakers are naturally happy with the compensation, and you gain a good reputation and a favor.”

“Only our poor Huang Fu, seemingly escaping disaster, but in reality, after this commotion, her shop in the capital won’t be able to continue. May I ask, Boss Wang, is this also called helping? When you come out to acquire it later, using both soft and hard tactics, Huang Fu, with no way out, will have no choice but to rely on you.”

“Profiting both in fame and gain.” Jiang Ci smiled sarcastically. “Boss Wang, what a clever move.”

Wang Shichang’s smile faded. The Marquis of Dingyuan had always been a rough man, adept at fighting on the battlefield, but when did he develop such a keen mind? He even guessed the next step!

Wang Shichang gave a look, and the gong striker immediately stepped forward. “Marquis, this humble one dares to say, Boss Wang is truly wronged! My brother used Huang Fu’s face mask, and his whole face broke out in rashes. This is a fact! Why is the Marquis so biased towards a black-hearted merchant, disregarding the feelings of us common folk?”

“Sir, you must not speak carelessly!” Wang Shichang said. “The Marquis is a figure of great integrity; how could he be biased?”

On the surface, he was defending, but the crowd was already murmuring, even speculating whether the Marquis of Dingyuan had received benefits from Huang Fu.

Jiang Ci narrowed her eyes, thinking, this old fox really knows how to put on a show, even stirring up class conflict and inciting the crowd!

She turned to the gong striker. “You say it’s a fact, but do you have witnesses or evidence?”

“Of course! My brother is still lying at home!”

“Then bring him here. If his face is injured, walking shouldn’t be a problem, right? I want to see for myself.”

“This…” The gong striker glanced at Wang Shichang, then said, “This humble one will go fetch him.”

The onlookers showed no sign of dispersing, all eager to continue watching the spectacle.

In the carriage, Xi Lingxue was also observing the commotion from a distance, her brows furrowed.

“That Wang guy is really rotten to the core!” Jin Yu said. “But this dog Marquis is quite eloquent. I thought she would start a fight as soon as she went up.”

After all, Gao Yi used to be like that, resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement.

Xi Lingxue hummed in agreement, not really surprised.

The current Gao Yi was not as reckless as before. The earlier speculation actually aligned with her own thoughts.

How could Wang Shichang, such a busy man, coincidentally appear here? He must have colluded with the gong striker.

Jin Yu said, “Once they bring that person here and verify the injury, the truth will be clear! Let them cry then!”

“It might not be that simple…” Xi Lingxue thought for a moment, then took a hairpin from her head. “Jin Yu, take this and go outside the city to fetch Doctor Zhang immediately.”

–

Jiang Ci was still waiting for the injured person to arrive, and Wang Shichang didn’t say much more.

Huang Fu was feeling a mix of emotions. She never expected Gao Yi to step in and help.

Could it be that the princess had come? Was it her intention?

After the princess left yesterday, she heard some rumors that the princess and the Marquis of Dingyuan had reconciled?

Huang Fu looked around but didn’t see Xi Lingxue. However, she did spot the Marquis’s carriage at the back of the crowd.

Military officials preferred to ride horses, so if it were just Gao Yi, she wouldn’t be in a carriage. The person inside might be the princess.

Jiang Ci suddenly leaned in and whispered, “Fellow countryman, I forgot to ask earlier, but you didn’t really add any harmful substances to that face mask, did you?”

Huang Fu was taken aback for a moment. What’s going on? Why would the Marquis of Dingyuan call her ‘fellow countryman’?

Huang Fu quickly replied, “No, no… Our mask is made of green bean paste, and all the ingredients are edible.”

Green bean paste?

Jiang Ci thought to herself, wasn’t that exactly the kind of mask she knew how to make? What a coincidence.

“…Alright, I was just asking.” Jiang Ci said. “Don’t worry, with my status as the Marquis, I can crush him!”

Huang Fu’s heart raced. She didn’t know much about Gao Yi, only that the Marquis of Dingyuan was warlike and unreasonable. She didn’t expect her to be so approachable in private.

“Then… this humble one thanks the Marquis… Crushing him might not be necessary.”

Jiang Ci laughed. “Still calling yourself ‘this humble one,’ you’re really something.”

Then she remembered that the other person had to maintain appearances, especially with so many people watching.

Jiang Ci cleared her throat and put on an official tone. “This Marquis only wishes to uncover the truth and not let talent go to waste.”

Huang Fu nodded in agreement, but in her heart, she marveled at the princess’s skills. She wondered what had happened during her confinement at the Marquis’s residence that made the Marquis willing to lower herself and speak up for a commoner like her.

Before long, the gong striker finally brought his brother over.

Jiang Ci saw a thin man wearing a veil, his face hidden, followed by an elderly man with white hair.

Wang Shichang said, “Isn’t this Elder Chen? Why are you here?”

Chen Feng stepped forward and bowed to Jiang Ci and Wang Shichang in turn. “This old man was entrusted by this kunjun to come and testify.”

Jiang Ci had never heard of Elder Chen. She quietly asked Huang Fu, “Is this old man very impressive?”

Huang Fu was a bit embarrassed by her casual tone. “Well, aside from Doctor Zhang, Elder Chen is the most respected physician in the capital.”

Jiang Ci: Really that impressive? Why wasn’t he mentioned in the original book?

To accommodate the injured person, Huang Fu opened the shop door and invited everyone inside, while the onlookers could only watch from outside.

Jiang Ci and Wang Shichang both followed into the shop. The thin man removed his veil, revealing a face covered in red rashes, even his eyes swollen.

Chen Feng said, “Marquis, this kunjun was personally treated by me. He has a weak constitution, and the rashes on his face were indeed caused by external irritation.”

As expected, as soon as these words were spoken, someone outside shouted, “So it’s true that Huang’s face mask is problematic!”

“Yes, even Elder Chen has confirmed it! Let’s see what she has to say now!”

Jiang Ci frowned. “How can you prove it was caused by the face mask?”

Chen Feng said, “That would require asking Boss Huang. I need to see the mask’s formula.”

Huang Fu’s face turned pale. With so many people demanding an explanation, it seemed the formula couldn’t be kept secret. Huang Fu felt deeply sorry for the princess. It was said that the formula was left by someone very important to her.

The princess had gone through great efforts to bring her to the capital to reunite with her mother and then opened this shop. Yet, in less than half a year, she had caused such a big trouble and now had to hand over the formula.

Huang Fu was filled with self-reproach.

At that moment, Gao Yi suddenly said, “You can look, but the formula is a trade secret. What if you leak it?”

Chen Feng was taken aback, not expecting her to be so direct. He couldn’t help but show a hint of anger. “Marquis, this old man has some reputation in the capital. How could I covet a formula? I can guarantee on my honor that I won’t reveal a single word!”

“Guarantee on your honor?” Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow. “Something so intangible won’t do. What if you run off later? Where would I find you?”

Chen Feng was so angry he could barely breathe, trembling as he said, “The Marquis doesn’t trust me?!”

“Exactly, I don’t trust you.” Jiang Ci said bluntly. “After all, you were brought here by them, so you’re also a suspect.”

“You…”

The old man was shaking with anger. Even officials in the capital treated him with respect, but this Marquis of Dingyuan… truly lived up to her reputation of being crude!

“Marquis, this commotion isn’t good, is it?” Wang Shichang began to insinuate. “You’ve seen the injured person; it’s not fabricated. Elder Chen is a witness, yet you don’t trust him. Now even I have to wonder if the Marquis is deliberately favoring Boss Huang?”

With just two sentences, he successfully shifted the blame onto Jiang Ci. The onlookers began to whisper, some even speculating about the relationship between the Marquis of Dingyuan and Boss Huang.

After all, Huang Fu was young and beautiful. How else could one explain Gao Yi’s sudden intervention?

Jiang Ci picked her ear and said, “Sorry, but I’ve never heard of this Elder Chen. If we’re going to have a physician examine it, let’s get the most authoritative one, shall we?”

“That would be Doctor Zhang Chengji.” Wang Shichang smiled. “But the Marquis probably can’t invite him. As everyone knows, Doctor Zhang never bows to the powerful. Even if the emperor himself came, it would be hard to get an audience.”

Jiang Ci snorted. “I can’t invite him, but my wife can.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a clear, cold voice came from behind.

“I’ve brought him for you.”

Jiang Ci was stunned. What the hell…

Did Zhang Chengji come through a portal? How did he arrive so quickly!

She turned around and met a pair of clear, bright eyes.

Xi Lingxue stood outside the crowd, raising an eyebrow. “How will you thank me?”

The beauty stood tall and graceful, her face like snow, her lips curving into a smile that seemed to capture the essence of spring.

Jiang Ci’s heart raced, her eyes automatically filtering out everyone else.

The black lotus actually smiled at her…