Chapter 2

"What is this? A headscarf?"

Xiaoling looked at the piece of cloth in Zhao Kang's hand, feeling curious. Her mind was still immersed in the black powder, and she had already decided that whatever this rogue was taking out must be something extraordinary.

"A headscarf? You really are one after another in your imagination."

Zhao Kang chuckled and explained, "This is called a sanitary napkin, specifically made for women in our county. Let me tell you, this thing is amazing. Women have their monthly periods, and with this thing..."

Zhao Kang was so engrossed in talking about the benefits of the sanitary napkin that he didn't notice the incredible expression on Xiaoling's face!

"Isn't it a great invention? The women in Yuanjiang County are all using it now. I've calculated that in our great state of Dagan, there are at least several million women. Each woman uses fourteen pieces a month, and each piece costs five coins. That's sixty coins per person per month."

"Over a year, that's more than seven hundred coins. For several million women, that's over a billion coins, which is several million taels of silver! I've already thought about it. When the time comes, the GG lyrics will go like this: 'Who understands a woman's heart? Yuanjiang sanitary napkins!'"

"Boss Xiao, with your big business and being a woman, why don't you promote it? I'll give you an import price of three coins per piece. Why don't you try it out? Here, I'll give you these few pieces. By the way, when is your period?"

Zhao Kang turned around confidently, thinking that there was no reason for Xiaoling to refuse such a good thing.

However, he saw a face that was purple and twisted.

"Huh, Boss Xiao, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so terrible? Are you sick?" As he said this, Zhao Kang reached out to touch her.

Then, with a crack, Zhao Kang was stunned as his right hand twisted in an odd way, and a question formed in his mind.

Did this woman just twist my hand off?

"Damn!"

An excruciating cry came from Zhao Kang's mouth, but Xiaoling's cry was even louder, "You scoundrel, I'll kill you!"

Before he could react, Zhao Kang was kicked over!

"Help! Murder! Boss Xiao, what's wrong with you? Calm down!"

Zhao Kang screamed in terror, but he was outside the city, and all his subordinates had been taken away by Zhang Long. Even if he shouted until his throat was sore, no one would hear him.

Xiaoling pounced on him. If our Prince Xuancheng were here, he would be terrified. His elder sister had always been gentle with him, unlike this, where she was riding on him and hitting him!

That day, Zhao Kang felt that he was just a step away from death!

His face was swollen like a pig's head, and he was huddled in the corner, holding his dislocated arm, looking at Xiaoling in fear. "You, you, you dare to hit me? I'll report you to the authorities! Don't come near me!"

He completely forgot that he was the magistrate of Yuanjiang County, as Xiaoling's attack was too brutal!

Xiaoling had calmed down and felt embarrassed as she looked at the bruised and swollen face of Zhao Kang.

She had just been seeking his help, and now she had beaten him up like this. What a sin!

But how could he say such things to her, even asking about her period? Could she tell a man that?

"You..."

She wanted to go and help him up, but Zhao Kang immediately reacted as if he had seen a ghost. "Don't move! Stand there! Otherwise, I'll die in front of you! Murder! Help!"

"Ah, this..."

Xiaoling looked at Zhao Kang, feeling somewhat resentful.

Was it really that bad? Her younger brother often got beaten and scolded by her, but he never reacted like this!

After a while, Zhao Kang recovered and looked at the smiling Xiaoling, still feeling traumatized. "Even if you, Boss Xiao, don't want it, you can't hit an official! Do you know what the crime of assaulting an official is? Do you believe I can have your head cut off?"

"Alright, alright, Lord Zhao, I know I was wrong. I'll set your arm back in place!"

The Empress said impatiently. Cut off her head? She would lend him two more lives!

"Ouch, easy, easy, my hand is going to break!"

"It's just dislocated, what's the big deal!" Xiaoling laughed in frustration.

Zhao Kang moved his newly set arm. "Nonsense, no one in my family has ever hit me! No way, I won't give you the gunpowder! You figure it out yourself!"

Lord Zhao was angry!

Damn it, he had been beaten by a woman!

Zhao Kang was deeply hurt, more so by the embarrassment!

There was no way around it. Xiaoling's martial arts were not to be underestimated. She had been trained by palace guards since childhood and had once led troops into battle.

He was a weakling, and in recent years, he had always preferred lying down to sitting. How could he be a match for her?

"Lord Zhao, don't be like this. Can't I just buy it?" Seeing Zhao Kang's temper, Xiaoling realized it was not good and spoke patiently.

Zhao Kang snorted. "No way! No matter how much you pay, I won't sell it! Figure it out yourself!"

"I'll apologize, okay!" Xiaoling was furious.

Zhao Kang chuckled and rubbed the bruise on his face. "Is this an apology? It looks like you want to hit me again. No sincerity at all. Forget it, the ancients were right, women and small people are hard to deal with."

For the sake of the people of Jiangzhou, I'll endure it!

Clenching her fists tightly, Xiaoling forced a smile. "Lord Zhao, I'm sorry. I was too abrupt. I apologize to you."

"Tsk, tsk, your smile is uglier than crying. Trying to fool a ghost?"

Zhao Kang got up and dusted himself off.

"What do you want then?"

The Empress was also angry. When had she ever been so humble? If it weren't for the disaster victims, she would have cut him down!

"Let's talk it out, no violence!"

Zhao Kang was a bit panicked, taking a step back. Xiaoling took a deep breath and forced a smile to apologize again.

Looking at her slender figure and rare beauty, Zhao Kang felt a surge of courage. This beating can't be for nothing. I'm an official, can you eat me?

He coughed and said, "Alright, close your eyes, and I'll consider the gunpowder."

"Is it that simple?" Xiaoling blinked.

Zhao Kang nodded. "That simple."

"Alright." Xiaoling closed her eyes.

Then she felt something touch her lips. Shocked, she opened her eyes, and her whole body was struck like lightning. She saw Zhao Kang grinning at her.

Before she could react, he tightly grabbed her, and she felt a hard slap on her buttocks. By the time she came to her senses, Zhao Kang had already run ten meters away!

"Corrupt official, I'll kill you!"

A thunderous roar, and Xiaoling charged out. Hearing this, Zhao Kang used all his strength, even losing a shoe, and ran for his life back to the city!