Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1046 - 65: The Big Picture! The True Foundation of the Wang Family’s Strength

This "farce" has truly provided gossip fodder for the nobility and citizens of the Upper Capital City.The rejected Zhao Yuanqing and the Duke Protector of the Nation’s mansion have become topics of conversation, leading to a sharp decline in the prestige of the Second-Grade Noble Family.

After all, the Little Princess Xue Ning is a Great Celestial Pride; it’s normal for her to marry into a Super-Grade Family. The Zhao Family’s desire to reach for something above their station was fine at first, but to directly propose marriage without first winning over the young lady?

The result, naturally, was extremely humiliating.

...

Inside Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Old Yao was beside him, recounting the gossip from the streets and alleys, performing with vivid expression.

As for Emperor Longchang, he was half-lying in the Master’s Chair, listening with great pleasure, looking radiant, with even fewer wrinkles on his face.

"Hehe~ Xue Ning delivered a good slap in the face, a brilliant blow." With only five little Wolf Cubs surrounding him, Emperor Longchang chuckled coldly, "The Zhao Family has indeed become increasingly greedy over the years. Now, even a strong Second-Grade Noble Family might not satisfy their appetites."

Old Yao immediately fell silent; he did not dare to engage in this conversation.

Emperor Longchang, however, continued, "Old Yao, it’s not that I am intolerant. Nowadays the situation on the Outer Domain Battlefield is getting increasingly tense, and I am eager for more powerful families to share the burden."

"But the Zhao Family has developed far too smoothly over these thousands of years. Their entire growth and strength have been built on squeezing the living space of other families, and they’ve gotten used to that model."

"I remember, Old Yao, that your secret agent, what’s his name again?"

"It’s Jiaang Yusong," Old Yao said in a low voice.

"Yes, yes, Jiaang Yusong. He once reported to me that Wang Shouzhe was speaking presumptuously behind my back. Talking about how the strength of a Noble Family shouldn’t be built on squeezing the living space of other families, saying that my allowing families to tear each other apart was a wrong policy."

"A true Imperial Family should lead and guide the Upper Grade Noble Family to grow and strengthen together. A true Upper Grade Noble Family should lead Middle-Grade Noble Families to thrive, and true Middle-Grade Noble Families should benefit one side. Do you remember these words, Old Yao?"

"I remember," Old Yao chuckled softly, "I remember Your Majesty was so angry that you smashed your cup, saying you would personally go to Ping’an Town to give that traitor Wang Shouzhe a good beating."

"Yes, yes, that scoundrel is indeed very detestable, speaking ill of me behind my back on countless occasions." Emperor Longchang, recalling those vile instances of "presumptuous talk," still gets his teeth itching with anger.

If it weren’t for his steadfastness of mind, he might have been swayed by Wang Shouzhe’s criticisms into doubting whether he was a foolish ruler.

"Ultimately, there was some truth to it..." Old Yao consoled rather helplessly.

"Hmph, if not for a few ’valid’ points, I would have executed him long ago," Emperor Longchang muttered resentfully, then his expression gradually calmed, "Though some of his words are presumptuous, upon careful thought, some do have merit."

"If the Zhao Family truly had the skills, they could emulate their ancestors and establish a nation of their own; I would only admire them, and not only would I not obstruct them, I might even offer support. But they are ultimately too engrossed in power struggles, constantly finding ways to exploit the country, seeking more benefits, which is ultimately inferior."

"Were it not for my intentional suppression of the Wang Family and promotion of the Zhao Family, would they have achieved what they have today?"

"Now that they are strong, besides our Imperial Family, they are the sole Second Grade, with no one to check them, displaying immense arrogance. While I’m still alive, they’ve begun making frequent moves; if I were to... hehe, Dexin is already old, and Yoong’an is a worthless coward, relying on the reckless Prince Kang, can he truly keep the Zhao Family in check?"

"Your Majesty!" Old Yao was starting to feel a bit anxious, "What should be done then?"

"Old Yao, don’t worry. I’m just saying this casually, venting to you in private." Emperor Longchang then smiled easily, "In any case, regardless of who succeeds the throne, my Daqian’s kingdom must be stable. Emperor’s Heart Skill, hehe~~"

...

As turmoil brews and undercurrents surge in the Upper Capital City, in a remote corner far from the Upper Capital City—Ping’an Town, there are also undercurrents quietly rising.

In a clean and tidy inn room with only about forty to fifty square meters in size, two undercover tax officers, an old man and a young man, are sprawled out on their respective beds like two salted fish who have been over-exposed to the sun and are about to lose their vitality.

Beside them, the tea table and bed are piled with numerous account books, notebooks of visit records, empty bottles of Awakening Pills, counting rods for verifying data, and a variety of miscellaneous trinkets.

Clearly, the two had just gone through a fierce "battle," reaching a critical point of exhaustion in both energy and stamina, and are now in a sluggish state.

Excluding the time on the road, it’s been nearly half a month since the two arrived in Ping’an Town. To quickly catch the Wang Family in the act of tax evasion and avoidance and complete their mission, they have barely rested in this half month, relying solely on Awakening Pills to keep working.

By now, even the Awakening Pills are hardly effective.

You must understand that for undercover operatives like them, besides needing to be covert, the most important thing is speed is of the essence, not giving the opponent time to react. Otherwise, once a local bully like the Wang Family becomes aware and starts covering their tracks, even with the Three Ministries collaborating, it would become very difficult to uncover anything.