Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 1076: Chapter 71 ‘Kang Commandery Prince’s Grievances Redressed’ (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 1076: Chapter 71 ‘Kang Commandery Prince’s Grievances Redressed’ (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 “Chengchao, brother, what you said is wrong. There should be reason in everything, shouldn’t there?” Wang Shouzhe personally brewed another pot of Spiritual Tea and handed over a cup with a smile, “Those wolf pups were entrusted to your Yao’s Air Transport by our Lici from the Wang family to be delivered to us. Yet, we from the Wang family haven’t received the wolf pups at all. If we don’t ask the Yao family for the entrusted goods, whom should we ask?”

Yao Chengchao took over the Spiritual Tea, guzzled it down, drank several more cups, and then sat down unceremoniously to start devouring various pastries, “Can’t you go ask the Great Emperor instead?”

“I can’t. My Wang family has no debt relationship with the Great Emperor.” Wang Shouzhe continued to pour tea for him, “Moreover, it is said that His Majesty doesn’t think highly of me, and if I were to ask, he would definitely make things difficult for me.”

“Isn’t he making it difficult for me too?” Yao Chengchao expressed his frustration with a sullen face.

He had tried to ask the Great Emperor before, but was always chased out each time.

“Let’s discuss this matter later. Chengchao, brother, here is a list I’ve made, I need your help the next time you come to Dongqian.” Wang Shouzhe took out a long list.

Yao Chengchao glanced at it and exclaimed, “You’re looking to build a Spirit Gathering Array, and it seems to be of a considerable scale and specification… Those who know, know that you are a Grade Six Prominent Family, those who don’t, would think you’re a Second Class!”

The scale of a Spirit Gathering Array of a Second Class Prominent Family is generally also not small, but at most, the Formation Eye would involve a Level Nine Spirit Plant or an item of the same grade. The plan of the Wang family to use an Immortal Plant as the Formation Eye was fundamentally different.

“I beg you, brother Chengchao.” Wang Shouzhe bowed and said.

“Fine, I will do my best to collect the materials for you, but some special materials will take time and are hard to gather all at once,” Yao Chengchao said after some deliberation. “Also, don’t mention the wolf pups issue anymore, go ask the Great Emperor yourself to get them.”

“That’s a separate matter. Regarding the price of these materials, I have already reserved a reasonable profit for the Yao family,” Wang Shouzhe said indifferently. “Unless, brother Chengchao, you wish to waive the profit…” “Alright, I’ll go find the Great Emperor again.” Yao Chengchao put away the list and craftily said, “Little brother Shouzhe, have you eaten yet? Those two beautiful cooks of yours, what delicious food did they prepare for you today?”

“…”

Wang Shouzhe and An Commandery Prince.

…

Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Emperor Longchang was lazily half reclining.

Beside him, Prince Dede had taken Old Yao’s place, personally serving by doing everything from pouring tea and fetching water to massaging the back, bombarding the emperor with a chain of flattering compliments that seemed to cost nothing.

They made the Great Emperor so comfortable that he sighed about how the princely Dede had become more filial now, being more eloquent than in his youth.

Old Yao rolled his eyes incessantly. Prince Dede, you really know how to take up space, even snatching the job of an old eunuch? Why don’t you just castrate yourself and I, Old Yao, will let you have my place?

Meanwhile, led by Meng Yuanbai, members of the Three Talents Section, the Law Enforcement Section, and the Inspectorate were reporting the investigation results of a series of recent cases to the Great Emperor.

“So it turns out that the Wang family really did not manipulate taxes?” Emperor Longchang was also slightly surprised.

“Your Majesty.” Meng Yuanbai replied, “We utilized a large number of experienced tax officials and auditors to scrutinize the accounts and various assets of the Wang family from the past decades. We found that not only did the Changning Wang family never evade taxes, but they even tended to pay a bit more.”

“Moreover, the Wang family frequently spends large sums on the construction of water conservancy, official roads, and other facilities in Changning Guard and even the Southern Six Guards.”

“Your Majesty, the Changning Wang family truly exemplifies a Prominent Family,” Prince Dede, tapping the emperor’s back on one side, said sycophantically, “I think we should commend and reward the Wang family to encourage other prominent families to emulate them.”

Although intended as flattery, the suggestion seemed quite sensible to Emperor Longchang, who nodded and said, “Indeed, they should be extensively commended. Draft an imperial decree to commend Wang Shouzhe and also involve him in the next Grand Assembly.”

Whenever Emperor Longchang thought of Wang Shouzhe, his feelings became complex and hard to express in just a few words. He genuinely hoped to meet him, yet he could not summon him because of his own previous bold claims.

What made it worse was that the man had several times ignored his hints…

As events unfolded, Emperor Longchang’s curiosity about Wang Shouzhe had become truly untenable. He took the opportunity to use an order of commendation to allow Wang Shouzhe’s participation in The Grand Assembly. This did not contradict his steadfast resolution not to summon him while also providing a chance to see Wang Shouzhe at The Grand Assembly.

He wanted to see what kind of extraordinary man could manage affairs that shook heaven and earth so effortlessly.

“Your Majesty, the only suspicion concerning the Wang family is their extreme demand for iron,” Meng Yuanbai explained, “Though every account of theirs is clear, showing where the iron went. But within the houses, the roads, the city walls… it would be inappropriate for us to tear them apart to investigate, wouldn’t it?”

It was this very point of suspicion on the Wang family that led the tax investigators to realize the anomaly in “smuggling,” having an “epiphany” and concluding that the Wang family were the secretive smugglers.

“On this matter, I shall personally ask Wang Shouzhe at The Grand Assembly,” declared Emperor Longchang, before asking, “Has the smuggling case involving Zhao Zhikun been thoroughly investigated? Could others be implicated, such as the Zhao Clan, or Cheng Si…?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, all testimonial, physical, and circumstantial evidence can only be linked to Zhao Zhikun and the missing Zhao Kui. There is no evidence to implicate the Zhao Clan, nor any proof that His Highness Cheng Si was involved,” Meng Yuanbai reported factually.

The situation having developed to this extent, the only thing Meng Yuanbai and his colleagues could do was those eight words: “handle affairs impartially and according to the law” so as to avoid any missteps.

“Your Majesty, even though there’s no evidence, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved, right?” Prince Dede started his insinuations again, “It’s said that Kang Commandery Prince has hurried back from the battlefield abroad. Perhaps Meng Yuanbai should interrogate him?”

“How can you interrogate someone without any proof? Just based on rumors spread by your An Commandery mansion?” Emperor Longchang glared at him with displeasure, “I may be old, but I am not confused. Later, have your people withdraw their claims; this mutual slander must stop.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Prince Dede responded submissively.

“Since this is the case, then Minister Meng must still assist Cheng Si in clearing his name and quell the rumors. After all, Cheng Si is the Quasi Emperor’s Son, and this clamor does not sound good,” Emperor Longchang said with a wave of his hand, “Go now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Meng Yuanbai and the others withdrew.

…

Later.

With the return of Kang Commandery Prince, the Three Talents Section, Penal Section, and Inspectorate were ordered to assist him in quashing the “rumors”. The previously unfavorable rumors against Kang Commandery Prince swiftly ceased.

Instead, criticisms now targeted “Iron-gallant, Loyal to the Monarch, Zhao Zhikun,” accusing him of smuggling to repay gambling debts and, when caught, he shamelessly tried to drag down Kang Commandery Prince to lighten his own guilt and shield the disgrace of the Zhao family, confusing the public.

Fortunately, after the tri-council inquiry released its findings, Kang Commandery Prince personally gave a speech, passionately and tearfully proving his own innocence.

It turned out Kang Commandery Prince had been fiercely battling and slaying enemies on foreign battlefields, defending humanity and bringing honor to Da Qian, only to be undermined by his compatriots in the rear, forcing him to pause his nearing victory to return to Shangjing City to clear his name.

Instantly, titles such as “Kang Commandery Prince, who Righted his Framed Grievances,” “Battlefield Military God Wu Chengsi,” “Da Qian’s Model Elite,” and others began to spread quickly within Return to Dragon City.

Whenever “Loyal and Patriotic Kang Commandery Prince” was mentioned, everyone gave him a thumbs up, and praises were never-ending.

For a time, Kang Commandery Prince’s popularity soared sharply.

Regrettably, just as Kang Commandery Prince was celebrating the clearing of his name, he unwittingly stepped into another trap.

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com