Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1076: Chapter 71: Prince Kang’s Grievance Redressed

"Brother Chengchao, your words are not quite right. Everything should be reasonable, shouldn’t it?" said Wang Shouzhe with a smile, personally brewing a pot of Spirit Tea and handing over a cup. "Those few little wolf cubs were entrusted by our Lici to be airlifted by your Yao Air Transport to our Wang Family. But we, the Wang Family, haven’t received the little wolf cubs. If we don’t ask your Yao Air Transport for the shipped items, whom should we ask?"

Yao Chengchao took the Spirit Tea, gulped it down, and drank several more cups before sitting down and rudely munching on various pastries: "Can’t you just ask the Great Emperor?"

"No, our Wang Family has no debt relationship with the Great Emperor," Wang Shouzhe continued pouring tea for him. "Moreover, it is said that His Majesty looks upon me unfavorably, and if I go, I will certainly be made difficult."

"Hasn’t he also made things difficult for me?" Yao Chengchao looked vexed.

He had also tried to ask the Great Emperor, but each time he was driven away.

"Let’s discuss this matter later. Brother Chengchao, this is a list I’ve prepared, and I need your help in bringing it over the next time you come to East Qian." Wang Shouzhe took out a long list.

Yao Chengchao glanced at it and exclaimed: "Are you planning to build a Spirit Gathering Array of considerable size and specifications... those who know will think you are a Sixth-Grade Noble Family, those who do not might think you’re a Second-Grade!"

A Spirit Gathering Array of a Second-Grade Noble Family is generally not small either, but at the core of the array, at most, there would be a Tier Nine Spirit Plant or an equivalent rare object. There is an essential difference compared to the Wang Family’s plan to use an Immortal Plant as the core.

"I’m counting on you, Brother Chengchao." Wang Shouzhe bowed politely.

"Alright, I’ll do my best to gather the materials for you, but some special materials will take time and be difficult to collect all at once." Yao Chengchao considered for a moment and said, "Also, do not bring up the wolf cubs again, go ask the Great Emperor yourself."

"That is a separate matter. As for the price of these materials, I’ve already accounted for a reasonable profit for the Yao Family." Wang Shouzhe said flatly, "Unless Brother Chengchao is willing to forgo the profit..."

"Fine, I’ll go find the Great Emperor then." Yao Chengchao collected the list and rolled his eyes, suggesting, "Younger Brother Shouzhe, have you prepared any meals yet? What delicacies have your two excellent chefs prepared for you today?"

"..."

Wang Shouzhe and Prince Anjun.

...

Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Emperor Longchang lay reclining lazily.

Beside him, Prince Deshun had replaced Old Yao and was personally serving by his side, pouring tea, offering water, massaging and patting, showering with flattery as if it cost nothing.

Making the Great Emperor quite comfortable, sighing that Deshun has now become filial and is much more articulate than in his youth.

Old Yao was constantly rolling his eyes. Prince Deshun, you are really good at taking positions, even taking over the old eunuch’s job? Why don’t you, in that case, just cut it off, and I’ll give my place to you, Deshun?

On the other side, led by Meng Yuanbai, the members of the Three Talents Department, Criminal Law Department, and the Inspectorate were reporting the results of recent investigation cases to the Great Emperor.

"So, it seems that the Wang Family indeed hasn’t engaged in tax issues?" Emperor Longchang’s eyes showed a hint of surprise.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Meng Yuanbai replied, "We deployed a large number of experienced tax officers and auditors, thoroughly checking decades of Wang Family’s accounts and various assets. We found that not only has Changning Wang Family never engaged in tax evasion, but they even pay a bit more in taxes."

"Moreover, the Wang Family often spends a huge amount of money on constructing waterworks, official roads and other infrastructures for Changning Guard and even the Six Southern Guards."

"Your Majesty, the Changning Wang Family is truly a model among noble families," Prince Deshun said while massaging the Great Emperor, flattering, "I think they should be commended to encourage other noble families to emulate them."

Although a flattery, Emperor Longchang also found it quite reasonable, nodding and saying: "Indeed, it should be greatly commended. Later, draft a decree to commend Wang Shouzhe and invite him to participate in the next imperial court session."

Mentioning Wang Shouzhe, Emperor Longchang truly had a complicated and unspeakable mood. He sincerely hoped to meet him yet felt embarrassed to issue a decree for a meeting due to his previous bold words.

What was even more annoying was that the fellow ignored his hints several times...

As the events unfolded, Emperor Longchang’s curiosity about Wang Shouzhe had become difficult to suppress. So, he decided to use the commendation as a pretext to have him attend the court session. This way, he wouldn’t go against his bold words of not summoning and could see Wang Shouzhe at the court.

Gauging what kind of extraordinary person he is, who seems to always be able to stir up astonishing events.

"Your Majesty, the only suspicion about the Wang Family is their extraordinary demand for iron ore and the like," Meng Yuanbai added, "Although every account is clear, detailing where the iron is used—inside houses, road bases, city walls, and fortifications—we can’t just tear them down for inspection, can we?"

It is precisely because this is a suspicion of the Wang Family, coupled with the tax inspection team’s awareness of "smuggling," that they instinctively concluded that the Wang Family was the mastermind behind the smuggling.

"This, I’ll personally ask Wang Shouzhe at the court session," Emperor Longchang decided, then asked, "Has the smuggling case involving Zhao Zhikun been fully clarified? Has anyone else been implicated, such as the Zhao Family or the successor...?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, currently all testimonies, evidence, and supporting evidence can only prove the involvement of Zhao Zhikun and the missing Zhao Kui. There is no evidence to prove the Zhao Family’s involvement, nor any evidence to prove the involvement of the successor." Meng Yuanbai stated truthfully.

At this stage of the affair, the only thing Meng Yuanbai and his colleagues could do was to follow the principle of "impartial, fair, and just," to avoid any missteps.

"Your Majesty, just because there’s no evidence doesn’t mean no involvement, right?" Prince Deshun again started his flattering, "I’ve heard that Prince Kang has already rushed back from the Outer Domain Battlefield, why not let Meng Yuanbai conduct an interrogation?"

"How can we interrogate without evidence? Just relying on the rumors spread by you, the Anjun Prince’s faction?" Emperor Longchang rolled his eyes at him, "Although I am old, I am not muddled. Tell your people to cease this farce of mudslinging at each other."

"Yes, yes, yes." Prince Deshun adopted a submissive attitude.

"If so, then, my dear Minister Meng, continue to assist the successor in proving innocence and suppressing the rumors, as, after all, the successor is the quasi-crown prince, and persisting with this uproar doesn’t sound pleasant." Emperor Longchang waved off, "Go now."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Meng Yuanbai and the others withdrew.

...

Subsequently.

With the return of Prince Kang, the Three Talents Department, Criminal Law Department, and Inspectorate were ordered to assist him in quelling the "rumors," and within a short span of time, all rumors adversely affecting Prince Kang vanished.

The conversations in the streets were replaced by renewed criticisms of the "Iron Gall Loyalist Zhao Zhikun."

It was said that Zhao Zhikun, to pay off gambling debts, engaged in smuggling and colluding with the enemy, and even after being caught, he remained unrepentant, trying to drag Prince Kang into the water to reduce his own guilt, shield Zhao Family’s disgrace, and confuse the public’s perception.

Thanks to the disclosure of the trial results by the three departments, Prince Kang appeared personally to speak up, passionately and emotionally proving his innocence.

It turned out that Prince Kang had always been fighting bravely on the Outer Domain Battlefield, killing enemies, defending humanity against external threats, and winning glory for Daqian. Yet, he was dragged down by teammates at the rear, forcing him to pause his already almost victorious battle and return to Upper Capital City to clear his grievances.

For a time, titles like "Justfully Untangled Prince Kang," "Martial God on the Battlefield Wu Chengsi," "Daqian’s Exemplary Hero," began to spread rapidly throughout Gui Long City.

Mention of "Loyalist Patriotic Prince Kang" had everyone raising their thumbs in praise.

For a while, Prince Kang’s reputation soared swiftly.

Unfortunately, just as Prince Kang was celebrating the clearing of his suspicion, he unwittingly stepped into a trap.

...