Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1079: Chapter 71: Shocking! Liua Ruolan Faces a Deadly Crisis

"Yuqing, it’s time to make use of the Wuu brothers."

"The Wuu brothers?" Luo Yuqing’s eyes were filled with wariness. "Those two have wild, unruly tempers, and they’re wanted criminals of the Immortal Dynasty. Won’t they be too heavy‑handed if they make a move?"

"The Wuu brothers excel at stealth and concealment, and their skills in theft and assassination are extremely formidable. But since they’re willing to submit to this prince, they naturally treasure their lives. If they acted recklessly, would this prince possibly tolerate them?" Prince Kang said. "If you’re uneasy, Yuqing, I can also ask ’Elder Xin’ to accompany them. Elder Xin is Mid-stage Purple Mansion; he can both sit in town as deterrence and prevent accidents."

"With Elder Xin there to restrain the Wuu brothers somewhat, I can be at ease." Luo Yuqing said, "Subordinate will go arrange it at once, and use the fastest mount and Flying Chariot to have them rush to raid the Wang Family’s lair before the Great Court Assembly, capture the Liua Family alive, and create an opportunity for Your Highness to hold Wang Shouzhe in check."

"Everything has troubled you, Yuqing."

Following the discussion between Prince Kang and Luo Yuqing, a series of arrangements were set in motion. The entire Prince Kang faction began operating in an orderly manner.

...

Masion of Duke Protector of the Nation.

These days, the Masion of Duke Protector of the Nation had fallen into a state of utter chaos. The Divine Power Species upon whom the clan had placed high hopes, Zhao Zhikun, who was being cultivated as the heir to the Prime Minister, became embroiled in a case of smuggling and colluding with the enemy.

And the Prime Minister, who was close to being "under one man and above ten thousand," the clan’s Grand Elder Zhao Hongbo, was also implicated. "Unable to bear the shame," he submitted his resignation from the post of Prime Minister.

Although the Zhao Family’s timely self‑punishment spared them from collective censure, and they even received a few words of praise from Your Majesty such as "upholding righteousness over kinship," their reputation among the common folk still suffered a tremendous blow.

Rumor had it that Your Majesty already intended to have Yinda Ancestor of Duke Dingguo’s Mansion temporarily assume the position of Chief Minister to stabilize the situation.

As the saying goes, many will add flowers to brocade, few will send charcoal in the snow.

The Duke’s Mansion, whose gates had once been as bustling as a marketplace, was now so deserted that sparrows could be snared there; the former lively scene was nowhere to be seen. Even a considerable portion of the Zhao Family’s businesses had been affected.

The courtyard of Divine Seed Zhao Zhikun was still as suffused with Spiritual Qi and full of vitality as ever; however, some of the servants and attendants within had lost their former arrogance. Each kept their head lowered and eyes down, exceedingly cautious, fearing the slightest misstep.

In the main side chamber.

Zhao Zhikun and his wife both wore rather bleak expressions as they sat facing each other across the table, with a trace of indignation between their brows.

Especially Zhao Zhikun. The exquisite Artifact Refining Mechanism—the "God-locking Shackles"—hugged him tightly like a suit of Armor, extending from his abdomen up to his cheeks.

Fine needle‑like objects, as thin as ox hair, were deeply embedded in his abdominal Qi Sea Profound Core and the Spirit Platform atop his head. The instant he tried to use his Divine Thought or Profound Qi, he would be in unspeakable agony.

The "God-locking Shackles" was a rather expensive piece of Artifact Creation.

Ordinarily, only Purple Mansion Realm cultivator criminals were "qualified" to enjoy it. Once one was shackled with the God-locking Shackles, not even one‑tenth of their full strength could be brought to bear.

This fearsome instrument of punishment, Zhao Zhikun had only seen before in the Cannon Fodder Camp; yet back then, he likely never even dreamed that one day this thing would be put on him.

However, without the God-locking Shackles, Your Majesty would not have granted him special pardon to return home and accompany his family for a time before being escorted to the Cannon Fodder Camp on the Outer Domain Battlefield.

"Husband."

Jiang Family, her face full of distress, held Zhao Zhikun’s hand.

Though she was not a Great Celestial Pride, she nonetheless possessed quite a powerful bloodline among the Celestial Prides. With superior cultivation conditions, and through her own hard work, she had achieved the Purple Mansion Realm in under three hundred years.

Even now she remained full of mature charm. Beneath her gentle, dignified temperament there was still a hint of the immortal maiden bearing a Sword from her youth.

"Yuanxiang." Zhao Zhikun said bitterly, "It’s I who’ve wronged you, letting you suffer this grievance with me during this time."

"Husband, what foolishness are you saying?" Jiang Family said with a coquettish anger, "You and I are husband and wife, essentially one and inseparable. What grievance or not is there to speak of? It’s just that I can’t accept this. You did so much for Prince Kang, even shouldering... for him, and what did he do in return? He rushed back in a panic just to sever all ties with you."

"Husband, do you know what people outside are saying about you? Clearly you betrayed the nation just to pay off your gambling debts, yet in order to lessen your punishment, you’re groundlessly dragging Prince Kang down with you!"

"That so‑called Military God of the battlefield, that ’outstanding talent of Daqian,’ is nothing but a facade glossed over."

Zhao Zhikun hastily said, "Yuanxiang, mind your words. Prince Kang is, after all, a Quasi-crown prince, the future Great Emperor. I cannot afford to offend him, nor can the Zhao Family."

"What future Great Emperor? At most he’s just a Quasi-crown prince. If he wants to be Emperor’s Son, he still has to ask whether Prince Anjun agrees." Jiang Family, born of a First Grade clan of the Immortal Dynasty, had an extremely lofty view. She sneered repeatedly. "I originally thought he was at least something of a man, but who knew his heart was this cold. After this incident, he actually only sent an outer‑branch subordinate to placate us. Husband, he’s treating you like a discarded pawn."

"Yuanxiang, don’t speak nonsense. Right now Prince Kang has to sever ties with me. Only if he wins the position of Emperor’s Son can he make everything up to us." Zhao Zhikun said, slightly embarrassed and angry.

"Do you know that I lowered myself and thickened my skin to ask Yijing to intercede with him? Yijing agreed readily at the time, yet now she avoids me like the Plague God. Do you still not understand what he means? Husband, you’ve been in close contact with Wu Chengsi for so many years—have you still not seen his true nature?" Jiang Family’s face turned icy, her tone cold, her pent‑up anger clearly long accumulated.