Protect Our Patriarch

……

In the Wang Clan's Guest Pavilion.

"Why do you say such things, Lord Commandery Governor?" Wang Shouzhe hurriedly supported him by the arm, arranging for him to sit down first, and comforted him, "Don't rush, let's talk things over slowly."

Upon seeing Wang Shouzhe, Taishi Ankang seemed to find his "pillar of support," and his emotions stabilized significantly.

Only then did Wang Shouzhe turn his attention to the people behind Taishi Ankang.

This time, Taishi Ankang was not alone; accompanying him was an elder.

The elder wore a simple long robe, and his cultivation aura was profound and restrained, subtly exerting some pressure on Wang Shouzhe. Clearly, like Taishi Ankang, he was a formidable Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.

However, compared to the robust Taishi Ankang, the elder's back was slightly hunched, his face full of wrinkles, and there were even noticeable age spots in many places. A lingering aura of old age and impending death was evident between his brows.

On the slightly worn sleeve of his robe was embroidered a small clan emblem.

Always attentive to intelligence work, Wang Shouzhe recognized the elder's background at a glance.

Even though Wang Shouzhe had recognized the visitor, since he didn't know the purpose of the visit, he feigned ignorance and cupped his hands, saying, "This senior carries an extraordinary aura. May I ask which clan's Purple Mansion Ancestor you are?"

Taishi Ankang, holding his head, said, "Shouzhe, look at me, I'm so flustered. Let me introduce you first; this is Yan Yufei, the Ancestor of the Yan Clan from Longzuo."

"So it's the renowned Ancestor Yufei in person. I've long wanted to witness the Ancestor's demeanor, but fate has always kept us apart," Wang Shouzhe greeted courteously with cupped hands.

The Yan Clan of Longzuo was a well-known Purple Mansion Clan. However, their territory was mostly in the northern part of Longzuo, and in recent centuries, they had shown signs of decline, so they conducted themselves quite low-key.

Therefore, when the Wang Clan's marriage alliance and the Qian Clan's jointly operated Shouda Trading Company spread their business throughout Longzuo Commandery, the Yan Clan of Longzuo did not obstruct them. Instead, they were relatively cooperative.

This alone established a good relationship with Wang Shouzhe.

"No, no," Ancestor Yufei's face showed a hint of being flattered, with a slightly ingratiating smile as he cupped his hands in return, "They say Master Shouzhe is a dragon among men, and I thought it was just praise. Only today do I realize the rumors were conservative. Master Shouzhe indeed possesses the demeanor of a true dragon."

In this world, since dragons truly exist, the Lingxu Emperor would not describe himself as a true dragon, as it would be demeaning.

However, because dragons themselves have noble bloodlines and are often at the top of the food chain, they can also be used to describe some formidable men.

But for Yan Yufei, a dignified Purple Mansion Ancestor, over seven hundred years old, to present such a low posture in front of a young man was somewhat unusual, suggesting he had a request.

Wang Shouzhe's mind turned, and he roughly guessed the situation, but he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he continued with the usual pleasantries and arranged a high-standard reception according to family etiquette.

After all, whether it was Taishi Ankang or Yan Yufei, they were both prominent figures in Longzuo Commandery. With guests at the door, the Wang Clan could not be negligent or lose their manners.

This time, Yan Yufei was not alone.

Among the Yan Clan's entourage from Longzuo, there was the current Clan Leader Yan Feihong, Yan Feihong's direct descendant great-granddaughter Yan Shuangshuang, and some young men and women from collateral branches. They were not few in number. They had been arranged in the VIP hall by the family guards on duty and were being treated with good tea and fruits.

Next, the Wang Clan arranged the reception according to the appropriate standards.

Since the first Ancestor of the family, Ancestor Long Yan, was unwilling to attend social events, Wang Shouzhe specially arranged for Wang Shouyong and Wang Shoulian, two Celestial Elders, to accompany them, along with the young clan leader Wang Shizhao.

Moreover, from the arrival of the young members of the Yan Clan, Wang Shouzhe vaguely guessed their intentions. Therefore, he also arranged for some outstanding young men and women from the family to accompany the guests.

The young people's private room was quite far from the elders, as they feared the young ones would be too restrained with elders present, allowing them to enjoy themselves freely.

At the main banquet table, besides the elders, there was the young direct descendant girl Yan Shuangshuang from the Yan Clan. She was about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a delicate and charming appearance. Although a bit nervous, she maintained the demeanor of a noble family's daughter, appearing poised and graceful.

More importantly, Wang Shouzhe saw through her cultivation at a glance. At such a young age, she had already reached the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm, undoubtedly possessing the bloodline of a prodigy.

"Ancestor Yufei is truly blessed." Wang Shouzhe personally poured wine for Yan Yufei as a sign of respect for the elder, and praised with a smile, "This child Shuangshuang has such a bloodline at a young age, the future of the Purple Mansion is promising."

As he spoke, Wang Shouzhe took out a red envelope, handed it to Yan Shuangshuang, and said a few auspicious words of praise.

Yan Shuangshuang hurriedly stood up in fear and trepidation, bowing, "Thank you, Ancestor Shouzhe, but Shuang'er cannot accept without merit. Please take it back."

"No need, consider it a small encouragement for a young prodigy from the same hometown, it's nothing significant," Wang Shouzhe said with a calm smile, "Shuang'er, don't feel burdened, just focus on cultivating well and bring glory to our Longzuo Commandery and your Yan Clan."

From Wang Shouzhe's current position and perspective, he was no longer limited to one garrison or commandery.

With his current prestige throughout Longzuo Commandery, considering the Yan Clan as a fellow hometown family and Yan Shuangshuang as a young junior from the same hometown was a reflection of his status and prestige.

"This..." Yan Shuangshuang was a bit flustered and glanced secretly at Ancestor Yufei.

Before Ancestor Yufei could speak, Taishi Ankang, beside him, laughed and said, "Shuang'er, don't be pretentious. Nowadays, who doesn't know that the 'Wang and Qian' clans of Longzuo Commandery are wealthy families? With Master Shouzhe earning so much, it's only right to support outstanding young prodigies from the same hometown."

"Since the Commandery Governor has said so, Shuang'er, you should accept it." Ancestor Yufei's aged face showed a gentle smile.

"Shuang'er thanks Ancestor Shouzhe for his support." Only then did Yan Shuangshuang bow deeply to Wang Shouzhe, her eyes filled with gratitude.

The current situation of the Yan Clan of Longzuo was well known to everyone in the clan. The family had sacrificed a lot to cultivate her, prioritizing her for all the good resources, while the training resources for other siblings were meager, making life extremely difficult.

"Shuang'er, go play with your brothers and sisters, and learn from the outstanding young people of the Wang Clan," Ancestor Yufei affectionately patted her head, a hint of guilt in his old eyes.

"Yes, Ancestor." After bowing to all the elders again, Yan Shuangshuang left, led by the maids outside to the gathering place of the young people.

After Yan Shuangshuang left, Ancestor Yufei signaled to the current Clan Leader Yan Feihong.

Yan Feihong immediately stood up with a smile, respectfully toasting Wang Shouzhe, "Master Shouzhe, I heard that your daughter, Miss Liyao, swept through the prodigies and great prodigies of Shangjing City, bringing honor and glory to all fellow townsmen of Longzuo. We are full of admiration."

"I went to Shangjing City on business not long ago, and initially, the officials were somewhat indifferent. But as soon as they heard I was from Longzuo, they immediately became more courteous, speaking of Miss Liyao with great respect, and quickly resolved my matters. I toast to you, thanking you for the honor."

Yan Feihong, now over a hundred and fifty years old, was a Celestial Realm Clan Leader of small prodigy origin, appearing mature and composed, displaying the demeanor of an experienced Purple Mansion Clan Leader.

Wang Shouzhe did not act superior, smiling as he stood up to offer a polite gesture, "Clan Leader Feihong, you flatter me. Your clan's eldest son, Yan Yujing, is also a prodigy of his generation. It is said that he entered the Celestial Realm at seventy-nine, and now, at only about one hundred and thirty, he is at the peak of the early Celestial Realm, full of potential, and will surely be a rejuvenating ancestor in the future."

At the mention of Yan Yujing, a look of gratification appeared in Yan Feihong's eyes, "Yujing has been in closed-door cultivation for the past two years. Once he emerges, I will have him visit Master Shouzhe."

"There's no need for formalities. When Yujing comes to visit my Wang Clan, I will certainly entertain him well," Wang Shouzhe said gracefully.

After several rounds of toasting, the Wang Clan and the Yan Clan became much more familiar with each other.

At this point, Taishi Ankang said, "Shouzhe, I came to see you this time for two matters. One of them, after seeing you, I feel more at ease, so I'll postpone it for now. Let's talk about the Yan Clan first."

"When I first arrived in Longzuo Commandery, I was also looked after by Ancestor Yufei, which helped me gradually gain a foothold. As for the current situation of the Yan Clan, I believe you have heard about it," Taishi Ankang sighed, "Originally, in the past two to three hundred years, the Yan Clan's main industry gradually suffered from the impact of the northwest development, with profits and income decreasing, leading to a gradual decline. However, relying on their deep foundation, they could barely maintain. Unfortunately, a hundred years ago, the child Yan Jingchi, who carried the family's hopes, failed in his attempt to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm due to unstable emotions. This not only wasted all the family's investments but also worsened the situation, directly causing a problem in the Yan Clan's Purple Mansion succession."

"The greatest fear for a family is an accident in succession," Wang Shouzhe also sighed, "I can understand such circumstances. Back then, our Wang Clan also faced similar difficulties."

"Isn't that right? They say the Purple Mansion is a thousand-year family, but once the Purple Mansion fails to pass the succession, it will decline rapidly," Taishi Ankang lamented, "In the northwest, countless families, big and small, are waiting for Ancestor Yufei to pass away, ready to join hands in secretly attacking and devouring the declining Yan Clan."

"The biggest problem for the Yan Clan now is that Ancestor Yufei has little lifespan left. Even after taking Longevity Pills, he has at most fifty years left. The new generation's Purple Mansion seed, Yan Yujing, will take at least another one hundred and fifty years to achieve the Purple Mansion. This hundred-year gap without a Purple Mansion is the Yan Clan's most vulnerable and dangerous period."

"By then, with wolves surrounding them, whether the Yan Clan can withstand it is uncertain. At least the resources for Yan Yujing's cultivation and breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Realm might not keep up. As the Commandery Governor, I can't interfere too much in the normal competition between families."

A Purple Mansion Clan relies on the deterrence of its Purple Mansion powerhouses to make the subordinate families submit and not dare to challenge them. Once the Purple Mansion falls and the succession encounters problems, the once abundant family wealth becomes a death warrant.

As the saying goes, a commoner is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. Without sufficient strength, possessing wealth that others covet is bound to attract trouble.

Back then, the Yuwen Clan was eager for Yuwen Chi Wei to advance to seven tails for this reason. This was even with Lady Bilian coming from the fourth-grade Shangguan Clan, with the Shangguan Clan backing them, providing some deterrence to other families, allowing them to barely maintain. Otherwise, they might not have even lasted until Yuwen Chi Wei advanced to seven tails.

Even Wang Shouzhe relied on having Tianhe Daoist's support and Wang Liyao, a great prodigy on the surface, to make other families wary and not dare to act recklessly, allowing him to develop the flying carriage business and other industries, rapidly accumulating wealth. Otherwise, the more money he earned, the faster he would die.

The Anbei Garrison plan also had the royal family's backing to proceed. Otherwise, a sixth-grade family holding a vast amount of wealth would be akin to seeking death.

Wang Shouzhe held his wine cup, savoring it slowly, and after a pause, he said, "The rise and fall of tides, the waxing and waning of the moon, are the norms of the world. From a macro perspective, after the Yan Clan falls, a new Purple Mansion Clan will inevitably emerge in the northwest of Longzuo within three hundred to five or six hundred years."

"Throughout the history of Daqian, the rise and fall of such families have been continuously playing out."

Ancestor Yufei and Clan Leader Yan Feihong's expressions changed, their eyes becoming heavy.

Was Master Shouzhe implying that he was avoiding involvement? Not wanting to get involved in this matter?

Suddenly, the two of them felt anxious and uncertain, looking to Taishi Ankang for further assistance.

"Alas, though that may be true, Ancestor Yufei has been kind to Ankang," Taishi Ankang cupped his hands and said, "If Shouzhe can lend a hand, Ankang would be grateful..."

Before he could finish, Wang Shouzhe solemnly interrupted, "Lord Commandery Governor, please don't say such things to humble Shouzhe. The Wang Clan has grown with much support from Commandery Governor Taishi, for which Shouzhe is grateful."

"It's not that I don't want to help. It's just that, to be honest, the Yan Clan's current predicament is not a result of a single day's cold. Let's set this matter aside for now and talk about your second..."

Before he could finish, Clan Leader Yan Feihong became anxious.

He hurriedly stood up and said, "As long as Master Shouzhe agrees to help my Yan Clan through this difficult time, we are willing to marry our precious Shuang'er into the Wang Clan."

As soon as he said that.

Wang Shouzhe's face darkened, and a hint of coldness appeared in his gaze towards Yan Feihong. The smiles on the faces of Wang Shouyong, Wang Shoulian, and Wang Shizhao, who were accompanying them, also froze instantly.

With just one sentence, the previously joyful atmosphere between host and guest became extremely oppressive.

"Feihong, you're being ridiculous," Ancestor Yufei's heart sank, and he hurriedly reprimanded Yan Feihong, "Master Shouzhe is a man of deep thought, and his arrangements must have profound meaning. How can you interrupt when he's speaking with the Commandery Governor?"

"Yes, yes, Ancestor, I was wrong," Yan Feihong realized his rashness, his face turning pale as he repeatedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "Master Shouzhe, it was my impatience that caused me to lose my manners. I accept any punishment you deem fit."

Upon hearing this, the coldness on Wang Shouzhe's face melted away like ice and snow, replaced by a gentle smile. After toasting a cup of wine, he stood up and said, "Ancestor Yufei, Clan Leader Feihong, I have just returned from the outer regions, and my body and mind are somewhat fatigued. I am no longer able to drink, so I will not accompany you further. I will drink a cup as an apology, and then let Shizhao, Shouyong, and Shoulian accompany you."

His demeanor, though still as pleasant as before, like a spring breeze and rain, left the Yan Clan's people feeling as if their hearts had sunk to the bottom.

Ancestor Yufei and Clan Leader Yan Feihong exchanged glances and hurriedly forced smiles, saying, "Master Shouzhe, please take care of your health, feel free."

"Shizhao, you and your Fifth and Sixth Grandfathers accompany our esteemed guests well, and do not let our Wang Clan lose its manners," Wang Shouzhe patted Wang Shizhao's shoulder, "Make sure the guests are happy."

"Yes, Grandfather," Wang Shizhao cupped his hands in response.

After making some arrangements, Wang Shouzhe invited Taishi Ankang, "Recently, Anye gifted me some wild spirit tea. Though not as expensive as high-grade spirit tea or immortal tea, it has a unique flavor. If the Commandery Governor doesn't mind the wild tea's coarseness, why not come to Shouzhe's Small Courtyard for a taste?"

Taishi Ankang stood up, gladly accepting, "If Anye's tea is presentable, it can't be ordinary. In that case, I'll take advantage of Shouzhe's hospitality today."

As he left the banquet hall with Wang Shouzhe, he cast a complicated glance at Ancestor Yufei, shook his head helplessly, and then followed Shouzhe.

"Dear guests, if there is anything lacking during your visit to our Wang Clan, please feel free to mention it," Wang Shizhao began to warmly entertain the Yan Clan's people, as if unaffected by the previous incident, "Ancestor Yufei, please try our spirit wine brewed by the Lingbao Gourd... Clan Leader Feihong, this is the special steamed red-tailed spirit fish from An River, and the salted fifth-grade spirit crocodile meat."

Wang Shizhao, along with Shouyong and Shoulian, spared no effort in their hospitality, ensuring it was attentive, enthusiastic, and thorough.

The Yan Clan's people also did their best to appear "flattered" and "very satisfied," making the scene lively and seemingly joyful between host and guest.

However, beneath their smiling faces, Ancestor Yufei and Clan Leader Yan Feihong were increasingly anxious.

They wanted to understand Master Shouzhe's true intentions, but several cautious attempts to probe were all inadvertently diverted by Wang Shizhao.

This left them more uneasy, yet they had no choice but to continue "enjoying" the hospitality without truly tasting it.

……

Meanwhile.

The young members of the Wang Clan responsible for entertaining the Yan Clan's juniors truly bonded with their peers from the Yan Clan.

The Wang Clan's family education was extremely strict, and the Clan School rigorously enforced various etiquette standards, teaching interpersonal skills and hospitality, with assessments included.

These grades were factored into the overall Clan School scores, and who dared to fail in this aspect? If they did, they would typically face a severe reprimand and be sent back to the Clan School to relearn.

The main force responsible for entertaining the Yan Clan's juniors this time was the fifteenth in the "Shi" generation, Wang Shifeng. He was the second son of Wang Zongrui, Wang Shouzhe's second son.

Even though Wang Shifeng was not from the direct line of Wang Zong'an, being from a collateral branch, as long as Wang Shouzhe was alive, his status and position were very high.

At twenty years old, he naturally inherited his grandfather Wang Shouzhe's handsome and heroic looks. He had been diligently working at the Changning United Manufacturing Division for two years and had now been promoted to the position of Deputy Head of the Third Section in the Deep Research Department of Glass Manufacturing Technology.

Having taken on a job, he had shed the immaturity of his Clan School days and gradually developed the demeanor of a young elite.

Unlike the other younger siblings present or the young members of the Yan Clan who had yet to shoulder responsibilities, Wang Shifeng's every word and action exuded maturity and composure, reminiscent of his father Wang Zongrui.

Not only did his younger siblings respect him, but even the peers from the Yan Clan unknowingly developed a sense of admiration and respect for him.

"Brother Shifeng."

The speaker was a girl who had also entered the family business—Wang Yinglei.

She pouted slightly and said, "I'm so envious of you. In just two years, you've been promoted to Deputy Head. I've been working for almost a year, and Brother Shichuan still treats me like a child, only letting me do small tasks like passing messages and handling mail. The skills I learned in the Clan School are of no use."

"Yinglei, you need to be patient. Every child in our family starts from the bottom," Wang Shifeng said with a reassuring smile, "But Sixth Brother is much older than us, so he tends to treat you like a little sister, always thinking you haven't grown up. If you want to grow, you can apply to start in the sales department of the artifact products, shed the aura of a noble family girl, work diligently for two years, and then talk about achieving results."

"With esteemed guests present today, I won't go into detail with you," Wang Shifeng said, fearing he might neglect the guests, "I'll be free tomorrow, so come find me, and I'll help you plan."

"Thank you, Fifteenth Brother," Wang Yinglei beamed with joy.

A young collateral girl from the Yan Clan, Yan Yuxiang, overheard the conversation and curiously asked, "Brother Shifeng, I don't understand. As a noble member of the Wang Clan, why do you have to work at the bottom for two years? Do you really have to follow the orders of those below?"

The Yan Clan's visit had a purpose, so the young men and women who came were all handsome and well-dressed, with the boys looking heroic and the girls appearing gentle and charming.

"Miss Yuxiang," Wang Shifeng slightly bowed, answering with grace, "Our Changning United Manufacturing Division is a joint industry of the alliance families. It is a vast economic entity that requires institutionalized management to endure."

"Although our Wang Clan holds a significant share, we cannot act arbitrarily, or how would we gain the support of others? While I work at the grassroots level, grassroots talents are the foundation of the Manufacturing Division, its true backbone. Anyone who can serve as a Deputy Head or Head has qualities worth learning from. I've learned a lot from them, and they deserve my respect."

"Brother Shifeng is truly impressive."

Several girls from the Yan Clan looked at Wang Shifeng with eyes full of admiration. Although they didn't understand many of the terms, it didn't hinder their appreciation of the unique charm that set him apart from ordinary noble sons.

The young men from their family, though outstanding among their peers in the Yan Clan, and popular among girls in their territory, found themselves at a significant disadvantage after interacting with the young members of the Wang Clan. Whether in demeanor, vision, knowledge, or conversation, they were on entirely different levels.

Comparison can be daunting.

As a result, the young men of the Yan Clan felt somewhat frustrated.

They attempted to engage with Wang Yinglei, Wang Yinghuan, and Wang Yingmeng, trying to subtly showcase their cultivation and knowledge, only to discover, to their dismay, that in every aspect, they fell short of those gentle and courteous young ladies.

Often, what the young ladies said would be enlightening, and sometimes, it was entirely incomprehensible.

They didn't realize that this was the gap in cultural heritage. The levels of thinking, understanding of the world, and breadth of vision were not on the same scale.

In their frustration.

A young man named Yan Xiangda, with nothing better to say, suggested to his younger sister Yan Shuangshuang, "Sister Shuang'er, you mentioned that Ancestor Shouzhe gave you a red envelope. Why not open it and take a look?"

"This..." Yan Shuangshuang hesitated, "Isn't it inappropriate?"

"Sister Shuang'er, let us see it. I guess it's five thousand top gold."

"I guess it's ten thousand top gold. I've heard Ancestor Shouzhe likes to support outstanding young people. After all, our sister Shuang'er is a prodigy, and Ancestor Shouzhe must be pleased to see her."

Unable to resist the urging of her brothers and sisters, Yan Shuangshuang finally opened the red envelope, revealing a single gold note, a purple gold note.

"Purple gold note!"

The dazzling purple color nearly blinded the young members of the Yan Clan.

They never expected that Ancestor Shouzhe, whom they had never met, would be so generous, giving a purple gold note. It was a purple gold note, worth a hundred thousand top gold!

Wang Shifeng, standing nearby, smiled and said, "Congratulations, Miss Shuang'er. My grandfather usually carries many red envelopes, but a purple gold note is already the largest. It seems my grandfather really likes you."

The other young members of the Wang Clan also offered their congratulations.

"This, this is too much..." Yan Shuangshuang was somewhat dazed, "Brother Shifeng, can you return it to Grandfather, no, Ancestor Shouzhe for me?"

The current Yan Clan was so impoverished that all family resources were dedicated to nurturing the Purple Mansion seed, and children rarely saw purple gold notes.

"Sister Shuang'er, you should keep it," Wang Yinglei said with a smile, "There's no reason for Fourth Grandpa to take back a red envelope he gave out."

"Besides, every year during the New Year, Fourth Grandpa gives red envelopes to the children in the family. If someone performs exceptionally well, they can also receive a purple gold note as a red envelope, which is a form of support and a disguised resource subsidy."

For a moment, including Yan Shuangshuang, all the young members of the Yan Clan were in a daze, their eyes filled with envy as they looked at Wang Yinglei and the others.

The Wang Clan was truly extravagant, with the family head giving out purple gold notes as red envelopes to the children...

If only I were a child of the Wang Clan, how wonderful it would be.

This sentiment was uncontrollably lingering in the minds of the young members of the Yan Clan.

……

In Shouzhe's Small Courtyard.

The moonlight was bright, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air.

Wang Shouzhe and Taishi Ankang leisurely sipped the wild spirit tea gifted by Wang Anye.

"Good tea, good tea. This tea has a long-lasting sweetness and bitterness, with a lingering aftertaste," Taishi Ankang praised, "It's even better than the tribute spirit tea I've tasted."

"If the Commandery Governor likes it, I'll give you two taels," Wang Shouzhe said, sipping his tea slowly.

"It's a deal," Taishi Ankang's eyes lit up, but then he sighed and said, "Shouzhe, is there really no hope for the Yan Clan? If you don't intervene, no other family in Longzuo Commandery is likely to get involved. And the Yan Clan doesn't have the courage to seek help from other commanderies, or it would provoke public anger, making it even harder to gain any advantage."

"Lord Commandery Governor, the Yan Clan's problem lies at its root," Wang Shouzhe sighed, "They became prosperous through early land acquisition and development, but their descendants lacked ambition, gradually losing their industrial advantage. They only managed to maintain due to the accumulated prestige of a Purple Mansion Clan. Even if the Purple Mansion succession a hundred years ago had succeeded by chance, it would have only delayed their elimination."

"A thousand-year family, a thousand-year family, how can a family easily last a thousand years? If they don't change their mindset, they might as well lower their rank early, abandon some wealth, and seek survival by cutting their losses."

"Shouzhe, are you upset because you feel sorry for that child Shuang'er? The Yan Clan is trying to use Shuang'er, whom they've invested heavily in to elevate to a prodigy, as a bargaining chip to attract strong support for the family, and you disapprove of that?" Taishi Ankang, being astute, could easily see through it.He sighed and said, "Does this remind you of the toughest times for the Wang's Clan, when Ancestor Long Yan had no choice but to send the direct descendant to marry into the Xu Clan from Changning for protection?"

Wang Shouzhe took a sip of spiritual tea and rolled his eyes at him, "A dignified Commandery Governor, why are you so concerned with the thoughts of a small figure like me? Aren't you ashamed?"

"Small figure?" Taishi Ankang's mouth twitched, and he drank his tea in frustration, "If you, Wang Shouzhe, are considered a small figure, then is there even a big figure left in Longzuo Commandery?"

"With just your will, you can determine the life and death of a Purple Mansion Clan. Isn't that a big figure?"

"Your slightest dissatisfaction can make a Purple Mansion Ancestor like Yan Yufei anxious, repeatedly pondering what might have offended you. Isn't that a big figure?"

"Moreover, His Majesty issued an edict ordering our Longzuo Commandery to increase tax revenue by fifty percent within ten years. Eunuch Yao, who delivered the edict, privately revealed that His Majesty was quite upset with you, Shouzhe, and was trying to find ways to make things difficult for you. But I don't understand, why does His Majesty's grudge against you have to involve me?" Taishi Ankang complained with a face full of frustration, "I'm just an ordinary, pitiful Commandery Governor. Lord Shouzhe, when you and His Majesty are at odds, could you please not drag me into it?"

"I'm afraid not," Wang Shouzhe said leisurely, sipping his tea calmly, "Because in the eyes of His Majesty, in the eyes of Commandery Prince Kang, and in the eyes of the many prestigious families in Guilong City."

"Governor, you have long been in cahoots with me, Wang Shouzhe."

"I spread the rumors, we're all on the same side, no need to thank me, Governor."

"I..." Taishi Ankang's face twitched, feeling an urge to make trouble.