Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 843: Chapter 21: Emperor Longchang Appears! The Appearance of the Thousand Autumn Spiritual Treasure (Requesting Monthly Votes)_2

Forming an alliance with the Great Qian Wang Clan was indeed a crucial part of Shouzhe’s next big plan.

However, he deeply understood “human nature”; if he directly approached them, even if Wang Liyao was the Great Heavenly Proud, such an action would inadvertently lower her status, making it easy for others to look down on her. Only by making them rack their brains to invite him back would they value and cherish the connection more.

After what felt like ages for Wang Annan and having endured a session of beating that lasted an entire incense stick’s time.

Wang Liyao finally returned gracefully and saluted Wang Yuchang, “Old Ancestor, Liyao is prepared.”

Behind her, follower Mo Wanqiu paced beside her, mimicking her every move.

Upon seeing that Wang Liyao was about to introduce Mo Wanqiu to the Family Head, Wang Annan genuinely felt like dying.

Please, no more introductions, no more chatting…

Immediately, his howling became even more plaintive and melodious, implying, “Aunt Liyao, if you don’t save me now, I’m truly going to die… I’m really dying…”

“Eh… why are they still beating him?” Wang Liyao finally noticed and turned to look at the father and son duo of the Wang Shida, her eyes wide with surprise, then she “hastily” urged, “Shida, even if the child has made some minor mistakes, a few symbolic lashes should suffice. Why the need for such heavy punishment?”

The hearts of the two members of the Wang Shida tightened.

Aunt Liyao, don’t your words feel a bit insincere? If you had spoken earlier, could we have beaten him for so long?

“Aunt Liyao is kind-hearted, but this little beast really deserves a beating. I will beat you to death, you little beast,” Wang Shida could not simply stop just because he was advised to; following tradition, he began to lash out with even greater force.

“Enough, enough, after all, he is still a junior. Shida, better take him home first and we can discuss this slowly later,” Wang Liyao urged again, “Moreover, at that time, the two families indeed had not acknowledged each other. Annan might have been a bit harsh with his words, but upon reflection, it wasn’t really too excessive. Seeing the child beaten to this state is quite heartbreaking.”

Upon reflection, it wasn’t too excessive?

Tears streamed down Wang Annan’s face as he gazed up at the blurry sky, his heart wailing in despair.

Aunt Liyao, I thank you for your “sympathy” ah~~~

…

Meanwhile, as Wang Liyao was summoned back to Ding Duke’s Mansion, elsewhere, another individual was also working hard to fulfill their own “promise.”

In the very center of Return to Dragon City, where top-quality Spirit Veins converged, stood a majestic and enormous palace complex.

This complex was the Imperial City of Da Qian.

Though these palaces had clearly existed for a long, long time, and despite the roof tiles still glittering as new, the walls bore the mottled marks of great age, the marks of lengthy epochs, the engravings of time.

However, while time had inscribed its marks of age, it hadn’t made the palace look outdated. Instead, it endowed the structure with a profound heritage, making it appear even more towering and magnificent as the years passed.

Just like this country.

It was ancient, yet brand new.

It had a long history, yet it also radiated a vigorous vitality.

The efforts of every generation in the country had turned into a deep foundation, making it increasingly powerful and unshakable. It was also the relentless efforts and sacrifices of generations that had built its great wall that wouldn’t tremble even if the sky fell.

Deep within the palace complex.

There was a palace that looked no different from the rest. A placard hanging at the entrance bore the powerful ancient seal characters for “Zhuozheng Pavilion.”

This was the Imperial Library within the palace, also serving as the place where the Great Emperor usually worked and studied.

Inside the library.

Huge bookshelves lined up along the wall, densely packed with books, adding a weight to the library.

Like other parts of the Imperial Palace, the decor here was understated yet luxurious; even an inconspicuous curtain was made from the finest top-quality Spirit Silkworm silk, beautifully embroidered and vivid to life.

In the corner of the room, from a high table, spirals of smoke gracefully ascended from a Red Copper incense burner shaped like an Azure Dragon, slowly diffusing as they rose.

Beside the high table sat a chair carved from thousand-year-old Purple Spirit Sandalwood, its patina thick and glossy, clearly an ancient artifact used over many millennia.

In this chair sat an old man in plain dark clothing.

The long years had given him a visage of vicissitude, and the cell degeneration of old age had advanced into its final phase. At this moment, his skin was loose, its luster dim, and marked with age spots. His murky old eyes, half-closed, seemed devoid of any sparkle, as if he was always on the verge of sleep.

Behind him stood an equally old grey-robed eunuch, holding a dust brush, slightly bent at the waist. His gaze was perpetually fixed on his own toes, immobile, like a statuette.

“Grandfather, it’s your turn to move the piece.”

Just then, a crisp female voice broke the stillness.

It was a pretty and adorable girl, who looked just like a porcelain doll, none other than the second-ranked among the “Top Ten Outstanding Youths” of the National Capital—the Imperial Household’s Greatest Genius, Wu Xue Ning.

“Oh~ Little Xue’Er, have you figured out so quickly how to counter my killer move?”

The old man swayed and awoke from his half-slumber.

He looked groggily at the chess board and then couldn’t help but laugh: “Brilliant, brilliant~ Little Xue’Er, with this move, you’ve found a sliver of life amidst a myriad of killing blows. Truly worthy of being my great-great-great… granddaughter, as clever as I was in my youth. Old Yao, don’t you think?”

He shifted slightly and smiled as he asked the eunuch behind him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on N𝘰vgo.co