Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 1055: Chapter 67: The Saint! Isn’t this the Saint? (Seeking monthly pass) Chapter 1055: Chapter 67: The Saint! Isn’t this the Saint? (Seeking monthly pass) …

There are no walls that do not let through some news.

Moreover, the juicier the gossip, the quicker it spreads.

It had been less than half a day since Meng Yuanbai had led people straight into Ding Duke’s Mansion and Wang Shouzhe was put under house arrest, yet the news was already buzzing throughout Shangjing City. The rumors concerning the Changning Wang Clan’s alleged smuggling and collusion with the enemy were rapidly disseminated by those with an agenda, quickly becoming common knowledge to all.

Instantly, the whole of Shangjing City was in an uproar.

After all, the Changning Wang Clan had been the most sought-after prominent family in Shangjing City for the past two years. First, Li Yao, the Great Heavenly Proud, had swept through Shangjing, and after that, they had joined hands with the An Commandery Prince to form the “Dalra Reclamation joint company,” attracting investments from various prominent families. Their influence had grown immensely, successfully building a wave of momentum for the An Commandery Prince.

Only in the past six months did they quiet down a bit, with no major news.

Considering all the commotion the Changning Wang Clan had caused in recent years, there had already been whispers in Shangjing City that they were overly ambitious. Perhaps this time, they were looking to use the opportunity presented by the Emperor’s son’s struggle to leap directly into the ranks of the Third-Class Aristocratic Families.

Who then could have predicted that after just two short years of glory, the Changning Wang Clan would be embroiled in such a massive scandal?

Smuggling and collusion with the enemy—either of these accusations, if proven, would be enough to doom a Grade Six Prominent Family, let alone both combined.

Immediately, rumors about the Changning Wang Clan harboring “malicious intent” and “nouveau riche unreliability” were rife, and the number of those kicking them while they were down was countless.

Even though the investigation results were not yet out and the Changning Wang Clan’s guilt had not been confirmed, the court of public opinion had already turned completely one-sided.

The Changning Wang Clan seemed to be nailed to the pillar of shame, and even speaking up for them had become a “principled error,” often met with ridicule from the masses.

Those prominent families that had previously invested in the Dalra Reclamation joint company were particularly anxious, with several already considering withdrawing their investments.

…

Wan Yao Tower.

From the staircase leading from the second floor to the first, bursts of hearty laughter could be heard. Two young masters in brocade were laughing jovially as they walked shoulder to shoulder down the stairs, strolling with ease.

“Hahaha~ The Changning Wang Clan is finished now,” said the younger-looking of the two, who was slightly tipsy. He reveled in schadenfreude, “How dare they oppose our Zhao Clan? They’re getting exactly what they deserve!”

The other young man, looking significantly older and not lacking in strength, had a somewhat yes-man demeanor as if he always deferred to the younger one beside him.

Hearing this, he chuckled and flattered, “Indeed. The Changning Wang Clan is just a small Grade Six Prominent Family that relied on luck to produce two Great Heavenly Prouds. How could they compare to the Second Class Zhao Clan?”

“Exactly!” The young master was pleased with the response and burst into another round of hearty laughter. He then patted his companion’s shoulder with a grandiose gesture, “Don’t worry, as long as you’re with me, no one will dare to bully you. That Changning Wang Clan is just a grasshopper after autumn, unable to hop around for long. I’ve already got the scoop from my great-grandfather; just you watch, the Changning Wang Clan is dead meat this time! And the Great Qian Wang Clan, they definitely won’t escape the charge of harboring criminals!”

However.

No sooner had he finished gloating than he rounded a corner of the staircase and bumped into two other individuals head-on.

At the foot of the stairs, a young man dressed in black was glaring at him with fury in his eyes, coldly questioning, “Zhao Yuandi, what did you just say?”

This young man, with his brows like swords and eyes like stars, had an extraordinary air about him; he was none other than Wang An Nan of the Great Qian Wang Clan.

Beside him stood another young man, stout and towering—none other than Shangguan Yunhong.

Wang An Nan and Shangguan Yunhong, both renowned talents of Shangjing, naturally knew each other from early on though they weren’t particularly close. Lately, however, perhaps due to a mutual commiseration, they had been growing closer, occasionally arranging to eat and drink together.

Today, Wang An Nan was in a bad mood, so he had called Shangguan Yunhong out for drinks.

Unexpectedly, they hadn’t even reached the private room before they had the misfortune of running into Zhao Yuandi!

On his way, Wang An Nan had unintentionally heard many people discussing the Changning Wang Clan, which had already soured his mood; Zhao Yuandi’s words made him even more incensed, and he exploded on the spot.

“Oh~ and who might this be? It’s ‘Lame-Show Wang An Nan’~” the young man upstairs responded unabashedly, taking advantage of his inebriated state to mock Wang An Nan mercilessly, before continuing, “What’s the matter? The Changning Wang Clan did their own dirty deeds and played themselves to death, and now we’re not supposed to talk about it?”

This young man was, of course, Zhao Yuandi, as referred to by Wang An Nan.

While others were wary of Wang An Nan due to his Third Grade aristocratic background, Zhao Yuandi was unafraid and spoke without restraint.

“Hmph! The investigation results haven’t come out yet, it’s still questionable whether the Changning Wang Clan is guilty or not, and even Director Meng only dares to mention ‘suspicions.’ But you sure are capable, pre-emptively convicting people!” Wang An Nan snorted, immediately retorting, “And you have the nerve to mock me. Where were you when Li Yao, the Grand Aunt, put her strength to the test in Shangjing City? You are nothing but my defeated lackey, a cowardly turtle who can’t accept defeat. You’re just a weakling!”

Among Shangjing City’s “Top Ten Outstanding Youths,” it was natural to find members of the Zhao family included. Zhao Yuanqing had been low-key due to not having broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm yet, but Zhao Yuandi was listed and had even competed with Wang An Nan for the third spot. His strength was considerable.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com