Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 1070: Chapter 69: I Want to Turn the Heavens! Behind the Scenes Boss Wang Shouzhe_5 Chapter 1070: Chapter 69: I Want to Turn the Heavens! Behind the Scenes Boss Wang Shouzhe_5 “It does seem like there are quite a few matters, I just returned to Shangjing City and immediately heard a whole mess of things.” Prince Dede’s expression also appeared displeased, “I was just about to seek an audience with His Majesty to discuss them.”

Before Prince Dede had the chance to send someone to report his arrival, Old Yao stepped forward with a smile and performed a bow, “Your Highness, Prince Dede, you truly are a rare visitor. His Majesty has been informed of your arrival and had this old servant come out to welcome you. He invites you to proceed to the Zhuozheng Pavilion for a chat.”

“Old Yao, after all these years, you haven’t aged a bit,” said Prince Dede with a smile, greeting Old Yao warmly, showing their familiar and close relationship.

Standing to the side, Zhao Hongbo bowed his hands and said, “Since Prince Dede has important matters to discuss with His Majesty, it would be inappropriate for us to intrude. We shall come again tomorrow to request an audience with His Majesty.”

They had come today to admit their faults, naturally wishing to handle the matter discreetly, and could not afford to share the stage with Dede.

“Don’t go~~” Prince Dede had come “on command” and was not about to let them leave.

He immediately grabbed hold of Zhao Hongbo’s arm with enthusiasm and said, “Prime Minister Hongbo, as the esteemed First Assistant of the Inner Cabinet, you’ve waited outside for four hours and must have important matters to discuss with His Majesty. My affairs are just trifles, mainly a visit to pay respects to our Old Ancestor, and they won’t hinder you.”

Without further discussion, he half-pulled, half-dragged Zhao Hongbo into the Zhuozheng Pavilion. Zhao Zhikun’s face turned sour and he felt frustrated, but he dared not say more and quickly followed inside.

After the customary greetings.

“Seeing that our Old Ancestor is hale and hearty puts my mind at ease,” said Prince Dede, despite his own age, still playing the part of a ‘child’, which indeed seemed rather awkward and shameless.

For the title of Emperor’s son for the An Commandery Prince, he was truly going all out.

In the past, because the odds were against the An Commandery Prince, he, Prince Dede, did not think too much into it and simply went with the flow.

But now, things were different.

Ever since that old-fashioned Ming Yuan teamed up with Wang Shouzhe, his luck seemed to change, rising step by step, with growing calls of support from all directions, and he had even begun to rival Kang Commandery Prince to some extent.

That wasn’t the worst of it. Now, he even had the chance to strike a fatal blow to his rival, and how could Prince Dede not be thrilled? At this moment, he was like a man injected with vigour, filled with a fighting spirit, ready to cast aside all concerns for dignity and face.

Emperor Longchang was just the type to be influenced by such displays. Hearing Prince Dede speak this way, he couldn’t help but laugh so hard that his face crinkled into folds, spit at him and scolded, “You’ve got wrinkles all over your face and still playing the ‘child’ card? Rest assured, I’ve been in quite a good mood lately; I’m still strong and healthy. It’s you, Dede, who must take care of your health. Don’t you go dying on me.”

Though it was a scold, Dede was still one of his descendants, and because he had been talented from a young age, Longchang had always taken good care of him, and thus harboured deep affection.

Within the Imperial Household, there were only eleven princes at present, one of whom was a son-in-law who had married in, so naturally, Emperor Longchang was rather good to them.

Living to Emperor Longchang’s age, with the sheer number of descendants he had, even he himself could barely keep track. If one wasn’t a Sky Pride, they might never have the chance to see the emperor in their lifetime.

Only those like Wu Xue Ning, the young Wu Hanheng, and Wu Yingji, who held the promise of becoming the Great Heavenly Proud, might gain the emperor’s genuine attention and enjoy his affectionate side.

“Right, the state affairs are paramount.” Having finished playing his ‘cute act’, Prince Dede addressed Zhao Hongbo, “Prime Minister, you’ve waited for four hours; you must have important affairs to discuss with His Majesty. Go ahead, you first.”

Even with Zhao Hongbo’s calculating mind, he couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye and nearly erupted in anger.

He took a deep breath, collected himself, and said, “Since Prince Dede has taken the trouble to come to Shangjing City, let’s resolve your matters first.”

He planned to wait until Dede’s issues were addressed before excusing himself with the pretext of reporting confidential matters, intending to send Dede away before proceeding.

Such matters naturally require as few people in the know as possible, especially since Dede is the biggest “political rival”.

“That works,” Prince Dede said gravely, and immediately began to wail to Emperor Longchang, “Your Majesty, I have heard that the Changning Wang family not only evades taxes but is even smuggling and colluding with the enemy! Such heinous acts must be thoroughly investigated and dealt with swiftly by Your Majesty, particularly that chief culprit Wang Shouzhe, who must be punished severely, without any clemency from Your Majesty.”

“What? Thoroughly investigate and punish the Wang family?” Emperor Longchang was utterly baffled.

He had originally thought that Prince Dede had made the long journey to Shangjing to plead on the Wang family’s behalf, but to his surprise, he was actually there to demand stringent action?

It wasn’t just Emperor Longchang; even Zhao Hongbo and Zhao Zhikun were casting sidelong glances at Dede.

Aren’t you, Lord An, and the Wang family so close that you wear the same pants? It would be fine if you didn’t plead on their behalf, but demanding severe punishment, what kind of trick is this?

“Your Majesty,” Prince Dede cried out with a face full of righteous indignation, “What kind of people are we from the Dede line? Each one of us is diligent and dedicated, serving the country and its people. Especially young Ming Yuan, who is of a pure and honest nature, embracing the welfare of the people. How could he allow cunning and deceitful scoundrels like Wang Shouzhe and Wang Zong’an to bewitch and instigate him every day? I implore Your Majesty to take swift action and punish them without mercy.”

Zhao Hongbo and Zhao Zhikun both drew a sharp breath.

Prince Dede, aren’t you being a bit too cold by nature? Your rise to power as Lord An was clearly aided by the Wang family’s full support.

Now, Lord An has indeed risen to power, and when the Wang family faces trouble, not only do you not help, but you are also making a concerted effort to distance yourself and push them to their doom!

Prince Dede’s shamelessness even took Zhao Zhikun by surprise for a moment.

As Emperor Longchang’s face grew increasingly somber, Zhao Hongbo suddenly felt a pang of dread in his heart, sensing trouble.

The Zhao clan needed to keep this matter under wraps, take responsibility for their own fault, define the nature of the incident before it fully erupted, and erase any subsequent impact without a trace. But here was Prince Dede, inconveniently coming forward, clamoring for severe punishment of the Wang family.

Just a few days’ delay instigated by Prince Dede would surely escalate the situation.

Once they were too late to admit their culpability in advance, and once Meng Yuanbai revealed the truth, it wouldn’t be just Zhao Zhikun’s problem anymore. The entire Zhao Clan would be dragged into the quagmire.

Watching the change in Zhao Hongbo’s expression, while Prince Dede vehemently cursed Wang Shouzhe, he began to admire the Wang Shouzhe he had never met.

The young man was truly divine.

He had even predicted the Zhao clan’s plan to sacrifice a piece to save the game.

Just as Wang Shouzhe had said, the Zhao clan’s thinking was far too naive. Having already pushed the situation to this point, how could they let the Zhao clan sacrifice a piece to save the game so simply?

This time, his goal was not merely to sever an arm of his adversary.

The series of plans had just begun.

What he wanted was to completely reverse the Emperor’s son’s struggle, settling the outcome in one fell swoop!

Wang Shouzhe truly had great ambitions. On his first visit to Imperial City, without even moving from Four Seasons Garden, he was already preparing to turn the world upside down.

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com