Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 1125: Chapter 82: I Just Want to Farm Quietly_4 Chapter 1125: Chapter 82: I Just Want to Farm Quietly_4 There was a strong sense of unreality.

Everything had happened too quickly, and they hadn’t even had time to prepare mentally before it all ended.

For a moment, other than those Prominent Families that had remained neutral from the start, having no intention of getting involved in the struggle for the Emperor’s son, the plans and intentions of the other families were thrown into disarray.

The Prominent Families that had stood with An Commandery Prince were, naturally, ecstatic, with some even covertly celebrating the outcome.

Those aligned with Kang Commandery Prince saw their fortunes overturned overnight, scattering like scared monkeys and becoming the targets of ruthless beatings. Countless families publicized their stance, drawing a clear line between themselves and Kang Commandery Prince.

As for those families that were still waiting to see, hoping the situation in the battle of the Emperor’s sons would become clearer before choosing a side, they now found themselves plunged into utter confusion.

The cards had been removed from the table before they had even placed their bets. What were they to do next?

The entire process behind the disposal and downfall of Kang Commandery Prince had gone smoothly under Wang Shouzhe’s consecutive strategies, but the political earthquake it caused was only truly revealing its force at this moment.

In an instant, countless Prominent Families hurriedly convened family meetings, starting to discuss how their clans should position themselves moving forward.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface, powerful undercurrents were quietly sweeping through the entire court.

All the Prominent Families understood that change was coming.

However, these disturbances among the families had nothing to do with the common people. No matter how the situation turned upside down, they would just carry on with their lives as usual—the events merely provided extra fodder for their casual conversations.

Nevertheless, the ultimate capture of the deposed Kang Commandery Prince did bring satisfaction to many. It also made a number of people sigh with the realization that “you can know someone’s face but not their heart.”

No one could have anticipated that after several shifts in public opinion, the outcome would be as it was.

The mastermind behind the smuggling and conspiring with the enemy was indeed the deposed Kang Commandery Prince.

While many were baffled, others were surprised that Emperor Longchang and the Clan House did not choose to protect him. Instead, the deposed Kang Commandery Prince received the nation’s lawful punishment without any special treatment on account of his royal status.

Because of this, the Imperial Household’s image had considerably improved in the eyes of the common people.

Even though the Imperial Household had produced a scoundrel like Kang Commandery Prince, there were also those like An Commandery Prince who wholeheartedly worked for the people’s benefit, and Princes like the noble and impartial Prince of De Wei. In the end, it was clear that the reliable ones made up the majority.

Suddenly, the Imperial Household’s reputation among the common folk not only didn’t fall but actually rose.

…

The former residence of Kang Commandery Prince.

Without the numerous servants and the endless stream of riding beasts and Spirit Horse Carriages in front of the gates, the once-grand Commandery Prince’s Residence had suddenly become much quieter.

Even at nightfall, when the fluorescent stone Spirit Lamps were lit, only a sparse few shone, which looked singularly desolate and lonely.

Inside the inner courtyard of the residence, within Wu Chengsi’s main living quarters.

Reeking of alcohol, Wu Chengsi was slumped askew on a stone bench in the courtyard, tilting his head back and relentlessly pouring wine into his mouth. On the ground beside him were several empty wine bottles haphazardly discarded.

At this moment, with the “God Locking Shackles” on his body and a breath as feeble as an ordinary person’s, where was even a hint of the once regal and privileged demeanor of the Quasi Emperor’s Son? Any stranger unaware of his identity might well mistake him for some down-and-out Independent Cultivator.

Half a month earlier, not even Wu Chengsi himself could have imagined he would end up in such a state.

“Dear, drinking hurts your body. Please eat something,” said Zhao Yijing as she walked into the courtyard, carrying several plates of appetizing food.

She had begged the Imperial Guard at the door to help her buy these delicious dishes from Wan Yao Tower. Now, with no servants in the residence, she had to do everything herself. Coupled with the unresolved worries in her heart, she had visibly lost weight over time.

However, as she was placing the dishes filled with mouthwatering food onto the stone table, Wu Chengsi—the former Kang Commandery Prince—reacted as if provoked, suddenly bellowing at her with bloodshot eyes.

“Get out!”

Crash!

With a violent sweep of his arm, he overturned all the dishes.

The crockery lay shattered on the ground, and the food had fallen into the dirt, clearly inedible now.

“Your Highness…”

Zhao Yijing froze for a moment, but as if used to it, she did not express anger or disappointment, only a sad gaze towards Wu Chengsi.

Wu Chengsi, however, ignored her, threw his head back for another swig of wine, and let out a series of chilling laughs: “Hahaha! I, the prince, have been stripped of my Quasi Emperor’s Son status, my position as Commandery Prince revoked, all my efforts gone downstream. Dawn has been defined as a Rebel Organization, subject to official wanted notices and crackdowns. Yet, Zhao Zhikun went from being a mastermind to an accessory, and by denouncing the true mastermind, earned a lighter punishment. His sentence shifted from life in the Cannon Fodder Camp to a hundred years of military service in the outlying battlefields.”

“Isn’t that what you always wanted, to help Zhao Zhikun? Are you satisfied now?”

Although the former residence of the deposed Kang Commandery Prince had been sealed, it hadn’t completely prohibited visits, so in these days, although Wu Chengsi and his wife had been under house arrest, they managed to receive some news from outside and were thus aware of Zhao Zhikun and the fate of the Dawn Organization.

Zhao Yijing’s expression was filled with sorrow: “Husband, why torment me with such words on purpose? You know full well that although I wanted to help Fourteenth Uncle, I never intended to harm you. We are husband and wife, for better or worse—we share our fortunes and misfortunes. How could I possibly harm you?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com