Protect Our Patriarch

……

Old Yao, who was serving nearby, sighed quietly.

His Majesty indeed hadn't meddled in the marriages of the younger generation within the clan for centuries, but recently, the Imperial Heir Struggle had intensified, gradually reaching a fever pitch.

This also indicated that a new era was about to begin, and the old era was about to end.

As the "old era" was coming to a close, it was inevitable that His Majesty's mood would be complex and changeable.

The deep alliance between the Zhao Clan and Prince Dexin's lineage, if successful, would greatly consolidate their alliance, creating a significant advantage for them to win the Imperial Heir Struggle.

Strategically, this move was sound, but tactically, it seemed a bit hasty. It overlooked His Majesty's increasingly sensitive mindset and the Chen Clan's high expectations for Little Commandery Princess Xue'ning.

If they were willing to wait for a better opportunity and timing to do this, it might have succeeded, but being so reckless now was clearly a bad move.

In His Majesty's eyes, this represented that the Zhao Clan was eager to pledge allegiance to the "new master," and Prince Dexin's lineage was also eager to pull the Zhao Clan, whom His Majesty relied on, into their fold.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Emperor Longchang's expression quickly returned to normal, sipping spiritual tea as if nothing had happened, and said with a smile, "Jinglong, aren't you overreacting? Commandery Prince Kang is both literate and martial, with far-reaching plans, making him the most formidable contender for the future emperor. Hasn't your Chen Clan always wanted to rise to the second rank? Boarding this ship would ensure smooth sailing for future development."

"Your Majesty," Chen Jinglong's expression changed, and he quickly said, "Our Chen Clan has thrived under Your Majesty's guidance and care over the years, and our gratitude is beyond words. If Your Majesty were to arrange a marriage for Xue'ning, having her marry Zhao Yuanqing, our Chen Clan would naturally be delighted and fully supportive. But the Zhao Clan and Prince Dexin..."

Halfway through his words, Chen Jinglong's meaning was clear.

Only His Majesty could make them unconditionally submit; no one else was worthy!

Emperor Longchang's expression became even more amiable: "Jinglong, no need to rush, have some roast meat first. Someone, bring the roast meat."

Hearing this, Chen Jinglong was momentarily stunned, muttering to himself.

Your Majesty, I'm in a hurry here, and you're asking me to eat roast meat? If you truly care for Xue'ning, issue a decree to make Prince Dexin withdraw that ridiculous idea~~

However, despite his thoughts, Chen Jinglong dared not speak further.

In recent years, the emperor's moods had become increasingly unpredictable, often leaving people unsure of his thoughts. He dared not guess or speak carelessly, so he could only brace himself and follow orders, sitting down.

The eunuchs sliced the tender beef, sprinkled it with a thin layer of seasoning, and the aroma filled the air.

Chen Jinglong, preoccupied, had no appetite, but since the emperor insisted, he had to at least pretend, so he prepared to reach for the roast meat.

However, as soon as he extended his hand, he found that several large plates of roast meat were already gone...

Five round little wolf cubs, a dragon, and a young girl who seemed small but had a big appetite, each gnawed on the roast meat, finishing it in no time and licking their lips for more.

Then, they eagerly awaited the next batch of roast meat.

"Uncle, let me tell you. Eating with the little wolf cubs, if you're not quick, there won't be any left." Wang Yingxuan, eating a bit slower, still had a few pounds left, reluctantly handing it to Chen Jinglong, "Here, I have a few bites left, have some to satisfy your craving."

Chen Jinglong twitched his mouth, shaking his head: "No need, I'm not hungry, little sister, you eat it yourself."

"Alright, then I won't be polite." Wang Yingxuan quickly finished the few pounds of roast meat, licking her lips, and asked Wu Xue'ning, "Proud Little Commandery Princess, is that Zhao Yuanqing good-looking?"

Over time, the two had become familiar with each other, though both were proud and couldn't stand being wronged, often ending up in arguments.

"I saw him a few times when I was young, thought Zhao Yuanqing looked alright." Wu Xue'ning rested her chin on her hand, sneaking a glance at Wang Anye before saying, "But now, I find him a bit too greasy, his gaze a bit sinister, not bright enough."

"If you don't like him, then don't marry him." Wang Yingxuan said nonchalantly.

"How can that be? Our Ancestor has agreed... I can't go against him." Wu Xue'ning was also quite helpless.

In her lineage, many major decisions were made by Ancestor Dexin. Even though she was favored, the thought of Prince Dexin's dominance made her nervous.

Then, Wu Xue'ning looked at Emperor Longchang with pleading eyes, as if asking him to make a decision. Compared to Ancestor Dexin, her great-grandfather was much more approachable.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Longchang ignored her gaze and turned to chat with Ji Wuchen, who was floating nearby: "Senior Ji, could you elaborate on the technique of integrating formations and sword intent into painting that you mentioned last time? No wonder your works exude both an unrestrained elegance and a majestic killing aura."

"Your Majesty." Even in a remnant soul state, Ji Wuchen maintained respect and etiquette towards the emperor, bowing, "The great path is interconnected, whether it's painting, formations, or swordsmanship, mastering them ultimately leads to understanding them all. However, Your Majesty, being the emperor, has many trivial matters to attend to, and can only dabble in miscellaneous skills."

"Indeed, indeed, it's a pity..." Emperor Longchang happily chatted with Ji Wuchen.

Wu Xue'ning pouted, then glared at Wang Anye: "Anye, His Majesty favors you the most now, can't you say a few good words for me? I've been treating you well all this time."

Wang Anye looked bewildered.

Is such a major matter something I, Wang Anye, can meddle in? Do you think if I say you shouldn't marry Zhao Yuanqing, you won't have to?

Chen Jinglong, on the side, was even more anxious, his brow twitching. If His Majesty didn't intervene, there might be no room for maneuver.

He glanced around, then bowed to Old Yao: "Eunuch Yao, may I have a word with you? I want to ask if Xue'ning has been causing trouble in the palace these days."

"Master Chen, please." Old Yao understood.

"Please~"

The two moved to the side of Zhuozheng Pavilion, where Chen Jinglong discreetly used profound energy to isolate them.

He whispered with a bitter face: "Eunuch Yao, you've watched me grow up and are fond of Xue'ning. This is my fault, please speak kindly of me to His Majesty. Our Chen Clan will remember this kindness."

"You, young man, are usually smart and hold considerable power." Old Yao smiled, "How can you not guess His Majesty's thoughts?"

Chen Jinglong's spirits lifted, and he said joyfully: "Eunuch Yao means His Majesty doesn't support Xue'ning marrying... But why doesn't His Majesty issue an order? Right, right, it's my confusion. Now that the Imperial Heir Struggle is heating up, whether it's Commandery Prince Kang or Commandery Prince An, they are all His Majesty's bloodline. The situation is still unclear, and if His Majesty directly decrees against Xue'ning marrying Zhao Yuanqing, it will arouse suspicion from all sides."

"In this case, the key lies with Xue'ning herself. As long as she makes a fuss and insists on not marrying Zhao Yuanqing, making it widely known, then cries to His Majesty. Everyone knows His Majesty has always doted on Xue'ning, and intervening at that time would be seen as merely respecting the child's decision, unrelated to the Imperial Heir Struggle."

Chen Jinglong, being a shrewd character, quickly grasped the crux of the matter after Old Yao's hint.

"Teachable." Eunuch Yao praised, "In your hands, the Chen Clan may have hope for further advancement."

"Eunuch Yao flatters me."

Just as Chen Jinglong was about to express humility, he suddenly thought of something, his body trembled, and his expression became solemn: "His Majesty's reluctance to see Xue'ning marry Zhao Yuanqing might not just be out of love for her, could it be..."

"Jinglong, be cautious."

Eunuch Yao's eyes turned stern, immediately interrupting him, and a sharp, cold aura enveloped Chen Jinglong: "His Majesty's thoughts can be pondered but not presumptuously judged. Especially concerning major matters, remember not to subjectively speculate. You must know, they are all His Majesty's children."

Chen Jinglong shivered, immediately dismissing his stray thoughts, cold sweat dripping down his back, and bowed: "Thank you, Eunuch Yao, for your guidance."

Afterward, Chen Jinglong returned to the barbecue area. He felt much more at ease, ready to accompany the children and His Majesty for some barbecue and chat.

But... he ended up eating nothing.

Afterward, he used the excuse that Little Commandery Princess Xue'ning's mother from the Chen Clan seemed unwell, requesting to take Xue'ning back to the Chen Clan to care for her mother. Emperor Longchang naturally granted this, even instructing Old Yao to take some qi-tonifying and blood-nourishing pills from the imperial pharmacy for Chen Jinglong to bring back.

In the following days.

A matter in Shangjing City caused quite a stir. The renowned "second young expert" of Shangjing City, Wu Xue'ning, challenged Zhao Yuanqing at the city's most popular spot, White Cloud Tower. In a match where Zhao Yuanqing, trying to show grace, intentionally held back, Wu Xue'ning emerged victorious.

Before Zhao Yuanqing could react, Wu Xue'ning publicly declared in front of countless spectators that she didn't like Zhao Yuanqing, was still young, wanted to study at Lingyun Holy Land, and didn't want to marry him.

This incident caused a sensation in Shangjing City, with rumors flying everywhere. Under the Chen Clan's manipulation, everyone in Shangjing City knew that the Zhao Clan had proposed to Commandery Prince Rong's household, but before anything was finalized, the proud Little Commandery Princess Xue'ning refused.

As a result, Prince Dexin was furious, intending to imprison Xue'ning. However, she tearfully ran to the palace gates, seeking justice from her great-grandfather.

Seeing her genuinely upset, Emperor Longchang, moved by her tears, decided to keep her in the palace, announcing that Xue'ning was still young and her reluctance was understandable. Her marriage would be postponed until after she returned from studying at the holy land.

After all, for those with prodigious bloodlines, marrying at one or two hundred years old was normal.

The downside of this was that due to the powerful bloodlines, the probability of having offspring would be greatly reduced. The upside was that the chances of having children with excellent bloodlines would be higher, though only slightly higher, not guaranteed.

This "farce" provided the nobles and commoners of Shangjing City with quite the spectacle.

Zhao Yuanqing, who failed in his proposal and became a laughingstock, along with An Guogong's household, became the talk of the town, and the prestige of the second-rank aristocratic family plummeted.

Little Commandery Princess Xue'ning was a great prodigy, and it would have been normal for her to marry into a super aristocratic family. The Zhao Clan's attempt to climb higher was understandable, but why propose without winning over the young lady first?

The result was naturally embarrassing.

……

In Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Old Yao was recounting the gossip from the streets, vividly performing.

Emperor Longchang, half-lying on a grandmaster chair, listened with great satisfaction, his face glowing, even the wrinkles on his face seemed to have lessened.

"Hehe~ Xue'ning's slap was well-deserved." With no one around, only five little wolf cubs surrounding him, Emperor Longchang chuckled coldly, "The Zhao Clan has become increasingly greedy over the years. Now, even a strong second-rank family can't satisfy their appetite."

Old Yao immediately fell silent, not daring to continue this topic.

Emperor Longchang, however, continued speaking to himself: "Old Yao, it's not that I lack tolerance. The situation on the outer region battlefield is becoming increasingly tense, and I would love to have more powerful families to share the burden."

"But the Zhao Clan has developed too smoothly over the millennia, and all their growth and strength have been built on squeezing the survival space of other families, and they've become accustomed to this mode."

"I remember, Old Yao, your spy, what's his name?"

"Jiang Yusong," Old Yao said softly.

"Yes, Jiang Yusong. He once reported a comment from Wang Shouzhe about me. Something about the strength of aristocratic families shouldn't be built on squeezing the survival space of other families, and that my allowing them to oppress each other was a wrong decision."

"The true royal family should lead and guide the upper-class families to grow strong together. And the true upper-class families should lead the middle-class families to prosperity, and the true middle-class families should benefit the region. Do you remember these words, Old Yao?"

"I remember," Old Yao chuckled softly, "I remember Your Majesty was so angry you smashed a cup, saying you wanted to personally go to Ping'an Town and give that rebel Wang Shouzhe a good beating."

"Yes, yes, that rascal is truly hateful, speaking ill of me behind my back." Emperor Longchang, even now, thinking of those outrageous "comments," still felt his teeth itch with anger.

If not for his strong will, he might have doubted himself as a muddle-headed emperor after being criticized by Wang Shouzhe.

"Ultimately, there are some good words..." Old Yao advised with some helplessness.

"Hmph, if it weren't for a few 'reasonable' words, I would have executed him long ago." Emperor Longchang grumbled a few more words, but his expression gradually calmed, "However, some of his words are presumptuous. But some, upon careful consideration, do have some truth."

"If the Zhao Clan truly had the ability, they could emulate their ancestors and expand their territory to establish their own country. I would only admire them, not obstruct them, and might even support them. But they are too engrossed in scheming for power, always thinking of exploiting the state's loopholes to gain more benefits, ultimately falling short."

"If I hadn't intentionally suppressed the Wang Clan and supported the Zhao Clan, would they have what they have today?"

"Now that they've grown strong, apart from our royal family, there's no one else in the second rank to check them. What a grand display. I'm still alive, and they're already making constant moves. If I... hehe, Dexin is already old, Yong'an is indecisive and useless, and can Commandery Prince Kang, that hothead, keep the Zhao Clan in check?"

"Your Majesty!" Old Yao was slightly anxious, "What should we do then?"

"Old Yao, don't worry. I'm just casually speaking, venting to you with no one around." Emperor Longchang then smiled lightly, "In any case, I don't care who inherits the throne. The Great Qian's realm must be stable, right? The emperor's mind, hehe~~"

……

In Shangjing City, the winds of change were blowing, and undercurrents were surging. Around the same time, in the remote corner far from Shangjing City—Ping'an Town, there were also undercurrents quietly rising.

In a clean and tidy inn room, though only about forty to fifty square meters, an old and a young tax official on a secret visit were sprawled on their respective beds, like two overexposed salted fish about to lose their vitality.

On the tea table beside them, on the bed, were piled numerous account books, notebooks of visit records, empty bottles of awakening pills, counting rods for verifying data, and various bits and pieces.

Clearly, the two had just gone through a "battle," with their energy and stamina reaching a critical point, leaving them in a state of exhaustion.

Excluding travel time, it had been nearly half a month since they arrived in Ping'an Town. To quickly find evidence of the Wang Clan's tax evasion and complete their task, they had hardly rested during this time, relying on awakening pills to keep their spirits up.

By now, even the awakening pills were almost ineffective.

You must know, for secret visits like theirs, besides being discreet, speed was crucial, not giving the opponent time to react. Otherwise, if a local power like the Wang Clan realized and started covering up evidence, even a joint investigation by the Three Talents Office would find it difficult to uncover anything.

So, their secret visit, though just a preliminary step, was also a crucial link, directly affecting whether the subsequent joint investigation by the Three Talents Office could proceed smoothly and achieve satisfactory results.

Naturally, they dared not slack off, even squeezing in work during sleep time.

As for the results...

"Teacher, should we continue investigating?"

The young tax official stared at the white ceiling, eyes vacant, with dark circles under his eyes, looking as if life had trampled him countless times, even his voice was weak: "We've measured the fields, privately investigated the actual reclamation time and farming years, and even explored all the spiritual farmlands we could, but found no issues..."

"No issues are the biggest issue. From the books, it seems the Changning Wang Clan really pays their taxes in full every year, and the tax exemption period for reclaimed land rarely reaches fifty years, often paying taxes several years, even decades, early. Is this normal? This is not normal!" The old tax official's voice was also weak, but his tone was indignant, grumbling, "The Changning Wang Clan must have a brilliant accountant who can make the tax items flawless, making it impossible to find any issues. They've been guarding against us for a long time!"

"Could it be that the Changning Wang Clan really has no tax evasion issues?" The young tax official really didn't want to continue investigating, nor could he.

He was just a Lingtai Realm cultivator, with energy and stamina much stronger than a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, but he couldn't withstand such relentless, high-intensity investigation.

If this continued, he might not find evidence of the Changning Wang Clan's tax evasion, but he would end up with health issues.

A dignified Lingtai Realm cultivator, falling ill from exhaustion, wouldn't that be a laughingstock?

"Nonsense! If there were a pile of spiritual stones in front of you, and you could reach out and take them, and everyone else took them without any issues, could you resist not reaching out? Even if you could resist for a while, what about a year, two years, decades, a hundred years?" The old tax official simply didn't believe in the Changning Wang Clan's innocence.

He had been a tax official for many years, conducting countless secret visits, investigating countless aristocratic families, and knew well the nature of these families.

No matter how well-behaved and disciplined a family appeared, there were always some hidden dirty spots, just relatively fewer, and not too serious.

Such families were a waste of effort to investigate, as the issues found were minor, unable to topple them, and only offending people for no reason, so the higher-ups would turn a blind eye.

There were also families that were rotten to the core, having done enough to be confiscated several times over. The higher-ups were well aware of their actions, even holding evidence, but they were protected by someone above, temporarily untouchable, so they lay low. But if one day, their protector had issues, it would be time to act.

He had encountered such situations several times, where the evidence painstakingly gathered ended up sealed in confidential files.

Of course, he wasn't discouraged, knowing that those things were only temporarily sealed, and would be used one day. Such rotten families would eventually destroy themselves, it was only a matter of time.

As for the Changning Wang Clan's situation, though it was his first encounter, and seemed clean to the point of disbelief, he believed there must be a reasonable explanation behind it.

Whether the Changning Wang Clan truly paid their taxes diligently every year, or had meticulously prepared their accounts to prevent audits, there must be an issue.

He didn't believe there could be a truly clean aristocratic family in this world!

The young tax official was at a loss for words at the old tax official's question. Honestly, he couldn't guarantee he could resist not reaching out.

After a long struggle, he finally said hesitantly: "Then what do we do now?"

"What else can we do?" The old tax official stared at the ceiling, his tone helpless, "Of course, report truthfully, say what needs to be said. Meanwhile, organize our investigation and visit records over this period, so we have an explanation if asked."

As for the rest, it was beyond their control.

……

At the same time.

In a private room of a riverside teahouse at Dingpu Ferry, two people were sitting across from each other, drinking tea.

One was dressed in a scholar's robe, looking refined and handsome, with an elegant and outstanding demeanor, while the other wore a dark blue Basalt combat attire, looking dignified and impressive, with an outstanding presence.

These two were none other than Jiang Yusong, the second-in-command of the Flood Dragon Gang, and Wang Shouyong, a direct elder of the Changning Wang Clan.

During last year's relic expedition, although Wang Shouyong didn't reach the final stage due to his strength, he successfully set a new record at the seventh stage, completing one of the steps in Wang Shouzhe's "wool gathering" plan.

He personally gained significant benefits, not only acquiring a top-grade magical treasure but also having his bloodline aptitude directly elevated to the mid-level of great prodigy C-grade through the effects of High-Grade Essence and High-Grade Essence Liquid, becoming one of the hidden great prodigies of the Changning Wang Clan.

Of course, to avoid attracting suspicion, his status as a great prodigy couldn't be publicly disclosed, but Wang Shouyong gained considerable confidence from it.

After all, being a great prodigy, a future divine ability seed, was a rare status even in the entire Great Qian.

Over the past six months, he had deeply experienced the benefits of becoming a great prodigy, with his cultivation speed skyrocketing, and his affinity for spiritual energy and understanding of laws reaching a new level, greatly enhancing his strength in a short time.

Currently, although his level remained at the first layer of the Celestial Realm, his actual combat power was incomparable to before.

Moreover, his fourth brother had said that aside from not revealing his bloodline aptitude, exposing the top-grade magical treasure at critical moments was not a big issue.

With all these advantages, Wang Shouyong now faced Jiang Yusong, who was several levels higher, with confidence and assurance.

This made Jiang Yusong regard him more highly.

"Brother Shouyong, the people sent for this secret visit are quite cautious, their actions have been careful, and their traces well-concealed, clearly seasoned hands." Jiang Yusong sipped his tea, his expression relaxed, showing no concern, "Unfortunately, they don't know that all their actions are under the Wang Clan's surveillance, thinking they're well-hidden~"

Naturally, there wasn't just one group sent this time, with several groups entering Ping'an Town in batches.

"The tax officials sent this time are likely the elite under the Three Talents Office, skilled and not to be underestimated. If it were any other family, they would surely find issues with such an investigation." Wang Shouyong calmly sipped his tea, showing no disregard for the tax officials, "However, our Wang Clan has always paid taxes honestly, never evading or missing taxes, so we naturally aren't afraid of their scrutiny."

Speaking of this, Jiang Yusong was somewhat impressed.

Although he had great confidence in Wang Shouzhe, believing he could resolve this trouble, he hadn't expected the Changning Wang Clan to truly have no tax evasion issues.

When he first heard of this, he was skeptical, but seeing Wang Shouzhe's confident words in the letter, he chose to believe.

Even so, he was still uneasy, so besides the Wang Clan's people, he also secretly sent his own to closely monitor the tax officials' investigation progress.

Because of this, he finally confirmed that this seemingly absurd matter was indeed true.

Every time he thought of this, he couldn't help but marvel: "Master Wang Shouzhe is truly remarkable, having prepared in advance. No matter how imaginative the Three Talents Office is, they would never expect Master Wang Shouzhe to have been guarding against them for decades, ready for a tax audit."

"Naturally. With Fourth Brother's usual caution, how could he leave a handle on taxes? Without thorough preparation, how could the Wang Clan dare step into the whirlpool of the Imperial Heir Struggle?" Wang Shouyong smiled, clearly confident in Wang Shouzhe, "Moreover, Fourth Brother said that taxes are the foundation of the nation. Without sufficient tax revenue, how can a country be strong? Furthermore, aristocratic families have the responsibility to protect the land and ensure peace, so they should set an example in paying taxes, otherwise, how can they command respect?"

In fact, Wang Shouzhe had always been strict about taxes.Due to the rampant tax evasion among the clans of the Great Qian, it wasn't that no one from the Wang's Clan had thought of secretly evading some taxes before. However, Wang Shouzhe always discovered and stopped them immediately. He repeatedly emphasized this issue in family meetings and implemented a series of strict punishments, which curbed this unhealthy trend.

This is also why Wang Shouzhe dared to let the tax officials investigate as they pleased.

Wang Shouzhe did this not only for the development of the Wang's Clan, to avoid being caught, but also to set an example for the younger generation of the clan.

After all, if the elders themselves start off on the wrong foot, trampling on national laws and rules, how can they expect the younger generation to follow the rules?

Wang Shouzhe has always put great effort into reforming the Clan School, hoping to cultivate a group of social elites who dare to strive for their ideals, rather than a bunch of societal parasites who despise the law and rules.

Wang Shouyong was also clear about these details and agreed wholeheartedly. As he spoke confidently, he naturally exuded a sense of assurance.

"Master Wang Shouzhe truly lives up to his name. His vision and perspective are indeed beyond ordinary people," Jiang Yusong remarked with a smile. "No wonder the children of the Wang's Clan are all so outstanding, with a different spirit and demeanor."

Originally, with Wang Shouzhe not around, Jiang Yusong felt somewhat uneasy. But now, seeing Wang Shouyong handle matters with such calmness and skill, he felt much more at ease.

Indeed, the brothers around Wang Shouzhe are not simple; each one is not to be underestimated.

"Brother Jiang, now that the fish are in the net and the bait is set, it's up to you," Wang Shouyong said seriously after some casual conversation.

Hearing this, Jiang Yusong also became serious. He put down his teacup and said earnestly, "Rest assured, Brother Shouyong, everything is proceeding according to plan. This time, we'll make sure they go for wool and come back shorn."

...

Changning Ferry.

As night fell, the ferry was still bustling. Spirit stone lamps were hung in the mountain houses at the ferry, illuminating the entire Changning Ferry as if it were daytime.

There was no choice; the throughput of this ferry was too large, and the consumption of resources in places like Xin'an Town and Ping'an Town was too great.

This time, the old and young tax officials did not return empty-handed. At the very least, they purchased a full cart of local specialties from the Wang's Clan, some mid-to-low-end glass products, ordinary Wang's paper, and even some ordinary-grade grain seeds, as well as various farming tools that were low in price but decent in quality.

Transporting these to the "sinking markets" untouched by the Qian's Clan could yield considerable profits, aside from the hard work involved. If they didn't take some goods with them, it would be suspicious.

After all, no traveling merchant would dislike the cheap goods from the Wang's Clan aimed at the sinking market.

The master and apprentice passed through the checkpoint smoothly and entered the Changning Garrison area. Although there were cement roads in the Changning Garrison area, they were not as well-maintained as in Ping'an Town, with some potholes not being repaired in time.

Moreover, the "street lamps" along the road became increasingly sparse and dim.

"Make way, make way~"

As the master and apprentice slowly advanced with their carriage, several carriages pulled by northern horses suddenly emerged from a warehouse not far from the ferry, crossed the intersection, and headed west toward the Changning Garrison.

The tax official master and apprentice hurriedly stopped their carriage, narrowly avoiding a collision at the intersection.

After the northern horse carriages had gone far, the young tax official spat, "What kind of people are these, rushing so fast in the middle of the night? What if they hit someone?"

"Something's not right," the old tax official said, frowning.

"Teacher, what's not right?"

"Don't forget, your teacher is known as the 'Tax Inspection Divine Eye.' I've worked at the border for decades, and I can spot any problem with carriage goods at a glance," the old tax official said. "Those carriages seemed lightly loaded, but the goods were extremely heavy, and the carriage shafts and frames were specially reinforced."

"Then they're loaded with iron ingots, copper ingots, or other metals," the young tax official said. "Teacher, this is the Changning Garrison, where there's likely a high demand for metal ingots. It's not unusual to transport goods at night. Besides, your Tax Inspection Divine Eye failed in Ping'an Town."

The old tax official rolled his eyes at his apprentice for undermining him but still pointed out the key issue sharply, "The demand for metal ingots is mostly concentrated in Ping'an Town and newly developed places like Xin'an Town. Why aren't these goods being transported to Ping'an Town but instead being taken from Changning's storage to the west of Changning? What's the reason?"

"Maybe there's a new workshop over there, or a project requiring metal..." the young tax official yawned and argued, "Teacher, I'm tired. Let's go to the inn and rest early."

"Look at this cement road; it's already damaged in many places, with the ruts cracking and breaking those damaged spots," the old tax official said, jumping off the carriage to inspect the roadside. "Judging by the mixture of soil and cement fragments, this road must frequently get damaged, and every time it's repaired, it doesn't last long before breaking again. It seems not only overloaded but also long-term overloaded."

"Teacher, what are you trying to say?" The young tax official's eyes were spinning.

"There's a problem, definitely a problem," the old tax official said, narrowing his eyes and sensing something unusual. "The Wang's Clan's demand for metal is extraordinarily large, almost insatiable. We've secretly checked the government accounts before, but there was no issue with the accounts. Every bit of metal usage had a clear destination. They said it was used for roads, houses, and various passes. In short, it was flawless."

"Let's go, let's take a look together. Maybe this time, we'll make a great achievement," the old tax official said excitedly, driving the carriage and following the trail.

Their investigation led them to the west of Changning, to a very secluded waterside manor deep in the forest.

With his Celestial Realm cultivation, the old tax official led the young tax official in sneaking in and finally discovered an astonishing fact.

Behind the waterside manor, inside the mountain, there was actually a very hidden port.

The goods were being transported through this hidden port to riverboats already docked there, then heading west along the An River.

The cargo was quite ordinary, mainly consisting of metal ingots like iron ingots, refined salt, and various grain seeds from the Wang's Clan.

The grain seeds were understandable, as the Wang's Clan made money by selling grain seeds, one of their main businesses.

But the Wang's Clan didn't produce refined salt and had a voracious appetite for metal ingots, seemingly never satisfied.

Yet now, they were being transported out of the Changning Garrison?

The sensitive string in the old tax official's heart was immediately plucked.

He had a premonition that this time, he might have caught a big fish.

With his decent skills and years of experience in stealth, he secretly captured a tongue at the port. The person wasn't particularly tough and confessed after some interrogation.

However, he didn't know who the master was, only that these boats were heading southwest along the An River, supposedly going very far.

Southwest? Very far?

In an instant, the old tax official's face showed a complex mix of shock, joy, and disbelief.

Something big had happened!

However, this explained the Wang's Clan's insatiable demand for metal ingots and other metals.

It turned out they were being used for smuggling, to gain extremely high profits! Moreover, this wasn't just smuggling; it was collusion with the enemy and treason!

Because there was only one country southwest of the An River, one of the Great Qian's arch-enemies—the Southern Qin Dynasty.

Salt, iron, and grain seeds were all prohibited from being exported to the Southern Qin. Since they were contraband, it was naturally because the Southern Qin had a significant demand for such materials. Once trade routes were opened, how high would the profits be?

No wonder the Wang's Clan developed so rapidly in such a short time, with an exaggerated demand for resources!

"Bah!" The young tax official trembled with anger. "I thought the Wang's Clan was genuinely clean, but I didn't expect them to do such, such... sigh~~"

The young tax official's faith seemed to have taken a huge hit, leaving him dejected.

"Kid, I told you long ago, there's no cat that doesn't steal fish. The Wang's Clan, hehe~~ this time, you're doomed."

...

Meanwhile, in the Daqian Imperial Palace, Emperor Longchang finally remembered Wang Shouzhe.

"By the way, where's that Wang Shouzhe fellow?" Emperor Longchang grumbled, frowning. "What's he been busy with lately, and why hasn't he come to see me?"

"He's just been drinking tea every day, sparring with Wang Yuchang, Wang Zhouhui, and others," Old Yao said helplessly. "Your Majesty, I feel that Shouzhe doesn't like to move. Once he settles in a place, he doesn't budge. Should I go and fetch him for you?"

Emperor Longchang twitched his mouth, "No, at times like this, we must remain calm. Whoever loses their cool first will be at a disadvantage. By the way, I heard someone reported the Changning Wang's Clan for tax evasion? Has the Three Talents Office already taken action?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. It's said to be a joint operation by the three offices, with an action order signed by the cabinet, ensuring that they don't alert the enemy and first verify the evidence," Old Yao said, frowning. "Your Majesty, no clan can be completely flawless in tax matters. This seems like someone is targeting the Wang's Clan."

"Targeting? Isn't that great?" Emperor Longchang laughed. "As long as Wang Shouzhe falls into trouble, and I lend a helping hand, won't he be grateful to me? From then on, he'll willingly submit to me."

"Uh... Your Majesty, could it be that you..."

"Nonsense, am I that kind of person?"

...