Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1055 - 67: Saint Son! Isn’t This the Saint Son?

...There are no walls in this world that are airtight.

Moreover, the bigger the scandal, the faster it spreads.

It had been less than half a day since Meng Yuanbai led people into Duke Dingguo’s Mansion and Wang Shouzhe was placed under house arrest, yet this matter was already causing a stir throughout the Upper Capital City, and the Wang Family’s suspected smuggling and colluding with the enemy had rapidly spread under the encouragement of certain individuals, becoming almost universally known.

In an instant, the entire Upper Capital City was boiling.

You must know, the Changning Wang Family had been the hottest noble family in the Upper Capital City for the past two years. First, Liyao’s Great Celestial Pride swept through the Upper Capital, and then they teamed up with Prince Anjun to create the "Dara Pioneer Joint Department," attracting investment from major noble families, creating an enormous momentum and successfully bolstering Prince Anjun’s stature.

It had only been the past six months or so that things had calmed down a bit, with no major news heard.

Given the massive actions undertaken by the Changning Wang Family, rumors had long been circulating in the Upper Capital City over the last two years, believing that the Changning Wang Family was full of ambition, and this time, they might be using the Struggle of the Imperial Sons as a springboard to directly leap into the ranks of Third-Grade Noble Families.

Who would have thought that after only two years in the limelight, the Changning Wang Family would land in such a big predicament?

Smuggling, colluding with the enemy—either of these charges is enough to ruin a Sixth-Grade Noble Family, let alone both combined?

In an instant, rumors about the Changning Wang Family being "harboring sinister intentions" and "untrustworthy nouveau riche" were rampant, with countless people kicking them while they’re down.

Even though the investigation results were yet to come out and the charges against the Changning Wang Family were not yet confirmed, public opinion had already completely turned against them.

The Wang Family seemed to have been nailed to the pillar of shame, and even speaking for the Wang Family became a "principle error," which would quickly be met with ridicule from others.

Those noble families that had previously invested in the Dara Pioneer Joint Department were particularly anxious, with several already contemplating withdrawing their investments.

...

Ten Thousand Dishes Tower.

From the stairs leading from the second floor to the first, an outburst of happy laughter could be heard. Two elegantly dressed young gentlemen were laughing heartily, walking side by side, leisurely descending.

"Hahaha~ The Changning Wang Family is now completely out of luck." The younger-looking gentleman reeked of alcohol, laughing gleefully and schadenfreudishly, "Daring to oppose our Zhao Family, serves them right to suffer!"

Beside him, another young man who seemed considerably older, although not lacking in strength, had an air of submissiveness, as if always letting the younger man’s wishes take precedence.

Upon hearing the young gentleman’s words, he smiled and flattered him, "Naturally. The Changning Wang Family is just a small Sixth-Grade Noble Family, merely relying on good luck to produce two Great Celestial Prides, how could they compare to the Second-Grade Zhao Family?"

"Exactly!" The young gentleman took comfort from this and laughed heartily again, then patted the other young man’s shoulder, grandly proclaiming, "Don’t worry, follow me, and no one will dare bully you. The Changning Wang Family is just like locusts after autumn, won’t last long. I’ve already heard from Grandpa Zeng, mark my words, the Changning Wang Family is doomed this time! Even the Daqian Wang Family won’t escape the charge of harboring them!"

However.

He had barely basked in his satisfaction when he turned a corner on the stairs and bumped head-on into two people.

At the bottom of the stairs, a young man dressed in black stared at him angrily, coldly saying, "Zhao Yuandie, what did you just say?"

This young man, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, had an extraordinary demeanor, was none other than Wang Anan of the Daqian Wang Family.

Beside him stood a sturdy, hulking young man, none other than Shangguan Yunhong.

Wang Anan and Shangguan Yunhong, both Inner City Celestial Prides, naturally knew each other long before, though not too familiar. But perhaps due to "sharing similar misfortunes" recently, they’ve gradually gotten closer, occasionally meeting for a meal or drink.

Today, Wang Anan was in a foul mood, so he invited Shangguan Yunhong out for drinks.

Who would have thought they’d bump into Zhao Yuandie before even reaching the private room!

Originally, he had unintentionally overheard many people discussing the Changning Wang Family, souring his mood, and Zhao Yuandie’s words had further ignited his anger, prompting him to explode.

"Oh~ So that’s who it is, turns out it’s the ’hobbling Wang Anan on display’~" The young gentleman upstairs showed no fear, instead using his drunkenness to viciously mock Wang Anan, then said, "Why, the Changning Wang Family did such a great deed, played themselves to exhaustion, and you won’t let people talk?"

This young gentleman was, naturally, Zhao Yuandie, as Wang Anan had referred.

Others might fear Wang Anan’s Third-Grade Noble Family background, but Zhao Yuandie showed no such trepidation, speaking audaciously.

"Hmph! The investigation hasn’t concluded, whether the Changning Wang Family is guilty is still undetermined, even Director Meng only dared to say ’suspected,’ and yet you have the gall to prematurely convict them!" Wang Anan snorted coldly, immediately retorting with sarcasm, "And you dare ridiculed me, where were you when Liyao Aunt tried her blade in the Upper Capital City? You were just my defeated underling, a sore-losing cowardly turtle. Coward!"

Among the "Top Ten Outstanding Youth" of the Upper Capital City, there naturally wasn’t a lack of young people from the Zhao Family. Zhao Yuanqing had kept a low profile since he hadn’t yet breached the Celestial Human Realm, but Zhao Yuandie was on the list, having competed with Wang Anan for the third position before, demonstrating significant strength.