Protect Our Patriarch

……

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing upon me this Divine Spirit Artifact." Wang Shouzhe gently caressed the shield named Safety, instantly feeling a surge of security, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Emperor Longchang.

Although he already possessed a Divine Spirit Shield, the spirit within it, Wang Tank, had only just developed a rudimentary consciousness. Compared to the expert shield Safety, it was still lacking in many ways.

"As long as you like it. I thought Safety would suit you perfectly the moment I saw it," Emperor Longchang said with a smile, though inwardly he was muttering to himself, thinking that indeed, birds of a feather flock together—two cowards had found each other.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for making this happen. This is the best decision you've made since I've known you," Safety expressed its gratitude to the Emperor as well, finding Wang Shouzhe to be the most satisfactory owner it had ever had in its long "shield life," never having met someone so cautious.

"Hmph..." Emperor Longchang twitched his eye and turned away, not wanting to speak to Safety. If not for maintaining his imperial dignity, he would have wanted to give the shield a good beating.

"Master, I heard you mention you have another Divine Spirit Shield? Why not bring it out so we can all get acquainted?" Safety, having no fondness for the Emperor, was naturally disinclined to engage with him.

"Alright." Wang Shouzhe retrieved the shield named Tank from the Endless Abyss. It floated before him, trembling and making strange noises, as if unfamiliar and fearful of its surroundings.

Unlike Safety, which had a sleek, teardrop-shaped appearance, Tank was a heavy, solid military shield, with a square and ancient design, looking very sturdy.

"Oh, this spirit has just been born," Safety circled Tank with interest, saying, "That's even better. I can pass on all my experience to him, teach him how to be a good shield. By the way, what's his name?"

"Tank, he takes my surname, Wang, so he's called Wang Tank," Wang Shouzhe replied.

"What? No, no, I want the surname Wang too..." Safety was immediately displeased, feeling a sense of favoritism.

Wang Shouzhe read the name aloud and shook his head, "If you take the surname Wang, your name would be too contradictory. How about taking my wife's surname, Liu, or even the royal surname, Wu? After all, the Emperor gifted you to me, which is a form of care for me as a junior."

Emperor Longchang's eyes lit up. Though Shouzhe was straightforward and sharp-tongued, he was still a grateful person. It seemed that his "care" had not been in vain.

Unexpectedly.

Safety said without hesitation, "Then I'll be called Liu Safety, which sounds like 'stay safe.' 'Wu Safety' sounds too inauspicious. Besides, the Emperor acts too recklessly, always rushing to the front lines in battle, thinking he's invincible. The fact that he's still alive is sheer luck; we shouldn't follow such a bad example."

"It's your luck that you're still alive... You're the bad example," Emperor Longchang was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, regretting not having eliminated Safety earlier. Listening to Safety's words made him feel like he'd lost decades of life.

Liu Safety, of course, ignored the Emperor, who always wanted to eliminate him. With his new name, he began to diligently teach Wang Tank, "Tank, you must understand that the highest duty of a shield is to protect your master's safety. If the master gets even a little hurt, it's our fault."

"Yiya yaya."

"No, no, your understanding of 'safety' is too shallow. Anticipating danger is just child's play. True safety requires a comprehensive assessment based on the environment, the situation, the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and so on. You must also instill in your master the fundamental concept of 'safety first,' achieving a high level of unity between man and shield..."

"Yaya yaya."

Safety concepts should be instilled from a young age. Liu Safety's safety philosophy and his enthusiastic guidance to Wang Tank made Wang Shouzhe feel very reassured and secure.

Too cowardly! Emperor Longchang couldn't bear to watch any longer. With a wave of his sleeve, he said, "Mingyuan, have another drink with Shouzhe. I'm tired and won't accompany you young people any longer." If he stayed any longer, he would definitely end up hitting someone or the shield.

Then, supported by Old Yao, he left without looking back.

To be honest, Emperor Longchang was a bit "disappointed" with this long-awaited meeting. Seeing Wang Shouzhe's ability to stir up the winds and clouds with just one hand, he had thought he was a person of ambition, ideals, and aspirations.

But what was the reality? Just a cowardly, lazy person who only wanted to guard his small patch of land, with his wife and children by the warm stove, accustomed to a peaceful life without any grand ambitions.

Disappointed, too disappointed! The young people these days, sigh~~~ Emperor Longchang shook his head and sighed as he walked away.

Then, Wang Shouzhe and Wu Mingyuan, these two "unambitious" young men, listened to Liu Safety's earnest teachings to Wang Tank, enjoying their drinks in the lakeside pavilion until dawn.

They didn't talk about national affairs, just family trivialities, how to handle marital relationships, what to do when couples fight, how to educate children, what to do when children reach their rebellious phase, and what to do about early romance.

Life is just so trivial, without so much poetry and distant dreams.

……

Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

The ancestral hall of the Daqian Wang's Clan was a large complex of buildings set apart.

The complex, with its blue, black, and white base colors, was vast and grand in style. It was surrounded by pine and cypress trees, lush and green, exuding an air of solemnity and reverence.

Wisps of incense smoke drifted through the forest.

Due to the constant burning of incense and worship, the air in this place seemed to be saturated with a lingering scent of sandalwood. Walking through the pine and cypress forest, one couldn't help but feel a heaviness in the heart, and even the voice unconsciously lowered.

Wang Shouzhe followed Ancestor Yinda and others through the pine and cypress forest, past the towering archway, and into the ancestral hall.

The layout inside the ancestral hall was not complicated.

After entering, it wasn't far to the main hall. Inside the main hall was enshrined the first ancestor of the Daqian Wang's Clan, Ancestor Dingxuan.

In the hall stood a life-sized statue of Ancestor Dingxuan.

He was a dignified and imposing elder, clad in battle armor, holding a long sword, exuding an aura of majesty and dominance.

The craftsmanship of the statue was quite remarkable, and it was unknown what methods were used to vividly capture Ancestor Dingxuan's domineering aura, honed through countless battles, and even the pressure of a Divine Ancestor.

At first glance, it seemed almost lifelike.

Looking at the statue of Ancestor Dingxuan, Wang Shouzhe felt a sense of closeness. No wonder, as this elder was indeed the founding ancestor of the Wang Clan, still strikingly handsome despite his age.

After paying respects to Ancestor Dingxuan, Wang Shouzhe followed Ancestor Yinda to the two side halls behind the main hall.

The left side hall enshrined the merit tablets.

Each merit tablet in the hall represented an ancestor of the Daqian Wang's Clan who had made outstanding contributions to the Daqian or the Wang Clan. Most of these merit tablets belonged to Divine Realm ancestors, with only a few belonging to Purple Mansion ancestors, who usually had exceptional talents in certain areas.

Under the guidance of Ancestor Yinda, Wang Shouzhe offered incense to each merit tablet, and soon arrived at the right side hall.

The right side hall enshrined the direct descendants of the Daqian Wang's Clan.

As soon as Wang Shouzhe entered, he saw the densely packed tablets facing the entrance, and his heart instantly became solemn.

When people talk about thousand-year-old clans, it often feels abstract and unreal. Only at moments like this, facing those densely packed tablets, can one truly feel the weight and vicissitudes of history.

The overwhelming pressure came not just from the sight, but more so from a spiritual impact.

Because Wang Shouzhe knew that each of these tablets represented the passing of an ancestor.

And these were just a drop in the ocean of the Daqian Wang's Clan's thousands of years of history.

The Daqian Wang's Clan had a lineage spanning over seven thousand years, and even just the direct descendants numbered an astonishing figure. Therefore, those qualified to have a tablet in the side hall were actually all Celestial Realm and Purple Mansion Realm powerhouses, while those who hadn't reached the Celestial Realm only had their names on the family genealogy tablet.

Following the rules pointed out by Ancestor Yinda, Wang Shouzhe paid his respects to the direct descendants, and then moved to the rear hall of the ancestral hall.

The rear hall of the ancestral hall enshrined the direct lineage of the Daqian Wang's Clan, as well as various branches and collateral bloodlines.

Here, the number of tablets increased dramatically, so much so that one or two halls could no longer contain them, leading to the creation of dozens of smaller side halls.

There was no other way, as the number of direct lineage members in any clan far exceeded that of the direct descendants. Over seven thousand years, the accumulated number was daunting just to think about.

Moreover, some of these side halls belonged to branches of the Wang Clan that had split off, such as the Monan Wang's Clan, Longzuo Wang's Clan, and Tianfu Wang's Clan, each having a side hall here.

And now, beside the side hall of the Longzuo Wang's Clan, there was a new side hall. Its owner was the Changning Wang's Clan, enshrining Ancestor Zhouxuan and the ancestors of the Changning Wang's Clan, with the lowest row being the Ding generation, prominently featuring Wang Dingyue.

As for the Shou generation tablets, they weren't needed yet, as the brothers of the Shou generation in the Changning Wang's Clan were all alive and well, with even the eldest, Wang Shouxin, having advanced to the Lingtai Realm, so none would "advance" to a tablet anytime soon...

The establishment of the ancestral hall side hall also symbolized the formal establishment of kinship between the Changning Wang's Clan and the Daqian Wang's Clan, forming a true sense of shared ancestry.

However, this time, Wang Shouzhe did not make a grand spectacle of the worship.

Instead, the clan's elders, Ancestor Long Yan and Ancestor Xiaohan, graced the occasion, along with Wang Shouxin, Shouyong from the Shou generation.

Also present were Wang Zongchang and Wang Zongyao from the Zong generation, as well as Wang Shizhao and Shihou from the Shi generation. Representing the An generation was Wang Anye, along with Wang Lilong, Wang Yingxuan, and a small seedling split from Lixian.

The group completed the first worship ceremony in a low-key yet solemn manner.

Following that was the matter of accessing the "Xuanbing Lifen True Method" inheritance at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

This true method's inheritance also took place within the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

Behind the right side of the ancestral hall, there was a small ice mountain about a mile in circumference, with a small top-grade Xuanbing spirit vein beneath it. This was the inheritance site personally established by Ancestor Dingxuan.

In this small realm, snow lay thick all year round.

The Wang Clan's Ancestor Yinda, Ancestor Zhouhui, along with Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Long Yan, floated above the small ice mountain.

Within the ice mountain lay a phoenix nest of the Xuanbing Lifen.

Ancestor Yinda sighed, "Our Wang Clan's main bloodline is the Ice Phoenix bloodline. Unfortunately, generation after generation, few children have awakened the Ice Phoenix bloodline."

Since Ancestor Dingxuan, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion had produced a total of thirteen Divine Realm ancestors, but only four had inherited the Xuanbing Lifen True Method.

Given the mechanism that this inheritance site could accumulate enough energy for one inheritance approximately every five hundred years, and at most accumulate for two inheritances, it had been a thousand years since the last Ice Phoenix inheritance.

"Ancestor Yinda, if no one inherited the Ice Phoenix bloodline a thousand years ago, wouldn't the energy and opportunity be wasted?" Wang Shouzhe asked with slight confusion.

"Well... it wouldn't be wasted..." Ancestor Yinda blushed slightly, "We circulated the inheritance opportunity, each time for about six to seven billion Qian gold."

"Circulated..." Wang Shouzhe was speechless. Circulated sounded nice, but it was essentially selling it.

"Shouzhe, we had no choice. Since Emperor Longchang ascended the throne, he has made things difficult for our Wang Clan, and our economy has been declining. Don't be fooled by the seemingly large sum of six to seven billion Qian gold; averaged over a year, it's just over a million Qian gold." Ancestor Yinda said helplessly, "Our Wang Clan has too many people, and the annual expenses are not small. Plus, we have to cultivate many Purple Mansion seeds and ensure the inheritance of Divine Realm seeds~~ sigh~~"

From Ancestor Yinda's long sigh, it was clear that the Daqian Wang's Clan was living quite frugally.

"Ancestor, thanks to Shouzhe, our family's conditions will improve from now on." Ancestor Zhouhui said with satisfaction, "Especially with the cooperation with Shouzhe's Shouda Trading Company, with us managing various businesses in Guilong City, the money we can earn each year is considerable. In the future, I won't have to squeeze the clan's cultivation resources anymore."

As a Divine Realm seed, Ancestor Zhouhui appeared infinitely glorious on the surface, but he was also troubled. The family was poor, but maintaining the enormous expenses of a Divine Realm seed naturally meant squeezing others' resources.

This had led the Daqian Wang's Clan into a vicious cycle.

Ancestor Yinda also perked up, his face glowing with vitality, "This is all thanks to Shouzhe. I've never experienced such a highlight in my life." Indeed, Ancestor Yinda never imagined he would have a chance to touch the position of the cabinet's chief assistant.

Amidst the praises, Wang Shouzhe humbly said, "The two ancestors overpraise me. We are of the same clan and should support each other. Now, it's getting late, so Ancestor Long Yan should quickly go and accept the inheritance."

"Yes, yes, I'll activate the inheritance site immediately. Long Yan, prepare yourself to enter and accept the inheritance." Ancestor Yinda's expression turned serious as he began to use his divine powers to activate the Xuanbing Lifen True Method's inheritance.

"Yes, Ancestor Yinda." Ancestor Long Yan's clear and deep eyes showed a fervent glow. Once she received the true method inheritance, her future path to the Divine Realm would be smooth.

The inheritance site underwent a transformation, with the sky filled with violent snow, followed by a downpour of hailstones.

The time had come.

The Ice Phoenix avatar behind Ancestor Long Yan unfolded, and with a clear cry of the phoenix, she entered the inheritance site.

As time passed, the snow and hail grew heavier, almost burying the small ice mountain.

Wang Shouzhe felt a sense of relief in his heart. Ancestor Long Yan could finally stand tall, and perhaps she might become the family's first Divine Realm ancestor.

Though he himself had no divine inheritance, he wasn't worried. The future military academy would surely have a solution.

……

The smuggling and treason case of Commandery Prince Kang was quickly handled due to conclusive evidence.

Chen Jinglong, Meng Yuanbai, and others, fearing that delays might cause complications, worked tirelessly without rest, conducting interrogations of the involved parties.

In a short time, the interrogation results were out, and when cross-referenced with Zhao Zhikun's testimony and the account books from Commandery Prince Kang's residence, the evidence chain was complete.

Meng Yuanbai and others breathed a sigh of relief, quickly closing the case and submitting a copy of the relevant documents to Emperor Longchang.

This smuggling and treason case, which had caused a huge stir in Shangjing City, was thus brought to a complete conclusion.

Despite the twists and turns in the early stages, with Wang Shouzhe's side and Commandery Prince Kang's side engaging in a lively back-and-forth, the actual resolution was surprisingly swift when it came to determining the victor.

Under Emperor Longchang's furious directive, the Three Talents Office, Penal Office, Supervisory Office, and Ancestral House jointly issued an announcement, declaring that the smuggling and treason case had taken a new turn, confirming Commandery Prince Kang as the mastermind behind the smuggling case, with irrefutable evidence.

According to the laws of the Great Qian, his status as a Quasi-Imperial Heir was revoked, his title of Commandery Prince stripped, his voting rights in the royal family council removed, his assets confiscated, and he was sentenced to serve in the cannon fodder camp to atone for his crimes, among other penalties.

The announcement caused an uproar throughout Shangjing City.

Even those families who had been closely watching the struggle between the faction supporting the deposed Commandery Prince Kang and the faction supporting Commandery Prince An were caught off guard, leaving them momentarily bewildered.

It was as if the world had been at war one day, and after a night's sleep, peace had suddenly been restored, and life was calm and quiet.

There was a strong sense of unreality.

Everything happened so quickly that they hadn't even had time to prepare mentally before it was all over.

For a time, apart from those families who had remained on the sidelines and had no intention of getting involved in the Imperial Heir Struggle, the plans and strategies of other families were all disrupted.

Those families and forces that stood with Commandery Prince An's faction were naturally overjoyed, with some even secretly celebrating.

The families on Commandery Prince Kang's side found themselves abandoned overnight, becoming the targets of ridicule. Countless families publicly distanced themselves from Commandery Prince Kang.

As for those who had been waiting to see how the Imperial Heir Struggle would unfold before choosing a side, they were now collectively bewildered.

The table had been cleared, and they hadn't even had a chance to place their bets. What were they supposed to do next?

Under Wang Shouzhe's series of calculations, the downfall of the deposed Commandery Prince Kang was remarkably smooth, but the political upheaval it triggered was only now beginning to show its true impact.

Suddenly, countless families were hastily convening family meetings to discuss how to position themselves in the future.

The surface appeared calm, but the undercurrents were quietly sweeping through the entire court.

All the families understood that the times were changing.

However, these disputes among the families had little to do with the common people. No matter how the situation changed, they continued with their daily lives, with the only difference being an additional topic of conversation over tea and meals.

Nevertheless, the ultimate capture of the deposed Commandery Prince Kang was a source of great satisfaction for many people. It also led to reflections on the saying "you can never truly know a person."

No one had expected that after several shifts in public opinion, the final outcome would be like this.

The mastermind behind the smuggling and treason was indeed the deposed Commandery Prince Kang.

While many people couldn't understand it, others were surprised that Emperor Longchang and the Ancestral House didn't choose to cover it up, but instead allowed the deposed Commandery Prince Kang to face the law, without any special treatment due to his royal status.

Because of this, the public's perception of the royal family improved significantly.

Despite the presence of a black sheep like the deposed Commandery Prince Kang, there were also figures like Commandery Prince An, who was dedicated to the people, and Prince Dewei, who was known for his impartiality. Ultimately, the reliable ones were in the majority.

For a time, the royal family's reputation among the people not only didn't decline but actually increased.

……

Former Commandery Prince Kang's residence.

Without the numerous servants and the constant stream of riding beasts and spirit carriages at the gates, the once-bustling residence of Commandery Prince Kang had become much quieter.

Even after nightfall, only a few scattered spirit stone lamps were lit in the residence, casting a lonely and desolate atmosphere.

In the inner courtyard of the residence, where Wu Chengsi lived.

Wu Chengsi, reeking of alcohol, was half-slumped on a stone bench in the courtyard, his head tilted back as he poured wine from a jug into his mouth. The ground beside him was littered with empty wine jugs.

At this moment, he wore the "Shackles of the Divine," his aura weak like that of an ordinary person, with none of the majesty and nobility of his former Quasi-Imperial Heir status. His entire demeanor was one of decay and desolation, and anyone unaware of his identity might mistake him for a down-and-out rogue cultivator.

Just half a month ago, even Wu Chengsi himself could not have imagined that he would one day end up in such a state.

"Husband, drinking is harmful to your health. Please eat something," Zhao Yijing, the former Commandery Princess Kang, entered the courtyard, carrying a tray of dishes emitting a tempting aroma.

She had pleaded with the Imperial Guard at the gate to help her buy these delicacies from Wan Yao Lou. With no servants left in the residence, she had to do everything herself, and combined with her unresolved worries, she had become noticeably thinner over time.

However, just as she was placing the dishes on the stone table, Wu Chengsi, as if provoked, suddenly shouted at her with red eyes.

"Get out!"

"Crash!"

He swept his hand across the table, sending all the dishes crashing to the ground.

The dishes shattered, and the food scattered on the ground, covered in dirt and clearly inedible.

"Your Highness..."

Zhao Yijing paused, but she seemed accustomed to this, showing no anger or disappointment, only looking at Wu Chengsi with sadness.

Wu Chengsi ignored her, tilting his head back to take another swig of wine, letting out a series of eerie laughs, "Hehehehe~ My Quasi-Imperial Heir status has been stripped, my title of Commandery Prince revoked, all my efforts wasted, and Dawn has been labeled a rebellious organization, hunted and besieged by the authorities. Zhao Zhikun, however, went from being the mastermind to an accomplice, and due to his testimony against the mastermind, received a lighter sentence, changing from being sent to the cannon fodder camp to serving a hundred years on the outer region battlefield."

"Isn't this what you've always wanted, to help Zhao Zhikun? Now you've got your wish?"

Although the former Commandery Prince Kang's residence had been sealed, it wasn't completely off-limits to visitors, so Wu Chengsi and his wife, though under house arrest, occasionally received news from the outside, naturally learning of Zhao Zhikun and the Dawn organization's fate.

Zhao Yijing's expression was sorrowful, "Husband, why do you say such things to provoke me? You know very well that although I wanted to help Fourteenth Uncle, I never intended to harm you. We are husband and wife, sharing honor and disgrace. How could I harm you?"

However, Wu Chengsi seemed not to hear her, still lost in his own world, suddenly bursting into laughter again.

Since being placed under house arrest, he had become like this, constantly drinking, his mind in a haze, sometimes lucid, sometimes appearing mad, often not responding when spoken to.

Perhaps he wasn't unable to hear, but simply didn't want to listen, didn't want to see, didn't want to know.

From a young age, countless people had intentionally or unintentionally told him that he was the legitimate heir of the royal family, the most rightful successor to the Great Qian's throne, destined to become the Imperial Heir.

Over the years, the position of Imperial Heir had become an obsession, or perhaps a "heart demon," for him, and he had always taken it for granted that he would become the Imperial Heir.

But now, the Imperial Heir had become the very Commandery Prince An he once looked down upon. Although not yet officially conferred, the process had already begun, with preparations underway, only waiting for an auspicious day to announce to the ancestors and confer Wu Mingyuan as the current Imperial Heir.

And what about Wu Chengsi?

He had fallen to a state worse than a dog.

Truly, a shattered dream, all efforts in vain, he seemed to have lost the meaning of life, becoming muddled and aimless.

Suddenly.

A voice of reproach came from the direction of the courtyard gate, "Useless! Turning yourself into this ghostly state, do you think the position of Imperial Heir will come back?"

Zhao Yijing hurriedly looked up, only to find an elder at the gate, his presence strong and imposing despite his age, none other than Prince Dexin.

It was unclear how long Prince Dexin had been watching from the gate, but his expression was quite unpleasant, filled with a mix of anger and disappointment.

Prince Dexin's reproach was like a wake-up call, gradually bringing Wu Chengsi back to his senses.

He awkwardly got up from the ground, "Ancestor, why are you here?"

"Look at you, with such little ambition." Prince Dexin frowned at him, his voice cold, "So what if you failed in the Imperial Heir Struggle? As long as Wu Mingyuan hasn't ascended the throne, the Imperial Heir Struggle isn't over. Stay alive, and we might still have a chance. But if you die, it's truly over!"

Wu Chengsi gave a bitter smile, "Ancestor, please don't deceive me. With the smuggling and treason charges confirmed, the position of Imperial Heir is already settled. He just needs to wait for the process to finish. How could I still have a chance?"

"That's not for you to worry about. Stay put, pull yourself together, and wait for news."

Wu Chengsi's eyes lit up, "Ancestor, is there really still a chance?"

"The chance may be slim, but we must never give up."

Prince Dexin didn't elaborate, but his eyes gleamed with a sinister and cold light.

There was indeed still a chance, but it required patience and waiting for the right moment.

Until the last moment, who would win or lose was still uncertain.

My Dexin lineage has already sacrificed so much for the position of Imperial Heir. How could I be willing to accept failure?

"Ancestor, I will definitely pull myself together." Wu Chengsi laughed excitedly, "Yijing, bring me some wine."

"Yes, husband." Zhao Yijing quietly brought a jug of wine, her eyes full of worry.

In that moment, she felt a bit of resentment towards Prince Dexin. If not for him, her husband and she wouldn't have ended up like this, would they?

……

The sky was a clear blue, and a modest-looking flying carriage soared through the sky, occasionally accompanied by the clear cries of spirit birds and cranes.

Looking down at the earth, a winding ravine stretched like a meandering dragon, connecting the sides of the mountains. That was the famous Qingbei Corridor, an important transportation route in the Great Qian.The Great Qian is a mountainous region, and traveling from Guilong City to Longzuo requires passing through numerous mountain ranges.

Many of these mountains have peaks that pierce the clouds and stretch for thousands of miles, remaining desolate and uninhabited. Due to the highly complex terrain, many fierce beasts and poisonous insects still linger, making it difficult to completely eradicate them.

Therefore, even when traveling by flying carriage, it is not advisable to directly fly over these chaotic mountain ranges that act like natural barriers. It is safer to follow the main roads, significantly increasing safety.

"Great-grandfather, why doesn't our Great Qian clear out the fierce beasts in these mountains? I've heard that the farmlands near these mountain ranges are frequently attacked by them," Wang Anye, who had matured a bit after his travels, asked with a more composed demeanor.

"There are many reasons," Wang Shouzhe explained. "The main one is the complex geography, which makes it inconvenient and dangerous for the army to conduct a cleanup. More importantly, the environment in these endless mountains is harsh, and the development value is very low. Forcibly clearing them would be a costly and labor-intensive military action, destined to incur heavy losses. In times of financial strain, it's natural to spend money where it counts."

"I see, Emperor Grandpa is too poor to invest resources in losing ventures," Wang Anye said with sudden understanding. "I used to think money was useless, that having too much was a hassle. But it turns out a country's development also relies on money. From now on, I'll make sure to save up."

Wang Yingxuan and Wang Lilong, standing nearby, both rolled their eyes at him. Anye, you're already so rich, can't you leave some room for the rest of us?

"Hehe, you all still need to focus on your studies when you get back. Making money isn't something you need to worry about for now," Wang Shouzhe said. "Especially you, Lilong, you've made significant progress in your studies recently, so keep it up when you return. And Yingxuan, you're about to study at the Holy Land, so let Anye help you with some extra lessons."

"Got it, Father/Grandfather," Wang Lilong and Wang Yingxuan replied, their heads drooping in obedience. Yet, in their hearts, they felt a bit resigned. Traveling with the "elder" always led to unpleasant topics like studying.

Wang Shouzhe was quite satisfied with the younger generation in his family.

The Imperial Heir Struggle and the power shifts in the Great Qian held little appeal for him. If it weren't necessary, he wouldn't have gotten involved in the Imperial Heir Struggle at all.

Wouldn't it be better to farm steadily and develop peacefully?

Fortunately, everything was about to end, and Wang Shouzhe could finally return home to develop the Wang's Clan in peace and live a tranquil life.

Suddenly!

A wave of obscure energy swept past the flying carriage.

Ancestor Long Yan, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly opened them and said coldly, "A powerful presence has locked onto our flying carriage. As you predicted, Shouzhe, there will likely be some twists and turns on our way back."

"Sigh~" Wang Shouzhe sighed helplessly. "This really isn't my doing. Can't Dexin come up with something new? This routine is getting old."

"Hopefully, there will be some surprises this time. It would be best if Dexin came personally, so I can wrap things up and return home to farm quietly."