Protect Our Clan Leader

"Prefectural Governor, this tax includes nearly three million in national taxes, directly or indirectly contributed by various industries of the Wang family in-laws alliance, as well as the Keep Achieving Commercial Firm and others... My lord, with such a tax burden, you still want me to find a way to increase it by fifty percent?"

Taishi Ankang's face turned red, and he glared at Wang Shouzhe: "The Prefectural Governor also has no choice, does he? Longzuo County is a newly established county and naturally cannot compare to those older counties. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so eagerly waiting for you to return to discuss this matter."

"Have you cried yet?" Wang Shouzhe asked.

"What?" Taishi Ankang was bewildered.

Seeing his dumbfounded look, Wang Shouzhe felt somewhat helpless: "What I mean is, have you cried to His Majesty? At least, have you submitted a memorial to cry about it?"

"No... As soon as this came up, I thought of coming to find you. Who would have thought your trip to the frontier would take so long?" Taishi Ankang complained, "Shouzhe, what exactly did you do to His Majesty? Why would he impose such a difficult problem on you?"

"Then go and cry," Wang Shouzhe said leisurely as he sipped his tea, "Go cry in Shangjing City, use all the connections you can, and beg His Majesty to reconsider."

"Shouzhe, are you sure that doing this will make His Majesty reconsider? Although it's embarrassing, if it really works..." Taishi Ankang hesitated.

"Based on my understanding of His Majesty's character, he won't reconsider. The more fiercely you cry, the more tumultuous it gets, the more delighted and proud he will be," Wang Shouzhe said calmly.

"Then why are you still asking me to embarrass myself?" Taishi Ankang felt an urge to hit someone, "Shouzhe, even I, Taishi Ankang, have my pride."

"Do not be hasty, Prefect. Let me explain in detail," Wang Shouzhe put down his teacup and explained thoroughly.

Taishi Ankang's eyes gradually brightened, and he slapped his thigh: "Why didn't I think of that?"

...

In the following days.

The Wang family continued to entertain the Yan family from Longzuo diligently, with the Wang family elders taking care of the Yan family elders, while the younger ones entertained their peers. They took the Yan family peers from Ping'an Town to Xin An Town, and from Xin An Town to newly developed frontier lands.

Each place showcased different aspects of the Wang family, leaving many young people both shocked and greatly admiring.

Gradually, they also finally understood why the Wang family, still a Rank Six Prominent Family, was sought after even by their Fifth Grade Yan family.

The children had fewer worries and could fully enjoy and appreciate the elegance of the Wang family, but for Yan Feihong, the Old Ancestor of the Yan family, the pressure was enormous.

As they increasingly felt the strength and extraordinary foundation of the Wang family, they repeatedly tried to meet with Wang Shouzhe, but were deferred and refused time after time.

Inside the luxurious suites of the guesthouse used by the Wang family to entertain the honorable guests.

The floor-to-ceiling glass windows were bright and clean, offering a good view. Through the windows, one could see the entire landscape of Zhuwei Lake, which was extremely pleasing to the eye.

But at this moment, the Old Ancestor Yan Feihong and the Family Head Feihong were gathered together, and they had no desire to admire the view.

Their faces were filled with worry, as if burdened with heavy thoughts.

"Old Ancestor." Yan Feihong's eyes were anxious as he bowed and said, "Master Shouzhe has deferred meeting us several times, and he probably has no intention of helping our Yan family. Perhaps we should consider other options... Let's not pin all our hopes on one possibility."

"Other options?" The Old Ancestor sighed, the gloom in his brow seeming to deepen, "Now that the Wang family and the Qian family have formed an in-laws alliance, supporting each other, they almost dominate Longzuo County. If our Yan family wants to maintain the dignity of a Purple Abode Prominent Family, we absolutely cannot avoid dealing with both the Wang and Qian families."

"Moreover, Prefect Taishi once hinted in secret that we shouldn't underestimate the Wang family just because they are still a Rank Six Prominent Family. Currently, the Wang family covertly harbors a Level Seven Azure Dragon and a hidden early-stage Purple Abode Realm Puppet."

"If we come to a critical moment, along with the help of the Firefox Old Ancestor, the Wang family's Purple Abode-level battle strength can reach three! Add to this Li Yao the Great Heavenly Proud, and Zong'an the Great Heavenly Proud, the Wang family's overall combat power is already comparable to an average Grade Four Prominent Family!"

"A Purple Abode Realm Puppet?" Yan Feihong's mind reeled in disbelief, "Such an item is usually priceless, isn't it? Even if it were for sale, it would cost fifty or sixty million Qian Gold. This thing is even more valuable than a Purple Abode Realm Old Ancestor..."

"Eighty million! It is said that the An Commandery Prince and An Commandery Prince Consort secretly brokered a deal, spending eighty million to procure one from the Gongye family."

Eighty million!

This was a terrifying figure, enough to cultivate two Purple Abode Realm cultivators from scratch and still have money left over. This amount of money was astronomical for the Yan family of Longzuo at present.

They had bought an Infinite Treasure Pill for Yan Shuangshuang through connections, and it was only by pawning many of the family's fixed assets that they barely managed to obtain it, and they had to additionally invite Master Changchun from Changchun Valley and the Old Ancestor as protectors to use their Mysterious Energy to help Yan Shuangshuang digest the Infinite Treasure Pill.

All of this was to cultivate a Heavenly Proud-level direct daughter, to hold for a high price, seeking allies. Among them, the emerging Changning Wang family in Longzuo was the prime choice for an alliance through marriage.

After all, the Wang family had a "shallow foundation" and was still only a "Rank Six Prominent Family," which compared to those seasoned Rank Five or Grade Four Prominent Families, was much easier to deceive.

Most importantly, the Wang family had two Great Heavenly Prouds, with boundless potential. Forming a connection with the Wang family meant not only could the Yan family retain its Fifth Grade, but it might even gradually regain its former glory.