Protect Our Patriarch

---

Commandery Prince Kang's Residence.

At dusk, the sky was painted with a brilliant sunset. The entire mansion was bathed in the orange-red glow of the setting sun, as if it had been coated with a warm, rosy light, adding a touch of splendor and magnificence.

Such a scene was undoubtedly beautiful.

On a normal day, Commandery Prince Kang might have stopped to admire it for a while, but today, he had no such interest and ordered the carriage to drive straight into the residence.

His mood was extremely foul at the moment.

After the grand court meeting, he should have returned to the Commandery Prince's household immediately to handle tax-related matters.

Unexpectedly, he was entangled by the people from the Engineering Office, who insisted on dragging him to inquire about the specific plans for the expedition against the Southern Barbarian Gu Clan, questioning the engineering equipment, construction materials, and other details needed for the campaign, as if it would never end. It was only after he lost his temper that he managed to extricate himself.

Although the Southern Barbarian Gu Clan's numbers were not as large as before, they still occupied vast lands south of Tianfu. Even if the plans were finalized, it would take months to prepare provisions, determine the list of personnel to accompany the army, mobilize troops, and prepare for departure. Why the rush?

These people were doing it on purpose, surely a delaying tactic orchestrated by Wang Zhouhui.

What he was most anxious about now was dealing with the tax investigation. If that wasn't handled well, not to mention the expedition, even his prestige as a Quasi-Imperial Heir would suffer greatly, affecting the Imperial Heir Struggle.

Wang Shouzhe!

That was a name he had heard in reports but had not taken seriously, someone worth recruiting according to intelligence, yet he hadn't taken the initiative.

Instead, he had maintained an aloof attitude, even dismissing Long Wuji's efforts to recruit him.

He privately thought that even if Wang Shouzhe was indeed talented and had achieved some accomplishments, he was, after all, just the clan leader of a small, remote family. Shouldn't he have immediately come to pledge allegiance upon hearing that Commandery Prince Kang's faction intended to recruit him?

If the other party didn't come, it was their lack of vision, their loss.

As a result...

Not only did the other party join Wu Mingyuan, but he also managed to recruit Long Wuji, effectively poaching him from under his nose.

Moreover, he continuously engaged in various cunning maneuvers, closing the gap between Wu Mingyuan and himself, causing him immense harm time and again.

And this time, not only did the other party force His Majesty to investigate taxes, but they also compared him directly with Commandery Prince An, which was like stabbing him right in the heart.

Damn Wang Shouzhe!

The carriage slowly entered the courtyard, and Commandery Prince Kang dismounted with a frown.

"Your Highness." Princess Zhao Yijing had been waiting there, stepping forward to support Commandery Prince Kang, speaking gently, "I have instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite West Sea Ice Heart Oysters, fresh Phoenix Mushrooms from Tianfu Commandery stewed with Snow Flying Dragon, and East Sea Spirit Swordfish Porridge."

"I have no appetite for food right now," Commandery Prince Kang said irritably, waving his hand impatiently. "You go rest first; I have important matters to discuss with the guests."

"Your Highness, I've heard about what happened at the grand court meeting," Zhao Yijing said softly. "Since it's already happened, there's no point in being anxious. As they say, 'In great matters, one must remain calm.' You should bathe and change, have a few bites of your favorite dishes to calm your mind, and then deal with the matters at hand."

"Well... you have a point." Commandery Prince Kang calmed down a bit, following Zhao Yijing's advice. After bathing and changing, and eating some of his favorite dishes, his restless heart settled considerably.

During this interlude, Zhao Yijing also arranged everything for him and then quietly withdrew. She knew she couldn't be involved in every matter.

In Commandery Prince Kang's luxurious study, many people had already gathered—trusted advisors and guests he had nurtured, the chief steward of the household, and the chief accountant who had served the household for generations.

One of the advisors, named Jiang Zhuyi, came from an unremarkable fourth-grade family branch of the Jiang Clan in the Celestial Dynasty. It was said that this Jiang Clan was a branch of the first-grade Jiang Clan.

However, Jiang was an ancient surname, a prominent one in the Celestial Dynasty, with many families bearing the surname Jiang. Even within the Great Qian, there were numerous Jiang families, including the current master of the sacred land, Jiang Zhencang, who also bore the surname Jiang.

But even if they all shared the surname Jiang, they weren't necessarily of the same lineage.

Jiang Zhuyi was handsome and exceptionally talented, with quick thinking, making him one of Commandery Prince Kang's most trusted advisors. Over the years, he had helped Commandery Prince Kang handle many matters, especially "that matter," which Jiang Zhuyi was fully responsible for.

He also liaised with Luo Yuqing from "Dawn," as her status made it impossible for her to frequently visit Commandery Prince Kang's residence.

"Zhuyi," Commandery Prince Kang sipped his tea, frowning slightly, "Is there any news from Brother Gongyang yet?"

"Your Highness," Jiang Zhuyi replied respectfully, "Miss Yuqing sent a message earlier, saying that recently, Tianque and another newly emerged intelligence organization have been obstructing her efforts to gather information. Many of her sources have been cut off by them. She has had to divert a significant portion of her energy to counter them, so the information has been delayed."

After a pause, Jiang Zhuyi continued, "However, Your Highness need not worry too much. Young Master Ce is a great prodigy of the sacred land, a disciple of Langya Daoist, with a unique status. Now that he's in our Great Qian's territory, even the Yao Clan of the Celestial Dynasty has to show him some respect. This delay is likely due to some reason, and we should expect news within the next couple of days."

Jiang Zhuyi spoke confidently, with the demeanor often seen in the talents of the Celestial Dynasty. The Celestial Dynasty, whether in terms of economy, education, or overall strength, far surpassed the Great Qian. People from the Celestial Dynasty, having seen much from a young age, often had a higher mindset.

However, Jiang Zhuyi, being an outstanding member of the family branch, also had ambitions to establish his own lineage, and assisting Commandery Prince Kang in ascending to the position of Great Qian Emperor was undoubtedly the best shortcut.

"Hmm." Commandery Prince Kang frowned slightly, responding noncommittally, "Brother Gongyang has always been proud and independent in his actions. Well, with his strength, he shouldn't suffer any losses."

After a pause, he asked, "What about Old Xin? Any news from him?"

If Old Xin succeeded, they could use it to privately suppress Wang Shouzhe. It might even be possible to turn Wang Shouzhe to their side.

At these words, Jiang Zhuyi's expression turned serious: "There is news, but the situation is dire."

"I heard that while Old Xin and the Wu brothers were carrying out their mission, they had the misfortune of encountering Tianhe Daoist, the dean of the Purple Mansion Academy of Longzuo Commandery, who happened to be visiting the Wang Clan... As a result, all three were killed on the spot as evil cultivators!"

"What!? Old Xin was also killed?" Commandery Prince Kang sprang to his feet, his face changing dramatically, "And why was that old man Tianhe at the Changning Wang's Clan?"

"I've gathered from the official reports that all three were killed. Fortunately, before Old Xin was captured and killed, he chose to 'self-destruct,' not revealing his identity," Jiang Zhuyi said, bowing his head. "I heard that Tianhe Daoist was hired by the Wang Clan to use his divine abilities to help divert spiritual veins, laying the foundation for the family's Gathering Spirit Array."

"This matter should be a coincidence; both the Wang Clan and Tianhe Daoist likely thought they were dealing with three wanted criminals from our dynasty. Otherwise, if they had captured 'Old Xin,' they would have used it as an opportunity to strike against us."

Jiang Zhuyi's analysis seemed "quite reasonable," but unfortunately, he didn't understand Wang Shouzhe's true mindset.

Whether it was Old Xin or the Wu brothers, although they were indeed Commandery Prince Kang's people, even if they were captured, if they tried to entangle Commandery Prince Kang in this matter, it wouldn't be resolved quickly. They had ways to evade responsibility.

Instead, this incident would expose the true strength within the Wang Clan, potentially attracting even stronger enemies. It was better to shift the blame to Tianhe Daoist and let him bear the brunt, which was the most suitable solution.

"Old Xin!" Commandery Prince Kang's eyes were faintly red, a surge of anger and hatred rising in his heart, "Wang Clan, Tianhe, I am irreconcilable with you!"

Unlike others, Wu Zhongxin had been with Commandery Prince Kang since early on, protecting him as he grew up.

Even if Commandery Prince Kang was ruthless, he was still human and had feelings.

"Your Highness, please calm down." Jiang Zhuyi bowed and said, "At this point, anger is meaningless. What we need to do now is find a way to get through this tax investigation crisis, at least minimize the losses. Only if you ultimately win the Imperial Heir position can you avenge Old Xin."

"Hoo, hoo~"

Commandery Prince Kang took several deep breaths to barely control his emotions, his eyes sharp as he looked to the side, "Mr. Yude, I sent someone back earlier to have you organize the accounts. How is it going?"

Mr. Yude was the chief accountant of Commandery Prince Kang's household, overseeing dozens of accounting clerks. He was from a fallen branch of the royal family, full name Wu Yude, whose ancestors had handled accounts for the Dexin lineage.

"Your Highness," Mr. Yude said, "the accounts of our Commandery Prince Kang's household are extremely complicated, in a short time..."

"Enough, enough, I'm just asking you, if we calculate the actual taxes owed and the taxes we've paid, what's the difference? Is it five-tenths..." Commandery Prince Kang, who usually oversaw the big picture, was of course aware of the household's income and expenses but wasn't clear on how much tax evasion had occurred. Such matters usually didn't require his attention.

"This..." Mr. Yude's forehead was sweating, and he gritted his teeth, "Your Highness, you're too conservative, it's, it's at least eight-tenths..."

Commandery Prince Kang was shocked, nearly collapsing.

He was furious, roaring, "How is that possible? You people, how dare you, how dare you! Eight-tenths, how could you do that?"

"Your Highness, you've wronged us." Mr. Yude looked bitter, "Originally, our Commandery Prince Kang's household also followed the usual practice of underreporting by about five-tenths. But in the past century, as Your Highness has been striving for the Imperial Heir position, the household's funds have gradually become tight. Without increasing tax avoidance efforts, many things would have been impossible to manage."

Moreover, he didn't dare to make such decisions on his own, so he had already sought Your Highness's approval before proceeding, but Your Highness probably forgot you agreed.

"Can't you find a way to smooth out the accounts?" Commandery Prince Kang was troubled, rubbing his temples.

Mr. Yude nearly choked, almost blurting out, "Come on, here's the account, you smooth it out and let me see?"

But if he dared to say that, he'd likely be beaten to death.

Helpless, he could only say dryly, "Your Highness, financial accounts are interconnected. Even though we've been very cautious, any family that evades taxes on a large scale, once thoroughly investigated, will surely have issues."

"No matter how well the accounts are done, the Three Talents Office only needs to thoroughly investigate the scale of each industry, carefully verify expenses and income, and interrogate relevant personnel, and ultimately, there's no escape."

The chief steward of the Commandery Prince's household frowned and said, "Your Highness, perhaps we should use the old method. Those tax officials responsible for the investigation have family members and desires; we could try to bribe a few and manipulate the tax investigation process..."

However, before he could finish, Commandery Prince Kang interrupted him.

"Foolish!" Commandery Prince Kang gave him a cold look, "Do you know how many eyes are watching us now? Moreover, this time, Commandery Prince An has already prepared, surely sending people to monitor us, ready to catch any slip-up. Do you believe that as soon as you send someone out, they'll be caught by people from Commandery Prince An's side, becoming witnesses that I tried to bribe tax officials?"

"Yes, yes, it was my oversight." The chief steward broke out in a cold sweat.

"Not only is bribery impossible, but threats and assassination are also out of the question." Commandery Prince Kang said coldly, "Wang Shouzhe's plan is an open scheme, knowing that both my and the Ancestor's household accounts can't withstand scrutiny. This move is a stab to my heart."

"Your Highness, please calm down." Jiang Zhuyi offered advice, "On the surface, this seems unfavorable to you, as being found guilty of large-scale tax evasion would severely damage your prestige."

"But if you think about it carefully, this may not necessarily benefit Commandery Prince An. His plan benefits the country but offends most of the royal family and noble clans. While they may not say it openly, they surely harbor resentment against Commandery Prince An and his allies. Who would want the meat they've eaten to be forcibly taken from their throats?"

"What is the Imperial Heir Struggle about? Naturally, it's about representing the interests of the royal family and the noble clans. Wang Shouzhe's plan, though clever, cuts off Commandery Prince An's goodwill among the noble families."

Commandery Prince Kang's expression brightened: "Zhuyi, you make a good point. So, what should we do next?"

"Publicly, we must actively cooperate with the tax investigation, leaving no evidence at this critical juncture," Jiang Zhuyi analyzed, "Second, proactively confess to His Majesty, claiming ignorance, and promise to rectify the situation."

"Third, secretly report the tax evasion of various Prince's households, Commandery Prince's households, and major noble clans, forcing the Three Talents Office to investigate, at least forcing them to pay back taxes. Then, have Luo Yuqing spread the news widely. Yes, we are indeed guilty, but if most people are guilty, we won't seem so guilty... In such times, those who are clean stand out too much and become targets of resentment."

"Fourth, actively recruit allies, hinting that if Commandery Prince An comes to power, everyone's future will be bleak. It's better to vote you into power within the royal family, and then the royal family and noble clans can turn a blind eye to taxes."

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant." Commandery Prince Kang was overjoyed, "Zhuyi, your words have opened my eyes."

After this, Wu Mingyuan would have offended most of the noble clans and the royal family. As the saying goes, "Taking someone's money is like killing their parents," he couldn't believe that after Wu Mingyuan's antics, there would still be many noble clans and the royal family willing to support him!

"Chief Steward." Commandery Prince Kang felt slightly invigorated.

"Your Highness." The old steward's eyes lit up, as if seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness, and he became excited, "What should I do specifically?"

"Here's what you do, go find..."

Commandery Prince Kang whispered a few words, and the chief steward nodded repeatedly, leaving with excitement.

As a trusted retainer of Commandery Prince Kang, his entire honor and disgrace were tied to Commandery Prince Kang. If Commandery Prince Kang fell, he would be the first to suffer, so he was naturally very proactive at this moment.

The old steward had been with Commandery Prince Kang for many years, and his ability to handle matters was beyond question.

---

The tax investigation storm quickly unfolded in Guilong City.

A series of chaotic and tumultuous events ensued.

Amidst the chaos among the noble clans, half a month passed without anyone noticing. The tax investigation campaign, which had caused a great uproar, showed no signs of stopping. Instead, it seemed to be gaining momentum, like a wildfire spreading uncontrollably.

Every day, a noble clan or a royal family would fall into trouble.

The people of the Three Talents Office were so busy they could hardly keep up, yet it was still not enough.

However, no matter how tumultuous things were above, the ordinary people of Guilong City continued with their daily lives as usual. Apart from a small number of those directly affected, the vast majority were not impacted and instead enjoyed watching the spectacle.

In the west of the city.

Since Guilong City was mainly expanding to the south and east, the western area was barely considered the old city, and its prosperity was somewhat inferior to the east. Those living here were mostly members of distant branches of the royal family and some long-established but no longer thriving noble clans, who were relatively less affected by the tax investigation storm.

On the streets and alleys, life was no different from usual.

On this day, Old Liu set up a tea stall by the street as usual, selling some snacks on the side. He was leisurely sitting behind the stall, occasionally shooing away mosquitoes and flies attracted by the smell of food.

The tea stall didn't make much profit, with a bowl of tea selling for just two copper coins. He didn't earn much in a day, just enough for his own daily expenses. But Old Liu wasn't doing it for the money.

His children were all married, and his wife had passed away a few years ago. Setting up a stall was just a way to pass the time and have someone to chat with.

At the moment, a few strong men working for a trading company were sitting under the shade, drinking tea and resting while chatting. Old Liu was listening intently, enjoying the conversation.

"Did you hear? The Li Clan in the south of the city was also randomly checked a few days ago, and many of their estates and shops are in chaos. This time, the Li Clan in the south of the city is really unlucky. If they can't pay the back taxes, they might have to pawn their assets to fill the gap," one of the strong men lamented.

"Serves them right!" Another strong man said dismissively, "If they had been as honest as we are in paying taxes, they wouldn't be in such a mess now. And it's not like they're the only ones being checked these days. The Sun Clan in the south of the city, the Hang Clan in the north, they all made a lot of money under the protection of An Guogong's Mansion in recent years. Which one of them isn't getting what they deserve?"

"Heh heh~ I'm not sympathizing with the Li Clan in the south of the city. I'm just feeling sorry for the sixth son of the Li family, who just married his eighteenth concubine this year," the first strong man chuckled, a lewd smile on his face. "That little lady is as pretty as a fairy from heaven~ With the Li family in such turmoil, she's bound to suffer too~"

"Get out of here! As if you've seen her," the third strong man laughed and scolded him.

"Why haven't I seen her?" The first strong man grinned, showing his white teeth. "That little lady is from my alley. When she was little, I even bought her candy and held her hand. A few days ago, when she returned to her parents' home, I heard her family complaining that the sixth son of the Li family was a scoundrel. To pay the taxes, he even took back the things he gave to Cuiyun."

Listening to their discussion, the fourth strong man grimaced, feeling depressed: "I don't even have a wife, and the sixth son of the Li family has eighteen concubines. Damn noble families..."

"I think you're just full of energy with nowhere to spend it, thinking about women..."

The strong men laughed heartily, creating a lively atmosphere.

These strong men were long-term workers for a large trading company, with cultivation levels around the second or third level of the Qi Refining Realm.

Some large trading companies, to motivate their workers and enhance their strength, as well as to ensure safety when transporting goods through wilderness routes, would teach their workers some basic cultivation techniques.

Although these were unremarkable cultivation techniques, unable to break through to the Lingtai Realm in a lifetime and without corresponding martial arts, they could still strengthen the body. Even so, these workers were considered Basalt cultivators, with broader circles and greater knowledge than ordinary people, making them more informed.

As they chatted, they returned to the original topic.

"Speaking of which, our boss is quite steady. Look at the 'Furui Trading' next door; their manager has been so anxious these days that his lips are blistered. I heard their boss was anonymously reported, and they found some issues. The whole Furui Trading might be in trouble."

"That's why it's important to follow the right boss. Our boss is fine, so we can chat leisurely like this. Otherwise, we'd be looking for new jobs by now," the first strong man, who seemed well-informed, said. "I have a brother working for a trading company under Commandery Prince Kang. He came to me for a drink recently and complained that their trading company is about to go under. The Three Talents Office found out they owe decades of taxes and sealed their warehouse, carting away bags of gold tickets... Their manager spat blood on the spot and is still bedridden."

"My goodness, that's got to be 'several billion' top gold in tax evasion, right?" Old Liu, intrigued, couldn't help but chime in.

"Heh heh~ We don't know, but it's a lot," the first strong man chuckled. "I just know that even if we work hard all our lives, we won't earn a fraction of what they have."

"I say, they should have been investigated long ago," the fourth strong man pursed his lips. "Those noble families always look down on people, acting all high and mighty because of their cultivation and family background. They hoard the best resources but don't do anything good. Not a single one of them is decent!"

"Hey, hey, hey~ You can't say that," the first strong man protested, displeased. "Didn't the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, Prince Deshun's Mansion, and Commandery Prince An's household all come out clean? And our boss too, no issues there. This shows that there are good ones among the noble families. We should be fair and not generalize."

"True. Not to mention, our boss treats us really well," the fourth strong man nodded, unable to argue further.

"Actually, compared to Commandery Prince Kang, I think Commandery Prince An is more reliable. At least he genuinely cares about the common people," the third strong man said, sipping his tea and speaking confidently. "If Commandery Prince An ascends to the throne, at least our lives will be better, and there will be less oppression from the noble families. But if Commandery Prince Kang becomes emperor, who knows what will happen."

At these words, the other strong men nodded in agreement, and even Old Liu couldn't help but nod.

They might not have seen it before, but this tax investigation revealed the true colors of many noble families. Now, who didn't know that Prince Dexin and Commandery Prince Kang's families were heavily involved in tax evasion?

To put it bluntly, they were parasites of the Great Qian!

Would someone so self-serving, if they ascended to the throne, really care about the people's livelihood and the country's development? Such people were likely more concerned about how much profit and personal gain their power could bring them.

Ordinary people might not have the broad knowledge of those in noble families, but they had their own simple values and standards for judging people. Often, they could see through issues with remarkable clarity.

In such stark contrast, the reputation of Commandery Prince Kang's faction among the people had plummeted, while Commandery Prince An, Prince Deshun, and the Daqian Wang's Clan had gained significant prestige and reputation due to the tax investigation.

Some even uncovered Commandery Prince An's past acts of secretly providing disaster relief and donations in his private capacity. Even many small details that usually went unnoticed were brought to light, serving as proof of their benevolence and dedication to the people.

For a time, public opinion was overwhelmingly positive toward them.

The common people naturally supported Commandery Prince An.

However, the noble families and royal clans, who kept "stumbling," were all seething with anger at Commandery Prince An. Especially those with voting rights, in their frustration, secretly spread the word that they didn't need his vote!

Meanwhile.

In Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Emperor Longchang was not lounging in his recliner as usual, letting Old Yao massage his shoulders. Instead, he was sitting upright in the grandmaster's chair behind the desk.

Old Yao stood respectfully behind him, holding a duster, his head lowered, his expression serious, trying to minimize his presence.

In front of Emperor Longchang, the desk was once again piled high with memorials.

These memorials were supposed to be handled by the cabinet. However, they were filled with impeachments and accusations against Acting Cabinet Chief Ancestor Yinda, as well as Prince Deshun, Commandery Prince An, and others.

Many were also reports of tax evasion and various misdeeds by the royal family and some noble clans.

The cabinet couldn't handle them, so the authority to review them was handed over to Emperor Longchang.

Meanwhile, Meng Yuanbai stood across from the emperor's desk, sweating profusely, his head bowed, his expression tense as he awaited further orders.

Even the usually mischievous five little wolf cubs were huddled quietly in a corner, not causing trouble for Emperor Longchang as they usually did, begging for treats.

The entire Zhuozheng Pavilion was filled with a tense atmosphere.

"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous." Emperor Longchang slammed the table, his voice filled with anger, "I never expected there to be so many parasites within our royal family. I originally thought it was just Dexin's lineage that went too far. At least the others weren't that bad."

"But to my surprise, compared to some of the royal family, Dexin and Commandery Prince Kang are model taxpayers!"

Indeed, it was a case of not knowing until you checked, and being shocked when you did.

The situation regarding taxes in the Great Qian was far worse than Emperor Longchang had anticipated.

Especially within the royal family, those who usually kept a low profile, who didn't stand out, were found to be hiding entire estates, as if it had become a norm. In more severe cases, the reported taxes were just a small fraction, with the concealed ones being the majority.

In addition to tax evasion, many sordid and disgraceful matters were also exposed one by one.For example, there was a Commandery Prince who imprisoned a large number of common men and women, forcing them to continuously reproduce. The children born were brainwashed and raised as slaves.

Such shocking actions made Emperor Longchang feel as if his thousands of years as emperor had been in vain.

Could it be that Wang Shouzhe was right in his private criticisms, saying, "Your Majesty has spent a lifetime loving war, impatient with internal affairs, with a tendency towards grandiose achievements"?

"Your Majesty, this is the work of someone with ulterior motives, trying to muddy the waters," Old Yao quietly reminded.

"I can see that," Emperor Longchang said coldly. "Commandery Prince Kang first bowed his head and admitted his mistakes, and then one incident after another was exposed, making him seem not so bad after all. I must admit, this move was quick-witted and indeed could create an opportunity to turn the tables."

"Previously, I underestimated Commandery Prince Kang. It's a pity that Mingyuan, that boy, wouldn't listen to advice. I told him before to learn the art of imperial strategy, not just to act like a hothead."

"Now, if the clan members had to choose between Commandery Prince Kang and Commandery Prince An, they would most likely choose Commandery Prince Kang. People's hearts, oh, people's hearts!"

"Well then, let Mingyuan and that Wang Shouzhe suffer a big loss, teach them a vivid lesson. Reform is not so easy."

If it were easy, he would have done it eight hundred years ago, instead of dragging it out until now.

"Wang Shouzhe is naturally clever and resourceful. It's just a pity that this move of his backfired, offending too many people and inadvertently helping Commandery Prince Kang 'win people's hearts.' When I have time, I might give him some advice. In using strategies, one must consider human nature."

As Emperor Longchang was commenting on Wang Shouzhe and Commandery Prince An, Meng Yuanbai suddenly said, "Your Majesty, regarding Commandery Prince Kang, during a tax investigation, I discovered something peculiar. I dare not make a decision on my own, so I present it for your review."

With that, he submitted some data reports.

Emperor Longchang glanced at them, his expression growing serious: "Meng Yuanbai, the key points you've highlighted in red are very clear. You mean to say that besides tax evasion, Commandery Prince Kang's residence has large mysterious funds with unclear transactions! Moreover, the total of these funds and the timing of the transactions roughly match the accounts found in Zhao Zhikun's smuggling and treason case..."

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Meng Yuanbai said, trembling with fear. "To prevent errors, I had it checked multiple times. There are indeed such mysterious funds, quietly coming and going, all the timings match, and the accounts are clear, impossible to fake."

"Do you realize you are accusing Commandery Prince Kang of being the mastermind behind the 'Zhao Zhikun smuggling and treason case'?" Emperor Longchang said with a cold expression. "Are you siding with Commandery Prince An? Would a dignified quasi-imperial heir engage in smuggling and treason? Why not accuse me of smuggling and treason?"

Meng Yuanbai was so frightened he was drenched in sweat, his body weak, barely able to stand, yet he forced himself to say, "I did not mean that, Your Majesty. I only report what I found."

At this moment, the leader of the inner guard, Little Ji, hurriedly came before the emperor and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Chen Jinglong and Penal Office Chief Chen Jinghu have come together to request an audience, saying they have urgent matters to report."

"What matters?" The current chaos made Emperor Longchang quite impatient. "If they don't explain clearly, tell them to get lost."

"Your Majesty, the Chen brothers said... they have captured Zhao Zhikun, who was fleeing to avoid punishment. Zhao Zhikun, in order to atone for his crimes and reduce his sentence, is willing to reveal the mastermind behind the smuggling and treason case," Little Ji replied, trembling.

After speaking, he buried his head deeply, his face pale, sweating all over, not daring to look at Emperor Longchang's expression.

"What!?"

Emperor Longchang trembled all over.

In the next instant, a flash of insight struck him, and he instantly understood. It wasn't that Wang Shouzhe's tax investigation was lacking in skill or meticulous planning; rather, he had played a trick of "feinting in the east while attacking in the west," fooling everyone!

Wang Shouzhe hadn't ignored "human nature"; he simply didn't care and directly pulled a "removing the firewood from under the pot" move on Commandery Prince Kang.

As long as the other quasi-imperial heir was out of the picture, what was the point of voting or making choices!?

By then, everyone's choice would only be one... and that would be Commandery Prince An, Wu Mingyuan!

Whether you want to or not, you have to choose him!