Protect Our Clan Leader

"Fight, struggle. If the Emperor's sons don't contend, where will the fine plays for us to watch come from? Why should I have toiled so hard years ago, nearly losing my life to succeed, while you all wish to ascend the throne so effortlessly?"

"I don't care. As long as I'm alive, none of you will win so easily."

Emperor Longchang muttered to himself, seemingly thrilled and smug about his own schemes. After all, he was old and had the capital to do as he pleased.

Old Yao, the attendant standing by, bowed his head as cold sweat broke out. It was indeed hard to fathom the heart of a great emperor.

...

While Shangjing City was in a state of turmoil.

Ping'an Town remained an idyllic haven, unaffected by the troubles of the outside world.

The children ate, studied, and were disciplined as they should be. They lived and grew up happily and blissfully.

In the familiar courtyard, still a riot of blooms and brimming with spirit, it was like a heavenly abode.

Within the pavilion of the small courtyard, Wang Shouzhe and the refined Jiang Yusong played chess.

The outcome was unsurprising, with Wang Shouzhe thoroughly bested in the game. After three rounds, he had lost every single one.

He immediately laughed and resigned, "Mr. Yusong's disregard for the way of the official is no wonder he was demoted to a den like the Jiaolong Gang, where bandits gather."

His words seemed as casual as a light breeze passing through the clouds.

Jiang Yusong, however, had a momentary stiffness in his expression, and a flicker of discomfort passed through his eyes. He laughed and replied, "What Master Shouzhe says, I fail to understand?"

"It's commonly said that a hero's twilight years and a beauty's greying hair are the regrets of the human world," Wang Shouzhe personally poured tea for Jiang Yusong and continued with a smile, "However, these pale in comparison to the sorrow of an emperor's fall after three thousand years.

A Great Emperor, with supreme authority, could decide life and death for countless prominent families, glorified throughout his life. As he grows old and nears death, although he understands the inevitability of power transition, he can't help becoming more sensitive, suspicious, and changeable in mood.

The occasional unease in his heart also makes him crave more control, hoping to keep all changes in his own hands. These are all natural human tendencies, nothing to be ashamed of."

"Brother Long has a special identity and has been watched by His Majesty since he was a boy. Yet, he is an unruly dragon, a Demonic King. For His Majesty to plant one or more spies by his side is both to keep his actions from getting out of hand and to assist him in his work, quietly protecting him from being ambushed. It is all very sensible and reasonable."

A bead of cold sweat slid down from the side of Jiang Yusong's temple.

His fingertips began trembling uncontrollably as a sense of unspeakable shock and fear enveloped his heart.

Wang Shouzhe had such audacity, indeed great audacity! Not only did he dare to speculate on the sacred imperial intentions, but he also spoke about it so brazenly!

Moreover, he couldn't understand how he had exposed himself. Could it be that Wang Shouzhe could see through people's hearts?

"You must be wondering how someone with such a perfect identity cover as Jiang Yusong could be suspected. Heh, it's quite simple. Of those dozen generals around Brother Long, I've carefully investigated each one over the decades."

"Apart from you, others have more or less murky pasts, and many of their identities don't hold up to scrutiny. It's normal, isn't it? No matter how the Jiaolong Gang dresses up and registers with the government office, it's still a bandit organization. What upright and promising person would join a notorious bandit group for no reason?"

Feeling a chill in his heart, Jiang Yusong countered, "Family Head misunderstands. The leader once saved me; I joined to repay the favor."

"Right, that's a very reasonable justification. But if I were Emperor Longchang, looking to constrain and monitor the Demonic King Long Wuji, I'd need to pick someone with brains, the ability to judge the times, smart enough to offer timely advice and influence Long Wuji, right?"

"Not to look down upon the upper echelons of the Jiaolong Gang, but aside from Mr. Yusong, the remaining dozen or so... are not as sharp as Brother Long... How could they bear the responsibility of restraint?"

"All your deductions are conjecture, Master Shouzhe. How can you condemn me, Jiang Yusong, based on this?" Jiang Yusong's complexion grew somewhat pale.

"Mr. Yusong, aren't you underestimating the Wang family a bit? Since I've already suspected you, while you're on Wang family's territory trying to send messages out... specifically to Return to Dragon City..." Wang Shouzhe shook his head helplessly, "Could it be that you think the decades of the Wang family's efforts have been in vain?"

"Ah!" Jiang Yusong's spirit collapsed, his face ashen as he pleaded, "Family Head, I am working on behalf of His Majesty, please show some mercy."

"Rest assured, since you belong to His Majesty, why would I trouble you?" Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, "I should thank Mr. Yusong for helping to convey a message to His Majesty."

Jiang Yusong shuddered, looking incredulously at Wang Shouzhe: "Were your words that day intended for my ears, for me to pass the message back? Impossible, impossible. Even if you suspected me, I might not have been with the leader that day; it was he who spontaneously wanted my company!"

"Spontaneously?" Wang Shouzhe's smile carried a hint of mockery, "Do you think my acting at the Peace River, 'you come up, I go down', was for naught? It was to make Brother Long unsettled, wondering if Shouzhe would secretly set traps to harm him."

Jiang Yusong remained stunned for a long while, only to gaze at Wang Shouzhe in shock: "So that's it, that's how it is. At that time, the leader was indecisive and suspicious, and among those close to him, I was the most delicate and cautious of mind. Bringing me along as a precaution was the most natural and reasonable choice."

"Thus, without raising any alarm, you placed me in the game. The meeting at Broken Dragon Gorge was so significant, and I was bound to report truthfully to the higher-ups... seizing this opportunity, Master Shouzhe was able to apply eye medicine for the Kang Commandery Prince from thousands of miles away in front of His Majesty and, at the same time, smoothly root me out as an insider.

Master Shouzhe, your calculations are truly meticulous! This killing two birds with one stone strategy is so ingeniously executed, Yusong has no choice but to admire it. However, what if you had miscalculated?"

"Miscalculated?" Wang Shouzhe said indifferently, "If I miscalculated, it's no big deal. After all, the primary objective was to strategize against Brother Long. As for the rest, that's just killing two birds with one stone."

Killing two birds with one stone?

Jiang Yusong felt a mix of fright and incredulity.

Master Shouzhe dared to liken His Majesty to a rabbit... so much audacity, truly!

No good!

Today... I, Jiang Yusong,

am doomed.

...