Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1039 - 64: Winds Rise in the Upper Capital! Shouzhe Is Doomed

...Since Emperor Ziwei Xuandu, the descendants of the Daqian Imperial Family have proliferated to an unknown extent.

With the alternation of power, the once direct lineage may gradually become a branch, while a fallen branch may occasionally produce a brilliant talent, allowing that line to rise again.

As the largest noble family in Daqian, the Wu Family, like other historical noble families, possesses a vast population base. However, the vast majority of them are far from promising, relying mostly on the Imperial Family’s name to gain more resources or help manage some of the Imperial Family’s industries.

However, the Imperial Family is ultimately the Imperial Family, with a solid foundation and formidable strength. There are currently eleven living princes, with an even larger group of princes.

Among them, the lineage of Prince Dexin is currently the most powerful within the Imperial Family, with two princes possessing Divine Power Realm cultivation, and the number of princes reaching eighteen.

Moreover, the upward momentum of this lineage is very strong, with future potential extending far beyond this.

One of the quasi-crown princes, Prince Kang, is among the exceptional young generation of this lineage.

The Princess Xue Ning, who is currently greatly favored by Your Majesty, likewise comes from the lineage of Prince Dexin. Her grandfather is the cousin of Prince Yoong’an, "Prince Rong." Although Prince Rong is not as extraordinarily gifted as Prince Yoong’an, he at least holds the title of prince.

This small branch of Prince Rong has not been very flourishing, with most members being mediocre. None have managed to reach the Purple Mansion Realm and inherit his legacy, resulting in Prince Rong being six hundred and fifty years old with many of his sons and grandsons having passed away.

Nevertheless, Prince Rong, despite his age, is still fervent. At five hundred years old, he couldn’t hold back from remarrying, and sturdily fathered a younger son, Wu Yingcai, who surprisingly awakened a rare White Dragon Bloodline.

Due to the old husband’s affection for his young wife and son, Prince Rong found ways to obtain Bloodline Talent Improvement Liquid, cultivating Wu Yingcai into a celestial pride, and even sought marriage for him with the daughter of the direct line of the Daqian Chen Family.

He waits for Wu Yingcai to cultivate to the Purple Mansion Realm before going to the Outer Domain Battlefield to earn merits, reporting to Your Majesty, and then establishing a Prince’s Mansion for him. By then, his branch would also count as having two princes, significantly enhancing their position and influence within the direct lineage.

The mention of Wu Yingcai is due to him having a remarkable daughter with the direct descendant of the Chen Family—Wu Xue Ning!

Her innate talent was extraordinary, possessing a White Dragon Bloodline much stronger than her father’s. When her bloodline talent assessment came out at seven or eight years old, it alarmed Prince Dexin of their lineage, and was reported to Your Majesty, subsequently being included in the Imperial Family’s list for focused cultivation, receiving the top-tier treatment.

Besides the Imperial Family’s emphasis on Wu Xue Ning, the Third Grade Noble Family, the Daqian Chen Family, also greatly values their direct granddaughter Xue Ning, often supporting her secretly. While not matching the treatment for their Divine Power Species, it exceeds the resource supplementation for ordinary Purple Mansion Species.

Prince Rong, Wu Yingcai, and Xue Ning’s mother, the Lady of the Chen Family, have also become increasingly popular thanks to Wu Xue Ning.

This day.

At Prince Rong’s Mansion.

Early in the morning, the servants of Prince Rong’s Mansion started bustling around, cleaning up, hanging lanterns, and laying red carpets.

This was not for a wedding celebration, but because three esteemed guests were about to arrive at Prince Rong’s Mansion.

The elderly yet spirited Prince Rong, along with his "young beloved" of over two hundred years old, Lady Meng, Wu Yingcai, and the Chen couple, were together hosting the distinguished guests.

These three esteemed guests were Princess Kang Zhao Yijing, the Divine Power Species Zhao Zhikun from the Mansion of Duke Protector of the Nation, and the young generation’s great celestial pride from the Mansion of Duke Protector of the Nation—Zhao Yuanqing.

There’s no need to elaborate on Zhao Yijing. Her status is unmatched by typical princess consorts, with a significant likelihood of ascending to the position of Empress in the future.

The Divine Power Species Zhao Zhikun from the Mansion of Duke Protector of the Nation is also an extraordinary figure, a future ancestral-level master of divine skills. Furthermore, his multiple expeditions to the Outer Domain Battlefield were outstanding, garnering numerous merits that even earned Your Majesty’s praises and frequent rewards.

However, this is not the most significant; he is currently the carefully cultivated successor by Uncle Zhao Hongbo, the contemporary Chief Minister. A pillar of future Daqian, a top-tier authority.

The governing system of Daqian is a co-management of the world by the Imperial Family and the noble families. The larger and stronger the noble family, the more "stakes" it holds in this collective entity of Daqian, granting more political influence and power.

Currently, with only one Second Grade Noble Family in Daqian, the position of Chief Minister falls on the Zhao Family, which is well deserved—this position is earned by their contributions to Daqian over many years.

Even if Prince Anjun is fortunate to ascend to the position of Great Emperor in the future, it would be challenging to shake the Zhao Family’s position as the Chief Minister in the short term. They can only weaken them little by little, as Emperor Longchang did with the Daqian Wang Family and support other noble families to replace them.

This is the confidence of a Second Grade Noble Family.

The other young great celestial pride, Zhao Yuanqing, is only fifty years old, having just stepped into the Celestial Human Realm. According to Upper Capital City, he’s still considered a young and energetic kid!

Currently, Zhao Yuanqing is dressed in blue and white Black Tortoise Martial Attire made from the renowned tribute fabric—White Cloud Spirit Brocade.

This fabric is woven from spiritual cotton produced by a Spiritual Brocade Tree, an exotic spirit plant of Tier Eight. The spirit brocade is soft and exceptionally tough, not only comfortable to wear but also provides substantial defensive effects. However, it is extremely expensive, with an average set selling for eight hundred thousand Qian Gold, pricier than a middle-grade magical treasure!