Protect Our Clan Leader
Chapter 1093 - 75: The Grand Assembly! Shou Zhe, Are You Confused? (Vote for monthly tickets, subscribe)

...

Kang Commandery Prince's Residence.

It was early morning, still dark, when the servants in the residence arose early from their beds, embarking on the day's bustle.

Deep within the Wang Fu, within the luxuriously decorated main chamber of the sleeping quarters, the Kang Commandery Prince and his wife had also gotten out of bed bright and early.

The Kang Commandery Prince stretched out his arms by the bed as Zhao Yijing skillfully assisted him in dressing in his court attire, fastening the jade belt around his waist and placing the jade crown upon his head.

According to the national system of the Great Qian Land, royal family members who sought the title of Commandery Prince were required not only to reach the Purple Abode Realm but also to accumulate sufficient Merit Points on the battlefield to qualify for the title.

Even inherited titles of Commandery Prince were subject to the same conditions.

For this reason, there were few useless individuals among the Commandery Princes of Da Qian; the vast majority were truly talented and powerful, capable of reigning over a region on their own.

The court attire of a Commandery Prince was designed to be very majestic, with a base color of cyan gold and a pattern of a golden three-clawed Azure Dragon, which greatly enhanced the heroic and domineering presence of a man.

Just judging by appearance, the Kang Commandery Prince was very outstanding, with a tall physique and a commanding presence. Dressed in his court attire, he looked even more striking and carried an even more imposing air.

But these past few days, the Kang Commandery Prince had been feeling a bit jittery.

Today was the day of The Grand Assembly, but there had been no news from "Elder Xin" and the Wu brothers, whom he had sent to the Changning Wang Clan earlier, and a foreboding feeling had been fermenting in his heart like a growing mold.

In addition, Gong Yang Ce, who was tasked with intercepting Zhao Zhikun and his wife, should have finished his task and returned yesterday, but there was still no news to this day, completely vanishing like a stone into the sea, which added a few shades of gloom.

"My Lord," Zhao Yijing spoke softly while meticulously adjusting his regal court attire, "I heard that at this Grand Assembly, His Majesty will commend the Merit Points you have earned on the battlefield abroad. With such achievements, you will surely receive more support from the Clan Relatives of the royal family,"

Merit!

Indeed, these past days, he, Wu Chengsi, had fought valiantly abroad, securing countless Merit Points. His deeds even surpassed those of the Emperor when he was vying for the position of Emperor's son by more than double.

These were genuine Merit Points, verified and stamped by the Marshal himself.

And what had Wu Mingyuan achieved? Nothing but jumping around like a foolish clown. Wasn't he just responsible for some "Dala Desolate Desert Reclamation Plan"? The plan had barely started one year ago and had yet to show any results.

The Prince Dexin lineage already held a meeting; during this Grand Assembly, the military higher-ups who supported him were going to assist in initiating a military campaign to conquer the troublesome Barbarian Gu Clan of the Southern Frontier.

If he could take control of the land of the ever-entangled Barbarian Gu Clan, it would be a Remarkable Achievement, and what could Wu Mingyuan use to compete with him then? Let alone Wu Mingyuan, even if the Hao Commandery Prince were to return alive, he would be hard-pressed to match him, Wu Chengsi.

The struggle for the position of Emperor's son followed various evaluation and comparison rules; it was not about who could flatter the best. Even the Emperor's opinion was just one with more weight, not a final verdict.

With this thought, the dark clouds in the heart of the Kang Commandery Prince were swept away; oh Wu Mingyuan, you think you're worthy of competing with me, Wu Chengsi, for the position of Emperor's son!

...

As the Kang Commandery Prince dwelt on thoughts of Gong Yang Ce, at the same moment elsewhere:

The Yun Peng Flying Boat was taking a shortcut, soaring over towering mountains and great peaks.

Leaving Da Qian and heading thousands of miles eastward, one would reach the boundless Hurricane Ocean.

In the Hurricane Ocean, hurricanes howled and waves stacked upon one another, with numerous fierce sea beasts lurking, presenting peril at every turn. Without an exceptional Cultivation base, one who rashly entered would not know how they died.

After entering the territory of the Hurricane Ocean, the Yun Peng Flying Boat increased its altitude for safety and had completely entered the high-altitude Tempest Layer. Looking up from the sea's surface, the Yun Peng Flying Boat appeared as a mere speck in the sky.

This altitude far exceeded the flying heights of normal birds; only a few species of Flying Beasts with high growth potential could reach it. And only the Yun Peng Flying Boat, with its special design, could navigate through it with ease.

This was how the Yao family could monopolize long-distance air transport business with the Yun Peng Flying Boat, earning a fortune.

Within the Yun Peng Flying Boat.

Yao Chengchao estimated the distance and, finding the timing to be right, proceeded into the interlayer hidden compartment where Gong Yang Ce was held captive.

In the compartment, Gong Yang Ce's hands were cuffed with alloy shackles, and his body was tightly bound with the Beast Binding Rope. He leaned against the back of the chair with his eyes closed, conserving his energy. Even upon hearing the door open, he remained motionless, not even opening his eyes, as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Young Master Ce, make the best of your situation; there's no need to act as if you have suffered the greatest indignity," Yao Chengchao said with a grin, looking at him. "A few hundred years of life in this world, who doesn't face setbacks? Consider it an enrichment of life experience," he continued, "And after all, guests are to be accorded every courtesy. Since you are aboard the Yun Peng Flying Boat, you are a guest of the Yao family. I've been ensuring you are well fed and taken care of all this way, haven't I treated you well?"

Gong Yang Ce opened his eyes with an unfavorable look and regarded him, "Now that you are the executioner and I am the fish on the chopping block, you may kill or flay as you please—why bother with such pretense in front of me?"

"I, Yao, hold no grudges against you, Master Ce, so why would I kill you?" Yao Chengchao replied with a helpless smile, looking grievously wronged, "This time, it's merely because I lost the goods of the Changning Wang Clan, putting my family at fault, and I had to cooperate to settle the debt. Now, I've done everything I promised to Wang Shouzhe and repaid my debt to the Wang family; what follows has nothing to do with me."