Protect Our Clan Leader
Chapter 1113 - 79 The Great Emperor Summons Shouzhe! Kang Commandery Prince Falls from His Horse (Vote for Monthly Ticket)_4

As for the others, such as Jiang Zhuyi and the butler class, naturally, they didn't receive such good treatment; they were directly thrown into the jail of the Inspectorate. Only Mr. Yude, because of his identity as a distant relative of the Imperial Household, got assigned to a clean, individual cell, which was slightly better treatment.

...

At the same time.

In the Four Seasons Garden.

There was a vibrant orchard. At this moment, the branches were laden with golden-yellow, plump fruits. These were the Spirit seed fruit trees originally belonging to the Great Qian Wang Clan—Gold Phoenix Pears.

This kind of Spirit Fruit was extremely rare; the Great Qian Wang Clan never sold it to outsiders, reserving it exclusively for internal family enjoyment.

Next to the orchard was a small man-made Top Grade Spirit Field, which the guest-residing Wang Shouzhe had temporarily requisitioned.

At this moment, the Spirit Field was planted with fine Spirit Melons and Spirit Vegetables that had been domesticated and improved generation after generation by humans. They were rich in Spiritual Energy, tender and delicious, whether stir-fried or eaten raw.

However, using a Top Grade Spirit Field to grow Spirit Vegetables, with the same acreage, the effect on nourishing the body was much poorer than growing Spirit Rice, and from an energy standpoint, it was not cost-effective. Only wealthy Prominent Families would disregard the cost-performance ratio and indulge their culinary desires.

But for Wang Shouzhe, life was not just about filling one's stomach; it was also about quality of life.

Top Grade Spirit Rice could replenish physical strength and vitality in large amounts, but it could not replace the crisp taste of Spirit Melons and Spirit Vegetables.

"Shouzhe, your talent for cultivation might even surpass Zong'an's," remarked the An Commandery Prince as he picked a crisp and improved variety of melon, crunching away, praising while he picked more melons to put into his Storage Ring, "Qing Rui loves eating melons, I'll bring some back for her."

A few?

Wang Shouzhe looked at him with an odd expression.

In just this short while, you've picked more than twenty.

"This Red Spirit Amaranth is not bad at all; it squirts water with just a pinch," the An Commandery Prince smacked his lips and then eyed the other Spirit Vegetables, "Yesterday, I mooched a few bites from your place, soft and tender, leaves fat and juicy. I'll just pick a handful for Qing Rui to taste the freshness."

A handful?

Wang Shouzhe's face began to twitch.

Wu Mingyuan, do you realize that you're nearly plucking this whole row of Red Spirit Amaranth bare?

You, as a dignified Quasi Emperor's Son, is your family really that poor? Not only do you always come to mooch meals in my Four Seasons Garden, but you also keep finding ways to scrounge some ingredients to take back. If there's really nothing to scrounge, you even pack up the leftover Spirit Rice to fry up a bowl of egg fried rice for a midnight snack.

Sigh~ A Quasi Emperor's Son acting like this... really takes the cake.

"Your Highness," Wang Shouzhe began, squatting by the field ridge, lecturing earnestly, "In the future, you'll be a Great Emperor; you should have some dignity when you're out and about. Growing these vegetables isn't easy for me... if you pluck them all, what will I have left to eat?"

"You're a guest at the Ding Duke's Mansion, will you ever worry about having nothing to eat?" the An Commandery Prince, also red-faced, put down a few radishes he had just pulled out, and sheepishly said, "It's just a few bites of your veggies; is it worth being this stingy? When I become the Great Emperor, I'll promote you to be the Prime Minister; then, Shouzhe, you can manage all the state's affairs every day."

"Thanks, but no thanks," replied Wang Shouzhe with an unimpressed roll of his eyes, "then wouldn't I spend all my time busy handling miscellaneous tasks for you? I don't have the time for that, please find someone else."

"How about making you a Duke then?" proposed the An Commandery Prince, generously waving his hand. "You shall be named Shou Duke."

He acted as though the title of Duke in his own family was as cheap as dirt.

Moreover, he hadn't even ascended to the Emperor's throne, and his pie-in-the-sky promises were getting slipperier by the minute.

"Forget it," waved off Wang Shouzhe, showing a complete lack of interest, "there are only two Dukes in the country, both with the grand merit of aiding Emperor Xuan of Xuan Du in founding and expanding the nation. If you casually grant me a Duke title, I'm afraid people will curse me every single day."

"Shouzhe, you refuse this and you refuse that," observed the An Commandery Prince, sizing him up in amazement, "Could it be that you're hoping to be appointed as a Duke of a different surname?"

After saying that, he seriously began to ponder.

"It's not entirely impossible when you think about it. According to ancestral rules, if a Prominent Family accumulates enough Merit Points, they too can be granted a dukedom."

"Alright, alright, Your Highness, you better take good care of yourself." Wang Shouzhe said with evident displeasure, "Now that Kang Commandery Prince has stepped down, the plan to subdue the Barbarian Gu Clan on the Southern Frontier will likely fall on your shoulders. Better watch yourself. If you return defeated, you'll end up the laughingstock."

After spending much time with An Commandery Prince, this guy's shameless hidden personality gradually came to light, especially when he'd steal vegetables from his garden with such brazen audacity, bearing a bit of a resemblance to His Majesty's shamelessness.

"I've already figured out the plan for the Southern Frontier campaign," An Commandery Prince declared confidently, plucking a handful of tender baby greens and stuffing them into his Storage Ring while his eyes shone brightly, "This battle is destined for victory."

"Who would've thought Your Highness has grown quite a bit recently?" Wang Shouzhe actually started to see him in a new light, "What brilliant strategy do you have? Share it, will you?"

"The plan is simple. I'm summoning you to be my chief military strategist," An Commandery Prince said with a grand sweep of his hand, brimming with confidence, "With you by my side on the campaign, we're bound to win without fail."

"..." Wang Shouzhe gave a sidelong glance of disdain, "All I'm good at is farming, I don't have time to join your war. Once I finish up with this season's work, I'm heading back to farm and spend my days with my wife. You can think up your strategies on your own."

"Shouzhe, Shouzhe, you can't just abandon me," pleaded the prince. "At worst, I'll let you win a few games of chess in the future."

"No can do, I've got my own pile of troubles at home. Leave that military strategist role for someone else," Wang Shouzhe's head shook like a rattle drum.

While they were talking,

One of the Leader Xiangs of the Imperial Guard walked in like he owned the place.

However, unlike the previous times, this time he was holding an imperial edict in his hands.

"By the decree of the Great Emperor, Wang Shouzhe is summoned to the palace to see the emperor immediately, without error. Let it be known!" After reciting the edict, Little Xiangzi closed it with a flourish and gave Wang Shouzhe a smug look as if to say "Finally, my chance to gloat."

An imperial edict?

Wang Shouzhe raised an eyebrow.

This time it was not a subtle hint, nor an excuse for commendation.

However, now that the Great Emperor had issued a direct summon, there was no excuse for him to decline.

"This subject, obeys the decree."

Wang Shouzhe received the edict respectfully and, as was customary, slipped in a gold note for Xiangzi's trouble.

"Master Shouzhe, it's not easy to get a moment with His Majesty," Little Xiangzi said in a low chuckle, "It's a good thing you accepted quickly. Otherwise, His Majesty said, 'If that Wang Shouzhe keeps making excuses, I'll send the Imperial Guard to tie him up and bring him to Zhuozheng Pavilion.'"

"Hehe~ With an order from His Majesty, how dare I not go?" Wang Shouzhe responded with a light smile, as if the person who had been resisting the summons wasn't him, "Leader Xiang, please wait a moment. I'll just bathe and change my clothes before accompanying you to the palace to see the emperor."

"No need to bathe or change your clothes, just come with me. His Majesty is quite anxious, his words were 'immediately.'"

"Fine, then I'll pick some fresh Spirit Vegetables and Spirit Fruit to take along. His Majesty has been hosting Anye and the five little wolf cubs for a while. I can't go empty-handed to see the emperor."

"His Majesty said 'immediately'! Master Shouzhe, please don't force me to act."

"Fine, then I'll borrow the fruits and vegetables that Commandery Prince just picked."

"..."

An Commandery Prince broke into a cold sweat, realizing that all the face he had put on just now was for naught. Everything he'd picked, in the end, was for Wang Shouzhe

...