Protect Our Clan Leader
Chapter 1114 - 80: Great Emperor VS Shouzhe! Perilous Breakdown

…

In the Imperial Palace, Xi Yuan Lake.

This lake is roughly circular in shape, with its surface wide and its diameter averaging a hundred miles. Seen from afar, it somewhat gives off a feeling of vast misty waves.

It resembles a bright pearl embedded within Return to Dragon City, yet it is confined within the massive walls of the Imperial Palace, serving as Emperor Longchang's private "pond."

Within the palace, there are lakes and mountains, indicating its vast scale.

The area around Xi Yuan Lake is extremely abundant with spiritual energy; such energy converges and forms visibly plausible spiritual fog. When blown by the wind, it creates patches of drifting ethereal mist on the surface of the lake, almost as if it were a celestial lake fallen to the mortal realm.

By the lakeside, terraces intimately connected with water are constructed, forming a majestic and grand complex that displays the grandeur of the Imperial Household.

Such a massive complex, named "Lakeside Petite Estate," shows how Emperor Longchang's taste isn't that remarkable.

Before the waterside pavilions,

dressed in casual clothes, Emperor Longchang was currently fiddling with an exquisite Luya Rod.

The long fishing line was cast far out, and with skilled movements, he made the lure twitch seductively, as if it were taunting the carnivorous Spirit Fish in the lake, "Come eat me~ Come eat me."

It was full of enticing implications.

Suddenly,

the tip of the rod dipped down.

"Got it!"

Emperor Longchang felt a thrill in his heart and yanked the rod fiercely, indeed catching a big fish.

He immediately began reeling in the line joyfully.

"Your Majesty," Old Yao approached with quick, short steps and reported softly, "Wang Shouzhe has already arrived and is waiting outside the estate. Should we summon…"

"Let him wait," Emperor Longchang didn't even lift his head, "I'm busy fishing."

Old Yao inwardly rolled his eyes.

Your Majesty, you have eagerly been wanting to meet Wang Shouzhe, even going so far as to hint repeatedly and explicitly, and after failing, you specifically ordered him to come "immediately." Now that he is here, you choose to make him wait… This might not be very appropriate.

"How so? As the great emperor, can't I air him for a while when I'm displeased?" Emperor Longchang snorted coldly, "You're not seeing what outrageous things he's done? How much turmoil he stirred up… Even the Emperor's son has been arranged by him. I really must thank him!"

"Now that he has entered the Imperial Palace, he's like this fish hooked on bait; he's food on my plate, unable to escape to the skies."

"Considering what he has done to me, it would have been generous of me to not set hundreds of axemen to ambush him."

Emperor Longchang became increasingly angry as he spoke, yanking the fishing rod forcefully. The result was too much force, and with a "snap," the fishing rod, assembled from the Purple Spirit Bamboo tip, broke.

The big fish regained its freedom and immediately leaped out of the water, zooming away several dozens of meters, then pulled the rod toward the bottom of the lake.

"This…" Old Yao's mouth twitched, exclaiming, "Has Your Majesty's cultivation base perhaps reached the level of 'words manifest power'?"

"Uh…" Emperor Longchang's mouth twitched as he turned and glared fiercely at Old Yao, "Old Yao, don't presume upon having served me for over a thousand years that I'd hate to slap you, and dare to act recklessly. Do you really think I don't realize you're mocking me?"

After saying this, without any visible action but merely a flick of his God Sense, he locked onto the Spirit Fish that had escaped hundreds of meters away.

Immediately following, with a swirl and pull of his God Sense, the several-hundred-pound Spirit Fish was supported by an invisible energy and landed on the waterside platform.

The fish still had the fishing line in its mouth, flapping its tail, displaying a dazed expression as if wondering, "Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?"

That sight only angered the emperor more.

With a slight movement of his God Sense, he removed the hook from its mouth and then kicked it back into the lake with annoyance.

As an experienced fisherman, he naturally wouldn't deign to eat a fish that he hadn't caught by hand.

"Old Yao, summon that fellow Wang Shouzhe," Emperor Longchang said with a frustrated face, "I must inquire why the Luya Rods produced by his family are of such poor quality that my fish got away."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Old Yao obeyed, internally chuckling as he went to summon Wang Shouzhe.

Before long, he returned with Wang Shouzhe and An Commandery Prince, who were accompanying him.

Seeing the emperor standing by the lakeside, silent and with a posture indicating "I don't see you," he couldn't help but secretly smirk and nudge Wang Shouzhe with his eyes, "Wang Shouzhe, won't you pay your respects to His Majesty?"

"I, Changning Rank Six Wang family Head Wang Shouzhe, pay my respects to Your Majesty," Wang Shouzhe clasped his hands together, bending forward in a well-mannered and dignified bow.

An Commandery Prince, naturally, mentioned his own respectful greetings as required.

Only then did Emperor Longchang leisurely turn around and glance at Wang Shouzhe.

He observed Wang Shouzhe clad in a white robe, graceful and dignified, his bearing as gentle as a spring breeze, easily standing out as a striking presence.

In comparison, not to mention the children of the Imperial Household, even the youngsters from the Great Qian Wang Clan known in Shangjing City for their looks and demeanor appeared somewhat inferior to him.

"Hmm, he looks decent enough, and his demeanor is fair. Quite rare indeed, no wonder he could father children like Li Yao and Zong'an," Emperor Longchang reluctantly admitted, "He's just slightly less impressive than me in my younger days."

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. This servant is overwhelmed by your favor," Wang Shouzhe responded, his expression calm and natural.