Chapter 2524 - 58: Setting a Monumental Game in Motion

...

After a moment.

Inside Wang Shouzhe’s study.

Wang Shouzhe looked at the layers of his descendants with a complex expression.

Under the light, Wang Baoguang was kneeling on the ground, clumsily holding his sore behind, his handsome face scrunched up like a bitter melon, looking pitiful.

Undoubtedly, this rascal had already been beaten up, and it was Wang Shouzhe himself who did it.

Normally, children in the family are disciplined by the previous generation. If the previous generation is not around, then the generation before can do it as well. Now, since Wang Baoguang’s previous generation and the generation before them are both absent, he, as the Old Ancestor, had to take on the task.

"Ow~ Old Ancestor Grandfather." Wang Baoguang held his still aching behind with a pitiful expression, "You’ve already hit me, can’t you listen to my explanation?"

"What’s there to explain?" Wang Shouzhe’s eyelids twitched, "I’m starting to understand why your great grandfather wanted to expel you. Humph, quickly withdraw that magazine and publish some articles to clarify, don’t dirty the name of that young lady without reason. After that, go apologize to Princess Qingyang!"

"Huh?! Old Ancestor Grandfather, this wasn’t spread by me in the first place. I just did some artistic embellishment based on existing rumors." Wang Baoguang’s expression turned bitter, looking as wronged as one can imagine, "Even if I didn’t push it, the city is already full of rumors."

"That’s not acceptable." Wang Shouzhe scolded, "No matter what others do, withdraw your own magazine."

"Old Ancestor Grandfather, I can’t withdraw it." Wang Baoguang was sweating profusely from anxiety.

"..."

Wang Shouzhe looked at him silently for a few moments, then suddenly smiled: "Heh, are you thinking that the Old Ancestor’s words don’t matter?"

"No, no, no, you are the god in my heart, the light in my heart." Wang Baoguang shook his head frantically, flattered him hurriedly, and then assumed a solemn expression, explaining, "Actually, I’m making a big move here."

"A big move?" Wang Shouzhe sneered, "How big?"

"Very, very big." Wang Baoguang’s expression was earnest, seemingly afraid that Wang Shouzhe wouldn’t believe him, then quickly added, "Very big, very big, very big!"

"You?" Wang Shouzhe snorted, "If your great grandfather Wang Anru said this, I might believe it. Fine, I’ll give you the chance to explain, but if your explanation is not good enough, you’re going straight back to the Wang family to work in a mine for a hundred years to temper your personality before coming out again."

These words, Wang Shouzhe was not joking.

For the family’s direct line children, he always disciplined very strictly. If Wang Baoguang dared to mess around, Wang Shouzhe would definitely send him to the mines, and nobody’s pleas would change it.

Frightened, Wang Baoguang scrambled to stand before the desk, taking out an envelope with a stack of photos from his Storage Ring and handed it to Wang Shouzhe.

He earnestly explained, "Old Ancestor Grandfather, didn’t you assign me a task earlier? I found Old Cai to help me, and indeed discovered some seemingly absurd gossip."

"Look at this photo..." Wang Baoguang said, "This beauty’s name is [Autumn Okra], supposedly the personal maid of the ’Fragrant Jade Holy Concubine.’ Now see this man secretly meeting with her... looks familiar, right? Heh, it’s Pei Chang’an, the close confidant of Prince Wen Yu."

"And then?" Wang Shouzhe said coldly.

"It’s rumored that the Fragrant Jade Holy Concubine hails from West Ruoshenzhou, exhibiting exotic beauty and possesses a subtle fragrance, deeply favored by Emperor Tianrui." Wang Baoguang narrated, "But the problem is, the Fragrant Jade Holy Concubine is cold in demeanor, traditionally having bad relations with several Princes. Especially with Prince Wen Yu, their relationship is known to be particularly hostile."

"I speculate, could this be a false appearance? Perhaps the Fragrant Jade Holy Concubine and Prince Wen Yu actually enjoy good relations... maybe secretly, they have been deeply connected... The supposed discord is merely a cover."

"..."

Wang Shouzhe took a deep breath, but couldn’t resist popping a vein as he flicked Wang Baoguang’s forehead hard: "You rascal, starting with a photo, concocting scenarios entirely from imagination. Couldn’t it be Prince Wen Yu secretly manipulated the maid beside the Fragrant Jade Holy Concubine to keep her in check!"

"Old Ancestor Grandfather, your view is of course reasonable, but that’s only one possibility." Wang Baoguang’s face radiated with a holy light, "Regardless of the truth, I will certainly uncover it. Besides, Old Ancestor Grandfather, do you believe in intuition? My years of career experience and intuition tell me these two definitely have big issues."

"Even if there is an issue, what’s it got to do with you slandering me and Qingyang?" Wang Shouzhe said irritatedly.

"There is a connection, of course there is a connection." Wang Baoguang said solemnly, "Where that initial rumor between you and Princess Qingyang came from, I haven’t found it out yet, but it’s largely unrelated to Prince Wen Yu~ By pushing things this far, making a big deal out of it, many accusations will point to the surface beneficiary—Prince Wen Yu."

"In order to clear his name, Prince Wen Yu will definitely seek to verify the origins of the rumors. At this point, I can covertly guide the situation, occasionally steering accusations towards the First Prince [Prince Yu Chen] and the Third Prince [Prince Hongzhu]. No matter who did it, let’s covertly induce what needs inducing, slander where needs slandering, ultimately muddying the waters of the Sacred City. In the end, let the issue die without any clear resolution."