The heads of noble families all need to be conferred by the government office, in a sense, they are also subjects of His Majesty the Great Emperor...

"Rest assured, Master, the ’Immortal Hall’ has nothing to do with the family, and no one knows your true identity," Wang Mei said with a look of thorough consideration. "When you meet them, just wear the specially-made mask and show the token. Even if any sister makes a mistake, it would not implicate the Patriarch and the Wang Family."

Wang Shouzhe was speechless for a moment. Although he had actions and investments in building an intelligence system, he did not intend to establish such an exaggerated organization... But since Wang Mei had already considered everything thoroughly, he let her go ahead with it. At least, it sounded quite formidable.

"Continue talking about Zuoqiu Qingyun’s matter," Wang Shouzhe said solemnly. He knew long ago, over a decade ago, that the plan back then was only a stopgap measure.

Therefore, he had long laid out various arrangements to prevent the Zuoqiu Family or others like Cao Youqing from pursuing the truth.

"Yes, Master. The dark lines of our Immortal Hall, upon discovering someone investigating Zuoqiu Qingyun’s death back then, traced the clues back to them and learned that it was someone from Gongyang Strategy’s ’Dawn.’ However, to avoid alerting the enemy, the dark lines did not act recklessly," Wang Mei continued. "But not long after, our dark lines in the territories of the Cao Family and the Zuoqiu Family also began to send back messages. Their adversarial relationship seems to have eased, and some unusual actions have emerged."

"Therefore, my analysis is that Gongyang Strategy has ruled out ’Cao Youqing’ as the suspect in Zuoqiu Qingyun’s death back then."

Wang Shouzhe nodded impassively: "Your analysis makes sense. As to whether it was done by Cao Youqing, Cao Youqing herself knows best. As long as interested parties conduct thorough investigations with special patience, they can eventually convince the Zuoqiu Family that Cao Youqing is innocent."

"Do you mean the Zuoqiu Family will certainly take action against our Wang Family?" Wang Mei asked coldly.

"Cao Youqing can clear herself of guilt, but the Zuoqiu Family also lacks evidence that we did it," Wang Shouzhe said indifferently. "So, even if the Zuoqiu Family opposes our Wang Family, they will only use normal sanctions and suppression methods."

"It won’t go so far as to openly dispatch a large number of experts to attack our Wang Family for an old case without solid evidence, especially one that is a foul scandal."

"As they say, a clan has its rules and a country has its laws. Ultimately, national law takes precedence, and clan rules are secondary. If the Zuoqiu Family were truly so foolish and impulsive, it would actually be easier to deal with them. Unfortunately, a Fourth-Grade Race with a two-thousand-year history is certainly not foolish enough to openly trample national law and challenge Emperor Longchang’s bottom line."

"This is also why I wanted to eliminate Zuoqiu Qingyun back then—the Zuoqiu Family would not dare trample national law, but the fallen demon Zuoqiu Qingyun would. Therefore, I would rather be enemies with the Zuoqiu Family than to have a reckless madman alive."

Wang Mei showed admiration for Wang Shouzhe: "The Patriarch is wise. No wonder the Patriarch had me start laying out plans in Qeng’an County and Liaoyuan County over a decade ago." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Indeed!

Speaking of this matter, Wang Shouzhe was also full of emotions. It’s easy to become a Patriarch, but incredibly difficult to be a good one. Every choice requires responsibility for the family, for future generations.

Therefore, ever since executing Zuoqiu Qingyun and returning to the Wang Family, Wang Shouzhe began preparing for this day. It wasn’t about anticipating the enemy’s tactics; it was about foreseeing certain crises, and failing to arrange for them in advance would be the utmost stupidity.

Being able to hide it for fifteen years, Wang Shouzhe already felt it was a gain. Today’s Wang Family is no longer the Wang Family of fifteen years ago! Anyone who considers the Wang Family merely a Seventh-Grade Noble Family to deal with is just asking for trouble.

"Wang Mei, next you should do it this way..." After a moment of contemplation, Wang Shouzhe instructed.

"Yes, Patriarch." Wang Mei listened closely, her eyes growing brighter.

...

Meanwhile.

In Wang Shouzhe’s courtyard.

Wang Zongrui stared intently at his father’s study in the side hall, pacing anxiously.

Earlier, he had confirmed that once his father met that "mysterious woman," he let the children play by themselves in the yard and went into the study with her alone!

"Wang Lijue, are you sure ’Little Xue’ went with father to the study?" Wang Zongrui asked anxiously, grabbing his third sister, who was playing with their niece, for confirmation once more.

"Second brother, if you have something to ask father, just go ask him directly," Wang Lijue rolled her eyes at him. "I have done some family duties too; I still recognize Little Xue."

Wang Zongrui’s heart skipped a beat again. Has it really been two incense sticks’ worth of time? Oh no, oh no, what should be happening has already happened, what to do, what to do.

The only solace for Wang Zongrui was that his dear mother was coincidentally back at her family for a visit, so there wouldn’t be any gruesome scenes on the spot.

Just as Wang Zongrui was filled with apprehension.

"Creak!" With a sound.

The door to his father’s study opened, and his father appeared with that mysterious woman at the doorway. The woman gave his father a graceful salute before turning to leave.

As she passed by Wang Zongrui, she gave him a faint smile: "Young Master Rui is truly handsome."

Then, leaving behind a fragrant breeze, she gracefully departed.

Wang Zongrui shivered from head to toe and hurriedly rushed towards Wang Shouzhe: "Father, this matter..."