Chapter 726: Chapter 94 Tragedy! Zuoqiu Family’s Foundation Was Undermined_2

Otherwise, no matter how clever he is, Zuoqiu Family only needs to send two Purple Mansion Realm experts to secretly take him down, and the Wang Family would be doomed.

Of course, that’s also because the Zuoqiu Family has not been completely driven to a desperate point yet. Once they reach a "dog jumping over the wall" situation, it’s hard to say if they wouldn’t do something rash.

"Well said, Shouzhe certainly deserves to be the disciple of Changchun Ascendant." Taishi An Kang laughed heartily, "Even if they are minor tricks, playing them to such an extent is truly impressive."

Qiaan Xuehan poured them another cup of tea and couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion, "No matter what, this time we owe it to Patriarch Shouzhe. It was only because of him that we were able to turn the tables. Patriarch Shouzhe’s ability to foresee and strategize is truly admirable."

Wang Shouzhe shook his head with a smile, saying no more.

In truth, there was neither foreseeing nor strategizing—only caution, caution, and more caution.

The development of the Wang Family to its current state was not easy. There are many clansmen within the family, many of whom grew up under his watch from babbling infants to capable individuals.

On his shoulders carries the expectations of countless clansmen; he bears their future.

He cannot afford to lose, nor does he dare to lose.

"By the way, I heard the Investigation Envoy from the Cao Family has returned to the capital?" Wang Shouzhe took a sip of tea and suddenly remembered something, looking at Taishi An Kang.

"Yes." Taishi An Kang nodded, "The Cao Family pushed several Celestial Human Realm Elders out and blamed everything on them to absolve themselves. The Investigation Envoy already brought those Celestial Human Realm Elders back to the capital, and once judgment is passed, they might be dispatched to the Outer Domain Battlefield."

Without direct evidence, the matter of the Cao Family colluding with the Sea Bandits couldn’t be proven to be related to the direct lineage. The Cao Family decisively sacrificed a pawn to save their carriage, so the Investigation Envoy could only accept this outcome.

This is also considered a regular operation of a Noble Family.

However, in this way, the Cao Family is also quite injured. After all, the Cao Family only had over ten Celestial Human Realm experts in total, and now they lost a quarter, significantly weakening their strength.

After discussing this, Taishi An Kang added, "Additionally, Cao Bangyan has also been redeemed back to the Cao Family."

"?"

Wang Shouzhe raised his head to glance at him.

"I wasn’t planning to let him go, but they offered six million for his ransom to compensate Longzuo County for the losses caused by the Sea Bandits over the years. They gave too much~" Taishi An Kang showed an understanding smile.

In the Daqian Kingdom, the Imperial Family and Noble Families govern the country together according to their own set of rules.

Among them is an implicit rule: whenever a direct lineage of a Noble Family commits a crime, unless it is a serious offense like treason, the family is allowed to pay for their redemption.

Of course, it is very expensive.

This is somewhat like bail money or atonement money. Naturally, if he commits a big crime again, there’s no second chance for redemption. Therefore, Wang Shouzhe is not worried about releasing a tiger back to the mountain; after going back, this person likely won’t dare to go out for decades.

Six million Qian Gold, even to the Governor’s Mansion, is a vast sum. Since the Cao Family was willing to spend such a huge amount to redeem someone, Taishi An Kang naturally went along and released him.

"Tsk, they sure are willing to spend a fortune." Qiaan Xuehan clicked his tongue in wonder, "If it were me, I wouldn’t spend such a fortune on someone like Cao Bangyan."

"Don’t say that; after all, Cao Bangyan is a Celestial Pride." Wang Shouzhe took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Moreover, from the information I gathered, the Ancestor of the Purple Mansion in the Cao Family has less than two hundred years of lifespan remaining."

"Hmm? I see, I was wondering~" Qiaan Xuehan suddenly understood.

If it’s for the Purple Mansion succession, then Cao Family’s willingness to spend heavily on redemption can be understood.

One must know, while Celestial Pride is rare, for a Purple Mansion Family like the Cao Family, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Cao Bangyan.

The issue is, for a young person with Celestial Pride Talent to grow to the Purple Mansion Realm, it would take at least two hundred years at the fastest and possibly as long as three hundred fifty years.

Presuming the Cao Family previously placed all their bets on Cao Bangyan, now trying to start anew in grooming a Purple Mansion successor is evidently too late. Cao Youqing, as a Saint Land Celestial Pride, also cannot sit in the family and maintain the family status.

No matter how reluctant they are, the Cao Family can only grit their teeth and invest heavily to redeem Cao Bangyan.

"Tsk tsk tsk~~ the Cao Family really lost big this time." Qiaan Xuehan, being a Noble Family Head, is very sensitive to the family’s financial flow, thought about it and couldn’t help gloating, "Not only did they have to make arrangements with the Investigator sent by the Inspectorate, but also spent heavily to redeem someone. I reckon the Cao Family’s foundation has nearly been emptied. It’s the Lord Governor who benefits, making six million effortlessly."

As he spoke, he glanced at Taishi An Kang.

This six million doesn’t belong to the tax revenue; the Governor’s Mansion can dispose of it autonomously.

Taishi An Kang chuckled.

Knowing Wang Shouzhe’s temperament well, he didn’t wait for Wang Shouzhe to speak up, and proactively said, "Don’t worry, since Cao Bangyan was captured by Shouzhe, this six million won’t be kept by me alone. I’ve already reported to those above, three million will remain in the Governor’s Mansion as its reserve funds. The other three million, I won’t directly give to the Wang Family but rather as a subsidy for developing the Qingluo Sea."

"Just at this time, Wei Wenxun has accomplished notable results in clearing the Sea Bandits; in a few years, the Sea Bandits will be nearly cleared. Shouzhe can proceed to develop Qingluo Sea as planned, you can use this money freely then, as long as the financial statements look good."