Chapter 728: Chapter 94 Tragedy! Zuoqiu Family’s Foundation Was Unearthed_4

Several noble families, driven to desperation, secretly rented their own caravans, attempting to buy the grain seeds from the Qiaan Family’s warehouse and transport them back themselves, naturally being stopped by the Zuoqiu Family’s checkpoints.

After several attempts, those noble families immediately refused to comply.

It’s well-known that within Qeng’an County, the Zuoqiu Family has been dominant for a long time. Over the years, besides the Zuoqiu Family being a Fourth-Grade Noble Family, there isn’t even a single Fifth-Grade Purple Mansion Family.

It’s not because those Sixth-Grade Noble Families are unlucky, with so many in their family unable to cultivate even one Celestial Pride, but even if by luck they produce a Celestial Pride, they simply can’t foster them.

For a Celestial Pride to grow into the Purple Mansion Realm, the resources consumed are enormous.

The vast majority of resources within Qeng’an County are occupied by the Zuoqiu Family. Their family alone supports six Purple Mansion Realms, thus the resources available to the Sixth-Grade Noble Families are extremely limited, making it impossible for them to nurture a Purple Mansion Realm.

For so many years, countless Sixth-Grade Noble Families have been forced to send their Celestial Pride offspring to the academy. To this day, two academy ascendants of the Purple Mansion Realm have emerged, but, alas, the noble family grades still cannot be elevated.

It can be said that the dissatisfaction towards the Zuoqiu Family among these Sixth-Grade Noble Families in Qeng’an County has been longstanding.

Previously, none dared to confront the Zuoqiu Family head-on, but now, seeing the Zuoqiu Family has incurred public anger, how could they let the opportunity slip?

Immediately, some Sixth-Grade Noble Families began secretly fanning the flames, inciting a sense of common enmity among many noble families. Coupled with the secret instigation from the Wang Family and the Qiaan Family, the dissatisfaction towards the Zuoqiu Family within Qeng’an County quickly peaked.

This situation soon caught the attention of the academy.

The two academy ascendants from the Sixth-Grade Noble Families in Qeng’an County saw the opportunity was too good to pass and straightaway reported the news to the National Capital Gui Long City.

In an instant, this issue exploded entirely.

If it weren’t for the Zuoqiu Family having connections in the National Capital Gui Long City, speaking a few words on their behalf during a small imperial meeting to buy some time for Qeng’an County, the Zuoqiu Family, and Wuu Dinghai might have faced direct accountability from the capital.

Yet, even so, Commandery Governor Wuu Dinghai of Qeng’an County and several ancestors of the Zuoqiu Family felt they could no longer sit idly by.

The current atmosphere in Qeng’an County is extremely tense. If the situation continues to escalate without immediate resolution, Wuu Dinghai’s role as commander will come to an end, and the Zuoqiu Family will face censure from the imperial court.

The Daqian Kingdom’s system of joint rule by the imperial family and local noble families means local noble families need to shoulder some responsibility for defending the border and maintaining local stability.

Just like when Longzuo faced a flood, noble families like the Wang Family helped gather refugees, which is part of their duty. Otherwise, why would the imperial court allocate one-tenth of the tax to local noble families?

If a large-scale group incident occurs within the Zuoqiu Family’s sphere of influence, it would be a significant dereliction on the part of the Zuoqiu Family. At worst, they might face written inquiries, or in severe cases, they could even be stripped of their noble family rights.

In such a situation, the Zuoqiu Family’s attempted blockade of the Wang Family’s grain seeds has already failed entirely.

This once again deals a resounding blow to the Zuoqiu Family, casting a heavy shadow over the Qieu Family internally.

They have occupied their position as a Fourth-Grade Noble Family for far too long, having long been accustomed to an elevated mindset.

They have forgotten that they are not the dominators of Qeng’an County, merely a part of it. The other various noble families are not livestock raised by the Zuoqiu Family, ready for the taking at their whim.

Once you betray the word "humanity" and harm everyone’s interests, you will undoubtedly face backlash.

In resignation.

The Zuoqiu Family had to again bring Wuu Dinghai along and then rely on some connections in the capital to contact Taishi An Kang, hoping that he could mediate the matter.

At this point.

Taishi An Kang’s preparations were almost complete, and the connections the Zuoqiu Family had mobilized in the capital were solid. Therefore, under the arrangements of Taishi An Kang and Wuu Dinghai, the patriarchs of the Zuoqiu Family, Wang Family, and Qiaan Family sat down to discuss. It was strictly a patriarch-level discussion, without the involvement of any descendants.

This was also Taishi An Kang’s way of maintaining support for Wang Shouzhe, as after all, the Changning Wang Family is merely a "Seventh-Grade Noble Family" and doesn’t have an ancestor of the Purple Mansion to oversee things.

The chosen place for the discussion was set in the Purple Mansion Palace of the Longzuo Wang Family.

Not until the formal meeting did Zuoqiu Guanyu and Wang Shouzhe, Qiaan Xuehan, and the others meet for the first time.

At their level, they were all big shots. Previously, their confrontations were conducted discreetly and behind the scenes, with absolutely no direct confrontation.

"I am Zuoqiu Guanyu. It’s a pleasure to meet Patriarch Xuehan and Patriarch Shouzhe. Both of you are indeed youthful talents of the Daqian Kingdom, true dragons among people." The patriarch of the Zuoqiu Family, Zuoqiu Guanyu, was the first to greet them with an elegant demeanor.

Indeed, as the patriarch of a Fourth-Grade Noble Family, his composure and style were impeccable, exuding an impressive aura and extraordinary bearing.

Wang Shouzhe and Qiaan Xuehan elegantly returned the gesture, exchanging a few polite but insincere compliments with Zuoqiu Guanyu, as if no conflicts had ever occurred between the two parties.

At such a level, private rivalry is commonplace. However, openly tearing apart relations is pointless unless there is a special strategic reason. Otherwise, putting on a show of courtesy and showcasing the noble family’s dignity is necessary.

After some insincere exchanges.

The parties sat down for tea and conversation, with Zuoqiu Guanyu finally cupping his hands towards Wang Shouzhe and saying with a wry smile, "Patriarch Shouzhe, I did not expect you to be an outer disciple of the Changchun Ascendant of the Longzuo Academy, no wonder you are so skilled in the ways of grain seed cultivation. The wheat and rice seeds of your family truly leave me in awe. Remarkable~remarkable~"

With the Zuoqiu Family’s network, investigating Wang Shouzhe’s background was easy if they were willing to put in the effort.

"Not at all~" Wang Shouzhe modestly smiled, "My skills are far inferior to my master’s. The wheat and rice seeds were grown by chance under his guidance."

Guidance? By chance?

Zuoqiu Guanyu did not believe this for a second.

He had gathered some secret information indicating that the Changchun Ascendant had explored a relic of the Divine Martial Dynasty over a hundred years ago.

What the Changchun Ascendant obtained from that relic was never publicly discussed and was handled quietly. However, it was after this that a baby girl appeared at his side, who is now his Great Celestial Pride direct disciple, "Lvwei."

Randomly adopting a baby girl who becomes a Great Celestial Pride?

This incident has to provoke suspicion that the Changchun Ascendant had further gains from the relic. Perhaps he possessed the capability to cultivate some quality grain seeds.

And the grain seeds held by the Wang Family are likely related to the Changchun Ascendant’s secret.

Luckily, Wang Shouzhe didn’t know what Zuoqiu Guanyu was thinking, or he might have spontaneously spat out his tea.

It must be said that the Zuoqiu Family’s imagination was overly vivid... actually deducing the grain seed’s origin to be so outlandish and miles away from the actual truth.

Subsequently, Zuoqiu Guanyu’s expression slightly shifted, his gaze turning sharp: "However, Patriarch Shouzhe selling grain seeds in our Qeng’an County—isn’t it dismissing our Zuoqiu Family?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"With things having developed to this extent, your Zuoqiu Family is already on the brink of collapse, and Patriarch Guanyu is still thinking of using force to suppress others? Is this a habit of being high and mighty, or has your head been struck?" Wang Shouzhe’s expression also turned stern, his eyes sudden and cold, saying, "Let’s talk if you want to talk, or leave if not."

"Puff!"

Qiaan Xuehan almost sputtered his tea out, looking at Wang Shouzhe with eyes full of admiration.

To turn against a Fourth-Grade Noble Family so abruptly, impressive!

...