Ultimately, like master, like servant; those spoiled brats are all useless, yet they run rampant and domineering because of their family background.
Shu Yun couldn't tell how skilled his servants were in martial arts, but their light footsteps and flabby bodies were clearly visible.
You think you can stop her with that?
She leaned closer to one of the servants, twisting her slender waist to dodge a knife. She struck out with her palm, numbing half of the servant's arm, caught the falling knife, and with a flick of her wrist, the blade gleamed and lightly sliced through the servant's limbs.
In the blink of an eye, the series of actions happened. Before everyone could even catch a glimpse of the beautiful woman's captivating figure as she leaned forward, the slender and graceful woman had already knocked down a burly man right in front of everyone.
The servant, whose limbs had been slashed, was covered in sweat. Only he, who was in close contact with Shu Yun, knew that he had just escaped death.
He had seen it clearly: the tip of the knife in the beauty's hand was aimed straight at his heart. If she hadn't changed her mind and tilted the blade to cut his limbs, he would be dead by now.
Blood dripped slowly down the blade. Shu Yun flicked the knife and spoke to the remaining servants in a clear and melodious voice, "You are no match for me. Step back."
The head of the Wang family was furious when he saw that the newcomer dared to injure someone in his own Wang family, right in front of him. "How dare you injure someone in my Wang mansion?"
"Wangfu? Your family name has 'fu' in it, people who don't know better might think you're some kind of prince." A lazy male voice rang out, his tone a bit more drawn out than usual, but it sounded exceptionally pleasant.
A man in black robes embroidered with dense dragon patterns walked down the corridor, fanning himself with a paper fan. His features were cold and stern, and he walked through the Wang family's territory as if taking a leisurely stroll, exuding a relaxed and carefree air.
The head of the Wang family bowed slightly as a gesture of respect, saying, "So you are the King of Dongwan."
As a relative of the emperor, he failed to perform the proper courtesies when meeting a prince, demonstrating his arrogance and insolence.
A hint of sarcasm flickered in the sparse features of the Prince of Dongwan. He shook his sleeve and took out a roll of yellow silk. “The current Emperor has decreed that the royal family is rebellious and lawless, has violated the duties of a subject, and has formed cliques for personal gain. I intended to listen to your advice in all matters and treat you with utmost sincerity, but you have instead acted arrogantly, slaughtered the innocent, deceived the Emperor, and betrayed his kindness. Your arrogance has reached such a point that I hereby order you to commit suicide and exterminate your entire family. Even in death, we should feel grateful.”
Upon hearing this imperial edict, everyone felt it was absurd. The Wang family was at the height of their power, with Empress Wang backing them up in the harem. Why would the emperor suddenly issue an edict to wipe out the Wang family?
The head of the Wang family immediately retorted, "Is there any evidence to prove that my Wang family is rebellious, lawless, and murderous, forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices? Even the Emperor cannot treat human life so lightly. Moreover, my Wang family has served the Emperor faithfully for many years, working hard and diligently, and the Empress has even helped the royal family continue its lineage."
He knew perfectly well what the Wang family had done over the years. He consulted with Empress Wang about any major incidents that went too far, and he never left any evidence after handling them. Minor matters were resolved with money. Occasionally there would be rumors, but with the Empress's influence, the Wang family never got into any trouble.
"Evidence?" Dongwan Wang slammed his paper fan shut and waved behind him. "Bring it here."
"Then I will show you all the evidence that this Wang family patriarch has."
The Imperial Guards escorted a group of people in from outside, followed closely by servants carrying stacks of case files.
Looking at those familiar faces and prison uniforms, and the stacks of case files piled up together, the Wang family suddenly had a bad feeling.
Dongwan Wang picked up one of the stacks of files, used the handle of his fan to lift the chin of a man who was being forced to kneel by the Imperial Guards, and made him raise his head to reveal his face. "Does everyone still recognize this person? Two years ago, there was a notorious murder case in a brothel. Because the victim was a nobody, his family, who beat the drum to appeal for justice, wanted to settle the matter with some money. However, the family, who were desperate for their son's life, refused to let it go."
"In the end, naturally, they were all killed because the powerful and wealthy Second Master of the Wang family hired assassins. The brothel testimonies and the correspondence between the Second Master of the Wang family and the heir of the second branch are all here. Is there any scion of a noble family who would like to see them?"
"In the seventeenth year of the reign of Emperor Da Ying, the second son of the eldest branch of the Wang family committed a crime in the street, mistakenly killing a woman. In the same year, he forced her into prostitution. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Emperor Da Ying, the Wang family secretly colluded with the Duke of Qing to buy and sell salt, seeking huge profits..."
Madam Wang had already fainted and collapsed to the ground halfway through reading out the crimes, and no one present went to help her up.
The hands of the Wang family patriarch hanging by his sides began to tremble uncontrollably. Without exception, all of these things were done by their Wang family. He asked himself how they had been found out when he had not left any evidence.
Looking at the members of the Wang family, the King of Dongwan said, “The evidence is irrefutable. Your crimes are heinous, and it is not an exaggeration to exterminate your entire clan.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards surrounding the Prince's Mansion walked in in unison, encircling the Wang family members without leaving anyone out.
Undeterred, the head of the Wang family walked over and, under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards, his hands trembling, examined all the files and evidence. From time to time, testimonies from the Wang family branch and the Duke of Qing, already signed and sealed, would slip out from the files.
It turns out that while the Wang family was holding a lavish banquet, the current emperor had already swiftly taken control of the branch families and members of the Qing Kingdom, defeating them one by one, all in order to punish the Wang family in front of all the noble families in the capital, as a warning to others.
Even the stage for this "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" was built by the Wang family themselves. The worried, timid, and indecisive king in the heart of the Wang family patriarch suddenly became unfathomable.
He's someone who's held onto power for over a decade; he's not that cowardly. It's just a facade.
When he flipped through the files and found a pile of letters, he seemed to suddenly understand why those old stories could be unearthed one by one, and why each one had solid evidence.
It turns out there was a traitor among them.
Tears streamed down the old face of the Wang family patriarch as he helplessly looked up at the sky, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse and strained. He uttered only two words in a low, almost inaudible voice.
"retribution."
The setting sun was hidden behind thick clouds, and the evening glow spread across the sky in rich, dark colors. The warm orange hues shone on the magnificent mansion of the Wang family, where people stood silently in the covered corridors on all sides.
Every tree is tinged with autumn colors, and every mountain is bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
The plaque bearing the inscription "Prince's Mansion" hanging high outside the gate of the mansion faintly glowed, its impending fate unknown.
Having witnessed the entire process, Shu Yun couldn't help but marvel at the unpredictable and ever-changing political landscape of the mortal court. Had she been merely a mortal caught in this undercurrent, she likely wouldn't have met a good end. Fortunately, she was born an immortal and, being in a place as blessed with spiritual energy and beauty as Penglai, she could cultivate without distraction and quickly ascended to immortality.
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