Protect Our Chief

"Shouzhe’s skill at growing vegetables isn’t bad at all." Emperor Longchang ate two chopsticks’ worth of vegetables, and his brows lifted ever so slightly, a bit surprised.

Though they were just ordinary spirit vegetables, without any particularly special variety, their flavor was a few shades richer than common spirit vegetables, and the texture was better as well.

"If Your Majesty likes them, Shouzhe can regularly offer them as tribute." Wang Shouzhe said modestly, "If they can be branded as tribute produce, these melons and spirit vegetables will definitely sell like crazy."

"Hahaha, then it’s settled." Emperor Longchang laughed as he praised, "Shouzhe, you really live up to your reputation as a famous God of Wealth; the moment you see an opening you can make money. Come, come, this wine is also a tribute wine, produced by a Sixth-Grade Race in Celestial County."

"Good wine, excellent wine."

Wang Shouzhe was not a drunkard; after sipping two mouthfuls, he still couldn’t help but praise it.

It truly was a rare Jade Dew; compared to the wine the Wang Family was currently selling to the outside world, it was markedly superior.

Indeed, one must not underestimate this world. After all, humanity has been breeding and developing here for such a long time; with the accumulation of ages, there are plenty of families possessing all kinds of secret methods.

"If Shouzhe likes it, then take some back and drink it slowly." Emperor Longchang said enthusiastically.

At this moment he was acting just like a kindly and approachable "elder," as if he were not the same person who had brutally abused Wang Shouzhe earlier.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty." Wang Shouzhe did not decline.

After three rounds of wine.

As they chatted, the sense of unfamiliarity between them dissipated quite a bit.

After a few more cups, Emperor Longchang’s face grew even more ruddy: "Shouzhe, you were able to tell from Prince Kang and Prince Anjun which one is the truly outstanding Emperor’s Son; your eye for people is extremely sharp. Since we’ve had some wine today and there are no outsiders present, why don’t you give some comments on Me?"

Old Yao, sitting to the side, couldn’t help but roll his eyes inwardly when he heard this.

Your Majesty is indeed as petty as ever; so this is you getting ready to settle some old scores.

He secretly winked hard at Wang Shouzhe, reminding him not to fall for it no matter what.

Wang Shouzhe was a shrewd man; he reacted at once and, looking properly alarmed, bowed: "Your Majesty is the Great Emperor above all; what virtue or ability does Shouzhe have to dare comment on Your Majesty?"

Hmph!

Wang Shouzhe, you little brat, haven’t you privately gossiped about Me more than once already?

Don’t think I don’t know—back in your hometown with the Changning Guard, when you drank a few cups with Long Wuji, didn’t you pick Me apart from head to toe?

Emperor Longchang sneered endlessly in his heart, muttering and slandering in secret, while on the surface he put on a broad and magnanimous demeanor: "It’s fine, it’s fine. I have lived for several thousand years; what haven’t I seen, and what words haven’t I heard? Just comment as you please. I won’t go so far as to punish you for what you say."

"Or do you plan to wait until I personally issue you an imperial decree? Hahahaha~~"

"This..."

The Great Emperor had already put it that way; Wang Shouzhe really couldn’t keep refusing.

He pondered briefly and said, "If what this subject says is not good, Your Majesty truly will not blame me?"

"But of course. I am a dignified Great Emperor; My word is as weighty as nine tripods."

Emperor Longchang waved his hand grandly, looking all "firm and forceful," "a man of his word," while secretly adding a line in his heart.

Heh heh~ Wang Shouzhe, you brat, if what you say really isn’t good, I certainly won’t blame you.

But if you dare to spout nonsense, speak against your conscience, and flatter Me without principle, then don’t blame Me for grabbing hold of your little handle.

Hmph~~ Back then, all those things you said when you privately criticized Me—I’ve remembered every single one~~

"Since Your Majesty has already spoken with such golden words, Shouzhe will shamelessly say a few things." Wang Shouzhe thought for a while, then said, "Your Majesty possesses overwhelming Martial Power and fights with great bravery, and is extremely adept at managing armies. Your lifetime Military Merit is illustrious; not only have you repeatedly established achievements on the Outer Domain Battlefield, you even stood alone against two foes, using the strength of the single state of Daqian to simultaneously confront two Empires."

"With such talent, even in the Divine Martial Dynasty, you would certainly be a famed Legion Commander, and might even become a Grand Marshal."

These words sounded very pleasant and quite reasonable.

Emperor Longchang basked in Wang Shouzhe’s flattery, feeling secretly delighted, yet at the same time smirking darkly inside.

Wang Shouzhe, oh Wang Shouzhe~~ you really are a vulgar little man; you only dare to gossip about My faults behind My back, not to say them to My face.

I’ll let you finish slapping this round of flattery first; once I’ve enjoyed it, I’ll then convict you of speaking untruthfully.

At that time, whether I knead you into a ball or flatten you out will be entirely up to Me.

On Wang Shouzhe’s side, unaware of the Great Emperor’s thoughts, he paused, then continued: "Your Majesty is extremely good at expansion. Over the course of Your reign Ruling the World, not only has the territory more than doubled, the population has also grown greatly in Xingwang; You can be called a rare expansionist sovereign."

"Well said, well said~" Emperor Longchang’s face was full of enjoyment. "Shouzhe, you are truly My confidant; you may say a bit more."

"However..." Wang Shouzhe paused, then went on, "Precisely because Your Majesty is good at war and fond of merit, after Your accession You strongly supported the military, from army building to the Military Family system, forming a complete Military System."

"Many Noble Families, in order to receive Your Majesty’s policy support, turned to devote themselves to the military, becoming Military Families, their clans serving as soldiers generation after generation."

"Hm?" Emperor Longchang’s expression stiffened. "And what’s wrong with that? Ordinary Noble Families assist in managing and developing the localities, while Military Families specialize in military affairs. They divide the work and cooperate, complementing one another."