Chapter 884: Chapter 30: I, Zong’an, the Great Celestial Pride! Pay Up_3

"Naturally, staying away from your father makes my mood much better," Lady Bilian said with a charming laugh. "When I’m in a good mood, of course, I look radiant. By the way, I heard your family captured a Primordial Water Cyan Flood Dragon. Congratulations, congratulations. I hope it successfully transforms into a dragon soon and becomes the Changning Wang Family’s Clan Guardian Spirit Beast."

She couldn’t help but think to herself, once the Wang Family has a Purple Mansion Realm Clan Guardian Spirit Beast, they shouldn’t need to cling to my family’s Ancestor Fire Fox anymore, right?

"I’ve been away from home for some time and learned of this through correspondence," Wang Zong’an replied gracefully, "I just didn’t expect to meet Madam here in Upper Capital City. Meeting an acquaintance in a foreign land is truly delightful for me."

Delightful, my foot. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Lady Bilian secretly rolled her eyes.

I’ve been staying with my maternal family for so long, all because your old dad coerced and lured me. I, Shangguan Bilian, born a Fourth-Grade Noble Daughter, was tricked and tied onto this ship by your father.

The most crucial part is that I haven’t gained a single advantage over Wang Shouzhe so far.

However, these words couldn’t be spoken out loud, so Lady Bilian feigned a charming smile and said, "Speaking of which, this can be considered fate. At tonight’s welcoming banquet, let’s have a few more drinks."

Afterward, the two engaged in another round of rather pointless conversation. Nonetheless, it quickly enlivened the atmosphere.

Standing nearby, Shangguan Yunque furrowed his brow slightly. His sister’s relationship with the Changning Wang Family was deeper than he had imagined; she even knew many household affairs thoroughly.

First, there was Wang Liyao, and now Wang Zong’an, both pushed forward by his sister Shangguan Bilian. This made him ponder even more.

Immediately, he coughed and said to Wang Zong’an, "Young Clan Leader Zong An, you have arrived together with Prince Anjun, as the rumors say, does this mean your Changning Wang Family and..."

He left the sentence hanging, drawing the attention of the Shangguan Family members.

"The rumors are true," Wang Zong’an replied with a calm smile. "Our Changning Wang Family has decided to assist Prince Anjun as much as possible in his bid for the Emperor’s Son position. My elder sister came to the Imperial City to boost visibility for Prince Anjun and our Wang Family."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zhenhai and another Purple Mansion Realm Grand Elder, Shangguan Liyan, showed no surprise, as if it was all anticipated.

The Great Celestial Pride trials have always had ulterior motives, and this time, the purpose was not difficult to guess.

They were all seasoned veterans who naturally understood that this was likely a campaign by Prince Anjun’s side, launching a flag of the Great Celestial Pride to compete with the Gongyang Strategy of Prince Kang’s party.

In this Great Celestial Pride trial, Miss Liyao’s achievements far surpassed those of the Gongyang Strategy in the past, her prestige now reaching its zenith, subtly eclipsing the Gongyang Strategy.

It is conceivable that in the subsequent Struggle for the Saint Son, given the conclusion of the Struggle of the Imperial Sons, Liyao the Great Celestial Pride would undoubtedly become a formidable opponent that the Gongyang Strategy would find hard to avoid.

Despite Gongyang Strategy having already entered the Purple Mansion Realm, at the level of the Great Celestial Pride, more emphasis is placed on bloodline potential, willpower, and character.

After all, generally speaking, the latest a Great Celestial Pride advances to the Purple Mansion Realm would be no later than two hundred and fifty years old, and the process would be as natural as water flowing downstream. Given Liyao the Great Celestial Pride’s talent, by the time the Struggle for the Saint Son truly begins, she would naturally be a Purple Mansion realm powerhouse.

Among the crowd, only Shangguan Yunque’s face showed a slight hint of embarrassment, for he was rumored to be one of the stepping stones used by Wang Liyao to gain reputation. Now, everyone in Upper Capital City was saying that he, Shangguan Yunque, had a private duel with Wang Liyao and was beaten like a dog.

The truth was, he only lost by a slight margin. And that margin was due to equipment; if he also had a Divine Power Spirit Treasure to assist, the outcome of that battle would have been uncertain.

But this was unavoidable. Aside from top-tier noble families with deep foundations like the Imperial Family, who can produce a Divine Power Spirit Treasure at will? The Shangguan Family is still only Fourth Grade; items at the level of a Divine Power Spirit Treasure, even if wanted, couldn’t be borrowed.

These rumors were mostly spread by Prince Dexin’s faction, intended to divert attention and reduce the focus on Junior Prince Wu Zhixing’s resounding defeat.

With an unhappy mood, Shangguan Yunque said indifferently, "Prince Anjun, Young Clan Leader Zong An. Forgive me for being presumptuous, but even with Liyao the Great Celestial Pride supporting you, your chances still appear somewhat slim. Moreover, our Shangguan Family remains loyal to the ruler; no matter which Prince inherits the throne, we will unconditionally support them."

His attitude was clearly expressed. His statement also represented the true stance of the Shangguan Family, refusing Prince Anjun’s recruitment under the pretense of neutrality, hinting that there was no need to voice words that might damage relationships and cause discomfort.

With the Great Celestial Pride Shangguan Yunque at the forefront, should any changes arise, Patriarch Shangguan Zhenhai hadn’t spoken yet, leaving room for maneuvering.

"Yunque misunderstood," Prince Anjun stated, appearing to have anticipated their reaction, and laughed lightly, "I, Wu, came to the capital not to leverage Liyao’s power to persuade major noble families to align with any particular Prince. For the specific matters, I leave it to Young Clan Leader Zong An to explain."

At these words, the Shangguan Family members looked at each other, then turned half-believingly to Wang Zong’an.

Wang Zong’an coughed gently and seriously stated, "The matter of the Emperor’s Son is not our immediate concern. After all, regardless of which Prince inherits the throne in the future, our various Daqian noble families still need to live day-to-day lives and cultivate successors."