Wang Siniang closed her eyes, this was the only thing she could do for the Wang family and the aristocratic clans now.
For they were the ones who made the rules of this world.
She had already secretly sent her two younger brothers to Hedong. The clansmen in Hedong had long since separated from the Liancheng Wang family and established their own branches. They would not be implicated this time, and they would raise the brothers.
The Wang family would not be destroyed, and the aristocratic clans would not perish.
The strategists had already left. They held the letter of renunciation from the head of the Wang family, so the imperial court would not make things difficult for them, but they were still filled with guilt.
"Miss Siniang... what a pity." Mr. Chai paused and looked back at the brightly lit courtyard behind him.
It was a pity that she was born at the wrong time, otherwise, she would have had a place in the imperial court in the future.
"Sir, is there truly no room for maneuver?" another strategist was unwilling to accept it.
He could not believe that the Liancheng Wang family, the head of the aristocratic clans, would fall like this.
"Secret dispatches from the capital indicate that the Emperor is in a coma, and the Seventh Prince is now overseeing the state affairs. The Yao family has even mobilized the Northern Army, which shows they have left no room for the Wang family to survive." Mr. Chai shook his head with regret.
He had disagreed when the family head went to the capital, but this was a dead end. The aristocratic clans and the Emperor were bound to clash. If they won, they would change dynasties; if they lost, they would be doomed.
He did not expect them to lose after all.
"But this is the Wang family..." If the Wang family was destroyed, how long could other surnames hold on? All five surnames were involved in that matter. The Wang family had taken all the blame.
Mr. Chai looked at the lantern swaying in the wind on the door. Siniang was indeed a master of psychological warfare, surpassing her predecessors.
It was easy for the imperial family to destroy one Wang family, but difficult to destroy tens of thousands of aristocratic clans. Power and wealth had always been concentrated in the hands of a few families.
But a few were not the only ones. The Xiao family's ambition to be the sole power was impossible.
A single spark could start a prairie fire, and in Siniang's eyes, they were the sparks of the future.
As expected of his most outstanding student in this life, what a pity!
Mr. Chai sighed deeply and turned to leave, his steps somewhat unsteady.
The Northern Army surrounded the Wang family so tightly that not even a fly could escape. Feng Qirui was pleased with himself for getting such a good assignment.
"General, shall we charge in and arrest them now?" someone beside him suggested.
They knew who they were working for. A new emperor meant new officials. The Wang family was finished.
"No hurry. Doesn't the Wang family consider themselves the head of the aristocratic clans? I'd like to see if other clans will come to their rescue at this time," Feng Qirui chuckled.
Do you know when people fear the most? It's when they know they are about to die. Despair, pain, torment – that kind of feeling is not pleasant.
"Does the General mean that the four clans will send people to rescue them tonight?"
Feng Qirui stroked his beard. He couldn't be sure, but Prime Minister Yao had mentioned before that their arrival in Liancheng would likely not be kept secret from the aristocratic clans.
Qinghe was less than three hundred li from Liancheng. He wanted to see if the Cui family would intervene.
At this time, dragging one family down was enough. If they could deal with the Cui family along the way, it would be a great achievement.
That Yu family's sixth daughter, at such a young age, was already so arrogant and presumptuous, all because she had the Cui family backing her. If the Cui family was gone, he would see how long they could remain so proud.
It was destined to be a sleepless night, but facing the impending disaster, the Wang family was not that panicked.
The Liancheng Wang family had been illustrious for hundreds of years. This glory was earned by the lives of their ancestors. They should enjoy respect and face the risks behind it with equanimity.
Their lives and fortunes could be lost, but the integrity of the aristocratic clans could not be compromised.