The Ruan family wasnt an influential family for generations, and speaking of family background, perhaps cant even compare with the Luo family, but they seemingly have been serving the country since the founding of Qi Yuan. And when it reached Ruan Rui Zhongs time, they can be said to have reached their peak. The Ruan family was loyal to the ruler and loved the country, and Ruan Rui Zhong further took it upon himself to help govern the country. The person sharing his bed giving him countless green hats to wear, his daughter not his own, these things, in comparison, were already insignificant. He slid onto the ground kneeling, Wangye, this subject is guilty, this subject deserves to die.

(T/N: If I remembered correctly to be considered an influential family for generations [] need to be in influential power for at least 3(?) generations, or 200-300 years.)

Even if you want to beg for forgiveness, the target shouldnt be the prince, right?

Ruan Rui Zhongs body slightly stiffened, This subject is willing to serve wangye like dog, like horse, asking wangye to please have mercy.

The information on those letters, more than half, were things that have gone through his hands. Although these were stolen by Wei-shi, but Wei-shi was his officially wedded wife, someone hes shared a bed with for twenty years. To say he knew nothing of what she did, never mind outsiders not believing, if switch with someone else in his position, he also wouldnt believe either.

Once this matter gets prodded out, a crime of conspiring with the enemy and betraying the country, he wont be able to escape from. That was as great crime punishable by seizing the family and exterminating the clan. This concerned the life and death of the entire clan. Thats why, that bit of damage on his own pride really wasnt worth mentioning.

After taking the heaviest blow, Ruan Rui Zhong instead became abnormally clear-headed. His muddled head once again began operating. The situation at present absolutely didnt allow for him to collapse in one stumble. If he doesnt think of a way to turn around the situation, he will become the greatest sinner of the Ruan family. In the future, when he goes to the underworld, how will he face his ancestors.

No matter how stupid, one should still know this Jin Qinwangs true face. Hed long known about this matter, yet concealed it. And since he was aware of the entire matter, then everything all still had the leeway to turn around.

For him to continuously remain in the neutral position, unwilling to take a side, it was nothing more than the fact that he never really thought highly of those princes. Right now, he merely learned the tip of the iceberg of Jin Qinwangs unknown side, yet it already made him see the potential of reaching that treasured seat. In addition to him grasping his fatal weakness, with the heavenly time, the earthly favors, and the right human conditions all gathered, what reason was there to not assist him.

Ruan Rui Zhong, this prince acknowledges your capabilities, but with you like this, someone whos about to lie in a coffin, who knows if one day youll really end up in one. Do you think youre worth sparing the entire Ruan clans lives? The aspiring capable scholars of the world, theres plenty of.

Ruan Rui Zhong fell silent. He knew Li Hong Yuans words were true. Disregarding everything else, even for those currently serving in the imperial court, the ones that have secretly casted themselves under him in the dark, doing things for him, afraid werent few. All else aside, just his recent sworn enemy Luo Pei Shan most likely was already helping him. Jin Qinwang was his future grandson-in-law. Assisting him, that was only given.

The lives of this subjects entire clan, in wangyes eyes, afraid are just like ants, but for this subject, theres nothing more important, even surpassing ones own life. Right now, wangye is currently in the hibernation period. Rather than borrowing someone elses hand to have this matter reported to his majesty, why not be magnanimous and let off this bunch of ants. This subject will risk ones life for wangye.

Wangye although can find countless people to serve oneself, once the position of the Head Cabinet Minister becomes vacant, it will inevitably be fought for on all sides. Even if the person to sit on that position in the end is deathly loyal to wangye, setting aside the numerous troubles during this process, to want to adapt to this position and handle the affairs smoothly with ease, they still need a process. In addition to the other three cabinet ministers all having their own standings, to want to firmly sit in this position really isnt an easy matter. So why not like this now? For wangye, there isnt any loss, and also reduces needless troubles and possible changes.

Already said the Head Cabinet Minister is a capable person, and it can be seen, not just in handling governmental affairs. This ability to flatter and persuade is also not bad. Although from the start, hed already intended on leaving Ruan Rui Zhong, that was still an opportunity that the other party needed to beg for, and not based on him turning over his cards, letting Ruan Rui Zhong control the deciding power. Moreover, the Ruan family right now, it was merely just that bit of bad reputation brought on by Ruan Fang Fei. To want to wash clean wasnt impossible. In his past life, everything had all gotten exposed, but now, Li Hong Yuan has preserved his old face, and preserved the lives of his entire clan, look how benevolent he was.

Wangye wrongly praises. Ruan Rui Zhong replied without changing his expression.

Thats why, as a qualifying scholar official, what they cared about the most was forever just the family clan. Everything else, when not going against this, he can pamper, spoil, and cup in his palm, but once it threatens the lives of the entire family clan, everything else can all be abandoned, dignity, reputation, his own life, all in all. And it similarly can also make a body of soft bones harden.

Ruan Rui Zhongs current state of mind was also within Li Hong Yuans expectations. Because the impact Ruan Fang Fei and Wei-shi gave him were all within a small scope, as long as he doesnt die in one breath, the possibility of standing up again in the end was more than ninety percent.

Leaving you indeed saves quite a bit of troubles. Li Hong Yuan wasnt afraid of troubles, but one should save where one can, because that will consume even more of his energy. He was further willing to have this energy used on Wan Wan.

A trace of delight streaked across Ruan Rui Zhongs eyes, Many thanks wangye. Dare ask wangye, how should this Wei-shi be handled? This question was purely asked in a business-like manner, no longer mixing in any personal feelings. Just from the address, one is able to understand a thing or two.

Keep her. Towards your body, she understands it the best, just let her continue looking after your health. You need to live a few more years in order for this princes deal to not be a loss. If she dies, alerting the people behind her, its hard to say that they wont dispatch other people. Rather than thoroughly search for them again, its better to have the current one grasped in ones hand. Can even let her pass on some things that this prince wants to let her pass on.

Wangyes words are very much right. Ruan Rui Zhong nodded his head, seemingly as if having this woman kept at his side wasnt that suffocating anymore.

Another special characteristic of a scholar official was for the sake of achieving their goal, they are able to be flexible.

Under Li Hong Yuans signal, An Jiu entered, grabbing Wei-shis chin, swiftly shoving a medicine pill in. Even though theyre keeping her, still need to have her threat reduced to the lowest. From now on, never mind using martial arts, she will just become a weak and delicate ordinary inner manor madam that will be out of breath from just walking a few steps.

For every day Ruan Rui Zhong lives, you can live for a day.

For the sake of her own life, Wei-shi will still go all out to maintain Ruan Rui Zhongs health.

These letters, gather them up and carefully look them over. Based on Sir Ruans intelligence, to want to definitively know who the people behind her are, presumably isnt difficult. Ruan Rui Zhong, this woman will be in your hands, if you make another careless mistake, dont blame this prince for having the old and new score all added together.

Wangye can rest assured. All say taking a loss, one grows in wisdom. For Ruan Rui Zhong to have suffered this great of a loss, if still unable to control the wingless Wei-shi, then he really did live several decades in vain.

After returning to the capital, this prince will arrange a few people for you.

As such, theres nothing more fitting. Ruan Rui Zhong nodded in agreement without a second word.