Murderous Aura and the Aggressive William Wang Jinling

William Wang Jinling’s sudden arrival left everyone baffled. The future patriarch of the Wang clan would never enter the palace without cause—especially at night. His presence now must carry deep meaning, but what that meaning was, no one could guess. Still, it had to be said that William’s arrival bought the Emperor a precious moment to breathe. The Emperor let out a sigh of relief, waved his hand, and ordered: “Summon him.”

“Summon the Grand Heir for audience.”

As the eunuch’s ceremonial voice rang out, William Wang Jinling appeared before everyone in a robe of deep purple. The aura he carried was not something that could be cultivated by noble houses with only a century or two of history.

No matter how much people speculated, seeing William Wang Jinling in person always drew the same sigh: The Grand Heir is indeed the Grand Heir—his effortless charm and flair are unmatched.

The Grand Heir’s grace was as dazzling as ever.

William wore a gentle smile, eyes straight ahead, yet everyone along his path still felt as if he were smiling at them. Whenever William passed by, regardless of rank, people would break into smiles— even his political rivals found themselves unable to speak ill or act hostile. To do so would only make themselves seem crude and beneath notice.

Serena Feng could only say: William Wang Jinling’s charm worked on everyone—men, women, young, old. In his presence, even beggars would instinctively sit up straight.

William strode into the hall. Just as everyone expected him to offer the usual courteous bow, he instead lifted his robe, knelt fully to the ground, and performed the grand rite to the Emperor.

Such a grand rite was rarely used. It was reserved for moments when a new clan head succeeded to leadership and offered formal loyalty to the Emperor.

Could William Wang Jinling really be the new Wang patriarch? Impossible—no one had received any news.

While everyone was still confused, William Wang Jinling proclaimed loudly, “William Wang Jinling pays respects to the Emperor—may Your Majesty live ten thousand years!”

He really was the Wang Clan Patriarch.

William’s words dropped like a boulder into a calm lake—instantly, the hall buzzed with heated discussion.

“The Wang Clan Patriarch? But we never heard that the previous patriarch passed away. Does this mean William seized his father’s position?”

“So young and already recognized by the clan—the Grand Heir truly is remarkable.”

“The Wang clan actually accepted such a young patriarch—what boldness!”

The Emperor was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered. “Wang Clan Patriarch, please rise.” His tone was warmer than ever before.

The difference between the Wang Clan Patriarch and a mere Wang heir was like night and day. From now on, William could command all Wang forces across the Nine Provinces Realm—the entire Wang clan would answer to him. With that kind of power, even the emperors of the Four Kingdoms had to show him respect.

The Emperor had assumed William would only become patriarch thirty years from now. After all, Wang men lived long, and William’s father was only thirty-six—he should have remained patriarch for decades yet. No one expected the Wang clan to force such a dramatic abdication and put William in charge so soon.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” William was direct, rising to his feet at once. He now had the right to speak as an equal to the Emperor. He was not his father—his father lacked ability, was timid and cautious, and always yielded to the Emperor’s pressure, causing the throne to look down on the Wang clan. Now, William intended to change all that.

Though the great houses depended on imperial authority, the Emperor could never afford to underestimate their power.

“Wang Clan Patriarch, there’s no need for formality. Why did the Wang clan suddenly change leaders without informing me?” The Emperor was irritated—the Wang clan was growing ever more audacious. He hadn’t heard a whisper of this, and as long as the Wang clan remained, he could never sleep soundly.

“Your Majesty, you may call me Jinling as before. The elders have long intended to make me patriarch, but only decided today. I came to the palace at once to inform you. In three days, the Wang clan will proclaim to all under heaven that the leadership has changed.”

“So that’s how it is. Three days from now, I will personally attend to offer congratulations.” The Emperor had no choice but to lower his stance. He wanted to crush the Wang clan, but he still needed their support.

“Your Majesty is most gracious. Jinling thanks you for your great favor.” William did not refuse—no matter how powerful the Wang clan became, they still depended on imperial authority and could not stand apart from it. Of course, the Emperor could not easily touch the Wang clan, either.

In the Nine Provinces Realm, only the emperors of the Four Kingdoms and the Three Great Houses of Cui, Wang, and Hsieh had the privilege to proclaim to all under heaven. These three houses had survived for a thousand years—even the former Lan imperial clan honored them with ceremony. Of course, in the old dynasty, these houses always kept within bounds and never vied for the throne.

The great houses depended on imperial power, and their heirs always put the clan first. So after the Lan Empire fell, the Wang and Hsieh houses attached themselves to the new throne—while for reasons unknown, the Cui house refused. When the Lan Empire collapsed, the Cui family vanished into seclusion; none of the Four Kingdoms’ emperors could find a trace of the realm’s first great house.

After a round of careful probing between the Emperor and William, it was clear the Wang clan remained loyal to the Eastlyn imperial family. The Emperor’s mood improved, and he invited William to join the celebration, seating him at the first place to his right—directly opposite Ninth Royal Uncle.

It was an extraordinary honor. The Hsieh Clan Patriarch sat below the princes, his face sour, but he understood: this was William’s first appearance as Wang Clan Patriarch, and the Emperor was showing him special favor. Of course, only William could receive such distinction—he was not just the Grand Heir, but the Nine Provinces Realm’s foremost young master.

William sat down without changing expression, but as soon as he took his seat, he rose again. The crowd’s hearts leapt—what was this young Wang Clan Patriarch about to do?

“Serena, what happened to your face?” William Wang Jinling always wore a gentle smile—never arrogant despite his success. But now, his sudden change of expression made everyone nervous, sensing that William was in an unusually good mood today.

Serena Feng had long known that William entered the palace for her sake. She wasn’t surprised by his question; rising calmly, she replied, “I was struck.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, not a complaint—simply the truth.

“You were struck? Who would dare hit a defenseless woman in front of so many people? What, do they think Eastlyn is powerless?” William was usually mild, but his sudden anger silenced the hall—even breathing became cautious.

The Wang Clan Patriarch was asserting his authority—Southlyn would surely pay the price. The officials kept silent, but inwardly they were delighted.

Prince Damien of Southlyn’s face was like a palette—flushed, pale, then flushed again. His fists clenched and relaxed, over and over, his struggle and humiliation clear for all to see.

Ninth Royal Uncle’s lashes trembled, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly.

This young Wang Clan Patriarch was truly formidable. Ninth Royal Uncle knew well: with the Wang clan’s reach, their spies were everywhere in the palace. William had learned of the events tonight the moment he entered, yet he managed to suppress his concern for Serena and patiently spar with the Emperor.

So young, yet with such composure—he was truly worthy of admiration.

Ninth Royal Uncle had always appreciated William. He tapped his finger lightly on the table, considering how to win the Wang clan’s allegiance. The Wang clan’s loyalty was to their family alone; as long as their power and status were secure, it wouldn’t be hard to sway them. The real challenge was...

His promises could only be fulfilled if his plans succeeded—and whether they would was still uncertain. With William’s cool head and intelligence, he would never take such a risk lightly...