C126 I Want Zhang Qimo to be a Servant Girl for the Wang Family for the Rest of Her Life!

"Mr. Wang, I respect you, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid of you," Ning Que said as he rose to his feet, fixing Wang Chengdao with a grave look.

He's in his seventies or eighties and still trying to throw his weight around. Does he really think I can be easily bullied?

"You've established Ning's Group in East Sea Province and have had numerous business dealings with our Wang Family, haven't you?" Wang Chengdao asked. "In recent years, our family has supported you considerably. Haven't we given you enough respect?"

"And what have you done in return?" Wang Chengdao reprimanded, his anger palpable.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't confront Ning Que so directly. But this time, with his son Wang Guokang and his only grandson incapacitated, he felt he had no choice but to take Ning Que down with him, even at the expense of his own well-being.

"You conspired with Shen San to disable my son and grandson. Your methods are vicious," Wang Chengdao said, his teeth chattering with rage. "As the Imperial City Ning Family's representative in East Sea Province, is this how you conduct business? I'm prepared to fight to the bitter end to bring you down."

"Mr. Wang, have you forgotten to take your medication, or are you just confused? When have I ever collaborated with Shen San?" Ning Que was bewildered and growing impatient. "You're blaming me for your son and grandson's misfortune? Do you think I'm that easy to push around?"

Wang Chengdao let out a cold laugh, his gaze icy. "Ning Que, you're still trying to deny your involvement? My son, Wang Guokang, had just ousted your secretary, Wu Yang, from Zhang's Group, and then he was crippled by Shen San and his crew."

"Who else in East Sea Province could possibly have the influence to mobilize Shen San? Who else would bear such a grudge against my son, Wang Guokang?" Wang Chengdao was adamant in his accusation, convinced Ning Que was the culprit. "If you claim it wasn't you, who would believe it? Who else would have the motive and the means?"

Ning Que glanced at Wu Yang, who blinked back, both of them clueless about the situation.

"Mr. Wang, are you saying that your son, Wang Guokang, was targeted by Shen San right after leaving Zhang's Group? Why would Shen San want to harm him? Is that really the case?" Ning Que questioned, sensing that something was amiss and began to speculate.

"Ning Que, your acting is atrociously overdone! Do you really think you can fool an old man like me? Wang Guokang and his son are still laid up in the hospital. They're not healed, bedridden, and can't even take care of their basic needs!" Wang Chengdao snorted with increasing ire, feeling insulted by Ning Que's apparent disdain for the Wang family's intelligence. The thought of his descendants being beaten to such a state twisted his heart with pain.

"Let me make one thing clear. Don't assume I'm oblivious to the fact that you're the one propping up that Zhang Qimo from the Zhang Family," Wang Chengdao said, fixing Ning Que with a frosty gaze. "My son, Wang Guokang, and my grandson, Wang Ziwen, they just wanted to get their hands on Zhang Qimo. And you, along with Shen San, had to go and cripple them both, didn't you?"

Wang Chengdao's fists clenched as he bellowed with rage.

Ning Que exchanged a knowing glance with Wu Yang, both suddenly enlightened. So that's what this was about. No wonder Wang Guokang and his son had the audacity to target Zhang Qimo.

But who exactly is Zhang Qimo? None other than the wife of the First Elder, Lin Yin.

While others might be unaware of Lin Yin's role as the First Elder of the Ning Family in Imperial City, Ning Que was acutely aware, and Wu Yang also recognized the gravity of Lin Yin's position.

The Wang family was truly courting disaster! To think they could casually target Zhang Qimo?

Upon reflection, Ning Que responded without mincing words, "Mr. Wang, why this hostility? Suppose I confess that I, Ning Que, am responsible. What then? What do you intend to do about it?"

Having grasped the gravity of the situation, Ning Que resolved to shoulder the blame for the First Elder. Carrying this burden was inconsequential if it meant earning a chance to impress the First Elder.

The stature of the Ning Family's First Elder in Imperial City is not to be underestimated. His rank is only surpassed by my grandfather, Ning Taiji. Every member of the Ning Clan must show the utmost respect in his presence.

Should the First Elder choose to speak highly of me to the Old Master, my prospects would soar. I would gain a formidable edge among my peers in the Imperial City's direct lineage.

In reality, Ning Que's standing among the direct descendants of the Ning Family in Imperial City was mediocre at best. He wasn't doing terribly, but he was certainly not excelling either.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been dispatched to the East Sea Province to establish his own base and develop his career; he would have remained in the seat of power in Imperial City.

"So, you admit it, huh?" Wang Chengdao seemed to have been waiting for Ning Que to say just that, sneering, "I can't touch you since you're from the Ning Family of Imperial City. But mark my words, Ning Que, you'll never turn your fortunes around! Go back to Imperial City and get stepped on by your peers!"

"What are you on about, Old Ghost Wang?" Ning Que lost his temper, clearly stung by Wang Chengdao's taunts.

Back when he was with the Ning Family in Imperial City, Ning Que had little say or status; he was far from being a prominent figure, certainly not as commanding as he was in the East Sea Province.

There's an old saying: better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. That was Ning Que's mindset back then, unable to withstand the suppression and exclusion by the family's elite of his generation, which led him to choose the East Sea Province.

However, this move turned out to be a stroke of genius, as he gained the support of the influential first elder. Ning Que was counting on the first elder's favor to make a triumphant return to Imperial City someday, which is why he hadn't reported the elder's emergence to the Ning Family.

"Prepare to take a call. I've already sent the recording of your admission to Ning Zongbao, your elder uncle," Wang Chengdao said with a smirk.

Ning Que's brow furrowed, and suddenly, his phone began to ring.

Seeing the caller ID, Ning Que broke out in a cold sweat.

Ning Zongbao was his elder uncle, the most prominent figure beneath the Old Master Ning Taiji of the Ning Family in Imperial City.

It was Ning Zongbao's son who had driven Ning Que out of Imperial City, and Ning Que's own father had been relentlessly suppressed by Ning Zongbao, making him a veritable family adversary.

"Hello, elder uncle, what can I do for you?" Ning Que answered the phone, his tone dripping with respect.

He never anticipated that Wang Chengdao, that wily old fox, would actually call upon his longstanding connections to get in touch with Ning Zongbao.

"Ning Que, you incompetent fool! What have you been up to in East Sea Province? Can't you even handle the local relationships there? Do you lack even that basic capability? Flaunting the Ning Family's name, are you trying to drag our reputation through the mud?" The authoritative voice on the other end of the line berated him mercilessly.

Ning Que's face flushed with anger as he watched Wang Chengdao's smug expression. He was seething with resentment but dared not challenge Ning Zongbao's authority.

"How dare you order an attack on Old Master Wang's grandson and son? Do you realize you've left Old Master Wang without an heir?" Ning Zongbao continued his tirade. "Ning Que, I'm officially notifying you that you are no longer the chairman of Ning's Group. You are to fly back to Imperial City tonight. Is that clear?

"Now, I expect you to immediately apologize to Old Master Wang! Do you understand?"

Ning Que clenched his teeth, feeling an intense sense of injustice. Even after retreating to East Sea Province, Ning Zongbao was relentless, intent on destroying the empire he had built over many years.

But he had taken on this task for the first elder, who would surely stand up for him. He would report back to the first elder soon.

"I apologize, Old Master Wang. I was wrong," Ning Que said through gritted teeth.

"What good is an apology? Old Master Wang mentioned he has a task for you, and you'd better get it done!"

"Old Master Wang, what would you have me do? Should I compensate you financially or something else?" Ning Que inquired.

Wang Chengdao scoffed, "Do you think the Wang Family is in need of money?"

"Debts must be settled with the debtor!" Wang Chengdao said icily. "This whole affair started because of that woman, Zhang Qimo. I demand that you, Ning Que, personally deliver Zhang Qimo to our Wang Family!"

Wang Chengdao bellowed, "I want Zhang Qimo to kneel in the hospital and bow in apology to my son and grandson. She cannot rise until Wang Guokang and his son have recovered! I want her to kneel for a lifetime of penance! She will serve as a maid to the Wang Family for the rest of her life!"