Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Xiao Fang, carrying the thick military supply list from the Qin family, went to the Eastern Palace overnight with his advisors.

The crown prince was still waiting for him in the study.

The lamp had burned down to almost nothing, and there were two stacks of folded paper on the table, next to which was a bowl of ginseng porridge that hadn't been touched much.

Upon seeing Xiao Fang enter, the Crown Prince put down his pen and gestured for his advisors to leave.

Xiao Fang handed over the form.

The prince turned the pages one by one, his reading becoming slower and slower.

"The Qin family has put in a considerable amount of effort."

"Some of the goods are already on their way."

Xiao Fang said.

The crown prince closed the list and sighed softly.

"I did not stop my father from signing the peace treaty this time."

Xiao Fang nodded.

"It was the right thing to not stop them."

If we argue further now, our imperial uncle will only become more wary of us.

If His Majesty were to issue a decree to suppress it, we would be constrained at every turn.

The crown prince grunted in response.

"That's what I meant too."

However, the emperor has always yielded to foreign enemies. Over the years, border people have been plundered, burned, and killed, and the national system has been damaged again and again.

Those tribes never became obedient just because of a piece of paper or a book.

If it weren't for the Zhenbei Army fighting desperately at the border all these years, Daliang would have been torn open by them long ago.

"For a formidable enemy like the Northern Hu, peace talks are useless; stopping the war with force is the only right path."

He looked at Xiao Fang as he said this.

"You get ready here first."

Once I take over all government affairs, the first thing I will do is to allocate more resources for your northern expedition.

The rewards from the Qin family will only increase after I officially assume the throne.

Xiao Fang clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"With Your Highness's words, I am relieved."

The crown prince smiled again.

"Forget about formalities between Your Highness and your subject; between us, there's no need for such empty formalities."

Xiao Fang didn't take it, but instead took out another form from his pocket and spread it on the table.

"This time in the Prince of Jin's fiefdom, I surrendered a batch of goods, but I didn't report them all to the court."

The crown prince raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Ten granaries."

Xiao Fang said.

"Enough to feed 300,000 border troops for three years."

There are five armories, capable of equipping 50,000 cavalry.

Gold and silver jewelry aside, I kept 30% to buy charcoal, cotton clothing, and winter supplies locally.

The crown prince remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"These are all at your disposal."

Xiao Fang was somewhat surprised.

The crown prince looked at him and said slowly.

"The army is a money-devouring beast."

Food, horses, weapons, medicine—the money spent every day was like water flowing away.

Although I have never personally led troops, I still have some understanding of it.

The more backup plans you have, the better our chances of winning this battle will be.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness."

Xiao Fang wasn't pretentious.

"I will use these things wisely when the time comes."

The two discussed for a while longer the defense of the northern border and the matter of Long Yuanming.

Xiao Fang looked at the daylight outside; it was already past four in the morning.

"I'm going to see my royal uncle."

The crown prince nodded, his expression solemn.

"Go, Father has been unwell lately..."

Xiao Fang went to the emperor's bedroom.

The hall was filled with the strong smell of medicine. Several eunuchs stood guard outside the door. When they saw him arrive, they hurriedly bowed and paid their respects.

The old emperor was fast asleep.

He leaned against the soft pillows, his face ashen, his cheekbones high and prominent.

She's lost a lot of weight in just a few days.

Xiao Fang stood in front of the bed and watched quietly for a while.

The old emperor slept soundly, occasionally letting out a very faint sound of phlegm in his throat.

The head eunuch tiptoed closer.

"Your Highness, His Majesty just woke up for a while and asked about the Crown Prince and the censors in the north."

"understood."

Xiao Fang said in a low voice.

"Let your uncle rest well. If anything happens, report to the Crown Prince immediately."

The chief eunuch quickly agreed.

Xiao Fang didn't linger and turned to leave the palace.

He did not mention Long Yuanming.

Not a single word was mentioned.

Now is not the time.

He couldn't allow that name to appear before the old emperor again while he was delirious with illness.

Will he allow anyone to pose a threat to his position as crown prince?

When Long Yuanming returned from the fiefdom of the Prince of Jin, he was escorted back alone.

He was locked in a tightly sealed carriage.

Apart from Xiao Fang and a few trusted confidants, no one knew who was inside.

Even the accompanying Dragon City Guards were unaware, let alone that the person in the carriage was the former Fourth Prince.

Lu Zhao and Lin Hui personally arranged the daily meal delivery, shift changes, and night shifts.

The news was kept completely under wraps.

After returning to the capital, Long Yuanming was secretly imprisoned in a dark cell deep within the Censorate.

The sign hanging outside only read "Repeat Offender".

Even the guards were replaced by several of Xiao Fang's most trusted playboys.

The old emperor was already delirious with illness, and none of the officials in the capital knew it.

From the Prince of Jin's fiefdom to the capital, not a single drop of water was leaked.

Just a few days later, the old emperor was no longer able to attend court.

His mind was sometimes clear and sometimes drowsy.

The Crown Prince attended to the ailing Emperor every day, but he never received the imperial edict from the Emperor himself handing over power.

On this day, as the palace gates were about to open, all the officials had already arrived outside the hall.

Xiao Fang stood at the head of all the officials, coldly scanning the court attire of everyone in the hall.

After three drumbeats, the crowd lined up and entered.

But then they saw that someone was already sitting on the dragon throne.

The crown prince, dressed in bright yellow court robes, was sitting on the dragon throne.

He remained calm, his gaze fixed on the hall.

The officials fell silent for a moment.

Some people paused slightly, while others quickly exchanged glances.

But no one dared to speak up.

The Crown Prince is the son of the Empress and the current heir apparent.

Xiao Fang stood at the very front of the assembled officials, like a demon god; whoever stepped forward, his gaze would fall upon them.

There was no murderous intent in that gaze, yet it was more intimidating than any murderous intent.

After a brief silence, an old minister knelt down first.

"Your subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Then, all the court officials in the hall bowed down.

The voices were mixed, but no one dared to say another word.

The crown prince raised his hand.

"Rise."

His voice was as gentle as ever, but sitting on the dragon throne, it carried an undeniable weight.

Xiao Fang and he exchanged a glance, and the two nodded slightly.

From this day forward, the political landscape has changed.

After the court session, the five teams that Xiao Fang had sent out had already brought back news.

All five treasure locations revealed by Long Yuanming have been thoroughly investigated.

Lu Zhao waited for Xiao Fang outside the palace gate.

"We've been keeping an eye on them. As you said, we haven't made any moves, just sent people to keep an eye on them for now."

Xiao Fang said as he mounted his horse.

"We'll take action tonight. We'll bring the people from the Censorate, but not a single member of the Dragon City Guard."

This money is to be reserved for the supplies of the northern expeditionary force; the fewer people who know about it, the better.

Lu Zhao scoffed.

"You don't need to tell me, the guys in the Censorate are all tight-lipped. Only by taking them with you can you act freely."

Xiao Fang pulled on the reins.

"Let's go. Let's bring everything back first."