With a warehouse full of supplies, I stood alone as king in this chaotic world, gun in hand.

"As you command!" The commander accepted the order and withdrew to report to Shouning Palace.

The explosion at Shouning Palace tonight was so loud that it naturally woke the Empress Dowager, but she didn't pay any attention to it and continued to sleep while smelling the soothing incense.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he heard the commander report that something had happened to the Ming family. He immediately woke up and got off the bed.

"Granny Rong, I am leaving the palace."

"Your Highness..." Her capable maidservant came in, supporting her while advising her:

"There are assassins outside. It's too unsafe for you to leave the palace in the middle of the night. The commander just said that His Majesty has issued an order to protect the Ming family at all costs. If you are really worried, you can leave the palace tomorrow."

When the Empress Dowager heard her mention Emperor Mingde, her eyes suddenly turned fierce.

If the emperor truly wanted to protect the Ming family, why would he send them all to prison for such a trivial matter?

Tonight's events are likely closely related to her son.

"I am leaving the palace now," the Empress Dowager said, her voice brooking no argument.

Granny Rong dared not persuade her any further, helped her change her clothes, and then led a group of palace maids and eunuchs toward the palace gate.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Emperor Mingde hurried over.

"I am about to leave the palace. Have the palace gates opened," the Empress Dowager said.

"Mother, the snake spirits outside are causing trouble. Those people are skilled in Gu worms and all kinds of evil arts. They are everywhere and impossible to guard against. It is too dangerous for you to leave the palace now," Emperor Mingde advised.

The Empress Dowager glared at him angrily, "Emperor, explain to me whether the bombing of the Ming family was related to you?"

"Mother, what nonsense are you spouting?" Emperor Mingde knew she would suspect him first, so he was mentally prepared. "How could I, the ruler of a nation, do such things?"

"If it wasn't you, who else would dare to harm the Ming family?" The Empress Dowager clearly didn't believe his words.

"I know you've always wanted to get rid of the Ming family. I just let them go back to the manor during the day, and you're already so eager to kill them?"

Now that the entire Ming family is dead, and you've stripped Ming Mengqing of her title as a concubine, Xun'er has lost her backing forever. Are you satisfied now?

"What am I satisfied with? Ming Mengqing and Nangong Xun have done so many things for personal gain, they've almost emptied the national treasury, and the memorials impeaching them are piling up like mountains. How can you expect me to show them favoritism?"

Emperor Mingde was extremely disappointed in his mother, saying, "Mother, from childhood to adulthood, you have never been satisfied with me."

Even though I have ascended the throne and made you the most honored woman in the Western Yan Kingdom, you are still dissatisfied with me and remain unfulfilled. What do you want me to do?

"Do you expect me to hand over the Nangong family's empire to the Ming family before you're satisfied?"

The Empress Dowager was startled, not expecting Emperor Mingde to say such a thing. He was implying that the Ming family had rebellious intentions.

"Your Majesty, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever say such a thing? So this is what you've always thought of your mother?"

"Isn't that so?" Emperor Mingde's eyes held a hint of sarcasm.

"You only care about the Ming family, wanting Nangong Xun to sit on the throne to ensure the Ming family's future wealth and glory. You indulge them in their reckless behavior, even taking money from the national treasury to support their enjoyment; you disregard the people of the entire Western Yan Kingdom, you want to destroy the entire Nangong family's empire!"

Upon hearing his words, everyone around him was so shocked that they all knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

"You...you..." The Empress Dowager pointed at him, trembling with rage. "Emperor, you are utterly unfilial! The Ming family is my maternal family. What's wrong with them enjoying a little wealth and luxury?"

Emperor Mingde felt weary and didn't want to argue with her anymore after hearing her selfish words. "Guards, take the Empress Dowager back to Shouning Palace."

A group of palace maids and servants stepped forward and helped the Empress Dowager back to Shouning Palace.

After returning to Shouning Palace, the Empress Dowager kept crying and making a scene, scolding Emperor Mingde for being unfilial. When the palace gates were about to open, she led her entourage to leave the palace.

Emperor Mingde had no choice but to cancel court today and accompany the Empress Dowager out of the palace to check on the Ming family's situation.

Inside the Ming Mansion, the flames still burned fiercely, thick smoke billowed, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder.

The government and the city's garrison mobilized tens of thousands of people to fight the fire.

But the Ming Mansion was so large, and the houses were all made of wood. Once it caught fire, the fire was extremely fierce, and people couldn't get close at all. Even if a bucket of water was brought from afar and poured over it, it wouldn't do any good.

The nearby wells had all been drained, yet the fire still raged fiercely.

The Prefect of the Capital had no choice but to order the cessation of the operation.

Even if the fire is put out now, the people will have already burned to death, and the houses and belongings will have been burned to ashes.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived! His Majesty has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down.

"Welcome, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Empress Dowager!"

The Empress Dowager alighted from her imperial carriage and saw the Ming mansion engulfed in flames, everything belonging to the Ming family destroyed. She staggered and collapsed.

"Damn it! Who did this?"

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences!"

Several palace maids quickly helped her up.

"Where is the Prefect of Jingzhao?" The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with ruthlessness.

The Prefect of the Capital stood up and cautiously stepped forward, saying, "Your humble servant is here."

"Can any member of the Ming family be rescued? Can we find out who did it?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Your Majesty, we have not yet rescued a single member of the Ming family," the Prefect of the Capital replied, forcing a smile.

"According to preliminary investigation, Mingfu was bombed with gunpowder. According to previous information, only the Serpent Spirit Society possesses such powerful explosives. The bombing of Mingfu was likely carried out by members of the Serpent Spirit Society."

"Was this done by the Serpent Spirit Society?" The Empress Dowager simply couldn't believe it. "Prince Ming has no grudge against the Serpent Spirit Society, so why would they harm my Ming family?"

"This..." The Prefect of the Capital broke out in a cold sweat. "We still can't find out their motive."

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences!" Emperor Mingde came over to comfort her: "Now that we know it was the Snake Spirit Society that did it, I will issue an edict to offer a reward for their capture."

"Your Majesty, the matter hasn't even been investigated yet, and you're already so certain that it was the Serpent Spirit Society who did it?" The Empress Dowager looked at him coldly.

"Mother, the Prefect of the Capital has just said that only members of the Serpent Spirit Society have this kind of gunpowder, so it is very likely that the Serpent Spirit Society is responsible."

Moreover, the Serpent Spirit Society is an evil faction that specializes in harming people. Regardless of whether they bombed the Ming Palace or not, the government should arrest them and bring them to justice,” Emperor Mingde said.

The Empress Dowager gave him another deep look, then said nothing more, turning her attention to the Prefect of the Capital, pointing to the firelight inside the prefectural office and questioning him:

"Why didn't you put out such a big fire?"

Upon hearing this, the Prefect of Jingzhao immediately knelt down, pleading, "Your Majesty, please understand! The fire is so fierce that the nearby wells have been drained; it's simply impossible to extinguish!"

"So what if we can't destroy it?" The Empress Dowager's face was full of anger. "Useless dog! As the Prefect of the Capital, you can't even ensure the safety of the Imperial City. I think you're wearing your official hat for nothing."