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

"Your Highness, you are overthinking this!" A censor stepped forward to speak.

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the Crown Prince of Zhenyuan was abducted on the day of his full moon, and the Prince of Zhenyuan has been searching for him ever since. Twenty-two years have passed, and there have been many swindlers coming to claim kinship. If he were easily deceived, he would have been deceived many times over."

Another military officer stepped forward. "Just as His Highness the Crown Prince said, the matter of the Prince of Zhenyuan's heir is of great importance. The Prince of Zhenyuan and Princess Runing will certainly be cautious about this matter. I also believe that they will not be easily deceived."

"Your Majesty, Xiao'er has really been found!" Huo Jing said again with certainty, "Xiao'er and Runing are twins, and the two children look quite alike. Anyone who sees them will be able to tell that they are siblings."

The Crown Prince's henchman spoke up again: "Prince Zhenyuan, there are many people in this world who look alike. Just because someone looks like Princess Runing doesn't mean they are your son."

Huo Jing's face instantly turned cold, and he spoke without any politeness: "Lord Yi, judging from your anxious appearance, it seems that you are more worried about the affairs of the Prince's Mansion than I, the Prince himself, am."

"Instead of worrying about matters in my palace, why don't you investigate that courtesan you just took in last year? She gave birth to a big, healthy son in less than seven months, and he might not even be your biological son. You might be cuckolded, your head practically glowing with embarrassment!"

"Hahaha……"

A low chuckle echoed through the hall.

Everyone knows about this Master Yi. Last year, in order to win over this courtesan, he spent all the money in his family. Because he didn't have enough money, he even secretly pawned his wife's valuables, which angered his wife so much that she wanted a divorce.

At the time, this incident became the talk of the town.

"Enough!" Emperor Mingde's expression was rather unpleasant as he stood on the imperial platform.

The hall fell silent immediately.

"Uncle Zhenyuan, now that you're certain that person is Nangong Xiao, when would you like to bring him into the palace so that Father and I can also take a look and help you make an assessment?" Nangong Chengkun feigned concern.

"What the Crown Prince says is absolutely right." Emperor Mingde nodded. "Bring him into the palace tomorrow so I can take a look at him."

"Your Majesty, there's no need to wait until tomorrow. Xiao'er is right outside the main hall. I'll let him in immediately." Huo Jing didn't wait for Emperor Mingde to announce his arrival and called out to the outside of the main hall:

"Xiao'er, come in quickly and let His Majesty see you!"

Emperor Mingde: "..." He never said he wanted to see me now.

Nangong Xiao appeared at the entrance of the main hall, and all the ministers turned around to look at him curiously.

Seeing his face, which bore a striking resemblance to Huo Jing's, some ministers who had intended to make things difficult for him fell silent.

Today, Nangong Xiao wore a jade crown, a white robe with wide sleeves and a pattern of golden lotus and auspicious clouds, a jade belt around his waist, and a flawless white jade pendant hanging from his waist. He was dressed like a noble young master, and with his handsome face, his entire demeanor was completely transformed.

Because of his childhood environment, where he walked on the edge of life and death every day, his deep black eyes always revealed a cold sharpness, exuding an aloofness and coldness that kept strangers at bay.

Seeing his son like this, Huo Jing smiled with satisfaction. "Xiao'er, come and greet your imperial uncle."

Nangong Xiao stepped forward to the jade steps, cupped his hands, and bowed slightly to Emperor Mingde, his voice neither humble nor arrogant, "Guangyang greets Your Majesty!"

Guangyang was the title given to him by the late emperor.

Their grandfather was the late emperor's younger brother, and he doted on him. By extension, he also showed great affection for his only daughter and two grandsons.

When Emperor Mingde heard this title, he couldn't help but think of the late emperor, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

"No need for formalities! You were kidnapped by treacherous people when you were young, and I have never given up searching for you. Now that you have returned safely, it is truly a blessing from Heaven for my royal family!"

Nangong Xiao did not answer, feeling that Emperor Mingde's words were hypocritical.

Nangong Chengkun's eyes darted around, and he said to Emperor Mingde:

"Father, Nangong Xiao was originally the heir of the Prince of Zhenyuan. Now that he has been found, the position of heir should be returned to him."

Emperor Mingde was already thinking about this matter when the Crown Prince brought it up first, so he went along with it and said:

"The Crown Prince is not wrong, Prince Zhenyuan. The position of heir apparent originally belonged to Guangyang. What do you think about this?"

It was he who issued the decree to make Nangong Yu the heir apparent. Now that Nangong Xiao has returned, everything in the Prince's Mansion should be his.

Nangong Xiao hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to change the heir. Yu'er is intelligent and capable of taking on the position of heir."

Emperor Mingde was surprised. "You're willing to give up your position as heir apparent?"

"Xiao'er! Your father is here for you." Huo Jing shook his head slightly at his son, signaling him not to say anything more.

Emperor Mingde and Nangong Chengkun are both wary of the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion. Their son has just returned and is unaware of the intrigues in the court. They fear that he might say something wrong, giving the Crown Prince an excuse to attack the Prince's Mansion.

He said to Emperor Mingde, "Your Majesty, now that my son has been found, I dare to ask you for a favor."

"Speak!" Emperor Mingde nodded, letting him speak.

Huo Jing lifted his robe and knelt down, "I beg Your Majesty to grant Xiao'er a title, considering that Lan'er sacrificed himself for the country and that I donate 300,000 taels of silver to the court every year."

Emperor Mingde was very stingy; he probably wouldn't agree unless these things were brought up.

Upon hearing this, the ministers in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Huo Jing brought up Nangong Lan's death in battle and the silver he donated every year, trying to force the emperor to agree!

Nangong Wu's three children have all been granted titles, and if Nangong Xiao is added to the list, then the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion will have all the good things.

Sure enough, Emperor Mingde's expression immediately turned ugly. He cursed the old fox in his heart, thinking that only he dared to say anything to the emperor. Nangong Wu was just like him.

"Father, I think this is unreasonable." Nangong Chengkun spoke again, "Previously, the Prince of Zhenyuan only had his sister, the Prince of Runing, so the position of heir apparent had to be given to Nangong Yu."

If the real crown prince returns, everything should return to how it was before.

That woman, Nangong Wu, is too hateful. She doesn't respect him at all. The title of Prince of Zhenyuan should not fall into her hands.

"Yes! The Crown Prince is right." Emperor Mingde echoed Nangong Chengkun's words, "Prince Zhenyuan, Yu'er is still young after all, the position of heir should be inherited by Guangyang."

He felt that Nangong Wu was too arrogant and looked down on everyone because of the powerful weapons she possessed. He believed that she would never properly assist the Crown Prince in the future, and that the 300,000-strong Zhenyuan Army should not be put in her command.

"Alright! This matter is settled!" Emperor Mingde did not allow Huo Jing to speak again. "Eunuch Hu, draft an edict immediately. Nangong Xiao will remain the heir apparent of the Prince of Zhenyuan. As for Nangong Yu, we will discuss him when he grows up."

As soon as the emperor said this, the crown prince's supporters immediately began to gloat.