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

"Enough!" Emperor Mingde said displeasedly.

He knew that Huo Jing was retaliating against him, and if he let the Crown Prince continue, it would seem that he, the emperor, was forcing Huo Jing to donate money.

"Father, if Prince Zhenyuan doesn't donate this money, what will happen to the soldiers' pay for guarding Lindong Pass?" Nangong Chengkun was still somewhat unwilling and turned his attention to Huo Jing.

"Prince Zhenyuan, although your sister, the Prince of Runing, has made many contributions, Father also has high hopes for you. He bestowed titles upon your three children as soon as they were born. Is Father going to be dissatisfied with the court just because he did not meet your expectations once?"

"Your Highness, watch your words!" Huo Jing also lost his temper, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"My Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion has never been disloyal to the imperial court, otherwise! I would not have donated so much silver every year."

However, there is indeed no money to donate this year. If Your Majesty and the Crown Prince feel that granting titles to the children means that my Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion must donate money, then please ask Your Majesty to revoke the titles of the children.

"Because I, Huo Jing, cannot afford these titles."

Upon hearing this, the faces of all the court officials changed, and they dared not utter a sound. The temperature in the hall seemed to drop to freezing point.

Huo Jing is incredibly audacious; he's practically going head-to-head with the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was secretly delighted. He looked at Emperor Mingde, hoping that he would be furious and take back everything from the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion, including the title and military seal.

But Emperor Mingde dared not, at least not now. His face was extremely grim, and he held back for a long while before speaking:

"Prince Zhenyuan, the Crown Prince was just joking with you. Why take a child so seriously?"

"A joke?" Huo Jing's face showed a sneer, but he didn't say anything more.

Nangong Xiao stood aside without saying a word. He could tell that the emperor and his son had been targeting his father, and they were almost at the point of a complete falling out!

On the dragon throne, Emperor Mingde, his face grim, swept his gaze across the assembled ministers and asked in a slow voice:

"My esteemed ministers, as you have just heard, the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion is suffering severe business losses and has no money left to donate. What do you suggest we do?"

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials lowered their heads, and not one of them spoke.

What did Emperor Mingde mean by saying that? Could it be that he wanted them to pay for it?

How can that be allowed?

The Crown Prince's henchman, surnamed Yi, suggested, "Your Majesty, the only solution for the current crisis is to increase taxes."

"Father, I think Minister Yi is right. We have no choice but to increase taxes!" Nangong Chengkun had long wanted to increase taxes.

He had people investigate various countries, and found that the Western Yan Kingdom had the lowest tax rate.

His Eastern Palace couldn't even raise the funds for repairs, while those lowly merchants earned so much silver every year, so why did they live a more comfortable life than him, the Crown Prince?

One imperial censor advised against it, saying, "Your Majesty, imposing additional taxes is a matter of great importance; please reconsider!"

"You'll think it over again, Lord Ji? Will thinking it over again generate money?" Lord Yi asked him.

The censor fell silent.

Emperor Mingde pondered for a long while before finally nodding, "Granted!"

Huo Jing sneered inwardly. It seemed that the fate of the Western Yan Kingdom was truly about to be exhausted by this Nangong Chengkun!

"Huo Jing," Emperor Mingde suddenly called his name, "Have Runing come to the palace to see me when he has some time."

"Yes!" Huo Jing replied.

He actually dared to approach Wu Wu? This girl isn't as easy to bully as he thinks.

"That concludes today's court assembly!" Emperor Mingde said, then rose and descended the steps to leave the main hall.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

All civil and military officials bowed respectfully to see them off.

Before leaving, Nangong Chengkun gave Huo Jing and Nangong Xiao a deep look.

Huo Jing did not back down, his cold gaze fixed on him.

A storm was brewing, and his fear was useless.

The father and son left the palace and boarded a carriage.

"Father, I think that Crown Prince is definitely not someone to be trifled with." Nangong Xiao recalled the look in Nangong Chengkun's eyes; he was definitely a scheming person.

"Your Majesty's first crown prince was murdered by the Empress Dowager. This one was secretly born to the Empress. He was raised in a separate courtyard from birth, unable to see the light of day, which led to his gloomy, aloof, and ruthless nature."

"It wasn't until four years ago, when the Empress Dowager, her maternal family, and Prince Rui's faction were all eradicated, that His Majesty revealed his true identity," Huo Jing told him.

"Father, it's clear that your refusal to donate silver has greatly displeased the Emperor and his son!" Nangong Xiao said with some concern.

"Emperors have always been suspicious. The emperor and the crown prince are wary of our control of the 300,000-strong Zhenyuan Army, as well as your sister's weapons."

Huo Jing, recalling the emperor and his son's despicable faces, sneered, "With your sister around, we have nothing to worry about. Let's just wait and see them perish!"

It is Heaven's will to destroy Western Yan; their anxiety is futile.

Back at the Prince's Palace.

Huo Jing then told Nangong Xiao to return to his own courtyard or go to find Nangong Wu to familiarize himself with the situation of the Prince's Mansion.

He returned to the Jade Courtyard alone, only to find Bei Chenyan and the three children there.

"What are you all doing here? Where's Wuwu?"

Bei Chenyan was teaching three children to practice calligraphy. When she saw him return, she stood up and said, "The children insisted on finding you, so I brought them here."

"Then sit down and let's talk." Huo Jing sat down in the main seat, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

Bei Chenyan smiled and said, "Your Highness, am I right?"

"Hmph! You guessed quite accurately!" Huo Jing glared at him. "Emperor Mingde gave the title of heir to Xiao'er, thinking he could kick me while I'm down. Hmph! This dog of an emperor dared to do the first thing, so he won't blame me for doing the second!"

"Oh?" Bei Chenyan looked puzzled. "So, your plan for the second year of junior high school isn't to cut off their allowance, is it?"

Huo Jing remained silent, which was tantamount to acquiescence. He looked at Nangong Yu and said, "Even if Yu'er loses his title, he will still live a better life than them."

"Your Highness, don't forget, Yu'er is my eldest son. The entire Southern Qi Kingdom will belong to him in the future. He doesn't care about the title bestowed by Emperor Mingde," Bei Chenyan said.

"Then it depends on whether he wants it or not!" Huo Jing sighed inwardly as he looked at the father and his three sons.

"Now that Xiao'er has been found! What will become of Wu Wu and the three children? That's entirely up to them."

"I have just received news that the Emperor has sent an envoy to congratulate your Empress on her birthday and also wants to form a marriage alliance with the Western Yan Kingdom."

"Once this matter is over, I will reveal my true identity to Nangong Wu. If she is willing to marry me, I will make her my only Crown Princess. If she is not willing, I will not force her, but I will never marry another woman in my life." Bei Chen Yan said, looking at the three children.

"But the three children are also mine, and I will eventually take them back to recognize their ancestors. I just hope she won't stop me from recognizing the children."

With these three children, no one can force him to marry.

The three children looked over when they heard him speak.

"Father, Jue'er wants you." Nangong Jue put down her pen, ran over and threw herself into his arms. "Father, don't be sad. Mother doesn't want you, but Jue'er wants you."