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

Prince Ji was slightly annoyed after being pushed by the Third Prince. "A beautiful lady is sought after by a gentleman. What's wrong with me admiring Princess Runing?"

Hearing him speak like that, the Third Prince also became angry. "There's a proper order to things. I was the one who brought up the marriage proposal with Princess Runing first. What are you doing, pushing me?"

"Stop, stop." Nangong Xiao quickly pulled the two apart.

Nangong Chengkun also advised, "Your Highness Prince Ji, Third Prince, let's talk things out and not hurt our harmony."

"Since both Your Highnesses wish to marry into the family, let Princess Runing make the choice," a minister suggested.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Nangong Wu.

"Princess, choose me! I am a man of integrity and have no concubines in my harem. If you are willing, I will treat your three children as my own," the Third Prince said.

Tang Jingli then expressed his feelings, "Princess Runing, I have long admired you, which is why I have not married you. It was only because of the relationship between our two countries that I did not seek you out. Now that our two countries are on good terms, I can finally propose to you openly. If you choose me, I will also treat our three children well."

"Little sister, what those two people are saying sounds so fake, don't believe them." Nangong Xiao whispered into Nangong Wu's ears.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highnesses, but I am very sorry, I will not marry again." Nangong Wu refused directly.

"Princess Runing, don't rush to refuse. Why don't we get to know each other first? In time, you'll see that I'm easy to get along with," Prince Ji said, unwilling to give up.

"Princess Runing, I have decided to stay in the Western Yan Kingdom to cultivate our relationship until I win your heart!" the Third Prince said confidently.

Seeing that these two men were determined to have Nangong Wu, the Prime Minister of Nanqi could no longer stay.

He said to Huo Jing, "Your Highness, I just remembered that I have an urgent matter to attend to and must go back first. I will be back later."

"Then please go ahead. If you're late, you'll have to punish yourself with three cups of wine!" Huo Jing saw him out.

After leaving the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion, the Prime Minister of Nanqi Kingdom went directly back to the inn where their envoys were staying.

Zhang Qing and Wei Yang were guarding the door when they saw them return, and they were surprised. "Prime Minister, didn't you go to the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion? It's not even noon yet, why are you back so soon?"

"It's urgent. Is His Highness the Crown Prince inside?" The Prime Minister looked at the door.

"Come in!" Bei Chenyan's voice rang out.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qing opened the door and said, "Please!"

The Prime Minister entered the room and saw Bei Chenyan sitting behind his desk, organizing some documents. Now he had removed his mask, revealing his true self.

"Your Highness!" the Prime Minister bowed.

"Hmm." Bei Chenyan nodded slightly. "Prime Minister Xi, why are you back so soon?"

"Your Highness, I saw Princess Runing's three children, you..." Prime Minister Xi hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

"You came back for this?" Bei Chenyan looked up at him.

"Your Highness, today the Prince of Ji of the Eastern Jin Kingdom and the Third Prince of the Northern Di Kingdom both proposed marriage to Princess Runing. They both want to marry into the family and become the father of the three children," Prime Minister Xi told him about the events at the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion.

"Those two? They've always harbored ulterior motives and are delusional." Bei Chenyan's lips curled into a mocking smile. "No need to worry."

"Your Highness, this old minister would like to hear the truth from you," the prime minister asked.

"Those three children are mine." Bei Chenyan thought of Xi'er. He had been away from the palace for the past few days and didn't know if she had been eating properly.

Prime Minister Xi looked shocked, then overjoyed, "Your Highness, that's a dragon heir! The royal family has a successor!"

Bei Chenyan's eyes were deep and unfathomable. "I will allow the three children to be recognized by their ancestors, but now is not the time."

"His Majesty should know too!" said Prime Minister Xi.

His Majesty dotes on the Crown Prince the most and is very troubled by his refusal to return. No matter how much he is threatened, he will not go back, but he cannot really depose him.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince refused to return because he already had a child outside, and the child was already quite grown up.

"Father already knows," Bei Chenyan said calmly.

Prime Minister Xi was surprised; it turned out the Crown Prince had already planned this. "Then this old minister takes his leave!"

"Hmm." He nodded slightly.

After the door closed again, Bei Chenyan thought of what Prime Minister Xi had just said and lost interest in dealing with matters. He simply walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion.

"Tang Jingli, Third Prince, you two good-for-nothings dare to covet my woman and child?"

********************

After the return banquet, the powerful and wealthy people of the capital saw Nangong Xiao's true face and learned that he was not yet married. The next day, several matchmakers came to his door with portraits of many noble ladies in the capital, wanting to arrange marriages for him.

Both Huo Jing and Nangong Xiao declined.

They had already planned to leave this place and would not marry the noble lady of the capital at this time, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble in the future.

The next day was Empress Su's birthday.

Emperor Mingde sent an oral edict to the Prince of Zhenyuan's residence, ordering Huo Jing, Nangong Xiao, and Nangong Wu to bring their three children to the palace for a banquet.

Nangong Xi refused to go to the palace, so Nangong Xiao carried her to the street and bought her a new dress before she agreed to go.

They were among the last to enter the palace; the banquet was about to begin.

There were no separate tables for men and women at the banquet; the whole family could sit together.

Nangong Wu glanced around the hall. All the people who came were officials of the third rank or above, and they could only bring two family members. The royal relatives were also just some important figures. Therefore, there weren't many people.

"His Majesty has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! His Highness the Crown Princess has arrived!" A shrill voice rang out.

The hall fell silent immediately, and everyone stood up.

Emperor Mingde and Empress Su walked into the main hall side by side, with Nangong Chengkun and the Crown Princess following behind them.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Empress!"

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

"Long live the Crown Princess!"

The shouts echoed throughout the hall.

Emperor Mingde and Empress Su ascended the jade steps, turned to face the main hall, and said, "No need for formalities, all of you may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Once everyone was seated, Emperor Mingde began to speak, delivering a few pleasantries for about fifteen minutes before proceeding with the gift-presenting ceremony.

When the officials entered the palace, the birthday gifts had already been handed over to the Imperial Household Department and registered. Now, they were simply reading out who sent what gift.

However, the Crown Prince's status was different, and the gifts he sent were priceless, so they were delivered directly to the Emperor and Empress.

Nangong Chengkun stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to the Emperor and Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, I present you with a jade Buddha statue to wish you a long and blessed life!"

After he finished speaking, a guard carried in a large box.

The lid was opened, revealing a three-foot-tall jade Buddha that emitted a fluorescent glow.