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

"Your subject knows he was wrong..." Nangong Chengkun had no choice but to admit his mistake.

He knew that his father would protect him.

Seeing his still defiant look, Bei Chenyan sneered, "Emperor of Western Yan, your crown prince ordered someone to steal the jade Buddha from my Longhua Temple. Do you think an apology can absolve your crown prince of his crimes?"

Emperor Mingde quickly replied, "Crown Prince of Southern Qi, rest assured! I will compensate Longhua Temple. Whatever conditions you propose, as long as my Western Yan Kingdom can fulfill them, I will agree to them!"

The ministers of the Western Yan Kingdom, who filled the hall, were deeply disappointed in their crown prince, seeing him so humbly apologizing to him.

How can such a morally bankrupt and despicable person be fit to be the crown prince of a country?

The three princes of the Northern Di, the Prince of Ji of the Eastern Jin, and the envoys from three small countries all looked at Nangong Chengkun with disdain.

"If such a despicable person becomes emperor in the future, the Western Yan Kingdom will be ruined by him sooner or later. This is going to be a good show."

"There's nothing we can do; the Western Yan Kingdom is just too lucky! With Princess Runing as their protector, what can anyone do to them?"

The envoys from two small countries were discussing this without any hesitation.

Emperor Mingde blushed with embarrassment, feeling utterly humiliated.

"Your Majesty of Western Yan, do you think my dignified Southern Qi Kingdom would lack such a small amount of compensation from you?" Bei Chenyan's eyes were full of disdain.

"Then what does Your Highness wish to do?" Emperor Mingde asked him.

The arrival of envoys from six kingdoms to celebrate the Empress's birthday was supposed to be a momentous occasion, but the Crown Prince has instead caused such a disgraceful incident.

Suddenly, he realized how incredibly stupid his son was. Since the item was stolen, why did he have to show it off in public? And he even got caught red-handed by the people of Nanqi.

Bei Chenyan brought Abbot Minghai along, and even brought witnesses. The fact that he was so well-prepared shows that he was fully aware of what the Crown Prince had done. He came today to expose the Crown Prince's crimes in front of the envoys of several countries.

"Your crown prince stole a priceless treasure of my Southern Qi Kingdom, so take him back to Southern Qi Kingdom and let my father deal with him." Bei Chenyan pointed at Southern Qi Chengkun.

"No!" Empress Su cried out, rushing over and kneeling before Emperor Mingde, pleading, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was just confused for a moment, you can't hand him over! Otherwise, his life will be ruined..."

"Father, no!" Nangong Chengkun panicked and knelt down before Emperor Mingde.

If he were sent to the Southern Qi Kingdom, he would be severely injured, if not killed, and his position as crown prince might also be in jeopardy!

Emperor Mingde looked at Bei Chenyan and Abbot Minghai, then at the kneeling Crown Prince, his face turning ashen.

"You bastard, look what you've done!"

Look at that Crown Prince, he has courage and strategy, he is definitely a responsible person, he is worlds apart from me, the Crown Prince.

"As the crown prince of a country, what can't you have? Why do you insist on stealing? You have disappointed me greatly!" Emperor Mingde was extremely disappointed.

"Father, I know I was wrong and I will definitely change in the future. Please don't hand me over to the Southern Qi Kingdom, or I will die..." Nan Qi Chengkun hugged Emperor Mingde's leg and cried as he begged.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has realized his mistake. Please give him another chance." Empress Su pleaded for the Crown Prince, weeping bitterly.

Emperor Mingde closed his eyes, ultimately unable to bring himself to be ruthless.

That's enough! After all, he's his most beloved son, the crown prince he's carefully groomed; he can't just hand him over like this!

"Crown Prince of Southern Qi, I will grant you anything except this condition."

"You'll agree to any conditions?" Bei Chenyan mocked mercilessly. "His Majesty of Western Yan really dotes on your useless crown prince, saying he'll agree to any conditions?"

"If I, the Crown Prince, were to demand half of your Western Yan Kingdom as compensation, would you agree?"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers in the hall were greatly shocked.

Several high-ranking officials hurriedly came out and knelt down to Emperor Mingde, kowtowing heavily.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Nangong Wu and Nangong Xiao sat in their seats, watching coldly as Nan Qichengkun caused such a huge disaster. They wondered if Emperor Mingde would sacrifice half of the country to protect the crown prince.

Emperor Mingde's face darkened. "Crown Prince of Nanqi, you made a mistake out of momentary folly. Besides, it's just a jade Buddha; you want half of the Western Yan Kingdom for it. Don't you think this demand is excessive?"

"Excessive?" Bei Chenyan pointed at Nan Qi Chengkun and sneered, "When Nan Qi Chengkun ordered bandits to steal my Nan Qi Kingdom's national treasures, why didn't you think he went too far?"

Besides, you yourself said that I, the Crown Prince, could make any demands. Now you want to go back on your word and break your promise?

Emperor Mingde was speechless, completely stumped by him.

He had thought that Bei Chenyan would consider the diplomatic relations between the two countries and would not make excessive demands, but now he was in a bit of an awkward position.

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

More and more ministers knelt down.

"It has been more than two hundred years since the founding emperor established the Western Yan Kingdom. In order to defend every inch of the country, countless soldiers have sacrificed their lives on the border."

"Now Your Majesty, because of the Crown Prince's mistake, you want to give up half of the country. This old minister has no face to face the late Emperor!" A prince cried out in anguish.

Emperor Mingde couldn't help but look at Nangong Wu.

These countries were most afraid of the Zhenyuan King's army before, and now Nangong Wu has mysterious weapons. As long as she speaks, Bei Chenyan will not dare to be so arrogant.

Seeing Nangong Wu sitting there taking care of the children, eating and drinking as if it were none of her business, she had no choice but to speak first, "Ru Ning, what do you think?"

"Ask me? This is the Crown Prince's mistake, what can I do? Does Your Majesty want me to take the blame for him?" Nangong Wu understood Emperor Mingde's meaning, but she pretended not to hear.

"Don't even think about it!" Huo Jing, who had been silent until now, couldn't contain his anger and said indignantly.

"Lan'er guarded Lindong for more than ten years and sacrificed her life to protect her country. She did not let the enemy take away an inch of territory. Now, because of a useless crown prince, she is going to give up half of the country."

"If Your Majesty truly intends to do this, what does Lan'er's death in battle matter? What does the sacrifice of the millions of soldiers who bled and died defending our land matter?"

Some of the veteran officials began to weep.

Nangong Wu refused to help, leaving Emperor Mingde in a dilemma where he was forced to make a choice.

Either abandon the crown prince, or lose half the country.

Emperor Mingde looked at Nangong Wu and made a crazy decision in his heart: he would neither hand over the crown prince nor grant him any territory; at worst, he would go to war with the Southern Qi Kingdom.

With Nangong Wu around, Beichen Yan wouldn't dare to go too far.

Just as he made this decision, Bei Chenyan suddenly spoke up again: "Speaking of the Eldest Princess, she is indeed a heroine. For the sake of the Eldest Princess, this Crown Prince can make concessions."

"Go ahead," Emperor Mingde nodded.

As long as his demands aren't excessive, we'll try our best to avoid war.