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

"First, compensate Longhua Temple with one million taels of silver. Second, I, the Crown Prince, want the land of Jianggang Prefecture in the Western Yan Kingdom." Bei Chenyan proposed the terms after making concessions.

"Jianggang Prefecture? Where is that place?"

"Jianggang Prefecture, that desolate land to the south..."

Another uproar erupted in the main hall.

Nangong Wu's gaze turned cold instantly.

She had long coveted Jianggang Prefecture and planned to visit it in a few days. She never expected that the Crown Prince of Nanqi would also be interested in Jianggang Prefecture. How could this be?

Even if the King of Heaven himself came, she wouldn't give up what she wanted.

She put down her chopsticks and was about to speak when Huo Jing, sitting next to her, stopped her, "Wuwu, don't rush. Let's see what this Crown Prince wants to do first."

He was the one who told Bei Chenyan about Nangong Wu's desire to go to Jianggang Prefecture. Now that Bei Chenyan wants this land, it must be for their sake.

Hearing her father say this, Nangong Wu patiently remained silent for the time being.

But no matter who it is, don't even think about taking anything from her.

However, she did not notice that Huo Jing and Bei Chenyan exchanged a secret glance.

"Mother, that Crown Prince Uncle is so handsome, even more handsome than Uncle Wushang and Uncle Da. Xi'er likes him so much." Nangong Xi kept staring at Bei Chenyan.

"Xi'er, that's the Crown Prince of Nanqi. Don't talk nonsense." Nangong Wu was afraid that she would say something inappropriate.

"Xi'er understands." Nangong Xi nodded obediently.

Taking advantage of Nangong Wu's inattention, she whispered a few words to Nangong Yu.

"Your Majesty, Jianggang Prefecture is nothing but a barren land overrun by bandits. Since the Crown Prince of Nanqi has taken a fancy to it, why not cede it to Nanqi?" Prime Minister Yu suggested.

"This is an utter disgrace!" the old prince howled again.

Even if Jianggang Prefecture is a barren land, it is still the territory of the Western Yan Kingdom. It was separated from the kingdom because of the mistakes made by the crown prince. The Western Yan Kingdom has lost all face. It is an utter disgrace.

Empress Su suddenly stood up, walked to Nangong Wu, took her hand, and said, "Ru Ning, you must have a way, right? Please help the Crown Prince."

"Your Majesty, you're joking!" Nangong Wu withdrew her hand, her voice cold. "The Crown Prince is of bad character and stole other people's treasures. When people came to our door, nothing I said could change the fact that he stole."

Empress Su was taken aback, not expecting her to say such a thing. "Ru Ning, your mother sacrificed herself for the country to protect the land of Western Yan. Are you willing to let your territory be ceded to another country?"

"Your weapons are so powerful; if you just have a good talk with the Crown Prince of Nanqi, you won't have to cede territory or pay reparations."

These countries all fear Nangong Wu's weapons. As long as she speaks, the people of Nanqi dare not bring up the Crown Prince's mistakes.

Upon hearing this, Huo Jing immediately flew into a rage, standing up and saying, "Your Majesty, how dare you mention her mother?"

Lan'er risked her life to protect her country, while the Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, committed such a despicable act of theft and thievery. The Jade Buddha is a priceless treasure, and it is perfectly reasonable for the Crown Prince of Nanqi to demand the cession of territory and payment of reparations.

The Crown Prince has utterly disgraced the Western Yan Kingdom and is completely unfit to be ruler! If you wish for Wu Wu to plead for him, then let His Majesty depose the Crown Prince; such a morally bankrupt person is unworthy of being crown prince.

Nangong Lan died for the Western Yan Kingdom after all.

If Emperor Mingde were to realize his mistake now and appoint a different heir, he wouldn't be able to bear seeing the Western Yan Kingdom ruined by Nan Qi Chengkun.

"Prince Zhenyuan, how dare you speak of the Crown Prince like that?" Empress Su couldn't stand anyone speaking ill of the Crown Prince, and her voice suddenly rose. "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the son of Heaven, and you are merely a subject, yet you dare to criticize him like this?"

"What? The Crown Prince has committed such a grave mistake, and you're not even letting anyone know?" Huo Jing wasn't afraid of her at all, his eyes full of mockery. "Since this humble subject is unworthy, then you can resolve the Crown Prince's matter yourselves."

"You... Huo Jing! How dare you!" Empress Su pointed at him, her chest heaving with anger.

Upon hearing Huo Jing lead the call to depose the crown prince, an imperial censor chimed in, "Your Majesty, the crown prince is immoral and unfit for the Eastern Palace! For the sake of the country, we urge Your Majesty to appoint another crown prince."

He understood that as long as the crown prince was deposed, Nangong Wu would intervene, and their Western Yan Kingdom would not have to cede territory or pay reparations.

The prince also shouted, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is of poor character and unfit for the position. We request that he be deposed and replaced!"

"We beseech Your Majesty to appoint a new heir!"

More than a dozen ministers seconded the motion.

"How dare you!" Empress Su pointed at these people, her face turning ashen with anger.

Emperor Mingde looked at the kneeling ministers and then at the irresponsible crown prince, and his heart began to waver.

Judging from this incident, this son is truly unfit for important tasks.

Seeing that things were going badly, Nan Qichengkun cried out, "Father, I am your most beloved son!"

"You..." Emperor Mingde was about to speak when a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head, but the pain quickly subsided, and his eyes sharpened as he roared:

"The Crown Prince is the heir apparent I personally raised. How dare you question him? That is to question me!"

The emperor was furious, and those who proposed deposing the crown prince dared not utter a word.

"Good advice is useless to a damned fool!" Nangong Xiao sneered.

Prime Minister Yu was adept at reading people's expressions. Upon hearing Emperor Mingde's words, he immediately said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject is willing to provide 300,000 taels of silver on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince."

The Crown Princess also knelt down next to Nan Qi Chengkun, "Father, I am also willing to sell my dowry and contribute 100,000 taels of silver to help Your Highness."

"Your Majesty, I am also willing to contribute 50,000 taels of silver to relieve your worries." A member of the Crown Prince's faction also offered to contribute silver on behalf of the Crown Prince.

"This humble subject is also willing to contribute funds to alleviate His Highness the Crown Prince's burdens..."

The princeling officials present all expressed their willingness to pay money to protect the prince from disaster.

Nangong Wu looked at these officials and sneered inwardly.

In the past, when the national treasury was empty, these officials would donate some silver to tide them over, and they would all complain of being poor in court. Now that the crown prince they support is about to fall from grace, they are all willing to bleed money.

"Good! Hahaha..." Emperor Mingde laughed heartily when he saw that these officials had raised one million taels of silver for him in just a short time.

The money is enough. As for Jianggang Prefecture, it's just a barren piece of land on the frontier that's not worth much. If Bei Chenyan wants it, let him have it.

Jianggang Prefecture had the largest concentration of bandits, and the imperial court had repeatedly sent troops to suppress them, but all the casualties were heavy. So let it be!

"Crown Prince of Nanqi, then let's do as you just said. Pay Longhua Temple one million taels of silver in compensation. From this day forward, Jianggang Prefecture is ceded to Nanqi, and the matter of the Jade Buddha is now closed!" Emperor Mingde said to Beichen Yan.

Empress Su and Nan Qichengkun also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Bei Chenyan nodded and said to Abbot Minghai, "Abbot, the Jade Buddha has been found. I will send someone to send it back to Longhua Temple."

"Amitabha!" Abbot Minghai clasped his hands together in thanks to His Highness. "Thanks to Your Highness's keen insight, the Jade Buddha was found. This old monk thanks Your Highness."

"This old monk will return to Nanqi now and take the jade Buddha with me!"