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

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at them, surprised that the Prime Minister of Nanqi would say such a thing.

Emperor Mingde and Nanqi Chengkun exchanged a glance.

"Yes, the Prime Minister is right." Bei Chenyan nodded, then asked his daughter in his arms, "Princess Jinyu, how about I give you a fiefdom as a gift?"

Nan Qichengkun was secretly delighted and quickly said, "Xi'er, you should thank His Highness the Crown Prince."

If Bei Chenyan were to give the land in Jianggang Prefecture to Nangong Xi as a gift, then that land would return to their Western Yan Kingdom!

However, Nangong Xi just looked at Nangong Wu. Her mother hadn't given her permission yet, so she couldn't just accept other people's things.

"Princess Jinyu, I'd like to offer you a piece of land as your fiefdom, is that alright?" Bei Chenyan asked her again, bowing his head.

"Crown Prince of Nanqi!" Nangong Wu's voice was cold and domineering: "This princess has not yet given her consent. That piece of land in Jianggang Prefecture does not yet belong to your Nanqi Kingdom."

One should not accept a reward without merit. Bei Chenyan and Xi'er are not related by blood, so giving Xi'er that piece of land in Jianggang Prefecture as a fiefdom is definitely not a pure act.

Even if he had no motives, she didn't want his charity.

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Nangong Wu, and they were all very excited, including Emperor Mingde and Nanqi Chengkun.

Nangong Wu has finally spoken out on this matter!

With just a word from her, the one million taels of silver wouldn't have to be repaid.

"Wuwu, since..." Huo Jing was about to speak when Nangong Wu raised her hand to stop him. "Father, there's no need for further words."

Bei Chenyan slightly curled his lips. "Princess Runing, Nan Qi Chengkun stole the jade Buddha from my Longhua Temple, so His Majesty ceded Jianggang Prefecture as compensation. Both parties have already agreed. Now you're saying it doesn't count? Are you trying to protect your Crown Prince?"

"I have no intention of protecting him." Nangong Wu stood up, walked to the middle of the hall, glanced at everyone in the hall, and finally her gaze landed on Nan Qichengkun.

"Nan Qi Chengkun, stealing the jade Buddha was a crime committed by you alone. Why should the entire Western Yan Kingdom pay for it?"

Emperor Mingde was furious. "Nangong Wu, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent. How dare you speak to him like that?"

"Crown Prince? How can someone as narrow-minded, treacherous, ruthless, jealous of talent, and cruel to his own siblings be worthy of being the Crown Prince of a country?" Nangong Wu sneered.

The hall fell silent.

Nan Qichengkun's face was terribly gloomy, and his eyes were as sinister as a venomous snake as he stared at her, wishing he could devour her alive.

"Nangong Wu, you are nothing more than a mere princess. The title of Runing was bestowed upon you by my father as a favor. How dare you speak so disrespectfully to me?"

"The title of princess bestowed upon me by the emperor? Haha!" Nangong Wu scoffed disdainfully. "Do you think I care about your charity? Without me, Nangong Wu, do you think you could be sitting here criticizing me..."

"All of you shut up!" Emperor Mingde, seated on the throne, interrupted her with a shout.

"Father, Nangong Wu has gone too far..."

"Your Highness, do not say more." Empress Su gave Nan Qi Chengkun a wink.

Although Nan Qichengkun was unconvinced, he dared not say anything more.

Nangong Wu was too lazy to pay them any more attention. She looked at Bei Chenyan and said, "Crown Prince of Nanqi, I will not give that piece of land in Jianggang Prefecture to your Nanqi Kingdom! As for the Crown Prince's matter, you can have him pay you another 500,000 taels of silver."

Bei Chenyan chuckled lightly, "Princess Runing, you've got a good calculation. Five hundred thousand taels of silver, and you think you can buy off the crimes committed by Nan Qi Chengkun?"

"There's nothing I can do, he's only worth this price. I won't give you a penny more. If you think it's too little, then take him with you," Nangong Wu said calmly.

"Nangong Wu, you are insulting me! Are you doing this on purpose?"

Nan Qichengkun could no longer hold back. He suddenly stood up, pointed at her, and said angrily, "Knowing full well that the national treasury is empty, you still caused the national treasury to lose an extra 500,000 taels of silver for a piece of barren land."

"Who said you wanted the national treasury's money to compensate you? Nan Qichengkun, you created this mess yourself, so deal with it yourself." Nangong Wu smiled coldly.

"I'm telling you this right now: if you dare to use the national treasury's money for compensation, that will be the fate of Nangong Xun."

"hiss……"

A collective gasp filled the hall.

Only this one dares to say that he is the crown prince of a country.

Nangong Wu continued, "The silver in the national treasury is all from the taxes paid by the people of the world through their hard work. The silver is taken from the people and used for the people. Anyone who dares to take it for private purposes, I will cut off their head and use it as a football."

"Alright!" Bei Chenyan nodded. "For Princess Runing's sake, let the Crown Prince provide another 500,000 taels of silver, and this matter will be over!"

Nan Qicheng gritted his teeth, but he didn't dare to confront Nangong Wu head-on. He secretly gave his father-in-law, Prime Minister Yu, a meaningful look.

Prime Minister Yu hurriedly stood up and said, "Princess Runing, His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the country. Although he has made a mistake, we cannot just stand by and watch him go to his death!"

"Didn't you just raise a million taels of silver for the Crown Prince? Keep raising more! A mere 500,000 taels of silver is just a few less meals of ginseng, deer antler, and bird's nest for you, and a few less visits to brothels," Nangong Wu said.

"We're innocent!"

The princeling officials who had just contributed the money all cried foul.

Nangong Wu, too lazy to pay attention to these people anymore, said to Emperor Mingde:

"Uncle, over the years, I have made many great contributions to the court, but apart from giving my three children titles and three iron scrolls of loyalty, you have rarely given me any rewards."

This time, I wish to ask you for a reward, namely the Jianggang Prefecture I just mentioned. I humbly request your permission, Your Majesty.

Emperor Mingde looked at the ministers who were helping the Crown Prince raise money and weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

"My lords, the national treasury truly cannot provide 500,000 taels of silver. We would be grateful if you could raise another 500,000 taels."

Emperor Mingde knew that these people had money, and that the Crown Prince's fate was intertwined with theirs, so he would use the money to save the Crown Prince.

He looked at Nangong Wu and said, "As for that piece of land in Jianggang Prefecture, since Runing wants it, then it will be your fief."

It's just a barren piece of land; if she wants it, I'll give it to her, as long as it doesn't fall into the hands of the Southern Qi Kingdom. It can even help him deal with the local bandits.

"It's not a fiefdom!" Nangong Wu corrected him. "The land I want will no longer belong to the territory of the Western Yan Kingdom, but will belong only to me, Nangong Wu, as my own territory."

"What? Your own territory?" Emperor Mingde's face suddenly darkened.

"Your own territory!" Nan Qi Chengkun roared. "Nangong Wu, are you planning to betray the Western Yan Kingdom?"

"Why not?" Nangong Wu looked at him coldly, speaking without any restraint:

"With an emperor as immoral as you in the future, the fate of the Nangong family's empire will be exhausted by you sooner or later. I also find it unlucky and will not serve someone like you."