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

"I have my reasons for not allowing anyone to visit my father, and they are not a reason for you to slander me," Bei Chenyan coldly ordered, refusing to allow them any rebuttal.

"Guards! Prince Jing has caused trouble with his men, disturbing the Emperor and defaming me. He is to be fined one year's salary, given twenty strokes of the cane, and sent back to his residence to reflect on his actions for one month..."

"Bei Chenyan, how dare you hit me? You're just a crown prince, what right do you have to punish me?" Prince Jing jumped up and interrupted him. He was already seething with anger from being hit, and now that he was being punished, he was furious.

"Bei Chenyan, don't think I don't know what you're up to. You think you can control the entire court and do whatever you want just by confining me for a month?"

"On what grounds? To you, I am the sovereign, and you are the subject. I am acting on the orders of my father, the Emperor, to oversee the country and manage all government affairs. Therefore, I have the right to deal with you." After saying this, Bei Chenyan waved his hand, "Drag him away and execute him, then send him back to the Jing Prince's residence."

"Yes!" Two imperial guards lifted Prince Jing up and pressed him onto a long bench, where the long board was lowered.

"Slap slap..."

"Bei Chenyan, how dare you treat me like this! I will not let this go... I want to see my father..." Prince Jing shouted angrily.

Seeing that things were not going well, the ministers brought by King Jing also wanted to leave in a sorry state.

"Halt!" Bei Chenyan suddenly shouted, stopping them. "Did I, the Crown Prince, say you could leave?"

But the officials seemed not to hear him and ran even faster.

Even King Jing is under house arrest; if they don't run fast, they'll be in trouble too.

Seeing that these officials were ignoring the Crown Prince's orders, the Imperial Guards leaped to stop them, drawing their swords with swift movements.

"How dare you! You actually dare to disobey His Highness the Crown Prince?!"

Marquis Pingnan turned around and said with a forced smile, "Your Highness, we came with Prince Jing. Since Your Majesty needs to rest, we will not disturb you any longer."

"Marquis Pingnan, weren't you the one who was shouting the loudest just now, wanting to seek justice for Prince Jing? How come you've become a quail now?" Bei Chenyan slowly walked up to these people.

Upon hearing this, the other officials were so shocked that they all knelt down before him.

A minister kowtowed, "Your Highness, we were merely accompanying Prince Jing to the palace to visit His Majesty. Prince Jing... Prince Jing didn't see His Majesty. Perhaps he was too worried about His Majesty and spoke without thinking. It has nothing to do with... it has nothing to do with us!"

"No relation? Now you're cutting ties with him?" Bei Chenyan sneered.

"Your Highness, it was my mistake. Please forgive us this time!"

Apart from the Marquis of Pingnan, more than a dozen officials kowtowed and begged for mercy.

"By order of the Crown Prince, all those who have slandered the Crown Prince with Prince Jing today shall each be given twenty strokes of the cane and demoted one rank!" As soon as Bei Chenyan finished speaking, the punished officials wailed in despair.

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong and will never dare to do it again. I beg you to rescind your order..."

Bei Chenyan's gaze fell on the Marquis of Pingnan, and he gave another order, "As for the Marquis of Pingnan, he shall be demoted from a second-rank marquis to a third-rank earl, his fief shall be halved, he shall also be given twenty strokes of the cane and thrown out of the palace."

"I refuse to accept this! I demand to see His Majesty!" Marquis Pingnan shouted, filled with resentment.

"My ancestors were founding heroes who made unparalleled contributions. The founding emperor bestowed upon them the title of Marquis of Pingnan, which was hereditary and perpetual, along with an iron certificate inscribed with cinnabar."

The imperial edict bestowing the title of Marquis of Pingnan by the founding emperor is now enshrined in the ancestral hall of my Bi family. Crown Prince, you are merely the heir apparent; you cannot overstep the authority of the founding emperor and strip my Bi family of the title of Marquis of Pingnan!

"A certificate of merit?" Bei Chenyan's lips curled into a playful smile. "Your Bi family ancestor was indeed a man of integrity, but unfortunately his descendants are all mediocre, incompetent, and sycophantic good-for-nothings!"

"Since that's the case, then bring me the imperial edict and certificate to redeem you for the crime you just committed against me!"

The title of Marquis of Pingnan was bestowed upon the Bi family by imperial decree of the ancestral emperor, and as a crown prince, he could not indeed disregard the ancestral emperor's decree.

Since we cannot demote him, we should revoke the imperial edicts and iron certificates issued to the Bi family and reduce their fiefdoms.

When Marquis Pingnan saw that he had changed his mind, he became smug. "No, the imperial edict was also bestowed by the founding emperor."

Even a crown prince doesn't have the authority to reclaim what his ancestors bestowed upon him.

"Then drag him away and behead him!" Bei Chenyan roared.

The imperial edict was a death-exemption certificate; if he or the Bi family committed another serious offense, their lives could be taken.

"yes!"

Dozens of imperial guards rushed forward, pinned the dozen or so officials to the ground, and began to beat them with long boards.

For a moment, the sound of the cane being struck was mixed with the painful wails of the officials.

Marquis Pingnan was also being held down by two imperial guards. Commander Deng drew his sword, intending to personally behead him.

The Marquis of Pingnan struggled desperately, pleading, "This humble subject's crime does not warrant death! Your Highness, do you intend to indiscriminately kill innocent people?"

Commander Deng coldly retorted, "Marquis of Pingnan, you have falsely accused the Crown Prince of plotting treason, and you still dare to say that your crime does not warrant death?"

"Now that the Crown Prince is so magnanimous, he's offering you a decree of imperial authority or demoting you to earl in exchange for your life. You should be grateful!"

"I'll hand it over! Your humble servant is willing to hand over the imperial edict..." The Marquis of Pingnan was afraid.

If Bei Chenyan really does kill him without thinking, it will be too late!

He thought that he should save his life first, and that once King Jing gained power and overthrew Bei Chenyan, he could get back what he had lost.

"Hmph!" Commander Deng snorted disdainfully, released him, and ordered one of the imperial guards next to him, "After you've finished beating him, you go with the Marquis to collect the imperial edict."

Marquis Pingnan collapsed to the ground, extremely unwilling, but no matter how much hatred he felt, he dared not utter another word. He was pressed down by the Imperial Guards and beaten with a board.

"Zhang Qing, bring lunch here. I wish to dine with my father." Bei Chenyan gave the order and led Nangong Wu into the Yikun Palace.

"Yes!" Zhang Qing withdrew to prepare lunch.

Upon entering the courtyard, Bei Chenyan asked, "How is Father Emperor now?"

Nangong Wu glanced into the space and saw that Emperor Nanqi had finished dialysis. She said, "That's enough! Do it again in a few days."

"Thank you!" Bei Chenyan said gratefully.

"You've helped me a lot in the past, and it's rare for you to ask me for help. I can't just stand by and watch someone die, but I can't guarantee that I can save them." Nangong Wu stepped up the stairs first.

Bei Chenyan caught up with her, saying, "I know you've done your best."

The two entered the bedchamber, and Nangong Wu moved Emperor Nanqi out of the space and placed him on the dragon bed.

Bei Chenyan walked up to the dragon bed and saw that the Southern Qi Emperor's breathing was steady and his complexion was much better.

"How long will it take for Father to wake up?"

"Wait a moment." Nangong Wu took out several silver needles from her spatial storage and inserted them into acupoints on Emperor Nanqi's head.

A while later, Emperor Nanqi slowly woke up.

"Father, how are you feeling?" Bei Chenyan came over and helped him sit up.

Emperor Nanqi checked his body and said, "I don't feel so bad anymore."

"Father, I went with the princess today to find a kidney for you. You will definitely get better," Bei Chenyan said.

"The princess truly lives up to her reputation as a divine physician." Emperor Nanqi looked Nangong Wu up and down, becoming more and more satisfied with her.

"Your Highness, you are a blessed man to have married Princess Runing. It is a blessing for our royal family and a fortune for the Southern Qi Kingdom!"