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

The two returned to the East Palace and entered Bei Chenyan's Yongming Hall.

Zhang Qing and Li Ke came forward.

"Your Highness, Princess! You're back?"

They knew that major events had occurred in both the Shi and Wan families, events that might be related to both princes.

"We're fine. Continue to monitor the movements of the Shi and Wan families. Report back if anything happens." Bei Chenyan gave Zhang Qing a few instructions before walking into the main hall with Nangong Wu.

He closed the door behind him and asked, "How was it?"

"Let's go inside the space to talk." Nangong Wu used her mind to take him into the space.

She obtained Shi Shengqing's belongings, including account books, secret letters, land deeds, house deeds, pawn tickets, indentures, and so on.

"There are secret letters from Shi Shengqing accusing him of embezzlement and corruption, as well as the original house deeds, land deeds, and account books of the Fan family. Take a look."

Bei Chenyan first read the secret letters, and his expression grew more and more unpleasant with each one he finished reading.

Nangong Wu then moved all of Wan Shu's drawings over to check if there was any usable evidence.

That night, they didn't sleep at all in their efforts to gather evidence of Shi Shengqing's illegal activities.

Just as it was time for court to begin, Zhang Qing came to knock on the door.

"Your Highness, it's time to attend court."

Bei Chenyan stood up and said, "I'll go to court first. You can return to the Shi residence after I finish court."

"I understand." Of course, Nangong Wu wouldn't go too early, otherwise the show wouldn't be as interesting.

Bei Chenyan tidied up in her space and changed into a crown prince's court robe.

Nangong Wu escorted him out of the space.

Bei Chenyan opened the palace door, stepped over the threshold, and walked out.

Zhang Qing, who had been waiting outside the palace gates, bowed respectfully upon seeing him emerge, saying, "Your Highness!"

"Hmm." Bei Chenyan gave a soft hum. "How is it?"

Zhang Qing reported: "Your Highness, I have discovered that the Wan family was robbed... They lost something very important and sent someone to see you, but I refused, saying that you had already retired for the night!"

The Wan family mobilized the city's garrison to search the city and even threatened to seal the city gates until they found the treasure.

"Don't worry about what's happening outside for now. You've been on guard all night, go and get some rest. Let Wei Yang take your place," Bei Chenyan instructed before walking out.

"yes!"

The atmosphere in the imperial court was more somber than ever before.

Bei Chenyan walked slowly to the kneeling person, his voice cold:

"Duke Anguo, what treasure did the Imperial Father-in-law's residence lose last night? They actually mobilized all the city's guards to search the entire city, just to find the assassin for your Wan family, causing unrest throughout the entire capital all night, and even wanting to seal off the city. What audacity!"

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials in the hall were stunned.

Duke Anguo, Wan Wenting, is Empress Wan's biological brother, the Crown Prince's maternal uncle, and also the Crown Prince's top henchman. The Wan family was robbed and lost things. Shouldn't the Crown Prince be the most worried? Why does he sound unhappy instead?

They couldn't fathom the Crown Prince's thoughts this time!

"This...?" Wan Wenting was also stunned, not understanding what the Crown Prince meant.

At the start of the court session, he knelt and begged the Crown Prince to stand up for the Wan family and help send troops to capture the thieves who emptied the underground palace. Why did he turn around and attack the Wan family instead?

Seeing that he remained silent, Bei Chenyan sneered and asked again, "Duke Anguo, why are you silent? What incredible treasure has your Wan family lost?"

"Your Highness, it is true that several very important imperial treasures were lost. It is all my fault for failing to protect the imperial gifts. In my haste, I mobilized the Imperial City Guard..." Wan Wenting broke out in a cold sweat as he thought of the things that were lost in the underground palace.

"You think you can just move the Imperial City Guard's troops without permission just because you lost a few important imperial gifts? Do you think the court's troops belong to your Wan family?" Bei Chenyan asked coldly.

Upon hearing his angry words, all the ministers in the hall were so shocked that they knelt down.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

They understood the Crown Prince's unspoken meaning: if the Wan family dared to secretly mobilize troops to search for the assassin, they would also dare to secretly mobilize troops to force the palace into rebellion.

Wan Wenting was also greatly alarmed and kowtowed heavily, saying, "Your Highness, I am guilty!"

In the past, the Wan family had repeatedly mobilized the city's garrison troops without authorization. Although His Majesty reprimanded them, the matter was never resolved.

Now that His Majesty is seriously ill and the Crown Prince is overseeing the country, we thought that the Crown Prince would stand on the side of the Wan family.

Seeing that things were going badly, some of the Crown Prince's supporters knelt down and pleaded for the Wan family, "Your Highness, it is true that Duke Anguo was wrong to mobilize troops without authorization, but the search was carried out suddenly. Please forgive Duke Anguo this time, considering the old Grandfather's dedication to the country!"

Upon hearing them mention the late Emperor's father-in-law, Bei Chenyan's expression softened slightly. "For the sake of the late Emperor's father-in-law, I will spare you this time, but you will be fined half a year's salary as a warning to others! If there is a next time, I will not tolerate it!"

Now is not the time to take action against everyone; we can only leave it for now.

The Wan family lost so much stuff from the underground palace, they won't let this go easily. They'll definitely make some big moves. Let's make them commit even bigger mistakes!

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Highness! I will never dare to do it again!" Wan Wenting secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

They said the Crown Prince wouldn't touch the Wan family; punishing him with half a year's salary was just for show.

The ministers shared the same thought as Wan Wenting, believing that the Crown Prince's punishment of him was merely for show. For the Wan family, half a year's salary was nothing more than the cost of a few meals or a piece of jewelry, and was insignificant.

However, some of the Wang faction members felt a sense of satisfaction when they saw him being reprimanded by the Crown Prince, but they couldn't bear to see the Wan family living comfortably!

Just as the civil and military officials stood up, Bei Chenyan suddenly demanded, "Where is the Commander of the Imperial City Guard?!"

"Your humble servant is here!" The commander of the Imperial City Guard hurriedly stepped forward.

"You mobilized troops to search the city without permission, what is your crime?!" Bei Chenyan questioned.

The commander of the Imperial City Guard was startled, his knees buckled, and he knelt down with a thud. "Your humble servant knows his crime!"

"Then drag him out and behead him!" Bei Chenyan shouted, giving the order.

"Your Highness, spare my life!" The commander of the Imperial City Guard kowtowed in terror, begging for mercy. "This humble subject was merely following orders..."

Wan Wenting was so shocked that he knelt down again. "Your Highness, the commander of the Imperial City Guard is my cousin. He sent troops to help me search for the thieves."

"Your Highness, the Commander of the Imperial City Guard was merely mobilizing troops to apprehend thieves; his crime does not warrant death!"

Nearly 30% of the officials knelt down to plead for the commander of the Imperial City Guard.

"Not a crime punishable by death?" Bei Chenyan looked at these ministers, all of whom were henchmen of the Wan family. They claimed to support him as the crown prince, but in private they were engaged in factionalism, power struggles, and political chaos.

"Your Highness, I dare not do it again. Please forgive me this time for the sake of Her Majesty the Empress!" The commander of the Imperial City Guard invoked Empress Wan's name to beg for mercy.

He was Empress Wan's cousin and a supporter of the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince killed him, it would be like cutting off his own arm. Not only would he lose a great ally, but he would also become a laughing stock for the other princes' factions.

However, the murderous intent in Bei Chenyan's eyes intensified; he was determined to make an example of someone today.

"Commander of the Imperial City Guard, are you trying to threaten me by invoking the Empress Dowager?"