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

"Tell me! What exactly happened here?" Bei Chenyan asked coldly.

Hearing the accusatory tone in his voice, Shi Shengqing broke out in a cold sweat. He could tell that the Crown Prince had a close relationship with this wicked girl.

If that's the case, then the token Fan Wuyou just took out is genuine.

Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a long time, Bei Chenyan gave a displeased "hmm".

"Your Highness, it's... my daughter is naughty and made you laugh." Shi Shengqing replied, forcing a smile.

"Unruly? Unruly enough to kill?" Bei Chenyan looked at Nangong Wu. "What do you mean?"

"He tried to kill me first, and I had no choice but to resist." Nangong Wu accused Shi Shengqing of his crimes.

"Twenty-three years ago, Shi Shengqing and Wan Shuhua colluded and conceived a child. Shi Peiqiong is only a year and a half younger than me, which shows that the two of them had already been having an affair before my mother died..."

"You wicked girl, shut up!" Shi Shengqing shouted angrily, stopping her from saying anything more.

Nangong Wu stood up and bowed to Bei Chenyan. "Your Highness, I have found conclusive evidence. My maternal grandfather was robbed by bandits while collecting debts. It was a premeditated murder. My mother was also poisoned to death. The prime suspect is Shi Shengqing."

Shi Shengqing panicked, and though his voice was fierce, he yelled at her, "You wicked girl, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Insolence!" Bei Chenyan swept his hand, and a teacup on the table was smashed towards Shi Shengqing.

"Bang!" The teacup hit Shi Shengqing's chest and then fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

"Shi Shengqing, do you think I, the Crown Prince, am dead?"

"Your humble servant dares not!" Shi Shengqing's expression changed drastically, and he knelt down.

Hearing the commotion inside, Wei Yang walked in.

"Wei Yang, go to the Jingzhao Prefecture to report a murder that occurred in the Shi family. Ask the Jingzhao Prefect to investigate, and also invite the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Censor-in-Chief, and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice to come." Bei Chenyan instructed.

"Yes!" Wei Yang bowed and accepted the order.

Shi Shengqing was startled and quickly got up to stop Wei Yang. "Your Highness, this is a family matter. We can resolve it behind closed doors. There's no need to make such a fuss."

"Who's family with you?"

Bei Chenyan and Nangong Wu stopped him in unison.

"Minister Shi, are you trying to control His Highness the Crown Prince?" Wei Yang's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes icy.

"Your humble servant dares not!" Shi Shengqing was so frightened that he took a few steps back.

"Hmph!" Wei Yang snorted and quickly left.

Shi Shengqing finally sensed that something was wrong.

No wonder this wretched girl dared to come back alone and cause a ruckus at the Shi family, fearing no one; it turns out she has the Crown Prince as her powerful backer.

After a moment's thought, he bowed and took his leave. "Your Highness, please rest here. I will go and prepare some tea and snacks."

He finished speaking and was about to leave without waiting for Bei Chenyan to reply.

"Halt!" Li Shuang's longsword stopped him, and she said coldly, "Shi Shengqing, you are the prime suspect in the murder of Old Master Fan and his wife. You cannot leave here until the case is solved."

Shi Shengqing had no choice but to turn around and argue with Bei Chenyan: "Your Highness, I did not do these things. It was this wretched girl who slandered me."

"Whether it's slander or not, we'll know once the officials arrive and investigate!" Bei Chenyan said coldly.

Shi Shengqing was filled with unease. More than twenty years had passed, and he had executed almost everyone in the Fan family. Fan Wuyou was only a few years old at the time and didn't understand anything, so it was impossible for him to find any evidence.

"Wuyou, I know you're sad, but your grandfather's death was truly an accident, and your mother died from postpartum hemorrhage. I haven't done anything to wrong them." Shi Shengqing tried to calm Fan Wuyou down.

As long as she doesn't cause trouble, everything is easy to resolve.

Nangong Wu guessed his thoughts and sat back in the main seat, too lazy to pay attention.

Bei Chenyan glanced at him. "What is the truth of the matter? Everything will be revealed when the esteemed officials arrive. Minister Shi, please wait patiently."

"Yes." Shi Shengqing had no choice but to stand aside, glancing frequently at the gate, hoping that Shi Peiqiong would go out and get help.

The current situation clearly shows that Bei Chenyan wants to settle scores with him.

Fan Wuyou's sudden return might have been sent by him, but it's a pity he only realized it now.

If all of this was orchestrated by Bei Chenyan, then the things that went missing from his residence are very likely related to the Crown Prince.

A large warehouse, Wan Shuhua's private storeroom, and his secret room—all the items were swept away.

To be able to move so many things away without anyone noticing right under his nose is something no ordinary person could do, unless that person is the crown prince.

It turns out that the Crown Prince had long wanted to get rid of him, so he sent Fan Wuyou back first, and the two of them worked together to steal his things.

If the things in that secret room fall into Bei Chenyan's hands, then he's truly doomed.

Thinking of this, Shi Shengqing felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

Bei Chenyan then ordered, "Cao Li, immediately seal off the Shi residence. No one is allowed to leave without my order."

"Yes, ma'am!" Cao Li replied from outside the door.

Nangong Wu was speechless. They were only sealing off the Shi residence now, while those who were supposed to escape had already done so, and those who were supposed to report the news had already gone.

Bei Chenyan seemed to have read her mind, turned to look at her, and said, "Don't worry, none of them will escape."

Nangong Wu immediately understood; this guy must have deliberately sent someone out to deliver the message.

Li Ke also came and brought them tea and snacks.

"Move these bodies outside first," Bei Chenyan ordered.

The smell of blood here is just too awful.

"yes!"

Immediately, guards from the Eastern Palace came in and carried the bodies out. Others brought in water and quickly washed away the bloodstains on the ground.

Time passed slowly, but the first person to arrive was actually the Emperor's father-in-law, Bei Chenyan's maternal grandfather.

"The Emperor's father-in-law has arrived!"

Shi Shengqing was secretly delighted; his savior had arrived.

Bei Chenyan frowned slightly and stood up.

Nangong Wu also stood up and stood to one side with Li Shuang.

The emperor's father-in-law, over seventy years old, with completely white hair and beard, wore a first-rank court robe and leaned on a dragon-headed cane as he entered, supported by Wan Wenting and Wan Shuhua.

Bei Chenyan stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, maternal grandfather!"

"This old minister wouldn't dare!" The Emperor's father-in-law sized him up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy eyes. "It's been over seven years since I last saw you, Your Highness the Crown Prince has indeed grown up!"

Aiqi overheard this in the space and couldn't help but scoff, "That old man's words were loaded with meaning; he was practically saying you've grown up and your wings have hardened! You don't even respect the Wan family anymore."

"Your son-in-law greets Father-in-law!" Shi Shengqing knelt down before his father-in-law, weeping bitterly. "Father-in-law, you've finally come..."

"Get up! Look at you, where is the demeanor of a Minister of Justice? You have no ambition whatsoever." The Emperor's father-in-law sneered, his tone full of disappointment. With the help of Wan Wenting and Wan Shuhua, he sat down in the lower seat on the left.