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

Upon hearing that assassins had entered the Prince's residence, Nangong Wu became worried about the capital. It seemed she needed to bring her father over as soon as possible.

She finished reading the letters, her face grim. "Heavy snow has fallen at Lindong Pass, and the imperial court hasn't delivered the winter rations yet?"

The weather in Lindongguan is starting to get cold now. In previous years, the grain would have already arrived at the Lindongguan warehouse.

"The snow came earlier this year, and our royal family didn't donate any money to the court this year. I think someone deliberately delayed it." Nangong Xiao said with a displeased expression.

"The snowfall is light, it's alright. Hopefully those good-for-nothings will deliver the food soon." Nangong Wu returned the letter to Nangong Xiao. "Brother, we want Mingru to go and intercept the Mao'er River."

Only by blocking the Mao'er River can all the accumulated water in Runan City be drained.

"Alright, everyone's been waiting for this day." Nangong Xiao nodded.

At this moment, Li Zhan and Li Ke brought over dinner.

"Your Highnesses, it's time for dinner."

Nangong Xiao stood up first. "Let's have our meal first. We can talk about other things later."

Qiao Xiangqing also got up, picked up her bundle and sword, and went outside. She said to Li Shuang, "Sister Li Shuang, please arrange a place for me to stay."

"This..." Li Shuang couldn't help but look into the room.

Would the princess really let Qiao Xiangqing live with her?

Upon hearing Qiao Xiangqing's words, Nangong Wu called her in, "Miss Qiao, let's have our meal before we rest."

"No need, I'm here to be your bodyguard. I can go eat with Sister Li Shuang." Qiao Xiangqing waved her hand.

"What? Here to be a bodyguard?" Nangong Xiao looked at his younger sister with a puzzled expression.

What kind of influential figure was Qiao Yunqing, the former leader of the Kunlun Sect? His only daughter became his sister's bodyguard.

Qiao Yunqing was highly skilled in martial arts, said to be on par with Ling Yangzi. He was also the teacher of the Crown Prince of Nanqi, and had a great reputation. That's why he was secretly murdered.

Although Qiao Yunqing is dead, the Kunlun Sect's reputation remains strong. Even though they are members of the royal family, they cannot underestimate these major martial arts sects.

"How could I dare to take her as a bodyguard?" Nangong Wu shrugged.

She insisted on coming along.

Nangong Hong didn't think it was impossible either. "Miss Qiao, Sister Wang was just joking with you. How could she let you be her bodyguard? Come in and have your meal with us!"

"Miss Qiao, this place is too simple to properly entertain you, but since you're here, you'll have to endure the hardships with us!" Nangong Xiao personally pulled out a chair for her. "After you've had your fun here, I'll send someone to take you back."

"I won't go back!" Qiao Xiangqing quickly waved her hand again, "I want to stay by the princess's side and learn skills."

What a joke! Nangong Wu finally agreed to let her come along, how could she possibly go back?

Upon hearing this, Nangong Xiao understood why Qiao Xiangqing had come along, but he dismissed it as childish behavior.

"Miss Qiao, we won't kick you out. You can stay as long as you want. Since you want to stay, just make yourself at home here."

"Really?" Qiao Xiangqing immediately perked up.

"Indeed, Sect Leader Qiao is a man of great righteousness, and I, the young master, admire him greatly. We are afraid that we have not been able to entertain you properly since you have come here," Nangong Xiao said.

Nangong Wu looked at her brother with suspicion, as she rarely saw him talking so much with a girl.

Could it be that these two people are destined to be together?

"Don't worry, we people of the martial world don't stand on ceremony. You don't need to be so polite." After hearing Nangong Xiao's words, Qiao Xiangqing stopped refusing and came in to dine with them.

After finishing their meal, Nangong Wu led Li Zhan and Su Siyan into the cave and took out some more food from her spatial storage. She planned to have Cao Bin distribute the food to the people on the mountain the next day.

The next day.

Nangong Wu switched to the larger helicopter and took dozens of guards to the Mao'er River to prepare for the river damming.

They arrived at the fork in the Mao'er River, and Nangong Wu set up some tents for everyone to camp in.

Nangong Xiao returned after surveying the surrounding terrain. "Sister, the water flow in this area is a bit rapid; it might be difficult to dam it."

Nangong Wu frowned. "There are houses nearby. Why don't we go and ask the villagers if they have any good ideas?"

Her idea was to fill burlap sacks with soil or woven bamboo cages with pebbles, and throw the cages and mounds of soil from both banks or one end toward the middle, gradually encroaching on the narrowing river channel until it was finally "closed" and the flow was cut off.

But her method may not be the best; let's first listen to whether the villagers have a better idea.

"Okay, let's go ask first."

The brother and sister went to find villagers nearby.

Upon hearing that they wanted to block the river, the villagers immediately called several people to help them.

An old man said, "This tributary has caused us a lot of trouble. Every rainy season, the water of the Mao'er River rises and rushes into this tributary, flooding many of our good crops."

This year, in particular, it rained for more than a month, flooding the fields and causing a complete crop failure. The stored grain is only enough to last for three months at most, and they will go hungry after the New Year.

If we can divert the water, our fields will no longer be afraid of being flooded.

"Don't worry, old man. If you really have no rice to cook, you can go to Runan City. We won't let you go hungry," Nangong Wu said to him.

"Really?" the old man asked doubtfully.

"It's true," Li Zhan, who had come with them, told them. "This is the Crown Prince of Zhenyuan from the capital. We wouldn't lie to you."

"The Prince of Zhenyuan." Several villagers were startled and immediately knelt down.

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness."

"You don't need to be so polite." Nangong Xiao helped them all up.

"Grandpa, we have limited manpower. I'd like to find some people to help with the diversion. We'll pay them." Nangong Wu said.

"That's easy to say." As soon as the villagers heard that there was money involved, they immediately went to help call people.

A little while later, they brought over a dozen young men.

"You've dammed rivers before? And how did you do it?" Nangong Wu asked.

"We've intercepted it." A middle-aged man shared some of his experience with intercepting the flow with them.

Nangong Wu nodded after listening, "If you are willing to help intercept the flow, you will be paid one tael of silver per day of work, and there will be a reward after the interception is successful."

The villagers were skeptical; they felt that paying one or two taels of silver a day was too high and they were afraid of being scammed.

"Really? Liu'er works as a waiter in the city and doesn't even earn a tael of silver a month."

"Could you give us the money first?"

"Okay." Nangong Wu took out a money bag. "Here's the money. You need to come to work with us immediately."

The villagers' eyes lit up when they saw the silver, and they all nodded in agreement.

"Can!"

"Then find some more people, and give them the silver as soon as they arrive." Nangong Wu didn't give them the silver now.

If they take the money and run away, it will be difficult to chase after them.

I don't have much money, but I can't let myself be ripped off.