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

Emperor Mingde glared fiercely at Nangong Xun, his tone filled with dissatisfaction.

"If you don't rein in your temper, you'll only cause more trouble."

"Father, I am telling the truth." Nangong Xun pointed at Nangong Wu, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Look at her, her body is ruined, she keeps male lovers, and she's even fathered several illegitimate children. It's already a favor that Zhou Shaorong is willing to take her, yet he still has the nerve to look down on her..."

With a sharp "smack!" followed by Nangong Xun's scream, a bloody gash appeared on his face, and his spittle-spitting mouth came to an abrupt halt.

"Nangong Xun, if you dare to insult this princess again, it won't be as simple as just one lash!" Nangong Wu slowly withdrew her whip.

"Xun'er..." the Imperial Noble Consort exclaimed in shock. Seeing the bloodstains on her son's face, she could no longer suppress her anger.

"Nangong Wu, you vile woman! How dare you hit my son?"

This is her precious son, whom she has doted on and spoiled since childhood. How dare this vile woman hit her son in front of the emperor?

"Enough!" Emperor Mingde roared, glaring at the Imperial Noble Consort. "Look at you! What have you done to him? Has all the royal upbringing been fed to a dog?"

When the Imperial Noble Consort saw that her son had been injured and that Emperor Mingde was still protecting Nangong Wu, she was filled with extreme hatred.

"Your Majesty, even if my son's words were harsh, they were the truth. Not only is Nangong Wu tactless, but she even dared to hit him in front of you! This is utterly disrespectful!"

Emperor Mingde's face was more unpleasant than ever before. He hadn't expected that Nangong Wu would actually hit someone in front of him. Her temperament was becoming more and more spoiled.

"Nangong Xun, if you continue to speak so recklessly, the assassins who dared to bomb your palace last night will dare to bomb you to death next time!"

Nangong Wu sneered inwardly; she wouldn't let that bastard live too long.

Once I've recovered, with a sniper rifle, I can take the lives of this mother and child without anyone noticing.

"Uncle, Madam Zhou and Zhou Chuchu stole my dowry, which included two hundred top-quality pearls. They have committed a capital offense. Please punish them according to the law."

"Your Majesty, please have mercy! Chu Chu has just miscarried and is very weak. She cannot be sent to prison!" Zhou Zheng knelt down and pleaded.

Emperor Mingde's face was grim. "Ru Ning, stay. All three of you, leave!"

"Your Majesty..." The Imperial Noble Consort was about to speak when Emperor Mingde rebuked her:

"Shut up! Get out of here, all of you!"

Seeing that Emperor Mingde was truly angry, the Imperial Noble Consort, Nangong Xun, and Zhou Zheng had no choice but to leave.

"This concubine takes her leave!"

"Your subject takes his leave!"

"This humble subject takes his leave!"

"Nangong Wu, you just wait!" Nangong Xun glared fiercely at Nangong Wu, then turned and left.

After the door to the Imperial Study was closed again, Emperor Mingde sighed softly and sat back on the dragon throne.

"Ru Ning, I heard you found the child's father?"

Nangong Wu was taken aback; Emperor Mingde now knew of Xiao Lin's existence.

"Yes."

Now that things have come to this, she can only temporarily regard Xiao Lin as the father of her child.

The emperor's heart is as deep as the sea; she cannot afford to make the slightest mistake.

"So it's because of Xiao Lin that you're unwilling to marry Zhou Shaorong again?" Emperor Mingde asked again.

Nangong Wu was secretly shocked to hear this; Emperor Mingde actually knew Xiao Lin's name.

Besides her four bodyguards, there was also Granny Feng and the old steward. She never mentioned Xiao Lin's name to anyone. How did Emperor Mingde know about Xiao Lin?

Emperor Mingde seemed to see through her thoughts and said, "Stop guessing, I sent someone to ask Xiao Lin."

So that's how it is! When did the emperor's men enter the palace? She didn't even know.

Nangong Wu clenched her fist under her sleeve.

Nothing in the Prince's mansion could be hidden from Emperor Mingde.

If he knew everything, why did he turn a blind eye to the original owner's plight? And why did he condone the actions of the Imperial Concubine and her son?

She couldn't help but recall Xiao Lin mentioning the emperor's secret guards to her, realizing that he was hinting at her to be careful of Emperor Mingde.

And then there's her sneaking into Prince Rui's mansion last night. Emperor Mingde's "Shadow Blades" must have been secretly following her. Later, Xiao Lin appeared in time. Could it be that he helped eliminate those "Shadow Blades"?

Otherwise, Emperor Mingde should have known about what she had done to the Prince Rui's residence long ago.

They discovered that the people here had an extraordinary sense of smell and terrifyingly high combat skills.

"Although Xiao Lin is the father of the children, his parents died early, and he is just a wandering swordsman. Such a status is too low and he is not worthy of you," Emperor Mingde said again.

"He is indeed not good enough for me. I only kept him in the palace as a male concubine because he is the biological father of my child." As Nangong Wu said this, she felt a chill run down her spine.

She could dismiss her male concubines at any time, so that she would have an excuse if Xiao Lin left one day.

"Very well, since you are unwilling to remarry Zhou Shaorong, then I will put an end to their plans." Emperor Mingde then changed the subject:

"Runing! The Zhou family has done something to wrong you, but I have already demoted Zhou Zheng's title and stripped Zhou Shaorong of all his merits. None of his illegitimate sons are of any use. From now on, the Zhou family's fate is sealed, and they will no longer have a place in the court."

As for the matter of Madam Zhou and Zhou Chuchu, let's leave it at that! Just to give me face.

As expected, a mocking smile appeared on Nangong Wu's lips.

The emperor has put it this way, who would dare not give him face?

The Imperial Noble Consort is indeed quite charming; no wonder she spoils Nangong Xun so much.

Did that mother and daughter think they could escape this calamity with Emperor Mingde and the Imperial Noble Consort protecting them? Don't even think about it!

"Ru Ning will listen to her imperial uncle."

When she came, she was thinking that if Emperor Mingde severely punished Madam Zhou and her daughter, she would donate another 200,000 taels of silver to him, since the silver would be used for the people's livelihood anyway.

But now, there's no need.

Seeing that she had stopped making a fuss, Emperor Mingde's expression softened a bit. "You are a sensible child."

sensible?

The original owner lost her life because she was too sensible. If she hadn't come, her body would have been thrown into a mass grave to be fed to wild dogs. Why would she be here listening to him say these false things?

"Since there is nothing else, then Runing will take her leave." She curtsied and left without waiting for the emperor to speak.

Since the emperor favored the Imperial Noble Consort and her son, there was no point in her saying anything more; she could only seek revenge in her own way.

Emperor Mingde, watching her retreating figure, grew increasingly enigmatic.

*

Back at the Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion, Nangong Wu told Li Shuang about what had happened in the Imperial Study as she walked towards the Zuimei Courtyard.

Li Shuang thought for a moment and said, "His Majesty dotes on the Imperial Noble Consort the most, and Madam Zhou is the Imperial Noble Consort's younger sister. Ordinary people can't touch the Zhou family at all. It is already very commendable that His Majesty has done this for you."

"Rare indeed?" Nangong Wu's eyes turned cold. She no longer believed in Emperor Mingde's kindness. "He must be after those hundreds of thousands of taels of silver."

"Princess, it's not difficult to get rid of that mother and daughter. The Zhou family can't even hire guards anymore. After some time, I will personally take care of them," Li Shuang comforted her.