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

Nangong Wu and Li An exchanged a glance.

Xu Gui continued, "That day, I discovered something was wrong with a sum of military pay. The number of people on the payroll had not increased, but the amount of silver withdrawn was a full 100,000 taels more, so I went to ask Xia Wei about it."

But he only said one sentence: "Just remember it however you want, don't ask so many questions," and then gave me a thousand taels of silver.

At that moment, I felt that the banknotes in my hand were burning my hand. Xia Wei was asking me to falsify accounts. If it was discovered, not only would I die, but my family would also be implicated.

I refused the thousand taels of silver. Even if I die, I want to die with a clear conscience.

That evening, on his way home, he was brutally beaten by a group of people who thought he was dead and dumped him in a mass grave.

Fortunately, fate spared me; I survived, but my leg was crippled. From then on, I lived a life of hiding my identity and barely daring to return home.

But the heavens are clear, and I firmly believe that this gloom over the court will eventually dissipate. Now, the day has finally come for Your Highness to re-examine the national treasury accounts.

"Elder Xu, I have learned of your injustice, and I will certainly seek justice for you," Nangong Wu said slowly.

"Since you've worked in the Ministry of Revenue's accounts, could you perhaps lend me a hand?"

Xu Gui looked puzzled. "Your Highness, I am but a crippled commoner; I'm afraid I cannot be of any help to you?"

"You can do it," Nangong Wu said. "Starting tomorrow, I will be checking the national treasury's accounts and I need manpower. I hope you can lend a hand."

After the national treasury's accounts are fully audited, I will not let any of those corrupt officials or those who have wronged you go unpunished. Every penny of tax revenue will be used for the people's livelihood.

Xu Gui had worked as an accountant in the Ministry of Revenue for twenty years. He was familiar with the shady dealings there and could uncover every penny hidden in the abacus, as well as the falsehoods concealed by ink and paper.

Upon hearing this, Xu Gui was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Highness, for trusting me. My leg is lame, but my hands can still hold a pen and an abacus. As long as Your Highness is willing to use me, I will do my best."

Nangong Wu nodded, "That's good. You can stay at the Prince's residence for now. Come with me to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Xu Gui knelt down to express his gratitude.

"Please come with me!" Li An led him down.

"I'm going back too. You'll be busy tomorrow, so get some rest." Xiao Lin put the baby in the cradle and said goodbye.

Nangong Wu summoned three wet nurses, who carried the children down into the space.

She hasn't checked Shi Wen's things since she received them.

She opened all the boxes and checked them one by one.

Finally, they found more than a dozen account books and a list under a box.

She examined the ledgers and lists, which were densely filled with records of all the officials who had bribed him, along with the amounts involved. Every penny they had embezzled from the national treasury ultimately flowed into Nangong Xun's private coffers.

Furthermore, the core personnel of the Ministry of Revenue were all Nangong Xun's men, and all the expenditures and incomes of the entire Western Yan Kingdom passed through their hands.

It's like my wish came true!

With these ledgers and lists, the Ministry of Revenue can be thoroughly investigated.

Although Emperor Mingde's favoritism towards the Imperial Noble Consort and her son was not enough to completely destroy Nangong Xun and the Ming family, he could at least drag them down into the mire.

Once they fall from grace and into the mire, they will feel resentful, and the stronger their desire for power, the more risky they will be, such as forcing the emperor to abdicate or rebel.

She really wanted to see if Emperor Mingde would willingly relinquish the throne when his most beloved son held a knife to his throat.

The next day.

Nangong Wu led Li Shuang out of the palace and saw two carriages and fifty palace guards parked outside the gate.

Li Cheng, Luo Dayou and Xu Gui stood beside the carriage.

Xu Gui changed into a blue outfit and tidied her hair, making her look less old.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

The three men greeted her.

"Mm." Nangong Wu nodded slightly. "Since we're already out, let's go!"

She got into the spacious private carriage in front, while Xu Gui sat in the ordinary carriage behind.

Xu Gui is a witness, and also a "dead man," so they have to protect him.

When the lame Xu Gui appeared at the Ministry of Revenue's office, the officials who knew him from the past were all shocked.

"Old Xu, you're still alive? Where have you been all these years?"

"Xu Gui, since you're still alive, why don't you go home? Your wife and son are extremely worried because of your disappearance."

Xu Gui remained indifferent to these people's feigned concern.

"Of course, it is for this day when I can see the light of day again."

He thought he wouldn't live to see this day, but God had other plans.

Hearing his pointed remark, the group of people awkwardly shut up.

At this moment, the five people Xiao Lin had brought came to see her.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"No need for formalities." Nangong Wu sized up the five of them, who were between thirty and forty years old, each holding an abacus, their eyes revealing a shrewdness.

"Leave!"

Li Cheng immediately stepped forward, "Please give your orders, Your Highness!"

"According to the list above, capture these people for me!" Nangong Wu handed Shi Wen's list to Li Cheng.

"Yes!" Li Cheng took the list with both hands and began to read the names on it:

"Physician Jiang Shuofeng and Assistant Physician Jiang Xin, arrest them!"

Jiang Shuofeng and Jiang Xin's expressions changed drastically.

Luo Dayou and the guards of the Prince's Mansion rushed forward and captured the two men.

"Prince Zhenyuan, what do you mean by this?" Jiang Shuofeng struggled. "Even if you are a prince, you cannot arrest people without reason."

"Without a reason?" Luo Dayou sneered. "You bastard, nothing in this world happens without a reason."

"Geng Zhao, Tang Jiyao..." Every time Li Cheng called out a name, a guard would step forward and arrest the person.

A total of thirteen people were arrested and tied up with ropes.

"Nangong Wu, what are you doing?" Nangong Xun's loud voice rang out.

Nangong Wu turned her head and saw Nangong Xun leading a group of people in a hurry to walk in.

When Shuofeng and Jiang Xin saw him arrive, it was like seeing a lifeline. "Your Highness Prince Rui, please save us..."

Nangong Wu ignored Nangong Xun as if he didn't exist and sat down in the main seat.

"You bastards, release them all immediately!" Nangong Xun pointed at Luo Dayou and his group of guards.

Then, Li Cheng and dozens of guards just stared at him coldly, unmoved.

"Your Highness, we are here on His Majesty's orders to audit the national treasury accounts. We hope you will not interfere," Li Cheng said.

"Nangong Wu, don't think that just because your father has given you special privileges, you can do whatever you want." Nangong Xun pointed at Nangong Wu and scolded her angrily.

Nangong Wu spoke first: "Everyone, now that you're here, let's begin!"

"Yes."

The twelve people who were invited sat down at the table and began to check the account books.

Ignored by her, Nangong Xun's face twisted in anger, and he gritted his teeth, "Guards, take the physician and other officials away from me!"