In this chaotic world of vying for power, I can become stronger by marrying a wife.

Su Ming reined in his horse, and the black horse snorted, exhaling a puff of hot air that sprayed all over Wang Yuanzhi's face.

Su Ming looked down at the group of civil officials who were spewing spittle, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Wei Lang," Su Ming said calmly.

"Your subordinate is here!" Wei Lang rode out, carrying a cloth bag that was still dripping blood.

"Lord Wang said I don't know etiquette." Su Ming picked at his ear. "Show Lord Wang what you have in your hand, and let him teach me what kind of etiquette this thing should be used for."

Wei Lang grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth, and casually tossed the cloth bag at Wang Yuanzhi's feet.

The bag opened, and a hideous, half-burnt head rolled out. Those pale eyes stared intently at Wang Yuanzhi. Although he was lifeless, the lingering pressure of a third-rank aura still caused the surrounding air to freeze instantly.

"This...this is..." Wang Yuanzhi's pupils dilated violently, his legs went weak, and he sat down on the snow with a thud.

"The leader of the Demonic Cult," Su Ming said casually, "I just killed him, he's still fresh. If Lord Wang thinks I don't know the rules, why don't you go down there and ask him what my rules are?"

The entire room fell silent.

Those censors who had been shouting just moments before were now deathly pale, looking like ducks with their necks being choked. They had spent their lives studying Confucian classics; where had they ever seen anything like this?

That's a legendary immortal! And this guy just threw him on the ground like trash?

"What's wrong? Not saying anything?"

Su Ming sneered and spurred the horse's flanks: "Since you have no objections, then get out of the way. My horse has a bad temper; I'm not responsible for anyone it tramples to death."

Rumble.

As the cavalry advanced, the civil officials scrambled and stumbled to both sides, looking as disheveled as a pack of frightened wild dogs.

Su Ming didn't even glance at them, and rode straight into the Meridian Gate.

……

On the throne room.

The Emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, watching Su Ming stride in, his eyes filled with complex and unfathomable emotions. There was relief, there was apprehension, but above all, there was the ecstatic joy of having made the right bet.

"Your subject, Su Ming, has fortunately fulfilled his mission."

Su Ming walked to the center of the hall, but did not kneel down. He simply bowed slightly and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" the Emperor exclaimed repeatedly, completely ignoring Su Ming's "rudeness." "Your victory in the northern border has enhanced our nation's prestige, and I am greatly pleased! Guards, announce the decree!"

The Grand Eunuch Li unfolded the imperial edict that had been prepared in advance, and his shrill voice echoed throughout the hall.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Marquis Su Ming, having quelled the northern rebellion and slain the demon leader, his merits will be remembered for eternity… He is hereby granted the title of First-Rank Prince Zhenbei, a hereditary title! He is bestowed with a mansion in the Imperial City, ten thousand taels of gold, and a thousand acres of fertile land! Furthermore, the Ninth Princess is betrothed to the Prince Zhenbei, and the wedding will take place on a chosen date!"

These words caused a stir in the imperial court.

A king of a different surname!

This is the first time in the three hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

However, Su Ming, the protagonist, had completely lost focus at this moment.

"Ten thousand taels of gold?" Su Ming quickly did the mental calculation. "System, can this gold be recharged?"

[System: This system only accepts luck points; mundane items are not acceptable.]

"Tch, garbage system," Su Ming cursed under his breath.

"Prince Zhenbei, why haven't you received the imperial decree yet?" The Emperor reminded Su Ming with a smile when he saw him in a daze.

Su Ming snapped out of his daze, stepped forward to accept the imperial edict, but there was no joy on his face; instead, he sighed.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid my position as a prince is not secure."

The Emperor was taken aback: "Why do you say that, my dear minister?"

Su Ming turned around, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, finally settling on the civil officials who had just climbed in through the Meridian Gate.

"Although the Northern Barbarians have been destroyed, the Great Qian Dynasty still exists." Su Ming's voice turned cold. "I discovered a secret letter in the Northern Border. During this Demonic Cult's rampage, the Great Qian royal family provided financial and manpower behind the scenes, even dispatching the Ironclad Cavalry and Black Feather Guards. Is this debt simply left unpaid?"

Minister of War Zhao Tieshan stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Prince Zhenbei, the Great Qian Dynasty is powerful. We have just experienced a great war, our treasury is empty, and our soldiers are exhausted. It is really not advisable to start another war."

"Yes, Your Majesty, we should allow the people to rest and recuperate."

"To start a war now is a path to national ruin!"

The civil officials began their clichéd speeches again.

Su Ming looked at them as if they were idiots.

"Who said I was going to start a war?" Su Ming raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to collect a debt."

"Collect debts?" Everyone was completely confused.

Su Ming took out the blood-stained "Ten Thousand Demon Blood Pool" array diagram and the token of Mo Feng, the commander of the Great Qian Dynasty, from his pocket and threw them directly on the ground.

"This is the evidence. The Great Qian Dynasty colluded with the Demonic Cult, intending to sacrifice five hundred thousand people of our Great Wu. This is a crime against humanity, understand?"

Su Ming paced back and forth in the main hall, his boots making a crisp sound as they stepped on the gold bricks.

"According to my calculations, the Great Qian needs to compensate us for emotional distress, lost wages, military expenses, and shock costs, totaling..." Su Ming held out a palm, fingers spread, "...fifty million taels of silver, plus the fortune of ten cities!"

"hiss--"

A collective gasp filled the hall. Fifty million taels? Even selling the entire treasury of the Great Qian Dynasty wouldn't be enough to raise that much!

"This is insane! This is utterly insane!" Wang Yuanzhi's fingers trembled. "How could the Great Qian possibly agree to such an unreasonable demand?"

"You won't agree?"

Su Ming stopped and turned to look north, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes. Of course, to others, it was murderous intent.

"If you don't agree, I'll go get it myself."

Su Ming looked at the Emperor, a dangerous smile playing on his lips: "Your Majesty, I do not need a large army to accompany me. I only need to take three thousand men from the Divine Machine Battalion as an envoy to the Great Qian. If they pay us, then we can still be good neighbors; if they don't..."

He paused, the image of T-34 tanks crushing cavalry flashing through his mind.

"Then I will teach them what it means that truth lies only within the range of cannons."

The Emperor stared at Su Ming's confident, almost arrogant gaze, remaining silent for a long time. He knew Su Ming was avoiding suspicion; leaving the capital with troops immediately after being granted the title of Prince was to reassure the royal family. But he could also see that Su Ming genuinely intended to cause trouble.

"Granted!" The Emperor slammed his hand on the dragon throne. "I hereby appoint you as the Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Great Zhou. Depart immediately for the Great Qian! Whatever the outcome, the Great Zhou will always be your support!"

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Su Ming clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.

As Su Ming passed by Wang Yuanzhi, he paused slightly and lowered his voice, saying, "Lord Wang, keep those concubines of yours hidden away. If I hear you've been making things difficult for me in court when I return from Daqian..."

Su Ming patted the Shura Blade at his waist, said nothing more, and laughed as he strode away.

The court officials were left behind, looking at each other in bewilderment, a chill running down their spines.

……

Upon exiting the palace, Chen Xiu was already waiting outside the palace gates, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, a mocking expression on his face.

"What? You're already running away after just becoming a prince?"

"This capital city is too small; I can't really do anything here." Su Ming mounted his horse, glanced at the system's countdown, and said, "Besides, I have a feeling that there are old friends I want to see in the Great Qian Dynasty."