The whole family is obsessed with love? The princess woke them up one after another.

"Otherwise what?" Prince Rui casually crossed his hands in front of him, tucked into his sleeves, and looked at Prince Wu with a puzzled expression.

"If you are capable enough, why didn't Father keep you to discuss this with him?"

King Wu stared at King Rui in astonishment.

Prince Rui, a faint smile playing on his lips, stared directly into Prince Wu's bloodshot, furious eyes: "If you were truly capable, why would Father have bothered to summon me to the palace?"

"You are in the palace, while I am outside the palace."

"Father would rather go far than seek what is near."

"Fourth Prince... in Father's eyes, your abilities are not even up to the passing grade."

"Go to hell!" King Wu angrily threw a punch.

With a thud, Prince Rui caught Prince Wu's fist with one hand. Then, with a twist of his wrist, he forced Prince Wu to turn his back.

With a forceful pull, King Rui caused King Wu to kneel on one knee in pain.

His hands were twisted behind his back, and under Prince Rui's strong pressure, he couldn't even lift his head, let alone get up.

His face was only a finger's width away from the cold ground.

The King of Wu was holding back a lot of anger; he absolutely could not let his face touch the ground.

Absolutely not!

Prince Rui did not continue, but chuckled and released his grip.

Upon regaining his freedom, King Wu immediately sprang to his feet, glaring fiercely at King Rui.

"Fourth Prince, it's time for you to grow up." Prince Rui's casual remark was like a slap across the face of Prince Wu.

The King of Wu was stunned, and he looked completely deflated, like a punctured balloon.

Prince Rui didn't say anything more and simply turned and left.

After Prince Rui arrived and met with Emperor Kangwu, he discussed with his ministers how to write a letter to the ruler of Qi.

With Prince Rui's involvement, all the details were finalized in less than half an hour.

After the matter was discussed, the ministers withdrew.

Once they had walked a distance and were sure their conversation wouldn't be overheard, the ministers began to whisper among themselves.

"Prince Rui and Princess Chen'an are truly father and daughter."

"Their styles of doing things are exactly the same."

The finalized terms did not compromise the dignity of the Great Rui, but also aptly expressed their anger.

More importantly... the text hints at how the Qi Kingdom should compensate them.

The compensation line was really very tight.

Qi Kingdom isn't necessarily unable to afford it. Although it will feel the pinch, it has no choice but to obediently provide it in order to avoid a conflict between the two countries.

After the ministers finished their reflections, they suddenly noticed that Grand Secretary Zhang had remained silent. One minister asked curiously, "Grand Secretary, why aren't you saying anything?"

"What's there to say?" Grand Secretary Zhang asked, puzzled. "Wasn't the previous crown prince just like this?"

The ministers were taken aback for a moment, and then they realized that the Crown Prince Zhang was referring to was the former Prince Rui, not the Prince of Wu.

Only then did they realize, yes, that's how the crown prince used to be.

He was always smiling and got everything done.

They seem easy to talk to, but when they do act, they are always swift and decisive.

Several ministers shuddered.

Over the years, the Crown Prince has become Prince Rui, and his presence is very low. However, Prince Rui's abilities have not only not declined, but have become even more terrifying.

Nowadays, Prince Rui handles matters with even greater sophistication and ruthlessness, yet he is also incredibly tactful.

The position of crown prince... King Wu really has little chance.

They can't afford to be confused and choose the wrong side.

Grand Secretary Zhang ignored his colleagues whose faces were turning pale and then red, and went home after leaving the palace.

He doesn't even need to think about it; he knows he'll be very, very busy in the near future.

Because he felt that Princess Chen'an would take action against the Qi Kingdom.

Based on his understanding of Princess Chen'an these days, he firmly believes in one thing.

Anyone who offends Princess Chen'an will be dealt with thoroughly.

They either disappear completely or live a life worse than death.

Regardless of the outcome, there will be no turning back in the end.

He would get all excited if Princess Chen'an were to take action against the Qi Kingdom.

The allure of conquering new territories is irresistible; who could resist it?

Although he is not young, he feels that he can still participate!

With such a great achievement, he had to add his own touches to it.

Grand Secretary Zhang was bursting with enthusiasm, ready to make a big splash. At that moment, Emperor Kangwu was staring intently at Prince Rui in the palace.

He looked at his eldest brother, and then he smiled.

"Elder brother," Emperor Kangwu said calmly.

"Father." Prince Rui looked up at Emperor Kangwu.

"You're quite calm," Emperor Kangwu said with a half-smile.

"Hmm?" Prince Rui asked, puzzled.

What could possibly make him lose his temper?

Emperor Kangwu laughed: "Under my gaze, you can still pack your things as if nothing happened, completely unaffected..."

"Of all my children, you are one of a kind."

Prince Rui looked at Emperor Kangwu speechlessly: "Father, it's pointless for us to talk about this."

When he was a child, he used to ride his dad like a horse.

What's there to be nervous about if his dad just glances at him?

Emperor Kangwu laughed: "That's true."

In the entire palace, only the eldest son's family could remind him that he was still just an ordinary person.

He's from an ordinary family.

"You show no surprise whatsoever at the matter being discussed," Emperor Kangwu said. "Did Chen'an tell you beforehand that this was how to deal with the Qi Kingdom?"

Prince Rui shook his head and told the truth: "No, that's not the case."

"However, that girl always likes to improvise."

Emperor Kangwu chuckled, "You seem to have accepted it quite well."

"There's nothing good or bad about it," Prince Rui said casually. "In short, you won't suffer any losses."

"What a clever adaptation!" Emperor Kangwu thought he really liked this adaptation.

See, with a little improvisation, Chen An can get all the compensation from Qi Guo.

It feels really good to be able to contribute to your own national treasury.

He likes it!

Emperor Kangwu was pleased, but Consort De in the harem... oh no, now it's Consort Wei, she was completely exhausted and slumped to the ground.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" The palace maid was so frightened that she tried to help her up, but she couldn't lift her up by herself.

Wei Zhaoyi was like a lump of mud, unable to get up at all, and she didn't want to get up either.

She is still reeling from the contents of the imperial edict.

Will she become a Zhaoyi (a high-ranking concubine) in the future?

A Zhaoyi who didn't even have her own independent palace.

She didn't even have a main seat; she could only live in a side hall or an auxiliary room!

She has been living alone in the palace all these years.

Now, however, she has to live in the same palace as the other concubines.

"Your Majesty, I want to see Your Majesty!" Consort Wei suddenly shouted, her voice hoarse and strained.

She wanted to ask His Majesty why he treated him this way.

She loves His Majesty!

No woman in the harem loved His Majesty as much as she did.

How could Your Majesty betray her sincere heart like this?

However, let alone the current Consort Wei, even the former Consort De could not simply see His Majesty whenever she wanted.

All she could do was cry and scream incessantly in the palace.

Her Majesty did not come; instead, the King of Wu was brought in to see her.