Early in the morning, a loud knocking sound came from the Qi residence.

After discovering that his parents were not home, Qi Gaoming listened to the visitor's report.

"Young Master Qi, something terrible has happened! Your parents are fighting in the inn!"

Qi Gaoming: "What?"

Without saying a word, Qi Gaoming followed the visitor to the inn.

Qi Gaoming asked, "Where are my parents?"

The man pointed to the room with the loudest noise and then left when Qi Gaoming wasn't paying attention.

Upon arriving at the inn, Qi Gaoming once again became the center of attention.

"So this is the illegitimate son of those two! He looks like a scholar."

"It would be best if such a person did not achieve any official rank. Otherwise, it would be an insult to scholars."

Qi Gaoming learned the whole story from the crowd's discussion.

He then realized that the person who led him here was simply trying to embarrass him.

Qi Gaoming was about to turn around and leave when he heard the door creak open.

Xiao Zhenzhen and Qi Jiating struggled and forced their way through the door.

Qi Jia stepped out of the room and discovered that a large crowd of people were watching them make a fool of themselves.

Qi Jiating blamed Xiao Zhenzhen: "It's all your fault! So many people are laughing at us. You've made me lose all face!"

Xiao Zhenzhen: "How dare you talk to me like that? If it weren't for the messes you've made, would I be here today?"

Qi Jiating hurriedly covered Xiao Zhenzhen's mouth and whispered, "Stop talking! Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"

Qi Gaoming had no choice but to bite the bullet and drag his parents home.

Qi Gaoming: "There are too many people here, let's go home quickly!"

Qi Jiating covered his face with his hands and slunk away like a rat.

Jinlan cried all night at home.

Neither my father nor my mother were home that night.

But she spent an incredibly painful night.

The poison took effect that night, nearly killing her.

Fortunately, she gritted her teeth and persevered, and pulled through.

The next day, she learned that the night she was so distraught, her parents had been out arguing and making a scene over some trivial matters, which infuriated them.

Jinlan thought to herself: These good-for-nothings! How could I have been born into such a family?

Jinlan looked outside wearily, her face covered in sweat, barely clinging to life.

She opened her palm, intending to unleash her demonic energy. But the demonic energy in her palm vanished.

Jinlan: Sigh! It seems I won't be able to practice my internal energy for a while. I'll settle the score with you after I've rested for a while!

The emperor was frowning in the palace.

The neighboring Great Silver Kingdom has sent another envoy.

The Great Silver Kingdom's national strength far surpasses that of the countries here.

Every year, they would use various pretexts to blackmail the emperor, demanding rare treasures, beautiful women, or grain.

The emperor was always annoyed by this.

This time, their reasons gave the emperor an even bigger headache.

The envoy, speaking aggressively in the imperial palace, declared: "Your Majesty, the demonic energy of your country has spread to my Great Silver Kingdom, causing varying degrees of damage. You must compensate for these losses!"

Your Majesty: "I wonder what the envoy wants our country to compensate us this time?"

The envoy said, “We don’t want much; we just need ten thousand taels of gold and one hundred pieces of glass.”

The emperor was so angry he almost vomited blood.

He had just finished disaster relief work, and the national treasury was empty. Where would he get so much gold to compensate them?

As for glass, it is a priceless treasure.

Let alone a hundred pieces. He wouldn't give away even a single good piece of glass.

The Emperor gave him a wink.

The ministers below began to argue: "Your Excellency, why don't you rest at the inn for a while? I will host a welcome dinner for you tonight. We can discuss the compensation later."

Envoy: "A rest is fine. However, I hope your country will provide a reply soon, otherwise..."

The envoy raised his fist.

This is a blatant provocation!

But what could the emperor do?

I've heard that the Great Silver Kingdom has cannonballs, and a single cannonball could raze its country to the ground.

Therefore, the emperor usually indulged and gave in to the Great Silver Kingdom.

While the envoys rested at the post station, the emperor summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.

The ministers all sighed and lamented.

Qi Junzhou looked worried after returning home.

At dinner, when Xu Ruyun put his favorite braised pork into his bowl, Qi Junzhou didn't react.

Xu Ruyun looked at Qi Junzhou curiously and said, "Zhou'er, is something on your mind?"

Qi Junzhou sighed and said, "Alas! That Great Silver Kingdom is trying to extort the Emperor again."

Qiuqiu's eyes blinked as she looked at Qi Junzhou.

[The Great Silver Kingdom? Could it be that Great Silver Kingdom that used a single cannonball to blackmail our country for ten years?]

Qi Junzhou glanced at Qiuqiu and thought: How did my little sister know? But it's no use even if she knows. How could a little kid like her stand up to a cannonball?

Don't mention that shell. It might be a dud now.

Qi Junzhou: Duck eggs? What duck eggs?

When the Emperor went to inspect the border, the Great Silver Kingdom somehow produced a cannonball that, by sheer coincidence, exploded right next to the Emperor's residence.

From then on, the emperor became wary of the Great Silver Kingdom. However, the emperor was unaware that the Great Silver Kingdom also did not manufacture cannonballs.

Their only cannonball was used to frighten the emperor.

Besides, even if they did have cannonballs, with the technology of this era, their range would only be a few hundred meters, posing no threat to the emperor whatsoever.

Qi Junzhou: Wow! This is fantastic news! If what my little sister said is true, we no longer have to be afraid of the Great Silver Kingdom!

Xu Ruyun also heard this amazing good news.

But how can we tell the Emperor this news? Even if we do, will he believe us?

If what Chiu Chiu said isn't true, wouldn't that be gambling with the fate of the entire country?

Qi Junzhou had the same troubles.

In fact, the Third Prince, who was present, also heard the chirping sound.

Everyone cares about the fate of the nation, and naturally, everyone hears about it.

After a moment of silence at the dinner table, the Third Prince spoke first: "Tomorrow, I would like to take Qiuqiu back to the palace. I've been away for a few days, and Mother must miss me."

Chirp: "I want to go, I want to go!"

Chirping was overjoyed, eager to rush to the palace.

I have to go and see. We can't let the Great Silver Kingdom keep extorting us. Maybe I'll have some good ideas once I get to the palace.

Xu Ruyun was initially worried about Qiujiu, but after hearing what Qiujiu said, she realized that the greater good of the country came first and that Qiujiu had to go quickly.

Xu Ruyun: "Alright! Then I'll trouble the Third Prince."

Third Prince: "No trouble at all, no trouble at all."

The Third Prince glanced outside and said, "It's already late outside, and the palace gates are closed. I'll take Qiuqiu back to the palace first thing tomorrow morning."

Xu Ruyun: "Yes, Your Highness!"

Qi Junzhou felt relieved after hearing what Qiuqiu said.

With Chiu Chiu around, I'm not afraid of anything.