Yun Qingluo suddenly said, "We've been out for a while now, and Father and Mother must be very worried. Brother, why don't we write a letter and send it back?"

Yun Ziheng smiled slightly, "Don't worry, Luo Luo. Your brother wrote a letter yesterday and sent it back by fast horse."

The Imperial Palace.

"You worthless wretches! You can't even do this simple thing right, failing one after another. What's the use of keeping such useless people around?" The emperor sat on the throne, furious.

"Your Majesty, please forgive us. We don't know where this force came from, but they killed all our people." A man in black knelt on the ground, bowing his head to beg for forgiveness.

"Has the matter been thoroughly investigated?" The emperor's anger had not subsided.

"We haven't found out who's behind this yet, but it's clear they're targeting the Regent as well," the man in black replied cautiously.

The emperor was stunned, and slowly said, "You mean those people also wanted to kill the Ninth Prince?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the man in black affirmed. Even if it wasn't true, it had to be true, otherwise the consequences of failure would make him break out in a cold sweat.

"Alright, you may leave." The emperor leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and waved his hand.

After a while, the emperor opened his eyes.

"Who do you think would be so eager to kill him?"

"Heh, I told you you don't need to be so impatient. There are plenty of people who want him dead, so why waste your own people?" A man in a black robe stepped out of the shadows.

The emperor glanced at his mask, then looked away and snorted coldly.

"The sooner I die, the sooner I can have peace of mind."

"Knock knock." A knocking sound came from outside the door.

The emperor glanced at the man in black robes, who then retreated back into the shadows.

"Come in," the emperor said in a deep voice, picking up the memorial.

"Your Majesty, news has come from the Regent's side that the remote mountain village where the Regent is staying has been attacked by bandits. The Prince has found out that the bandits colluded with the government and committed all sorts of atrocities, including arson, murder, and robbery. Lord Shen of the Provincial Government has already sent someone to send that corrupt official to the Ministry of Justice."

"Whose man is he?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, he...he is..."

"Speak haltingly, or I'll cut off your head!" The emperor threw the memorial in his hand away.

Every day, they make him suffer.

"Your Majesty, he was the top scholar you personally selected three years ago." After saying this, the eunuch prostrated himself on the ground and dared not utter a single word.

The emperor paused for a moment, then sat in his chair, his expression unreadable.

Three years ago, he personally conducted the imperial examination in the main hall.

One of them was both virtuous and talented, and the regent praised him a few times, but he insisted on going against the regent and supporting people he didn't like.

He personally selected him as the top scholar and placed him in the Hanlin Academy, but unexpectedly, he made the most basic mistake.

The regent stepped forward to punish him severely, but he did his best to protect him. In order to silence the officials, he had no choice but to send him out of the capital to serve as a county magistrate for training.

For three years he thought he knew he was wrong, but unexpectedly he became even worse.

"Useless trash, utterly hopeless! Execute him! He's infuriating me, a disgrace to the world!" the emperor roared in fury.

"Your Majesty, this person is currently in the Ministry of Justice..."

"Go tell Minister Li that he need not worry about saving face for me. Just do as he sees fit, understand?" The emperor glanced at Liu Decai, his eyes flashing with coldness.

Liu Decai hurriedly bowed his head, "Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant understands."

The emperor's intention was not only to kill, but to kill openly and publicly announce it to the world.

It means to tell the world that he is a good emperor, and that he will severely punish those he personally chose who make mistakes.

##

The Eastern Palace of the Northern Moon Kingdom.

"What? Are you sure the information is reliable?" After reading the note in his hand, Crown Prince Yue Tianze of the Northern Moon Kingdom stood up in surprise and walked to the front to ask the person kneeling on the ground.

"Your Highness, the news is true. We have already inspected the gold mine, and the Regent's troops are already stationed there," the kneeling man replied in a low voice.

"Good, that is indeed good news, but the gold mine is located on the territory of Tianmo Kingdom. It seems we need to consider it carefully. Guards, I, the Crown Prince, wish to enter the palace."

The other two countries also received the news.

The Kingdom of Tianlang.

"Hao'er, is what you said true?" The Emperor of Wangyue Kingdom looked at the Second Prince Rong Rui kneeling before him.

“Father, I have already sent scouts to check, and it is indeed true. If Tianmo Kingdom obtains this gold mine, its strength will surely increase greatly. We must be prepared.”

"I know that Tianmo Kingdom once produced a war god who led his soldiers to conquer the battlefield, turning Tianmo Kingdom from the bottom of the four kingdoms to the top of the four kingdoms. However, after he became crippled, he returned to the capital, and the strength of Tianmo Kingdom was not as great as before."

If the news is true, the strength of the Tianmo Kingdom will undoubtedly increase significantly, making them a tough nut to crack.

Rong Rui nodded, "Father, we must not give up this opportunity, otherwise the consequences will be dire."

"Yes, summon the ministers for an emergency meeting," the emperor said to the eunuch beside him.

The Eastern Wu Kingdom has already convened a meeting of its ministers.

“If we obtain this gold mine, we will surely become the leader of the four kingdoms, and then unifying the four kingdoms will not be impossible,” a minister stepped forward and said.

"Heh, Prime Minister, you've got quite the nerve. Have you forgotten how your son died?"

"Hmph, of course I remember. Your Majesty, if we ever defeat Tianmo Kingdom, please hand Mo Beichen over to me. I will make him wish he were dead."

"Alright, stop arguing. Now that Tianmo Kingdom has discovered a gold mine on their own territory, it's indeed a difficult situation," the emperor said thoughtfully, sitting on his throne.

"Your Majesty, why don't we take advantage of the banquet at the Tianmo Kingdom's palace and send an envoy to investigate the situation?"

"Yes, I had the same idea. Crown Prince, you shall go. Take a few men with you and make sure you find out everything." The Emperor said to Crown Prince Ye Ming, who had been standing silently to the side for a long time.

Ye Ming bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command."

Ye Ming lowered his eyes and smiled knowingly. "Mo Beichen, after being a coward for so many years, it's time to come out."

I heard you married a princess. I, the Crown Prince, would like to see what your beloved princess looks like.

For a time, all four countries were discussing the gold mine in Tianmo Kingdom.

The Emperor of Tianmo Kingdom was indeed the last to know, only finding out when Mo Beichen sent someone to deliver a letter.

"Hahaha, Heaven is helping me! Heaven is helping my Tianmo Kingdom! Hahaha!" The emperor burst into laughter after seeing the letter.

"You Bai family! How dare you embezzle a gold mine! Investigate who is behind this! How dare you obstruct my great cause! I will never let them get away with this!" The emperor said coldly as he read the letter.

He wouldn't dare to do that to a small family like the Bai family, even if he had a hundred lives. He was determined to find out who was behind it all.

"The Ninth Prince said that the other three kingdoms already know about this, and even the barbarian lands are interested in getting a share. How could it have spread so quickly?" the emperor muttered to himself.

The man in black robes stepped forward and said, "The word has already spread. Now let's think about how to deal with it. I expect this year's palace banquet will be quite lively."

"Hmph, I'd like to see what they're up to." The emperor snorted coldly, his current concern being to catch the mastermind behind it all.