The countless number of old ministers who had once served under Ross Collin III poured out of the prison in an imposing manner.

The two highest-ranking ministers among them, Flandor and Brad, followed closely behind their king.

Just a moment ago, Ross Collin III had ordered the burial of Punk and the recall of the Great Mage, Jack Ma, from exile at the border.

"Your Majesty, May I know who this young one is?"

Flandor asked inquisitively.

"Oh, this is the husband of the ninth princess, and my son-in-law, Fike. It's he who'd saved me, and the entirety of the Lieluo Empire by extension!"

Hearing this, Flandor and Brad looked at Fike with newfound respect.

"A true hero has been born at a young age! With such incredible abilities, if this young one would serve the Lieluo Empire, it would be our great fortune!"

Brad said.

Fike waved his hand and dismissed the praise.

"Thank you for your kindness, general, but I'm still studying at Yogmo Academy. I'm afraid..."

Seeing Fike's reluctance, Brad did not continue to ask.

At this moment, Lan Xi seemed to have thought of something as she turned to her father.

"Father, if the palace was full of followers and rebels of the Heavenly King's Palace, then who was the one who sent this letter to me?"

She showed him the letter that had brought her here.

"Could it be the queen?"

Fike asked.

When Ross Collin III heard the mention of the queen, he grew even angrier.

"That evil woman! Why would she be the one who sent the letter to Ah Jiu?

"Fike, when we get to the palace, you and Ah Jiu will follow me to the harem! I want to clean up those evil women who caused me to be like this!"

"Yes!"

Fike and Lan Xi agreed in unison.

With so many old ministers around him and so many things he wanted to share with them after being apart for years, the king opted not to take the carriage.

Instead, he walked with everyone else without any airs.

"Why did my Prime Minister, Reggie, die?"

Ross Collin III asked.

Flandor answered.

"After the first prince took power, Prime Minister Reggie strongly opposed the first prince and his many henchmen's displays of extravagance and debauchery. The second prince, who was in charge of wealth, set up a scheme to frame and slander the prime minister. In the end, he died from a car crash."

Ross Collin III was infuriated after hearing the news.

"These kids have really turned the sky upside down!

"But I seem to remember that Reggie had a son. Do you know where he is now?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Your Majesty, on the day that Prime Minister Reggie died, the rest of his family members were killed by the second prince as well. I'm afraid..."

Hearing this, Ross Collin III muttered in a low voice.

"Let's head back to the palace first. Tomorrow, we'll settle all these old and new debts with them."

...

After returning to the palace, the king arranged for the group of old ministers to be accommodated in a side room at the backyard of the palace.

He told them to wash up and change while he brought Fike and Lanxi to the harem.

The palace was currently in full lockdown, with every single one of the guards and servants swapped out.

The whole place was so tight that not even a fly could wander in.

The three of them arrived at the harem, which was dead silent.

The most ornate building of the lot was the Queen's bedroom.

Enraged, Ross Collin III pushed open the door impatiently.

When the queen looked over to the man, who had recovered his health, she immediately lunged forward to hug his thigh as she cried.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die! I was obsessed! I listened to the first prince's nonsense and did such a ridiculous thing! Your Majesty, Please spare me this time!"

Lan Xi couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the queen like this.

When she was young, the queen had often brought servants with her to insult Lan Xi's birth mother.

Back then, she had been so cruel and vicious, but now, it looked as if things had changed.

"I didn't expect that such a day would befall you!"

Lan Xi spat angrily.

When the queen noticed the ninth princess, she begged and knelt in front of her as well.

"Ah jiu! Ah, no! Ninth Princess! Please help me beg your father for mercy! I apologize to you! Please spare me!"

Lan Xi coldly brushed off the queen's hand as she turned to Ross Collin III.

"Father, please deal with this poisonous woman!"

There was not a hint of empathy in his eyes as he stared at the woman groveling at his feet.

"Men! Put this witch on Death Row!"

Finally, amidst her cries, the queen was dragged away by the guards.

As the three of them prepared to leave, Fike suddenly sensed that there seemed to be a trace of life exuding from within a well nearby.

"Your Majesty, there seems to be something in that well! I'll go and take a look!"

After receiving the king's permission, Fike walked cautiously toward the well.

Upon taking a closer inspection, he found that it was actually a woman who had fallen and fainted in it.

Thankfully, because the water was not very deep, she had not drowned.

Fike quickly saved her before casting a spell to bring her back to consciousness.

Ross Collin III took a closer look, and only then realized that this woman was his mistress, Xia Ji.

When he had been terminally ill, Xia Ji had been the only one who had taken the initiative to visit and care for him.

Later on, however, as the power of the Heavenly King's Palace in the imperial court grew more and more extensive, even Xia Ji had been grounded within the harem.

Xia Ji slowly opened her eyes, seeing Lan Xi beside her.

"Ninth Princess! You're finally here!"

After hearing this, Lan Xi instantly realized that the author of her letter had been Xia Ji.

However, the woman still hadn't seemed to have noticed the king. Her voice was weak as she said to Lan Xi.

"Ninth Princess, your father is currently being colluded against and persecuted by the Heavenly King Palace and your three older brothers. You must think of a way to save him!

"The other princes have all been locked up!

"I could only try to bring you here by mail, as you're the only one who was outside the palace grounds. I was afraid that it'd be intercepted by them, so I didn't dare to write too much."

Lan Xi held on to Xia Ji's hand tightly as she responded gently.

"Mother Xia, the crisis is over. Father has recovered!"

"Re... Really?"

Xia Ji asked weakly.

On cue, Ross Collin III walked up in front of Xia Ji.

He spoke gently as he picked her up.

"I have recovered. Tomorrow, we will wipe out those rebels in the Imperial Court!"

Xia Ji squeezed out a smile. Then, she turned her head to look at Fike.

"This little one is..."

"He is Ah Jiu's husband, my son-in-law, Fike. He was also the one who saved me and the empire!"

Ross Collin III explained.

"Good... that's really great..."

After she had gotten the words out, Xia Ji passed out.

"Xia Ji! Xia Ji! What's wrong with you!"

The king roared in anguish.

"Your Majesty, Mistress Xia Ji has just fallen asleep due to exhaustion. She will be able to recover after a few days of rest."

Fike reassured him.

The pounding heart that had flown up to the king's throat slowly lowered in relief.

Then, he addressed them.

"Fike, Jiu, you have worked hard today. Go and rest early!"