The Children Aren't Rich! My Nine Generations of Kin!

In Wenhua Hall, on a daybed tucked into a corner of the grand hall, Xu Kun—who averaged less than six hours of sleep a day—was covered by a silk quilt, enjoying one of the few peaceful moments he had managed to find since he had set things right, restored order, and "achieved total victory at the Xuanwu Gate to inherit the throne."

Just as he was dreaming of his aged Imperial Father lying on a sickbed, patting the back of his hand and saying in a weak, listless voice:

"The Crown Prince lacks virtue; you must strive to do better," a familiar shout completely shattered his already shallow slumber.

"Damn it!" Xu Kun clutched his aching head and sat up from the daybed. He glared in the direction of the shout and summoned a nearby attendant, frowning as he asked, "Who is outside!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the Marquis of Xiyang," the attendant replied cautiously, handing a cooled cup of tea to Xu Kun.

After all, no one would be in a good mood after having their sleep disturbed, especially when the person he was serving was an emperor who had seized the throne by executing his own brother's entire family.

"Xu Yan? He came to..." Xu Kun frowned and downed the tea in one gulp. It took him a long moment to remember that before going to sleep early this morning, he had arranged for Wu Ergui to give Xu Yan a task.

Could it be that the matter was already done?!

It had only been a single morning! The task he had entrusted to him was already completed?

Heh! This kid Xu Yan is actually quite capable! Much more shrewd and efficient than I had imagined!

It seems that if there are other difficult matters in the future, I can safely and boldly arrange for him to handle them.

Thinking that he now possessed a super-powered workhorse at the Soul Douluo level, a flash of malicious brilliance couldn't help but flicker in Xu Kun's eyes.

Even the gloom and irritation of being woken up while sleeping comfortably dissipated quite a bit.

"Summon him!" Xu Kun waved his hand, signaling for them to let Xu Yan in to speak.

A few breaths later, Xu Yan's sturdy figure squeezed through the yet-to-be-fully-opened palace doors.

Before Xu Kun could speak, he knelt on one knee with great tact and saluted: "Your subject, Marquis of Xiyang Xu Yan, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Rise, grant him a seat," Xu Kun waved his hand, and an attendant waiting nearby brought a small stool and placed it behind Xu Yan.

Seeing Xu Yan sit down, he squeezed out a relaxed smile and said, "Xu Yan, although you and I are not close kin, we are still uncle and nephew. There is no need to be so formal in private; you can just call me Fourth Uncle."

Hearing this, Xu Yan couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly.

On the surface, he said very tactfully: "This subject is terrified. Propriety cannot be abandoned. Your Majesty is the supreme ruler; please do not joke." He spouted such empty, meaningless pleasantries.

In his heart, however, he was muttering: The previous deposed emperor was your own brother born of the same parents, and you still sent his entire family to meet the late emperor in the underworld. You've already slaughtered a whole nest of your own nephews, let alone a distant nephew like me.

"Alright, let's get down to business," Xu Kun leaned back against the cushion the attendant had placed behind him, a look of appreciation in his eyes as he asked, "Is the matter I tasked you with completed!?"

"This... it's hard to say," Xu Yan looked up at Xu Kun with a complex expression and said slowly:

"Your Majesty, what I am about to tell you is somewhat terrifying. Please do not get agitated, and certainly do not be afraid!"

"?" Xu Kun was stunned for a moment, then held up a finger and said solemnly: "I! Am the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. What kind of scenes have I not witnessed? Therefore, I will not be agitated, and I certainly will not be afraid!"

"Good. Since that is the case, this subject is relieved."

Having received Xu Kun's firm assurance, Xu Yan seemed to heave a sigh of relief. He organized his thoughts and said, "As for the Princess... it seems they have already started talking?!"

"?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. Even the attendants responsible for serving tea and water nearby stood frozen in place, as if doubting whether something was wrong with their ears.

To think they could actually hear such... thunderous words in broad daylight.

"ಠ_ಠ?"

"What do you mean they have already started talking?" Xu Kun stared with wide, incredulous eyes, as if he had misheard. He glanced at the attendants around him, and seeing the same look of confusion on their faces, the heart that had been hanging in his chest finally died.

"Didn't I tell you to go and persuade one of them to change their enrollment preference? Tell me, how did you interpret and execute my decree?"

"But you also said to let them cultivate feelings at the academy. Since enrollment is only this month anyway, I think this should count as... exceeding the mission requirements."

Sensing Xu Kun's visible irritability, Xu Yan, fearing he would be made a scapegoat, explained weakly.

"I... said that?!" Xu Kun pondered for a long time, finally realizing the truth after reviewing everything that had happened recently.

He gritted his teeth and muttered:

Wu Ergui, you damn bastard, you really dared to say that! Even if they were to cultivate feelings, it should be after they turn fifteen! Tianzhen is only twelve, and that kid is only eleven. At this age, you want them to cultivate feelings? Are you treating my Sun-Moon Royal family like those precocious breeding livestock of the White Tiger Dai Family in the Star Luo Empire?!

Xu Yan kept his head down, not saying a word, terrified that the old emperor, who was as volatile as a powder keg, would notice him.

But... with his massive frame sitting there, it wasn't easy for Xu Kun to ignore him even if he wanted to.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, Xu Kun—who had already greeted the entire family of Wu Ergui, who was far away outside the palace, several times over—stood up with the help of his attendants.

He stood beside Xu Yan and gritted his teeth in anger: "Tell me everything you saw and heard starting from yesterday, and don't you dare leave out a single word."

Oh no! Kids, something is going to happen!

After carefully weighing his words and recounting everything he had seen, heard, said, and done today, Xu Yan tremblingly raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, carefully glancing at Xu Kun from the corner of his eye.

But unexpectedly, the scene Xu Yan had imagined—of Xu Kun flying into a rage after hearing his summary—did not occur.

Xu Kun just stood there quietly, his face still wearing that flat expression that revealed no joy or anger, as if... he were thinking about something.

Is this old man going to be angered to death by me?

Oh no, my nine generations!

Wait, no, the Emperor is also in my nine generations, so that's fine!

Seeing Xu Kun not even blinking, Xu Yan, worried that he had caused a catastrophe, couldn't help but whisper to him: "Your... Majesty~"

"Hmm?!" Xu Kun turned his head and looked at Xu Yan, who was drenched in sweat as if he had just been fished out of water, and couldn't help but ask: "What is it now?"

"Nothing, nothing," Xu Yan shook his head and hurriedly smiled apologetically: "This subject was just worried that you might be tired."

"Hmph." Xu Kun snorted coldly and waved his hand impatiently: "Get out. Just looking at your glib face makes me annoyed!"