Ning Chen was left utterly speechless.

"Deputy General Yue, this emperor takes back the order!"

Yue Congyun was dead serious. "Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven now. Your deeds must match your words, and there can be no more laughing and joking around. It undermines the emperor's dignity!"

Ning Chen rolled his eyes on the inside. "Fine. This emperor gets it!"

Yue Congyun went on, "Your Majesty also needs to settle on a reign name soon."

Ning Chen didn't even have to think about it. "The reign name will be Ning'an, and this emperor will be the Ning Emperor!"

Just then Tantai Qingyue, dressed all in white, came into the courtyard, in time to hear him say it.

She stopped short at the sight of the dragon robe on him. A moment later her eyes filled with contempt.

So much for having no interest in the throne. He is already wearing the dragon robe, and he has even picked a reign name.

Ning Chen caught the scorn in her eyes and gave a helpless, wry smile.

Tantai Qingyue came forward. "The Xiliang royal family has written back!"

Ning Chen turned to Feng Qizheng and Yue Congyun. "You two go on and get back to work."

"Your subjects take their leave!"

The two of them bowed and withdrew.

Ning Chen couldn't wait. "What did the Xiliang royal family say?"

Tantai Qingyue eyed the robe. "Why is it that a dragon robe makes you look like an oversized gold ingot? Your old clothes were easier on the eyes."

Ning Chen shrugged. "I didn't want to wear it either. They forced it on me."

Tantai Qingyue gave a scornful little laugh. "With your standing, if you had not wanted to wear the dragon robe, who could have forced you?

Ning Chen, the truth is that deep down, you are longing to be emperor."

Ning Chen smiled. "Then you're seriously underestimating my ambition."

That caught her off guard. "How so?" she asked, curious now.

Ning Chen's tone was mild. "Being emperor is too much work. It isn't what I want... I said…