Chapter 64: Emptied of its Treasures
Chapter 64: Emptied of its Treasures
Emperor Qi, for once, was taking a moment of leisure with one of his favored concubines. A eunuch rushed in, interrupting the rare moment of relaxation.
"What is it?" Emperor Qi demanded, his tone stern and imperious. Since Xu Yan's forceful arrival in the capital, the emperor's authority had been greatly challenged, and even the common folk no longer held the same reverence for him as before.
"Your Majesty, about Young Master Xu..." The eunuch hesitated, his gaze shifting nervously.
"What about Xu Yan? Speak!" Emperor Qi's expression darkened.
"Young Master Xu... he... he has emptied the Royal Treasury..." The eunuch lowered his head as he spoke.
"Emptied... emptied..." Emperor Qi's head buzzed, and he clutched his chest, his face twitching. "I said he could take whatever he fancied, but I didn't say he could take everything!"
Xu Yan, that audacious boy, had shown no restraint! Emperor Qi took a few deep breaths to calm his agitated heart, his expression regaining its composure.
"If Xu Yan likes them, then so be it. Let him take them. Go and tell Xu Yan that if he desires more, he is welcome to peruse the National Treasury. If he finds anything to his liking there, he may take those as well!" Emperor Qi waved his hand dismissively, feigning a generous tone.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch departed.
Emperor Qi took a deep breath and instructed, "Go and inform the royal kitchen to prepare a tonic of Nine-Leaf Primordial Herb to replenish my body."
He felt the need to fortify his body after such a shock. "From now on, I must spend less time in the harem for the sake of Qi's empire. I cannot afford to deplete my body any further!" Emperor Qi gritted his teeth and made a difficult decision.
Not long after, another eunuch rushed in. "Your Majesty... we have no more Nine-Leaf Primordial Herb!"
Emperor Qi's anger flared. "How dare you deceive me, you worthless servants! Do you think I am unaware that there are still several stalks stored in the treasury?"
Xu Yan's boldness, backed by his powerful martial arts, allowed him to disregard the emperor's authority, but how dare these servants follow suit? "Are you plotting rebellion?" Emperor Qi's rage knew no bounds.
"Take this man away and behead him!" he ordered.
The eunuch fell to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, please spare my life! The Nine-Leaf Primordial Herb has also been taken by Young Master Xu!"
Emperor Qi: ...
He waved his hand helplessly, dismissing the eunuch. Then, he looked up at the sky and lamented, "Is it because I have imposed too many taxes and levied too much slaughter? Is this my retribution? Why are the truly tyrannical rulers in history spared such fate? The heavens are unjust!"
At that moment, Xu Yan was unaware of Emperor Qi's self-pity. After clearing out the treasures from the palace, Xu Yan was informed that if he desired more, he could visit the National Treasury.
"Old Emperor Qi is quite generous, isn't he?" Xu Yan's favorability towards Emperor Qi increased slightly.
Xu Yan returned from the palace with two large carts filled with treasures. Guo Rongshan's mouth twitched as he watched his grandson-in-law's audacity.
Now that the treasures were brought back, there was no question of returning them.
"Grandfather, I'm returning to Donghe County," Xu Yan announced his plans to leave.
"Leave the matters of Donghe County to your father. Nothing will go awry, and neither will the peace of Qi," Guo Rongshan said thoughtfully. "As for the members of the Heavenly Mother Sect, as long as they don't rebel, we can make use of them. If they cause trouble, they will be eliminated. It is not beneficial for Qi to descend into chaos."
Guo Rongshan was known as a virtuous and wise sage among the common folk, and he wanted to maintain that image. "Not all members of the Heavenly Mother Sect are fanatics, and their followers are spread throughout Qi, Wu, and even the Northern Barbarians. Their intelligence network is extensive, and we can utilize it. Your father understands this, so you need not concern yourself with it."
"Yan'er, can ordinary people cultivate this martial art that you practice?" Guo Rongshan asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"I don't know, I'll have to ask Master," Xu Yan replied, scratching his head.
"Alright, go ahead and ask him."
"I will." Xu Yan nodded.
He intended to bring back a portion of the treasures from the Qi Imperial Treasury to Donghe County as a gift for his master. Among the items were the Nine-Leaf Primordial Herb and other precious elixirs, as well as valuable paintings and jewels.
That night, Xu Yan cultivated in his small courtyard. With each pulsation of his qi and blood, he felt himself growing stronger. Regarding the innate realm technique, Xu Yan felt that he was just a step away from enlightenment.
As he cultivated, he sensed that he was not far from achieving a major accomplishment in the Qi and Blood realm. A breakthrough would likely occur within the next two to three days.
Xu Yan departed from the capital, much to the relief of the Qi Emperor in the palace. The court officials also breathed a collective sigh of relief. Xu Yan's presence had felt like a towering mountain hanging over their heads, ready to crush them into a pulp at any moment. Now that he was gone, it was as if the mountain had vanished.
The Prince of Qi, Qi Wang, still held his lofty position, and Guo Rongshan, the grand preceptor and mentor of the crown prince, remained influential. Despite their discontent, the court officials dared not voice any dissent.
After Xu Yan had emptied the imperial treasury, the Qi Emperor laid his cards on the table. He demanded that the court officials offer treasures to the palace, threatening to dismiss or even confiscate the properties of those who refused.
The court had already been transformed beyond recognition due to Xu Yan, and it would never be the same again.
Guo Rongshan remained silent, but he expected the Qi Emperor to replenish the treasury after his grandson-in-law had emptied it. The quickest and most direct way to do so was, of course, to demand contributions from the court officials.
The officials cursed inwardly but had no choice but to comply.
After all, seeking out experts required influence, and without their positions as high-ranking ministers, how could they recruit bodyguards or embark on a quest to find these experts?
Donghe County, Xu Family.
Xu Junhe was entertaining Jiang Pingshan and Kou Ruozhi. With a smile, he asked, "Yan'er will be returning soon. Any recommendations for the vacant position of county magistrate of Donghe?"
Jiang Pingshan glanced at Kou Ruozhi and said, "Donghe County ultimately belongs to Qi, so Xu, you should be more cautious in your appointments."
Kou Ruozhi's eyebrows furrowed, and he let out a cold laugh. "Donghe County is the Xu family's domain. What does it have to do with Qi or that old emperor? Xu's decisions are none of his business!"
Jiang Pingshan's face darkened. He fell silent, realizing that Kou Ruozhi intended to throw his lot in with the Xu family, making his stance clear. Moreover, there was no doubt that Donghe County was under the Xu family's control.
Xu Junhe maintained his smile, his expression unchanged. "Jiang, brother, you'll still need to put in effort to maintain order in Donghe. The Donghe General's Mansion will remain as it is."
"Understood. Just give the word if you need anything, Xu," Jiang Pingshan replied with a bow.
His heart felt a twinge of sadness. Once, they had been in-laws, with Xu Yan as his son-in-law. But a single misstep had led to their fates diverging drastically.
"I've already chosen someone else for the position of county magistrate. Kou Ruozhi, you can be an adviser in the Xu family. As the brains of the Heavenly Mother Sect, I'm sure you understand my intentions," Xu Junhe said with a smile.
"I understand!" Kou Ruozhi nodded.
He felt a twinge of regret, but he also knew that the Heavenly Mother Sect was just a religious sect and would never be accepted in high society.
Moreover, Qi was currently enjoying a period of peace and prosperity, and the people's hearts were content, leaving no opportunity for rebellion.
"Everyone in Donghe County is searching for experts, Kou Ruozhi. Keep an eye on things, understand?" Xu Junhe instructed solemnly after Jiang Pingshan had left.
"I do," Kou Ruozhi replied with a nod.
The expert they sought was in Yunshan County, but no one dared disturb him.
(End of Chapter)
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