Chapter 64: Emptying the Imperial Treasury

Emperor Qi rarely relaxed, and he was currently resting at one of his concubines' quarters.

A eunuch hurried over.

"What is it?"

Emperor Qi asked with authority.

Ever since Xu Yan's powerful arrival in the capital, his imperial authority, which had been high and mighty, had been greatly challenged.

Even the common people felt that Emperor Qi was nothing special, and their reverence for him was far less than before.

The ministers were even more so!

Only in front of this group of eunuchs could Emperor Qi fully display his imperial authority.

"Your Majesty, Young Master Xu..."

The eunuch's eyes darted around, hesitating.

"What about Xu Yan? Speak!"

Emperor Qi's face changed slightly.

"Young Master Xu... he has emptied the imperial treasury..."

The eunuch lowered his head.

"Emptied... emptied..."

Emperor Qi's mind buzzed, one hand covering his chest, his facial muscles twitching.

I said, take whatever you like!

Damn it, I didn't tell you to empty it!

Xu Yan, you little brat, are really not the least bit polite!

Taking a few deep breaths, Emperor Qi calmed his agitated heart, his expression returning to calm.

"If Xu Yan likes it, that's good. Take it all... Go tell Xu Yan that if he needs anything, he can check the national treasury. If he likes something, he can take it!"

Emperor Qi waved his hand, speaking quite generously.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After the eunuch left,

Emperor Qi took a deep breath and ordered, "Go, tell the imperial kitchen to stew some Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi to replenish my strength!"

I must replenish my strength. Just now, I almost fainted. My body is too weak!

For the sake of the Qi Dynasty, I should visit the harem less often. I can't exhaust myself!

Emperor Qi gritted his teeth and made a tough decision!

Not long after, a eunuch ran over.

"Your Majesty... the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi is gone!"

Emperor Qi immediately flew into a rage: "What? You servants dare to deceive me? Don't you think I know there are still a few plants stored in the treasury?"

Xu Yan, with his powerful martial arts, can look down on me, but how dare these servants?

Are they planning a rebellion?

Emperor Qi was furious.

"Bring him down and behead him!"

The eunuch fell to his knees with a thud: "Your Majesty, have mercy! The Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi has already been taken by Young Master Xu!"

Emperor Qi: ...

Waving his hand weakly, he dismissed the eunuch.

Emperor Qi looked up at the sky: "Is it because I have imposed too many taxes and committed too much violence? Is this my retribution? Why didn't the true tyrants in history suffer such retribution? The heavens are unfair!"

Xu Yan, of course, had no idea that Emperor Qi was lamenting in the palace. After emptying the treasury of all the treasures he liked, Emperor Qi even sent a message saying that if it wasn't enough, he could check the national treasury.

"Emperor Qi is quite generous."

Xu Yan's opinion of Emperor Qi improved somewhat.

Xu Yan brought two large carts of treasures back from the palace. Guo Rongshan's mouth twitched; his grandson was really not the least bit polite.

Since it was already brought back, there was no reason to return it.

"Grandfather, I'm going back to Donghe County."

Xu Yan was preparing to leave.

"The matters in Donghe County can be handled by your father. It won't get out of control, and neither will the Qi Dynasty."

Guo Rongshan thought for a moment and said, "As for the Tianmu Sect, as long as they don't rebel, use them if you can. If they rebel, kill them. It's not good for the Qi Dynasty to be in chaos."

He had a great reputation among the people, and he had to do something to maintain his image.

"The Tianmu Sect is not all madmen. Their followers are spread throughout the Qi Dynasty, Wu Dynasty, and even the Northern Barbarians. They have good information, which can be useful. Your father understands this, so you don't need to worry about it."

Guo Rongshan thought for a moment. His son-in-law was capable and knew how to use the Tianmu Sect's information and intelligence-gathering abilities.

"Grandfather, I understand."

Xu Yan nodded.

"Yan'er, can ordinary people cultivate your martial arts technique?"

Guo Rongshan asked with some hope.

"I don't know. I need to ask my master."

Xu Yan scratched his head.

"Alright, ask him."

"I understand."

Xu Yan nodded.

From the treasures brought from the imperial treasury, Xu Yan planned to take some back to Donghe County to give to his master.

The Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi and other precious herbs, as well as some valuable paintings and jade, would be taken.

That night, Xu Yan was cultivating in his small courtyard.

His blood and qi were continuously strengthening, and he felt that he was just one step away from comprehending the innate realm.

With cultivation, Xu Yan felt he was not far from achieving the peak of the blood and qi realm.

The breakthrough would happen within two or three days.

Xu Yan left the capital, and Emperor Qi in the palace breathed a sigh of relief.

The ministers also breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Yan's presence was like a mountain pressing down on their heads, ready to collapse and crush them into pulp at any moment!

Now that Xu Yan was gone, it was as if the mountain on their heads had disappeared.

The Wang of Qi still held a high position, and Guo Rongshan, the foreign king, the Grand Secretary, and the tutor of the crown prince, still held great power. Even if the ministers were dissatisfied, they dared not voice any objections.

The imperial treasury was emptied by Xu Yan, and Emperor Qi directly demanded that the ministers send treasures to the palace. Those who dared not send would be dismissed, and in severe cases, their families would be confiscated!

After all, the court, due to Xu Yan, was no longer what it used to be.

Guo Rongshan remained silent. Since his grandson had emptied the imperial treasury, Emperor Qi should replenish it.

The fastest and most direct way to replenish it was to take from the ministers.

The ministers cursed in their hearts but had no choice but to comply.

After all, to find a great master, one needed power. Without the status of a high-ranking official, how could they recruit guards and find great masters?

In Donghe County, the Xu family.

Xu Junhe was entertaining Jiang Pingshan and Kou Ruozhi, smiling and saying, "Yan'er will be back soon. The position of Donghe County Governor is vacant. Do you have any recommendations?"

Jiang Pingshan glanced at Kou Ruozhi and said, "Donghe County is ultimately a county of the Qi Dynasty. Xu Junhe should be cautious in choosing officials."

Kou Ruozhi raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Donghe County is the Xu family's Donghe County. What does it have to do with the Qi Dynasty? What does it have to do with Emperor Qi? Xu Junhe's decisions are none of Emperor Qi's business!"

Jiang Pingshan's face darkened.

He fell silent. Kou Ruozhi was clearly preparing to join the Xu family and had already shown his stance. Donghe County belonged to the Xu family, and there was no doubt about it.

Xu Junhe still smiled, his expression unchanged, and continued, "The security of Donghe County still needs your attention, Brother Jiang. The Donghe General's Office will remain the General's Office."

"I understand. If you need anything, just let me know!"

Jiang Pingshan bowed.

He felt a bit disheartened. Originally, they were in-laws, and Xu Yan was his son-in-law.

But one wrong step, and their situations were now vastly different.

"The position of Donghe County Governor will be filled by someone else. Kou Ruozhi, you can be a strategist for the Xu family. As a strategist of the Tianmu Sect, you should understand my intentions."

Xu Junhe smiled.

"I understand!"

Kou Ruozhi felt a bit regretful.

But he also knew that the Tianmu Sect was just a sect and could not be considered high-class.

The current Qi Dynasty was not in a time of famine or war. The people were stable, and there was no opportunity for rebellion.

"Everyone in Donghe County is looking for great masters. Kou Ruozhi, you need to keep an eye on it, understand?"

After dismissing Jiang Pingshan, Xu Junhe solemnly told Kou Ruozhi.

"I understand!"

Kou Ruozhi nodded.

The great master is in Yunshan County, but no one dared to disturb him.