Chapter 37: The New Emperor Discovers an Empty Treasury

Jing Zhe and Jing Lan watched in amazement as their mistress introduced one novel gadget after another. They didn’t question their origins, only obediently listened and learned how to use the small box.

“Zhi Zhi Jie.”

Just as Jing Zhe spoke those three words, another identical box in Xie Zhizhi’s hand made a sound.

Jing Lan immediately understood how it worked.

Jing Zhe’s eyes sparkled. “This is incredible!”

“Even if I’m two streets away from you, I can still receive your message,” Xie Zhizhi explained, handing them the boxes. “Alright, I’m leaving now. Keep them safe and don’t lose them.”

“Mm-hmm!” The two nodded vigorously, watching as their mistress quickly disappeared around the corner.

“We should change our outfits first,” Jing Lan suggested. After all, too many people had seen them just now. As for their mistress being far stronger than them—well, that wasn’t something they needed to worry about.

“Alright.” Jing Zhe clutched the black box tightly, and the two of them swiftly departed using their light-footed movement skills.

---

Inside the Imperial Palace

The emperor returned to the palace, seething with frustration and rage, yet finding nowhere to vent his anger.

He needed to do something that would lift his spirits.

“I want to visit the national treasury, then head to the imperial study,” he declared, flicking his sleeves as he stepped out of his sleeping quarters.

He had been so preoccupied with handling the crown prince’s situation and his own enthronement that he hadn’t even visited his own treasury yet!

Yes!

From now on, it was his treasury!

The thought lifted his mood slightly.

The eunuch beside him bowed and called out loudly, “Yes, Your Majesty! Prepare for the journey to the treasury!”

A grand procession of dozens of guards, palace maids, and eunuchs set off toward the treasury.

Seated in his sedan chair, the emperor felt uneasy as his mind drifted back to that woman.

He still didn’t understand how he had suddenly gained the power to summon water orbs. The night before, he had been busy dealing with his mother’s funeral and discussing matters with his grandfather, never once leaving the palace.

Then, at midnight, a torrential downpour began. Fearing that his mother’s body might not be properly cared for, he had rushed to the imperial mausoleum in the middle of the storm. However, the rain was so heavy that his umbrella was snatched away by the wind, leaving both him and his grandfather drenched.

Soon after, he developed a high fever that not even the imperial physicians could cure. No matter what they tried, his temperature wouldn’t drop.

At that moment, he thought he was going to die—until, in a burst of emotion, he discovered that he could conjure water orbs!

The first one he cast shattered a porcelain vase in his chamber.

That was when he knew his chance to seize the throne had arrived.

After discussing it with his grandfather, he wasted no time. The very next day, he held the enthronement ceremony.

Everything had been going smoothly—until that woman ruined it!

The emperor’s thoughts ran wild as they traveled. That woman must have been caught in the rain too—there was no other explanation!

And yet, her powers seemed even stronger than his!

Tonight, he would see for himself if the storm truly had anything to do with it.

Unfortunately, the events that awaited him would leave him unconscious for two days.

---

As they neared the treasury, the chief eunuch raised his hand. “Halt!”

The emperor, filled with anticipation, lifted his gaze—only to be met with a sight that made his blood run cold.

Instead of a grand, glittering treasury, he saw a scorched, crumbling ruin!

Worse still, there wasn’t a single guard stationed outside!

What is the meaning of this?!

Because the chief eunuch had been walking close to the palace wall, he hadn’t immediately seen the devastation.

He turned just in time to witness the emperor’s expression freeze, his face darkening with fury. In a cold, terrifying voice, the emperor demanded, “What is the meaning of this, Li Fuchuan?! Explain this to me!”

The chief eunuch was so terrified by the emperor’s explosive rage that he froze for a moment. Then, standing on his tiptoes, he peered over the heads of the guards—only to see the treasury’s roof, charred black from fire!

Clearly, a great blaze had swept through the building not long ago. No wonder the palace corridors had seemed unusually empty on their way here!

Falling to his knees in terror, the eunuch pleaded, “Your Majesty! I swear, I know nothing of this! I received no word that the treasury had burned!”

His face was filled with sheer panic.

“Get inside!” The emperor ignored all decorum and sprinted forward.

The great doors were shut tight, but he kicked them open with all his might.

Inside, the once-proud treasury now looked just like the Zhaoyang Hall had on the night his mother died—charred black, collapsed, and utterly destroyed.

The grand eaves had caved in.

All four storerooms had been reduced to piles of blackened rubble.

Gold, silver, grain, weapons—everything was gone!

The sight was eerily similar to the state of his mother’s chambers after her death.

“BASTARD!” The emperor roared in fury, and his thoughts immediately jumped to the crown prince.

The prince must have concealed this from him!

No wonder the crown prince had surrendered the throne so easily last night, citing poor health and the opposition of the people.

It was a trap!

The emperor clenched his fists.

“Li Fuchuan! Find out exactly when this happened!”

“At once, Your Majesty!”

Without even stopping by the imperial study, the emperor stormed toward the Eastern Palace, where the crown prince still resided.

---

At that moment, Xie Zhizhi also arrived at the treasury.

Through a mirror in her spatial dimension, she saw the emperor’s furious departure.

With a smirk, she mused, “So he finally realized his treasury is gone? He’s even snorting in rage—how amusing.”

Her indifferent gaze swept over the desolate ruins.

Still, she needed to confirm something.

She entered the remains of the once-glorious treasury, her steps light and unhurried.

As expected, not a single person was present.

The windows and doors were scorched, and the ceiling had collapsed.

Her eyes gleamed with interest. “If that sly old fox of a crown prince is involved, then the valuables are probably in his hands.”

She pondered for a moment before swiftly following the emperor.

The emperor was definitely going to confront the crown prince.

This was going to be very entertaining.

She wouldn’t miss it for the world.