The Empress worked until late into the night. Scrolls and ledgers were piled high on her desk, the warm lantern light casting long shadows across the room. When she finally set her brush down, Li Jun leaned back in her chair. Her wrist ached from hours of writing.
"Qing'er, I need your help."
Shen Yuqing walked over, her gaze falling on the Empress's tired face and slightly slumped shoulders. She reached out and gently massaged Li Jun's temples. "Your Majesty, please speak. I'm listening."
"Tomorrow, help me with this," Li Jun said, tapping the stack of documents before her. "First, find me twenty men we can trust. Have them recount the actual silver and valuables in the imperial treasury. I want to know exactly how much we really have."
She paused before continuing, "Second, send our people to coordinate with the Minister of Justice. Seal off the residences of both the Minister of Revenue and the Director of the Imperial Treasury. No one enters or leaves. Search thoroughly for private ledgers, seize every document that might be useful as evidence. Make sure everything is handled only by those you trust."
Shen Yuqing couldn't help but admire this version of the Empress, calm, sharp, and completely in control. It was hard to believe she was the same person. Could amnesia really change not just one's memory, but one's soul?
Li Jun glanced at her and added lightly, "Oh… and you don't have to go yourself. Just send your people." She was already used to Shen Yuqing personally taking care of everything.
"Qing'er… Qing'er…" Li Jun waved a hand, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Shen Yuqing smiled and said, "Your Majesty… I will carry out your orders."
---
After morning court had adjourned, the Empress made her way to the Palace Treasury Storehouse, accompanied by Shen Yuqing.
Li Jun seated herself upon the high chair, draped in a plain scholar's robe that stood in stark contrast to her usual imperial finery. There were no jewels on her fingers, nor ornaments hung from her ears. In light of Great Qi's financial hardships, the Empress had chosen to lead by example, embracing simplicity to set a standard for her officials.
Noticing the Empress beginning to sweat beneath the weight of the summer heat, Xiao Diaozi swiftly stepped forward and began to fan her with care. A gentle breeze stirred the still air, brushing against Li Jun's face. The coolness made her eyelids grow heavy, and she let out a soft, lazy yawn.
"All who enter the treasury today shall remove their belts and outer robes. No exceptions, until this audit is complete," Li Jun said lazily, half-closing her eyes.
The officials exchanged nervous glances. Under the watchful eyes of the imperial guards, they stripped off their outer layers until their inner garment remained, revealing nothing hidden beneath.
"Record their names," Shen Yuqing commanded. Scribes seated at long tables swiftly dipped their brushes into ink and logged each name.
And so the counting began.
From chests sealed with red wax to scrolls of recorded income and expenditure, the silver was weighed, tallied, and cross-checked. The metallic clink of taels filled the room from dawn to well past midday. Dust motes danced in the sunbeams, unnoticed by the officials hunched over abacuses and ledgers.
Li Jun's head drooped, jerking up as she struggled to stay awake. The clinking of silver and the drowsy heat blurred together in her mind. Eventually, her body gave in, and she rested her head sideways against Shen Yuqing's shoulder.
Shen Yuqing startled by the sudden contact, but quickly adjusted her stance to support her better.
At last, the chief treasurer stepped forward and bowed low. "Your Majesty, the tallies are complete. The sum is consistent with the most recent report submitted by Zhang Yuan. Not a single coin is missing."
She lifted the audit scroll and glanced through it herself. "Very well," she said, setting the scroll aside. "Now, begin the second inspection."
Those who had participated in the counting were summoned forward, one by one. Under Shen Yuqing's supervision, the guards checking sleeves, hems, collars, and even the small folds between inner robes and skin.
When the final man had been searched and cleared, Shen Yuqing turned to the Empress with a bow. "All have been examined, Your Majesty. Nothing amiss."
"Let the record show," she said, "this audit was conducted in full accordance with imperial law, with not a single discrepancy found."
She reached for the jade seal beside her and pressed it against the document, marking it with the dragon sigil of the sovereign.
Li Jun returned to her imperial study. Not long after, Minister of Justice, Yun Shu entered the hall, followed by Captain Wei, one of Shen Yuqing's most trusted officers. Both men knelt deeply and lowered their heads in respect.
"Your Majesty," Yun Shu began, "all documents from the residences of the Minister of Revenue and the Director of the Imperial Treasury have been secured and brought here. However… we were unable to find Minister Wen's private ledger."
Li Jun gave a slight nod and began reviewing the document.
Zhang Yuan's records were meticulous. His personal spending was modest, and everything matched what a man of his rank should possess. The old man lived a frugal life. There was nothing suspicious.
But when she turned to the documents belonging to Wen Jiabao, her expression began to change.
The man lived like an emperor. His private treasury records showed staggering wealth far beyond what a minister's official salary could justify. Fine jewels, businesses, vast estates, horses, and rolls of rare silk were recorded in great detail.
Captain Wei brought evidence of the Minister of Revenue's crimes. In Lu City, Wen Jiabao held power and was feared. He acted like a tyrant, extorting local merchants and silencing anyone who dared oppose him.
"Tch…" Li Jun clicked her tongue in irritation. "Outrageous…"
"All of this is more than enough to sentence him," Li Jun said coldly, setting the scroll aside. "Minister Yun, Captain Wei, tomorrow seize all of Wen Jiabao's assets and place his entire household under arrest. The missing private ledger must be found. Search thoroughly."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the two men replied in unison, bowing deeply.
Just imagining all those treasures being carted into the palace treasury made her lips curl into a wicked smile. Then, unable to help herself, she let out a triumphant, villainous laugh that made Yun Shu's hand tremble inside his sleeve.
Just as the Empress reached the height of her gloating, she suddenly choked mid-laugh. Her smug grin twisted, and she started coughing violently.
Kkhh…! Ahem…! Agh...!
Shen Yuqing quickly poured a cup of warm tea and rubbed her back. "Slowly…" she said, shaking her head with a soft sigh.
Li Jun took the tea with one hand while the other patted her chest. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Damn… it's really not funny if I die from laughing," she muttered under her breath.