Two days passed after Lin Qi's second meeting with Lady Dark Lotus.
Over those two days, Lin Qi was so busy his heels seemed to be kicking the back of his head. He had to personally judge the powerful nobles and officials of the three provinces—demoting some, imprisoning some, exiling some, executing some. He also had to straighten out the countless affairs within his fief: military administration, civil administration, finances, and more. All of it required him to work with the people Princess Qingli had sent, directing them as they gradually sorted through the mess.
At the same time, he sent an official document to Sea Stabilizing King Ying Yi—ordering him to return the surplus funds from the treasuries of the three provinces. Many officials in Lin Qi's fief had been unable to endure the savage tortures of bone-cracking marrow-sucking, tendon-ripping, and skin-flaying, and had confessed everything: of all the funds in their treasuries, one tenth had been divided among themselves, while nine tenths had been taken away by Sea Stabilizing King Ying Yi.
Lin Qi had already recovered the funds they had embezzled. But the money Sea Stabilizing King Ying Yi had taken was also property under Lin Qi's name. Thus, Lin Qi sent Ying Yi an exceedingly impolite official document, even directly threatening him: if he refused to return the enormous sum that rightfully belonged to Lin Qi, Lin Qi would not mind proposing a fair duel before Ying Zheng—a fair duel to the death.
As for how violently such a document would make Ying Yi react, Lin Qi had no time to care.
News continuously arrived from Lady Dark Lotus. The elite experts selected by the Miro Divine Cult had already gathered in secret in the villages and towns near Peaceful People City. From the Miro Divine