The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Garden.
Qi Dao gave a convincing bow. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Qian Renxue smiled and waved a hand.
"Stop fooling around."
Qi Dao grinned, then grew a little more serious. "Sis, how do you plan to take back power from those kingdoms and duchies?"
Power was divided across the Heaven Dou Empire, and its control over its vassal states was especially weak.
For example, the Four Great Kingdoms and the duchies, all vassals of Heaven Dou, were supposed to hand over part of their tax revenue each year and pay annual tribute to the empire.
In times of war, they were also required to follow the empire's orders without question and send troops to its aid.
But as the Heaven Dou Empire declined, those kingdoms and duchies had grown increasingly perfunctory about taxes and tribute. Whenever war broke out, they found excuses not to send troops or offered only halfhearted support.
The empire had fallen into a vicious cycle, its strength dwindling year by year.
Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes, confidence flashing across her face.
"Don't worry. Months ago, I put Spirit Hall's people to work investigating the tax records of those five vassal states."
"Once I've stabilized the court, I can use that as grounds to make an example of them."
She did not need evidence of treason. She only needed a charge that would stand up to scrutiny.
Qi Dao nodded. He was not worried that the investigation would be exposed and alert their targets.
Spirit Hall knew how to infiltrate an organization. In the original story, it had mobilized over ten thousand Soul Masters to attack the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan without a word leaking out.
How hard could it be to investigate five vassal