In her eyes, Li Chen was "certain to die"! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

The Treasure Vault was an immense, spacious palace.

Countless luminous pearls were embedded in the surrounding walls, illuminating the entire space as brightly as daylight.

The floor was piled high with gold, silver, and jewels-heaps of gold bricks, silver ingots, pearls, agates, and jade. A dazzling array, too numerous to count.

Rows of towering shelves stood in the center of the Treasure Vault, displaying all manner of magic artifacts, pills, and ancient texts. Every item radiated a rich spiritual aura; clearly, they were all rare treasures.

What was more, there was no end in sight. What they could see was only a fraction of it.

Wu Nanzhi looked around and could not help murmuring in amazement, "How is this a Treasure Vault? It's practically the national treasury."

She had never visited the national treasury; she was merely expressing her amazement.

But Li Chen had. He felt Wu Nanzhi was right-the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's national treasury looked just like this.

Li Chen swept his gaze across the Treasure Vault, a hint of emotion in his voice. "Why do I get the feeling the Dragon Emperor was responsible for the previous dynasty's decline?"

Beside him, Zhuo Shishi asked curiously, "Your Majesty, what makes you say that?"

Li Chen explained, "Think about it. By gathering so much wealth here, the Dragon Emperor practically emptied the entire national treasury. What would the newly enthroned emperor have to do when faced with having no money?"

Zhuo Shishi immediately understood and answered, "With the national treasury empty, the New Emperor would surely begin amassing wealth by raising taxes and plundering."

The higher taxes would target commoners, while plundering generally meant using trumped-up charges to "confiscate the estates" of merchant families. Wouldn't that bring in money?

Merchant families were not necessarily without power or influence, especially the