The Empress Can Have the Change, the Rest Is All Mine

"Commandant, the count is complete."

"The three households' assets came to a total of thirteen million eight hundred thousand taels of silver."

Zhao Sheng's hands trembled as he held the account book.

"That's all?"

Gu Yuan was a little disappointed. Back then, the money in his account had never dropped below a billion.

"That's all?"

Zhao Sheng stared at him in astonishment.

Was the Marquis of Pingxiang really that rich?

He looked down on more than ten million taels?

Holy crap, could the Marquis of Pingxiang be a corrupt official in hiding...?

"How much do the brothers usually get?"

"Five percent, about seven hundred thousand taels."

"That's quite a lot."

Zhao Sheng: ???

Over ten million taels was all there was, but seven hundred thousand was quite a lot?

What kind of logic was that?

Before he could react, Gu Yuan continued:

"The brothers have worked hard, raiding three households in a row. I'll make the decision to add another hundred thousand taels. Take out the whole eight hundred thousand and split it among everyone."

Zhao Sheng froze.

Eight hundred thousand taels... There were a little over two hundred men involved in the raids. At his rank, after everyone got their share, he could receive over thirty thousand taels!

"Give my share to the brothers too."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, huh? You still think it's too little?"

"No, Brother Gu, your share is a hundred thousand taels!" Zhao Sheng reminded him kindly.

"It's only a hundred thousand taels. I don't care for it."

Damn, that's impressive!

Zhao Sheng imagined that one day, he too might be able to say those words.

"As for the remaining thirteen million..."

"Send ten million taels to the Gu residence and report three million to the empress."

What?

Zhao Sheng felt he must still be asleep and hearing things.

"Commandant, I didn't quite catch that."

Gu Yuan raised his eyes and pointed at a chest of silver.

"The empress can have the three million in change. The remaining ten million taels are all mine!"

"Got that?"

What?!

This time, Zhao Sheng understood.

Gu Yuan intended to take the empress's share.

Holy shit.

How could he have the gall?!

"What are you standing there for? Get moving!"

"Th-this..."

How would Zhao Sheng dare?!

"How about... reporting it to the commander first?"

"Brother Zhao, you're pretty timid, aren't you?" Gu Yuan smiled faintly. "All right, go report it."

Zhao Sheng froze again.

He had only brought up Commander Shangguan to remind Gu Yuan.

But Gu Yuan was actually telling him to go?

"Then... I'm going?"

"Go on, go on."

Gu Yuan happily poured himself a cup of wine.

If Shangguan Weiming knew, that meant the empress would know.

Once word reached the empress that he had taken ten million taels from her, wouldn't she be so angry she'd get a few crow's feet?

"Y-your Majesty... I have something to report."

Qi Yueli raised her eyes.

"What is it?"

Shangguan Weiming hesitated.

"Is it about Gu Yuan?" Qi Yueli picked up her fragrant tea and sipped it quietly.

Today, she had not only wiped out Prince Duan and his band of rebels, but also gained the upper hand over those old fellows at court.

She was in a very good mood.

"Your Majesty is wise." Shangguan Weiming cleared his throat. "A subordinate just reported that Gu Yuan seized more than thirteen million taels in total."

More than thirteen million!

Qi Yueli's mood improved further.

With that much money, there would finally be funds for disaster relief across the land!

"He did well."

"Your Majesty, please hear me out."

"Gu Yuan ordered that... that ten million taels of the confiscated silver be taken to the Gu residence, and the remaining three million handed over to the empress..."

Cough, cough, cough...!

Qi Yueli, a grandmaster at the pinnacle of martial arts, nearly choked on her tea.

You little rebel!

Out of thirteen million taels, taking three million would have been one thing, but he dared take ten million!

I'm furious...

No!

Don't be angry...

Don't be angry...

He's doing it on purpose... He wants me to strip him of his post.

Qi Yueli took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Gu Yuan must have spoken nonsense on impulse. I shall go back and teach him a lesson."

"Wait."

Qi Yueli rubbed her brow. "Take the silver to the Gu residence."

What?

Shangguan Weiming froze on the spot.

Wasn't the empress spoiling Gu Yuan a little too much?

"Your Majesty, this is against the rules..."

"Since Gu Ming is the minister of revenue, money matters are naturally his responsibility. Let him worry about it."

"And let those who want money go to the Gu residence for it."

Shangguan Weiming opened his mouth, his face full of shock.

Even this is fine?

Damn, that's impressive!

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gu Yuan had to admit, his mind went blank at the sight of the pile of gleaming silver in the courtyard.

Even this didn't make the empress angry?

She really had the ten million taels brought back to the Gu residence?

How could the Gu family possibly store that much silver?!

Gu Ming stood rooted to the spot.

"Yuan'er, what did you do? Why did the empress give you so much silver?"

"Heaven knows..."

"Gu Ming, receive the imperial decree!" Shangguan Weiming's voice rang out.

"...The Marquis of Pingxiang, Gu Ming, is appointed minister of revenue and shall assume his post immediately. There shall be no mistakes."

"Furthermore, as the Ministry of Revenue is under renovation, and out of consideration for the Marquis of Pingxiang's ill health, Her Majesty has designated the marquis's residence as the ministry's temporary workplace. All ministry officials shall conduct their duties there."

What the hell?

Gu Yuan was dumbfounded.

What was wrong with his father's health?

Minister of revenue? A temporary Ministry of Revenue?

What was the empress doing?

She likes me. She definitely likes me!

She can even put up with ten million taels of silver. This empress definitely lusts after my body!

Qi Yueli: "Hmph!"

Damn it, she even set up a temporary Ministry of Revenue. With people coming and going, it'll be noisy as hell. How will Senior Sister come over at night?

And how did Father get appointed minister of revenue? That wasn't in the plot either...

Ah, the whole place is full of utterly useless silver. There isn't even anywhere to sleep. What a headache...

Qi Yueli pressed her lips together gently.

"He really doesn't love money."

But then again, the empress sent so much silver. Anyone who didn't spend it wouldn't be normal!

I still haven't collected Miss Meixiang's treasure. Off to the Bureau of Music to listen to music and spend a fortune!

I'm booking the whole place today!

Qi Yueli: ...

Forget it. I'd better stop reading.

She closed the diary and rubbed her head.

Her head hurt.

Shu Ridge Road.

One of the official roads connecting Qi Capital and Shuzhou.

Two carriages were parked by the side of the road.

"Hey, Brother, are we almost at Qi Capital?" A carriage curtain lifted, revealing a lively young girl's face.

"Almost there. Hurry, hurry, hurry. You ask eight hundred times a day. It's so annoying!"

"Lu Zhaoming, you're being mean to me again!"

"Big Sister, look at Second Brother. He keeps bullying me all the way here... It's like I'm not his real sister, but someone he picked up by the roadside."

The girl sounded tearful, though there were no tears on her face.

Outside the carriage, the young man named Lu Zhaoming was thoroughly exasperated.

"Brother, don't take your anger out on Ling'er."

A woman emerged from the carriage. She was gentle and composed, with dignified features and an air of nobility.

"Yes, Sister, I was wrong."

"Hmph! Apologize!" Lu Ling rushed out, hands on her hips, looking very pleased with herself.

Lu Zhaoming curled his lip. "I'm sorry. I spoke too harshly."

"Hmph, your little sister forgives you!"

The gentle woman smiled helplessly.

"Brother, what happened to make you so angry?"

Lu Zhaoming waved a hand. "I was planning to find a chance to kill that fellow from Qingzhou, but those two tomb robbers said they'd run into some Ghost Master and quit."

"I'm furious!"

The gentle woman sighed softly. "Although Father is at odds with the King of Qingzhou, making a move against his heir in Great Qi's Capital, right under the empress's nose, would be terribly unwise."

"You wouldn't be helping Father. You'd be harming him."

Lu Zhaoming lowered his head. "I understand, Sister."

"Exactly! Don't you ever think before you act?"

"Shut up!"

"No, I won't!"

Lu Zhaoming couldn't be bothered with Lu Ling and continued, "Sister, there's something else."

"It seems a martial arts genius who appears only once in a century has emerged in the Capital. The empress holds him in high regard, and there are even rumors that she intends to take him as her disciple."

"Who is he?"

"The Marquis of Pingxiang's heir, Gu Yuan."

The gentle woman fell silent for a moment, then said, "Once we enter Qi Capital, little brother, you should find a chance to befriend him."

Lu Zhaoming gripped the hilt of his sword and grinned.

"A martial arts genius. I've been looking forward to it."