Chapter 219 So much gold and silver!

As soon as you step into the courtyard, a scorching heat wave hits you, mixed with the crackling sound of burning wood and thick smoke, making it almost impossible to open your eyes.

Shen Qingci covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve and carefully followed behind Ye Lan. She poured a basin of water at the nearest flame. With a "sizzle", the fire subsided slightly, but was immediately engulfed by the more intense flames around it.

The entire courtyard had long since been engulfed in flames!

The carved beams and painted pillars twisted and deformed in the raging fire, groaning under the weight of the flames; the exquisite window frames had long since burned to charcoal, leaving only black holes; the exotic flowers and plants on the artificial hill had also been reduced to ashes.

Just as everyone was frantically trying to put out the fire, an official responsible for fighting the fire in the front yard, probably wanting to get water nearby, suddenly kicked a nearby artificial hill that was already burning and on the verge of collapse!

With a loud crash, the artificial hill collapsed!

Amidst the flying pebbles, a wall behind it, already blackened by smoke, was revealed!

Just as the official was about to leave to find water elsewhere, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something strange on the wall out of the corner of his eye!

He stepped forward and tapped the bucket in his hand. Several muffled thuds were heard, and the sound clearly indicated that it was hollow!

"Help! Someone come quick!" he immediately shouted. "This...this wall is hollow!"

As soon as he said this, the crowd who were putting out the fire were immediately drawn to his presence!

Curious, someone stepped forward and tentatively pushed the wall. With just a little force, the wall plaster, which had been brittle from being baked by the fire, came off with a "whoosh"!

Then, to everyone's astonishment, almost to the point of breathlessness, within the wall, there was something dazzling—

Golden light burst forth in an instant!

Inside the thick walls, there were countless gold bars, silver ingots, and boxes of jewelry and jade artifacts that were already neatly stacked!

The golden and silvery light, illuminated by the blazing fire, appeared even more dazzling and even more... intoxicating!

"My God! It's...it's gold!"

"There's still silver! Wow...so much silver!"

Someone let out a scream of terror and greed, instantly igniting the desires of everyone present!

"Get out of the way! All of you, get out of the way!"

The officials who had rushed over upon hearing the news had already changed their expressions drastically!

They immediately led their officers forward, trying to keep the people, who were already dazzled by the gold and silver, outside!

"This is a strategically important location for the imperial court! Everyone, stand back immediately! Do not approach!"

But... it was too late!

Those who were already blinded by greed rushed in without a second thought!

He grabbed a gold brick from inside the wall, raised it above his head, and his voice was filled with uncontrollable ecstasy and madness:

"It's real! It's real silver! All...all silver!"

Among the crowd, several officials who were close to Prime Minister Liu suddenly showed extreme fear in their eyes!

Without a second thought, one of them drew his sword and pierced the chest of the man who was holding up the gold brick and shouting wildly.

Blood gushed out instantly, splattering all over the ground!

The other people who were already itching to move forward were startled by the sudden bloodshed and instantly sobered up!

They were then driven away by the officials who had been waiting there.

Shen Qingci followed the chaotic crowd and left the courtyard, which had long since turned into ruins, and quietly returned to the teahouse.

As soon as she returned to the private room, Shen Qingci immediately picked up the teacup in front of Chu Jichen and gulped down several cups of cold tea before finally calming down the heat and excitement in her heart.

She raised her head, her clear phoenix eyes sparkling with undisguised brilliance. Looking at Chu Jichen, her voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "So much gold and silver!"

"Liu Wenyuan... is quite wealthy!"

She couldn't help but ask, "If Emperor Yongming confiscates that silver... will it go to the national treasury, or somewhere else?"

Looking at her expression, filled with longing for gold and silver, Chu Jichen couldn't help but chuckle softly: "What? Is the Regent's Palace... short of your money?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci chuckled and slowly shook his head: "No, not at all."

"Perhaps it's because..." Her voice trailed off, a complex mix of nostalgia and sadness flashing in her eyes, "Before, I always followed my father and elder brother around to various border camps. I knew... I knew that the soldiers at the border were always short of food and supplies, and their clothes... were all tattered and worn."

“So,” she slowly raised her eyes, her clear eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness, “I know just how important money is. Seeing so much silver suddenly made me think, if… if all this silver could be used on the border, on the army, how wonderful that would be?”

"With strong troops, ample supplies, and plenty of provisions, how could we possibly suffer a defeat?"

The smile on Chu Jichen's face slowly faded.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on the back of hers, patting it soothingly.

Shen Qingci hurriedly asked, "Has someone been sent... to the palace to report to Emperor Yongming?"

Chu Jichen nodded, his voice regaining its usual calm: "Don't worry, someone has already gone. Emperor Yongming... will be here soon."

He looked at her and asked again, "Are you hungry?"

Shen Qingci then belatedly realized that after all that fuss, she really hadn't eaten anything.

Chu Jichen had someone bring up some food. Shen Qingci had just finished eating when there was another commotion outside the window.

A group of imperial guards, clad in golden armor and wielding long halberds, were seen marching in perfect unison, rapidly approaching the courtyard that had previously caught fire.

They didn't go in; instead, they skillfully surrounded the entire courtyard, inside and out, making it completely impassable!

The fire in the yard has now gradually been extinguished.

When the officials who were busy putting out the fire came out, they were all startled by the tense scene!

They rushed forward to inquire about the situation.

The commander of the Imperial Guards merely glanced at them coldly, his voice filled with undeniable authority:

"We have heard that there are rebels plotting a rebellion here! And... the rebels are hiding inside!"

"We are here on His Majesty's orders... to capture the traitors!"

Traitors? Where did these traitors come from?

Shen Qingci slowly curled the corners of her lips, her voice carrying a hint of sarcasm: "This Emperor Yongming... isn't entirely stupid."

"They even know to use the pretext of capturing traitors to first surround this place so that they can... conduct a legitimate search."

"In such a short time," a calculating glint flashed in her eyes, "even if Liu Wenyuan received the news, it would be impossible for him to... move all those things away so quickly, wouldn't it?"