"Who authorized you to lend Chu Sheng troops and provisions?"

Inside the imperial study, Yu Xiyan summoned Yu Xizhao and launched into a tirade of abuse, nearly smashing a teacup over his head in her anger.

The incident began when Yu Xiyan discovered a huge expenditure while reviewing the national treasury expenditures of the past eight or nine months.

This expense was swindled away by Chu Yang.

Actually, it's not much; it's only about 20 million spirit stones when converted to low-grade spirit stones.

However, the annual income of spirit stones from the Great Yin treasury is only 40 million.

In other words, Yu Xizhao lent Chu Sheng half of the national treasury in one go, so it's no wonder that Yu Xiyan was furious.

"Royal sister, His Highness the Fourth Prince has promised me that as long as I help him eliminate the traitors of Chu Yang..."

He was willing to make the entire country a vassal state of my Great Yin Dynasty and promised to return the spirit stones doubled.

Hearing Yu Xizhao's explanation, Yu Xiyan slammed the account book down at his feet.

"Don't try to explain to me that you're meddling in the power transition within the Chu Kingdom," Yu Xiyan questioned. "Do you know how much of the treasury this loan will embezzle?"

"That's half a year's revenue for the national treasury. Do you know how much you can do with that many spirit stones?"

Yu Xizhao had never seen Yu Xiyan so angry, and could only bow his head and apologize repeatedly: "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, it's all my fault, I have failed you."

Yu Xiyan glared at him coldly: "Step down, you are really not suitable for handling state affairs."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

Yu Xizhao slunk away from the imperial study.

Just then, Yu Guopu entered the imperial study and asked urgently, "Xiyan, have you seen your mother?"

Yu Xiyan frowned: "Mother? Isn't she with Father?"

Yu Guopu became anxious: "Yesterday, your mother received a letter from the Ice Phoenix Clan, saying that they had important matters to discuss and asked her to come to Pingkangfang for consultation, but she has not returned since she left."

Yu Xiyan was shocked: "What! Such a big thing, why didn't Father tell you sooner? Do you still think I'm your daughter?"

Immediately notify all departments within the imperial city to find the Empress Dowager's whereabouts as soon as possible.

Yu Guopu: "I have already sent people to look for her, but there is still no news of your mother."

Yu Xiyan sighed softly, "I understand, Father. I will arrange for the secret guards to search carefully for Mother's whereabouts. You should return to Xiude Palace to rest and recuperate. I will immediately send someone to inform you if there is any news."

"Xi Yan, you must find your mother."

"Um."

Leaving behind a single sentence, Yu Guopu left the imperial study with a heavy heart.

After Yu Guopu left, Yu Xiyan leaned back wearily in her chair.

"The Grand Offering".

At a command, a wisp of black mist appeared.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Search the city thoroughly and be sure to find the whereabouts of the Empress Dowager..."

"yes."

The high priest was about to accept the order and leave.

"etc!"

Yu Xiyan suddenly called out to him again.

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Yu Xiyan hesitated for a moment, thought it over and over again, and then waved her hand: "Forget it, I will have the secret guards investigate this matter, so you don't need to get involved."

"Your subordinate obeys."

After the chief priest withdrew, Yu Xiyan closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, her face full of exhaustion.

...

"No, let me go! I don't want to go! Please let me go!"

Gu Ningye was awakened by a series of shrill screams.

When she slowly opened her eyes, she found herself in a dark house.

All around were women huddled together, sobbing softly.

Two rough men were dragging a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl out the door, ignoring her cries and struggles.

By the time she realized what was happening, the door, which had only been open for a moment, was slammed shut.

Where is this?

Gu Ningye asked in a low voice.

A disheveled girl quietly crawled up to Gu Ningye and whispered, "Sister, were you also captured by them?"

Looking at the pitiful girl before her, Gu Ningye asked softly, "Child, tell me, where is this place?"

The girl shook her head: "Sister, this is a place abandoned by Chang'an. I don't know where it is. I only know that these evil people captured us to please the rich."

As she spoke, she hugged her knees and began to cry.

It seemed as if he was thinking of some unpleasant past events.

Gu Ningye was shocked: "How could such a thing happen in Chang'an, right under the emperor's nose? I... I really can't believe it. How could this be?"

The girl wiped away her tears: "Sister, judging from your appearance, you must come from a very wealthy family, right?"

You won't be sent to be sold in Rouge Lane like us.

They'll definitely be sold off to other places at high prices. Those people are inhuman; they'll do anything for money.

Bang~

The door was suddenly kicked open.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Yellow Hair shouted loudly, stopping the crowd.

Then, he stared at Gu Ningye with a lecherous look, even drooling from the corner of his mouth onto the floor.

Gu Ningye felt a chill run down her spine from this disgusting scene, so she shouted, "What do you want with me here?!"

"Hehehe, what a stunning beauty."

The blond-haired man licked the corner of his mouth, his expression becoming increasingly lewd.

Gu Ningye glanced at him casually and saw that his crotch was already bulging high.

She was immediately filled with shame and anger, and turned her face away.

"Just wait, I will turn you into the way I want you to be."

Huang Mao made up his mind.

Then, with a wave of his hand, two burly men rushed in and grabbed Gu Ningye.

Gu Ningye was shocked: "What are you doing? Let me go!"

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