"You... this is clearly sophistry. I won't let you do whatever you want!" Xiao Ling objected angrily.

She knew very well that what Chu Zei said made sense, but she knew even more clearly that Chu Zei's thoughts were obviously not just about hugging and cuddling.

She wanted to continue arguing with Chu Yi, but at this moment something suddenly occurred to her, and she couldn't help but change the subject:

"By the way, Chu thief, tell me honestly, how much have you embezzled?"

Xiao Ling still found it unbelievable that the Chu thief suddenly became so generous.

You have to know that the previous war in the north and Chu Yan's march north with an army of 100,000 were all paid for by Chu Yi himself.

As a result, today, Chu Yi was so generous to take over the money from the civil affairs department.

How did the Chu thief suddenly come to his senses and be willing to spend money on himself?

Chu Yi said that he really didn't like the question "how much did you embezzle?"

However, given their current relationship, he was too lazy to argue and answered without much thought:

"It should be quite a bit, but actually it's not a lot. It's mainly because the national treasury needs the money, and I can't keep it for myself anymore."

"What should be a lot?" Xiao Ling frowned and began to question him closely. "Tell me the truth. You still don't want to explain to me. Do you think your corruption is right?"

In the end, when she thought of Chu Yi's nonchalant expression when he took the money just now, and her own difficulty in allocating 200,000 silver coins for disaster relief, the little empress couldn't help feeling aggrieved.

"When I think about the empty treasury and all the consequences of you, a bastard, I get angry!"

It's all his fault. He made it so difficult for me to manage this family.

"Your Majesty, first of all, I must remind you that the empty treasury is not solely your fault!"

Chu Yi spoke seriously, and seeing the grievance on the little empress's face, his tone softened a lot.

"As for my wealth... I spent most of the money I got from Anyang. Adding to that the savings I've made over the past few years, not counting things like calligraphy and paintings, I only have about 15 million silver coins..."

"Fifteen million silver!!!"

Xiao Ling stood up from Chu Yi's legs, covering her mouth and screaming for a long time, just like a girl who was blinded by money.

In the three years since she ascended the throne, the taxes collected by the national treasury have only been enough to cover this much, right?

No wonder she has always been so poor, it turns out that all her money was taken away by the Chu bandits.

Xiao Ling was furious and annoyed, and she almost wanted to kill the nonchalant man in front of her with a knife.

"Chu thief! Ahh ...

Xiao Ling was so angry that he rushed forward and grabbed Chu Yi's official uniform.

"This is all my money, my money, mine!"

Seeing the little empress run away with his property so openly, Chu Yi felt helpless. If he had known... he would have said less.

It is certainly not possible for Chu Yi to embezzle more than 10 million yuan in just a few years.

Because part of it was accumulated for the Chu family during the reign of the previous emperor, when his uncle was the chief minister of the cabinet.

Later, the late emperor ordered the execution of Lord Chu, and these properties were legitimately passed on to him.

As for Chu Yan, since a small portion of his wealth is needed to support the Beijing Camp, it is estimated that he only has a few million in wealth.

In view of the bad signs showing from the little empress in his arms, Chu Yi felt it was necessary to give her a reminder.

He held down the little empress's restless body and reminded her seriously:

"Your Majesty, you must know that I am not the only one who is corrupt in the court. Although I control a lot of money,... there are many people involved and the amount is large. Other officials have also embezzled a lot, which has led to the poverty of the country."

"And the empty treasury is more due to the irrationality of Anguo's financial system!"

Chu Yi was trying to reason with Xiao Ling seriously, but Xiao Ling couldn't listen any longer.

At first, when Chu Yi held her down, she was quiet for a while, but after Chu Yi finished speaking, she got angry again.

"I don't care. No matter how much corruption others have committed, I'm too lazy to care now!"

"But Chu thief, you still have 15 million in your hands. Ah—give it back to me! Give it back to me!"

Xiao Ling grabbed the official robe of the Chu thief and at the last moment he wanted to bite him.

"Okay, okay, that's almost enough."

Finally, Chu Yi couldn't stand her fussing anymore, suppressed his anger, and said solemnly:

"Your Majesty, I would like to say that since I have already taken this silver, I will not send it to Your Majesty's treasury."

Before Xiao Ling could get angry, he continued to explain:

"Of course, I was wrong to embezzle such a huge sum of money. Your Majesty is my woman after all, and I won't be so petty. After all, this money is ill-gotten gains. If there is any need in the future, I am naturally willing to use my family property to support Your Majesty... However, looking at the current situation, apart from what I have already agreed to, there is not much else that requires my help this year."

"So..." Chu Yi rubbed the little empress's warm cheek, "Your Majesty, don't worry about our family's money this year, okay?"

Finally...

After hearing Chu Yi's words, Xiao Ling's temper disappeared, and he stared at Chu Yi's face for a long time.

"You... are telling the truth? You're not fooling me?"

Chu Yi smiled, "Your Majesty is already my woman. I do my best for our future together. How could I lie to Your Majesty?"

Xiao Ling finally felt relieved. Looking at the man's face in front of her, she suddenly made up her mind and took the initiative to kiss his lips.

After a long time, after leaving, the little empress had already had a gentle look on her face and eyes that sparkled.

She raised her eyes slightly and looked carefully at the man she had hated for a long time before finally falling in love with him:

"Chu Yi~, husband~, you are so kind..."

"You don't know, given the current situation in Anguo, the treasury is far too empty. I almost thought I couldn't plug these huge holes where money is flowing like water. Even with your help, my husband, amidst so many dangers, perhaps the court is on the verge of collapse."

"Fortunately, you told me that you still have over 10 million in assets. Although you keep saying that you can't hand over the silver to the national treasury, I understand that with this silver as a backup, at least from now on, I have the opportunity to enrich the country and strengthen the army again!"

Chu Yi hugged her, also very gently.

After a long while, he suddenly whispered, "Your Majesty, there is a hole. I think I can volunteer to help Your Majesty plug it first."

"you!"

The little empress, who was still immersed in tenderness, quickly reacted and her face turned red in an instant.

"I'm talking to you seriously!"

"I am talking about serious matters."

Chu Yi looked down at the blushing empress, "I have done so much for Your Majesty. Is it not too much for Your Majesty to show some grace and reward me?"

"you……"

Xiao Ling really couldn't stand his attitude, but because she heard this great news, her whole heart was devoted to her husband Chu Yi.

After thinking about it for a while, she decided that since Chu Ze was so generous, she should take the initiative.

After all, even if I don’t give any rewards, doesn’t the Chu thief shamelessly come to me every day to ask for them?

Whether you agree or not, I won’t lose anything!

Knowing what Chu Ze was thinking, Xiao Ling still pretended to be reserved and then carefully leaned into his arms:

"My dear husband, what do you want me to reward you with?"