Chapter Thirty-Three: A New Mandate, Renewed Glory, and a Journey Begun Anew

The Emperor held a banquet, and naturally, Yunsheng and I were among the invited guests.

As cups clinked and wine flowed, Grand Tutor Li approached me with a beaming smile to read an imperial decree. Good heavens, that scroll was longer than my own face! I fought the urge to yawn, but as I listened closely, my pupils dilated in shock. The Emperor had appointed me as the Palace Treasurer? Me? In charge of the entire imperial purse? This was a lucrative post indeed! I nearly laughed out loud, but managed to hold it in, maintaining my "aloof and cold" persona.

"Lady Lu, receive the decree," Grand Tutor Li’s voice brought me back to reality. I quickly knelt, took the decree with both hands, and thanked the Emperor for his grace. Inside, however, I was blooming with joy; this was an absolute landslide victory! The days of counting money until my hands cramped were just around the corner. Yunsheng, by my side, was happy for me too. That silly boy even whispered that I could tell him whatever I wanted to eat from now on. Oh, how adorable!

Yet, in this palace, where there is joy, there is sorrow. No sooner had the banquet dispersed than Noble Lady Su came swaying over with her serpentine waist. Her eyes looked as if she wanted to swallow me whole. I scoffed inwardly; jealousy truly makes one unrecognizable.

"Lu Wan'er, by what right did you become the Treasurer?" Noble Lady Su’s shrill, bitter voice made my ears ache. I rolled my eyes, too lazy to engage with her, and turned to leave.

"You stop right there!" Noble Lady Su grabbed my sleeve. "You are nothing but a lowly palace maid, what did you rely on to—"

Before she could finish, I cut her off directly. "I relied on ability." I shook off her hand and walked away without looking back.

Back in my room, the more I thought about it, the more something felt off. Noble Lady Su’s reaction today was far too intense; could it really just be simple jealousy? I felt there was more to it than that. Just as I was pondering, I suddenly heard a faint sound outside the window.

"Who’s there?" I shoved the window open, but saw nothing. Was I being too sensitive? I shook my head and closed the window.

At that moment, Yunsheng pushed the door open, looking at me with concern. "Wan'er, are you alright? I heard Noble Lady Su is spreading rumors everywhere, saying that you..."

Before he could finish, I smiled. "It’s fine, let her talk. The innocent need no defense." I said this aloud, but in my heart, I was already calculating how to deal with her. Yunsheng stayed by my side to comfort me, his hand gently holding mine, promising that no matter what happened, he would support me. His hand was warm, and it made me feel very secure. Having Yunsheng here is truly wonderful.

I am not one to sit and wait for my doom. Instead of being a passive target, it is better to strike first. I requested the Emperor’s permission to conduct a comprehensive audit of the palace treasury within one month, pledging to accept punishment if any discrepancies were found. The Emperor readily agreed; after all, who doesn't appreciate a diligent and responsible Treasurer?

That month, I was so busy my feet barely touched the ground. Fortunately, I had my "golden touch"—my keen sense for money allowed me to quickly discover several hidden private vaults. Hehe, I was going to be rich! Of course, I wouldn't keep it all for myself; what needed to be turned in would be turned in. After all, I am a righteous money-lover. During the audit, I also discovered several loopholes in the management of the treasures and proposed improvement plans.

The Emperor was delighted and showered me with praise and many fine rewards. Naturally, Noble Lady Su’s rumors collapsed on their own. She lost all face in the palace, her complexion turning a shade of green that looked worse than wilted greens. Looking at the mountain of rewards, I felt wonderful. I gave myself full marks for this maneuver!

However, I knew that the palace struggles were far from over. My position was like a piece of fat, and I had no idea how many people were eyeing it. Just as I was thinking this, a guard rushed in, panting and deathly pale, pointing toward the door.

"The treasury... the treasure vault..."