Exile at the start? The princess is no ordinary woman.

"Father, these malicious rumors are a challenge to Your Majesty's authority. Allow me to investigate and find out who spread these rumors, and bring them back to be punished by Your Majesty personally."

"Father, I am also willing to lead men to investigate and expose these treacherous individuals..."

Such news is outrageous and utterly audacious; they must be severely punished.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Majesty open the national treasury to demonstrate that this news is merely alarmist rhetoric spread by malicious individuals with the intention of sowing discord among the people. Furthermore, I request that the Court of Judicial Review be dispatched to thoroughly investigate who dares to spread such rumors beneath the walls of the capital and to punish them severely..."

"Your Majesty, the Duke's words are polite."

"Your Majesty, I agree."

"..."

That's the national treasury; it can't afford the slightest mishap. If what's said on the paper is true, it will definitely jeopardize the foundation of the nation.

Faced with the loyal minister's words, the emperor remained silent for a long while before finally speaking softly, "Guards, prepare the ceremonies. Today, I invite this loyal minister to personally audit the national treasury with me."

The emperor considered this rumor utter nonsense. He believed the person spreading it was someone with ill intentions towards the imperial power, and that it insulted his imperial dignity. Today, he would have his ministers witness the fullness of the national treasury to dispel the rumor.

However, after investigating, he discovered who this person was who insisted on tearing him to pieces and punishing him severely, daring to challenge the emperor's authority.

Upon seeing that the emperor agreed to the memorial, the loyal minister bowed and seconded the motion.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

However, when the emperor led his loyal ministers to the location of the national treasury, the guards outside the treasury immediately knelt down to pay their respects upon seeing the emperor's arrival.

"Greetings, Your Majesty"

"flat body"

"Thank you, Your Majesty"

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree, exuding regal bearing as he took the lead.

"Guards, open the gates of the imperial treasury so that loyal ministers may have a look."

"Yes, Your Majesty"

One of the imperial guards leaders stepped forward, bowed, and then took out a key to unlock the large bronze lock on the gate of the imperial treasury. It took two keys to open the seemingly simple lock.

The imperial guards removed the heavy lock, and the guards on either side of the gate stepped forward. Together, the three of them pushed open the heavy gate of the imperial treasury.

However, when the three of them pushed open the door and saw what was inside, they were so frightened that their legs went weak and they knelt straight down on the ground.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty"

The emperor and his courtiers stood more than five meters away from the treasury gates, all intently watching them as they opened. However, due to the obstruction of view by the three imperial guards, they couldn't immediately see what was inside the treasury. The reactions of those three guards were observed by everyone.

In particular, the emperor's eyes darkened slightly.

"Your Majesty...the treasury...is empty."

The national treasury occupied a considerable area, filled with gold and silver treasures from the entrance inwards, the value increasing from the outside in. However... when the people pushed open the treasury door earlier, they found it completely empty.

With the national treasury robbed, those who are accustomed to guarding it will likely face the death penalty.

Upon hearing the words "the treasury is empty," even the emperor, who had stood as steady as a pine tree, swayed slightly. He strode forward to the treasury entrance, kicked aside the kneeling guards, and walked inside. Indeed, as the guards had said, the treasury was empty.

The other officials followed the emperor into the treasury, only to find empty shelves instead of the piles of gold and silver they had imagined.

Could it be? ? ?

Could it be true, as the rumors suggest, that the emperor himself embezzled funds?

Otherwise, how could such a large national treasury, the very foundation of the nation, be completely unaware and undetected if it were stolen and burgled?

Moreover, the palace is heavily guarded, and the treasury is even more heavily guarded. What kind of person would be capable of emptying the entire treasury without making a sound or alerting the guards?

Suspicion arose in everyone's hearts, but they dared not voice such guesses in front of the emperor. They could only look at each other, yet they all saw the same suspicion in each other's eyes.

The prince, who had brazenly declared in the imperial palace that he would investigate and severely punish those who spread rumors, was also stunned by the scene before him and remained speechless for a long time.

Has the national treasury really been emptied?

Even they shared the same doubts as the general public.

"How dare you! Guards! Guards!"

If the emperor's initial reaction upon seeing the information on the paper in the imperial palace was one of furious rage at the treacherous official's challenge to imperial authority, then this emperor's current state could be described as one of thunderous fury.

The assembled officials, terrified like quails, immediately knelt on the ground. Though their hearts were filled with righteous indignation, they dared not show it, and could only kneel with their heads bowed.

Regardless of the reason for the emperor's anger, it is not advisable to stand out in the heat of the moment to protect oneself, lest one invite trouble.

"Greetings, Your Majesty"

The guards waiting outside immediately appeared before the emperor upon his summons, awaiting his orders.

"Imprison all those guarding the national treasury for a thorough investigation. Such a serious matter as the theft of the treasury, yet not a single person discovered the thief's whereabouts... What should their punishment be?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

The imperial guards on duty, fearing for their lives due to the emperor's orders, begged for mercy. They were baffled as to why the national treasury had been emptied overnight, when they had not done anything wrong during their shift.

The emperor, still unsteady from the theft of the national treasury, issued orders while supporting himself on an empty frame.

"Summon the Commander of the Imperial Guards"

"Your Majesty, the Commander has just escorted the rebels out of the city," a eunuch respectfully reminded him.

"Send someone to summon him back to the palace immediately to thoroughly investigate the theft from the national treasury."

The entire palace guard was under the command of the Imperial Guard Commander. Now, with such a major case, he has proven himself incompetent as commander. The exile of the Prince of Yan is a foregone conclusion. What should have been a cause for celebration has instead been followed by the theft of the national treasury and the rumors circulating outside the palace...

"Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, this case is assigned to you for a thorough investigation. I have ordered the Commander of the Imperial Guards to assist you in handling this case. I give you seven days to find the thieves, apprehend them, and recover the treasury silver. Otherwise, I will take your head."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review: "......"

A person who can empty the national treasury overnight without alerting anyone is no ordinary thief. To order him to find the murderer in seven days is tantamount to asking for his head.

He even suspected that the rumors outside the palace might be true—that the emperor himself had embezzled the funds. Otherwise, since he took office at the Dali Temple, he had seen all sorts of murderers and thieves, but he had never seen anyone with the ability to silently empty the national treasury within the heavily guarded palace.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review inwardly groaned; even by minimizing his presence, he still couldn't escape.

But the emperor had issued an edict; how could he dare disobey? Accepting the order meant he could keep his head on his shoulders for seven days; refusing meant he might not even survive a single day.

"Your Majesty, I obey your command. I will certainly do my utmost to track down the thieves."

"Your Majesty, I dare to suggest that the person who stole from the national treasury must be the same group of people spreading rumors outside the palace. At this time, rumors are rampant outside the palace. If it were to spread now that the national treasury has indeed been stolen, I fear the people's hearts would be unsettled, and the rumors would only intensify, affecting the continued safety of the capital."

I humbly suggest that this matter be investigated privately and not publicized..."

Another loyal minister boldly offered advice, which greatly pleased the emperor.

"Your words are reasonable, my lord. The theft of the national treasury must not be publicized..."

As the Son of Heaven, the rumors circulating outside the palace were extremely detrimental to the emperor. If the theft of the national treasury were to become true, even if he didn't immediately try to replenish the treasury, the emperor's divine authority would still be diminished in the eyes of the people.

The rumors of his embezzlement would surely spread even further. As the emperor, how could he not know this? That's precisely why he was furious when he saw the news and agreed to lead all the officials to inspect the national treasury. But what awaited him was this scene.