Review of Accounts

When the word "Master" slipped from Luo Zhao's red lips, the taut string in Gu Chengyin's heart finally relaxed.

He had succeeded.

He knew Luo Zhao's character well.

This was a woman arrogant to the extreme, someone who valued power and dignity more than her own life.

She was the Crown Princess of Great Luo, the future Empress. Pride was carved into her very bones and flowed in her blood.

To make Luo Zhao say the word "Master" to someone else while she was conscious and in full control of herself...

That would be even harder than killing her!

If Luo Zhao had truly broken free from the hypnosis and was still acting out such a perfect state of submission, even saying this most humiliating title without batting an eye...

If that were really the case, then Gu Chengyin would accept it and concede defeat.

Regardless, Luo Zhao's performance at this moment temporarily dispelled his greatest doubts.

A subtle silence fell inside the carriage.

The dark carriage traveled along the flat, wide stone-paved roads of the imperial city. Light filtered through the gauze curtains, casting mottled, swaying shadows that illuminated the two people inside.

After saying that word, Luo Zhao lowered her eyelids once more, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

Only she knew that the word was like a red-hot branding iron, searing fiercely into the depths of her soul, bringing with it a humiliation and hatred that nearly burned away her sanity.

But Luo Zhao forcefully sealed all of this away in ice, leaving behind only a seemingly hollow shell.

Gu Chengyin's gaze lingered on her face for a moment. He saw no struggle or unwillingness, only a near-numb calmness.

This matched the state of a hypnotized person, whose emotional responses were simplified or suppressed.

No longer dwelling on the issue of confirming her state, he leaned back slightly against the soft cushions.

Now, it was time to talk business.

"Regarding the emptiness of the national treasury," Gu Chengyin began, his voice returning to its usual calm and methodical tone. "The most urgent matter is not to immediately come up with some brilliant scheme."

Luo Zhao kept her eyes lowered, making only a slight movement to indicate she was listening.

"The formulation of any strategy must be built upon a full grasp of the actual situation."

Gu Chengyin continued, "Right now, we don't even know to what extent the treasury is empty, which specific areas are lacking, what the exact annual income and expenditures are, or what the true taxation situation is in various regions. We are completely in the dark."

He paused, his tone shifting to a realistic coldness.

"To come up with a solution based solely on hearsay or a few vague reports is like building castles in the air; it is a path that leads straight to death."

"The Second Prince is a prime example of this. Your Highness, there is no need for you to argue with him over anything."

"Because he will drag your intelligence down to his level and then beat you with his wealth of experience."

In her heart, Luo Zhao agreed with Gu Chengyin's analysis.

However, this lecturing tone added another layer to the humiliation she felt.

"Therefore," Gu Chengyin concluded, "the most urgent task is to see the Ministry of Revenue's true master ledger."

He looked at Luo Zhao. Though phrased as a question, his tone carried an undeniable sense of command. "What does Your Highness think?"

Luo Zhao smiled bitterly in her heart.

What else could she think? Everything he said was right; this was the only proper path.

But she was currently playing the role of someone hypnotized. She couldn't show too much thought; she could only obey.

Luo Zhao slowly raised her eyelids, her phoenix eyes still holding a lingering emptiness. Looking at Gu Chengyin, she nodded slightly and uttered a simple syllable, "Mhm."

It showed agreement, but without any extra words, fitting the expected reaction of a submissive subject.

Gu Chengyin said no more, using his eyes to gesture toward the carriage curtain.

Luo Zhao understood his meaning.

She needed to immediately issue an order to review all the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue.

She then turned sideways, reached out, and gently lifted a corner of the curtain on the side of the carriage.

Outside the carriage, the sunlight was somewhat glaring.

Shangguan Yunying was riding her horse, guarding the side of the carriage. Seeing the curtain lift, she immediately spurred her horse closer.

Leaning in slightly, she asked in a low voice, "What are Your Highness's orders?"

Luo Zhao spoke steadily. Her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached Shangguan Yunying's ears, as well as Gu Chengyin's inside the carriage.

"Yunying."

"Take your people to the Ministry of Revenue right now."

"Gather all the ledgers, documents, and files from recent years regarding the national treasury's income and expenditures, regional taxation, money and grain storage, construction expenses, and budget finalizations. Whether they are master ledgers or detailed breakdowns, whether they are already archived or currently being processed, sort them all out."

She paused and added, "The core accounts and major project files from the past ten years, especially the past five years."

"If there are any missing or omitted items, have the Ministry of Revenue explain the reasons immediately and set a deadline for them to be completed."

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Shangguan Yunying's eyes.

Reviewing all the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue? This was an extremely massive and sensitive request!

The accounts of the Ministry of Revenue were as vast as the ocean, involving various departments of the imperial court, local governments at all levels, and even countless hidden expenses. Who knew how many dark secrets were hidden within them?

Her Highness's move was equivalent to turning the Ministry of Revenue and even the entire imperial court upside down!

It would inevitably touch the nerves of countless people, drawing massive resistance and even backlash!

But she did not hesitate at all and immediately replied, "Yes! Your subordinate receives the order! It's just..."

Shangguan Yunying asked with some hesitation, "If the Ministry of Revenue makes excuses to delay, citing reasons such as the sheer volume of accounts, the involvement of classified information, or the need for coordination with other ministries, how should we handle it?"

This was a very realistic problem.

The Minister of Revenue, Shangguan Yuan, had shown an ambiguous attitude in the imperial court today. It was hard to say whether he would obediently cooperate.

Luo Zhao frowned; this was indeed a major hassle.

Using her status as the Crown Princess to forcefully suppress them was an option, but it might intensify conflicts and alert the enemy.

Just then, Gu Chengyin's voice came from inside the carriage:

"Master Yunying, just convey the verbal edict. The Ministry of Revenue won't and wouldn't dare to make excuses. After all, Her Highness made the request in front of everyone."

Gu Chengyin's words were spoken casually.

Luo Zhao's heart stirred as she understood Gu Chengyin's meaning.

This matter had been settled during the morning court. Emperor Luo had spoken the golden words, and all the civil and military officials were witnesses.

If the Ministry of Revenue dared to use excuses to delay, she would naturally have a reason to shift the blame onto them.

Therefore, not only would reviewing the accounts meet no resistance, but the other party would also fully cooperate, as long as the blame didn't fall on their heads.

Besides, with so many accounts, just moving them would take a lot of time, let alone reading through all of them.

And Emperor Luo had only given them ten days. There was absolutely no need for them to tamper with anything.

"Yes! Your subordinate understands! I will go do it immediately!"

Shangguan Yunying hesitated no longer. She nodded heavily and then turned her horse around.

Taking a few female officials with her, she spurred her horse and galloped toward the Ministry of Revenue, her figure quickly disappearing around the corner.

The carriage curtain fell back into place, and silence returned to the interior.

Luo Zhao sat up straight again, her gaze falling on the patterns of the empty soft couch opposite her.

She didn't know what to say next, or rather, she didn't want to take the initiative to speak.

Playing the role of a silent and submissive subject was currently the most effortless and safest role.