Chapter 13: The Warehouse is Completely Empty?

Chapter 013: The Storehouses Are All Empty?

"General, the main storehouses of the Prince's Mansion are all completely empty."

"General, the kitchen and the adjacent storehouse are spotless; there is nothing there."

"General, the small storehouses in the various courtyards are also empty."

"General..."

The several groups of soldiers who had been dispatched earlier returned one after another, each with a grim expression. The emptiness of those storehouses was nothing short of breathtaking; aside from bare walls and floors, there was nothing at all—so desolate that even a mouse crawling inside would be moved to tears.

"What?!"

Tian Yi roared reflexively. How could the storehouses be empty? Had the people in the mansion suspected something and moved the wealth in advance?

No, impossible!

The Emperor's plan to target the Prince's Mansion had been carried out with extreme secrecy. Even he had only received the imperial decree around the hour of the Tiger this morning. The mansion was still joyfully welcoming the new Princess yesterday; there was no way they could have guessed. Even if they had, given the accumulation of several generations, the wealth would have been immense. How could it have been moved silently?

Furthermore, the bizarre method of massive wealth vanishing into thin air seemed to share a strange similarity with the theft that had occurred in the Imperial Palace. Could it be that it wasn't just the palace that had been robbed last night, but the Prince's Mansion as well?

What Tian Yi did not know was that, besides the Imperial Palace and the Prince's Mansion, the Prime Minister's residence had suffered the same fate. The officials currently conducting the seizure there were also utterly bewildered.

"Are you certain?"

Regardless of his inner thoughts, Tian Yi stared intensely at the groups of soldiers, his face dark.

"Certain."

The groups of soldiers nodded in unison, without a single shred of hesitation.

"..."

Hearing this, Tian Yi's expression grew even more somber. Was their entire house seizure mission nothing more than a hollow gesture?

Hearing their conversation, the members of the Prince's Mansion were all left in a state of confusion. They then turned their gazes in unison toward Wei Chengyi, who lay unconscious in his wheelchair. Could it be that he had used his brilliant foresight to empty the mansion in advance and hide all the wealth?

The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, and the looks many people cast toward Wei Chengyi began to change.

"No, we know nothing."

Their stares were too blatant. Even Tian Yi and the Imperial Guards began to look their way. Zhao Yuping hurriedly waved her hands in denial. Hiding wealth would undoubtedly result in even heavier crimes; she absolutely could not let this be pinned on them.

Were these people being even stupider?

No, perhaps they weren't stupid, but were intentionally drawing Tian Yi's attention toward themselves to avoid being caught in the crossfire?

As her gaze swept over them, Shen Xiangwan, holding her child with one arm, maintained a cold and stern expression. Even an idiot should know that if the soldiers failed to seize any wealth, they would surely look for someone to scapegoat. Whether intentional or not, they were throwing Wei Chengyi—and even the entire First Branch—to the wolves.

As expected, Tian Yi strode toward them. He stopped in front of the wheelchair and stared at Wei Chengyi for a long while before looking up. "Hiding wealth during a house seizure results in decapitation at best, and the extermination of nine generations at worst. I advise you to consider your position carefully."

Regardless of whether the mansion had been robbed like the palace, failing to seize anything during a raid was a dereliction of duty. Someone had to be held accountable to satisfy the report.

"We... we... General, we truly know nothing!"

To say they weren't afraid would be a lie. Zhao Yuping looked as if she were about to burst into tears, and both Wei Chengyi and Wei Ling'er turned pale with fright.

Before Tian Yi could continue, Shen Xiangwan stepped forward to shield the mother and children. Facing Tian Yi without flinching, she said, "General, before today, we had no idea our house would be seized and we would be exiled. How could we have hidden wealth in advance? Furthermore, General, you may not know, but the management of the household affairs has always been in the hands of the Old Madam. Those who usually assist her in managing the household are the Second Aunt and the Third Aunt. If someone truly could have moved the wealth silently in advance, it should have been them."

Since she had reached an agreement with Wei Chengyi, she would certainly protect his mother and the others. As for the Second and Third Branches, she could not care less. Moreover, what she said was the truth: the First Branch was not born of the Old Madam. Even though the title had fallen to the First Branch, she had never relinquished control of the household, keeping it firmly in her own hands.

[End of Chapter]