Inside the palace, many maids looked pale and wan, their clothes extremely plain. Some were sitting outside the imperial kitchen, picking vegetables. Quinn Shepherd took it all in, and for a moment, he almost thought he’d wandered into a marketplace.
Yet the Everpeace Empire was supposed to be wealthy. The Imperial Preceptor had paved two great roads linking the Western Lands and the Central Plains, connecting Everpeace with the west and boosting trade. Quinn had seen the court tirelessly building bridges and roads, the people living in comfort. But somehow, the emperor and the palace itself had ended up poor.
It must have been the war in Taeming Heaven that drained the treasury, leaving it empty.
The war in Taeming Heaven was a bottomless pit. There was no real economy there—every battle depended entirely on Everpeace as the rear, supplying Taeming Heaven with provisions, pay, grain, and spirit weapons.
Moreover, common folk from Taeming Heaven kept migrating into Everpeace, and settling them required more money and food from the treasury—a considerable expense.
No wonder Emperor Evan had lost all composure when he learned that allying with the remnants of Chiming could bring in a fortune.
Soon after, Yanzhi Gui arrived and said, "Your Majesty, the envoy has been settled in. May I ask, how should we negotiate with the Chiming envoy?"
Emperor Evan handed Yanzhi Gui the list Quinn had written. "Negotiate according to the conditions on this list. I’ll also grant the Chiming remnants a place to settle, open trade ports and roads, build warships and flying carriages—everything they could want."
Yanzhi Gui glanced at the list and was startled. He shot Quinn a wary look and stammered, "Lord Quinn, is this list a joke?"
Quinn replied, "It’s no joke. Chi Creek will agree. These divine weapons and treasures aren’t much use to the Chiming remnants—they don’t have enough people to wield them. Just remember one thing, Lord Yanzhi: they need us, not the other way around. Also, no matter what, we must get the Creation Divine Wheel!"
Homeward Goose hurried off.
Quinn felt her gaze was a bit strange—more like a mother-in-law inspecting a son-in-law. He blushed and stood to the side.
After the empress left, Ling Yuxiu dragged Quinn toward the imperial garden, finally giggling: "Palace life is so stifling—always tied down by etiquette, never able to be yourself. The jianghu is so much better: free and happy."
Quinn looked around with her. There were exotic flowers everywhere, but also vegetable plots, where palace maids watered and picked bugs. The palace must be broke—they had to grow their own food.
Yuxiu, did Saint Perfume come back to Everpeace too?" Quinn asked suddenly as he admired the view.
Ling Yuxiu pouted, "We haven’t seen each other in ages, and instead of sweet-talking me, you ask about her? How much do you miss her?"
Quinn hurriedly replied, "I need to see her for something important, not because I miss her!"
As soon as Ling Yuxiu saw him leave, she grabbed Quinn’s hand and pulled him forward, laughing, "Ever since my father became a god, he’s gotten so much stricter—always lurking in the shadows, spying on us. Let’s go to the imperial garden and shake him off!"
She’s back! That Xiang demon came with me!" Ling Yuxiu huffed as she stormed off.
Quinn quickly caught up with her. They stopped beneath a flowering tree, its blossoms in full bloom. Quinn pinched a branch, bent down to sniff the flowers, and smiled.