"What the heck is this?!" the Emperor shouted, his aristocratic composure completely shattering as he slammed the scroll onto his desk. He stared down at Heena in sheer, unadulterated disbelief. "You mean to tell me that the Imperial Youth Academy—the biggest, most prestigious civil academy in our entire nation—is legally built on active military grounds?!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Heena smiled brightly, looking like the picture of patriotic innocence. "My son noticed the clerical error in the lease this morning. We are simply reclaiming it for the safety of the empire. Though, if the scholars wish to stay on the property, they owe the Vanguard estate two hundred and fifty thousand gold taels in back-rent."
The Emperor stared at her, realizing that the Vanguard family hadn't just beaten the civil court physically; they were now mathematically bankrupting them.
The Emperor's fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand gold taels?"
