The Royal Theft

The royal patriarch sat on the highest throne, with the emperor seated on a slightly lower throne below him. The royal family members were arranged on one side of the throne room, including the royal empress mother, the royal empress, concubine Lan, Prince Tian, and the other princes, concubines, and princesses. Opposite them sat the ministers, all of them wearing grave expressions.

A tense silence hung in the air as the royal patriarch finally spoke, his voice thundering throughout the room. "Thousands of years of reputation, built on the blood and sweat of our ancestors, trashed publicly in a single day. Who will take responsibility for this humiliation?"

No one dared to respond, their faces pale with fear. The royal patriarch's disappointed gaze landed on the empress's mother. "You were supposed to test them, not make enemies out of them and cause our entire family to lose face in front of everyone!"