Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder's Record of Counterattacks

Chapter 3619: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (38)

“Yes, you are a regent of the Zhou dynasty, and you have rendered great service. You must take care of yourself. The emperor and I only recognize the three of you as our regents,” Ning Shu told Scholar Gu.

She dispatched a squad of guards to accompany him, protecting the frail official. Then she asked, “Are there any younger members of the noble families who wish to go out and gain experience? They could take a group of men to the border and see the world.”

Scholar Gu was terrified. He quickly bowed to Ning Shu and said, “Your Highness, the situation at the border is complex. If I were to take the sons of the noble families with me, I fear I would lack the strength to look after them properly.”

Scholar Gu had no love for these entitled second-generation elites. They were bossy and arrogant. If anything happened to them, it would be a total disaster for him.

It was precisely because of the complexity at the border that Ning Shu wanted the various families involved. Their mutual interference would keep Scholar Gu safer, as no one would focus solely on him.

Seeing how much Scholar Gu disliked the idea, however, she dropped it. “I am but a woman and do not understand some of these things. Please do not take it to heart, Scholar Gu.”

When Scholar Gu departed, Ning Shu went to see him off personally. “You can take in the scenery beyond the pass. The land may not be suitable for crops, but the resources are surely not lacking. If you write a book about it later, you might even achieve eternal fame.”

Scholar Gu accepted the imperial decree from Ning Shu, bowed, and stepped into his carriage.

The convoy was well-stocked with everything they might need—rations, medicinal herbs, and supplies. Every detail had to be considered before such a journey.

Ning Shu let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, no one was badgering her for military funds. As for the cotton clothes, the small amounts of money they had pooled would be enough to have the garments made and sent to the border.

She suspected many of the border generals were lining their own pockets. Such things were beyond her reach right now, and it was a frustrating reality. The ordinary soldiers who actually bled for the country likely received very little of their pay. They killed enemies and shed blood, only for the money to be skimmed off by those above them.

These things could only be fixed slowly. Furthermore, there was the saying that ‘water that is too pure has no fish.’ A certain amount of greed was expected, but there had to be a limit. It was a tragedy when the soldiers were miserable while their commanders ate until they were bloated.

Providing high salaries to foster honesty could alleviate much of the corruption. But she decided not to worry about it for now.

During the usual morning court sessions, Ning Shu was like a puppet sitting on the throne. She soothed the child and listened to the officials argue back and forth. Eventually, she would just say, “Do we not have regents for this? Resolve it. If you cannot solve anything, what do we need regents for?”

Ning Shu was an expert at shifting the burden. She felt that if they were being paid by the sovereign, they should do the sovereign’s work. What was the point of asking her for everything?

Ao Yong was now able to sit and crawl. He was quite lively and adorable. So far, the child’s true father had not appeared, nor were there any rumors circulating that the boy was not Ao Tianze’s biological son. However, this remained a hidden danger. There was no telling when it might explode, potentially taking down the entire harem with it.

Ning Shu took the black jade pendant and summoned the head of the shadow guards. He was a stiff, sinister-looking man. Upon seeing the pendant in Ning Shu’s hand, he dropped to one knee.

Ning Shu debated how to start the conversation. It probably wasn’t a good idea to be too direct.

“Lady Min gave me this pendant. You may ask her about it if you wish,” Ning Shu began. “The late emperor established this organization to monitor the affairs of the realm. Therefore, I ask that you continue to serve the imperial family.”

“I understand,” the head of the shadow guards said. His voice was dark and he radiated an aura of violence. One look was enough to know his hands were stained with blood.

Ning Shu felt certain this man knew Ao Yong’s true parentage. After all, it was the shadow guards who had bedded the concubines. She just didn’t know which guard it had been. Could it be the man standing before her?

Should she ask him directly?

Ning Shu felt she really needed to master the art of reading minds or, at the very least, learn hypnosis for situations like this.

The sinister guard cracked a grin, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I will certainly assist the emperor well.”

Ning Shu narrowed her eyes slightly. “I cannot guarantee your loyalty, as you were, after all, the late emperor’s man.”

‘Damn it,’ she thought, ‘Was it this guy who defiled everyone in the harem except Fu Min?’

“I am loyal to the imperial family,” the guard stated. “This organization is handed down to the successor of the throne.”

It seemed Ao Tianze had also received this clandestine organization from his predecessors. But who exactly had bedded the concubines?

Ning Shu’s mouth twitched. She wondered if she should just have them all killed. If she didn’t, there was no guarantee this massive organization wouldn’t let something slip. If the truth ever got out, the imperial family and the entire aristocratic circle would become a laughingstock. They would be mocked for a thousand years. Such lurid scandals of the inner palace were the favorite gossip of the common people.

Ning Shu silently cursed in her heart.

“Then I ask that you send some men to protect Scholar Gu.” If something happened to him, the tripartite balance of power would collapse.

“Can I trust you?” she asked, looking at the emotionless guard.

“I am loyal to the emperor,” he repeated.

“Go, then,” Ning Shu said, waving him away.

“Yes.”

In a flash, the guard was gone.

She would take things one step at a time. As long as Ao Yong was still a child and hadn’t reached adulthood, this balance had to be maintained. Once he grew up, even if he learned the truth, he would likely suppress the secret for the sake of his own life and throne.

The organization had a vast intelligence network, so it would be a shame to destroy it. More importantly, Ning Shu didn’t even know where their secret bases were. She could only use the pendant to command them.

Ao Tianze had died before his ambitions could be realized, killed off directly by Ning Shu. Her only regret was that she hadn’t found the world origin yet. She had no way to go out and look for it, and if she made a big show of searching for something, it would invite gossip. After all, ordinary people had no idea what a world origin even was.

It was exhausting.

Scholar Gu went to the border to supervise the work. Meanwhile, Prince Li and Grand Secretary Li, along with the other officials, finalized the regulations and laws for the trading post, as well as the pricing.

Prince Li insisted that the imperial family maintain control over the marketplace. He argued that allowing ordinary merchants to grow too powerful would be bad for the nation. Merchants might do anything to line their own pockets, even at the state’s expense. No matter the industry, those at the top were immovable. Besides, money could make even the devil push a millstone.

Prince Li’s goal was to ensure the stability of the Ao family’s empire. Ning Shu nodded and told them to produce a specific plan.

While Ning Shu worried about the affairs of the court, the concubines in the inner palace were living a life of leisure. They held flower exhibitions, gathered for embroidery, and gossiped about everything—including the famous handsome young scholars outside the palace walls.

Ning Shu: …

It seemed their lives were far too comfortable.

It took half a year for the trading post to be completed. It was massive. Following the imperial decree, trade with the Rong and the surrounding tribes was permitted, provided they offered items of equal value—livestock, jade, and agate were all accepted.