Chapter 28 I want you, and I also want Wuzhou in the world...
Wuzhou, Laifu Inn
"Your Highness, the Grand Tutor has sent another letter!" Chun Tao walked in lightly, holding a sandalwood tray.
"Well, leave it there."
Song Youning lazily lay in a rattan chair, basking in the sun. She pinched a grape between her fingers, squinting her eyes in the sunlight and saying nonchalantly, "I wonder what crime I've committed this time? Are you saying that I'm idle all day, or that I'm indulging in the extravagance of brothels?"
"Grand Master...it's said that Your Highness is extremely intelligent and cares about the world. She is truly a talent worthy of an emperor's daughter!" Chun Tao lowered her voice.
"He also joined forces with other ministers to jointly submit a petition to appoint Her Highness as the Crown Princess and to return to the capital to take up his post."
Song Youning, who was picking grapes, was stunned and turned over to sit up. He thought that the news that the emperor's daughter's blood could bring immortality had already reached the old man's ears.
Then, as if she had anticipated this, she lazily leaned back on the recliner and said with a smile, "There's no such thing as joy in the palace as outside. Tell the Grand Tutor that I've been ordered to come to Lingnan to understand the people's sentiments. I won't return to the palace until I've completed my mission!"
"Princess, you are wrong."
Before he finished speaking, an old man appeared in the courtyard.
He stepped forward with his hands clasped in a bow, his white hair hanging down. Though he looked old, his voice was steady and powerful. "Right now, Lingnan enjoys good weather and the people live in peace, all thanks to Your Highness's wise management. Your Highness should return to the palace and preside over state affairs to reassure the people."
Upon hearing this, Song Youning raised her eyes and glanced at him. This old man actually came to invite her in person.
"Oh, isn't this a bit of a teacher?"
Her voice was soft and gentle, with a nonchalant smile, "Now that my father is in charge of the palace, and the Grand Tutor and Prime Minister Li are in charge of state affairs, why should I worry about anything?"
She lay down on the rattan chair, crossed her legs, and ignored the visitor.
The man was not angry. His eyes were bright and he looked kind as he continued to advise: "The princess is the daughter of destiny. She should have stayed in the capital to preside over the government for Your Majesty and to ensure the peace of the world.
Song Youning chuckled softly, her eyes flickering as she held her chin in her hand. "Grand Master, you're wrong. I'm a carefree person by nature. I love to travel and enjoy the world. Besides, I don't even hold an official position... What can I do if I go back?"
"Do I have to listen to you old ministers quarreling every day? How boring!"
Grand Tutor Chen frowned slightly, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He vaguely felt that this legendary fool princess seemed to be testing him, but soon returned to normal.
"Your Highness is joking."
He bowed slightly, his tone respectful but unquestionable, "Your Majesty has been in poor health recently, and the court is overwhelmed with affairs. If Your Highness were to take charge, and as the Emperor's daughter, Your Highness should attend court and handle court affairs, this would surely help stabilize the government."
A hint of sarcasm flashed across Song Youning's eyes.
Her father was "not in good health"? As a daughter, how could she not know about her father's health?
Song Youning rolled his eyes, sighed softly, and rubbed his forehead in pretending to be distressed.
"What the Grand Master said is very high-sounding, but I am really lazy and going back would only cause more trouble."
She raised the corner of her eye and suddenly smiled, "How about this, if the Grand Tutor agrees to one of my conditions, I will reluctantly go back to the palace to take a look, how about that?"
Grand Tutor Chen's eyes flickered, and he thought for a moment: "Your Highness, please speak."
Song Youning opened her red lips slightly:
"Although I enjoy myself quite a bit among the common people, my status prevents me from opening a heart-to-heart with them. I can only interact with them in the guise of a commoner, which is quite boring. I'm thinking of opening a 'Fengya Pavilion' and inviting the sons of noble families to accompany me in reciting poems, painting, hunting, and appreciating flowers. This way, the gap in status will be eliminated, and I can have more fun. What do you think, Grand Tutor?"
She tilted her head and smiled, then added, "If the Grand Tutor agrees, I will set off back to the palace tomorrow."
"how?"
Grand Tutor Chen remained silent.
Song Youning looked at him with a smile, tapping the armrest of the rattan chair with her fingertips.
You'll agree, right?
After all, a princess who is addicted to pleasure is much easier to deal with than an ambitious crown prince.
Sure enough, the Grand Master pondered for a moment and slowly spoke:
"Since the princess has such a refined taste, I think it's not a bad idea, but I must inform His Majesty..."
"No need, my father has always doted on me, he will definitely agree." Song Youning interrupted her and clapped his hands on the spot, with a deeper smile in his eyes.
Li Funing stood behind the pillar and listened to the conversation between the two, holding in his hand the account book of Zuixian Pavilion.
His eyes fell on the giggling girl on the rattan chair. Song Youning was tilting her head, her fingertips twirling the ends of her hair, looking innocent as she bargained with the Grand Tutor.
Her voice was sweet and soft, and she crossed her legs, looking harmless. The Grand Tutor seemed to be fooled by her cynical appearance and retreated again and again according to her routine.
here we go again.
He has seen through this disguise.
Ever since he witnessed her piercing Su Wan's stomach with a sword without even blinking, he knew that Song Youning was not as naive as she appeared to be.
In the past few days, Li Funing mobilized all the connections of the Li family but only found out one of her identities. Being the richest man was only one of her identities. He didn't know when her thoughts became so serious that even he couldn't see through them.
His spy reported back that the book "Dagan Fengwuzhi" under her name ostensibly sells travel notes and local customs, but in fact it is the largest information database in Dagan.
Not only is it spread across the entire country, it even has branches in the north and south, and it is extremely influential in these countries. Her ambition is far more than just a small one.
Originally, he only knew her identity as the "Golden Branch Prince", but he never thought that this mysterious rich man who made money was also her identity.
But you are also right. If you are an ordinary civilian, who would dare to brazenly use the country name "Gan" in their name?
The spies below reported that Qian Gan's whereabouts were unknown, but he controlled nearly 30% of Da Gan's grain transport, salt and iron business, making him rich enough to rival a country. Coupled with the influence of the "Golden Branch Prince"...
On the surface, she is a fool princess who hangs out in casinos and drinking sprees, but in fact she has been accumulating strength in secret. She is smart and knows how to build a plank road in public while secretly attacking Chencang.
If she were to accumulate power as a princess, she would inevitably be blocked by the various noble families. However, if she were to act as a merchant, secretly using her power to empower it...
Now, he knew nothing about her identities except "Golden Branch Prince" and "Qian Ganlai".
And her seemingly absurd behavior, traveling around and living a carefree life? In fact, it was to open up her own trade routes, writing travel notes, telling stories? In fact, it was to better control the people's hearts.
Disdain to participate in politics? If we follow this line of thought, I'm afraid he has already been secretly accumulating connections.
Now she is still immature, and all parties are quite wary of her as the emperor's daughter. If she wants to penetrate into the court network, she can only infiltrate slowly, bit by bit.
After Grand Tutor Chen left, Li Funing walked towards Song Youning.
Seeing him coming, Song Youning raised her eyes lazily and said, "Oh, Lord Li, why do you have the leisure and elegance to come to see me today?"
Li Funing didn't say anything, but just threw the account book in front of her.
Song Youning lowered his eyes and glanced, pausing slightly. That was the secret account of the "Gan Qian Lai" company, and he probably already knew it.
"Your Highness, can you explain this to me?" He said in a low voice.
Song Youning was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "Explain?"
When she raised her eyes, the innocence faded away, leaving only a sharp edge.
"Do I need to explain to Lord Li? Since Lord Li has already found out, why ask more questions?"
Li Funing approached her: "What do you want to do?"
Song Youning curled her red lips slightly, turned over and sat up, and slowly uttered two words: "World"
Li Funing moved closer to her, casting a heavy shadow over her, but Song Youning's eyelashes didn't even tremble.
She looked up at him, her eyes, which had been cold, were now sharp, as if they were going to shoot through her.
"As the future princess of the emperor, doesn't this world belong to you?" He said in a low voice, and his arm rested on the rattan chair behind her, trapping her in a small space.
"Isn't that enough?"
Song Youning chuckled, and slowly circled his neck with her fingertips. Under the clothes, his muscles were tense.
"Of course not."
She suddenly pinched his waist lightly, as if it was a warning, but also as if it was a flirtation.
"How can this court be as easy as Lord Li says?"
She parted her red lips slightly, but the words she uttered were as sharp as a knife, "Lord Li, do you think that a few shabby books and a false reputation can allow me to secure my throne?"
"Lord Li...although you are well-read, you may think the court is too simple!"
Song Youning released his arms, gently pushed his chest, and stood up, recalling, "Back then, when I was still young, my father favored Prime Minister Li even more in order to take you as his son-in-law... This tore a hole in the previously balanced relationship in the court."
"I can have this empty title, that's true! But I want real power! The Prince of Zhenbei controls the military, the noble families and the Grand Master manage nearly half of Dagan's finances, and even your Li family has staff and students all over the world. What's the point of me having this empty title of Empress?"
"If I don't choose you, these people still have hope. At least they all covet this position. But if I choose you, those old gangs who form cliques and factions will want to tear me apart and establish another heir to the throne in order to stabilize their own status..."
She sneered, picking up the account book with her fingertips and flipping through it lightly. "I'm afraid they have already prepared the throne for the royal family, just waiting to depose me so that they can continue to pursue their dream of becoming a powerful official. If I don't do something, won't I be a fish on the chopping block?"
"Even Father..."
She paused, a dark flash in her eyes, "No matter how much he loves me, he can't withstand the criticism from the whole court..."
"My father's emphasis on benevolence in establishing government has led to the loss of power and chaos in the government. I have always felt that false benevolence is the most detrimental to the state. These borers, like termites, gnaw at the pillars of society, sucking the blood and sweat of the people and corroding the very foundations of the nation."
"Rather than allowing them to whitewash the situation, it is better to use some drastic measures... to put the power..." Her voice suddenly became sonorous: "The power will be in my own hands!"
"Succession? That's just a matter of an imperial edict." She threw the booklet to him.
"In this court, redundant officials are like ants, government orders are like mud, and corruption is like a carbuncle. What I want is to be in power myself!" She looked at him steadily.
"Imperial power? It's just an empty title. The real power..."
"It's the absolute right to speak, the wealth that rivals a nation, the military power that commands a large force, not that shaky, empty reputation!"
Li Funing stared at her silently, with undercurrents in his eyes. This was the first time today that he truly knew what she wanted!
His fingers holding the account book trembled slightly. The way of being a minister in the book emphasized steadfastness and maintaining the status quo. He had been following the words of the sages all his life and indeed had a place in the world. But she was right. How could the way of being an emperor be explained in a book or a sentence?
Li Funing stood quietly, his fingers slightly curled under his official robe, looking at the woman in front of him with majestic eyes.
It turns out that all these years, hidden beneath her innocent appearance, she actually had such great ambitions!
"Are you..." His voice was hoarse and he opened his mouth with difficulty.
"Do you regret choosing me?"
He asked in a low voice. He never thought that because of him, she would make enemies everywhere.
Song Youning looked up at him and suddenly smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
"regret?"
"I have never regretted it! When I chose you, I made all the plans..."
"only......"
She suddenly reached out and touched his Adam's apple with her fingertips, feeling his taut muscles and body temperature.
"Lord Li... the position of the Emperor's Husband is quite expensive..."
She tiptoed close to his ear, her red lips almost touching his earlobe, her breath warm.
“Almost…”
She chuckled, "It will make me lose everything..."
Li Funing's eyes suddenly darkened, and he suddenly grabbed her waist and pressed her hard on the chair.
The back of the chair hit her spine, and she hissed softly, but her smile became even more charming, like a completely different person from before.
"Be gentle..." Her voice was soft and tender, making Li Funing's heart even more moved.
If Song Youning used to be a green and ignorant wild guava, she has now grown into a dazzling pomegranate flower.
Each petal of red gauze is wrapped with crystal thoughts, and blooms with a half-shy and half-charming rouge color in the midsummer breeze, which is so heart-warming that it makes people breathtaking.
"What can I do to help the princess?"
He buried his face deep into her already plump chest, his nose filled with the sweet and warm scent of her body.
He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, breathing hotly and lightly, feeling her graceful and mature curves with his body.
Li Funing dug his palms into her waist, so hard that it seemed to break her bones.
But Song Youning was still playing with her belt carelessly.
She lifted his chin with her fingertips and pressed her body closer until their bodies were pressed against each other.
"Just stay still. I want you to see that I'm no longer the baby who follows you around seeking your protection... I have the ability to help you!"
She suddenly reached out, stood on tiptoe, and gently stroked his hair, as if soothing a restless horse.
"As for you, just handle your official duties well and pretend you know nothing. Wait until I am fully grown..."
She scraped her nails lightly on the back of his neck, causing him to shudder. "Of course you're busy..."
"I will tell you..."
Her hand climbed up his neck again, and she whispered in his ear: "You... the whole world... I want it all!"
Li Funing's eyes suddenly darkened, he suddenly tilted his head and bit her lips hard!
The kiss was bloody, like the prelude to a fight.
She felt pain, but she grabbed his collar and pulled him closer. As their lips met, she smiled vaguely.
"It's a pleasure to work with you, Master Li."
A breeze blew, blowing the locust flowers off the tree, leaving only the two people with their skirts overlapping, leaning on each other.
Three days later, Wuzhou.
In the inn beside the Wuzhou official road, the aroma of wine and steamed beef filled the air, making Song Youning feel itchy.
"Chun Tao, I'm hungry..." Song Youning's eyes were fixed on the big piece of braised beef in Chun Tao's hand.
Xiao Lin looked at Song Youning, whose appetite was about to be aroused, and sneered. Then he picked up the short knife beside him, cut a piece of braised pork with just the right amount of fat and lean meat, and handed it to her: "Your Highness, why do you suddenly want to return to the capital?"
"I'm tired of eating food outside and miss the chef in the palace!" Song Youning stuffed the beef sliced by Xiao Lin into his mouth, and while busy, he also took the handkerchief handed to him by Li Funing.
Li Funing glanced at her and agreed, "It's just right. I also have some matters to deal with back in Beijing..."
"Have you heard? The Grand Tutor led all the officials to report and ordered the princess to return to the palace. I'm afraid..."
As the three of them were talking, a burst of conversation came over.
"The Grand Tutor used to be the one most opposed to the princess ascending the throne, but now he's changed his mind. I'm afraid there will be another bloody storm!"
"Yes! Yes! This has happened before, and many important officials in the court were demoted because of this incident..."
In the private room on the second floor, Song Youning listened to the conversation, paused while stuffing his meat, and then sneered:
"News about the Grand Tutor spreads so quickly! They've even reported him arriving in Wuzhou...Isn't he going to die soon?"
"The Grand Tutor suddenly summoned Your Highness back to the capital. I'm afraid there must be something fishy going on!" Xiao Lin walked to the windowsill, opened the curtain of the private room, and looked towards the source of the conversation.
A group of scholars were drinking in the hall on the first floor. All the guests in the hall were attracted by their conversation and were discussing the princess's succession to the throne.
Xiao Lin lowered the brocade curtain and tidied it up, and the private room suddenly became quiet.
He stood in front of the carved window with his back to everyone, without saying a word, just standing there quietly, as if thinking about something.
He suddenly turned around and strode to Song Youning with a serious expression: "Did the Grand Tutor ask you to go back? Do you know that it would be dangerous for you to go back?"
Song Youning said nothing, just playing with the teacup in his hand, his fingertips gently stroking the rim of the cup.
She raised her eyes and looked straight into Xiao Lin's eyes. The playfulness of the past faded away, and now there was only quiet scrutiny.
"Xiao Lin!"
Her voice was soft, but every word was as sharp as a knife: "I can trust you, right?"
Xiao Lin's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed. He looked into her inquiring eyes, his seriousness faded away. He chuckled softly and returned to his original cynical look: "Of course."
He sat on the rattan chair next to her and said with a smile, "The two of us are the 'Bianjing Twin Devils!'"
"We've done at least 500 bad things together since we were little... You don't need to trust an old-fashioned Lord Li? Of course you can trust me unconditionally!"
This name was given to them after they got into trouble when they were young.
At that time, she was not yet the Crown Princess, and he was not Prince Xiao. They were just two lawless devils who had joined forces to turn half of the city of Bianjing upside down.
Song Youning's eyes moved slightly, and her eyes tested: "What if..." She paused, "What if I didn't choose you? Will you still stand on my side?"
Xiao Lin's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes darkened for a moment.
He suddenly leaned forward, more serious than ever before: "Song Youning, listen carefully!"
He called her by her full name, his voice low, "Who you choose is your business."
"It's my business to choose you!"
"I don't care who you choose as your Imperial Consort. If you don't choose me, I can only say that you have poor taste, but this does not affect you being my best friend!"
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The author has something to say:
He called her by her full name, his voice low, "Who you choose is your business."
"I choose you, it's my business! Click [Poor]
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