Chapter 236 Only by establishing one's own power...
Everything was achieved through my successful planning using the available resources.
I offered the Leyteya bodyguards twice their current salaries to ensure their unwavering loyalty.
I pretended to shake my head in the corridor to refuse King and Queen Midian's request, knowing that someone was secretly watching me. I then secretly contacted King and Queen Midian and planned this bloody wedding.
Since Queen Midian's guards couldn't get in, I suggested that my private soldiers act as the main assassination force. In reality, I would have my own hunchbacked chief steward from the royal city, the leader of the palace drainage system, smuggle in Queen Midian's royal guards disguised as plumbers. I told the guard captain that Queen Midian had asked me to relay her orders, and produced the pearl necklace she always wore. Only then did the guard captain believe me.
This necklace was stolen for me by Bai Ni. Bai Ni and Ethan pretended to be organizing trade orders and various official documents in my study, but in reality, they slipped out to pass on messages and do some shady things for me. Of course, two maids who looked remarkably similar to them were left busy in the study.
I've deployed my private troops to guard the royal city. If anything seems amiss, such as if Letea is still alive or the Blood Wedding failed, we'll storm the palace and fight them to the death. Anyway, I'm doomed if I don't gain real power, so I might as well take them all down with me.
The so-called adoption of a son was nothing more than a delaying tactic to oust me from power. I helped reclaim the Great City, and Letea couldn't afford to kill me outright, so they wanted to gradually weaken my influence, using their adopted son to seize the throne and deprive me of my right to inherit. If they truly intended to elevate me to the throne, why would they first install their adopted son as king and relegate me to the background?
The so-called behind-the-scenes power is just a gimmick. Having finally brought it down, why would they want to revive it?
Queen Midian wants to get rid of Letea, and I want to get rid of Letea too; of course, we're in complete agreement. But I'll use her as a tool to kill someone, and then kill her. I'm going to kill Letea, and I don't want to keep Queen Midian alive either. After Letea dies, Queen Midian certainly won't spare me; she still wants to annex the Great City.
I was lucky; I actually succeeded.
That evening, with my permission, the Grand Duke of Shay's family left the capital and settled in another smaller capital. The next morning, before I was even awake, a maidservant rushed in to report: "The entire Grand Duke of Shay's family has been wiped out."
I snapped mostly awake and threw back the bed curtains. "How were they wiped out?"
"They encountered bandits in the desert, were all killed, and had all their valuables stolen."
I quickened my pace along the wide, quiet, and simple stone corridor, with Bai Ni and Ethan close behind me. Bai Ni was the girl with the buzz cut who looked like a boy, and Ethan was the gentle and refined boy.
Bai Ni moved closer to me and whispered, "I heard it's related to your daughter's fiancé's father, Grand Duke Sack."
Grand Duke Ssack rose to power rapidly after the death of Grand Duke Shah, but no one expected him to be so audacious.
I originally intended to preserve the lineage of the Grand Duke of Shay to counterbalance the other nobles in the capital, but unexpectedly...
Upon entering the council chamber, I found Grand Duke Ssack standing amidst the nobles, speaking with conviction and righteous indignation about capturing the bandits and avenging Grand Duke Szay's entire family. I found it amusing, but remained outwardly calm and feigned ignorance, appearing completely oblivious.
I don't want to be so hypocritical, but I have no choice.
The other nobles seemed to be doing the same thing; they were all shrewd, sneering and mocking from a perspective that Grand Duke Ssack couldn't see, yet outwardly they echoed and agreed with him.
Upon seeing me, the nobles all bowed. I pretended to send Grand Duke Ssack immediately to wipe out the bandits, and Grand Duke Ssack readily accepted the order.
Sitting in the prime minister's seat, I announced the upcoming opening of schools in the capital, encouraging commoners to enroll and establishing a rigorous selection system. Before I could even finish, the nobles voiced their opposition. In their eyes, this was tantamount to the rise of the common people, and they would not tolerate anyone sharing in the spoils.
I immediately said, “Our capital city has always been coveted by others and is vulnerable to invasion by other countries at any time, with the western border being the first to bear the brunt. We should select talents without being bound by convention and let them also contribute to the defense of our capital city.”
The opposition grew even stronger. If it weren't for the dozen or so guards around me, the nobles would have rushed over and attacked me long ago.
I then proposed building two schools, one for the elite and one for the common people. The students from the two schools would have different career paths, which slightly reduced the opposition from the nobles.
I handed each of them a school construction plan. Some nobles were reading it, while others tossed it aside. I smiled and said, "I decided to build a school in our royal city because I was concerned about the high illiteracy rate among the common people on the mainland. Think about it, if only our royal city is willing to spend money to build schools for the common people, our literacy rate will be the highest, and the royal city will definitely be built even better in the future. Other countries will not dare to bully us."
Some nobles took my words to heart, while others did not, still glaring at me with angry expressions. I didn't get angry, and continued rambling on for a while before stopping.
After the meeting, I went for a walk in the courtyard, and Bai Ni couldn't help but ask me, "Why do you insist on building free schools for ordinary people?"
From the perspective of the daughter of a commoner merchant, this was a losing proposition. Bai Ni said, "My father said when he was alive that commoners are ignorant and difficult to teach."
“There are always smart ones,” I laughed.
My purpose is to select truly talented children, give them official positions, change the situation where the government is monopolized by nobles, and also to truly protect myself.
I know in my heart that I am not of one mind with the nobles. Only by building my own power can I possibly break through.
Manberia was leaving, and before he left, I bought two private armies from him in exchange for a small copper mine. He chuckled, "I'm selling them to you cheap."
I chuckled and said, "Thanks."
Actually, we all know that this deal is neither profitable nor loss-making; the price is just right.
But I'm still grateful to him because he didn't take advantage of me; at least he sold it to me at a reasonable price. On this continent, many men will definitely try to lower the price when doing business with women, especially if the woman doesn't have a man backing her.
Manberia had just left when Haya arrived. I suspect he came precisely on time to avoid running into Manberia. It's awkward when two powerful figures meet if there's no good deal to discuss. It's not about cultivating relationships, because Manberia has always looked down on Haya, and Haya doesn't give Manberia any attention either.
“We can cooperate,” Hya said. “You help me consolidate my position in the western border, and I will guarantee you the position of Prime Minister of the Great Capital.”
“Sure,” I said. “Leave me a military token, and I can mobilize your troops in the nearby capital at any time.”
"Then how will you help me?" Haya asked with a grin.
“The Independent Great City is quite powerful,” I chuckled. “If you feel threatened, you can let me know, and we can bring our troops to the city gates.”
"Great!" Hya laughed. "Shall we sign an agreement?"
"Is the agreement even valid? What if you tear it up someday?"
“It’s useful. If agreements were so easily torn up, no one on this continent would sign them.”
“That makes sense,” I tilted my head and looked at him. “Okay.”
To show their sincerity, Haiya also signed trade orders with me for cotton, linen, spices, and coal at a very favorable price.
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