Did the eldest daughter ascend the throne today?

Chapter 520 Extra: I will cheat you without negotiation

Fifteen years, more than five thousand days and nights, were long and difficult.

When they first met, they experienced countless storms side by side, endured the most difficult times together, and built this empire together.

It has not been easy along the way.

Ning Zhiwei sighed softly, "I still remember our first meeting, do you still remember?"

A trace of nostalgia appeared on Zhou Hongye's face. "I remember that I was a prisoner in the Northern Pacification Division, and you were the fifth daughter of the General's Mansion, the Princess of Jingning County personally appointed by the Emperor, a lady of a famous family, shining brilliantly."

"You and I are so different in status, and I have no relatives or friends, yet you lent me a hand and saved me from the dire situation. I will never forget this life-saving favor."

The fine of two thousand taels of silver was a life-saving measure for him at that time.

"I never understood why you helped me pay the ransom."

Ning Zhiwei picked up the teacup nonchalantly and said calmly, "You looked so helpless and angry at that time, which reminded me of those relatives who died on the battlefield. They must have been so helpless and angry before they died."

In fact, she deliberately intercepted and snatched away Su Mingjin's right-hand man in advance.

"Saving you is actually saving them, and it is also self-salvation."

Zhou Hongye was silent for a while. "For breakfast that time, I had six meat buns, five fried dough sticks, and two bowls of tofu pudding. It was the first time I was full, and it was also the best breakfast I have ever had in my life."

That breakfast was deeply engraved in his memory. His stomach was full, his mood was high, and he felt unprecedented happiness.

Before, no one respected him. He was just a man from a poor family who was falsely accused of cheating in the imperial examination and kicked out of the examination hall. He was so poor that he had to work as a dog for a corrupt official and ruined his own future for a mere two hundred taels of silver.

If Ning Zhiwei hadn't saved him, he would have died long ago.

Not only did she save him, she also gave him the greatest respect in his life.

A gentleman will die for his friend. From that moment on, he vowed to follow her and never betray her, but how could it come to this?

Unfortunately, the store was destroyed in the war and the owner disappeared, he must have died.

"I have always remembered what you said. One day, you will return to the border, drive away the foreign enemies, protect millions of people in our border areas... and return to the pinnacle of power."

Not a single word was wrong. Fifteen years later, he still remembered everything.

Ning Zhiwei's eyes warmed up slightly. It was from that time that their brilliant life began.

"Over the years, you have always been the person I trust the most. When I was fighting in the south and the north, I could rest assured that you would support me, and you have never let me down."

This kind of mutual support is extremely rare, which is why she did not kill him.

Zhou Hongye looked extremely disappointed, "Are you disappointed now?"

Ning Zhiwei lazily leaned back in the chair, "Why do you want to go against me?"

She was too direct. Zhou Hongye didn't want to say it, but the atmosphere was too comfortable, so he couldn't help but say a few words, "Your ideas are very dangerous."

Ning Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, "Dangerous?"

Zhou Hongye sighed softly, "You have repeatedly fought for women's rights and status, which has inevitably infringed on men's rights. Many men are already dissatisfied with you. This will not be a good thing in the long run."

He advised earnestly, "Your Majesty, you are a woman, but you have become the king of a country. You must stand on the side of the majority and safeguard the interests of the majority."

Ning Zhiwei smiled coldly. She was just trying to find a way out for the woman. She hadn't even seized power yet, but people were already unhappy.

"The majority of people you are talking about are male officials, right?"

Zhou Hongye nodded. "In the early days, the female officials occupied the court. That was necessary for the war, and everyone chose to compromise temporarily. Now that the court is stable, they will find a way to knock down the female officials one by one and restore the status quo."

He said earnestly, "The next step is you."

Ning Zhiwei narrowed her eyes slightly, "So?"

Zhou Hongye smiled bitterly and said, "I hope you will stop going against the majority of people and follow the will of the people, so that the monarch and his subjects can live in peace."

He bowed deeply, "Your Majesty, I beg you to follow the will of the people."

Ning Zhiwei looked at him steadily, with a complicated expression in her eyes, "Zhou Hongye, you are not telling the truth."

Zhou Hongye's body stiffened, "Your Majesty."

Ning Zhiwei's red lips moved slightly, and she uttered a sentence, "From the beginning to the end, what you really want is for the scholars and officials to rule the world together with the emperor."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became tense and Zhou Hongye opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

"what did you say?"

Ning Zhiwei looked him straight in the eye and said coldly, "Those idiots are just pawns you pushed out. You are stirring up trouble behind the scenes, stirring up trouble under the banner of antagonism between men and women, just to realize your political ambitions."

As if struck by thunder, Zhou Hongye trembled all over, his expression so complicated that it could not be described in words.

"I have always known that you are the only confidant in my life, but I never thought that you could see through my deepest thoughts."

Since it has come to this, he simply stopped hiding it, "Your Majesty, let's build a cabinet."

"First, the emperor and the cabinet shared power and checked each other, and then the cabinet members shared power and checked each other, dividing power into pieces and forming countless links to prevent one party from dominating. At the same time, it improved efficiency, balanced the forces of all parties, and consolidated the imperial power." Note (1)

"Your Majesty, you are a great ruler, but can you guarantee that your descendants will all be great rulers? It is very dangerous to tie the honor, disgrace and safety of a country to one person."

He said with deep sorrow, "Once a tyrant appears, the whole country will be finished."

Only he knew how much selfishness he had in saying this. Ning Zhiwei's expression was as indifferent as snow. "There is another possibility. The emperor has become a plaything of the cabinet."

Zhou Hongye's face changed drastically, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible."

Ning Zhi smiled, mockingly, "Can you guarantee that the cabinet will not become a tool for civil servants to gain power? Will every cabinet member be loyal to the emperor and love the country? Will they not override the imperial power for their own rights? Will they not form cliques for personal gain, act recklessly, and harm the people of the world?"

As she spoke, Zhou Hongye's expression became uglier and uglier. Ning Zhiwei saw this and shook her head and sighed, "You can't guarantee anything."

"You and I both know very well that once the cabinet is established, the struggle for power between the emperor and the cabinet is inevitable. Either the east wind suppresses the west wind, or the west wind suppresses the east wind. The internal friction will only become more and more serious."

It’s not that she didn’t want to establish a cabinet, but the cabinet system was not very complete and there were many potential troubles. After weighing the pros and cons, she decided to settle for the time being.

Zhou Hongye still insisted on his own opinion, "How can we know if we don't try? The knowledge gained from reading books is shallow. We must practice it ourselves to know it thoroughly." Note (2)

Ning Zhiwei looked at him deeply. They had different political views and could not reconcile.

Since you don't want to kill him, then... just make a feint.

"That's right, so go and do it yourself."

Zhou Hongye was stunned, "What?"

Ning Zhiwei smiled faintly, "I will send Shengxia to Ganlong as the governor, and you go to the southwest. She is a woman and you are a man. The term is three years. I want to see who is more capable, who can build the region better, and who is more popular."

"If you win, I will establish a cabinet."

Zhou Hongye originally thought that she was daydreaming, but the mention of building a cabinet immediately made him excited. This was his lifelong dream. "Are you serious?"

"of course it's true."

Zhou Hongye showed a determined look, "It's a deal."

In the palace, Rong Jing laughed too arrogantly, "Hahaha, you trapped Zhou Hongye in the valley, and he is still grateful to you. He is so smart all his life, but confused for a moment, he didn't even realize that this was a trap."