Did the eldest daughter ascend the throne today?

Chapter 208 She Noticed It, This Move Was Wasted

Ning Zhiwei's expression was terribly cold. "Do I need to make it clearer? Before leaving the capital, Prime Minister Duan gave you an imperial decree, asking you to temporarily mobilize the troops in the northwest, right?"

"Princess Jingning, I..." Young Master Duan's forehead was covered with cold sweat, which kept dripping down. How could she know?

Only he and his grandfather knew about this. Even Xinyu and his fourth brother didn't know about it. How did Ning Zhiwei, an outsider, know about it?

Although Ning Zhiwei was not in the capital, she was aware of every little movement in the capital. "It is better to say that it is Prime Minister Duan's intention than to say that it is the will of the new emperor. He is proud of his achievements and makes arbitrary decisions. He is vying for the imperial power..."

Young Master Duan was so frightened that his soul flew away. "Jingning County Lady, be silent."

The Duan family is ambitious and wants to become the regent and the most powerful official in the Great Qi Dynasty, but they have absolutely no intention of overthrowing the Great Qi Dynasty.

Ning Zhiwei sneered. His ambition grew step by step. If he dared to write an imperial edict in the name of the new emperor today, he would dare to seize the throne in the future.

"I don't care what your Duan family wants to do, but if you want to use this imperial edict to stab me at the critical moment, that's impossible."

Young Master Duan turned pale, his heart beating wildly, "The Duan family has no such intention. This is just a life-saving talisman. If my brother and I encounter difficulties that we cannot overcome, we can ask for help from the nearby garrison."

"Really?" Ning Zhiwei sneered, "I don't believe a word of it. This imperial decree is aimed at my Ning family and me."

With this imperial edict, the nearby garrisons can be mobilized and attacks can be launched at any time.

Young Master Duan was sweating profusely and was extremely frightened. She was extremely smart, how could she not understand the backup plan arranged by her grandfather?

But now that she has discovered it, this trick is useless.

This is Ning Zhiwei's territory, life or death depends entirely on her decision.

Facing Ning Zhiwei's death gaze, he gritted his teeth and took out a long sealed box from his arms, "Please ask the Princess Jingning to keep this for me."

Ning Zhiwei opened it and saw that it was the imperial edict to dispatch the troops in the northwest.

Very good, the escape route that Prime Minister Duan had painstakingly arranged by his juniors now belongs to her!

Ning Zhiwei gave him a deep look and asked, "Did you ask me to keep it for you?"

Young Master Duan just wanted to get away, and begged humbly, "Yes, please."

Ning Zhiwei carefully put away the imperial edict and put it back into the long box. "Because of my friendship with Prime Minister Duan, I will do you this favor."

She got the advantage and acted like a good kid, but Young Master Duan didn't even dare to fart.

That’s not all. Ning Zhiwei didn’t want to keep such a person in the Ning family. “But you have to do me a favor.”

Her aura was so strong that Third Young Master Duan was unable to breathe. "Please tell me. As long as I can do it, I will do it without hesitation."

Ning Zhiwei tapped the table and paused for a moment. "You brothers are all well-educated people, both civil and military. The northwestern border areas have suffered from wars for many years. The people are hungry and poorly clothed. The captured cities are dilapidated and desolate. I intend to change the status quo and benefit the people. I wonder if Third Young Master Duan has any specific suggestions?"

"Huh?" Young Master Duan never expected this, and said subconsciously, "We have just experienced war, so we should appease the people first, distribute food to them, and let those who have fled come back to live."

Ning Zhiwei nodded slightly, "I have already done it, and the people have all returned."

Upon hearing that the Ning family would be living in Yumen Pass for a long time, Ning Zhiwei issued a notice asking them to come back to get food, and the people returned without saying a word.

As long as the Ning family is here, Yumen Pass must be the safest place in the northwest region.

Young Master Duan is the grandson carefully trained by Prime Minister Duan. Although he is not as talented as Ning Zhiwei and Rong Jing, he is much stronger than other children of aristocratic families in the capital.

"Strengthen household registration management, repair the city walls, dredge the river, and strengthen the city's defenses."

Ning Zhiwei nodded, "I have called together the young and strong people and refugees in the city to repair the city in the form of work-for-relief. Everything is proceeding in an orderly manner."

This area has been handed over to the city defense troops, so she doesn't have to worry about it.

"anything else?"

Young Master Duan hesitated. How could she know everything? Work-for-relief? Did it mean to make people work and give them money and food? This was better than giving out porridge.

Giving porridge to refugees will only increase their laziness. If they are too idle, they will cause chaos. It is better to let them work in exchange for a stable life.

“Build schools, restore markets, and get the economy going.”

Ning Zhiwei raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "This is a good idea. I plan to reopen the trade market. I wonder if Third Young Master Duan is willing to help me?"

Duan San Shao's face changed when he heard the voice. "The imperial court prohibits mutual trade. It is strictly forbidden to trade with other countries. Those who violate the rules will be executed."

Mutual trade is a general term for trade between two countries, which is either officially managed or spontaneously organized by the public, and is mostly conducted at the border.

Ning Zhiwei has several caravans with countless goods waiting to be sold, and barter is the best sales channel.

Besides, this is a trade, not treason, and the people on both sides welcome the trade.

Once opened, the border immediately prospered.

"It's better not to say it, Third Master Duan, these are the rules for restarting the trade, you will execute them."

She has already set up the framework and listed all the rules and regulations. Everything is ready except the east wind.

Young Master Duan's face turned green. He had already handed over the imperial edict, so why didn't they let him go? "No, no, no, I can't do that."

Ning Zhiwei was determined to drag him down. "Young Master Duan, you should know your grandfather's intentions very well. He asked you three siblings to come to the border, firstly to form an alliance with my Ning family, and secondly to let you escape from the disaster. If you want to gain a foothold at the border, you must show some ability to make me value you, otherwise..."

Young Master Duan was shocked. She actually knew everything!

He thought of his grandfather's extremely high evaluation of Ning Zhiwei, who was so smart that he was almost a demon, and he hoped that if he had a daughter, he would have her like Ning Zhiwei.

"Do I have a choice?"

Ning Zhiwei nodded, "Yes, you can choose to leave with your sister-in-law."

What kind of choice is this? Young Master Duan was filled with bitterness. Ning Zhiwei really didn't take the imperial edict seriously.

Yes, after all that had happened, she had long lost her awe and respect for the royal family.

"Okay, I promise you."

"A man who knows how to handle affairs is a hero." Ning Zhiwei casually praised, "Your sister is well educated, so let her and Fourth Young Master Duan be in charge of building the school together."

Third Master Duan suddenly became anxious, "My sister is a lady from a famous family, how can she show her face in public and do such menial work?"

Ning Zhiwei raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "If everyone has something to do, they won't be bored and fight over pulling hair, what do you think?"

It was like a bucket of cold water poured over him, and Young Master Duan felt terrible. This was definitely his sister's dark history.

After this incident, how would the women of the Ning family look at her? How would the Seventh Young Master Ning look at her?

Young Master Ning had a very bad first impression of her, and that wouldn't do.

Well, just get out of the spotlight, do something practical, and change everyone's mind.

"How do we deal with the marriage between the two families?"

Ning Zhiwei said calmly, "Let's wait and see for a year. If you still want to get married, then we can get married. How about that?"

Young Master Duan's mind raced. Now was definitely not a good time to get married. "Can you make the decision?"

"Yes." Ning Zhiwei's tone was extremely firm and did not allow anyone to question it.

Mr. Duan did not doubt her strength and ability. Everything depended on whether she was willing to intervene. "What if you don't want to?"

Ning Zhiwei only said, "The emperor is far away."

Young Master Duan took a deep breath, his heart pounding, "Jingning County Lady, what... do you want to do?"