So this is the reason why Minister Zhang offered yourself earlier?
Minister Zhang...
The earlier whispers still echoed in my ears.
Tonight happened to have a beautiful moon, its pure white moonlight streaming through the glass window, illuminating the faintly smiling eyes of the person before .
After a mont, I heard this person chuckle lightly, looking directly into the eyes of the person beside him, his narrow eyes not concealing his unrestrained nature in the slightest:
"Your Majesty overestimates this subject too much. Not to ntion that you had no such intention back then, even if there had been a legitimate person, this subject would still have recomnded himself for the official's bed..."
"To be honest with Your Majesty, this subject has wanted to do this for a very long ti!"
Tsk, what a thick-skinned and ruthless fellow!
An Ning couldn't help but inhale sharply.
The lingering sounds in her ears hadn't yet faded when a new wave of heat slowly rose within the bright yellow silk curtains.
"Didn't Your Majesty say you wanted a child?"
"This subject naturally obeys the command..."
Wait... no...
She hadn't even used the dicine yet, no matter how hard soone tried, it would be useless! Unfortunately, she soon couldn't afford to think too much.
Forget it, she'd wait until next ti!
The next morning, after practicing her sword techniques as usual, An Ning finally opened the system marketplace.
But the next second, surprised exclamations ca from the system within her consciousness.
"High... high-grade!"
"Ho... host, are you being this generous this ti?"
This was a full thirty points!
This was the first ti her host had been so willing to spend! Even it felt a bit pained!
"Well, actually, dium-grade would be enough for you, right? The one from your previous life was quite good, and the imperial throne was quite stable anyway."
And this was despite the original body possibly holding things back in the previous life, not to ntion that in this life the original body was above average, and that fellow nad Zhang was also rarely intelligent.
In its view, there was really no need to waste so many points.
Despite the system's chattering beside her, An Ning didn't hesitate in the slightest and directly pressed the transaction button.
The sa? How could it be the sa!
In this era, for a woman to secure her position was many tis more difficult than for a man. One could say that without several lifetis of accumulation, she would absolutely not easily challenge this hard mode.
Think it would be easier for successors after a female emperor?
An Ning chuckled lightly, how could that be! Favored? Was Princess Taiping of the Tang Dynasty not favored early on? Was her mother not a generation's female emperor? Was her political ability and awareness not high?
And what was the result?
Even that Tang Zhongzong Li Xian, who was called weak by later generations, hadn't he tried to establish his daughter Princess Anle earlier? Yet he was still forced to establish a crown prince.
Looking at the elixir lying in her space, she admitted that she really wasn't so great benevolent person. Usually, unless necessary, she really didn't have that much desire to work hard against the world's rules to save other won.
But now was different. Since she had chosen this path, since the female emperor started with her, it couldn't end after just one generation.
At least two generations, until social productive forces reached a certain level. Otherwise...
"For an emperor, diocrity is also an original sin!"
For a female emperor, diocrity ant death was not far away.
As for finding soone from the imperial clan to adopt a capable heir, this was sothing An Ning had never even considered from beginning to end.
Not to ntion the inherited weaknesses of the Zhao family line, and whether there were any with sufficient talent among them. Just this "forgetting one's origins" custom was frightening enough!
Besides, since ancient tis, who ever benefited from raising soone else's child, especially in imperial families.
Look at that Grand Secretary Zhang from the Ming Dynasty - his situation was utterly miserable, truly a great fool...
If she really raised one, not to ntion how much effort would be required for education, by then she probably wouldn't be able to retire peacefully.
No longer paying attention to a certain system's chattering, An Ning picked up the morials that had just been delivered this morning.
Wait...
Looking at the familiar na in her hand, Wang Anshi? Returning to the capital to report on his work...
Hey, isn't this perfect timing?
The next day, Zichen Palace
Looking at this Confucian scholar who, despite reaching middle age, still appeared vibrant and energetic, An Ning soon smiled:
"Minister Wang, I have already read your morial. So parts are quite reasonable indeed, showing that Minister Wang is soone who often worries about the people's livelihood. Coincidentally, I have a task here..."
"I wish to reorganize official salt to curb its price inflation. What does Minister Wang think about this?"
After a brief mont of surprise, Wang Anshi quickly reacted, his face soon showing delight, which then turned to concern in an instant:
"Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous. The high price of official salt in our dynasty has long been the norm. However, official salt revenue has always been a major source of tax revenue for the court. If it were reduced, I'm afraid the national treasury would..."
"Minister Wang need not worry about this! I'm not acting on impulse. This is this year's tax register from the Three Departnts. Minister Wang will understand once you see it."
"This..."
Staring in shock at the total figure that was more than double the previous amount, it took Wang Anshi a long ti to finally regain his composure:
Although he knew that since ascending the throne, Her Majesty had focused on people's livelihood and economy, with improved seeds already available. At the sa ti, the taxes reduced among the common people were also not insignificant.
Just the various miscellaneous taxes amounted to more than ten items.
He had thought that although national treasury revenue would increase sowhat, it wouldn't be to this extent, but unexpectedly...
Regarding this, An Ning only thought to herself.
Luxury goods, especially top-tier luxury goods, are major tax contributors in any era. Getting money circulating among the upper classes has much higher cost-effectiveness than exploiting the lower classes.
Looking at this exceptionally young ruler before him, after a long while, Wang Jiefu sighed deeply again:
"Your Majesty's talent and virtue are sothing we cannot match..."
"This subject, despite my advanced years, if there is any way I can be of use, Your Majesty need not be polite, just give the orders..."
The salt administration involved so many interests that reforming it would definitely not be easy, yet Wang Anshi showed no hesitation at this mont.
Above, An Ning also smiled beautifully.
Don't worry, she really didn't understand the slightest bit about being polite!
"The court will soon issue an edict. Regarding specific implentation in various regions, especially key areas like Jiangnan, I will entrust the salt administration matter to Minister Wang with peace of mind!"
Finally, as if rembering sothing: "Speaking of which, Minister Sima is also in Jiangnan, and has served consecutive terms there for many years. With him there, I can rest assured!"
"I heard that you two admired each other's talents early on, even considering each other close friends. I'm sure you'll be able to work together harmoniously this ti."
Wang Anshi, who had been feeling his blood boiling with passion: "..."
He originally wanted to say that their political views were quite incompatible, but looking at the seemingly confident gaze of the person before him, he soon swallowed his words.
Forget it, Her Majesty is wise and discerning. If she thinks this way, she must have her reasons.
"Hahahaha, host, you're really sothing! These two, haha these two, in their previous life they almost fought like dogs!"
Only after Wang Jiefu's figure completely disappeared from view did the system in her consciousness finally laugh out loud.
Was her host not just indulging in so malicious fun?
What malicious fun?
She wouldn't admit to that!
Lightly biting on the preserved fruit that the palace servants had just delivered, An Ning casually flipped through the stack of morials in her hand:
"These two, one is too idealistic and radical, the other is too conservative and seeks conformity. Aren't they a perfectly matched pair?"
One positive and one negative, purely complentary!
Especially since these two share a common trait - neither covets wealth and honor, and both are truly incorruptible.
"Maybe these two can truly love each other in this lifeti!" An Ning couldn't help but sigh.
After all, this heaven-sent pair, she didn't plan to use them just this once.
System: "..."
However, the next day at court, just after An Ning announced the edict, that evening, over the chessboard, a certain Zhang person suddenly spoke:
"Is the official planning to take action against Western Xia?"
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