The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 1307: Chapter 486: Palace Schemes Are No Match for Rebellion (Part 23)_3

Seeing Student Xiao D suddenly deflate, He Tiantian felt a bit sorry, so she deliberately put on a curious look and asked a question.

Student Xiao D puffed up her cheeks: Tiantian, you’re bullying the system!

Humph, clearly guessed everything, but still pretended to ask.

However, He Tiantian’s proactive inquiry did satisfy Student Xiao D’s desire to show off.

It cleared its throat lightly and replied: ”Of course it’s completed! The Emperor personally stepped in to help her in the palace intrigue, even angering Empress Tao to the point of fainting on the spot. In this battle, Zheng Nianer won a complete victory!”

A complete victory?

Not necessarily!

He Tiantian’s eyes flickered, she felt that Zheng Nianer, under the coercion of the Wild System, had already deviated from the normal track.

She might become some palace intrigue champion, but she cannot become a true strong person.

She is merely a man’s accessory and has gradually lost herself.

Of course, Zheng Nianer is ultimately the female lead, and she possesses a lot of future knowledge.

For instance, this time Zhao Gui’s salt policy reform, on the surface, was unanimously passed by the Imperial court, but when truly implemented, it was extremely difficult.

Zhao Gui’s decree not to mention reaching the most basic commandery, even in the Capital Region, faced a wave of opposition.

Zhao Gui dealt with Empress Tao in such a manner not just for Zheng Nianer, he was truly passive in the Imperial court and urgently needed more support.

He Tiantian was not wrong in her guess, Zhao Gui, besides wanting to use the phoenix seal as bait, also wanted to pressure Tao Yong.

He wants to utilize the troops under Tao Yong to form the Salt Soldiers, specifically for registering salt flats and collecting salt taxes.

However, Tao Yong, the old brute, seems simple-minded and recklessly honest, yet he was not easy to persuade.

Zhao Gui hinted openly and subtly several times, even using the Han Family to provoke him, but the man did not respond at all.

Zhao Gui simply locked up Empress Tao and directly told Tao Yong: Dear, you still have a daughter in my hands, are you sure you no longer care about your daughter’s life or death?!

Tao Yong: ...

Damn, I must have been blind to choose such a shameless person as my son-in-law!

And investing, no less?

With this lowlife white-eyed wolf, in the future, if he wields power alone, it’s a blessing if our Tao Family isn’t the first to be settled with.

Cursed as he was, Tao Yong couldn’t really ignore his own daughter.

Firstly, he couldn’t bear it.

Secondly, his wife wouldn’t agree.

Tao Yong really liked his wife from the noble family and valued her surname, her identity as an aristocratic daughter.

So—

Isn’t it just giving some troops, I’ll give them!

Let’s see what kind of trickery you, the muddle-headed Emperor, can come up with!

Tao Yong gave Zhao Gui a thousand subordinates, and the families of Consort Shu and Consort De also ”supported” three to five hundred private soldiers each.

Zhao Gui also managed to gather a troop of two thousand Salt Soldiers, using the Capital City as a center to cover several surrounding commanderies, beginning the vigorous salt policy reform.

But, soon, Zhao Gui received news—

”Those aristocratic families have such nerve, they actually dare to resist taxation!”

Two thousand Salt Soldiers might sound like a lot.

But to some entrenched local aristocratic families, it’s really nothing.

Think about it, families that can survive in turbulent times are generally strong.

A moderately sized aristocratic family, combining subordinates and slaves, easily has two to three thousand.

Aristocratic families also have docks, easy to defend and hard to attack, to intimidate with force, you need at least five to six thousand troops.

Zhao Gui: ...

He doesn’t have them!

Even the two thousand Salt Soldiers are ”carefully selected” by people like Tao Yong, consisting of the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

Bluffing ordinary civilians might work, but to deal with real powerful families, geez, it’s already giving Zhao Gui face that those Salt Soldiers haven’t collapsed on the spot.

Zhao Gui was so anxious he’s pacing around the main hall.

Zheng Nianer seeing him like this also understood his predicament.

She had long had a solution, just waiting for the crucial moment to unveil it.

”Erlang, are you still worried about the salt affairs?”

The original character was designed to be an understanding Flower Solving People, even though Zheng Nianer wasn’t used to being a naive Lotus Flower, she never planned to break character.

Forced to bind with the Palace Fighting System, to complete tasks, she had to maintain character even more.

So, she became even more gentle and considerate than the original character.

The original character could act, but she was at most a fourteen or fifteen-year-old native girl.

And Zheng Nianer, having lived two lifetimes, and having tons of online literature as reference, acting as a Lotus Flower came effortlessly.

She approached Zhao Gui and asked softly.

”...Indeed it’s a bit unsmooth, but Nianer, don’t worry, I will handle it!”

Zhao Gui responded lightly, with a strong and regent mother, he didn’t want his wife too involved in politics.

Zheng Nianer seemed to not understand Zhao Gui’s rejection, she pretended to be troubled and said: ”I do have an idea, not sure if it can help Erlang!”

Zhao Gui raised an eyebrow, ”What idea?”

He didn’t really believe a woman like Zheng Nianer could have a good solution.

But he casually asked, due to their relationship.

Zheng Nianer’s face brightened and she said: ”Cutting off the supply!”