The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Song Zhiyuan was in the Imperial Palace, looking at the nautical chart presented by Chu Ze Si and the map of that island.

”Just by looking at the map, one might really think this small island is full of vitality, worthy of being called an earthly paradise, but who knows if that’s truly the case.” Song Zhiyuan admired the map, expressing his amazement: ”The person who drew this map is probably a master of painting and calligraphy; I almost feel like I’ve walked right into it. If Cabinet Minister Ning really intends to leave a backup plan for the younger generation in his family, then this indeed is a suitable place for thriving and lying low.”

Emperor Chu spoke casually: ”No matter how much of an earthly paradise, it is far from the lands of Great Qing Country. One can avoid the world, but if one wants to emerge, they will eventually poke their head out from there. Or perhaps, they have already started to peek.”

Song Zhiyuan was taken aback, looked up at Emperor Chu, and saw an unrestrained grim expression on his face, causing him to pause.

In recent years, even though there have been occasional battles in the Northeast and Northwest, overall, it can be said to be calm and peaceful, oh, excluding factional infighting.

Infighting indeed, even though the Crown Prince has been established, due to the Crown Prince’s youth, Prince Xiao and Prince Zhou secretly form cliques and factions, engaging in quite fierce struggles. As for Prince Yan, after King Wu was enfeoffed, the next year he also packed up and went to his fiefdom.

And among the court factions, they are divided into several groups; the youthful faction of the Crown Prince Party is mostly new rising stars from recent years, along with Prime Minister Song’s reformist group, and Prime Minister Fan’s conservative faction, oh, but it can no longer be called Prime Minister Fan now, but Grandmaster Fan.

Indeed, as mentioned before, when Prime Minister Fan retired and attempted to re-enter, Emperor Chu didn’t even think of letting him hold onto the position again, instead he was granted the title of Grandmaster, tasked with teaching the Crown Prince, noble as it is, but without power.

Grandmaster Fan probably anticipated this and didn’t contest, instead pushing his successor into position with great effort. The former Administration Commissioner of Anhui, Zeng Guangcong, has already entered the History Department of the Six Ministries as a second-rank official, and barring any surprises, it’s estimated he will be appointed to a ministerial position next year.

”Does His Majesty believe that Ning Xiaohong has returned?”

In the past year, the southern coastal areas have had occasional disturbances, seemingly traces of that person, so Emperor Chu’s suspicion is understandable.

The latent threat with a deep-seated vendetta, though still young, how many tiger cubs growing up turn into predators with vicious fangs, always watching your throat, intending to take a bite.

Everyone prefers to nip threats in the bud rather than let them grow strong, otherwise why would Emperor Chu focus so persistently on developing the Navy, with a fleet finally set sail last year, and until now not returned?

Emperor Chu didn’t answer him, but instead posed a question back: ”What do you think?”

Prime Minister Song replied: ”Considering this, that child is at most twelve or thirteen years old, I doubt he dares to come back.”

As mentioned before, Ning Xiaohong is still a young tiger cub, needing time to grow and develop forces. If he were not foolish, he wouldn’t return without a solid foundation.

Honestly speaking, if he were Ning Xiaohong, he wouldn’t come back either, but focus on development. Why? Because of age.

Being young, he requires much time to grow, though it seems cruel it is an advantage because Emperor Chu’s age is nearing twilight, dragging, he must wear him out before returning.

Oh, boldly claiming to avenge a family annihilation?

How about you first understand the saying that a gentleman’s revenge isn’t late even after ten years?

Frankly speaking, the Ning family only has him left, if he rashly returns with mere courage to avenge family annihilation, that’s only overestimating himself; many wouldn’t be enough for Emperor Chu to slaughter.

Only when alive can one talk about a gentleman’s revenge, if gone, what’s left is empty words?