Chapter 267: Chapter 267
"Ah, host, what should we do now?"
"Honestly, this emperor is too useless!"
Just sealing some information, and in such a short time, even someone like Lady Miao already knows about it.
Thinking about that person from the previous lifetime, the system was utterly astonished.
What happened to 'once the word is given, no one dares to disobey'!
I wonder if our host will be impeached by those unlucky censors tomorrow!
After the person left, within the consciousness sea, the system couldn't help but anxiously complain, especially seeing its host still leisurely flipping through books without showing any sign of urgency.
"What's the big deal? Was this outcome really that hard to predict?"
Flipping through the historical records in her hand, An Ning remained noncommittal.
When the cost of something isn't particularly high, people's mouths naturally become less tight. At that point, just sprinkle some silver coins around, and some secrets naturally cease to be secrets.
Especially since this one is famously benevolent, always treating palace staff and subordinates with generosity and lack of strictness. With all those princes and princesses who died earlier, we never saw their wet nurses or palace attendants receive severe punishment.
As time passes, people's courage naturally grows.
An Ning estimated that by now, aside from Lady Miao who daily concerns herself with her daughter, quite a few in the palace had probably received the news, especially after word spread about Sixth Li Young Master's "accidental death" in the palace, which obviously seemed suspicious.
Looking at her noticeably smaller hands, An Ning couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Just as she had said earlier, over the past half year, her archery skills had become notoriously poor. This person came seeking her out himself—say what you will, but if we claim Sixth Li Young Master himself stumbled into the arrow's path, what then?
His own misfortune—what does it have to do with a ten-year-old girl with poor archery skills?
Whether reprimands or punishments come, they won't hit the mark.
Among the court officials, those with well-connected information are all cunning individuals. No matter what, her father is still the emperor. With the superficial "fell to his death" explanation established, pursuing this further would only slightly damage her reputation without causing real harm—what good would that do?
Especially since she, this princess, isn't easily disposed of and appears to be someone who extremely remembers and repays every slight.
"It's just that this Sixth Li Young Master was truly useless. If only he had some official rank, some scholar's title—today's matter would have been many times more troublesome."
An unknown nobody who doesn't touch upon the face and interests of the broader scholar class—who would make a big fuss over him?
Do they really think the scholars in literary circles, including those noble families, actually look favorably upon those impoverished imperial relatives? Secretly suppressing and excluding them is the norm.
Hah, if they were actually respected and could integrate, her unlucky father wouldn't need to force his daughter into that family to elevate their status.
Lazily leaning on the soft couch, An Ning couldn't help but click her tongue lightly:
Thinking of the original person's experiences in her previous lifetime, a cold glint flashed through An Ning's eyes.
"But... but with what you've done, host, won't your unlucky father feel even more guilty toward the Li Family and compensate them further?"
Actually, the system never understood why its host had been so openly confrontational this time. If she wanted that Li family guy dead, wouldn't it be easier to secretly poison him?
With its host's capabilities, she could definitely make his death silent and unnoticed.
Guilt, compensation—hah!
The corners of An Ning's lips unconsciously lifted in slight mockery.
"System, haven't you ever heard a saying?"
"A person's guilt should never be too abundant, especially for those in power."
Three-tenths, or even seven-tenths guilt might help you soar upward, but twelve-tenths guilt will only ensure you never get ahead under their watch.
The latter probably wouldn't happen with cheap dad's temperament, but no matter how benevolent an emperor might be, the habits of those in power never truly change.
Not to mention that with Zhao Zhen's personality, if he felt excessively guilty, he might choose to avoid the situation and reduce contact with this family.
An Ning chuckled lightly:
The latter probably wouldn't happen with her nominal father's temperament, but no matter how benevolent an emperor might be, the habits of those in power never truly change.
"Wouldn't you suspect that this family might secretly resent you, only restraining themselves due to your power and future prospects rather than openly breaking with you?"
"Moreover, would you still dare to entrust your personal safety to them?"
Staring directly at the system's suddenly bewildered dogface, An Ning sneered inwardly.
Suspicion and doubt are the most poisonous toxins in the world, growing deeper with each restless night, especially for a nation's emperor.
Throughout history, why have imperial relatives enjoyed imperial trust? Blood connections are secondary; the resulting community of shared interests is what truly matters.
"In summary..." An Ning concluded cheerfully:
"The Li Family will probably lack neither honorary positions nor glory during cheap dad's reign, at least for now. But imagining them, like in the previous lifetime, with all male members holding real power, even military authority..."
An Ning sneered inwardly—not only are the doors closed to that possibility, but the windows are shut too!
"The Li Family will probably lack neither honorary positions nor glory during my nominal father's reign, at least for now. But imagining them, like in the previous lifetime, with all male members holding real power, even military authority..."
Considering this, the system couldn't help but widen its eyes.
Meaning this palace visit cost them not only a son but also their family's future! If not for knowing that family's behavior in the previous lifetime, the system might almost say "amen" for them.
"Speaking of which, host, won't this make you psychologically split?"
Thinking of its host from the previous lifetime—cheerful and lively every day, able to stay happy for days over a beautiful flower. Then comparing that to the current one... well...
Honestly, the sudden change was so drastic that the system could barely adapt.
Glancing indifferently at the worrywart system, An Ning hummed softly without speaking.
Actually, An Ning's goals weren't yet complete.
Not to mention how stifled and dissatisfied the Li Family must feel—knowing their son's cause of death, having to swallow their anger despite knowing the killer, publicly claiming their son indeed fell to his death on the steps.
The next day, after receiving memorials from several Cabinet ministers directly stating that for the sake of the princess's future upbringing, several teaching masters should be appointed for the princess.
Amid the palace staff's fear and anxiety, An Ning cheerfully knocked on Zichen Palace's door.
"As for the candidates..." After pretending to ponder for a moment, An Ning soon smiled and spoke: