Did the eldest daughter ascend the throne today?

This combination of punches left everyone stunned.

Prince Cui, Li Bai and several other family heads who hurried to the capital gathered together to discuss the matter.

Patriarch Li didn't quite understand, "What does the empress mean by this? She confiscated the Cui family's property, sent them to do hard labor, and granted Miss Cui the title of nobility."

It is said that the mind of an emperor is hard to predict, and this empress is no exception.

"Is she trying to elevate women and suppress men?"

These family heads are all waiting and watching, waiting for the final bet.

They will not act rashly until the outcome is clear.

Patriarch Wang shook his head slightly, "No, no, several of her important officials are men. Is she deliberately suppressing our family?"

If this is the case, then their families must unite and fight to the death to bring Ning Zhiwei down.

Patriarch Li frowned, "I don't quite understand it either, but it doesn't seem like she wants to suppress our family."

"It's hard to say. Let's observe and see."

These families are all in-laws, they stay with each other, look after each other, share the same roots, and advance and retreat together.

Patriarch Cui, who had been silent the whole time, looked unhappy. "It's actually very simple. Meritorious deeds must be rewarded, and crimes must be punished. Rewards and punishments are clearly defined."

"Uh?"

Patriarch Cui sighed softly, "There is one more thing. She is warning the world not to provoke her. Otherwise, even if you are a noble family, she will uproot you."

Ning Hewei is a rising star. There were not many aristocratic families on his way to success, so he is not that dependent on them.

From the beginning, the noble families didn't think highly of her. She was just a woman, how could she be a problem? Were all the men in the world dead?

But, who knew that the situation would change so quickly, and she just grabbed one-third of the territory, with a move that was fast, fierce and accurate.

She was a very good fighter herself, and with a group of brave and skilled subordinates, she managed to carve out a path in this chaotic world.

These noble families were just waiting for her to enter the capital and reveal her true colors.

From ancient times to the present, countless rebel armies have failed to pass the imperial examination.

No matter how powerful the army was before, once it entered the capital, it would be dazzled by the world of pleasure and debauchery, and would collapse soon.

They have been waiting for the collapse of the Ning family army.

But after waiting for a long time, what happened was that Ning Zhiwei changed the dynasty and proclaimed himself emperor.

What awaited us was the orderliness, prosperity, and vitality of the new dynasty, without any chaos at all.

It was not until this time that they realized that although the commander of the Ning family army was a woman, she was not a reckless man.

She is a remarkable woman who is good at both civil and military affairs. She is capable of pacifying the world on horseback and deciding the fate of the world with her pen.

This is awkward.

The speculators have lost the best opportunity. The rewards from adding icing on the cake and providing timely assistance are different.

"Let's find a way to meet Cui Tianhao first."

This is not difficult. Patriarch Cui found Rong Jing and made a request, and Rong Jing agreed without hesitation.

People come and go on the canal dam, all working hard.

Cui Tianhao and his sons were digging a canal, which was tiring and dirty.

They started out angrily with a hunger strike in protest, but the imperial court ignored them. They were told to just go on a hunger strike, as it would save food.

After being hungry for a day, they could no longer hold on and had to follow the supervisor's instructions and start digging canals and repairing dams.

These spoiled old men and young masters were so clumsy at work that their hands were covered with blisters, but no one sympathized with them and no one dared to help them.

Whoever helps will go hungry.

If any member of the Cui family dared to make trouble, they would be whipped first, knocked unconscious and then dragged to a small dark room.

It is incredible that these weak young men can still hold on despite all these hardships.

Especially Young Master Cui, who was beaten half to death, but he was still alive and strong, like an indestructible cockroach.

When the head of the Cui family came over, he almost didn't recognize him.

"Brother Hao."

Cui Tianhao, who was squatting on the ground eating, suddenly looked up, his eyes turned red, and he ran over and grabbed his arm tightly.

"Cousin, you are finally here. Do you have money? I have suffered so much here and I can't hold on any longer."

Patriarch Cui looked at him and asked, "Why are you getting fatter and stronger?"

He used to be a weak scholar who would fall down at the slightest gust of wind, but now he is dark and strong, which is outrageous.

Cui Tianhao: ...

He was filled with grief and indignation. "I only eat three steamed buns for each meal, and they don't even pay me, but others have that."

Patriarch Cui was silent for a moment. How could this person look like his own farmhand? "You could only eat one and a half steamed buns before."

Cui Tianhao's expression froze, and he just wanted to leave here, "Cousin, where's the money?"

"I have already handed all the silver to Rong Jing..."

Before he finished speaking, the Cui family members smiled happily, "Great, come on, let's go home."

They dropped their work and tried to run away, but were caught by the guards.

"No, you can't leave yet."

Cui Tianhao's expression was extremely bad, "Your Majesty, are you not keeping your word?"

The yamen runner glared at him unhappily and said, "Master Cui only paid five million taels of silver, four million is Madam Bai's dowry, and one million can only pardon three people."

Cui Tianhao was stunned, and the Cui family members were furious. "Father, you can't just ignore me."

"Father, I am the eldest son of the Cui family, and I am the one who will continue the family's glory."

Cui Tianhao frowned, "Why is this... only five million?"

Patriarch Cui was unhappy. “Five million was raised by all the relatives together. We all tried our best.”

Five million is not fifty thousand, so how can you take it out all at once?

The Cui family members all looked unhappy.

At the same time, in the imperial palace, Rong Jing entered the palace and went straight into the Qianming Palace.

"The Cui family's five million has been deposited into the Ministry of Revenue's account, and they can go to Jiangnan to buy food again."

Ning Zhiwei put down the brush and rubbed his sore wrist, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Seeing this, Rong Jing gently rubbed her wrist and said softly, "We can't rush the game of chess with the aristocratic families. We need to take it step by step. Their power is deeply rooted and far more complicated than we imagined."

What can be seen on the surface is far from the true strength of the family.

Over the past thousands of years, emperors have not killed all the aristocratic families. There must be a reason.

"I know. We win over some and kill some."

Rong Jing felt sorry for her when he saw her haggard face. "Are you tired? Take a rest first. I brought your favorite sesame pancakes and white sugar cakes. Have some."

Ning Zhi smiled and nodded, "Great, I was just thinking about this."

With war going on on two fronts outside, a sum of military funds had to be reserved for the Southeast Army in case Su Mingjin suddenly started a war.

The daily expenses of the three major garrisons in the capital are also a huge sum of money, so she still lives a simple life, with only six dishes for each meal, and Rong Jing still eats with her.

When Rong Jing was not in the palace due to some matters, she would call the children to have dinner together and listen to their learning progress.

While they were eating, a palace servant came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Bai family in Jiangnan has presented you with a batch of grain and grass. The heir of the Bai family, Bai Zhanyang, is waiting for your order outside the palace gate."

Ning Zhiwei's eyes lit up. Jiangnan was a granary and rich in grain, but all the grain was in the hands of the Jiangnan families.

"Let him in."

After a while, a handsome young man was brought in and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, Bai Zhanyang wishes His Majesty a long and blessed life."

Ning Zhiwei said calmly, "Get up."

Bai Zhanyang, the eldest son of the Bai family, has a rebellious look between his eyebrows, and is extremely handsome and suave.

He smiled at Ning Zhiwei, as gorgeous as a rosy cloud.

A cold voice sounded, "Are you Mr. Wushuang?"

It was Rong Jing. He instinctively disliked the young man in front of him.