Everyone, Have You Been Well?

Zhou Wanwan looked at Princess Jianing's shops; they were indeed very luxurious.

There were also many dignitaries and nobles who went in to buy snacks.

Noble Consort Ning certainly had influence in the court; wouldn't all the officials' wives fawn over her?

So people come and go like flowing water.

Princess Jianing smiled and said, "Zhou Wanwan, after your trip to the Cold Palace, do you feel your heart has grown even colder?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at Princess Jianing and said, "Hmm, it's quite cold. And having to look at your face every day is so annoying!"

Princess Jianing laughed loudly, "Zhou Wanwan, you're just being stubborn! Now you won't make any money, will you?"

Zhou Wanwan hummed in agreement, then ignored her and went back to her family's snack shop.

She walked into the snack shop and saw that there were very few people in her shop; the rest of the customers had all gone to the opposite side.

However, the employees at her snack shop continued doing their jobs as usual.

The snack shop owner said:

"Since the snack shop across the street opened, far fewer people have come to buy our snacks."

Even if they did, they would be ordinary people who wouldn't earn much money.

Zhou Wanwan turned around and said:

"It's not that we can't make any money, it's just that the current stock isn't right. We should use cheaper snacks to attract customers."

She's going for the high-end market, so we have to go for the low-end market. Do you understand?

If it's too expensive, ordinary people won't be able to afford it.

The shopkeeper looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "So we're just going to watch her make money like this?"

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Otherwise what?"

The shopkeeper didn't dare say anything more. Zhou Wanwan returned home, she saw Xiao Jiu leading a group of people in from the backyard.

Zhou Wanwan looked at Xiao Jiu and said, "It seems Princess Jianing's snack shop is quite good!"

Xiao Jiu said helplessly:

"They're as stupid as pigs. I've taught them how to arrange things, but they can't remember."

There's no other way; I still have to go to their shop every day to help them tidy up and organize.

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Looks like you've had a hard time."

"It's not hard work, it's not hard work. I earn two jobs, so there's no time for hard work at all," Xiao Jiu said with a simple smile.

These are all imposters, and Princess Jianing's goods all belong to Zhou Wanwan.

It's like she doesn't spend a single penny, and someone helps her sell her products every day.

The key is Princess Jianing's connections—oops! The key is Noble Consort Ning's connections are truly powerful.

Not only can they handle things outside, but they can also handle things inside the palace.

Looking at the densely packed orders, Zhou Wanwan said, "This Noble Consort Ning is really something. She really controls everything in the palace. Look, she even controls whose ingredients the Imperial Kitchen uses."

The Old Scholar Tree said, "That woman is really formidable! But she's still no match for us."

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said:

"You only saw the surface, not the essence. Noble Consort Ning has many trump cards up her sleeve."

Have you noticed that many of the people shopping in stores are daughters of wealthy families?

She had deep connections with those long-established families.

Not only that, all the officials in the court are currently siding with Noble Consort Ning. We can't possibly kill them all, can we?

We can only weaken her power slowly, little by little.

The Old Scholar Tree nodded and said, "So you really intend to become emperor?"

Speaking of this, Zhou Wanwan felt a headache coming on. She didn't want to, she really didn't want to at all.

Can...

She then heard an announcement from outside. "The ministers of the household are requesting an audience at the gate. Would you like to see them?"

Zhou Wanwan nodded; of course, she would meet him.

Soon the ministers filed in, and everyone who saw Zhou Wanwan's face was full of excitement.

I have no idea what they're so excited about.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Everyone, how have you been?"

Grand Tutor Zhao Muyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan with satisfaction on his face. "I heard that His Majesty spent some time in the Cold Palace. You suffered."

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "It's alright, not too tough."

Grand Tutor Zhao Muyuan nodded and said:

"It's good for you to get used to life in the palace beforehand."

I just want to ask Your Majesty, when are we going to rebel?

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Do you think it's appropriate to rebel now?"

Zhao Muyuan shook his head and said:

"We discussed it and concluded that now is indeed not the right time to rebel; the timing is not right."

Furthermore, Noble Consort Ning commands millions of troops; if they were to rebel, we might not necessarily emerge victorious.

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Yes, that's exactly right."

She rebelled and was able to kill the Emperor and Noble Consort Ning, but she couldn't kill such a large army.

There's really no need for that.

It would be better to bide our time and make our move gradually; that would be the best approach.

These ministers clearly shared her views.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Why did you all come to the capital at the same time? It wouldn't be a good thing if you were discovered."

Grand Tutor Zhao Muyuan, "I don't know what's gotten into this puppet emperor, that he's suddenly remembered us old ministers and summoned us to the capital to report on our duties."

Zhou Wanwan was speechless looking at these performance review reports.

The Old Scholar Tree outside said helplessly:

That's because the imperial court has no capable people left.

The court is now full of incompetent fools; even Noble Consort Ning is afraid.

Besides, none of the people recalled have any real power and can't cause any trouble.

Zhou Wanwan looked at the list and nodded, saying, "They really don't have any real power; they're all just nominal positions."

Take Grand Tutor Zhao Muyuan for example; he was just a Grand Tutor, someone who taught classes.

Several more generals were recalled, including General Qin Shan, the General Who Guards the North.

Zhou Wanwan looked at the generals and said:

"They're probably trying to use you as scapegoats."

She knows she can't win this time with the old, weak, and disabled members of the Xie Family, so she plans to send you back as cannon fodder, right?

Qin Shan smirked and said, "This woman really dares to dream. She wants me to be cannon fodder, but she'll have to ask me if I agree first."

Zhou Wanwan said helplessly, "That's not up to you. The Xie Family is bound to fail. So that's what Noble Consort Ning was planning!"

She planned to send Qin Shan with a team of men to provide support, but she would have to see if Qin Shan was willing.

Zhao Muyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "Do you plan to participate in this year's imperial examination?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "I think we should give it a try. What if we pass the exam and become a scholar?"

Zhao Muyuan nodded and said, "Then it's definitely worth a try."

Zhou Wanwan was quite serious about it. Whether she would pass the exam was uncertain; she just wanted to experience the ancient imperial examination system.

These ministers soon returned to their respective homes.

After all, staying here wasn't a good idea, so Zhou Wanwan could finally get some rest.

I've been very tired lately.

The next morning, Zhou Wanwan entered the living room and saw the Princess and the others waiting for her.

The princess looked at her face and said, "You've lost weight, you've really lost a lot of weight. The kitchen made a lot of breakfast today, eat more."