In Douluo Continent, I am the mastermind behind the scenes.

The perspective shifts to Mingdu.

After the delegation returned to Mingdu, Ma Tianmu kept his promise and, in the name of the Ma family head, recommended Zhu Ningyu to Xu Tianran.

Bai Yu's identity is absolutely clean, and he is even related to the Hongchen family, making him a true local of the Sun Moon Empire.

Therefore, Xu Tianran arranged for Zhu Ningyu to serve as Ju Zi's attendant.

The so-called attendant can be understood as a secretary. In a short time, Bai Yu's identity rose from a small manager of Mingde Hall to a close minister of the Empress, which can be described as a meteoric rise.

You must understand... this is a cultivation world, and there is no such thing as "the harem cannot interfere in politics". After Xu Tianran took power, his virtuous wife Ju Zi became the person in charge of the Ministry of Revenue.

"Your humble servant Bai Yu greets Your Majesty the Empress."

Inside the Cold Moon Palace, Ju Zi glanced at Zhu Ningyu below without making her eyes out, and said in an icy tone, "Her etiquette is very standard, not like that of a beginner."

Zhu Ningyu said awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I previously held a sinecure in Mingde Hall. With nothing to do all day, I would go to the etiquette class of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy to learn manners in preparation for my future promotion."

"Oh, I see." Orange put down her brush, slowly raised her head, and said with a dignified expression, "I've heard... that you, Bai Yu, are very resourceful, and that Ma Tianmu, the head of the Ma family, was willing to risk his family's reputation to recommend you to His Majesty. Hmm... then, in your opinion, where should the future development focus of the Sun Moon Empire be placed?"

"Everyone should cultivate!" Zhu Ningyu blurted out.

Everyone, everyone is practicing?

Ju Zi's expression changed. Not only had she lived two lives, but in her previous life she was also the Empress Dowager who ruled in place of her son. She had seen all sorts of people, but someone like Bai Yu... was a first for her.

She had imagined countless scenarios, but she never expected that Bai Yu would actually say something like that, encompassing all the scenarios she had envisioned with the phrase "everyone is cultivating".

What kind of person dares to utter the words "everyone is practicing cultivation"?

For a moment, Ju Zi felt that Bai Yu's identity was not as simple as it seemed on the surface. Could it be her imagination?

"You are quite good. From today onwards, you will follow me in handling the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue. When the time is right, I will report to His Majesty and send you out to become a regional governor. Your abilities should not be wasted by my side."

After careful consideration, Orange decided to keep the other party calm for now and find another opportunity to test the waters later.

……

"What kind of mess is this?"

Zhu Ningyu couldn't help but mutter something. She really didn't expect that on her first day as the Empress's secretary, she would be entrusted with such an important task: delivering 50 million gold soul coins of research funds to Mingde Hall.

"Deputy Hall Master, I have come on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress to deliver a batch of research funds, totaling fifty million gold soul coins. Here is the document; please take a look."

Zhu Ningyu walked into the office of the deputy head of Mingde Hall and threw five gold soul coin cards with a value of ten million and a document in front of Yin Hongchen, instantly filling the worker with resentment.

Yin Hongchen asked curiously, "Cousin Baiyu, everyone else goes to great lengths to climb the social ladder, but you've already climbed to the Empress's side, so why do you seem a little unhappy?"

Zhu Ningyu said irritably, "I'm used to being leisurely, I have no manners, and the palace has so many rules. I've been on edge all morning, and now that I finally have some free time, what, you won't even let me relax a little?"

Hearing this, Yin Hongchen smiled, then picked up the document on the table and carefully checked the terms. After confirming that everything was correct, she signed her name, affixed the Mingde Hall's exclusive seal, and took out one copy from the three copies of the document and put it in the filing cabinet.

There were three copies of the document. One was kept by Mingde Hall, one was to be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue for archiving, and the last copy was personally sealed by Ju Zi in the Imperial Palace Archives as a final backup. In case there were any problems with this batch of funds and the records of Mingde Hall and the Ministry of Revenue did not match, the final backup would come in handy.

In short... the operation of a great empire is not as simple as it seems. There are struggles between colleagues, and the bloodshed in the court is comparable to that of a battlefield. Behind every seemingly complicated rule lies a bloody lesson.

If controlling a large empire is this complicated, then the realm of gods is even more so. It is impossible to rule this world for long with only supreme cultivation. Without sufficient imperial wisdom, how can one control the gods below?

Don't think that offering subordinates generous benefits will guarantee their eternal loyalty... that's child's play. As the saying goes, "A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment." Simply using resources to buy people's hearts is not a long-term solution. The only true long-term solution is the right path!

Qin Yi didn't understand the core of the kingly way. He came to the Sun Moon Empire as an undercover agent under the identity of Bai Yu, mainly to learn from Xu Tianran and Ju Zi's kingly way.

Ahem, I've gone off on a tangent.

Going back to reality.

Just as Zhu Ningyu picked up the documents and was about to leave the office, Yin Hongchen suddenly called out to her.

"Cousin Baiyu, I've booked a private room at the Mingyue Hotel. This evening, some business partners from the Hongchen Family will be coming to celebrate your promotion. If you don't have any unavoidable business, I hope you can arrive early."

Yin Hongchen's attitude was very firm; she wasn't discussing it with Zhu Ningyu, but rather informing her in a commanding tone.

Zhu Ningyu may have climbed to Ju Zi's side through her own abilities, but in reality... without the background of the Hongchen family, even a pure-blooded citizen of the Sun Moon Empire could not have risen to such heights and become the Empress's bodyguard.

This is not a matter of background, but a matter of principle!

The Hongchen family shares the fate of the nation, and Xiao Hongchen is even engaged to Lin Yue, making them closely connected to the royal family. It is impossible for them to betray the Sun Moon Empire.

Even in a different Soul Master family, you wouldn't get this kind of treatment!

Since "Bai Yu" has enjoyed the benefits provided by the Hongchen family, he should accept the family's arrangements with a clear conscience.

Zhu Ningyu agreed without hesitation, perhaps... the identity of Bai Yu could help her climb higher.

Soon, it was evening, and "Bai Yu," dressed in a magnificent robe, entered the Mingyue Hotel. Led by a waiter, she pushed open the door to the No. 2 private room.

The private room was already packed, with almost all the important members of the Hongchen family present. Among the crowd, however, Zhu Ningyu spotted an unexpected figure.

That... is Prince Cheng of the Sun Moon Empire, the only son of the previous emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, and one of the second-generation Shrek in the original work, the source of destruction, He Caitou... oh no, it should be Xu He.

How did he end up here?

Zhu Ningyu felt relieved when she saw the girl next to Xu He who looked four or five parts similar to Meng Hongchen.

wrong!

Wasn't it supposed to be... a meeting with the Hongchen family's partners? How did it turn into an internal Hongchen family gathering? What kind of conspiracy is this? (End of Chapter)