Yes, Madam Prime Minister

Page 234

"Your Majesty, the situation on the empire is tense right now, and the continent is very unstable. Shouldn't this matter be put on hold?"

"This matter is too far-reaching; for now, we should focus on diplomatic issues."

"That's what I think too."

"Be careful."

"The Crown Prince is only eleven years old; we can discuss this again in a few years."

The department head started rambling and stalling. He may be a sycophant and shameless, but when it comes to matters of interest, they are all exceptionally clear-headed.

They really didn't want to see another Ronan, even if it was just a weaker, lower-tier version.

Such a queen is essentially a thorn in the side of the prime minister, thus diverting a portion of the prime minister's power to the king, which in turn means a portion of the power of the bureaucratic group is taken away.

How can they accept this?

Ambrina suddenly fell silent. Seeing that the king was not speaking, the ministers all turned their gazes to the current prime minister, Dinia.

At this moment, her attitude as prime minister is crucial.

"Whether considering the individual or the overall situation, I firmly agree with Your Majesty's idea. This is indeed the best thing. However, any good thing must have a good plan and good people. The matter can be settled, but it still needs us, your loyal and diligent ministers, to consult and conduct appropriate research. As the Prime Minister, I can only offer this suggestion for Your Majesty's reference."

Dinia sang a long and difficult sentence without any stumbles.

The nobles couldn't help but look at Ronan.

Ronan shook his head and shrugged, indicating that it really wasn't him who taught him.

The officials silently gave Dinia a thumbs-up, agreeing but not really agreeing, which was very bureaucratic.

At this moment, Ambrina clapped her hands. "Someone, tell the kitchen to prepare a midnight snack, and also go outside and summon a group of dancers." After speaking, Ambrina looked at the group of ministers. "Gentlemen, let's finish our discussion before we leave. If you feel tired, you can tell me and go outside to watch some dancing, have some tea to sober up, just don't leave the palace. Recently, the international situation has been tense, and foreign spies and assassins often appear in the capital. Late at night, you are all pillars of our country, and there may be danger."

Good heavens, good heavens! This means they don't agree and we're not allowed to leave!

"I'm going to sober up," Dinya said, getting up to leave first.

Ronan followed him.

Upon reaching the outer square, Dinia slowed her pace. "Aren't you afraid that things will descend into chaos within the palace?" She was the first to know about the late king's idea, even before Ronan and Ambrina, and she supported it. However, she felt that Ronan's approach was somewhat inappropriate.

"Isn't the palace in this country chaotic? The late king fell ill not long after ascending the throne, yet he still had dozens of lovers who frequently stayed overnight in the palace. The previous emperors were even more outrageous, with some even having affairs with other men's wives more than once. Only Anli and I have never done anything improper in the palace."

Ronan said.

He did have some wild ways; he and Ambrina had sex with Isabel, and Anri even used a double-headed dragon to penetrate her sister Isabel's anus.

"Stop trying to change the subject. I'm talking about how you're running a girls' school and treating these young girls as secretaries and candidates for queens." Dinia rebuked Ronan for trying to change the subject. "Don't think that girls in their teens won't be fighting amongst themselves. Women mature early."

“At least, this struggle can be confined to a school,” Ronan said.

Dinia sneered, "Ha, a man can't possibly love only one woman. A group of female secretaries are vying for the position of queen. The winner will naturally be the only legal wife, but what about the others? According to you, they will still stay in the inner court as secretaries, right? Won't they start fighting each other?"

“That’s right, but that’s exactly how it should be,” Ronan said. “Suppose the Queen is the head of the inner court secretaries and also the secretary-general of the Prime Minister’s Office. If the other inner court secretaries have no influence, wouldn’t her power be excessive? My arrangement is to have the other ‘mistress secretaries’ check and balance such a powerful Queen to some extent. In this way, the King can firmly become the arbitrator.”

If the "eunuchs" don't fight amongst themselves, what will become of them?

As for the fact that Ronan has no one to check him, that's a special case. And it's precisely because he himself is a special case that he can't let the next generation be a special case as well. Little Lu Xi'an, with his engineering nerd-like appearance, can he find a woman who loves him, has the means, and knows when to advance and retreat? Probably not.

Dinia sighed, almost convinced by Ronan, "Do we really have to do this at a time when war could break out at any moment?"

"If not now, are we going to wait until war breaks out?" Ronan retorted.

Dinia was silent for a moment, then said, "I am, after all, the Prime Minister, you understand."

“Understood, Didi,” Ronan replied with a smile.

He certainly understood that as the head of the civil service, Dinia had to side with the civil service, but she could go through the motions without actually putting in any effort.

It's very bureaucratic.

Chapter 532 Transaction, Face Change, Killing Someone by Destroying Their Spirit

After a while, everyone gathered together again.

Ronan gave Ambrina a look, and Ambrina immediately clutched her stomach, saying, "Ouch, my stomach hurts." Then, Ambrina left.

Seeing His Majesty the King leave, everyone understood that this was about to begin.

Ronan pulled Ambrina's chair over and plopped down, signifying that at this moment, he was no longer the Prime Minister's secretary, but the Crown Prince, the Marquis of Rhine.

"Everyone, I think we can put that question aside for now. I have a preliminary idea," Ronan began.

Another one of those immature ideas, is this ever going to end?

"I think there should be a retirement system for senior government officials. It's really inhumane to expect septuagenarians and octogenarians to keep working for the country."

Ronan said.

The Kingdom of Fas still retains a strong feudal tradition. Not only are most officials of noble birth, but the key issue is that high-ranking officials are almost on a semi-lifetime basis. Some were ministers when the former prime minister was in office, and some are still ministers now, which is very problematic.

It's not that they lack energy; after all, many of them are magicians. While they might not be as old and senile as Ronan or Dinia, they're certainly not senile. It's just that these old guys are somewhat out of touch with the times, blocking the path for ambitious young people and severely dampening the enthusiasm of lower and middle-level officials.

"I think a maximum term of six years is appropriate for ministers at the ministerial level. Are ministers so powerful? Let's just leave it at that once we've served our terms, gentlemen."

"However, after all, they are the most outstanding people in the country, and they should still contribute their remaining energy."

"How about we replace some of the members of the Election Commission with retired ministers instead of serving ministers? Also, we can appropriately expand the scope of the Election Commission. In the future, ministers will no longer be nominated by the Prime Minister and elected by the King, but will be nominated by the King and elected by the Election Commission. What do you think?"

Ronan gave a slap followed by a sweet treat.

These ministers would love to work until they die, so of course they don't want to retire. But if they could enter the election committee after retirement and still be elected as ministers, that would be a different story.

Of course, they also knew that ministers serve a maximum of six years, roughly three years per term, and that the king's nomination of ministers was actually a further strengthening of the king's own authority.

But does it matter? As long as they make money, that's all that matters.

"This is a matter of great importance and needs to be discussed carefully. Let's talk about selecting secretaries for His Majesty and the girls' school for training secretaries."

"That's right. I've thought about it carefully. The girls' school is beneficial to the country and the people. It's a very good thing."

"Indeed."

One after another, the ministers spoke.

They all understood that Ronan's proposal to retire and then join the election commission, followed by the expansion of the election commission's authority, was a deal. It could only be realized if he agreed to the girls' school proposal. Otherwise, Ronan would find another way to make them retire early and serve their remaining time in prison.

Having worked together for so many years, the ministers all knew all too well that Ambrina, the daughter, was not like the late king, but Ronan, the son-in-law, was very much like him. It was rumored that the late king had once told Ronan, "I really wish you were my son," and clearly, this was not a rumor.

Moreover, Ronan is even more capable than the late king. Although the late king was skilled in political maneuvering, he was rather inept at governing the country and did not have much support.

To give an example, the late king dealt with them by simply suppressing them, and it was quite a difficult task. But Ronan only needed to let out a hint, and a bunch of people would swarm up and oust their superiors.

"That's good."

Ronan nodded in satisfaction, finally managing to appease these bureaucrats.

As for the nobles, they already supported it, so there's no need to say anything more.

A little while later, Ambrina returned. After learning that everyone had made a decision, she said it was getting late and it was time to go back.

The banquet finally came to an end.

Ronan was dragged away from the palace by Count Marcus of Lorraine to go for a walk and sober up.

“Old Ma, you’re not young anymore, why bother?” Ronan didn’t say it outright, but his meaning was clear.

Marcus sighed, "I have no choice in this. I call myself an earl, but I'm really just a servant who serves other earls."

“You still have the nerve to come looking for me? What happened at the mine two years ago was really underhanded of you,” Ronan said.

In fact, Ronan didn't care. Who among his subordinates wouldn't want to abuse their power for personal gain? Marcus's methods were relatively aboveboard, within acceptable limits. Those who secretly embezzled and broke the law were Ronan's targets.

But not caring doesn't mean it can't be brought up.

“Afterwards, didn’t I just watch you build a steel mill in the West?” Marcus said with a smile.

"Heh." Ronan chuckled dismissively.

"So, you insist on choosing a commoner as a princess for the crown prince?" Marcus bluntly stated, "Actually, once a daughter is married off, it's hard to say she's still a daughter. I think you understand."

“But the relationship is still there, isn’t it?” Ronan countered.

“Sigh,” Marcus sighed.

Ronan waved his hand, "There's no need to be pessimistic. When the time comes, although the princess will be a commoner, the proportion of the other female secretaries will likely be noble girls. When a man is surrounded by a group of female secretaries all day long, something is bound to happen. And these noble lovers and secretaries will be your help, the nobles."

"I've really been used by you, and I should thank you," Marcus couldn't help but say.

While they provided assistance, their more important function was to serve as a tool for the king to consolidate power.

“No need to thank me. You are a noble servant, and I am a national servant. We are all servants, and we are brothers.” Ronan said with a smile, but then changed the subject, “There is another small matter. The international situation is tense right now. Go and have a good talk with those nobles. Don’t cause trouble at this time. I will not carry out any crackdown. I will just confiscate their property and exterminate their families under the charge of treason. It will be a good opportunity to take back the shares of those scoundrels in the state-owned enterprises.”

To quell external threats, one must first secure internal stability; Ronan did not want his countrymen to cause him trouble at this time.

“Do your best. You know, nobles are the most disobedient,” Marcus said.

“That’s not something I need to consider. The guillotine in the capital has faded, but the common people are all looking forward to it,” Ronan said, then changed the subject, “Let me give you a hint: the big target is the Rhine region. Who benefits from occupying it? You know.”

Occupying the Rhine region would naturally benefit Count Lorraine.

Marcus laughed instantly. "Ha, then let my old life burn with its last light. If anyone is undignified, I'll make them dignified."

“That’s more like it, old Ma.” Ronan smiled as well, but as he smiled, his eyes swept over him. “However, in a big forest, you’ll find all sorts of birds. I think there are always some nobles who aren’t exactly respectable people, don’t you think?”

Marcus instantly understood: Ronan was setting a quota for him—some nobles had to die.

Moreover, he had to act as a villain, pulling other nobles to agree and shouting "Good riddance!"

Even if you kill someone, you have to destroy their spirit too?

“It’s all settled. Karl will be transferred to the central government, and your third son will fill the vacant title.”

Chapter 533 Selection Method, The Silent Prince, Private Talk with Best Friends

Two months have passed since the last Wang family banquet, and it's now June.

Ambrina's secretariat has been assembled, with the experienced and reliable Mrs. Antari serving as the chief secretary of the inner court.

Meanwhile, a girls' school, renovated and rebuilt on the site of the old Igis orphanage which had been abandoned for more than 20 years, has been completed and enrollment has begun.

First, candidates are recommended from various regions, and then they undergo a unified examination and selection process in the capital.

The recommended standards can be considered either high or low.

Two things are required: first, one must possess magical talent; second, one's appearance cannot be bad; and third, one's academic performance must be good.

To ensure fairness, firstly, regardless of the city's population, each mayor and local church has one and only one seat.

Without a doubt, both of them are noble ladies.

Then, the unions and farmers' associations in each state allocated recommended numbers based on the population.

The union still recommends girls from noble families. The reason is simple: the kingdom's large enterprises are all state-owned enterprises, and nobles have shares in these enterprises. They cannot participate in the management of the enterprises, but is there a problem with manipulating things to get their own girls promoted? No.

However, Ronan had already spoken with a group of nobles: manipulation was allowed, but not everyone was permitted to do so.

Those who understand, understand; those who don't, if you get caught, then go to heaven and ask God for forgiveness.

On the other hand, the farmers' association would recommend even fewer genuine commoners. It's easy to guess that the farmers' association would definitely recommend the daughters of small landowners.

But generally speaking, most of the girls recommended were from relatively lowly backgrounds compared to the girls from the powerful noble families gathered in the capital.

Recommendations are just a prelude; the real selection process is still the exam.

Ronan chose his son's wife based on the standards he used to groom his successor.

This standard can be summarized as: well-rounded in both academics and physical activities, a beautiful woman and a top student.

In the afternoon, at the royal palace.

Having just finished taking stock of her personal belongings, Zhao Yingqi came outside to catch her breath. She was already thirteen years old and it was no longer convenient for her to live in the palace. In a few days, she would move to a small villa that Ronan had prepared for her.

Just then, Xiao Lüxian walked over and asked her, "Yingqi, are you going to that girls' school?"

Zhao Yingqi was somewhat surprised, "Ah, I'm thirteen years old." That girls' school only admits girls aged eight to eleven.

“If, I mean if you want, you can go in,” said Xiao Lüxian.

"I don't want to," Zhao Yingqi said directly.

Xiao Lüxian fell silent.

Zhao Yingqi sensed something was off about the prince and was about to leave when Xiao Lü Xi'an called her back.

"Are you moving away?" Xiao Lü asked.

“Yes,” Zhao Yingqi replied, finding the prince increasingly strange.