The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Pei Yan calmly took two sips of tea.

"Your Highness need not worry. Although the matter of the Tan and Xiao families has not yet been dealt with after it was exposed, the Crown Prince's faction will surely be in danger and will scatter like monkeys when the tree falls."

"Although some members of the Consort's faction are dissatisfied, I have already arranged a counterbalance, so they cannot cause any trouble."

"Most of the ministers and officials in the six ministries of the court have already accepted the fact that His Highness is the new emperor."

"The rest of those who are sitting on the fence and watching will naturally submit to us after the coronation ceremony next month."

After hearing this, Zhou Di's tense shoulders visibly relaxed.

But he quickly sat up straight, looking serious and honest.

"Prime Minister Pei, I have a request."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"After I ascend the throne, I wish to appoint you as my Grand Tutor."

Pei Yan slightly raised his eyes. "Oh?"

Zhou Di met his gaze, his tone extremely sincere:

"This isn't just giving you an empty title, Prime Minister; I genuinely want to learn from you."

"Learn how to govern a country, learn how to manage people, learn how to be... an emperor who will not disappoint the people."

Pei Yan remained silent for a moment.

These words coming from a ten-year-old child were somewhat beyond his expectations.

Zhou Di didn't give him time to react and continued speaking.

"Furthermore, I do not intend to make things difficult for the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine."

"The Empress Dowager is old; let her live out her remaining years in the Cishou Palace."

"Although the Empress has made mistakes, my father did not issue an edict to depose her when he was alive. I cannot be too ruthless, so I will demote her to the rank of Dowager Consort and allow her to remain in the inner palace. The same applies to the Imperial Noble Consort."

"As for my brothers, those who have reached the age will be granted fiefdoms and made princes. The younger ones will remain in the palace to continue their studies."

Pei Yan paused in his tea-serving hand.

Ten years old, this child is only ten years old, yet he has such a broad mind.

He focused his attention and re-examined the small figure in mourning clothes in front of him.

"Your Highness, aren't you afraid that keeping these three noble women in the palace will cause trouble in the future?"

Zhou Di tilted his head and suddenly revealed a sly smile that seemed out of place for his age.

"Prime Minister Pei, as the saying goes, three women make a drama."

"The Empress Dowager dislikes the Empress, the Empress and the Imperial Concubine can't stand each other, and the Imperial Concubine is wary of the Empress Dowager. If I put them together, wouldn't that be a perfect way to check and balance each other?"

"They're too busy fighting amongst themselves to have any energy left to deal with me."

Pei Yan, who had been keeping a cold expression, couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly upon hearing these words.

interesting.

He put down his teacup, stood up, and solemnly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhou Di.

"Your Highness possesses profound wisdom and insight, which greatly pleases me. I accept the position of Grand Tutor."

Zhou Di's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up to return the greeting.

"Then... I'll have to trouble Prime Minister Pei."

"However, I have another request. If Your Highness truly wishes to win people's hearts, you might consider starting with the wrongful conviction case of the Marquis of Dingyuan's family."

Pei Yan, having enthroned the new emperor, naturally hoped for a fresh start both inside and outside the court.

This is the best opportunity to exonerate Murong Kui and Murong Sheng!

Zhou Di blinked.

Was there truly a miscarriage of justice in the case of Marquis Dingyuan?

Many of the recent rumors circulating in the capital have also reached the palace.

"In that case, after I ascend the throne, I will issue an order to reopen the investigation, but..."

"This is, after all, an ironclad case personally decided by Father Emperor. To overturn it, we must find a reason that can convince the public without damaging Father Emperor's reputation."

Pei Yan secretly admired the Eighth Prince, who was indeed very intelligent.

It seems he needs to find someone to take the blame for Emperor Zhaode.

He enjoys being around smart children.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I understand. I will certainly handle this matter properly."

As he left, Pei Yan paused slightly and looked back once more.

In the flickering candlelight, ten-year-old Zhou Di still stood upright, watching him leave.

Pei Yan then withdrew his gaze and stepped out of the side hall.

Heaven has shown mercy; he did not misjudge the person.

Inside the side hall, Pei Yan's footsteps faded into the distance.

Zhou Di maintained his upright posture for a moment, then suddenly leaned back and slumped against the back of the chair.

She let out a long breath and rubbed her face vigorously with both hands.

My heart is beating too fast.

When she was talking to Pei Yan just now, she had to tense up all her strength to avoid giving herself away.

She had heard that this man was difficult to deal with.

Zhou Di recalled the look in Pei Yan's eyes when he looked at her—calm, scrutinizing, insightful, as if he could see right through her from head to toe.

She cursed under her breath and then quickly took a few deep breaths.

Stay calm, stay calm.

Three years.

Three years ago, she woke up at her desk in the 21st century to find herself transformed into a seven-year-old child in ancient times!

At first, she thought she was a princess.

However, the next morning, Consort Hui dressed her up as a young prince and sent her to the Imperial Study.

Zhou Di still remembers feeling stunned, as if he had been hit by a hammer.

She was a woman who transmigrated into the body of a girl.

But this girl was raised as a boy by her own mother from birth.

Consort Hui came from a humble background and had no support in the harem.

In order to survive and avoid being bullied, she gritted her teeth and used all her money to bribe the midwife to keep the news a secret and raise her daughter as her son.

Anyway, since her rank was low, the emperor could only visit her palace a few times a year.

Zhou Di has been disguised as a man ever since.

After she figured out what had happened, her first reaction was—it's over, I'm doomed for life.

But after calming down, she realized... it wasn't entirely hopeless.

Before she transmigrated, she had always worked at the grassroots level. All the power struggles and factional infighting were ultimately just a game of interests.

She may not be a great hero who can turn the tide, but she is good at assessing situations and reading people's expressions.

So in those three years, she did three things.

First, study diligently. Learn as much as you can from classics, histories, philosophical works, and strategies for governing the country.

Secondly, he kept a low profile. He didn't compete or fight, didn't take sides, and didn't seek the limelight, so that everyone thought the Eighth Prince was honest.

Third, they persuaded Consort Hui to stay away. No matter which side tried to win her over, Consort Hui refused, saying that she and her son were incompetent and dared not get involved.

Her gamble was on the idea that when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.

Unexpectedly, she actually got what she was waiting for.

The crown prince fell, the third prince was implicated by his maternal clan, and the other princes were either dull-witted, unruly, or their maternal clans were too powerful.

Pei Yan chose her at first glance.

The reason is simple—no relatives by marriage, easy to control.

Zhou Di knew this perfectly well.

Pei Yan chose her not because he admired her, but because she was "not a threat".

A ten-year-old emperor without any maternal clan influence is best suited to be a puppet.

But what Pei Yan didn't know was that she had no intention of being a puppet.

However, she now needs Pei Yan, his abilities, his connections, and his control over the court.

At least before she took power, Pei Yan was her strongest support.

So she lowered her stance, took the initiative to become Pei Yan's apprentice, and made overtures to him. Whatever Pei Yan wanted, she gave him!

The sky outside was already beginning to lighten, with a faint glimmer of white appearing in the east.

Zhou Di took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

Throughout history, which female time traveler has ever had such good fortune?

He could become emperor at the age of ten!

So what if the Grand Secretary is powerful? As long as she uses both kindness and severity and demonstrates her talent for governing the country, she will naturally win over the people's hearts. Pei Yan will not be able to control everything.

She must secure this position.

As for the future... what if my identity is exposed, and what will I do when it's time to get married...?

What's there to be afraid of? Things will work themselves out. We'll see when that day comes!