Chapter 1090: If It Were Me

"Red wine eel, duck confit, apple pie, onion soup, braised potatoes... hmm... and two portions of crème brûlée!"

Summoning the waiter waiting outside, she recited a string of dish names like a connoisseur, then handed the menu to Li Ang, smiling brightly as she said:

"Though the names sound very ordinary, this restaurant's dishes are all excellent. I highly recommend you try them... Is there anything else you're particularly interested in?"

"No need."

Glancing at the prices marked in cursive on the menu, Li Ang, feeling a toothache, shook his head and said:

"What you've ordered is already enough, let's just have these... By the way, what's wrong today? Why did you suddenly invite me to dinner?"

"Of course, because I missed you~"

Hearing Li Ang's question, the Princess, now seated opposite him, blinked, leaned her upper body slightly forward, her full chest pressing gently against the table, then rested her cheek on her hand, her smiling eyes curving as she said:

"That's how young lovers in the throes of passion are; they can't bear to be apart for even a moment. I'm no exception~"

"..."

Leaning back slightly to avoid her, then reclining against the chair, Li Ang said with a headache:

"Can't you just speak normally..."

"Sure~"

Hearing Li Ang's request, the bright smile on the Princess's face dimmed slightly; her beautifully curved spine instantly straightened, her swan-like neck lifted slightly, and she spoke calmly and dignifiedly:

"Your Highness the Prince, in the name of the First Princess Veronica, I order you: do not fight me for my favorite red wine eel. Also, once the apple pie arrives, you must cut it into small pieces with your own hands, spear a piece with a fork, and feed it to me, piece by piece. Do you understand?"

"..."

Pretend I never said that...

Having no real way to deal with the Princess's playful scolding and teasing, and knowing that continuing would only invite more harassment, Li Ang could only proactively change the subject:

"What do you plan to do about the Military Department? So many people oppose it, even openly storming the Prime Minister's residence and throwing stones at you. Are you still going to push forward with that so-called Elimination Order?"

Hearing Li Ang's question, Princess Veronica paused slightly, then withdrew the amusement from her eyes, gave a soft "hmph," and said:

"Of course I will still push it forward. Why not do the right thing? In fact, the ranks of Colonel, Commandant, and Officer aren't enough. Once this round of elimination ends, I will even move against the General rank above them!

The Kingdom's Military Department has been rotten for far too long. Merely moving some mid-to-low-level officers is insufficient to change the status quo. If we don't take this current opportunity to replace a batch of energetic new blood, then no matter how much reform I and the Minister of Defense implement, it will all be nothing more than superficial patchwork."

Planning to move even higher?

Looking at the Princess's eyes, which shimmered with an inexplicable light, Li Ang pondered for a moment, following her train of thought.

The Kingdom's military system is complex when broken down, but broadly speaking, similar to the civil service ranks of Chief Administrator, Administrator, Clerk, Assistant, and Clerk, it can be viewed from top to bottom as Marshal, General, Colonel, Commandant, and Officer, five ranks.

If the Marshal is the head of the Military Department and the Generals are its bones, then the Colonels, Commandants, and Officers are its flesh, muscles, tendons, and skin.

The Princess wants to use the Parliament to eliminate those semi-hereditary lower three ranks of officers; this is truly no different from stripping flesh and pulling tendons. Naturally, the vested interests of the Military Department will not remain silent. It is even possible that the incident of officers storming the Prime Minister's residence was tacitly approved.

"Are you sure you can push it through?"

Stirred by a bit of curiosity by the Princess's answer, Li Ang, suppressing his growling stomach, asked with some interest:

"Although the Parliament also hopes to restrict noble power, your Elimination Order is essentially pulling the roots out from under the nobles. They will fight back desperately. Will the Prime Minister and the House of Commons stand on your side?"

"Indeed, they won't. Most members of the House of Commons are profit-driven. They neither intend nor have the ability to interfere in the Military Department. For issues without direct benefit, whoever offers more benefits is the side they will support."

After answering Li Ang's question, the Princess, equally curious, asked in return:

"Li Ang, are you also interested in such political exchanges?"

"Not exactly interested. Since we're talking about it, I just asked along the way." Is that so?

Seeing Li Ang's expression, the Princess's eyebrows lifted slightly.

She thought: "You probably found a very serious topic to avoid being teased by me again, forcing me to act serious, right? Then you're thinking too much."

"Alright. Since it will be a while before we eat, I'll talk about it too."

Having vaguely guessed Li Ang's plan, the Princess first blinked cunningly, then lowered her head slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she said:

"Thanks to my good Prince, I am currently the one in charge of the Military Department, so naturally I must seize this opportunity to do something meaningful.

That way, if I fail to coax some little man and he suddenly regrets it and leaves me, at least I'll have a brand-new Military Department to show for it, so I won't have been bullied by him for so many days for nothing~"

"..."

Hearing the Princess's words, the corner of Li Ang's mouth twitched involuntarily. He then pointed a finger at his own nose and said:

"I... bullied you? Before you say such things, can you first touch your own conscience?"

"Let me try."

Hearing this, the Princess blinked, pressed her hand lightly in front of her heart, causing a surge of waves in her chest, then sighed softly and said:

"It's too thick. I can't reach it."

"..."

"You staring at me like that, do you want to help me find my conscience?"

"I won't look for it!"

"Oh~"

Seeing Li Ang opposite her, slightly embarrassed, closing his eyes for a moment and not knowing where to look, Princess Veronica couldn't help but chuckle softly. However, to avoid provoking Li Ang's anger, she stopped teasing him, sat up straight again, and began to explain seriously:

"In short, I must push the Elimination Order through.

Among the Kingdom's 37 Generals, 31 are of noble birth. More than half of the Colonels are also nobles. To them, the Military Department's regulations are not necessarily more effective than their family heads' orders.

Only by replacing a large portion of these people, ensuring the Military Department's regulations can be smoothly transmitted, can I truly take control of the Military Department, and thereby force the Parliament to make concessions, getting the House of Commons and other departments dominated by nobles to yield... Li Ang, what do you think?"

"I think... it's quite good."

Some vague feeling told him that the Princess wasn't asking about state affairs, but rather what he thought of her "conscience." Li Ang could only keep a straight face and try to steer the conversation back:

"Political power grows from the barrel of a gun. Securing the Military Department first before pushing other reforms is indeed the most stable choice."

Eh?

After slightly savoring Li Ang's evaluation, the Princess's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, then she nodded and said:

"That's quite... hmm... My first contact with the Minister of Defense was also based on this consideration... Li Ang, let me ask you: if you were to become this Princess, what would you do?"

What would I do?

Seeing the princess lean forward involuntarily, her eyes holding a hint of expectation as she waited for an answer, Li Ang instinctively glanced at her conscience, then curled his lips and said:

"As for me, I would probably assemble a squad of guards, storm the palace, and force your father to immediately surrender the throne. Anyone who dares to object would be hanged... Oh, and I'd also throw your brother across the sea and marry him off to a nest of female monkeys!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)