[Republic of Vann]

[Champaign City/Field City]

[Imperial Consulate]

Melodious sonatas flowed from the string instruments and harpsichords in the southeast corner of the hall, waiters carrying heavy silver plates and crystal wine glasses moved around silently, and foreign affairs and intelligence activities were going on at the same time.

Since there are various receptions during the Alliance Conference, there will naturally be various intelligence activities. Whether it is the public opinion representatives of the republics or the foreign envoys coming from afar, they are all aware of this.

Each of them was part of an intelligence operation but avoided talking about it.

Each of them aspires to manipulate intelligence activities, yet all seek to contain it in one way or another.

For the dignitaries currently in the Saint-André Hall of the Imperial Consulate, the seemingly contradictory duality coexists in them in opposition and unity.

But there are also undercurrents simmering between alliance representatives and foreign envoys that are beyond reach.

At the edge of the banquet hall, two young people who didn't care about the reception were taking the opportunity to drink the unlimited wine provided by the Imperial Consulate...

"The Van people are not good at fighting, doing politics or doing business." One of the young men emptied his wine glass, wiped his mouth, and said happily: "Only in the matter of wine making, I will never say anything about them.

Bad words.”

The young man who made rude remarks without any scruples was short in stature, with almond-shaped eyes, a large forehead, and two tufts of mustache on his upper lip that clearly showed that he had been carefully maintained. There was a cynical smile on the corner of his mouth, but there was a look in his eyes.

He is as innocent as a child. There is always a strange sense of incongruity when wearing a gorgeous and exquisite dress on him, and he can't tell what is awkward about it.

By the way, he also generously wore a top hat with exaggerated decorations, even when he was indoors.

"Mr. Mawei, you haven't answered me yet!" Another young man drank a glass of wine and immediately picked up another glass of wine, burped, and asked curiously: "Why do you want to humiliate the emperor?"

…

[three months ago]

[Eternal City]

[Brothers Theater]

"Romulus and Remus" is in Act 2, Scene 5.

"Romulus and Remus" is the most popular new play in the imperial capital, and the Bo Brothers Theater is almost full. Whether high-ranking officials or noble ladies, it is fashionable to watch this play live.

The success of this play also made the playwright Ma Wei, who was only slightly famous in a small circle, rise to fame.

In the fourth scene of the second act, Romulo has just killed his twin brother Remus. After a brief stage adjustment, the second curtain opens again, and the following fifth scene is entirely Romulo's monologue.

I saw the actor who played Romulo pull out the dagger from his brother's corpse, slowly walked to the center of the stage, stared at his bloody hands, raised his head, and looked sad:

"Listen! The night owl is crying. It is tolling its death knell and saying a sad good night to people. My twin brother lies there quietly, with life and blood flowing out of his body. I killed him,

It was I who thrust the dagger into his chest with my own hands."

"Can all the water in the sea wash away the blood on my hands? No, I'm afraid the blood on my hands will dye the boundless blue sea water into a bright red."

Having said that, Romulo lowered his head again.

Usually when this part of the performance is reached, the audience will always give some response. For a small theater like Bo Brothers Theater where the stage and the stage are only an arm's length away, the interaction between the audience and the actors is an important part of the performance.

However, there was silence in the audience today.

Romulo stood on the stage for a moment, then suddenly took a deep breath, threw away the dagger in his hand, tore open his clothes, and shouted impassionedly:

"But would I be ashamed of it? But would I feel guilty of it? But would I regret it?"

"No! Never! I will never feel ashamed, guilty or regretful about this."

"If a person is slightly hurt, he will seek revenge; if a person is seriously hurt, even if he wants revenge, he can't do anything. When I take the crown of Remus, I must kill him. Because either don't do it or do it.

Just do it!"

"Even if it happens again, I will never spare Remus' life!"

The actor who played Romulo was fully committed and gave the audience perhaps the best performance of his career.

However, after the sonorous and powerful monologue ended, not only did the audience not burst into cheers, but it became even quieter.

Audiences who have watched this play have discovered that what the actors just recited were not the original lines.

The original line was supposed to be Romulo's regret, pain and despair for killing his twin brother, creating a tragic image of having to kill his brother.

This is definitely not today’s cold confession of “either don’t do it or do it”!

Theater owner Richard Bo, who was sitting in the first row of the auditorium, was soaked in cold sweat. His knees were shaking unconsciously, and his neck and back were so stiff that they were numb. He wanted to turn his head and look behind him, but he didn't dare.

any action.

Generally speaking, in the Eternal City, where citizen culture is well developed, discussing royal secrets is not a serious crime. Even since written records, the residents of the Eternal City have taken pleasure in arranging the things under the belts of emperors, queens and lovers. Throughout the ages,

The emperors also turned a blind eye, because they knew that imperial power could not silence the citizens. If they really broke up, they would only be humiliated even more obscenely.

That's why a play like "Romulus and Remus", which is obviously alluding to the reigning emperor, is popular among nobles and common people alike.

But what happened today went far beyond the scope of "joking".

Because the supreme emperor of the empire is currently sitting in the box on the second floor of the theater facing the stage.

…

The young man who asked the question was thinner and much younger than Ma Wei, and his voice was still childish. He looked like a young man from a noble family who had just entered the social scene. But his hair was messy and the fabric of his clothes

Although it is good, it is wrinkled and very untidy.

After hearing the other party's question, Ma Wei, who had already picked up another glass of sweet wine, put down his glass, suppressed his smile, and corrected the other party seriously: "Mr. Aaron, I have never humiliated the emperor. In fact, I am His Majesty's most loyal and fanatical

Admirer. I think His Majesty will eventually become the greatest emperor in the history of the Empire."

The questioner, known as Aaron, frowned and looked at Ma Wei for a while, trying to tell whether the latter was lying.

Unfortunately, no evidence of lying was found. Aaron seemed a little discouraged, but soon raised a new question: "How to explain the change of scene on the spot? Isn't it a deliberate humiliation?"

"So what if I change my play on the spot?" Ma Wei was confused: "I often change my play on the spot."

"Then that... then why did you change it to that way?"

Ma Wei picked up the wine glass and replied proudly: "I just told the truth."

"True?" Aaron was a little angry.

"Otherwise?" Ma Wei asked back: "Do you think His Majesty will feel pain and regret for executing Archduke Karl?"

"You don't know the emperor, how do you know there is no emperor?"

Ma Wei laughed: "Do you know His Majesty well enough to know that His Majesty has regretted it?"

Aaron was speechless. After a while, Aaron said unconvinced: "If the emperor is given another chance, he will definitely forgive his brother."

"Why do you have such childish thoughts?" Ma Wei showed a sympathetic smile: "Your Majesty executed Archduke Karl because Archduke Karl must die."

"Why?"

When asked about his itching, Ma Wei simply put down his wine glass, pulled Aaron to sit down at the table, and asked a series of overwhelming questions: "Do you know how many important palace ministers supported Karl during the war of succession to the throne?"

Grand Duke? How many local princes support Archduke Karl? What kind of difficult situation is His Majesty facing?"

Aaron couldn't answer it at all.

"Let me tell you!" Ma Wei was very interested, asking and answering questions: "At the beginning of the war, the important officials in the palace were almost all on the side of Archduke Karl. Of the seven electors, three supported Archduke Karl's accession to the throne, and three stood on the fence and did not express their stance.

The only one who openly supports His Majesty is the Duke of Lothair.

As for the nobles in robes who fled from the south, they all supported Archduke Karl wholeheartedly because they believed that only Archduke Karl could lead them back, and His Majesty, who had no choice but to borrow money from the southern rebels to pay military salaries, was not worthy of trust.

What a crisis and desperate situation it was! However, His Majesty used all kinds of tactics and made every step of the way to finally reverse the defeat and turn defeat into victory. What a glorious and legendary victory it was! Sooner or later, I must write a novel based on His Majesty’s experience.

A long epic..."

Ma Wei was very excited when he spoke, and Aaron was confused.

After a while, Aaron sorted out his thoughts and asked: "Of course I know that the emperor's victory is great, but what does this have to do with the death of Archduke Karl? Didn't Archduke Karl surrender?"

"Humph." Ma Wei sneered: "It is true that Archduke Karl surrendered, but it does not mean that others are willing to surrender. As long as Archduke Karl is still alive, sooner or later there will be traitors who are unwilling to fail and want to rescue him; as long as Archduke Karl is still alive, sooner or later,

There will be traitors who will rebel in his name.

The fact that Archduke Karl is alive means that anyone who is dissatisfied with His Majesty's rule has another choice. So instead of leaving hidden dangers, it is better to kill him and end it completely. Therefore, Archduke Karl must die, and this has nothing to do with His Majesty's subjective wishes.

, but a necessary choice to defend the imperial power."

Aaron was speechless. After a moment of silence, Aaron whispered: "The emperor is actually a very gentle person. He can also laugh and be happy, but people don't understand him..."

"Tenderness, kindness, these weak emotions are reserved for people, not the emperor." Ma Wei interrupted the other party impatiently, his cheeks flushed, and he said energetically: "As the supreme authoritative monarch of the empire, the emperor

It must transcend ordinary people. Morality, religion, and law are all things that restrain the subjects, but should not be used to restrain the emperor. The emperor must abandon those shackles and use power skillfully and decisively like a skilled swordsman wielding a sword.

Only by fulfilling the duties of a monarch can one achieve immortal greatness.

In my opinion, Your Majesty is the most ideal monarch. He is not afraid to use any necessary means. People insult Your Majesty as an 'oath breaker', but I regard 'oath breaker' as a kind of praise. And I temporarily

The revised scene is the most ardent hymn dedicated to His Majesty!"

Aaron was stunned and couldn't answer the question at all.

After finishing the long speech in one breath, Ma Wei picked up the wine glass and drank it cleanly. Then he cleared his throat and added: "Your Majesty must also understand me! You see, he didn't punish me, right? If Your Majesty wants me,
To be continued...