On the bed, after receiving the doctor's diagnosis, Rhodes IV fell asleep again.
As soon as the doctor came out of the bedroom, he was surrounded by a crowd. The eldest prince couldn't wait to ask: "How is father's health?"
Although Pope Ubli I gave Rhodes IV a three-month deadline for his death, that does not mean that Rhodes IV has completely lost his ability to act. As long as he can still handle government affairs, there is no need to activate an emergency plan.
"well..."
The doctor shook his head and sighed: "Your Majesty's mental condition is on the verge of collapse. He is awake for less than an hour every day. There is nothing I can do."
"Is there no other way?"
"No..."
Hearing this, everyone was silent. The king was critically ill, which was not a good thing for any kingdom, and also meant the beginning of turmoil.
"Your Majesty has been poisoned," Archbishop Liviu said suddenly.
"What? Poisoned?!"
The eldest prince's face suddenly changed, and he quickly asked: "What's going on? How could my father be poisoned?"
"In His Majesty's food, we found a soul toxin that we have never seen before." Archbishop Liviu said: "The soul toxin is extremely difficult to refine, and the formula is even rarer. The church that can refine the soul toxin is very rare.
The probability is that it is the Witch God Cult of the Voodoo Kingdom. I heard that they have a special magic potion called Soul Potion that can make the person who takes it die unconsciously."
"If my prediction is correct, what your Majesty took should be the soul potion. To be sure, I have sent people to extract the toxin and send it to the Witch God Cult for testing. The results will be available soon."
"Who is so bold! How dare you poison the king!" The eldest prince said angrily: "I must cut him into pieces!"
Archbishop Liviu smiled sinisterly: "Your Highness, don't worry. Poisoning the king is undoubtedly provoking the Holy See. We have hired Mr. Holmes to join forces with the Scotland Yard police and the witcher to investigate the matter. All the servants accompanying this trip are...
He is imprisoned and is always ready to be investigated... There is absolutely no way for the prisoner to escape."
Hearing these words, the second prince couldn't help but glance at the eldest prince. The murderer was appointed by the eldest prince. In order to poison the king, of course he would accompany him closely. He would definitely be suspected. Holmes was a famous detective. If he was dealt with
If not done properly...it may expose your behavior.
Do you want to expose Charles' despicable behavior?
The second prince thought in his mind that if he came forward at this moment and exposed Charles' poisoning, the king would definitely be in his pocket...
He was just afraid that Charles would bite him back!
Just when the second prince was hesitating, the eldest prince coughed as a reminder.
The second prince, who realized that it was his turn to take action, exchanged glances with Ma Wei. Under the latter's encouraging gaze, he mustered up the courage to say: "Everyone, the king is critically ill and unable to govern. In order to ensure harmony, I propose to activate the emergency plan in the constitution and elect
Make a new king!”
As soon as these words came out, Archbishop Brandon was obviously stunned, because according to the rules of the Kingdom of Windsor, after the death of the king or the activation of an emergency plan, the first heir is the eldest prince Charles, and the second one is his second prince.
.
If we activate the emergency plan at this time, wouldn't we hand over the throne to someone else?
"According to the Succession to the Throne Act promulgated last century, the order of succession to the throne should be determined by Parliament, not the king himself."
Mawei said: "In view of this, we should hold a comprehensive election and let the parliament decide who will become the next king."
"The Throne Succession Act?" The eldest prince sneered: "If you follow the rules in the Throne Succession Act, anyone born outside the Kingdom of Windsor, including naturalized persons, whose parents are Windsorians, will
He may not serve as an advisor to the Privy Council or a member of either House of Parliament, or hold any civil or military office. He or those in his trust may not enjoy the land and hereditary property granted by the king..."
"Nicholas, if you follow the "Act of Succession of the Throne", your status as a member of Parliament and Felix's title should not exist."
"Just delete this article." Archbishop Liviu said calmly: "Nicholas is a naturalized person licensed by the church. Their family should be treated equally and obtain all the rights and interests of citizens. Since His Highness the Grand Prince has moved out of the "Act of Succession of the Throne", then
Let’s change this rule, and I think the Pope will agree... Who is against it?”
There was silence in the hall.
Even though all the cabinet members were present, as well as many nobles in the House of Lords, no one dared to say a word "no".
The eldest prince's face was gloomy for a moment, but he quickly returned to his smile: "I agree with Archbishop Liviu's proposal. The Manstein family is our good friend, and we should accept them."
"Yeah yeah..."
"Your Highness is right..."
Amid the chorus of agreement, no one mentioned the fact that non-Windsorians were not allowed to serve as MPs anymore, and there was a high probability that they would not be mentioned again in the future.
Bills are made by people, and breaking the rules is also human. Ma Wei brought out the "Throne Succession Act" and demanded that the heir to the throne be determined through parliamentary elections. No one objected... The eldest prince wanted to object, but was blocked from the beginning.
Archbishop Liviu retorted.
The Manstein family was able to obtain citizenship of the Kingdom of Windsor because Mavey became the only potion dealer designated by the church. Similarly, Levin's knighthood was also meant by the church. The church could only use secular power to reward Manstein.
The Tann family.
To question the legitimacy of the Manstein family is to question the church's decision, and Archbishop Liviu certainly cannot agree with that.
"Activate the emergency plan...Does the cabinet have no objections?" Archbishop Liviu glanced at Winston and other cabinet members.
"His Majesty is unable to govern. Although the cabinet can act on his behalf, this is not a solution after all. Sooner or later, a new king will have to be elected..."
Prime Minister Winston sighed: "While the old king is still there, it is not a bad thing to elect a new king."
The situation is special and now is not the time to show loyalty. Even if the second prince does not say anything, the cabinet must consider activating the emergency plan.
As a member of the Conservative Party, Winston knows that it is in their best interest to activate the emergency plan at this moment. If it is delayed for three months, the situation will not know how it will change. The most important thing at the moment is to let the eldest prince sit on the throne as soon as possible.
"You can activate the emergency plan, but you have to wait until the church finds out who is behind it."
Archbishop Liviu smiled solemnly: "Of course we will not let the poisoner become the king. No matter who he is, he will have to pay the price for it!"
After saying that, Archbishop Liviu turned and left the palace. He was going to return to the Pope and report what had happened in the past half month. The old king, who had fallen ill on the bed and was still alive, had long lost his value and was nothing more than death.
The difference is that it is enough to send a bishop to guard it.
As soon as Archbishop Liviu left, Holmes arrived with the Scotland Yard police. They were ordered to investigate the poisoner, which was a piece of cake for Holmes.
The second prince who returned to Kensington Palace had been restless. He didn't know what was wrong. He was always uneasy and restless. When his wife saw his appearance, she said with concern: "Don't be sad for your majesty. This is
His life."
"No...I'm not thinking about my father. It's not the time to mourn now. The Pope said he still has three months."
Scratching his head, the second prince said anxiously: "I always feel that I have missed something, something crucial..."
The wife shook her head and returned to the house to rest with the child in her arms. The second prince sat alone on the sofa smoking and stayed up all night.
the other side...
"You said that the third prince has been acting strangely recently?"
At the grocery store, Ma Wei listened to Fat Orange's report and frowned: "Speaking of which, during the day, he was too insensitive to the sick old king, which is inconsistent with his straightforward personality."
"The third prince has been a lot lazy in the past half month or so."
Fat Jue said: "The third prince used to live in a military camp in the suburbs most of the time. He got up on time at 6 o'clock every day, drilled with the soldiers, and ate the same food as the soldiers. He was very prestigious in the army."
"But in the past half month or so, the third prince suddenly seemed like a different person. Not only did he move into a luxurious villa in London, but he also often indulged in drinking and sex behind his wife's back. His temper became irritable. He slept all day until noon and didn't wake up until noon.
Even his son Edie was beaten by him for making a mistake, and his wife had a big fight with him."
"Edie?"
Mawei narrowed his eyes. Of course he remembered the third prince's son Edie. Back then, the third prince wanted Edie to marry Yunia.
The third prince loved his son very much. Even the potion company he founded was named after Edie. There must be something fishy in his sudden change of temperament.
"When did the specific changes begin?"
"From the night you three discussed poisoning the king at Clarence House."
"Could it be that the third prince gave up on himself because he was too sad because his two brothers conspired to poison his own father?"
Turning his eyes, Ma Wei felt that that was not the case.
Are soldiers who solve problems when they encounter them and give up when they encounter setbacks?
From his insistence on getting up early every day to drill with the soldiers, it is easy to see that the third prince is a very smart person. He knows how to win over people's hearts and is not a simple-minded fool with well-developed limbs.
In this case...
"Do you still remember the magical pills produced by Bracken Potions Company?" Ma Wei said.
"A magic potion that can allow people to leave their bodies in a short period of time, I remember." Fat Orange nodded: "People with strong souls can even control other people's bodies... Do you suspect that the third prince is being controlled?"
"I suspect that the third prince is controlled by the eldest prince!"
Ma Wei said solemnly: "On weekdays, the third prince would travel with his escort, but the conversation that night was extremely private. The third prince was alone and left first. During the time when he left the villa, no one was there.
Knowing what's going on, there's a risk of being attacked."
"Is it because the eldest prince controls him for the sake of the army?"
Fat Orange said in surprise: "The third prince has a very high prestige in the Army Group Southwest of London! He is responsible for guarding the security of the capital! He can mobilize the army!"
"Yes, those generals trust him and are willing to obey his orders." Ma Wei said solemnly: "If he is really controlled by the prince, it is most likely for the army around London."
Although London is protected by the Church of the Three Destinies, the Church will not easily interfere in secular affairs. As long as the current situation is stable and the people will not complain.
As for who becomes the king, the church does not particularly care.
If the eldest prince loses the election, will he control the third prince to mobilize troops into the city and forcibly occupy the palace?
If that's the case...will the Holy See help?
Ma Wei felt unsure.
The second prince does have the support of Archbishop Brandon, but there are also people behind the eldest prince!
The Archbishop of Camberley is not a vegetarian either!
The strongest fighting force is undoubtedly the followers of the sin goddess Tilde, that is, the Archbishop Liviu faction, but the battle for the throne has nothing to do with the third prince.
Followers of Nande, the goddess of wealth...whose fighting power is far inferior to those of Wilder, the goddess of health. They are not the type of believers in fighting gods!
Of course, there is a high probability that the Pope will not allow "armed fighting" to occur within the church. If the Archbishop of Cambury does not move, Archbishop Brandon will definitely not move. In this way, whether he lives or dies depends on his personal destiny.
Nowadays, the eldest prince not only has the London Legion of the third prince in his hands, but also has the help of the Crowley family and other navies. The army and navy are all under his control. Once the war starts...
What is the difference between a second prince who has no army and a little chicken?
"The second prince is so lucky."
Fat Orange suddenly said: "He is much luckier than the eldest prince."
"how do I say this?"
"The second prince has your help." Fat Jue said: "You want to support the second prince to ascend to power. When he becomes the king, you will be reused. At that time, you will be able to break down the Liberal Party and the supporters of the first prince from within.
.”
"If the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party are compared to two big fish, then you are a sharp knife, cutting off their meat bit by bit and feeding it to the Labor Party that has not yet grown."
"When the Labor Party grows stronger and Arthur wins the hearts and minds of the people, you can stop pretending and overthrow the second prince's regime. Am I right?"
Ma Wei smiled and did not answer.
"In addition, in fact, the second prince cannot defeat the eldest prince at all. It was your arrival that changed the situation and gave the Liberal Party false prosperity. In fact, at the last moment, if you did not command the Royal Navy, the second prince would also face failure.
The ending...The eldest prince’s control of the third prince has done you a great favor.”
Under the moonlight, Fat Orange's back was particularly strong, and his slender eyes were unwavering: "You want the Army to launch a coup. Only in this way can the Royal Navy naturally replace the Army and become the defense force to guard London."
"The eldest prince thinks he controls the Royal Navy. In fact, the backbone of Toure Crowley and others will obey your orders, not him."
"Once the coup breaks out, the Royal Navy will immediately attack behind the Army and completely destroy the eldest prince's plan. In this way, the Royal Navy will receive the attention of the Second Prince, and the betrayed Army will lose the glory of defending the capital and be replaced by the Royal Navy.
"
"When the Royal Navy takes over the defense of London... the whole of London will become a piece of fat meat, and you can eat it whenever you want!"