In Kongming Palace, in Zhan En's room, Thales sat in the main hall, silent.
"Doyle's, have you finished checking the food?"
Zhan En's voice sounded coldly, without concealing his disgust and impatience:
"I wonder if there is poison in it? Is there a note stuffed with a message?"
Behind Zhan En, in the side hall opposite, D.D held cutlery in his hands and lifted his face from the plates on the table.
"Ah? Oh - it's almost done. It's almost done."
Doyle's mouth was full of oil. After hearing this, he gave Zhan a vicious look, then scooped up a large spoonful of mashed potatoes from the messy dinner plate and bit into his mouth, as if he was going to crush the spoon:
"Please wait a moment. After all, you are the Grand Duke and a big shot! Your status is noble and important. If something happens, hey, I, who come from a small family in Jinghe River, cannot afford to live in a shabby place - why don't you just have some fun first?
My little stuffed bear to keep me from getting bored?”
Zhan turned his head to look at the stuffed bear on the dining table and pursed his lips in disgust.
He suppressed the burning sensation in his stomach and looked at the clock again:
It's been an hour since meal time.
Over there, D.D ate another bite of roasted meat, not forgetting to let out a sigh of admiration.
The Duke of Southbank finally had enough:
"Is this how you inspect meals for Your Highness?"
"Hey, you're right!"
D.D took a bite from left to right, not forgetting to feed the little bear on the table ("Why are you such a picky eater? No wonder you don't grow up! Tsk tsk, if you don't want to try it first, how will the Duke eat it? Be good, open your mouth, ah)
Ahh..."):
"I was like that back then - cough, sorry, I'll be fine soon."
D.D fainted mid-sentence under Thales' sudden attack without any warning.
Doyle bowed his head obediently, put down his - or rather Zhan's - meal, and hid far away.
Zhan and Thales looked at each other, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed, falling into suffocating silence.
"that's too regretful."
Zhan En sighed softly.
"You must know that my father and I both relied on him very much - Lord Brennan passed away, and the Emerald City's sorrow cannot be filled."
Thales sat quietly and did not answer. The glass full of wine was placed in his hand, but he did not take a sip.
"Promise me, catch the murderer and bring justice."
"Of course," Thales said softly, "If I can wait until that day."
Zhan nodded.
"What's going on in the Emerald City?"
"Worse."
Thales raised his head with cold eyes:
"More than a dozen large business groups have united to see me and begged me to take measures - the market disorder and price instability have begun to affect their income and future plans.
"The Emerald Legion paid their salaries on time, and it was finally stable. However, another group of Construction Department officials who had received the news and knew that they might be owed wages were very dissatisfied. Some people planned to make a big news during the celebration - but they were discovered in time.
We are still negotiating.”
"Oh?" Zhan gracefully picked up a glass of wine to satisfy the hunger in his belly.
"Trouble has happened again in the Blood Bottle Gang. The gangs are fighting, chaos is happening on the streets, and it is gradually beginning to affect ordinary citizens. The legend of the water ghoul is spreading again...
"In addition, the morale of the trial hall is low. There has been a backlog of security cases recently, and the prison is almost full. There are only a dozen prisoners in one room. The police department complains every hour, saying that it is about to become a gang branch. And their control effect is limited.
"The head of the Building and Construction Department happened to be ill, and his deputy couldn't make up his mind. The order to cut expenditures and reduce administration was delayed, and once I got angry and wanted to replace him..."
Thales snorted coldly:
"As for the Financial Secretary and the City Hall, they are still arguing. It seems that if they just shrink their heads and kick the ball to others and throw the responsibility to other departments, the matter will be over and the problem will be solved by itself."
Regardless of the overwhelming flood outside, one day it will eventually flood you.
Thales thought so and was in a bad mood.
After listening to this long list, Zhan En nodded slightly, and then laughed out loud.
"That's a bunch of assholes, right?"
Thales looked at him.
I saw Zhan En shaking his wine glass and sighing with emotion:
"At first they obeyed orders and seemed loyal, which made you quite satisfied as the master, thinking that they could perform their duties and help you rule smoothly.
"But soon, you will find that they will make problems in almost every possible link - the smallest details - whether intentionally, unintentionally, self-interested, or following the trend, just like Bores can always find gaps and hollows in buildings to build their nests and settle there.”
Zhan En’s eyes tightened:
"So as time went on, it became mottled from top to bottom, with flaws and loopholes everywhere, and even if you tried your best, you could only patch it up and paste it here and there.
"In fact, many times, you can only be led by their pretentiousness and cunning schemes. Even if you know about it, you can't act on it.
"In the end, you find that even if you sit at the highest place, you can only adapt to this system, the operating principle and general direction of this machine, try to draw as much as possible from it, try to use the parts that can still be used, take advantage of the situation, go with the flow, but you are unable to turn back. sky."
After Zhan finished speaking, he was silent for a long time and looked at Thales.
But the prince just looked at him quietly and didn't reply.
Zhan lowered his head, thought carefully for a while, and suddenly sighed, as if he had made some decision.
"That's all, I'm going to write a letter right now." The Duke put down his wine glass, walked to the desk, sat down, and picked up a pen. "You can take it to the Popon family who are engaged in the funeral industry. They owe Kevin Dill. After receiving the letter, I will withdraw ten thousand gold coins from you. Of course, if you are charming enough, you may be able to get more."
Thales' eyes moved.
"Why."
"Please use this money to bury Mr. Brennan properly, and make sure he has a peaceful death, so that the people of the Emerald City can be at peace." Zhan didn't even raise his head, just wrote quickly, "You can use the rest to fill the financial deficit. , to tide over the difficulties for the time being.”
Speaking of this, Zhan En's eyes moved:
"Also, get rid of that Lausanne II. I don't want to see him killing people and demanding lives on my territory again, and he is lawless."
Thales picked up an untouched wine glass and rubbed it gently, but his eyes were locked on the other person.
"But if I don't bring your letter and go ask them for money myself, or even borrow money," he said sarcastically, "then I won't be able to even beg for a copper, right?"
"That's not necessarily true," Zhan En said without raising his head, not anxious or annoyed, "Maybe if you show the ancient imperial sword that Old Bones of the Western Wasteland gave you, they will agree to it?"
Thales sneered.
"Huge debt, declining market, disordered prices, poor public security, renegade bureaucracy, and the Emerald City in chaos," Thales counted one thing in a harsh tone, "Ten thousand gold coins can
What's the matter?"
"That's your problem," Zhan kept writing, but turned his attention to the guest, "Regent Thales?"
Thales just played with the wine glass and remained silent.
"As a city lord, do you really know Brennan?"
Zhan En frowned slightly.
Thales thought of the suicide note and sighed with emotion:
"His last wish was to be buried lightly, with no tombstone or writing. The simpler, the better. Even his ashes were scattered into the sea."
Zhan's writing stopped.
"I see, it's a sparse burial and frugality."
He put down his pen, frowned and looked at his half-written letter, his eyes fixed on the phrase 'lush burial'.
After a few seconds, Zhan En sighed, picked up the pen again, and continued writing.
"It doesn't matter, I will still write this letter, and you can still use it to get the money. Even if there is no funeral, Brennan died unexpectedly, and people are panicked. Whether it is the trial hall or the entire Emerald City officialdom, you need to be comforted."
Telspi is smiling but not smiling:
"So, if a few more people die, Emerald City's debt can be solved?"
Zhan hummed and shook his head:.
"I believe you know who killed Brennan and who is eager to add fuel to the flames and use you as a puppet."
"Brennan committed suicide."
Thales' words made the tip of Zhan's pen tremble.
"In his study, he drank poisonous wine."
"Wasn't he killed? Or was he forced to commit suicide?" The Duke of Nan'an frowned in suspicion.
"He also left a suicide note," Thales ignored the other party's doubts. "A suicide note full of regret and pain, condemned by conscience, and admitting that the case was wrongly concluded."
When the prince said this, he raised his head, his eyes like daggers, looking directly at the duke:
"Including the case files and evidence of the old Duke's assassination."
Zhan En's expression remained normal, he started writing again and signed the signature.
But Thales kept staring at him, his eyes burning.
"Zhan, tell me now, what exactly happened back then," he said softly, but with great strength, "before I have to pursue it and the truth comes to light?"
Zhan was silent for a while.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
His attitude cooled down and he was uncompromising:
"Get to the bottom of it, complete the arbitration, and arrest me in prison - a real prison. I heard that the interior of the Prison of Bones is quite grand..."
Thales smiled.
"It's come to this point, but you still won't let go. It seems that this is the crux of the problem."
"And you bite this issue to death until you bite it to pieces and dig out the so-called truth you want. Then what?" Zhan at the desk suddenly raised his head, "Let me destroy the Emerald City together? So that you can
To rise again from the ruins and achieve great achievements as an emperor?"
After saying this, both of them were quiet for a while.
Thales looked at the wine glass, worried.
Zhan looked at the tip of the pen, his eyes fixed.
"You can keep the Emerald Legion."
Zhan En came back to his senses and couldn't help but wonder:
"What?"
Thales took a deep breath and put down the wine glass heavily.
"I said, you don't have to hand over military power to the royal family - of course, you still have to give up the right to recruit compulsory soldiers on the surface, but anyway, the recruitment system on the south coast is in name only, so you won't lose much."
Zhan En frowned and said tentatively:
"uh-huh?"
"Yongxing City will not interfere in the appointment and dismissal of bureaucrats, at least not too much. Of course, in this situation, their interference will only cause chaos."
"that's all?"
"Other conditions remain the same - I can ask Federico to stay away from you and not stay on the south bank to cause trouble for you."
After Thales calmly stated the conditions, he looked at Zhan.
The Duke was silent for a long time, his eyebrows trembling slightly.
Finally, he took a breath and said seriously:
"Feder, he will not give up willingly."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"Then he has to get through me first."
Zhan En hummed softly and pondered for a moment:
"What about taxes?"
Thales sighed in his heart.
Damn it.
Could he not be so sensitive about digital accounts?
"The officials under Mr. Qiuke Man are very professional," Thales said bravely, "I believe they will work with your staff to come up with a plan that takes into account fairness and efficiency and is in the interests of all parties..."
Sure enough, before he finished speaking, Zhan En sneered.
"You know this isn't what I want."
"But you know this is what he wants," Taylor emphasized. "Deal?"
Zhan stared at him.
"Wait a few more days before coming back," he said, which greatly disappointed Thales. "Perhaps at that time, because of the changes in Emerald City, you will make a better proposal?"
Thales' expression turned cold.
"Zhan," the prince leaned back, "my patience has its limits."
"What a coincidence, so is the Emerald City."
Negotiations broke down.
Thales looked at Zhan with firm eyes and sighed deeply in his heart.
The room became quiet again, and for a while the only sound was the rustle of Zhan's letter.
"Brennan shouldn't die like this." After a long silence, Thales suddenly spoke.
Zhan En had a meal:
"It really shouldn't be."
"He is a good man, a good husband, and a good father." Thales thought of the other party's suicide note and was slightly lost in thought.
"Also a good judge." Zhan added.
"He shouldn't have died in a meaningless political turmoil and official strife." Thales shook his head and sighed.
"Otherwise, politics itself is the meaning," Zhan En said without raising his head. "Whether it is strife or unity, it is just a process."
Thales shook his head, disapproving.
"This is the price you have to pay in order to bring together a large group of people who have different thoughts and are incompatible with each other to move towards the same destination," Zhan En continued, "helpless, ruthless, powerless, and pointless.
"
Zhan En picked up the melted fire paint and looked at the prince:
“But it’s necessary and realistic.”
After saying this, the Duke lowered his head and put the letter into the envelope.
Thales frowned deeply.
Necessary and realistic?
Unknowingly, the sense of oppression and urgency that could only be felt in the Fuxing Palace appeared on him again.
"I want to give up my seat to Hilley."
"Then more - what do you want?"
Zhan En was taking care of the envelope, his expression changed when he heard this, and he suddenly looked up!
Thales took a deep breath and felt like he had just broken something in this room.
"I said that I have to govern the city as well as investigate and arbitrate cases, but I really don't have the skills to do it." The prince said seriously, like a diplomat, "So I decided to let Miss Cecilia participate in political affairs, and maybe go further.
, take over as the city lord - after all, the Emerald City has been named Kevin Dill for generations, and I shouldn’t overstep the boundaries of emotion and reason."
The more Zhan listened, the worse his expression became.
"Then you use my safety as a condition," he said coldly, "and leave the unsustainable problem of Emerald City to her?"
Thales shrugged, noncommittal.
"Then she will come to me and force me to give in," Zhan continued with a sneer, "or even worse, she will bite the bullet and beat her head to pieces with her own strength, even if she has to dance erotically.
"
"Maybe." Thales' heart sank as he thought of Hilley's appearance.
The two were silent for a while.
"This must be his idea, right."
Zhan's tone was cold and he did not say his name, but both of them knew who "he" was referring to.
"This is just a proposal, I'm still considering it," Thales looked at the other party and emphasized the second half of the sentence, "You know, weigh the pros and cons."
Zhan raised his eyes and breathed faster.
"I want to see Heeley, now."
The opponent's performance moved Thales's heart.
"Your Excellency, as far as I know, you are under arbitration investigation," he said in a business-like tone. "To avoid suspicion, you do not see outsiders."
Zhan frowned.
"real?"
He was half rhetorical, half threatening.
"Yes. And the Emerald City is busy saving itself and stabilizing order," Thales raised his eyebrows, "You know."
The light in Zhan En's eyes flashed away.
He sneered.
"I thought you were smart, Thales."
"Oh, what do you say?"
Zhan picked up the pen again, was silent for a while, and continued writing.
"When he was a child, Feder broke a precious prophecy artifact and blamed it on the young Heeley. Then he stood aside and watched to see if I would stand up and take responsibility for her..."
Thales' expression changed slightly.
"If I admit my fault, it means that I behaved frivolously and destroyed the family property; if I allow Shire to be punished, it means that the eldest brother's guardianship is not good; if I plead that Federico did it, then it means that the eldest brother is weak and shirks the responsibility.
Young brother..."
Zhan En looked sharply:
"And no matter which step I take, the entire family will be disappointed in their eldest son."
After hearing this version of the story, Thales thought for a long time.
"You are like a chess piece now, Thales. You can do whatever he wants you to do."
"But you don't realize," Zhan said sarcastically, "according to Federico's chess strategy, no matter how you move, you will lose."
After hearing this, Thales nodded silently.
"You and Federico, and maybe Shiley, probably don't have 'back' and 'concession' in your dictionary of Kevin Deere," he sighed softly, "or in other words, you think these words can only be
Appears in other people's dictionaries, right?"
Zhan En snorted coldly.
"You promised me, Thales," the Duke stared at Thales closely, "no matter how ugly things develop, Hilley will never be involved."
Thales' eyes dimmed.
"Then consider my proposal again," the prince said softly, "just as I am considering his proposal."
Zhan was silent for a long time.
"I thought you were a good person before," Zhan said expressionlessly, "it seems I was wrong about this too."
Thales shrugged.
"If I want to bring together a large group of people - or just two people who have their own thoughts and are incompatible with each other - to move towards the same destination," Thales shot back, "then maybe I have to pay the price.
?”
"Reality," the prince stood up and prepared to leave, "is also necessary."
Zhan En didn't speak, he just took the fire paint step by step, poured it on the envelope, and started to seal it.
Thales stopped delaying and turned around.
Not much is gained here.
Or, has the harvest been enough?
"I want him dead."
Thales paused.
He turned around:
"What?"
I saw Zhan En put down the fire paint, his eyes were cold and his whole body was fierce.
"All the above conditions are included, the Emerald Legion, personnel appointments and dismissals, taxes..." He almost said through his teeth, "But I want to add one thing."
Zhan En suddenly raised his head, his eyes as sharp as swords:
"Federico, must—must—die."
Thales was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then frowned deeply.
Maybe he is wrong.
The way he looked at Zhan:
Maybe the harvest is beyond expectations.
The prince took a deep breath and tried to bargain:
"Exiled abroad?"
Zhan didn't answer.
"The Prison of Bones?"
Zhan En's face didn't change, he just stared at him wholeheartedly, his eyes were uneasy.
"It really doesn't work..."
"It doesn't matter, you can think about it slowly," Zhan En interrupted him, leaving no room for doubt, "If it doesn't work, you can also write to Fuxing Palace and ask what His Majesty has to say."
Thales frowned.
"But the Emerald City can't wait..."
"This is the letter we just agreed to send to the Poppon family, and it will be sent directly to Mrs. Toriel," Zhan interrupted with a cold snort. "They don't have much cash, and thirty thousand is the limit. Of course, if they dare to pay less than
Thirty thousand, you just lead the troops to capture them, and not only do I have no objection, I will even help you find a reason afterwards."
The Duke of Nan'an stood up and picked up two envelopes from the desk. The lacquer seal of fleur-de-lis on them was extremely conspicuous.
"But for the second letter, send it to the three major guilds in the textile industry, wine industry, and building materials industry and several business groups. You can get 100,000, or a promise to let them cut the flesh to stabilize the market and prices——
To solve your urgent need."
Thales' eyelids twitched.
"only these?"
Although he said this, Thales looked at Zhan like this in surprise.
that's all?
Two letters, 130,000...
One-tenth of the debt…
It's that simple?
"This is my sincerity. Maybe it can help you figure out what to do next."
Zhan walked up to him and handed over the envelope with sharp eyes.
"What if it's less than 100,000?"
"Then just bring your troops back and capture me." Zhan En's expression remained unchanged.
Thales hesitated for a moment.
After a few seconds, he finished thinking and made up his mind to reach out to get the letter, but Zhan suddenly pulled his hand away and took back the envelope!
"And I hope that when you come back next time, you will also be sincere." He stared at Thales.
Thales swallowed his throat.
Well, the choice is hard though.
But it’s not like nothing was gained.
Thales exchanged glances with the other party, and the next second, the prince took away the two letters.
"It should be said that you love your sister too much," Thales put the letter into his arms and rolled his eyes, "or do you hate your brother too much?"
Zhan smiled hypocritically.
"No matter what," he turned around and walked to the window sill, "don't let Fede kill people in my city anymore, Thales."
His eyes narrowed:
"Don't let him manipulate you anymore, and don't give him more leverage."
Thales walked towards the door thoughtfully.
"But if he dies and arbitration disappears, the old cases will no longer be overturned," Thales said slowly, "I will lose the means to restrict you, right?"
Zhan En raised his gaze and looked out the window at the Emerald City.
"Maybe then, with the chips in hand, you will be the one to control me?" The prince said softly, "By the way - you can have your meal now."
There was silence in the room for a while, and Zhan didn't go to eat.
"You should think from a different perspective, Thales."
Zhan had a strange expression.
"If you insist on losing both sides, then when you return to the capital..."
The Duke of Nan'an turned around with an intriguing look: