On this day, the Fallen Angel Capital ushered in the most important "guest".
The Shadow Empire, which had gathered a large number of troops at the border of the Fallen Angel Empire, finally sent a new envoy to enter the Fallen Angel Empire through Tekula Fortress after Jía's lightning ascension to the throne and arrived at the capital.
This time, the envoy was an "acquaintance" again. The leader was the third general of the Shadow Empire, Crawford, and the deputy envoy was the new patriarch of the Custer Family, the top business family in the Dark Shadow Empire, Celine. Crawford was an old friend of Jía. When Jía was in the Dark Moon, she had conducted bilateral visits and close cooperation. Celine's Custer Family was the first business family to enter the Dark Moon Estate. They also established a joint chamber of commerce with several families in the Dark Moon. The 2 sides were inextricably linked. These 2 envoys should be a positive signal, hinting at a certain change in Catherine's attitude.
Jía immediately led the ministers to formally meet Crawford in the palace hall. At this time, the candidates for the left and right prime ministers had not been decided. The finance minister and the minister of military affairs were still chosen by the elder families.
"Greetings, Her Majesty Jía." Crawford entered the hall and bowed to Jía together with Celine behind him.
Jía was no longer the lord at the beginning, but the empress representing an empire. In this situation of confrontation between the 2 empires, she did not treat the 2 acquaintances kindly. She just said lightly, "Both envoys came from afar, it must be hard for you."
Crawford stood up straight and said in a humble manner, "This time I came under the order of Her Majesty Catherine. Firstly, I came to congratulate Your Majesty on becoming the Fallen Angel Empire's empress. Secondly, I want to re-discuss the cooperation between the 2 empires."
"Thank you for the congratulations from Empress Catherine. The friendly relationship between the Fallen Angel Empire and the Dark Shadow Empire has a long history, but Her Majesty Catherine has hoarded a large number of troops at the 2 borders of our empire. This doesn't seem to be a gesture of friendship?"
Crawford explained, "The reason for the hoarding of troops is that after Her Majesty Jía defeated Prince Obsidian in the wilderness of Town Leith, the situation in your empire was unstable. In order to prevent civil strife, Her Majesty Catherine is preparing to send troops to help Her Majesty Jía stabilize the political situation."
This explanation was naturally just an excuse. Lilith also used this excuse in the Dark Moon.
"Before Her Majesty Catherine helped me, I had already successfully ascended the throne, so I can only appreciate her kindness. I wonder how long does your country intend to maintain this way of showing 'friendliness'?"
Crawford knew that the so-called "friendly" referred to the army on the border, so he smiled slightly, "This is related to the second purpose of my coming here. Her Majesty Catherine hopes to establish a friendly neighbor relationship with Her Majesty Jía again after Regent Obsidian, renegotiate and sign the cooperation treaty between the 2 countries, and walk the road of prosperity together."
If there was no army, this was still a normal establishment of diplomatic relations, but with the army hoarding at the border, these words inevitably revealed a faint threat. The implication was that Obsidian was Obsidian, and Jía was Jía. The Shadow Empire could continue to live in peace with the Fallen Angel Empire, but they must sign a cooperation treaty that satisfied Catherine. Otherwise, the army would never be a decoration.
"I am very optimistic about the prospects of friendly cooperation between the 2 countries. For friends, our empire will support each other, work hand in hand, and create glory together. If it is an enemy with ulterior motives, even if they are holding a sharp blade, the Fallen Angel Empire will face the difficulties without fear. We would rather die with the enemy than abandon our faith and dignity." At the last sentence, Jía slowly stood up from the throne and watched Crawford quietly.
There were only 2 steps to the throne. Even if Jía stood up, she was only at the same level as the tall Crawford. However, at this moment, Crawford was a little absent-minded as if he really wanted to look up at Jía. This woman, who used to be on par with him, had risen to the level of the empress that he revered the most in a certain sense.
Not only Crawford, but many ministers and elders in the hall had a strange feeling at the same time. Even Angley felt the same. The indomitable strength and courage shown by Shea was exactly what Obsidian did not have in the past.
Crawford quickly recovered and took out a sealed envelope, "I have seen Her Majesty Jía's determination. Here is a letter from Her Majesty Empress. Please have a look, Your Majesty."
Stiller, who was next to Jía, took a few steps forward, took the envelope, and handed it to Jía. In the process, Stiller had used 4 methods to detect, but she did not find any danger. Jía received a hint from Stiller's eyes. She took the letter and opened it. After looking at it for a while, her eyes suddenly became a little more fierce. With a "whoosh", a black flame ignited in her hand, and the letter was instantly burned.
This move in front of Crawford was obviously very unfriendly. Judging from Jía's expression, the letter should have quite excessive content. In any case, Jía was the empress of the Fallen Angel Empire after all. Her humiliation was the humiliation of the entire empire. Whether it was genuine anger or pretense, almost everyone showed hostility to Crawford and Celine as if they were only waiting for an order to annihilate the 2 envoys of the Shadow Empire.
The invisible pressure made Celine show a trace of fear, but Crawford's expression remained unchanged, "Your Majesty, please understand. I didn't know the specific content of this letter beforehand. I just came to your country to negotiate with the sincerity of the Shadow Empire. When I came, Her Majesty Catherine specially instructed that after Her Majesty Jía read the letter, I have 2 choices. First, return to the Shadow Empire immediately; second, stay and continue to discuss cooperation. Now, please give me a choice, Her Majesty Jía. "
This choice was actually given to Jía by Catherine, but Crawford's wording was very euphemistic. It became the choice that Jía gave him, the envoy. If Crawford went back immediately, it would definitely mean that the negotiation had failed. Then, it was likely that the Fallen Angel Empire would really prepare for a tough war. This was obviously not the original intention of the Fallen Angel Empire.
"Her Majesty Catherine's appetite is not small …" The light in Jía's purple eyes changed. She took a deep breath and slowly sat down. She said calmly, "However, since the envoy is here to negotiate, many things are uncertain before the result is determined. We can sit down and talk. It's getting late now. General Crawford and Ms. Celine must be tired after traveling all the way. Please go back to the royal hotel to rest first. I will host a banquet to entertain friends from the Shadow Empire in the evening. "
When the ministers and elders on both sides heard the first sentence, they had already faintly guessed that Catherine must have made a request that touched Jía's bottom line, such as ceding the Dark Moon Estate. However, Jía quickly recovered her calmness, and she still planned to sit down and negotiate with the envoy of the Shadow Empire.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. It would be impolite for us to refuse." Crawford bowed with Celine. Accompanied by the minister of foreign affairs, they left the palace hall and went to the royal hotel to rest.
After the Shadow Empire's envoy left, Jía said, "Everyone, although Catherine's original intention is not to fight with us, the strength of the Shadow Empire is above us after all. Once the war is really triggered in a certain situation, then with the comparison of the strength of the 2 empires, the result is likely that she will injure me and I will die. On the one hand, we must be prepared for war and plan for the worst, and on the other hand, we must be careful to deal with the Shadow Empire's envoy. Stiller and Disjaro will be responsible for the negotiation. Stebil, Angele, Redotan, and Merlota will assist. The deadline for the negotiation will be delayed first. You can try to contact the 2 envoys and find out the bottom line first. Catherine the Great's appetite is very big. If we really want to sit down and negotiate, we, who are weaker, will definitely suffer a loss. How big this loss is and whether we can lean towards the path of mutual benefit as much as possible depends on our efforts during this period. "
Angele and others previously restrained Jía, but the negotiation was the most important thing at the moment. It was related to the fate of the entire empire, so they didn't dare to be too slow at the moment. They accepted the order and left.
After the meeting, Jía came to the side hall. Chen Rui and Isabella were waiting for her there. Chen Rui's current identity was only the deputy commander of the palace guards, and it was not appropriate for Isabella's identity to appear in public, so they did not attend the meeting just now. However, the 2 of them saw it clearly behind the hall, especially the scene where Jía burned Catherine's letter.
"What exactly is written in Catherine's letter?" Chen Rui was now very curious about this matter. With Jía's calmness, she generally wouldn't do that kind of action.
Jía glanced at him, "Even you can't guess it?"
"Don't think too highly of me. If the opponent is Catherine, I might not be able to defeat her even if there are 10 of me." Chen Rui suddenly thought of the pair of black eyes that were as deep as the lake, and his mind rippled slightly. I haven't seen the owner of these eyes for a long time.
"You don't have to belittle yourself, but Catherine is indeed a terrifying opponent." Jía sighed, "But I deliberately burned that letter. Unexpectedly, Catherine gave me an amazing plan in the letter. This plan …"
"Could it be … exactly the same as what we planned?" Isabella continued.
"It's better than our plan." Jía nodded slightly and sighed softly, "She has already seen through everything, including the desperate stance that I am going to make. I am now in a situation where I am under the control of the elder families. Her plan is to use thunderous means to remove the obstacles at this unexpected time. As a condition, she can use the army to create momentum at the border and help me stall or even get rid of Baroco and others to quell the opposition forces in the country so that I can fully control the power of the empire! Behind this plan is a hint that she can use this against me in turn. If I don't agree, Catherine will also 'cooperate' and deliberately spread this plan. She will also make a corresponding stance to show that she and I will join forces to eradicate the elder families and other obstructing forces. At the moment of life and death, the elder families will definitely rise up to resist. Then, the capital and even the empire will fall into civil strife. At that time, she will take advantage of the situation to send troops. Then, it will be difficult for me to drag the Shadow Empire to die together … "
Isabella and Chen Rui looked at each other and saw the horror in each other's eyes. They finally understood why Jía pretended to be angry and burned the letter.
Chen Rui asked, "What are Catherine's conditions?"
Jía took a deep look at him, "It's even harsher than the last time. It's simply unacceptable, and she especially emphasized that she wants the talent 'Chen Rui'. It seems that you are more popular than I thought. Even the first beauty of the Demon Realm can't forget you. "
"I have a reputation, so I can't help it. I'm the 'Demon Realm's most capable minister' after all." Chen Rui scratched his head guiltily. He had a faint bad feeling.
Isabella saw Chen Rui's expression, and she suddenly chuckled, "Actually, there is a way."
As soon as she said this, Jía and Chen Rui's eyes fell on her face at the same time. Ms. Intelligence smiled sweetly. Even through the veil, they could still feel her alluring charm.
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