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(Today's First Update ~)
Chapter 483 "Substitute Emperor" (Part 1)
Du Wei doesn't think this is a smart idea, and the risk is too great!
Although old Augustine the 6th has withdrawn from the center of power for the past two years, there are still a lot of people who pay attention to him. Among them are the Shrines!
It was conceivable that if the news of Augustine the 6th's death were to spread, the one who would be most delighted would naturally be Pope Paul XVI. It was not because Paul XVI hated Augustine the 6th. It's just that as long as this old emperor dies, then according to the mindset of most people, the Regent should naturally inherit the throne and be crowned as the new emperor of the Empire.
As for the Church, they must be looking forward to seeing an emperor who calls the Pope as "Godfather"! Just imagine the scene of the Emperor bowing down to Pope Paul XVI and respectfully calling him "Godfather" in some grand public occasions. Such a scene would definitely be a great victory for the Church! And for the Royal Family, the significance of this is not as simple as losing face.
According to Prince Son's previous practice, every month or so, he would arrange for Augustine the 6th to make a public appearance, such as participating in a decision making meeting in the palace, or attending a review ceremony, and so on.
In fact, ever since Prince Son held that baptism ceremony that excited the Church and received the baptism from the Pope and respectfully called the Pope as "Godfather", there have been a lot of impatient voices in the Church: They hope the Regent will be crowned as soon as possible!
For these swindlers, they are eager to see a "godfather" Emperor, not a "godfather" Regent. A lot of people have become impatient with Prince Son's delay in being crowned as Emperor: Anyway, the power is already in his hands, and the old emperor has already retired to the second line, so why are you still being so hesitant to be crowned?!
And in some religious prayer occasions, there were already people within the church who secretly conveyed some of their intentions to Prince Son, hoping that he would fulfill his original promise as soon as possible.
"I don't expect a substitute to be able to hide from all the nobles in the capital forever, but it should be enough to buy us some time in the short term." Although Prince Son's voice is very soft, Du Wei noticed that he used the word "us".
Obviously, Du Wei can sense a clear message from this: Up until now, he is the most trusted person of this young emperor.
Du Wei sighed.
"Three days." Prince Son lightly said: "Three days later will be the annual 'Qingfeng Festival'. I have arranged a public prayer ceremony to be held in the palace before the New Year. On that occasion, I will have this' Father 'make a public appearance. Then … we can fight for two months. I will announce to the public that Imperial Father is unwell and let him live in seclusion. He won't have to appear for a long time. "
Du Wei sighed. It seems there is no other way.
After all, this matter happened too suddenly and disrupted the previous plan. In just a few days, it's really hard to come up with an appropriate solution.
"But." Du Wei reminded: "During the Qingfeng Festival banquet, almost all the old officials in the capital will be attending. Those old guys have followed the late emperor for their entire lives, so it's hard to guarantee that no one will be able to see through the flaws. Moreover, Your Highness, you should know better than me that once this matter is leaked out, it will be a huge scandal! " His tone was very serious: "I must ask you clearly: Do you really not want to be crowned as Emperor?"
Prince Son's voice was very firm: "My heart has been decided a long time ago … … My heart belongs to Charlie!"
"But Charlie is only ten years old. He won't suddenly grow up in two or three months." Du Wei sighed: "And this substitute can only buy us two or three months of time at most. After three months, how are we going to find a convincing reason to publicly pass the throne to Prince Charlie? " Du Wei shook his head: "Your Highness, you are still in the prime of your youth. Instead of appointing a Regent, you want to appoint a ten year old child as Emperor. Moreover, he is your own son. I'm afraid this approach will be opposed by everyone. "
The conversation between Du Wei and Prince Son was not hidden from the "substitute". In fact, this guy has been sitting on the bed trembling with fear, looking at Du Wei and Prince Son with a face full of fear.
Before Prince Son left, he left Du Wei here and gave Du Wei a task: teach this substitute some etiquette to pay attention to at the banquet three days later.
Although Du Wei is not a court etiquette master, this matter is still too secretive! Prince Son didn't want more people to know about this substitute … …
Moreover, on the night of the old Emperor's death, the Regent did not hesitate to secretly execute all the attendants, servants, court ladies, and court guards in the palace!
Among them were the six court physicians that treated the old Emperor.
To the public, it was announced that a careless court physician and a court magic pharmacist had accidentally leaked the poison when they were discussing the effects of a dangerous magic potion. As a result, several court physicians and attendants had died in this misfortune.
Du Wei didn't think too much about this strange task. After all, the less people know about it, the less likely it will be leaked.
But before Prince Son left, he suddenly looked at Du Wei and said something strange: "According to what I know, you should be an excellent disguise master. You have the ability to disguise a person."
With that said, he didn't seem to have any other intentions and turned around to leave.
Du Wei sighed as he watched Prince Son walk out of the palace.
Now there's no one guarding outside the palace. After executing the original group of guards, Prince Son issued an order: "From now on, His Majesty's daily life will be handed over to the court mages."
Currently, there were only two servants in the palace, both of which were Prince Son's most trusted confidants. There were also no guards outside, only a group of court mages guarding in the dark.
Looking around the empty hall, Du-Wei's eyes fell onto the body of this poor substitute.
In fact, this guy's appearance does resemble the old Emperor by a large margin. And after some special treatment and makeup, it's almost impossible to see the difference in the dim light.
However, if it's someone who seems to be familiar with the old Emperor, it's still easy to see through the flaws. Moreover, it's hard to grasp a person's tone, voice, intonation, and subtle movements perfectly.
This substitute was obviously found at the last minute. And with his trembling appearance, there's no way to portray the majesty of an Emperor. Although Augustine the 6th wasn't a good Emperor, he was still the ruler of the continent for a lifetime. His every move should have some majesty of an Emperor.
Moreover, Du Wei is very clear: After two days of the banquet, the result of waiting for this poor substitute is obvious: silencing!
But right now, he can't think of any answers to these troubling matters.
Du Wei first started to get busy. Taking out the storage ring he carried with him, he took out some of the potions stored inside. Then, in front of this "substitute", he began to fiddle with these bottles and jars.
Seeing Du Wei fiddling with the potions and the bubbling potions, the substitute became even more frightened.
With a trembling voice, he suddenly plucked up his courage and begged Du Wei: "I beg you, don't, don't kill me … … I … …"
"I won't kill you." Du Wei tried to make his voice as gentle as possible. After all, this guy is also an innocent and pitiful person – but politics is like this.
After saying that, he handed over a bottle of mixed potion: "Drink it. It will taste very bitter. Don't spit it out. Then you can have a good sleep. "
The last sentence "have a good sleep" was probably misunderstood by the poor old man. He suddenly jumped off the bed and knelt in front of Du Wei. He grabbed Du Wei's pants and begged: "I beg you, don't kill me, don't kill me!"
Du Wei pulled him up and took a closer look. Only then did he realize that this guy wasn't an "old man" at all. In fact, he's only in his forties. However, it's clear that Prince Son's men had already done some simple makeup on him. The wrinkles on his face were obviously drawn … …
Du Wei's heart became even more difficult. With such crude makeup, it's impossible to fool the old officials who have followed the old emperor for decades!
"I'm not going to kill you." Du Wei grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him up. Using a vicious tone, he shouted: "I don't think you're an idiot! You should probably understand what we need you to do! Am I right?! "
The man's body trembled, but he still nodded.
"Very good." Du Wei coldly said: "Then you should also understand that this matter must not be leaked out! So, you're worried that you will be silenced in the end, right? "
"… … Yes." The man's face was full of despair as he trembled: "My Lord … … I, I, I'm just a tailor. I used to tailor the emperor's clothes … … A few nights ago, I don't know why the Regent suddenly brought me here … … I, I don't know anything … …"
Looking at Du Wei with a pitiful expression, the man stuttered and his teeth chattered as he spoke.
"Oh? You're a court tailor? "Du Wei's eyes lit up:" You used to tailor the emperor's clothes? Then that's much easier. Since you've seen his majesty up close, then you should know some of his movements and habits, right? "
"I … … I … …" The man's teeth chattered and he couldn't speak anymore.
Du Wei pinched the man's chin and carefully looked at his face for a moment.
He has seen the old emperor several times before, so he directly pulled out a pen and started drawing on the man's cheeks.
The man's facial muscles trembled violently, but he didn't dare to struggle. Finally, he closed his eyes and tears flowed down from the corners of his eyes.
Du Wei sighed and his tone became more amiable: "Tell me, what's your name?"
"Groome, my Lord, my name is Groome."
"Alright, Groome." Du Wei seemed to smile: "Do you have a family?"
"Yes … … Yes, my Lord." Groome trembled: "I have a wife and two daughters … …"
"Hmm, are they in the imperial capital?"
"No, my Lord, they are not." Groome's voice became smoother: "After the coup two years ago, I was afraid that something like this would happen again, so I sent them back to their hometown."
"Where is your hometown?" Du Wei casually drew a few strokes on the man's face as he casually asked.
"South, Lille Province, my Lord … … My hometown is in Lille Province."
"Oh, I've been there before. Lille Province is in the south of the Rollin Family's Rollin Plain. " Du Wei smiled calmly: "I've been to Half Horn City, and I encountered some interesting things there. Hmm, do you know Half Horn City? "
"I, I know, my Lord … …" Groome seemed to be less nervous. This Duke of the Tulip Family seems to be very approachable and amiable. His hope for survival increased a bit: "Half Horn City … … My hometown is not far from Half Horn City."
Du Wei smiled: "My wife and I met for the first time outside Half Horn City. Oh, I even blackmailed her for a huge sum of money that time. At that time, she was still a naive little girl. Hmm, what about you? Tell me, Groome, what are your wife and daughter like? "
(Today's first update has been delivered. I'll continue to update later tonight. Friends with tickets, please support me ~)
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