Chapter 52: The Uncrowned Minister

Without waiting for the old man's reply, nor waiting for the guards' inquiries, after just bowing slightly, Zhao Mian stood up straight again and looked directly at the old man on the stone chair.

The old man looked older than Gandalf, but his body, hidden under the black cloak, was surprisingly strong, and judging by the tip of the scabbard exposed from the corner of the cloak and the unobscured boots underneath the cloak, the old man sitting in the midst of a declining country must be dressed neatly under the thick black cloak.

The silence remained for a long time after Zhao Mian's words fell. Behind Zhao Mian, one of the guards who was forced by the lingering atmosphere in the wide hall moved slightly, but the sound of metal rubbing against the ground was particularly harsh at this moment.

"Welcome, knights from farther and farther away. The old man raised his head, and Zhao Mian noticed that his face with a hooked nose was full of pride for the king, and a pair of black pupils of a different color from a Númano like Aragorn were particularly conspicuous against the background of a skin as white as expensive ivory, if it weren't for the old man sitting there, it couldn't be someone else, Zhao Mian wouldn't think that he had any relationship with Boromo, "But as you said, at such a moment, we need more consensus." ”

Zhao Mian narrowed his eyes slightly, and as far as his eyes could see, the Alliance Badge was lying quietly on the old man's lap, a faint glow lingering around it, which proved that it had been used for at least a week - but Boromo did not have any injuries on his body, so the answer to why this badge was used may already be obvious.

Zhao Mian quietly moved his gaze slightly, connecting it with the old man's gaze. "The Lord of Rohan, Heudon, has won a great victory, and Isengar has been turned into a waterland by the wills of his master, and his staff has been broken by Gandalf, and I think the breeze of Rohan is more than willing to blow over his corpse hanging outside the city—but unfortunately the armies of the Cave Valley have moved away from the darkness. Under Dinether's gaze, Zhao Mian noticed that some flames burning in the shadows quietly showed their figures, which may be the pride of a powerful person, but it may also be something more profound, "Gandalf and I both think that these things are very important to you, and it is necessary to inform you. ”

"This information is indeed very important, but if it is only this information about the threat in the East, I already know enough. The words were whispered, not loud but not old, and echoed through the hall, without any expression on the Regent's face, as if it were all a belated triviality.

"Even the fastest horse can't reach Minas Tirith from the Valley of the Holy Helmet in a day. Zhao Mian frowned slightly, and then as if he had put a thick mask on his face, he stared blankly at the old man on the black stone chair and said, "I'm curious what you went through to know what happened hundreds of miles away, or if your eyes are enough to pierce the dark clouds and explore everything in the darkness?"

The green tendons burst out on the back of the Regent's hand, and the alliance badge was inspired to shine even more intensely at that moment, and the Regent's eyes were tightly fixed on Zhao Mian, and Zhao Mian also responded with his gaze, and a long silence began to linger in the empty hall. It should have been a very unbearable time for the servants in the alcove behind the door and the guards in the corners - there was no heated verbal exchange, but in fact the atmosphere that lingered in the place was even more intense. It was like a flash of fire, which kept shining through the regent's pupils into Zhao Mian's eyes, but a glorious gate blocked its way, and it slammed into the closed railing, but it only hurt itself in vain.

The Lord Regent withdrew his gaze first, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, as if some intense pain was coming from his body.

"Yes," said the Regent after another quiet moment—thankfully, the atmosphere in the room was no longer so intense—"Although they say that the hedron has been lost for a long time, the princes and nobles of Gondor still have sharper eyes than mortals, and there are many ways to gather information. Sit down first. He picked up a silver bell from the armrest beside him and shook it gently. "Bring chairs and drinks to the guests. ”

"I hope so. Zhao Mian also relaxed his gaze, as if the dark light that illuminated the entire hall at that moment just now was just illusory.

Two servants came out of the niche in the wall, one with a stool, the other with a tray with silver jugs and cups and a few pieces of meat and fruit.

Zhao Mian sat down, I don't know if it was deliberate, his position was not in the middle of the hall, but more in the direction of the stone chair. Here, the sunlight shining in through the windows casts a dark shadow on him through the embossed columns in the middle of the hall.

"Mithlanda wouldn't have a knight and a dragon just come here as a messenger at such a moment. Pride returned to the old man at this moment, but his eyes were no longer as plain as they had been, an emperor who was strange to outsiders had been removed from him, and the glory of the regent as the ruler of Gondor was reflected at this moment, "Tell me what you came for, strange knight - in the mouth of my son, I don't think you are low. ”

"The shadow of Isengar has been dispelled, but the clouds of darkness from Mordor still linger in the hearts of all those who still harbor good thoughts in Middle-earth. Gently taking off his gauntlet and moving his fingers slightly, Zhao Mian declined the servant's service, and reached out in front of everyone to put the gauntlet into the space bag, "Gandalf did something stupid, which made him have to fill his footsteps, I expected him to arrive with the cavalry from Rohan." But Mordor's army will not slow down even a single step, and we still need a solid front line - if only Boromo had already told you about this, and Gondor was ready to defend. ”

"For hundreds of years, we haven't let our guard down on Mordor, and even more so now. The old man gently shook the bell and summoned a servant to his side, and he handed the servant the badge of the alliance on his lap, and then the servant held it on a silver platter, and held it up with a purple silk cloth, and sent it to Zhao Mian, "A good toy, and it can indeed play a little role in battle." ”

"Thank you for the compliment. Zhao Mian nodded, picked up his badge from the tray held by the servant and held it in his hand.

"Take the knight to the lodgings he has arranged, and feed him and other needs. Taking a gentle sip of the wine that his servant had poured for him, the Lord Regent put down his glass and waved his hand, "Inform the generals to report to me an hour after lunch." ”

The servant walked to Zhao Mian's side and made a gesture of please, but Zhao Mian, who stood up, did not follow the servant to turn around and walk out of the door, but stood quietly in place, "I didn't come here for a peaceful rest and noble treatment, Your Excellency Regent." The sun quietly walked a short distance, and Zhao Mian's side face was lightly kissed by this faint warmth, and he stood there, his weather-beaten face had only fortitude.

"But fatigue can knock down even the mightiest warrior, the brave knight. Gently wiping the crumbs from the corners of his mouth with a silk scarf, the regent looked at him with a gentle look - like looking at some young and vigorous relative, "You need to rest, if only to fight better." ”

"Put aside your pretense and your guards, Lord Regent Dinether—I've been through a lot more than you think, and I've seen your tricks many, many times. Standing in the middle of the hall, Zhao Mian puffed up his chest, "I'm not here for anyone, and I'm not here for some dangerous strategy. I am only involved in this war to keep civilians from being caught in the crossfire, and I have no spirit to bother with these tricks at this critical existential moment. ”

"Then stay - bring him some food and wine. The regent looked at Zhao Mian in silence for a short time, and then buried his head and sorted out the debris on his knees, "Arrange an extra seat for the military meeting later." ”