The autumn wind is severe, the leaves are sluggish, and the blue-gray sky can be seen from time to time with flocks of migratory birds migrating south. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

Dressed in civilian clothes and walking in the autumn colors, I walked down the Champs-Éno-Don Avenue leading to the Cathedral of the Imperial Capital of the Gods, but I saw that the pedestrians were in a hurry, the guests were like clouds, and the bustle was still bustling and prosperous.

People who want to come to the imperial capital have become accustomed to the life of continuous wars for many years, and they do not have too many worries about the tense atmosphere outside the northern city and the sea of flags and the eve of the war, and everyone is still immersed in the joy of the arrival of the Pope and the coronation of the new emperor, and they are also full of confidence in the new empire full of fresh breath and vigor - the blessing of the Pope and the establishment of the new regime play a role in stabilizing people's hearts to a certain extent, so when the Tsykov army came to the city, there was no panic, people lived as usual, and the days passed, In addition, the autumn festival is approaching, and people are busy celebrating the festival, and they don't bother to pay attention to the power struggle in the upper echelons of the empire, which has little to do with them.

In the Empire, there is a folk custom that originated in the peasant family - the "Autumn Festival", which was originally to celebrate the golden autumn harvest and express gratitude to the gods, and later evolved into the largest folk festival. Every year, the folk will spontaneously hold a lively parade, every household will make some folk crafts to participate in the party, during the parade exhibited by each family to the surplus or waste goods at home as the material of the fish, shrimp, fruit, flowers, etc., can be almost real, all kinds of dazzling lantern baskets are all over the lantern alley, there will be a variety of wonderful folk performances - this annual parade is called "autumn color".

This is a festival that completely belongs to the general public, so there is a saying in the folk that "the autumn festival is a big New Year". Merchants from all over the world also took advantage of this annual autumn festival to gather in Proust from all walks of life, set up exhibition stalls, sell goods, and negotiate business, and this year's autumn festival happened to be after the coronation of the new emperor, so even merchants of other races also came to the imperial capital with their leaders to join in the royal capital. Therefore, this year's autumn festival can be described as unprecedented, and the imperial capital has also seen an unprecedented prosperous atmosphere, which has not been affected by the clouds of war.

As I walked along the way, I couldn't help but think to myself: what a huge contrast it is to see the simple and joyful expressions on the faces of these ordinary people, and we who are at the center of the Empire's power are struggling to cope with the crisis of the Empire! Who is happier? Maybe that's where Juliet is smart...... She frees little Henry from the ugly power spiral and gives him the life of an ordinary person - in fact, she is the real winner in this power exchange game......

When I thought of the name "Juliet", which made me feel sick, the solemn dark brown door of the Imperial Cathedral appeared before me.

※※※

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment, Bishop Juliet will come out at once. The rest of the people have waited for me to ask them to stay away for the time being, and Your Majesty does not have to worry about anyone disturbing the meeting. ”

I nodded to Archbishop Banderas, and he bowed and withdrew, leaving me alone in the empty church.

In this rare quiet solitude, I can't help but recall the scene of the previous pilgrimage meeting--

On the Lingtian Palace, the ministers and generals discussed a lot about Marshal Qikov's troops coming to the city, and there were endless disputes, and they insisted on one end, and they quarreled endlessly, and some of the generals and ministers even blushed and blushed, and they almost stepped forward to scuffle and fight with each other, making a mess of the court. I was so angry that I got up from the throne and threw the scepter to the ground, so that everyone was so frightened that they stopped arguing and fell to the ground and did not dare to make a sound.

I swept everyone's faces with a sharp gaze before I said coldly: "This is the land of the emperor, not a vegetable market!" But you are all clamoring and shouting -- what kind of system you have become when you state your opinions like peddlers fighting for business! Where is the dignity of the empire!? Don't you feel ashamed to be a powerful minister of the Empire? Simon, Memphis, Calangie, give your opinions together! ”

At that time, everyone's opinions were mainly divided into three factions: Simon thought that Zikov should be lured into the city and captured or even culled in one fell swoop, but once and for all; Memphis thought that this strategy was not above board and difficult to convince the public, so it was better to fight a head-on battle with Zikov and win it by force; However, Karanji said that Tsykov was an imperial general, and all his soldiers were imperial soldiers, and it was not appropriate to booby trap or decisive battle, which would be tantamount to cannibalism, so it was reasonable to negotiate peace and let Tsykov belong to himself.

In the face of the opposing voices, Simon said coldly: "At this time, the imperial capital army is only about 200,000, how can it be defeated? Even if you can be lucky enough to win, you will also lose your vitality, so what's the use of winning? And Tsykov only obeys the orders of the old empire, the regent is dead, Henry is deposed, is he still willing to join us? As long as he threatens to blackmail Tsykov's family, he will inevitably give in, capture Tsykov at that time, and order the garrison outside the city to cease the banner and disarm the imperial army, and the danger of the imperial capital will be relieved. In doing so, we can avoid an unnecessary disaster of swords and soldiers, and stop a meaningless and useless war in time, so why not? Fighting in vain, suing for force, is only the work of the puppet; Talking about peace talks in vain and trying to convince the beast with reason is the wishful thinking of pedantics! As long as it is an effective means, why care if it is light or dark? ”

Karangie said unrelentingly: "A brave general like Tsykov cannot be robbed of his will, and how can coercion change his heart? Will Tsykov be the kind of person who is willing to bow his head under the threat of his family's life and death? Perhaps he could enter the imperial capital alone for the safety of his family and be willing to fall into our trap, but if he were to betray his soldiers, he would rather die! At that time, even if we can successfully trap Marshal Tsykov, the 300,000 Imperial troops outside the city may not be willing to obey the orders of the new Empire, and it may also trigger their determination to avenge Shuai Qi, and there will be no room for turning around, making things out of control. ”

Memphis sarcastically said, "One will play some conspiracy tricks, and the other will be a nerd!" Instead of thinking about it and hesitating, it's better to fight happily! The only way to impress the warriors on the battlefield is to win them with strength! ”

Simon pursed his lips and retorted, "Reckless! But it angered Memphis.

Seeing that Memphis was glaring fiercely, he was about to step forward to beat him, but fortunately he was restrained by Hetgro and Hugh Belmont so that it did not turn into a farce of "brawl in front of the palace", but the scene was chaotic again.

Just as I was about to have another seizure, Yuhasselblad said in an unhurried voice, "There should be a fourth solution......

Then he glanced at me with a fox before saying, "It depends on Your Majesty's determination and willingness......

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Thinking of the half-dead face of Yu Hasu, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart: What an old fox...... At this moment, the sound of small footsteps came from behind me, and I couldn't help but turn around, and I saw Eurier, dressed in a pale gray bishop's robe and with no grease on her face, slowly entering the temple.

"The Gray Bishop of the Diocese of Proust, Yulia Shakka, of the Cult of the Gods, see His Majesty's ......"

Juliet knelt before me, then faced me with a look of detachment and indifference.

"Little leaf, you have cleared ......" I wanted to say but did not say it, because I knew the reason why Juliet declared her identity and religious name in front of me - to reposition the relationship between them, to show that she was no longer the former Juliette Morales, and that everything that belonged to Juliette Morales and Alex was also gone with the wind.

"I'm having a great time!" Juliet hurriedly said, "Little Henry is also having a good time!" We want to live this life forever and don't want any accidents to happen in the first part of our lives. ”

Xiao Yezi cleverly guessed my intention, so that I didn't know where to start, and after an embarrassing silence on both sides, I reluctantly said: "Xiao Yezi, we used to be a family...... I still firmly believe that we are family...... I won't hide it from you, I hope you and Henry can do me a favor - persuade Zikov to follow the edict of the new empire and stop the army, so as to relieve the imperial capital of the burning danger. If Tsykov wants to release his army, he can only do it with the former emperor of the Faradis Empire and his guardian. ”

"Don't you remember your promise? Since then, Henry and I have no connection to the Empire, I am just an ordinary clergyman, and little Henry is only a child of a commoner. For the affairs of the imperial state, please forgive us for not being able to help. Yuliet said lightly, her eyes were as calm as water, her expression was as light as a cloud, and her tone was even more repulsive from thousands of miles away.

"Indeed, I once promised...... However, this is also the unfinished work before Henry's abdication, and it is an obligation that must be undertaken during the transition to the throne. It is your duty and Henry's duty to declare the matter of the inheritance to Marshal Tsykov. After all, as a veteran of the previous dynasty, Tsykov, as the sovereign, should always give him an explanation, right? I said with difficulty.

"Don't your majesty think your reason is too far-fetched?" Juliet asked rhetorically, a ripple of anger in her purple pupils, "Is this the cheekiness of a politician?" Any breach of trust can also be whitewashed with high-sounding reasons! ”

"This reason is indeed ridiculous......," I shook my head and said with a wry smile, "Xiao Yezi really doesn't have to agree to my strong request and continue to live his life without fighting...... But! Can you bear to watch the Imperial Capital lose its lives in a senseless sword and fire disaster? Can you remain indifferent to the innocent commoner's wife and family, and the countless children of the empire killing each other and bleeding in the wilderness? Originally, all this could have been easily avoided as long as you opened your lips lightly and did your best...... As a messenger of God, how can you endure it? I am not asking you to use the emperor's order now, but I am just asking you as an old man - please do your best for the common people! ”

"Your Majesty, if you say so, do I have a way out?" Juliet looked at me with deep phantom pupils, and a faint grief poured out softly, "I can agree to Your Majesty's request, but I hope Your Majesty will also agree to one of my conditions!" ”

"As long as it is Xiaoyezi's condition, don't say one, it is a hundred, a thousand, I will agree!"

"If I ask Your Majesty to abdicate the throne, give up power and prestige, or even judge yourself, can Your Majesty do it?"

"This ......"

"So please Your Majesty don't make promises lightly, you must know that you have no jokes! Moreover, the monarchs and ministers are orderly, high and low, and Your Majesty should call himself 'I' in front of people! If the country is unable to stand, the monarch will not be able to stand - if Your Majesty wants to control the Quartet and dominate the ministers, he must establish a complete etiquette system and order! Your Majesty used to be able to call your subordinates brothers, but that was before...... Now, Your Majesty must first establish his own authority - you must know that at the beginning of the empire, the most lacking thing is loyalty, and most of His Majesty's subordinates are arrogant and untamed capable ministers and powerful generals, so they should take precautions, teach their subordinates to respect and humility, and erase their undesirable ambitions, so it is inevitable to be called lonely. ”

"Xiao Yezi has taught a very good lesson...... However, I still insist that the word 'I' should only be used in formal occasions - whether it is willful or hypocritical, I still hope that there will not be too many barriers and constraints when getting along with my close relatives......"

"This is Your Majesty's business, and I shouldn't say more...... I have only one request - please be more sympathetic to your people and have mercy on your people at all times. ”

"I promise you!"

"No matter how sincere Your Majesty is to the people of the imperial capital...... For the sake of His Majesty and the people of the empire, Xiao Yezi and Henry had to do their last thing......"

"Little leaf, thank you! I'm sorry......" Gratitude and guilt welled up in my heart at the same time, and I couldn't help but say to Juliet.

Juliet sighed faintly and said, "Your Majesty, please don't do this great gift...... Xiaoye can't afford it...... For His Majesty's pity, Xiao Yezi is not a person who does not know how to be grateful...... If His Majesty had given me orders directly through His Holiness the Pope, how would I dare to disobey my orders? After all, now our sect has formed an alliance with His Majesty and shares weal and woe...... And Your Majesty was able to come to see me and persuade me bitterly, which shows that Your Majesty still attaches great importance to my feelings......"

"Xiao Yezi......" I couldn't help but say with a slight tremor in my voice, reaching out to hug her into my arms and show wanton love, but I didn't dare to make a mistake.

"Your Majesty, please go back! My prayer time has also come. ”

When Juliet turned away, I could only walk away in a wistful manner.

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Autumn, in the hearts of the common people, represents the harvest; But in the pen of the literati, it is a sadness.

Is it because the minds of the common people are too simple, or are the thoughts of the literati too complicated? In fact, sometimes the so-called happiness only belongs to a very ordinary life, and it is easy to obtain, as long as you are willing to be ordinary.

The warmth of spring, the affection of summer, the sadness of autumn, and the ruthlessness of winter...... In the Imperial Palace, where the magic fence has been removed, despite the autumn sunshine, I can still feel the loneliness and regret that belong to autumn.

In a trance, the back of my head suddenly ached, as if I had been hit by a hard object, and I turned around, but Drinker was lazily lying on the hanging bed between two purple pine trees, swaying leisurely, peeling a purple pine cone in his hand, which was also the "murder weapon" that hit my head.

I couldn't help but look at the vampire girl hanging in the air, and said in a daze, "Miss Count, your way of greeting is really terrible!" ”

"I'm just reminding you not to be in a daze when you have nothing to do, as if someone owes you money - it's easy to grow old and die before you get old! Mr. Pervert! Drinker said in a muffled voice with pine nuts in his mouth full of pine nuts.

"Eat something that can't be broken down in your body, and be careful of indigestion! Why are you running into a tree when you have nothing to do? ”

After speaking, he picked up the purple pine cone on the ground and threw it at her, but saw that she opened her mouth without dodging and bit the flying pine cone, and then, gently jumped to the ground, spit out the pine cone, clapped her hands and said: "Of course, it's for the sun!" The sun is at its best this season! ”

"Aren't you vampires the most sun-hating?" I asked, but I couldn't help muttering to myself: I'm afraid she's a freak in the clan.

"People hate it, I like it."

Drinker walked up to me, stretched out his white right hand and slapped me the shoulder, and continued: "I want to give you a slap in the face, but I actually want to tell you one thing - St. Befaia sent someone to find you......"

"St. Befaia...... Your Excellency, Pope? When did you become familiar with being addressed by name? What is she looking for me? I asked, confused.

"Please, don't ask a few questions at once, okay? It's painful to think about a few questions at once, and it will make people's minds spin! A1: Yes. Answer 2: I like it, can you manage it? In terms of age, she's just a kid in front of me! A3: How do I know? Anyway, there's something to do! With the questions answered, I'm leaving! Let's play with Sister Binglan! ”

With that, Drinker jumped up and ran away.

I couldn't help but shake my head and smile bitterly: this girl! I was called the Pope's real name, but I called the younger Binglan my sister, and I was called Mr. Pervert...... It's really a messy relationship between the elders and the young!

Derrick Ambrose is the most uninhibited person in the new Empire, and she can move freely through the palace, haunted by the forbidden areas, probably due to my connivance, consciously or unconsciously—out of a feeling of almost doting on her, I am reluctant to restrain her behavior, for fear of restricting her free mind. But the result of this indulgence has brought me a lot of new problems, such as the fact that I have to worry that when I get along with my wives, she will suddenly come out and ruin our good things......

I remember one time when Binglan and I were in love in the dormitory, everything was just like the love and honey, the water * melted, and we were about to climb to the peak, but the curtain was suddenly lifted, revealing the miserable white face of the vampire girl, so that Binglan and I screamed at the same time, Binglan snorted and got into the futon to be covered and didn't dare to come out, and I didn't go in or out, I was suspended in the air, and the scene was extremely embarrassing.

But Drinker said, "Mr. Pervert, where do you put that "Imperial Chronicles?" I searched through all the bookshelves in the study and couldn't find them. ”

I had to endure my anger and the irritation of being interrupted, and said patiently, "In the third drawer at the bottom right of my office desk...... Can't you just come to me tomorrow? ”

"I like to read at night......," the vampire girl said unconsciously, "Okay, don't bother you to continue to be bad to Sister Binglan!" Mr. Pervert! ”

When Drinker left like a gust of wind, Binglan and I were left staring at each other, not knowing whether to be distressed or laughed.

From then on, I always had to be afraid when I made out with my three daughters, for fear that Drinker would break in if he was not careful. Although I hated Drinker for repeatedly breaking my "good deeds", because the person concerned had no such awareness, and I also felt that it was difficult to find it clear to her, I had to sulk secretly.

Compared to the blatant behavior of the vampire girl, the other voyeur is much more civilized.

But on the other hand, the behavior of these two perpetrators also added another spice to my relationship with my wife, and I got a kind of cheating stimulation in the intimacy of being peeped at any time and breaking good things. So, there are always two sides to things......

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but show a hint of a smile, and said to the unmanned Yuwan: "Not out yet!" You're going to track me, and for how long? ”

"Oops, it's been discovered!"

With the sound of the extremely charming voice, a peerless, enchanting woman walked out of the forest that should have been empty and uninhabited, when her figure swept through the fine light and shadow in the forest, the color of her body also changed, the original same body color as the purple pine gradually faded, and when she arrived outside the forest, she returned to normal pale golden skin.

"The invisibility of the demons is really mysterious!" I exclaimed, my expression becoming serious, "Sophie Cather, what are you doing all this time when you have been clinging to me and staying around me like a shadow?" ”

"So you already knew...... Sophie greets her host! "Sophie Cather knelt before me and saluted me.

"I'm not your master, don't call me that...... I have made a pact of friendship with you, and you are free except that you cannot endanger my safety and interests. You haven't answered my question yet! ”

"There is no such definition as a friend in our demons, there are only masters and servants and enemies on opposite sides. Therefore, since you cannot be my enemy, and you have subdued me with your strength, you are of course my master! I followed my master, just to see what kind of man was who could not be bewitched by my charm. Sophie Kaiser stood up and said with a coquettish smile.

I looked at the naturally charming and amorous woman in front of me, and said indifferently: "How does love understand the relationship between you and me, that is your freedom." It's just that you've been silently peeping around me these days, have you ever gotten the answer you want? ”

"No," Sophie Cather's eyes, which seemed to be burning forever, were confused at this time, and her voice was full of doubts, "The longer I have been in contact with the master, the more confused I become, and I feel that I don't know the master more and more...... But in fact, there are some aspects where the owner is no different from an ordinary man. ”

Naturally, I knew what she meant when she said that "there is no difference between ordinary men in some aspects", and I couldn't help but feel hot on my face, and said curtly: "Are you scolding me for being 'widowed and sick'?" ”

"Slaves don't dare," Sophie Cather, although she was very submissive, but there was obviously a playful light in her beautiful eyes, "Actually, it's normal to be lustful!" What man isn't? However, the owner's hobby is really special, and even the beauty of the vampire clan has been caught! But as far as I've observed, the master's abilities are really much better than the average man...... If the master doesn't mind, the slave is willing to sleep......"

Sophie Cather's provocative words actually made my heart flutter and give rise to a primitive reaction - I secretly shouted "Awesome!" But he scolded with a smile: "You little demon girl, don't talk nonsense!" I don't have the relationship with Drinker as you might think, and I don't need you to sleep ......"

"Does the master dislike the slave?" Sophie Cather said quietly, and then lowered her head lightly, tears hung lightly in her beautiful eyes, and tears wanted to burst out of her eyes, as if there were endless grievances and resentments overflowing, which made me feel pity.

I gently picked up her pretty face with fatal seduction, ran my fingers softly over her pinky cheeks, sighed softly, and said softly, "Don't try to confuse me, let alone make pointless temptations...... I will only rejoice with those who love me and the people I love...... I don't have a relationship with someone who doesn't love me, and as a man, maybe I'm affectionate, but I'm not promiscuous...... You're a rare beauty I've ever seen, and you have a lovely side that people admire so much...... However, I didn't kill you in the first place, not because of your color, but because of your loyalty to General Pirisnan and your affection for your comrades-in-arms, which deeply touched me! You are a woman who understands sex but does not understand love, and uses the mentality of the game world to whirl around the sea of male and female desires...... Please forgive me for not being able to play this game of conquer and be conquered with you! However, I would like to dedicate a sentence to you - playing with the love between men and women with your own beauty as a weapon will not allow you to get real pleasure, it will only become more empty......"

After saying that, I let go of my hand, and when I turned to leave, I stopped again and said, "Where I am going now, you better not come with me - the holy light magic of the Cult of the Gods is not something you can bear as a witch...... And, Sophie! Please don't call me 'Master' in front of anyone else in the future—you can call me 'Your Majesty' in formal and with everyone, and in private, whatever you like—maybe call me 'Alex'!" ”

Then I did not hesitate any longer, and strode away, in the direction of the abode of the gods and popes.

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