The meeting was supposed to last three days. However, for well-known reasons, the proceedings of the second day were aborted.

Li Zhen knew that Lu Dao would have such a result, so when he got the news, he was still lying on the bed and talking to Zhang Kesong on the phone. Then he received another notice that the nominal supreme ruler of the empire, Emperor Zhu Zhaoxu of Zhenyuan, was going to summon him.

He was not surprised by this, and knew that the emperor might have something to say to him.

The emperor still lives in the palace, separated from the South China Sea by a wall. It reminded him of the first time he met the emperor, when he was still the crown prince. He didn't have much of an impression of that young man, because he was originally a person from the two worlds. I only remember that the prince inherited the bloodline of the Zhu family, and his face was slightly longer than that of ordinary people, but he could also be called a beautiful man.

So he spent half an hour grooming himself and changing into a formal attire—he hadn't worn a formal suit for years since his junior high school graduation ceremony, but fortunately Yanjing was the imperial capital, and industry and commerce were recovering faster than elsewhere, and it took his guards three hours to find a dress shop.

It wasn't a made-to-order dress, but it was an unexpected fit. The material is a good material, the moon white dark brocade pine moire, and the cut is also decent. Li Zhen looked at himself in the mirror and suddenly felt that he had traveled back many years - at that time, he was still discussing with a few classmates how to cut the knife of the dress and bring it to the graduation ceremony.

The slightly loose and soft dress was very comfortable to wear, and Li Zhen was even in the mood to hum a tune.

Then the royal car that came to pick him up arrived, but it was really just to pick him up - there were no police cars to open the way and no escort vehicles. It's just a lonely car.

This means that the emperor does not want to make a big deal about this, so it can be seen that what he wants to say is not good news.

He walked from the hotel where he stayed to the palace for a whole hour, and Li Zhen didn't take anyone with him.

After getting out of the car, he was then led to the "Qinzhai" gate in the north corner of the garden of the Taiqing Palace, which used to be the emperor's imperial study, and still is.

He was looking at the scenery all the way. You must know that even in the palace today, not everyone can enter. It's a pity that he was a little disappointed by the current scenery, and many places are under construction. He even saw a few bullet holes in a red pillar, showing how terrible things had happened here a few months ago.

There was a curtain between him and the imperial study in front of him, and the attendant who had brought him in should go in first to make an announcement. But when the waiter was about to open the curtain, the person inside opened the curtain first.

Li Zhen looked at the person and found that it was a familiar face.

Zhu Zhaoxu walked out by himself.

The young emperor smiled at Li Zhen and nodded to the attendant on the side: "It's okay to have the two of us here." ”

The waiter bowed respectfully. Take two steps back. Then he turned and walked away.

Zhu Zhaoxu looked at the back of the waiter and said softly with a smile: "I feel good when I haven't been a prince yet-you know that there are many rules, and there are still rules." ”

It's like a billionaire who says he envies a laid-back fisherman more — Li Zhen knows that this is not true. Otherwise, why make such a fuss that bullets are fired into the palace? But he was not an "Imperial" now, but a "Luzonian", in a sense he represented the nascent nation of the South. So he also smiled like an emperor and said gently, "Yes." ”

Zhu Zhaoxu walked up to him and stretched out his hand: "Let's go." It's been years since we last met. ”

Li Zhen took steps with the emperor in a good way. Walking side by side into a long corridor to the west of the study.

The emperor is dressed in white today. Retro style. It looks comfortable and proper. The cool breeze passed through the corridor, blowing him very fairy.

After taking a few steps, Li Zhen responded to what he just said: "Actually, think about it, we were still very happy at that time. ”

Zhu Zhaoxu glanced at Li Zhen sideways. He said, "I talked to General Dai. ”

After a pause, he said, "I also know what happened in the venue." ”

Li Zhen didn't expect the young emperor to get into the subject so quickly. But after a little surprise, he had a faint affection for this person in his heart - this kind of straightforwardness is better than hypocritical politeness, especially for his identity.

So he said, "You don't look panicked. ”

Zhu Zhaoxu smiled: "Because sixteen hours have passed." To be honest, I haven't slept since three o'clock yesterday afternoon. I don't think I'm alone in this state – not many of the forty-seven people who were here yesterday could sleep. You're dropping a bomb. ”

"But I'm telling the truth." Li Zhen sighed slightly, "It's a pity that people's feelings about the truth are very complicated. ”

Zhu Zhaoxu silently took two steps and asked, "We—I mean the entire Anthropocene realm, really don't have the strength to fight?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and shook his head: "No." ”

There was no expression on Zhu Zhaoxu's face. After listening to Li Zhen's words, he nodded, and said again in the rhythm of taking four steps and saying a sentence: "Then I believe you." However, it's hard for others to believe in you just like that. Yesterday's vision alone won't convince everyone, but there will still be people ......"

He paused: "Or maybe I asked." If there are still people who don't agree with your judgment of this crisis, what will be the result of launching a large-scale attack on that ancient god? ”

"Nothing will come of it." Li Zhen said, "Unless hundreds of Gale nuclear bombs are dropped at a time." But even that would be self-defeating. ”

He thought for a moment, looked at the young emperor beside him, and said softly, "But I don't want to go that far. Because then, it will have to deter us again – only this time it won't just be a ring of fire on someone's head. ”

The emperor stopped, and for the first time frowned slightly at Li Zhen: "...... So? ”

Li Zhen met his gaze and said in a calm tone, "Maybe it will destroy one or two small countries." It is not the kind of small country that is remote and backward, but the kind of country that has a certain amount of influence. In the blink of an eye, there is no piece of armor left. ”

The look on Zhu Zhaoxu's face froze slightly. But then he furrowed his brow. He took another step and said as if to himself, "That's really the case...... It's not out of the question. ”

"It's almost inevitable." Li Zhen said, "I told General Dai that arrogance is a terrible thing, but unfortunately arrogance is also the nature of human beings. At some point, this nature means enterprise, a sense of honor, dignity – and that's a good thing. At other times, however...... That would be the way to die. ”

Zhu Zhaoxu shook his head with emotion, and nodded again: "Yes." Neither you nor I can stop this from happening. ”

"That's right." Li Zhen nodded with him, and continued to say in the calm and almost cold tone just now, "But this is also a good thing. Humans will see reality faster and more clearly, without wasting too much time. ”

The young emperor stopped for the second time. He looked at Li Zhen in the wind for a while, and suddenly a smile appeared on his lips: "It looks like this." You seem to be a better fit for this position than I am. ”

Li Zhen was stunned. The joke is a bit too much - for a monarch. But then he realized that there was an emperor. Even a young emperor would not make such a joke for no reason.

There are other meanings to this sentence.

Li Zhen looked at Zhu Zhaoxu's eyes, and a vague thought was born in his heart.

Since hundreds of years ago, emperors have been the nominal supreme rulers of the empire, and they have no real power in their hands. However, what he remembered was what the king of Murmansk said to himself—

These are troubled times. The troubled times of the Great Break......

Something at some stage. It looks backward and barbaric. But if it's a different context. It's hard to tell if it's good or bad...... Especially now.

So he took a light breath. said: "Your Majesty should not have been born in the royal family. You should also be a good politician. ”

The Emperor asked with interest, "Do you think so?" ”

"Yes." Li Zhen smiled again, "But it's man-made." ”

The Emperor shook his head noncommittally and took a few steps forward. Change the subject. This time his voice was a little deeper, sounding a little ethereal: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received twelve notes this morning. ”

Li Zhen smiled expectedly: "If you guess correctly, it should be a request to expel me." ”

"Yes. There are even requests that the International Court of Justice put you on trial – for crimes against humanity. The Emperor shook his head as he walked, "I guess in a few days, someone will leak out some of the contents of this meeting, and then you may face the pressure of the entire world." ”

Li Zhen didn't speak. The Emperor paused, and continued, "In this matter, the Empire's position—at least at this stage...... I think you can understand. ”

"I can understand that. You don't have to be embarrassed. I was prepared for it. Li Zhen said.

The emperor smiled gently: "Thank you." Actually, we can put it off – if you want to stay a little longer. ”

Li Zhen smiled: "I'm nothing-"

But the emperor interrupted him: "For example, Pingyang." A friend of yours still lives there - his name is Qi Yuanshan. ”

Li Zhen's smile froze on his face. At this moment, Zhu Zhaoxu had some kind of illusion - it meant that a dangerous light burst out from Li Zhen's eyes, but it flashed.

However, the two men still looked at each other for a brief second. A second later, they invariably staggered each other's gazes.

"I've heard you used to have a good relationship." Zhu Zhaoxu said slowly, "Actually, you can take them out of Pingyang." As far as I know, Qi Yuanshan is not doing well now, and when you get to Luzon, you can take care of him. After all...... The Old Gods won't do anything to Luzon – you're there. ”

Li Zhen was silent for a while, and also said at a very slow pace: "No need. Everyone has their own way of life, and maybe my environment there is not suitable for him. But I still want to thank you – I do want to see him, too. ”

The young emperor nodded: "It's okay." ”

Then Li Zhen said, "Then—"

The emperor smiled: "I won't leave you for lunch." ”

Li Zhen leaned over wordlessly and turned to leave. After a dozen steps, a waiter came over to guide him. As he followed the attendant through the garden of the Taiqing Palace, he couldn't help but look back at the emperor again.

The latter turned his back to him at the moment, as if looking at the scenery.

Li Zhen frowned and rubbed his right hand with his left hand. Only then did he realize that the fingers of both of his hands were trembling slightly. (To be continued......)