Cromwell picked up his teacup and sniffed it twice.

"Don't worry, it's not poisonous. Lu Chen sat across from him, smiling and teasing.

"What is poison, it's not a knight's novel, where are there so many conspiracies. Cromwell rolled his eyes, "But this cup is made of powdered tea, and I don't like to drink it - is there any tea?"

Lu Chen hurriedly raised his head and raised his eyes to look at An Jie behind him.

"You've got only tea powder left here. The maid shrugged helplessly.

"Let's make do with it. Lu Chen sat up straight and waved his hand at Cromwell.

Cromwell glared at the Divine Envoy twice, and then reluctantly lowered his head and took two sips of tea.

Lu Chen looked at the cardinal with a smile on his face.

It was already evening, and through the window of his bedroom, he could see the dim sky of the imperial capital.

After the Pope's visit at noon, Lu Chen immediately sent An Jie to Cromwell, but the cardinal was too late until this time.

Whatever. Lu Chen felt that he had a lot of time.

"You didn't come to me just to poison my palate with a bad drink, did you?" Cromwell frowned and put down his teacup, retching.

"I've been drinking this," Lu Chen retorted dissatisfied, "Why can't you drink when I drink it?"

"I'll send someone to bring you some tea when I get back. Cromwell smiled bitterly, "Eliot, I didn't say it, you are also a priest of the church, and you should live a little more delicately." ”

"When is it, it's still exquisite!" Lu Chen sneered, "Look at the Wehrmacht surrounded outside, just say, how many days can I be an envoy?"

Cromwell's eyes darkened. He picked up the teacup again, craned his neck and drank it all.

An Jie obediently walked over and lifted the teapot to refill the bishop.

"Anjie, there's nothing to do, you go and get busy with yours. Lu Chen said.

Cromwell glanced at the oracle, his fingers running over the rim of the teacup.

An Jie obviously realized that the two adults were going to discuss something important. She nodded, whispered goodnight, closed the bedroom door and went out.

Lu Chen quietly watched the maid leave, until he heard the sound of the deadbolt, and then turned back again.

"Gregory has come for me. Lu Daguan squinted at Cromwell, "It's noon today." ”

"Pope?" Cromwell said, stunned, "what is he looking for you for?"

"Let me speak at the New Year's celebration. Lu Chen couldn't help laughing.

He got up from his chair and walked over to his bookshelf.

A collection of books of all kinds filled the shelves of the Divine Envoy Elliot Saville. Many of these books are so old that even the spine of the cowhide is on the verge of peeling, but thanks to Eliot's care and clean work, they are still in good condition.

Lu Chen casually took out a black book from the bookshelf and looked at the cover.

Geographical Atlas of the Empire. Lu Chen thoughtfully took it down and put it on his desk.

"New Year's celebration?" Cromwell still looked confused, "I thought that according to our state, this year's New Year's celebration will not be held!"

Indeed, it is not a good idea to hold a celebration in the midst of a siege -

But Lu Chen still likes this spirit of revolutionary optimism.

"Anyway, the Pope said that he would do it, and he had the final say. Lu Chen smiled sarcastically, "The point is that what the Pope asked me to say is actually a declaration of surrender!"

Cromwell's eyes widened.

So, Lu Chen carefully told the ally about the Pope's plan.

"No!" Before the envoy could finish speaking, Cromwell stood up.

The reaction is big enough! Lu Chen grinned and looked at Cromwell.

"Eliot, you must not agree to the Pope's surrender in public!" Cromwell said solemnly, "Do you know that there are now two-fifths of the resistance factions in the church, and the vast majority of them make this choice because they admire you as an oracle! Once you yourself agree to surrender, then the psychological defense line of these resistance factions will collapse in an instant!"

I don't understand this? Are you a fool of me?

Lu Chen gave Cromwell a blank look helplessly.

"Elliot, we must find a way to make you absent from the banquet that day, so as to avoid this fateful speech!" Cromwell was already nervous, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, "You say, you pretend to be sick on New Year's Day, is this idea good?"

It's not a truancy, pretending to be a ghost's disease! Lu Chen was full of contempt for Cromwell: the tricks that this old brother came up with were too old-fashioned.

"Well, I'm not a kid anymore. He patted Cromwell on the shoulder and persuaded him to calm down, "I'm just telling you, I have my own plan for this matter, you don't have to worry about it." ”

"Elliot, you will always be a child in my heart. Cromwell also seemed to realize his gaffe, and couldn't help but hold his forehead and smile.

Lu Chen felt a warmth in his heart.

Indeed, for Elliot Savier, Cromwell was not only a noble cardinal, but also a great brother who accompanied him from childhood.

Cromwell's existence gave him, a traveler who was a stranger in another world, an inexplicable sense of belonging.

"Cromwell, do you know anything about Cardinal Benedict?"

Lu Chen remembered the bald bishop who was following the Pope today, and hurriedly asked.

Speaking of which, Cromwell and Benedict were cardinals of the same rank, so he must know something about the latter.

Listening to the question of the Divine Envoy, Cromwell was stunned for a moment, revealing a wry smile:

"......Benedict? Don't like him very much. ”

"Oh?" Lu Chen raised his eyebrows curiously.

If Cromwell, a good old man, doesn't like it, then this Benedict must have something ...... "outstanding".

"How so...... Elliot, do you know what Lord Benedict is called? The people in the church secretly called him 'wolfdog'. Cromwell sat back in his seat and dusted off the knee folds of his robe, "People say that Benedict is a dog under the Pope's crown, and he will unconditionally support all decisions made by His crown." ”

Probably the kind of person who always raises his hand when he votes in a meeting...... Lu Chen thought secretly.

"Ever since the capitulation and resistance in the Church began to oppose each other, Benedict has sided with the capitulation side of the Pope. Cromwell shook his head, "Although everyone hasn't torn their faces for the sake of face, my relationship with Benedict has long since begun to deteriorate. Eliot, if you really want to overthrow the Pope, then Benedict is definitely a threat. ”

"By the way, there are three cardinals in the church now, right?"

"That's right. Cromwell nodded, snapping his fingers, "Lord Thompson, Lord Lorenzo, Master Ola, Master Clementius, these four are cardinals in charge of secular dioceses, and they are not currently in the church, but in their own domain—they are not trapped like us, although the situation is not great, but it is certainly much better, and in this central cathedral are me, Lord Benedict, and Lord Houghton, a total of three cardinals. ”

Lu Chen picked up a quill pen, gently tugged at the fibers of the feather, and asked:

"What about Lord Horton, what about him?"

"Horton's ......"

Cromwell said halfway and stopped himself. He frowned, as if considering the words, and continued for a long time:

“...... He's an interesting person. ”

Lu Chen laughed.

"Then tell me more about it," said the Divine Envoy, grinning, "and I like interesting people." ”