Alexander took a deep breath and tried his best to calm his emotions.

"What about Count Jericho?" he asked, turning his back to Prime Minister Pitt, "what is Beria's attitude?"

"He refused our request for him to release Count Jericho," Prime Minister Pitt shook his head helplessly, although it was Wood's request, but now Beria insisted on not letting him go, and he was helpless, "Beria's intentions have been revealed, he is unwilling to release Count Jericho, that is, he does not want to recognize your authority, at least until you officially succeed to the throne, he will not agree that you have the authority to order him." ”

Alexander's tightly pursed lips turned slightly, he wanted to clean up Beria, but the current situation did not allow him to do so. "At least we know Beria's attitude," Alexander could only comfort himself, who had not been so concerned about Swain's safety from the beginning.

"After His Majesty's funeral, it will probably be time for him to have a showdown. ”

Alexander nodded, a duel between brothers was inevitable.

The first morning sun of dawn shone into the palace, because it was already May, and the dawn was very early, and if it weren't for the weather, the morning sun would have come even faster.

"Ready," Alexander said, gazing at the coffin of Nicholas I, where the sun was falling, "let's send our father on his last journey." ”

Prime Minister Pete nodded silently, and he turned around, ready to go and order the royal guards to carry the coffin of Nicholas I.

There were already many people waiting outside the palace gate, most of them were the upper nobles of the empire, and Alexander's wife, Princess Anna, was waiting at the door with a group of royal heirs. The children's faces were still stained with tears, and even the most mature princess, Katarina, could not hold back her tears at this time, and when the coffin of Nicholas I was slowly carried out by the royal guards, they could not hold back the sadness in their hearts and wept loudly.

Among the princes and princesses, only Alexei was the most silent, perhaps because his grandfather died in front of his eyes, or because his father was too harsh on him, his tears seemed to have dried up, and his red and swollen eyes were full of sorrow, but not a single tear could roll down.

Eight members of the royal guard, carrying the coffin of Nicholas I, walked slowly out of the palace with a steady and orderly step, and walked towards the hearse that was already waiting at the gate of the palace of Tiamat. Along the way, flanked by aristocrats dressed in black funeral dresses, the crowd slowly followed behind the emperor's coffin, no one spoke, except for the low sobs, the whole procession was silent.

At the gates of the Tiamat Palace, all the cabinet members headed by Prime Minister Pitt were waiting here, and the royal guards handed them over, and these high-ranking imperial dignitaries sent Nicholas I to the last car. Everyone was silent, even an elderly man like Prime Minister Pitt did his best to carry the coffin of Nicholas I, and the Minister of War Guderian, dressed in a military uniform, carried the main burden on his shoulders and silently carried the heaviest burden for his colleagues.

Alexander stood by the hearse and watched in silence as the ministers carried the coffin of Nicholas I into the hearse. There was no way around it, because Nicholas I had too few heirs, and the grandchildren were not old enough to carry the coffin, so the cabinet members had to take on the responsibility in place of the royal family.

When Nicholas I's coffin was placed on the hearse, Alexander climbed into the front of the chariot and assumed the role of the coachman. Prime Minister Pete and others followed behind the hearse, followed by Princess Anna, princes and princesses, and a long procession of nobles.

The funeral procession slowly and quietly walked out of the Tiamat Palace, in front of the palace gate, the royal guards had lined up their guard of honor, and when Nicholas I's hearse drove out of the Tiamat Palace, Baron McCool took the lead, and all the royal guards raised their guns in unison to salute the previous emperor.

Although it was still early in the morning, many people had already gathered on both sides of the road, waiting for the coffin of Nicholas I to pass by. Perhaps Nicholas I's life was not perfect, but at least, his subjects were willing to mourn him on this day and see him off.

The funeral procession walked out of the Plaza de la Glory of Justice and turned east to Embassy Road, where the procession headed for the Cape Cathedral. When passing the Embassy Road, ministers from various countries lined up on both sides of the road to pay tribute to Nicholas I in accordance with the customs and etiquette of their respective countries.

Alexander, driving the hearse, looked at the crowd on either side, and on the faces of these ministers, he saw a richer expression than the subjects of the empire. Minister Pomeles of Hadrian's empire was at the front of the crowd, and out of politeness, he wore a gray gown instead of the white Hadrian robe that had been worn before. Still, though he had disguised himself well, and did his best to make a sad expression, Alexander could see that the expression that Minister Pomeles really wanted to show was a smile, a smile of triumphant contempt for the Empire. Because of his experience studying in Iskontin, Alexander knew these Hadrians very well, reserved and excessive hypocrisy, and the seemingly modest appearance often concealed a contempt for foreign races in his bones, which even the scholars whom Alexander admired the most were not exempt.

There was no expression on Alexander's face, and he did not show any displeasure at the sight of Hadrian's implicit taunt. Looking beyond Hadrian, he saw the Silesian minister not far away, the bearded minister was frowning at this moment, remembering the news that the Metternich had told him before, Alexander could understand the sorrow of the Silesian minister at this time.

In the crowd, Alexander did not see the envoy of the Kingdom of Leon, whose envoy was already in danger and had already returned home and devoted his insignificant body to the defense of the country. Although he admired the courage and determination of the Leones, Alexander also knew that this was actually a sign of the despair of the Leones, although the rebellion of the Empire was basically quelled, but even if the Empire could send troops to the Badajoz Peninsula now, it was too late.

Taken into account the different expressions of the ministers of various countries, Alexander drove the hearse out of the embassy district. Maybe Alexander has a lot of shortcomings compared to Nicholas I, but after all, he has been the crown prince for many years, and he has been able to hide his emotions well, and the mourning and sadness for the old emperor are enough to be shown by Princess Anna and her children, and now Alexander must be strong to leave the impression of the subjects of the empire, so that the people of the empire can rekindle their confidence in the new emperor and the empire.

After passing through the embassy area, the funeral procession has traveled a long way, and the towering spire of the Cape Cathedral has broken through the obstruction of the view of the high-rise buildings and appeared in front of people's eyes. If you can see the Cape Cathedral, you will naturally not be far from the Ministry of the Interior. On Apu Avenue, Beria led a large number of personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, waiting in a neat formation, and the number was so large that it even exceeded the funeral procession of nobles, almost blocking Apu Avenue.

For the first time, Nicholas I's hearse stopped, as did the long funeral procession.

Alexander couldn't get out of the hearse easily, so Prime Minister Pitt stepped forward on behalf of the crown prince to inquire about the situation.

The Prime Minister's face was very ugly, anyway, today is the funeral of Nicholas I, and even if Beria is ambitious, he should not make excessive moves at this time.

"What do you want to do?" Prime Minister Pitt walked straight to Beria, and Guderian was by his side, "Why are you blocking the road?"

Listening to Prime Minister Pitt's unkind words, Beria subconsciously wanted to smile, but then he thought that the current occasion must not be laughing, and immediately held back the corners of his mouth that had just been curled and replaced it with a sad look.

"It's just a funeral for my father, Your Excellency Prime Minister. Beria lowered her head and said in a tone of genuine grief, "I only hope that my father can escort me on this last journey." ”

Prime Minister Pete's hands were clenched into fists, and of course he could hear what Beria meant, and it was clear that the ambitious Beria also wanted to show his duty as the son of Nicholas I at this special time. This is naturally not Beria's conscience, and he wants to do a filial piety for his deceased father, which is unwilling to let Alexander steal the limelight, lest everyone think that Alexander is the rightful heir.

A wave of anger rose in Prime Minister Pitt's heart, and he quickly took a few steps closer, but the guards around Beria immediately stopped him. Despite his age, Prime Minister Pitt did not lose his temper as the chief minister of Nicholas I, and he pushed away the two guards and walked directly to Beria.

"Whatever you want to do," said Prime Minister Pitt in a very low voice and in a stern tone, "don't make trouble today, it won't do you any good! Brotherly problems are always internal problems, and no one should be allowed to laugh at them, especially at your father's funeral." If you still have the slightest feeling for Your Majesty, don't do it!"

Beriamo fell silent as he rubbed the back of his silky glove-wrapped hand. He was not afraid of Prime Minister Pitt's intimidation, and could even have his subordinates rush to him right now and capture Alexander and a cabinet minister alive. But as Prime Minister Pitt said, it will not do him any good to do this today, once Beria launches a coup d'état at this time, he will definitely bear the infamy from the whole empire, and there will be full excuses everywhere to refuse to admit him, and even those southern nobles who are almost about to die may resurrect their power and become independent from the empire.

"I have nothing but mourning and grief for my father in my heart at this time, and I have no other thoughts!" said Beria with a solemn face, "I only want to do my filial piety for my father, and may he forgive me in heaven for this unworthy son." ”

How could Prime Minister Pitt believe Beria's words? But there really is nothing wrong with Beria saying this at the moment, especially since there are so many people from the Prime Minister's Ministry of the Interior who are not known to the Prime Minister around him.

Prime Minister Pitt was a little undecided, after all, it was not something he could decide. In embarrassment, he turned his head to look at Alexander, and the expressionless crown prince nodded lightly and beckoned again.

Prime Minister Pitt quickly understood what Alexander meant, and he turned his face to Beria, "Then please go to your brother's side, it is your right as a son to give His Majesty's funeral, and I only hope that you will remember what you just said." ”

Beria took a deep look at Prime Minister Pete, although he was an excellent talent, but Belia and Prime Minister Pete could not be a good pair of monarchs.

"Of course. ”

Beria walked slowly towards the hearse, boarded the hearse, and sat next to the royal brother.

The procession blocking the road left and divided to both sides of the road to make way for the funeral procession, and as the road cleared, the hearse moved slowly again.

And along the way, the two brothers who drove the hearse did not even say a word.