Chapter 151: Heartbeat
Due to the change in Prime Minister Alec's attitude towards Li Zijun, their next conversation was much more natural and smooth.
After Prime Minister Alec gave Li Zijun a general introduction to the negotiations, Li Zijun found that in fact, before he returned to the capital, Virgil Bixia and Prime Minister Alec had already determined the direction and goal of the negotiations. In the plan letter that Prime Minister Alec threw to him, he noticed that Prime Minister Alec had deduced the problems and difficulties that might arise in the negotiations, and formulated corresponding countermeasures and solutions.
The entire plan covers almost all the details of the negotiation, which also gives Li Zijun a deeper understanding of his ability as a future father-in-law.
And what Li Zijun didn't expect the most was that the main reason why he was able to appear among the negotiators was that Prime Minister Alec strongly recommended him.
"In addition to your dukedom, I hope that because of your presence, we will have a psychological advantage at the negotiating table!After all, you are one of the main reasons for the current situation of the Turk-Hungarian Empire!"
No matter what kind of rhetoric Prime Minister Alec uses to cover up, Li Zijun has found a gratifying change, that is, he no longer hates himself as much as before!
This astonishing discovery made Lee Zijun continue to improve his cooperation, and soon they agreed on all the details of the negotiation!
In fact, this process is basically Prime Minister Alec keeps talking, while Li Zijun keeps nodding, and he rarely puts forward any different opinions. Although Li Zijun found that Prime Minister Alec's attitude was obviously much friendlier, the fear of Prime Minister Alec still existed in his heart, and he put himself in the position of an echo worm more often.
After the meeting, Alec left Li Zijun for lunch, and specially called Winnie to sit with him.
Although Li Zijun and Winnie didn't dare to say a word during the whole lunch, their occasional flirtation during the banquet made Li Zijun even sweeter and excited.
Alec Cheng should have heard the news that the fifth prince would be a guest at Li Zijun's mansion tonight. After lunch, he sent Li Zijun out of the Prime Minister's Mansion for this reason.
Originally, Li Zijun was a little reluctant to leave, but he didn't expect that Prime Minister Alec actually agreed to Winnie's request to help him set up the dinner. This also made Li Zijun flattered, but also felt a little grateful to Prime Minister Alec, and happily left the Prime Minister's Mansion with Winnie.
Winnie and Jenny, Anna and Catherine were already familiar with each other, and Winnie's gentle and attentive personality was recognized by them.
Originally, Li Zijun also wanted Winnie to stay at the dinner, although he guessed that the fifth prince must have other intentions as a strong guest, but he had already regarded Winnie as his own woman, and he didn't want to hide anything from her in this regard.
It's just that Winnie is very sensible, and she took her leave before the fifth prince visited.
Li Zijun still has to wait for the fifth prince, and Catherine and Anna take the initiative to take on the task of sending Winnie to recovery. In order to make up for his debt to them during this time, Li Zijun promised to accompany them for a day of shopping the next day. Shopping is the happiest pleasure in every woman's heart, and with his promise, the three women left happily. Looking at the graceful backs of the three women, Li Zijun was a happy mess!
After seeing them leave, Li Zijun couldn't help but start to guess the purpose of the fifth prince's visit. He was very clear about the relationship between the fifth prince and the eldest prince, but he had a feeling that the fifth prince had some other intentions this time. But he didn't have any clue what it was, so he could only wait for the fifth prince to reveal the mystery for him.
Before dinner, the fifth prince arrived on time in a carriage. Seeing that the fifth prince was so light-hearted, only a few guards accompanied him, especially Li Zijun also heard the sound of another person's breathing in the carriage, he couldn't help but have a few more question marks in his heart.
But suspicion is suspicion, Li Zijun still ordered the middle door to be opened, and led everyone in the mansion to warmly welcome the fifth prince into the mansion.
But the moment Li Zijun approached the carriage, his heart moved slightly, and he motioned to Anna with his eyes to pull Jenny aside, and Catherine saw his eyes and secretly guarded.
At this moment, the fifth prince's subordinate stepped forward and opened the car door, and the fifth prince jumped out of the carriage with a smile on his face.
"Brother, seeing that the elder brother only brought a carriage, did you feel a little more relaxed? Don't worry, I'm a very restrained person, and I won't move all the collections in your wine cellar!" said the fifth prince with a hearty smile.
"This carriage is scary enough!" Li Zijun understood the informality of the fifth prince's character, he deliberately pretended to be reluctant, and made a movement to wipe his sweat with his sleeves.
"Okay, don't pretend to be an old brother, take me to your wine cellar to have a look!" The fifth prince hammered Li Zijun's shoulder hard and said with a smile, and then pulled him towards the mansion.
"Brother, brother still has some things to trouble you, can you let your people disperse first!"
The fifth prince said in a low voice in Li Zijun's ear while playing haha.
Li Zijun quickly guessed that what the fifth prince was going to say must be related to the person in the car, since the fifth prince was able to let this person ride with him, it had already shown that his identity was not simple! And although this person's martial arts skills were not very good in Li Zijun's feelings, he brought Li Zijun a dangerous aura, which was also the reason why Li Zijun signaled Anna to stop Jenny from approaching.
Hearing the fifth prince say this, Li Zijun was even more sure of his judgment of this person, and he immediately used the excuse of taking the fifth prince to the wine cellar in person to let everyone else in the mansion disperse.
"Ed, I'm not going to hide it, I really have something to trouble you with this visit. Seeing that the people around him had already left, the fifth prince pointed to his carriage and said with confidence.
"What's the use of Wei Chen, the fifth prince, you just command!" Li Zijun bowed to the fifth prince.
"Mandel, the eldest prince of the Turk-Hungarian Empire, is in my carriage at the moment, and I won't tell you that I have always had some dealings with him in private, and I can be regarded as having some friendship. In this Hungarian coup, he ran to me in desperation and asked for my help. It's just that you also know that my identity in this matter is a little embarrassing, and I was forced to be helpless, so I had to find you. Even if it's inconvenient for you to make a move, you have to show your brother a way for him to go!"
The fifth prince looked at Li Zijun and said in embarrassment.
The fifth prince has been in close contact with Mandel for so many years, and in order to help Mandel improve rapidly, he once sent the two sisters Anna and Anne to the grassland together with the Sheling Fruit, but he didn't expect that Zuihou would be cheaper than Li Zijun.
"Mandel and Blanche are brother and sister, wouldn't it be easier for you to go to the eldest prince about this?" asked Li Zijun with some puzzlement.
"On the one hand, I never mentioned my relationship with Mandel to my eldest brother. At this time, he is entangled in trivial matters again, and I really can't trouble him!"
On the other hand, although Mandel and Blanche are brother and sister, their relationship is not deep. Especially when it comes to the attitude towards Boyle and Julie, there is a big difference between them, and Mandel does not want to tell Blanche about his arrival in Filano City. β
Hearing the fifth prince say this, Li Zijun was also slightly stunned, he immediately understood the fifth prince's distress, Dennis has been hiding from the eldest prince and the Mandel of the Turk-Hungarian Empire, obviously there are some invisible people's purposes, at this time it is really difficult for him to speak.
In addition, since Li Zijun can sense that Blanche is not ordinary, Mandel, who has lived in the same environment with her for a long time, is more likely to find her problems, and it is reasonable not to ask her for help.
And for so many years, although the Turk-Hungarian Empire and the Dongyu Empire have maintained friendly contacts, the behavior of the fifth prince in private with the other prince will still make many people feel taboo, which also makes it difficult for him to explain this matter to Virgil Bixia.
Thinking about it, it seems that there is really no more suitable candidate than Li Zijun to solve this matter. It's just that with Li Zijun's friendship with the fifth prince, he doesn't seem to have a reason to help the fifth prince for no reason, and he can't help but hesitate.
"Mandel and I have been friends for many years, and I really can't bear to watch him wander the world like this! You must do my brother this favor, just as my brother owes you a favor, and when you use your brother in the future, my brother will go to the soup and go to the fire!" The fifth prince saw Li Zijun's face was embarrassed, and he said a little anxiously.
As soon as the fifth prince said this, Li Zijun really had no way to refuse! In fact, he still admired the fifth prince's ability to help Mandel wholeheartedly at this time! No one can be willing to help his allies like the fifth prince without getting any benefits, which makes Li Zijun's already good influence on the fifth prince a little better!
"I think the two highnesses should come to my study for dinner first, and then we will find a way to see how we can help His Highness Mandel?" Li Zijun got the consent of the fifth prince, turned around and asked Catherine to arrange everything, and he took the fifth prince and Mandel, who had just gotten off the car, back to his study together.
Although Catherine is excellent in martial arts, she is only seen as Li Zijun's woman most of the time, and it is for this reason that her stay here does not cause the displeasure of the fifth prince and Mandel.
After the fifth prince and Mandel both sat down in Li Zijun's study, Li Zijun had time to carefully examine the image of the Turk-Hungarian prince.
Mandel has a height of more than two meters, and with Li Zijun's height of more than one meter and eight meters, if you want to see him clearly, you have to look up to him. Combined with his unusually burly figure, Mandel often gives Li Zijun the illusion of facing a low wall.
Although Li Zijun judged that Mandel was only a great sword master-level martial artist, in his body, Li Zijun felt a wild liliang, and it was this liliang that made Li Zijun also feel a little threatened. As far as his judgment goes, Juggernaut, there should be no one who is Mandel's opponent!
But Mandel's face is full of friendliness and integrity, which makes Li Zijun take a keen interest in his contradictory combination.
"Lord, His Royal Highness Mandel has a noble status, and it may not be appropriate for a person like him to come to Filano City without reporting to Virgil Bixia. I also understand your distress, why don't you report it to Bixia, what do you think?" Li Zijun felt that he could help the fifth prince, but he couldn't hide it from Virgil Bixia, he even suspected that the cunning old man already knew about it, and was just watching how they responded.
"I don't want to hide this from my father, but my identity is really embarrassing, and it seems that I can only trouble you to introduce him to my father!"
The fifth prince wanted to speak and stopped.
Li Zijun understood what the fifth prince was worried about, smiled and said:
"Don't worry, I won't mention you to Bixia during the report!" His Highness Mandel fled directly to the Seine Peninsula and was sent to the capital by my men. 'Do your highnesses think my argument still works?'
"Brother is so much Xiexie you!" said the fifth prince with some excitement pulling Li Zijun's arm.
Mandel's high prestige in the steppes made him an inevitable obstacle to Poyle and Julie's control of the Turk-Hungarian regime. Once his identity is revealed, I fear that my life will be in danger immediately!"
"Don't worry! I will definitely be careful in this matter! I will also ask Bixia to send someone to give special protection to His Highness Mandel. β
Hearing that Li Zijun thought so carefully, the fifth prince and Mandel finally put their minds at ease, and they also expressed their gratitude to him again.
"The dinner has been prepared, let's talk while eating! It's just that I didn't know that His Royal Highness Mandel would be here today, and the meals prepared were all the dishes that the fifth prince liked, and I asked Your Highness not to be surprised. Li Zijun looked at Mandel and said politely.
"Fugitives, how can they be so exquisite, as long as there is wine!" Mandel said innocently, and at first glance he was a bold person who was like the fifth prince.
"You've found the right place to drink, my brother is full of good wine here, and he will be reluctant to take it out to entertain us in a while!"
The fifth prince squeezed his eyes at Mandel and said narrowly.
"As long as the two highnesses like it, drink it freely today!" Seeing the fifth prince's relaxed appearance, Li Zijun also laughed, nodded to Catherine beside her, and she turned around and went out to order the official serving.
Originally, Li Zijun wanted to entertain the fifth prince in the hall, but due to the appearance of Mandel, in order to ensure that his identity would not be revealed, Li Zijun had to arrange the dinner in his study.
Fortunately, this study is big enough, and the three of them don't seem crowded to sit here.
"Your Highness Mandel, as far as I know, although your country has been bedridden, his condition has always been stable, how could he suddenly pass away? The prince just mentioned the coup d'Γ©tat, what happened in your country?" Li Zijun couldn't believe Mandel simply by relying on the words of the fifth prince, he asked the reason why Mandel left Turk-Hungary in disguise.
Hearing Li Zijun's question, Mandel sighed deeply.
"I'm just curious, if there is anything inconvenient about Your Highness, just as if I never asked!"
"Now that I've come to this point, what can't I say!" Mandel sighed again as he thought of what had happened to him.
After her father was bedridden, Princess Julie, with the help of Boyle, gradually gained the support of the tribal leaders. As the shili in their hands became stronger, they began to gradually ignore the existence of their father! However, this neglect was more reflected in the reduction of their father's right to speak, and in life, their father was taken care of more! They even often invited some famous doctors from all over the country to go back to treat their father. β
"Although I am dissatisfied with the gradual elevation of rights, but the strength in my hands is too far apart, and at the same time, I endured it when I saw them treat my father so sincerely. β
Later, I don't know where Boyle got the news that Monlin was about to attack Dongyu, and he proposed to take advantage of the fire. This incident directly led to the outbreak of contradictions between us!"
"I think that with the current military and economic strength of the Turks, the Hungarians took the initiative to attack the Dongyu Empire, which is tantamount to taking the plunge in the fire, and it is good to succeed, but if there is any mistake, it will bring irreparable losses to the Turkish-Hungarian Empire. The development of events, zuihou also proved my inference!"
"It's just that at that time, the tribal leaders were completely confused by the beautiful blueprint outlined by Boyle, and they all agreed to Boyle's suggestion!"
The ensuing food shortage gradually shaken many tribes that had originally supported Boyle. β
"I thought this would be an opportunity to secretly liaise with the tribes who oppose Boyle and Julie, and prepare to overthrow their control of the Turk-Hungarian Empire in one fell swoop when they return to Beijing. β
"It's just that I never expected that while I was preparing to deal with them, I had already become their target!"
"At that time, you just fled into the prairie, and they secretly mobilized a large number of masters and elite troops back to Beijing in the name of besieging you. β
"Just before they were about to attack us, one of my father's old subordinates risked his life to deliver the news to me! Soon after, I heard the news of my father's death!" Mandel said this, his eyes turned red, and he took a drink from the big wine wrist in front of him.
Hearing Mandel's introduction, Li Zijun also had a sudden sense of enlightenment! On that day, he ran desperately on the steppe, and almost every day he had to face the encirclement and interception of the Turk-Hungarian soldiers. When he arrived, fortunately, he rarely met any masters.
At that time, Li Zijun thought that this was because Boyle was worried that he would escape, and he concentrated all the high-level martial artists in his hands on the periphery. Only now did he realize that it was not that he was lucky, but that Boyle had quietly changed his goal. Boyle used him as a pawn to attract Mandel's attention, which made Li Zijun, who was originally proud, feel a little lost.
Li Zijun had no topic, and the fifth prince and Mandel also had their own thoughts, and the table gradually quieted down.
Although the fifth prince said it so refreshingly, in such a situation, how could the three of them have a good drink. The three of them chatted a few more words, and the dinner ended hastily.
"Ed, can Mandel stay in your mansion for a while?" the fifth prince asked Li Zijun in a low voice while Mandel was free to go out.
"There are some places in my mansion, but I'm just worried about the safety of His Highness Mandel!"
"If you're not safe here, it's even more of a problem for me!" the fifth prince said not modestly.
Li Zijun's mansion can definitely be said to be a master at this moment, in addition to Li Zijun himself is a sword saint, there are also several great sword masters, and most of the people in the mansion are high-level martial artists.
In addition, in order to prevent Meng Lin from retaliating against Li Zijun, Virgil Bixia also arranged a large number of masters on the periphery.
Today's Li Zijun Mansion is really heavily guarded and difficult for birds to cross!
"Since you think so highly of me, then let His Highness Mandel live with me temporarily!
"It's not easy to entertain him, just throw him into your cellar, and I'll make sure he is grateful to you!"
"Lord Wang, I don't have much inventory, do you really rest assured that His Royal Highness Mandel will live in my wine cellar?" Li Zijun looked at the fifth prince and teased.
"Forget it, Mandel still needs to stay in a comfortable room, preferably far from your wine cellar!"
"You stingy, you won't let me have a drink at your house, and you're going to grab a drink from me when you get to Ed?" Pushing the door in, Mandel apparently overheard their conversation.
"I'm still stingy, you're almost draining the wine in our cellar!" argued the fifth prince as he pointed to Mandel like a child.
"This is probably the reason why you let His Highness live with me, right?" Li Zijun looked at the fifth prince and smiled.
The fifth prince was slightly stunned, and then spoke loudly with Li Zijun and Mandel.
Li Zijun sent off the fifth prince and went directly to Mandel's room after returning home.
"Your Highness, you have probably heard during this time that we are preparing to negotiate with the Empress Dowager Julie. Although I promised the fifth prince to report your matter to Virgil Bixia, according to my guess, Bixia may not be of much help to you at this time, and I hope you can be mentally prepared. After a few words of greeting with Mandel, Li Zijun said with a solemn expression.
"Actually, I have been prepared for the situation you mentioned. Now that things have come to this point, what illusions do I have any more, it is really wishful thinking! I just want to find a place where my people can live in peace, so that they will not continue to wander from place to place. Mandel said heavily.
Hearing Mandel say this, Li Zijun suddenly had an idea in his heart. At present, the biggest problem restricting the development of the Seine Peninsula is population, which is the main reason why Li Zijun personally went to the mountains to find those forgotten tribes. If the Mandel tribe could live on the Seine Peninsula, or even use his influence to migrate more Turk-Hungarian herdsmen to the Seine Peninsula?