Listening to Prime Minister Cullen's words, all the ministers were stunned.

Gilbert couldn't help but be anxious when he heard the sound outside the strings:

"Your Excellency Prime Minister!"

That's when a third voice joined the discussion.

"In fact, if the kingdom really has no other way but to bite the bullet, it may ......"

Unfamiliar voices attract the attention of the vast majority of people.

The courtiers turned to the interjector, the only one of the royal council who did not speak—the vicar of the Sunset Church, Stylianides.

I saw Stylianides bowing slightly:

"Can I try to convince the Sunset Church to fund the expansion of the standing army?"

Many frowned.

"What? you?" said Sodot, skeptically.

In the corner of the table, the vicar smiled and nodded humbly:

"Guy Stylianides, vicar of the central diocese of the Church of the Sunset, is today present at the Council in place of Archbishop Zenon, who is on sick leave......"

"I know who you are, boy," the counselor of Sordor interrupted him rudely:

"You say, can you find the money we want?"

The vicar named Guy smiled slightly, then closed his eyes and made a prayer: "Don't dare to promise, do your best." ”

Seeing that the other party was so simple, Soduo's adviser looked suspicious:

"If I remember correctly, in the central sunset temple of the royal capital, the priest of Diallo was the most opposed to the standing army system, he once said: The standing army fights for money, greed is contemptible, and conscripts wield swords for duty, sacred and respectable?"

Guy spoke modestly:

"Yes, most of the priests of the Temple of the Sunset are of noble birth, go in and out of the castle court, and have close ties with the nobles and princes of various places. ”

"But we are not the same, Master Sodot," said the vicar firmly:

"The Sunset Church is not the Sunset Temple. ”

Sunset Church.

Sodot was silent for a moment, then he restrained his emotions and looked at the priest with a serious look:

"Who are you?"

On the other side, Prime Minister Cullen looked clear: "Ah, the dispute between the temple and the church, the priesthood and the mission, the chief priest and the bishops?"

The vicar turned to the prime minister and smiled warmly:

"No, it's not about faith, it's about politics and positions. ”

"The temple is close to the princes, and the church is close to your majesty, it's as simple as that. ”

"The bishops of the Church would be happy to see the influence of the Temple weakened by reducing the conscripts and increasing the standing army. ”

Hearing this, many people began to think.

Cullen's gaze flickered:

"Oh, as a believer in Sunset, are you—unabashed?"

"Cover-up?"

Guy shook his head indifferently:

"No faith can exist independently of politics, and no religion is not about power struggles. ”

"If we avoid politics and talk about faith, we are putting aside human nature and only asking about divinity, which is a cover-up and disguise, a contempt and contempt for faith, and a disrespect and dishonesty to the goddess of the sunset. ”

As soon as these words came out, even the king at the end of the long table raised his eyes slightly.

Hearing this deviant words, Cullen was stunned, and then raised his eyebrows and said:

"I think I know why Gilbert recommended you. Compared to the sacrificials who are full of sacred teachings, you are indeed a little interesting. ”

Gilbert smiled reluctantly.

Bishop Guy sighed:

"Thank you for your compliment, but this is not true to everyone, especially the priests on the other side of the temple. ”

Therefore, it is inconvenient for the Church to intervene in the Kingdom military in the form of direct funding. ”

Soduo, who was most concerned about this matter, instantly had a cold face:

"And what do you mean?"

Guy turned to him and said earnestly:

"To support the expansion of the standing army, the Sunset Church must have a valid reason. ”

Reason.

Many had slightly changed expressions.

Guy looked respectfully at the end of the long table:

"If Your Majesty could change the tradition and allow our clergy brethren to join the royal standing army, I would be more sure to persuade the bishopric to contribute. ”

Sodot was stunned:

"But we already have a military sacrifice. Whenever there is a battle, the temple will send a qualified priest to preside over the ceremony......"

Guy curled the corners of his mouth and nodded calmly:

"Expelled them. ”

"What?" said Sodot in disbelief.

"I propose, Lord Sodot, to expel the standing army of the army and let the military clergymen replace them," explained Bishop Guy patiently:

"What the temple can do for the standing army, the church can do, if not more. ”

Sordor understood the other man's words, his expression changing back and forth in those few seconds.

The rest of the meeting looked at each other.

The king's gaze was still distant and unfamiliar.

Prime Minister Cullen snorted:

"The priests of the Sunset Temple will not like it. ”

Guy turned his head and spoke sharply:

"The temple doesn't like a lot of things. ”

"For example, the standing army of the royal family. ”

"But this is originally just a political issue, and if you do this, it will become a religious contradiction," Cullen shook his head and said, "It has always been a tradition to sacrifice to the army, no matter ...... it."

Guy replied calmly:

"Yes, just as the lords regularly called up the militia, it was also a tradition - until the royal standing army came out. ”

Sodot's eyebrows moved.

The vicar looked at the listless treasurer:

And if there are military clergymen, the Sunset Church will be able to allocate a permanent fund from the donations of believers, which will justifiably subsidize the cost of a part of the standing army and reduce the pressure on the Ministry of Finance and Taxation. ”

This is something that cannot be done by a temple that is high up and claims to be orthodox. ”

"Well......" Qiu Ke, who was originally bored, suddenly became energetic, and his small eyes sparkled:

"It's not that you can't think about it?"

On the other side, the military adviser was silent for a few seconds and asked cautiously:

"So, the Sunset Church can fund the expansion of the standing army, provided that Your Majesty graciously allows your priests to enter the royal standing army in lieu of the accompanying army, right?"

The vicar smiled: "Of course not. ”

But his gaze changed:

"But without this leverage, I would not have been able to convince the bishopric that it was that sure. ”

Soduo snorted coldly:

"This is coercion, taking advantage of the fire to rob. ”

"It's more for the kingdom. Guy was quick to respond to his words:

"The priests of the temple are basically noble-born, related to the princes of various places, and are born to be separated from the standing army, and the army is just a false story. ”

"And most of our priests come from poor backgrounds, accustomed to indoctrination, and will be more competent, more powerful, more enthusiastic, and more suitable for standing armies than the priests. ”

"yes, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Sodot sneered.

Hearing this, King Kessel suddenly snorted, the meaning was unclear and intriguing.

"I said, Guy, you are a priest who serves the gods. ”

Prime Minister Cullen on the other side narrowed his eyes:

"Isn't it too vulgar to be full of interests and calculate chips?"

"Vulgar?"

Stylianides smiled slightly:

"Brother Mohasa, the prophet and a close comrade-in-arms of the restored king, famously said, "Theology is the study of men." ”

Gilbert moved slightly.

"Divinity exists in human nature, human nature has its own divinity, and only by exhausting every corner of human nature can we hope to find that little flash of divinity. ”

Guy smiled:

"Who is not holy in the world? ”

"Ah, you're more than interesting, Guy," the Prime Minister's tone changed:

"You're still scary. ”

The vicar made another prayer, very religious:

"The goddess sends down a test, and always makes the path of truth seem hideous and rugged. ”

"Nope. ”

After several hesitations, Soudor figured out the doorway and resolutely refused:

"The royal standing army does not need clergy to accompany the army. ”

He said decisively:

"The standing army must not be subject to forces other than Your Majesty, especially economic resources. ”

Sodot said this and glanced at King Kessel, but to his disappointment, the king remained unmoved.

Guy disagreed, and continued to discuss:

"If it is limited to the form of payment, we can negotiate, for example, the church will donate the money to the Ministry of Finance and Taxation, and then the Department of Finance and Taxation will allocate it to the budget of the Department of Military Affairs......

"Yes!"

The treasurer's eyes lit up:

"If it works, you'll save my life, Guy!"

Stylianides bowed politely:

"Grace to the goddess, dare not take credit. ”

But Sordow's attitude remained: "So what's the difference?"

"It took five hundred years, sacrifices, and bloodshed for the stars to drive religion and theocracy back to the temple. ”

"As long as I am in charge of the Military Affairs Department for one day, history will not go backwards. ”

Sodot's words were uncompromising.

"That's not necessarily," Qiu Ke muttered to the side, "According to your posture just now, if anyone can help you expand the standing army, you are probably willing to serve him as prime minister." ”

Sodot's face froze.

"Then I'm thankful. Prime Minister Cullen sighed and moved the big butt that covered the whole chair:

"Be sure to do it, Archbishop Guy?"

Bishop Guy smiled modestly at them.

"I understand your concerns, Lord Sodot, but what you say is an ancient lesson: the priests of the temple have fallen into the way of self-righteous young sons, greedy and corrupt from above, allowing selfish desires to overshadow the public heart, indulging lies to obscure the truth, false gods seeking common gain, and fighting for power through faith, and never returning. ”

Bishop Guy nodded, mildly:

"And it was precisely because my forefathers, the clergy of the Ministry of Missions, saw their mistakes that they broke down from the temple and established their own sunset church with the true teachings of the goddess, nearly four centuries ago. The archpriest and the archbishop are not subordinate to each other, and the priesthood and the mission department abide by the boundaries, and we are not ......."

Soudor interrupted him impatiently with a wave of his hand:

"The temple or the church, the sacrifice or the priest, it doesn't make any difference to me, it's all the same. ”

"When you are weak, you have to ask for help, of course, you are obedient. ”

"If you are greedy and not greedy enough, you will inevitably gain an inch. ”

He warned:

"Times have changed - the era when the Sunset Temple was unlimitedly authoritative, responded to every call, and even dared to argue with the Fuxing Palace and meddle in the succession to the throne, is gone forever. ”

This remark made the entire Imperial Council stunned.

Guy let out a long sigh, making no secret of his disappointment.

"I see, Lord Sodot, it seems that the desire of the clergy brothers to serve the kingdom can only be fulfilled at a later date. ”

At the end of the long table, the king's cold gaze was once again obscured by the setting sun.

"In this way, in the face of such a predicament, it is unlikely that we will still want to force the reform of the military system. As the presiding officer of the Imperial Council, Prime Minister Cullen sighed.

Hearing this, Sordor glared at Jocco again.

"Don't look at me, you want money, Guy and the church have it!"

Qiu Ke knew what the other party was thinking, and he didn't care at all:

"As for whether you want it or not, you can do it yourself......"

"It's not just about money. Surprisingly, Prime Minister Cullen spoke again, interrupting the war for military and money, which he saw about to break out again.

This made the ministers pay attention to it.

"Actually, when it comes to the prince's banquet, I think a little more. ”

Duke Cullen's eyes burned:

"Last night, that little nobleman in the Western Wilderness made a royal banquet, but he was saved by the Duke of Tyers. ”

Gilbert frowned fiercely.

"This can't help but remind people that His Royal Highness returned to the country under the protection of the army of the Western Wilderness, as well as the sword of Falkenhause, which is easy to give people wrong expectations, and even be interpreted as the position of the royal family, and things are troublesome, especially at this juncture......"

Cullen shook his head as he spoke, as if he was extremely sorry.

"Prime Minister!" Gilbert snapped.

Cullen shuddered slightly, as if he had just understood, and smiled apologetically.

But after listening to the Prime Minister's words, many people nodded their heads thoughtfully.

"By the way, the Doyle family in question," said Lord Clappen, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, who had not spoken much all day:

"Their Jinghu area has been a major grain producing area in recent years, and it is also an important source of soldiers for the Bright Star Private Army and the Central Standing Army, and they belong to the Seven Servants of the Bright Star, which may affect the attitude of other families. ”

"This will affect the process of military reform. ”

He glanced cautiously at everyone:

"I think we need to characterize the case as soon as possible, sort it out, and make a verdict......"

"It's true, things at the royal banquet have caused us a lot of trouble, whether it's the next military reform, or this letter. ”

King Kessel's figure moved slightly on the throne.

Viscount Connie glanced in the direction of the king, and when he saw that he had no reaction, he cleared his throat:

"With all due respect, but I've heard that the Mindith Hall has become a new place that everyone in the royal capital is eager to go to, and look at Doyle's house, which has stabbed the big basket but is still saved by His Highness...... I don't mean to blame the Duke of Tyers, but his posture at the banquet can sometimes be misunderstood......"

"Connie!"

Gilbert sensed the direction of the meeting, shocked and angry.

"There is no problem with His Highness's disposition at the royal banquet! He is merciful and generous, and impartial!"

Chief Jocke shrugged:

But now, looking at this letter, the most important thing we need is kindness and generosity. ”

Viscount Connie nodded in agreement and added:

"As well as impartiality. ”

Gilbert was anxious:

"Putting aside the consequences, His Highness has saved two lives and two families with great skill, avoiding a worse situation!"

"But in the savage way of a bloody duel," another voice said:

"May the setting sun forgive him. ”

Gilbert turned his head in disbelief and looked at his best friend.

"Guy?"

Archbishop Stylianides nodded apologetically:

"Before I entered the palace, the bishops had a lot of talk about it. ”

The ministers exchanged glances and understood each other.

The vicar made a rite of atonement:

"The sunset witnesses, the Duke of Xinghu personally duel, resorting to the ancient rites of barbarism and heresy, that is really a bad signal and demonstration. ”

"No, that's what happened at night," Prime Minister Cullen snorted sarcastically:

"It should be said: Polaris Witness. ”

The ministers in front of the emperor bowed their heads one after another.

Gilbert took a deep breath and explained to his friend:

"Guy, my friend, as far as I know, the duel was brought up by the other party without reason, and Prince Tails, out of mercy, agreed to the duel, and risked his life, which was only an expedient measure. ”

Guy nodded in understanding:

"Of course, I understand the prince's distress, and I admire his kindness and generosity, his wisdom and wisdom. ”

"But do you think, after this story has spread throughout the kingdom," said the Duke of Cullen, shaking his head:

"When people think of duels, the first thing that comes to mind is the mercy and generosity of the prince, or the violent duel of the bright stars?"

Gilbert frowned.

The vicar likewise laughed:

"Lord Cullen is right, just like the bishops of the church are also worried: in the Northland, although the warriors of Exeter have passed on the spiritual courage to fight to the end, they have also numbed His Highness's mind in the violence and blood, so that he does not reject the barbaric and backward ancient rites. ”

Gilbert looked at his friend deeply, unable to hide his disappointment.

And the king remained unmoved.

"In the long run, His Royal Highness, as the heir of the kingdom, has not shied away from heretical beliefs and etiquette again and again......"

Guy's tone became worried:

This will have a profound impact on people's attitudes and ways of doing things, and will greatly disadvantage the existing rule of the kingdom by making the young people enthusiastic and desperate to take risks, and those who follow the example will go forward and follow in their footsteps...... Moreover, the goddess would not be happy to see the devotees shed their blood for a savage duel, and neither would her devotees. ”

Count Clappen looked at everyone's appearance, and also interjected with interest:

"Well, I think it'...... too."

"Enough!"

The Foreign Secretary let out a rare gaffe and stopped the gossiping crowd.

"Everyone!"

"Your Majesty summoned us to this room, not so that we can judge right and wrong and investigate the root cause!"

Gilbert was short of breath, and he stood up and glanced at each of his colleagues with indignation:

"Soduo, I know that the Standing Army's trip to the Western Wilderness has mobilized the people, but it has not been completed, and you have suffered from it, and you are haunted by it. ”

The military adviser pursed his lips.

"Mr. Qiu Ke, I also understand that the accident at the banquet caused the Finance and Taxation Department to lose a considerable amount of fines and confiscations, which caught you off guard. ”

The treasurer folded his arms unhappily.

"Prime Minister, you want to do your best to avoid unnecessary conflicts between the Fuxing Palace and your vassals, so you have made Your Highness a target to divert your focus. ”

The old fat duke smiled indifferently.

"Viscount Connie, please rest assured, no matter how much Your Highness is supported by others, no matter how many talented people you recruit, it will never affect your position as the backbone of the pro-king party. ”

When the Minister of Commerce and Trade heard this, his face was a little unsightly.

"As for Guy, old friend, I swear to you that your failure to become the prince's theology teacher is definitely not the responsibility of His Highness, nor does it mean that His Highness is closer to the side of the Temple. ”

The vicar closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"And Lord Clapen, you have been silent for a whole day, you are smart enough, and at the end everyone will heckle you, it will not seem that you are smarter!"

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry coughed embarrassedly.

After keeping the imperial ministers silent one by one, Gilbert took a deep breath and calmed his mood.

He couldn't resist looking at the figure at the end of the long table.

"That's right, I can feel it, I know that you all have such and such reasons, thoughts or thoughts, and such and such resentments......"

The Foreign Secretary said solemnly:

"But, gentlemen, I implore you to put yourself in the Prince's shoes and understand the Prince's situation. ”

"Then you will understand that for the sake of the kingdom, His Highness Tails has many times has no choice, many things have to be done, and many encounters are beyond expectations. ”

"And those tasks that should be done, he has done his best. ”

Gilbert slowed down, unconsciously sighing.

"From the National Conference to Longxiao City, from the Great Desert to the Min Dith Hall, in the face of the fierce princes of the Northland and the surging domestic politics, any of us, even Your Majesty, even His Royal Highness Midil back then, could not do better than him!"

His voice was high-pitched and impassioned, shaking the Ballard room.

"Not to mention that we all owe him a debt of affection - whether it's to stop the Northlanders from going south, or to stabilize the Bright Star Royalty and the Stellar Politics. ”

On the throne, King Kessel leaned back in his chair, but his eyes were gloomy and he didn't know what to think.

"As for the other unforeseen consequences of Tails's actions, whether it is the chaos in the Western Wilderness or the case of Doyle, whether it is a duel or a controversy, or this damned letter and the predicament it brings, it is in fact the result of our ill-conceived and unsuccessful work, and it is the dereliction of duty and incompetence of my servants and our own responsibility. ”

Gilbert exhaled, paused, and looked at everyone.

Everyone turned their heads to avoid meeting his gaze.

Gilbert said this, heartbroken:

"Blame your Highness, that it will neither cover up our incompetence nor solve more problems, and the child will not be held responsible for mistakes he did not know about. ”

At this moment, Duke Cullen suddenly spoke:

"Even if he's a star?"

Gilbert's face changed, and he suddenly looked back, showing no weakness:

"Because he's a star!"

Prime Minister Cullen frowned.

After a few seconds of pause, the Prime Minister sighed:

"I know, Count Cassel, that you are his teacher......"

But Gilbert interrupted him very quickly:

"I don't just say this because he's my student!"

Gilbert turned his head to the rest of his colleagues, and there was no doubt about it:

"All the more because of His Highness Tails himself. ”

"Whether it is his courage and exploits in going north, or the journey experience of returning thousands of miles to China, or the courage of the means to save people at the banquet, it proves that he is worthy of being the queen of bright stars, worthy of being the Duke of Xinghu, and worthy of the bloodline of the kingdom. ”

Speaking of this, Gilbert's voice trembled slightly:

"We should all be honored and proud to have such a prince. ”

"We deserve to be a sword in his hand, not a stone in his boot. ”

"We should help him!"

"It's not hindering him!"

As the words fell, Gilbert raised his hand and pressed his eyes to take a deep breath.

The Imperial Council was silent, and the King's gaze was still like a blade in the snow, radiating a cold light.

Bishop Guy sighed, patted Gilbert's arm, and motioned for him to sit down:

"Gilbert. ”

Gilbert waved his friend's arm away and took a deep breath.

"I beg your pardon," he said, trying to gauge his emotions, trying to calm his tone:

"As Your Majesty said, I am also tired and old. ”

There was silence in Ballard's room.

"At least you're not fat. ”

Prime Minister Cullen took over the conversation, a little decadent and emotional:

"It doesn't get in the way of some people's eyes. ”

This sentence has far-reaching meanings, and no one dares to take it.

Until the King of the Stars taps his fingers and breaks the dull atmosphere.

"Gilbert," Kessel V's gaze struck him, and it was difficult to hide the complexity and subtlety of his tone:

"Old friend. ”

But Gilbert suddenly looked up.

"And you, Your Majesty!"

The Foreign Secretary's volume suddenly rises!

Many were taken aback.

Gilbert stared straight into the king's stressful eyes, his chest heaving:

"Forgive me for trespassing, but ......"

"But ......"

Gilbert raised his right arm as if to point at something, but gave up halfway through.

He gritted his teeth, his cheeks tangled:

"But to this day, in the Star Country, in the City of Eternal Star, and even at this table, all the unfair scrutiny, accusations, criticisms, and embarrassments that His Highness Tails has received since his return to ...... country."

Facing King Kessel's sharp eyes, Gilbert made up his mind and said the words:

"It's all because of the way you treat him. ”

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers in front of the emperor changed color!

"Gilbert!"

Guy snapped a warning.

Prime Minister Cullen's face tensed, lost in thought.

But His Majesty the King only looked back at Gilbert faintly, and remained silent.

Only Gilbert swallowed his throat, closed his eyes and sighed:

"Seriously, Your Majesty, I am not very competent as a courtier or a father, and I am not qualified to teach you a lesson. ”

"But as friends," Gilbert opened his eyes, sincere and serious:

"Kai, Your Highness, Fifth Prince. ”

These titles make everyone's minds move.

King Kessel did not speak.

But at that moment, his fingers tapping on the table stopped.

"You really owe it to have such a son, for his consciousness and ability, for his character and intelligence, for his strength and optimism, and for the fact that he did not collapse under the heavy burden of the whole kingdom...... And proud and gratified. ”

Gilbert looked at him from afar:

"I believe, and I'm not alone, we all believe from the bottom of our hearts. ”

"Prince Tails, he will be the future we all look forward to. ”

At this moment, no one spoke at the Imperial Council.

The silence lasted a full ten seconds.

"You teach him every day, Gilbert," came the king's deep voice, unrecognizable:

"You're too close to him. ”

Gilbert paused, then smiled.

"No, it's you who are too far away from him. ”

"Just like the first king. ”

At that moment, the Iron Fist King's eyes suddenly moved.

It's like a flawless iron wall, with the first crevice.

"But back then, you still had the Mindis Hall. ”

Gilbert looked at the throne as if he were looking at something else.

"And now, he has nothing. ”

King Kessel seemed to be fixed in his chair, and he did not even move his gaze.

"Stay close to him, Your Majesty, at least try to get close to him. ”

"At least, talk to him. ”

Gilbert took a deep breath and sat down tremblingly, pressing his eyes and smiling ashamedly at his surroundings:

"I'm sorry, guys. ”

The Ballard Room was like an ice cellar.

All the kings and ministers were silent, or bowed their heads and did not speak, or looked at each other.

Only the sound of breathing remains.

After a long, long time.

"Ladies and gentlemen. ”

Everyone shuddered slightly.

King Kessel's voice was like the first rays of sunlight breaking through the ice, breaking through the dullness.

"Don't worry about my son, I've already talked to him. ”

At the end of the long table, the Iron Fist King slowly raised his head, but his eyes did not look at anyone.

"He's not going to be a problem. ”

He closed his eyes and exhaled softly:

"Everything is under control. ”

The voice fell.

Prime Minister Cullen curled his lips.

Gilbert gave a hard smile.

Others reacted differently and were related.

The Duke of Cullen picked up his teacup, sat up straight, and exercised his duties:

"Okay guys, now, back to our ......"

But the Prime Minister's words came to an abrupt end.

Everyone looked at each other suspiciously, only to find that Cullen's complexion had changed.

The Duke of the East China Sea stared at the teacup in his hand at the moment.

There, tiny waves of water are rippling.

Almost at the same time, the retainers in Ballard's room felt something strange and turned back in unison.

"Tread, tread, stride!"

The sound of swarms of footsteps came from outside, causing a noticeable tremor.

This is a rare situation, and the ministers in front of the emperor look at each other, not knowing why.

"There are at least thirty of them," Soudor looked up vigilantly as a military adviser who had served for many years:

"What's going on?"

But no one answered him.

Instead, different cries pierced through the crack in the door and came from outside the door.

"Vanguard Wing Gathering Reinforcements...... Run, run, run, run!"

"The situation is unknown......

"Escort wing in place ......"

The situation was not right, and the ministers were shocked.

The king frowned as well.

"Strange," Gilbert frowned.

"Is there a drill for the Royal Guard today, near the Ballard Room?"

In the next second, a rapid and piercing bell pierced through the wall and sounded in everyone's ears!

"Ding—"

Many people were taken aback and looked around in horror.

"This is, this is the ...... of the royal guard"

Counselor Sodor was stunned.

He blinked, looking at the black-pressed stone gate, unable to believe his reasoning:

"Emergency alert?"

The king remained calm, but his brow furrowed.

The Scarface Spy of the Mystic Branch was the first to make a move, reaching for the door.

But before he could touch the doorknob, the door to Ballard's room was slammed open!