Du Wei felt that this was by no means a smart idea, and the risk was too great!
Although the old Augustine VI has withdrawn from the center of power for more than two years, there are still many people who will pay attention to him: including the temple!
It is conceivable that if the death of Augustine VI spread quickly, then Pope Paul XVI would be the one who would applaud the most—not because Paul XVI hated Augustine VI so much. It's just that as long as the old emperor dies, according to the habitual thinking of most people, the regent should logically inherit the throne and be crowned the new emperor of the empire.
As far as the church is concerned, I must be looking forward to seeing an imperial emperor who calls the Pope "Godfather" appear! Just imagine, in some grand public occasions, His Majesty Chen, who is the Emperor of the Empire, bowed to Paul XVI and respectfully called him "Godfather". Such a scene is definitely a big victory ! And for the royal family, its meaning is not just as simple as losing face.
According to Prince Chen's previous practice, every month or so, he would arrange for Augustine VI to appear in public, such as attending a certain decision-making meeting in the palace, or attending a certain inspection ceremony and so on.
In fact, ever since Prince Chen held the baptism ceremony that inspired the church, accepted the Pope's baptism at the ceremony, and honored the Pope as Godfather, there have been some impatient voices in the church recently: Hope the Regent is crowned soon!
For those magicians, they are eager to see a "godson" emperor, not a "godson" regent. Many people have already complained impatiently about Prince Chen's delay in being crowned emperor: anyway, the power is already in their hands. The old emperor has also retreated to the second line, why are you coy about not being crowned? !
On the occasion of some religious prayers, some people in the church have conveyed some urging intentions to Prince Chen, both openly and secretly. I hope that Prince Chen can fulfill his original promise as soon as possible.
"I don't expect to use a stand-in to hide the dignitaries of the entire imperial capital forever, but it is still possible to buy us some time in a short period of time." Although Prince Chen's voice was very soft, Du Wei noticed His word is "we".
Obviously, Du Wei sensed a clear message from it: Up to now, he is the most trusted person of the young king.
Du Wei sighed.
"Three days." Prince Chen said lightly: "Three days later is the annual "Qingfeng Festival". I arranged a public prayer ceremony, which is the last grand banquet held in the palace before the New Year. On the occasion, I will let this "Father Emperor" make a public appearance. Then... In the next two months, I will announce to the public that Father Father is unwell, and justifiably let him live in seclusion. Next For a long time, he didn't have to show up."
Du Wei sighed, this seemed to be an impossible solution.
After all, this incident happened so suddenly that it disrupted the previous plan. In just a few days, it was really difficult to think of any proper solution.
"But." Du Wei reminded: "At the feast of the Fengfeng Festival, almost all the old officials in the imperial capital will participate. Those old guys have been with the late emperor for a lifetime, so it is hard to guarantee that no one will see any flaws. And , Your Highness, you should know better than me that once this kind of thing gets out, it will be a huge scandal!" His tone was very serious: "I must ask you clearly: Are you really unwilling to be crowned emperor?"
Prince Chen's voice was very firm: "My heart has been decided long ago... I belong to Charlie!"
"But Charlie is only ten years old, he won't suddenly grow up in two or three months." Du Wei sighed: "And this double can only buy us two or three months at most. After three months , How can we come up with a reason that convinces everyone to publicly pass the throne to Prince Charlie?" Du Wei shook his head: "Your Highness, you are in your prime of life, let your regent fail, but stand a ten-year-old The child of the land is the emperor—and he is your own son. This approach, I am afraid it will be opposed by everyone."
The conversation between Du Wei and Prince Chen was not hidden from the "substitute". In fact, this guy has been sitting on that bed tremblingly, looking at Du Wei and Prince Chen with fear on his face.
Before Prince Chen left. But Du Wei was left here. He gave Du Wei a task: to teach the substitute some etiquette to attend the banquet three days later.
Although Du Wei is not a court etiquette master, this matter is too secretive after all! Prince Chen is unwilling to let more people know about the substitute...
and. On the night of the old emperor's death, the regent immediately secretly executed all the servants, servants, court ladies, and palace guards in the palace without hesitation!
It also included six court physicians who treated the old emperor.
It was announced to the outside world that when a careless court physician and a court magic pharmacist exchanged the efficacy of a dangerous magic potion, the poison was accidentally leaked, resulting in an unfortunate accident, making the Several court physicians and attendants died in this misfortune...
Du Wei didn't think too much about this weird mission, after all, if one less person knows about it now, the possibility of leakage will be less.
But before Prince Chen left, he suddenly looked at Du Wei and said something weird: "According to what I know, you should be a very good master of disguise. You have the superb ability to disguise a person."
After finishing speaking, he didn't seem to have any other meaning, so he turned and left.
Du Wei sighed and watched Prince Chen walk out of the palace.
Now there are no guards outside the palace. After Prince Chen executed the original group of guards here, he ordered that "His Majesty's daily life guard work will be handed over to the court magician."
Now there are only two servants in charge of serving the palace in this palace, both of whom are the confidantes of Prince Chen's absolute trust, and there are no guards outside, but replaced by a group of court magicians who guard in secret.
Looked at the empty hall. Du Wei's eyes fell on this poor substitute.
In fact, this guy's appearance is indeed seven or eight points similar to that of the old emperor, and after some special treatments and makeup. In dimly lit places, it's almost hard to see what's coming.
However, if someone seems to be familiar with the old emperor, it is still easy to see the flaws in public - besides, it is difficult to grasp a person's tone of voice, voice, intonation, and some subtle movements. It's perfect.
This double was obviously found temporarily. Moreover, he looked trembling, and he really couldn't help the emperor's spirit-although the old Augustine VI was not a good emperor, he had been the ruler of the mainland all his life, and he still had some emperor's majesty in every gesture.
Moreover, Du Wei is very clear: After waiting for the banquet for two days, the result of waiting for this poor double is also obvious: silence!
But now these troublesome things. For a while, I couldn't think of any answer.
Du Wei started to get busy first. He took out the storage ring he carried with him, took out some medicines stored in it, and fiddled with these bottles and jars in front of this "stand-in".
Watching Du Wei fiddle with these magic potions quickly, looking at those bubbling potions. The stand-in was obviously more frightened.
With a trembling voice, he suddenly gathered his courage and begged Du Wei: "Please, don't, don't kill me... I..."
"I won't kill you." Du Wei tried his best to soften his voice. After all, this guy is also an innocent and pitiful person-but politics is like this.
As he spoke, he handed over a bottle of prepared potion: "Drink it, it will taste very bitter. Don't spit it out. Then you can have a good sleep."
The last sentence of "go to sleep" probably misunderstood the poor old man, and he jumped out of bed suddenly. With a plop, he knelt down in front of Du Wei. He grabbed Du Wei's pants and begged: "Please, don't kill me. Don't kill me!"
Du Wei pulled him up and took a closer look, only to find that this guy was not an "old man" at all, and his actual age was only in his forties. It's just that Prince Chen's subordinates have already done some simple makeup on him first, and the wrinkles on his face are obviously painted...
Du Wei was even more troubled - with such a crude makeup, it is simply impossible to hide the truth from those old courtiers who have followed the old emperor for decades...!
"I'm not going to kill you." Du Wei grabbed the man by the collar, lifted him up, and shouted in a vicious tone as much as possible: "I don't think you should be an idiot! You should roughly understand what we need you to do Things! Right!"
The man's body trembled away, but he nodded.
"Very good." Du Wei said coldly: "Then you should also understand that this matter must not be leaked! So, you are worried that you will be silenced in the end, right?"
"... yes." The man looked desperate, and he said in a trembling voice, "my lord... I, I, I am just a tailor, a tailor who used to tailor clothes for His Majesty... a few nights ago, I don't know why the regent suddenly took me Caught here... I, I don't know anything..."
He looked at Du Wei pitifully, his voice was stammering, and his teeth were chattering when he spoke.
"Oh? Are you a court tailor?" Du Wei's eyes lit up: "Have you ever tailored clothes for the old emperor before? That would be much easier. Since you have seen His Majesty up close, you should also know His Majesty's behavior." Some moves and habits, right."
"I... I..." He gritted his teeth and was speechless.
Du Wei pinched his chin, and then looked at his face carefully for a while.
He had met the old emperor a few times before he took out a pen from his pocket and drew on both sides of this guy's face and cheeks.
The muscles on this person's face trembled violently, but he finally didn't dare to struggle. Finally, he closed his eyes with tears in the corners of his eyes.
Du Wei sighed, and his tone became more friendly: "Tell me, what's your name?"
"Groom, my lord, my name is Groom."
"Okay, Groom." Du Wei seemed to smile: "Do you have any family?"
"Yes... some adults." Groom said tremblingly: "I have a wife and two daughters..."
"Well, are they in the imperial capital?"
"No, my lord, they are not here." After Groom said a few words, his voice became smoother: "After the coup d'état two years ago, I was afraid in my heart, worried that this kind of thing would happen again in the future, and then I simply sent them away. I went back to my hometown."
"Where is your hometown?" Du Wei casually painted a few strokes on his face, as if asking casually.
"South, Lille Province, my lord... My hometown is in Lille Province."
"Oh, I've been to that place. The province of Lille is just south of the Luolin Plain of our Luolin family." Du Wei smiled peacefully: "I have been to Half Corner City, and I have met some interesting people there. things. Well, do you know Half Corner City?"
"I, I know, my lord..." Groom seemed to be less nervous. The Duke of Tulip seemed very approachable and kind, and his hope of survival was a little more: "Half-corner city... My hometown is far away from home. Half Corner City is not far away."
Du Wei smiled: "My wife and I met for the first time outside Banjiao City. Oh, I blackmailed her badly that time. At that time, she was still an ignorant little girl. .Well, how about you? Tell me, Groom, what about your wife and daughter?"