The sun has set and the crescent moon is rising.
The night in the northern area of Yulong City was dim and hazy, and Ke Lin walked alone on the deserted street under the pale moonlight.
The scenes that happened during the day kept replaying in his mind, and all kinds of doubts lingered in his heart, making it impossible for Colin to fall asleep peacefully.
Since he couldn't sleep, Ke Lin left the Phoenix Palace and wandered around Yulong City.
Of course, it is not accurate to say that he is just hanging out, because he still has a purpose.
Boom boom boom.
Colin knocked on the gate of a courtyard, and a dove with an olive branch was engraved on the door, which was the emblem of the White family.
With a creak, the door opened, and an old man who looked like a butler came out. After seeing the viscount dress on Colin, he quickly saluted and asked, "Dear Viscount, what can I do for you?"
"I'm Colin Angelet, is Bachelor Daun there?"
"Yes! Viscount Angelet, please come in!"
Bachelor Dawn did not live in the Phoenix Palace with Vera and Colin, but lived in a mansion of the White family in Yulong City. Although it was not big, it was also a good place to stay.
The main figures of the White family, such as Viscount White and others, are all in their own territory, and Bachelor Dawn lives here, so Colin's visit this time is not considered an official visit, so there was no prior notice.
Under the guidance of the butler, Colin went up the stairs to the second floor.
At this time, the attendants who went to report the news had already brought Bachelor Dawn over.
"Master Viscount, why don't you tell me in advance if you are coming, I will prepare to entertain you."
Colin waved his hand and said, "There's no need to pay attention to these red tapes between the two of us, I just hope I didn't disturb you."
"of course not!"
Bachelor Dawn led Colin into the study, and asked the attendant to bring two cups of coffee and some dried fruit.
Ke Lin glanced around the study room. The layout of the room is relatively simple. There is a sheepskin scroll spread out on the desk, and there are quill pens, ink, and sealing seals beside it. It seems that when Colin came, he said: Maester En is writing.
What surprised Colin the most was the books that covered the entire wall. At first glance, there were nearly a thousand books.
In this world without printing, books are worth as much as gold, and the number of books in the collection has become a symbol of family heritage.
Noticing Colin's surprised gaze, Maester Dawn explained with a smile: "These books were copied one by one from the college's library when I was studying at White Tower College."
"It's amazing!" Colin exclaimed.
In comparison, the study of the Angelet family is too shabby, and there are not many books at all. If it hadn't been for occupying Ice Rock City later and taking over the library of the Su Duo family, there might not be as many books in the Red Castle as Bachelor Dawn There are many people's study rooms.
After taking a sip of coffee, Colin turned to the topic and asked, "You should also know what happened in the Holy Light Cathedral today, right?"
"Of course. This matter has long spread throughout the city, and I also know that even Prince Lehi's mansion has been taken over by the city defense army, and all the people inside have been expelled."
"Hehe, move so fast?"
"It should be that someone saw the wind and turned the rudder, and made trouble."
Colin put down his coffee cup, stretched his body on the sofa, and asked, "What do you think of the murder of the Laytom Consul? Do you also think it was done by Prince Lehi?"
Bachelor Dawn smiled and said, "Prince Leahy had a motive to kill, and now the autopsy has found evidence that he can't justify. In this way, it doesn't matter whether he killed or not."
"Indeed." Colin's eyes flickered, and he asked, "But if he was wronged, who do you think is most likely to be the person who carried out the frame-up?"
"If Prince Lehi was framed..." Maester Dawn hesitated for a moment, "Then Emperor Reinhardt is the most likely real culprit!"
Colin showed a faint smile, and asked again: "Because he made the most profit?"
"Yes." Maester Dawn nodded, but didn't say much.
Ke Lin also realized that perhaps many smart people in Yulongcheng had already seen through the scene of the Holy Light Cathedral today, but the trap set by the emperor was too ingenious, and no one could solve the puzzle, so he just Can watch Prince Leahy become a "murderer".
"Then what do you think, is it a good thing or a bad thing for us that Emperor Reinhardt regained control of the Imperial Empire's political situation?"
"It's a good thing." Maester Dawn replied without hesitation.
"Why?" Colin was a little confused by the other party's self-confidence.
Although Maester Dawn also judged before that Emperor Reinhardt is indeed more inclined to let Vera inherit the Duke of the North, but that is because Prince Lexi is still there, and Emperor Reinhardt needs to win over the mage to check and balance himself uncle.
But now, Prince Lexi has been discredited by this murder case, everyone has betrayed his relatives, and he is completely far away from the political situation in the imperial capital. Under such circumstances, Vera's role is much smaller.
Therefore, in Ke Lin's view, the downfall of Prince Lexi was actually a bad thing for Vera.
This was also the doubt that arose in Colin's mind when Emperor Reinhardt agreed to canonize Vera as the Duke of the North in the carriage today.
Bachelor Dawn looked into Colin's eyes and said seriously: "Because His Majesty the Emperor needs a strong northern border as an ally."
Colin's expression changed slightly, and he fell into deep thought.
On the carriage today, the emperor and the empress did a series of operations, especially letting Prince Harrison and Princess Judy learn from Ke Lin, which was indeed a very clear draw.
Colin was very puzzled at the time, but now that Bachelor Dawn also saw through this point, he quickly asked, "Why does Your Majesty need a powerful northern border as an ally?"
Bachelor Dawn did not answer directly, but asked instead: "Master Viscount, who do you think is His Majesty's biggest enemy after successfully expelling Prince Lexi?"
Colin thought for a while, and felt that the current foreign races outside the empire were not considered great enemies, unless the orcs could really establish the Third Reich.
If you think about it this way, the emperor's greatest enemy must come from within the empire.
Colin originally wanted to talk about the Senate, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that the Senate could at most cause some constraints to the emperor, and it was not a great enemy.
Moreover, if it is to deal with the Senate, there is no need to go so hard to win over the northern border.
Immediately, Colin had a flash of inspiration and blurted out: "It's the church!"
Maester Dawn smiled, nodded and said, "That's right!"
Colin sat up straight, and various thoughts turned in his mind.
Of course, he could understand why Emperor Reinhardt was hostile to the church. The struggle between imperial power and theocracy had begun almost from the founding of the Glorious Empire.
The attitude of the San Lorenzo family, and even the entire imperial aristocracy, towards the church is both dependent and vigilant.
They need the church to build a bridge to communicate with the gods, so as to promote knights, but at the same time, they are always wary of the excessive expansion of theocracy.
The reputation and prestige of the church among the people is too lofty. If left alone, the emperor will easily become a decoration, and the major lords will also become the marionettes of the church, the shepherd dogs who manage their people for them.
Of course, due to the special dependence between the two parties, the ultimate goal of the royal family is definitely not to eradicate the Church of Radiance, but to limit the other party's power within the church and not to dictate the secular government affairs.
For some reason, Colin suddenly recalled that when he was in Silvermoon City, he intentionally planted a seed of rebellion against the church in Prince Harrison's heart in order to retaliate against Queen Midella for provoking his relationship with Queen Aisha.
Perhaps it was that time that Empress Midella decided that he was an ally that could be won over.
But then, Colin suddenly realized something, and when he looked at Bachelor Dawn again, his eyes suddenly became extremely sharp, and he asked in a deep voice: "Is the royal family sending you to the northern border?"
Maester Dawn's face changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he still nodded and said:
"Yes."
Colin's face darkened instantly.
(end of this chapter)